Tiki Barber Clarifies, Laughs At Bucs “Identity”
December 15th, 2020
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Longtime Bucco Bruce Arians friend and supporter Tiki Barber had a good chuckle at the head coach’s chatter following Sunday’s 24-14 win against the Vikings, specifically Arians saying, “We can do any damn thing we want to do.”
Arians was referring to a question about his the team’s “identity” and certainly appeared to be talking about the Bucs offense.
Barber spoke on his CBS Sports Radio national show and noted the Bucs outscored the Vikings 9-8 in the second half and had just 303 yards on the day, not exactly a Bucs team imposing its will.
The former Giants Pro Bowl running back said he thought Arians should have been talking about his defense, or that Arians’ confidence stems from there, not from Tom Brady and the offense.
“I felt bad for Kirk [Cousins], because he’d get back to his drop, whether it was 3-step, 5-step, there was someone in his face consistently,” Barber said. “Lavonte David had a good day on the second level for the Bucs. So if your team defensively plays like that, than you feel confident; you can whatever you want because you’re going to shut down most teams in the NFL. … [Offensively], I still don’t see what they want to do, what they’re trying to impose upon an opposing defense yet. I know they want to run the ball and take some shots down the field, but I don’t feel the identity yet.”
Joe’s not a huge fan of the identity talk, though Joe does know the Bucs’ identity right now seems to marked by four key points. They start slowly in games, get after quarterbacks, protect the football and run the football when they commit to it.
Barber continued to throw darts at the Bucs’ inconsistency on offense, and Barber suggested Arians is covering for himself with his big talk. “Maybe he’s playing coy because he doesn’t know what they can do yet,” Barber said.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:03 am
Doesn’t matter what he says because we cant believe anything his says anyways.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:11 am
I wonder when Arians says, “We can do any damn thing we want to do.”, if it means we are Youngry ?
December 15th, 2020 at 10:19 am
I don’t care just win baby
December 15th, 2020 at 10:27 am
LVMYBUCS Says
“Doesn’t matter what he says because we cant believe anything his says anyways.”
Wow. LOL
I like Barber myself. I get that he is now a fan and little more than a fan…he just has friends on the team and access to a little more information…but in the end he’s on the roller coaster just like us.
And I don’t know very many Bucs fans whose thoughts on the team fluctuate with each change in the wind.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:29 am
You can rest assured ba is not an honest guy to the media. He’s a poker player. Belichick just won’t answer questions he doesn’t want to. BA will just bs you if he doesn’t like the question.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:32 am
One thing we know they have a problem with. Brady hitting wide open, unguarded receivers. He missed three sure TD throws Sunday, to Gronk, some guy #13 and some guy #14. That’s 21 points readily available but not scored.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:34 am
I don’t buy the identity talk either. Our “identity” is 8 and 5. Who really cares how we get there? Obviously we want to be more consistent on offense and defense. I mean, what’s the Steelers identity on offense? They try to get the run going and Ben takes a few shots here and there. Ditto the Rams. These teams have more continuity but they’re so called identity is what exactly?
December 15th, 2020 at 10:40 am
Our identity is backyard ball called in the huddle by the QB based on who his friends are. Sometimes the plays work, sometimes it doesn’t.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:45 am
When your team has an identity, it’s easier to figure out what you’re doing. I dont care about identity. Do it your way, Coach. The hell with everybody else. Seems like it’s sort of working
Just win, baby.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:46 am
This team could run any damn scheme they want.
Unfortunately, we don’t scheme all that well 🙂
December 15th, 2020 at 10:49 am
This is getting humorous. Everyone talking about the Bucs ‘identity’. It’s always been DEFENSE, and is still DEFENSE. Bucs ownership may pour the money into the offense, but this franchise has always been about DEFENSE.
Our records over the years have always been reflections how well our DEFENSE did, not our offense. And this year is no exception. Last year #29 defense… record 7-9. This year #11 defense … record 8-5 with more wins to come (hopefully) & playoffs. Bucs’ identity is DEFENSE, and that’s the primary reason we’re talking playoffs right now.
