Bruce Arians Shares Disappointment In Linebacker Tandem, Nose Tackles
November 4th, 2020
There is a very high standard for defense at One Buc Palace.
This isn’t 2017 or 2018.
This was evident from Bucco Bruce Arians’ chatter last night.
Devin White and Lavonte David? The beastly Bucs linebackers drew uninspiring grades from their head coach for their Monday night play.
“It thought it was just average for really both of those guys. I mean, I expect more out of both of them,” Arians said. “Boy, Lavonte dropped a huge interception that would have iced that ballgame and that’s not like him; he always makes that play. So yeah, I think, you know, they played good, don’t get me wrong, but I expect great out of them every week.”
Arians gave some credit to the Giants and to some non-calls against White by officials, but ultimately he put it back on his players. “There’s a level of expectation for our defense that I don’t think we lived up to in this ballgame,” Arians said.
As for the very rare hiccups by the run defense, Arians said point more toward the Bucs versus crediting the Giants.
“Yeah, we misfit a couple of runs, which is unlike us,” Arians said. “I thought our pad level was a little bit high. We didn’t get much production out of our two nose tackles that we normally do, so I think it was more us than them.”
Joe loves the high standards Arians has — and is willing to share with fans.
These Arians quotes above are from Bucs Total Access.
November 4th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
AB is just giving realistic grades on his guys…
monday night was a big disappointment across the board pretty much…
except they squeaked out a win
November 4th, 2020 at 5:40 pm
oops…
BA not AB…
big difference
November 4th, 2020 at 5:53 pm
Brady never reaches his highest standards for him and his team.
November 4th, 2020 at 6:19 pm
White and David both missed opportunities to end the game. White missed a tackle on 4th down. I also saw them getting taken out by lead blockers throughout the game. It’s uncharacteristic of them, but they’ll bounce back. We’re spoiled seeing them dominate week in and week out.
November 4th, 2020 at 6:38 pm
An off night in a win.
November 4th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
“Joe loves the high standards Arians has …”
BA’s incredibly blessed to have Todd Bowles running this defense (and to have had him out in Arizona when he took over the Cards). Without a Top-10 defense that generates turnovers at a rate of almost 2 per game, this year’s Bucs would be quite average (probably 4-4 at this point).
Our defense wasn’t playing lights-out Monday night for sure, but they did hold a very inspired Giants team to 23 points on the night. And 7 pts of those came off of RoJo’s fumble at the Bucs’ 12 yard line, which didn’t give the defense much field to work with (but BA said it wasn’t his fault so RoJo’s good). And oh ya, the Bucs’ offense did score 1 TD & 1 FG off of the 2 TOs generated by the defense, so there’s that.
November 4th, 2020 at 6:56 pm
D.R.
I hear ya about complimentary football. Generally though all teams have a unit on one side of the ball that’s better than the other.
I’m not sure we do. What say ye defense lover. IMHO these units are now pretty equal. ST’s are a different thing but our kickers are making our ST’s successful.
Our punting and FG’s have been very good.
November 4th, 2020 at 7:18 pm
i’m hearing brees might not play sunday…
and we might get jameis starting the game…
brees has a bad shoulder…
#WouldntThatBeCrazy #JameisAndKwonVsTheBucs #KwontonSoup
November 4th, 2020 at 7:34 pm
Thanks adam.
Just went to a Saints site and sure enough Brees was limited today. He says he is always limited on Wed.s but I smell something fishy.
Put Brees on his Arse Early D!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then we can get ‘America’s Turnover Machine” on the field.
November 4th, 2020 at 7:36 pm
From what I can see StPete, BALANCE is the name of the game in today’s NFL. Used to be that a team that was really strong on one side of the ball could do quite well. For instance, our SB team was #1 in Defense, but #18 in Offense … in terms of Points Allowed & Scored. That’s a 17-ranking difference, same as the current Packers team (#3 Offense but #20 defense). I wouldn’t pick them to win the SB this year personally.
But look at the top teams right now … very BALANCED. Steelers (7-0) … #5 offense & #6 defense. Chiefs (7-1) … #2 offense & #3 defense. And yes, our Bucs (6-2) … #4 offense & #7 defense. Being able to play solid COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL is a big part of that BALANCE IMO.
