Bruce Arians Says Bucs Are “Probably The Best Second-Half Defense In The League Right Now”
December 2nd, 2020
Players or coaches?
If the hollering national sports media was hypersensitive to Todd Bowles like they are to Tom Brady, Bucco Bruce Arians’ chatter about his defense last night would be making headlines this morning.
Speaking on Bucs Total Access, the Tampa Bay head coach appeared to throw a dart in the direction of his defensive coordinator.
“We just got to get off to a better start. We’re not matching teams’ best plays,” Arians said of his defense. “You know, every week, the [offensive] coordinator, whoever’s calling plays, has got his top-15 that he’s going to start with. And we’re not matching it. We’re not matching the speed of it. We’ve given up too many early touchdowns and making us play from behind. Then we adjust and play really well, probably the best second half defense in the league right now. But we gotta play better in the first quarter.”
On the other side of the ball, Arians also criticized his team’s failure to make proper third-down adjustments to succeed in manageable down-and-distance situations.
The Arians regime is all about accountability; he’s famous for his posted accountability grades and lists calling out players.
It seems during this bye week, more of that focus might lean toward the coaching staff.
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:45 am
What a joke, teams go to sleep because they are so far ahead. When the chiefs had to wake up they moved the ball easily and out the game away.
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:53 am
So what actually is Arians doing every week besides blaming players and his staff for bad play on both sides of the ball. Last time I checked he is the head coach. He is responsible and has final say for the game plan.This guy is a blow hard. He has 1 playoff win in his career as a head coach. SMDH
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:54 am
So accountability only counts for the second half?
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:06 am
Is he going the mental route of our new prez? Someone wake him up and let him know that unfortunately football is a 4 quarter game…..and the bucs are just losing like the same way since chucky left the building
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:26 am
how can someone be famous for accountability when they take none?
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:34 am
Cool Bruce.. we’re also probably the worst first half defense in the league right now.
More holes then a block of Boar’s Head Swiss cheese at Publix.
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:39 am
Too bad we have the worst first half defense.
December 2nd, 2020 at 11:41 am
Wow — that alone should get BA fired. Further highlighting the core problem… the Glazers
GLAZERS: “Bruce, we are consistently getting blown out in first half”
ARIANS: “Ya, but we have the best second half defense in the league”
GLAZERS: “Excellent, keep up the good work”
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Yeah, and what pro teams with serious playoff hopes get outscored 52-7 in the 1st quarter in four games? Uh….none.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:13 pm
@Davenport…too funny. Yah, like Lovie being asked what coaching changes he may make after going 2-12. And his answer was a request to bring in another advisor from his CHI days.
BA looks like Homer Simpson on the sideline anymore.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:37 pm
OK, novel idea time BA: How about the Bucs’ OFFENSE play ball-control football AND score a few TDs in each 1st half for a change. That way the Bucs’ DEFENSE won’t be on the field for two-thirds of the half AND we’ll actually have some points on the board. Heck we might even end the 1st half AHEAD, who knows?
Just a thought though. You’ve obviously got a different idea of how to game-plan so we don’t want to box you in. And at the end of December when we miss the playoffs we’ll find a Frank Sinatra clone to sing ‘I Did It My Way’ for you as you ride off into the sunset after being fired by the Glazer Boyz.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:59 pm
More BS from BA. The Glazers will not fire him because loser Licht will tell them once again what a great HC he hired OOPs I mean Glazers hired. Licht will say the only reason they didn’t get to the playoffs is because the team didn’t get enough time to gel but they will definetly get there in 2021.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:41 pm
He’s making the same point I made immediately after the game, and I don’t make a fraction of his salary. It’s so apparent! Other teams are game planning us very well and then executing right out of the gate. It’s as if our D coaching staff is waiting until the game is in progress to see what the opponent is going to do and then put their game plan together. So by second or third quarter the Bucs D starts to show up. The coaching staff either doesn’t watch opponents’ game films, don’t know how to defend what they’re seeing on film, or the opposing offensive coordinator is putting together a play list that the team has never run before. Or it could be all of the above. The Buc’s coaching staff has got to do a better job of preparing for opponents and/or executing the game plan!
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:37 pm
No, the best 2nd half defense would have held the chiefs to a 3 and out on that last possession.
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Are coaches ever held to this famous accountability?
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:45 pm
The defense is trash, just as it has been for over 10 years.
December 2nd, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Losing faith in BA quickly – YOU are the boss my man, stop deflecting and take the blame for the teams shortcomings – have to believe TB12 is thinking to himself, WTF did I do??????????
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Fix the f#cking defense in the first half. Hill had like 150 yards in the first quarter or something. Why does it take Romo making the “y’all need help” hotline to tell Bowels that Hill has to be doubled up. Shut Hill down in the third. This blitz all day defense has become too easy to read and teams draw up audibles for it. All these CBs are man corners and Bowels plays Smitty zone in the first and get better in the second playing closer. I am not following the notion that the players just come out so pumped to be that much better in the second half.
December 3rd, 2020 at 3:53 am
“Bruce Arians Says Bucs Are “Probably The Best Second-Half Defense In The League Right Now””
Even more reason why we should run the ball in the first half instead of chasing points.
December 3rd, 2020 at 7:41 am
Bruce Arians must have no mirrors in his house. He needs to reflect on the real reason we have lost 3 out of the last 4. Him. His rigid stance on offensive side of the ball. He has to adjust the scheme to the personnel , not the other way around. We should move the chains, not bomb the freaking hell out of teams and 3 and out our defense into exhaustion. We have the GOST.Let him lead dammit.