December 15th, 2020 at 10:57 am
I don’t know about “identity” but lets pick a specific style of Offense and Defense and stick with it. Man cover, with blitzes (NOT zone blitzes where one of our 2 best pass rushers drop back to cover Alvin Kamara!!) . On Offense RoJo has proved over and over again he can chew up chunks of yardage. Brady likes quick throws. Let’s have that for a game. Sure, toss one downfield every so often. It drives me nuts that every NFL coach, except Bilichik, tries to shoehorn players in to “their system” instead working to the players strengths. It’s frustrating to watch!
December 15th, 2020 at 11:00 am
Buc bonzai this post was from Tiki not Rhonde, I think your post refers to the wrong barber dude.
December 15th, 2020 at 11:09 am
Lol… identity
why has anyone started hollering for a nickname for the team, haven’t had a need for one in a long long time!
I remember the last playoff game against the NY Giants , sitting in the south EZ watching the Giants OL warming up and thinking to myself.. those guys are serious and the Bucs got their collective asses kicked and the SB Era that was never supposed to end.. was over… 12 seasons of frustration
December 15th, 2020 at 11:22 am
Tell that to the saints
December 15th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Altered ego, I was at that game too. What an ugly embarrassment.
December 15th, 2020 at 11:59 am
Defense Rules. Dont really see how you came to that conclussion but I gotta disagree. We got one of the best offenses in football and Im certain if you asked average NFL fans to say which are the best offenses in football the Bucs would come. I dont think the Bucs defense would even come into the same conversation at all.
In a perfect world you would want both sides to be good. But your identity is how people see you. I think if you ask most people what makes the Bucs a playoff team they are gonna talk Brady, all our recievers, maybe even RoJo. Defense is kinda way down on the list of how the Bucs are identified. Fair or not.
December 15th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Cowherd had some pretty strong words against BA again. Normally I wouldn’t find it too big a deal but Cowherd most assuredly has an in with Brady. Cowherd has been schlobbing Brady’s knob for a long time now.
December 15th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
No riskit no biskit cannot impose its will because its predicated on after snap reads. Nobody in motion so qb can see beforehand what the defense is running, he has to read it on the run. This allows defenses to impose their will on it instead. I think the only reason why it’s working well in this year is the greatness that is Tom Brady.
December 15th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
Drive breakdown for the Bucs:
1- Punt
2- Punt
3- TD
4- TD
5- FG (right before halftime)
6- TD
7- Punt
8- FG
9- End of game
Who needs “identity” when you score on over half your drives? Fix the 1st quarter and the offense is fantastic.
December 15th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
“When your team has an identity, it’s easier to figure out what you’re doing. I dont care about identity.“
It’s not like teams have had too much trouble figuring out the Bucs glaring weaknesses on offense. (An immobile QB with a questionable Oline and a shaker running game) hence, why teams blitz us.
People act like having an identity is a bad thing, it’s not.
December 15th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Oh .. the Bucs have a national identity all right..
December 15th, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Every team in the NFL is well aware that the identity of the Baltimore Ravens is running the ball with Lamar Jackson. It doesn’t mean teams are going to be able to stop it.
The Bucs are going to have to figure out an identity on offense because they don’t do anything exceptionally well as of right now. How about installing the identity of a short passing game like we’re supposed to be doing?
December 15th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
BA needs to get a little graphic art on his face shield.. kinda like a NHL goaltender… that would be a statement
December 15th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
D.R.
I see ya workin’. LMAO I think you’re still a season and a half away. As long as Brady is under center they will supply him with talent. The offense is NOW….the defense is tomorrow…looking pretty good for now.
Actually I should think you’re excited. There’s something for both of us. Our defense continues to get better and better and we have an offense that still entertains me with the long bomb. Although I’d like to see it used less frequently and more judiciously. With talent like ME13…CG14…and AB I’m not sure why we don’t pass simply to move the chains and with Brady’s touch when he’s on, those guys could YAC it up. Meanwhile we move the chains and consume some clock to keep the D fresh.
I think the lack of identity at this point is a good thing. We are as balanced as I’ve ever seen the Bucs. We now have the possibility to play YOUR brand of balanced, complimentary football.
