Old School Meets New School
August 27th, 2020
“Jason, what do they call that when the computer spits out the paper with all the numbers on it, ‘sh!tspread?'” (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Joe is a written word guy. Words mean something. It seems, that theory is not shared universally.
For many, unless you can slap a friggin’ number on something, it is considered a waste of time.
Bucco Bruce Arians is an old school football coach. The most complex number he worries about is the number under the wins-column.
Like an old school coach, Arians will give it to you straight and dirty. No apologies. Don’t want to get cussed out? Do your job.
Hell, Arians coached for Bear Bryant who has been dead for almost 40 years. Bryant made Gunnery Sergeant Hartman look like a powderpuff coach.
But Arians isn’t dumb. Like any good coach, he’s always looking for an angle, an edge. And after Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with hamstring injuries late in the 2019 season, which may have cost the Bucs a playoff berth, Arians is turning to sports science to try to get an idea how many snaps guys need in this abbreviated training camp and still be on two feet come December.
It’s a balancing act, Arians said yesterday.
“That’s one of the things that we looked at last year with the sports science – is what we’re doing in practice, did that help with those injuries way late and overworking them?” Arians said. “We’re going to be very careful. I listen to what the numbers say on the computers.
“Some guys work really hard when they’re out there, other guys coast when they’re out there. The numbers don’t show it, so we’re going to rely on those numbers.”
Then there is also the half-dozen-in-one-hand-six-in-the-other quandary of winning games. If you put guys on pitch counts (say foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski) because you want to make sure he’s able to play in December, don’t you put your team at risk of losing in September?
After all, without good players, you cannot win games in any month. But without them in December, it’s almost a recipe for nosediving and being playoff-less. Again.
Unless of course, you have your division wrapped up by then. Man, what a dream come true that would be for Bucs fans, eh?
Joe isn’t sure there is a right answer here, outside of the sports science angle.
August 27th, 2020 at 5:51 am
Kudos to Coach for being flexable enough to change a bit at his age.
August 27th, 2020 at 6:39 am
I thought we had sports science last year?!? That’s why I’ve called BS all along! He obviously didn’t hire very good scientists if they didn’t know how to train prior to last year. You’re telling us that last year was part of the “Sports Scientists” science experiment??
I hope you all hook Brady up to some hi tech stuff, maybe you all can help make a clone of a younger version of him after you figure out how to not overtrain the guys to the point where three of them are out with hamstrings.
I posted after last year that the training staff and scientists should have been fired, beacause they failed the team at their only job. No fluke everyone had the same injury.
August 27th, 2020 at 8:03 am
Ole befuddled stale biscuit is neither “old school” nor “new school”!!!!!! He is more like school on Sunday!!!!! No Class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2020 at 8:10 am
It appears to be a lot less soft tissue injuries this years than the past. Not sure if the is due to not having preseason games but so far the Bucs look pretty healthy.
August 27th, 2020 at 9:10 am
Clean and Realists straw man approach to our beloved Bucs really is a sight. As a Buc fan I can only hope you both eat lots of crow this year.
August 27th, 2020 at 9:23 am
I’m confused about you Realisto.
You stated the other day (yes, I occasionally will read what you write) that you were No Fan of Winston.
Ok, with that said, the majority of haters (concerning BA) are pissed about the fact that he determined that Jamies was too far gone for him to turn around so he replaced him. That’s the numero uno reason for dislike of BA.
Now you on the other hand claim that, that Is Not the reason for your disdain.
I and probably Many “might” be able to understand your hate if you can explain where your bad taste comes from concerning Our Coach.
I’m just trying to give you the benefit of the doubt and I’m sure many are interested in your perspective.
SO WHAT’S THE DEAL REALISTO? WHY THE HATE?
August 27th, 2020 at 9:24 am
I’m confused about you Realisto.
You stated the other day (yes, I occasionally will read what you write) that you were No Fan of Winston.
Ok, with that said, the majority of haters (concerning BA) are pissed about the fact that he determined that Jamies was too far gone for him to turn around so he replaced him. That’s the numero uno reason for dislike of BA.
Now you on the other hand claim that, that Is Not the reason for your disdain.
I and probably Many “might” be able to understand your hate if you can explain where your bad taste comes from concerning Our Coach.
I’m just trying to give you the benefit of the doubt and I’m sure many are interested in your perspective.
SO WHAT’S THE DEAL REALISTO? WHY THE HATE?
August 27th, 2020 at 10:20 am
Remember though, Under Dirk we always had one of the most beat up teams in the NFL.
August 27th, 2020 at 3:04 pm
Wait, words count with you? So you actually think your readers wanna read “foot rubbing” before every GD Gronk reference? And today you admitted some Bucs employees read this site…you’re proud these guys have to wade through the childish descriptions over & over?
August 27th, 2020 at 9:38 pm
As for sports science failing last year here is what I saw.
I don’t recall exactly which week it was but I think it was in early December. Bruce Arians did take responsibility for Evans’ and Godwin’s injuries. He said in so many words that it was on him and he would not make the same mistake again.
I took it at the time to be an admission that he had in some way overridden recommendations from people on his staff.
That is why I trust BA. He remains willing to learn even now at his his age.
August 28th, 2020 at 5:58 am
I wonder what all sports science monitors – their hydration, nutrition, heart rate, weight gain/loss, rest during the week leading up to games? It’s interesting how much can be utilized to optimize performance.
You know, besides Belicheating your way through a season.