Turnovers generated by the defense give solid offenses a huge advantage. The Steelers’ defense has created 13 TOs (in 7 games); the Chiefs’ defense has created 14 TOs; the Bucs’ defense has created 14 TOs. Coincidence that all 3 have high-scoring offenses? Perhaps, but I don’t think so.
And talking about S/Ts, both Succop AND Pinion have made a HUGE difference in terms of points AND field position. They’re both worth their weight in gold IMO.
Hope you’re doing well. Stay strong & stay safe.
November 4th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
The speed and hustle the linebackers displayed in Oakland and in new York was day and night, I thought they played it safe not to risk injury on the supposedly horrible turf.
November 4th, 2020 at 8:01 pm
This is not the 2002 Bucs defense, not the 1999 Bucs defense, not even close to either. Those who think otherwise are literal idiots with an IQ in the low single digits. But they don’t need to be a top defense, they need to just be average or above average – the offense can do everything else. But please, for the love of God, stop saying this is a great defense, it’s not.
November 4th, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Very well said Defense! With Succop and Pinion they have been solid with Succop super solid and we would not have won that game with him missing any of those attempts. Pinion’s punts in this game were ok but not what he have been used to though he had crazy pressure. My question is with Pinion and his kicks. We are so used to him booming them through the end zone but in this game he was kicking noticeably shorter. If that was by design which sometimes it is to pin them in much closer than the 25 then it wasn’t working as overall they had some decent returns well past the 25. Being picky as overall he has been lights out!
November 4th, 2020 at 8:05 pm
Looking ahead to Sunday and not focusing on the giants
November 4th, 2020 at 9:07 pm
@Rod … “But please, for the love of God, stop saying this is a great defense, it’s not.”
I guess I must be one of those “literal idiots with an IQ in the low single digits” that you speak of Rod, because no place in the article or in the comments did I once see the word ‘GREAT’.
I must say though that your “But they don’t need to be a top defense, they need to just be average or above average – the offense can do everything else” was a nice touch. You’re wrong Rod, but nice try. IF this 2020 Bucs defense was just AVERAGE (say #16 give or take 4 places), we’d be on par with say the Titans defense (#18 but the Titans have a #6 offense). They’re a solid 5-2 but I wouldn’t put any money on them to win the SB (their offense was putting up a lot of points until they ran into the Steelers, who essentially shut down their running game). Their ‘average’ defense has given up 31 PPG over the last 3 games (1 OT win plus 2 losses). Average doesn’t get you to the Big Dance.
Greg … The announcers said that it was quite windy at the Meadowlands Monday night. I remember that several times they mentioned Pinion & Succop having to kick into the wind. Maybe that’s why some of his kickoffs ended up short. Might’ve also impacted Brady’s deep balls (several of them looked to be short IMO).
November 5th, 2020 at 3:04 am
Tom Brady Hands Down Is DA GOAT And The Buccs D-Line Is Nice And It’s The Middle Of The Season… Now It’s Time For The Defense
To Step Up And Play Harder Also Apply More Pressure Force More Turn Overs, Fumbles , Sacks , Interceptions Plus Tighten Up To Be
On All Cylinders To Focus On Sunday Night Game Against N.O SAINTS
Hi Rod Yeah Your Right This Is Not Them Buccs From Them
Years This Is The New And Improve Buccs With DA GOAT .
Now On To Defense Rules Say :
Forget What Y’all Are Talking About I Put Money On
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS That They Will Win The Superbowl This Year Now Who’s Gonna Stop Em ‘?… I Ask.
#TAMPABAYBUCCANEERSALLTHEWAY
November 5th, 2020 at 5:54 am
It wasn’t their best game. One dropped a game ender, the other missed a tackle on 4th down that would’ve been a game ender. White’s biggest weakness is his lack of coverage skills. This off season he needs to work on that to get to the next level. Half the season gone, and no picks from your starting MLB isn’t good. Over all our LB’s have not gotton enough picks. We’ll be elite if that ever happens.
November 5th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
These guys are amazing at the LB position, ok yah so they’re not perfect but man these two are a dynamic duo for real, #54 #45 the best in the game, I know them boys will have their A game come January. Playoffs baby! Watch these boys get all their game amplified. Waited ten years for this, thru lameO JameO’s 30 interceptions and everything. Our LB’s can only get better and they’re pretty damn great already.
#siege the day #fire the Cannons all the way to January #skull gang #its a bucs life