Admittedly both sides have not clicked at the same time. Sometimes the O lets down sometimes the D. When BOTH play to their potential we’re scary…perhaps 3rd or 4th best in the league
December 15th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
What a joke. Yeah do anything but barely and rarely succeed. If Baily made those it’s 24-24 at the end of regulation (just by the points scored. Not like either teams could’ve changed the score at any point).
December 15th, 2020 at 1:58 pm
@StPete … ” I should think you’re excited. There’s something for both of us.”
Trust me St Pete, I am excited, especially about the possibility of the Bucs going to the Super Bowl IN TAMPA. Believe it or not, our defense played last game like I’ve been hoping they’d play. Yes they gave up lots of yardage & 2 TDs, and were lucky on the missed FGs, BUT … they revived their pass rush & got 6 sacks in the process. That was HUUUGE IMO.
As far as the Bucs’ offense goes, I’ve always been one who’s very methodical & who strives for consistency. I’ve only seen that from this offense in just a few games; more times than not their production comes in spurts. I’ll admit that the second Saints’ game (38-3) really turned me off, as have these multiple slow starts. Playing from ahead (defensively and offensively) is sooo much easier than playing from behind.
December 15th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
And BTW StPete, I admittedly look at these latest games more critically than most, more than likely. This is OUR YEAR far as I’m concerned; Super Bowl or bust. I think we’ll be ‘good’ next year, but probably not as ‘good’ as this year. We’ve got exceptional talent RIGHT NOW that’s being underutilized, and I’m really hoping that changes before the playoffs begin.
To date we’ve beaten TWO teams with winning records right now: the Packers (10-3) and the Raiders (7-6), and we beat them handily (83-30). BOTH sides of the ball kicked ass, and yes we played some awesome COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL (3 takeaways vs ZERO giveaways). THAT’S the quality football we’ll need to play CONSISTENTLY to make it to the Super Bowl, on BOTH sides of the ball.
December 15th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Average. That’s this teams identity.
December 15th, 2020 at 3:06 pm
How important is it to have an identity (predictability)? If the bucs had an identity, teams would know what to expect, right? At the moment, the offense is fluid to what the opposition gives. I’m all for being mysterious, no known identity and evolving the offense into what the defense is giving up…. just make sure to keep 20+ rush attempts
December 15th, 2020 at 3:07 pm
Identity? Yeah, as perennial losers. But, not this year. This offense even without Methusaleh is the best one talent wise Bucs have ever had. Defense is getting there. 8-5 with 3 games left means playoffs. SB? Doubt it. BTW, I would love to see the Bucs do what they did against the 10-3 Packers: play a perfect game.
December 15th, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Why anyone cases what a coach says to the media is beyond me.
It has nothing to do with anything.
December 15th, 2020 at 4:35 pm
The Buc identity: better than most, nowhere nearly as good as the best, with a lot of star glitter.
December 15th, 2020 at 4:38 pm
FWIW: do not take BA too seriously. He is a trained master in coachspeak liar’s poker.
When you understand that factoid, it all makes sense.
Of course, I don’t believe other coaches, either. Same game, just not as good as BA & Licht.
December 15th, 2020 at 5:54 pm
@Cobraboy … “Buc identity: better than most, nowhere nearly as good as the best, with a lot of star glitter.”
Fair assessment, at this point. Still 3 games to go, so I’m still hoping for some major improvement to go into the playoffs hot.
NFL.com’s Power Rankings had the Bucs listed as #12. I’d say that’s fair.
December 15th, 2020 at 6:19 pm
@DR: that’s exactly where I placed them in another thread, 5th in the NFC, #11-12 in the NFL.
If they get really hot, they could make noise, but if they cool off, they get blown out in the playoffs.
December 15th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
D.R.
Yeah I hear you and I agree.
Cobra…that’s exactly the proper assessment.
Sadly it doesn’t quite ring like “The Greatest Show on Earth” or the “Purple People Eaters”….but it is spot on. We just need to figure a way to turn it into a Madison Avenue Catch Phrase
December 15th, 2020 at 8:15 pm
Duh “Greatest Show on Turf”.
“Better than most”…”Almost great”…I’m trying to figure a good phrase.
December 16th, 2020 at 12:34 am
Delusional, get a first down in the first quarter against a top ten defense before bragging about something like that. Retire BA it’s time, man what happened to you in the broadcasting booth.