“Life Is Good” For Bucs Fans, Says Ian Beckles
January 30th, 2021
Ian Beckles and friend.
As most Bucs fans were, former Bucs guard and popular local sports radio personality Ian Beckles was riding high on the fumes of the Bucs winning the NFC Championship on the road over the Packers.
And naturally, Beckles had thoughts on the win over Green Bay the preparation for Super Bowl LV a week from tomorrow, as he said on his podcast “In the Trenches.”
On the key to the NFC Championship:
“It came down to line play. I tell you it always comes down to line play. That’s what it is all about.”
On how playing in a conference championship game is tough mentally:
“What is amazing is, winning the NFC Championship or the AFC Championship, you have to fight from looking forward. Really your goal should be to get to the championship game and the Super Bowl is the bonus. But get to that championship game to give you the ability to play in the Super Bowl.”
Bucs injuries scare Beckles:
“Antonio Brown was out. Antoine Winfield was out. If you say that’s no big deal, you are wrong. Antonio Brown was probably the No. 1 go-to guy the last five or six weeks of the season. And Antoine Winfield, Jr. was probably our second-best defensive player behind Devin White, who is an absolute stud and a monster.”
On how there really wasn’t one star of the game for the Bucs:
“The Buccaneers just kind of rallied around each other.”
On how Playoff Lenny got hot at the right time:
“Leonard Fournette? I haven’t been a big fan of Leonard Fournette all year long. It’s a good time to come up with a special run. And that touchdown run of his was by far his best touchdown run of the season. And that’s what we wanted, we wanted somebody special.”
Beckles likes how each game there are two or three different guys making big contributions. Beckles thought in this respect, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting deserved props because he might be blossoming before our eyes:
“Murphy-Bunting, three interceptions one in each playoff game? That’s unheard of! That is how greatness is formed. He hasn’t been great so far but look for Murphy-Bunting to become a star just from the confidence he has gained throughout the playoffs.”
On Scotty Miller’s 39-yard touchdown:
“When that ball left Brady’s hand I knew that was going to be a touchdown because I saw that coverage and knew Scotty Miller would get behind them. That might have been what won the game for us, for sure.”
The Super Bowl could be lost this week if the players get lazy:
“These players have got to be smart. You know what you don’t want to do? Listen to this closely: You don’t want to come down with COVID and miss a damn Super Bowl, OK? So stay your @ss inside. And stay away from people, OK? Think about that. Think about missing the Super Bowl because you get COVID. So these guys need to roll around in plastic bubbles.”
The Chiefs are beatable:
“Tough task in beating Kansas City. OK. There were people wondering if we could beat Washington. And there was a lot of people doubting that we could beat the Saints. And then there were people including myself that were doubting they could beat Green Bay.”
Beckles thinks the fate of the Bucs will come down to the offense:
“The Bucs just need to outscore Kansas City. Their defense can be had.”
On basking in the glow of a Bucs Super Bowl run:
“Life is good. God bless Tom Brady, that is for sure.”
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages listeners to submit Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
Tables are going fast at our Clearwater location! Call and reserve your table ASAP! #SuperBowl #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/tyMUyTBHjD
— Big Storm Brewing Co (@BigStormBrewing) January 29, 2021
Enjoy the world renowned Ira Kaufman Podcast, Episode 2 of this week, presented by Bill Currie Ford.
January 30th, 2021 at 5:08 am
He adds nothing.
January 30th, 2021 at 6:16 am
Must be nice to talk Football and get paid$
January 30th, 2021 at 6:26 am
“Murphy-Bunting, three interceptions one in each playoff game? That’s unheard of!
___________
Oh yes Ian….. unheard of.
Except it has been “heard” of before.
Rare occurrence?
Yes indeed.
January 30th, 2021 at 8:04 am
The chiefs are beatable. Just like he said about the saints. Such insight.
January 30th, 2021 at 8:12 am
All things Bucs
I don’t always appreciate his take on things but in the long run, he’s a fan just like the rest of us.
I don’t always appreciate the takes of some of the posters on this site but they’re fans too(mostly) and can have insights that I have not considered before.
He’s not incorrect about line play being key to winning. He’s also correct that if we get lazy, we lose. Of course. anyone with half a brain can see that.
Basking in the moment?
Again… All things Bucs!
January 30th, 2021 at 8:13 am
I have to agree with beckles who is ehhhhh in my opinion
-Smb has been toast for most of his 2 years. And it takes time for dbs. Brian kelly needed year 3 to show up. SMB may be MVP of playoffs on defensive side. 3 picks in a row is straight up nasty. And led to scooter pass before half. Hope this is technically him blowing up in (normal) year 3
-AB does need to play. He has best hands on team and probably tops in nfl. Bucs have to many drops of late. I think brady has even lost some trust in mike evans who again is probably my favorite buc. But he is not grabbing the dang ball. Brady needs to trust receiver and you can see that with godwin. No more drops
– winfield needs to play and i think he will. Even as a rookie , he is our best DB on team. He will only get better too
-our defense and oline will be key now that vea back. Suh not doubled and jpp and shaq had 5 sacks last game as a result. Hopefully someone is writing mahommes eulogy right now.
-playoff lenny. I admit i was wrong. I was more on rojo train early on. I thought fournette avoided to much contact for a big running back. He is maybe offensive mvp in playoffs. That run against green bay should go into buc history archives.
-it will come to offense. In red zone we need tds and not FGs
-however life is not good for some “buc fans”. Cmon you know who you are. The trolls that wont post under original name cause team successful under guy not names winston. 😂
January 30th, 2021 at 8:51 am
KC is beatable! One of the main reason Pat’s won so many games was that teams came into games already intimidated. Bucs can’t think this of KC. 2 things worry me, David’s hammy and I got a bad feeling moment maybe too big for Mickens and he does something stupid. There is no reason Bucs and hang with Chiefs and beat them.
January 30th, 2021 at 9:15 am
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m still pinching myself. Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the NFC Champions and playing in the Super Bowl next Sunday! Unbelievable. I’ve been wearing a proud smile on my face for 6 days now.
January 30th, 2021 at 11:50 am
The man played 9 years in the NFL. I think his opinion carries weight. He recognizes the Bucs have improved and proved they belong in the Super Bowl. That’s a good thing.
January 30th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
I was furious when Ian took over the big dogs spot. He has been growing on me. I actually agree with him on a lot of things. Also I learn some stuff. When Ron And Ian were on in the afternoon they took up half the show guessing the age of people who weren’t even sports related. That was the most moronic thing I have heard on sports radio. The throw it back segment they switched to was a small step up. I like the show better now that Ron left as they stick mostly to the sports.
January 30th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
Wannabee pimp, Nothing more.
January 31st, 2021 at 1:46 am
Ian Beckles is a popular radio host? Wow. That’s really sad, Tampa used to be a top radio market in terms of talent, tons of guys who became national stars got started in Tampa as radio companies like to test people in this market since it’s such a diverse population and a good cross section of the country. For a no-talent blow hard like Beckles to be called popular just shows what a truly sorry state radio is in.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:59 am
Y’all need to relax in anointing Fournette as anything other than author of one of the greatest runs in Bucs history. The four tackles he broke in that run were the only four he had all post season…. and probably equal the number of drops. He’s average. Rojo is easily our best RB. His hands will improve. Cadillac Williams was one of the worst receiving RBs I’d ever seen and before he left Tampa he was our 3rd down RB. He will get better. Don’t forget the 30+ yard TD catch and run against the Chiefs earlier this year. He is a major threat.