Bruce Arians On Antoine Winfield: “He Did Way, Way More Than Chase Young’s 7 1/2 Sacks”
January 18th, 2021
It was the punch heard from Tarpon Springs to Ruskin.
Bucs rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr. delivered a Mike Tyson body shot of a right hand to Saints tight end Jared Cook midway through the third quarter yesterday and out popped the football.
Devin White scooped it up and the Saints literally never recovered.
That forced fumble “changed the whole ballgame,” Bucco Bruce Arians noted today. But Arians had more to say about 22-year-old Winfield this evening.
Arians seems a little irked that bloviating, trash-talking Washington defensive end Chase Young gets more national love than his rookie safety.
“He’s so prepared, you know. He’s a five-year vet, really, when you think about the maturity level,”‘ Arians said of Winfield tonight on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “Again, to me he was [NFL] Defensive Rookie of the Year. He did way, way more than Chase Young’s 7 1/2 sacks. I know he didn’t get it, but we think he’s the best player.”
Joe always get a laugh out of coaches who say their players are under-loved by media and fans. If that’s the case, then schedule some national interviews and fix the darn situation.
The perception and propaganda game is very much in the hands of coaches and organizations. It’s a game the Bucs never have really understood or embraced. (See this year’s Pro Bowl roster) Blame no longer can fall on losing or a lack of national spotlight, so maybe it’s time for the team to turn that spotlight inward.
Regardless, Joe agrees with Arians. Winfield has played like a consistent veteran since Day 1, and he’s made his share of big plays. Young may be a more valuable player and a sexy name, but Joe would give the better season to Winfield.
January 18th, 2021 at 6:24 pm
Stick up for your boys coach! I love it!!
January 18th, 2021 at 6:25 pm
LOL @ “bloviating”
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From the Oxford Dictionary:
blo·vi·ate
/ˈblōvēˌāt/
to talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.
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January 18th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
Think back to the last 2 or more seasons. We complained nearly every week about our Safety play. We lost games because of our Safeties.
This year, all year, we’ve been bragging about our Safety. Yesterday we won because of our Safety.
January 18th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
@Joe. I think BA actually has a valid point. A coach should never have to go out of their way to ‘sell’ a player.
National Pundits should take time at the end of the yr to ACTUALLY evaluate each rookie instead of just carrying on the popular schpeel that was regurgitated ad nauseum in the beginning of the yr when they jumped on the bandwagon.
January 18th, 2021 at 6:37 pm
This is the first time since John Lynch that I can say I feel better about our secondary situation, especially at safety.
January 18th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
The coaches job is to coach. The media’s job is to state the facts. Unfortunately, the media just manipulates to satisfy income$.
I like to read the nuggets of information while skipping the BS. Thank Joe for the Sage and his great articles! But don’t get me wrong I do enjoy the nuggets!
January 18th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
God yes.
The Bucs have had some epic fail at safety up until recently.
Conte Piscatelli? that guy was really bad
January 18th, 2021 at 6:59 pm
Hold on, the way Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy kissed his a$$ all game long i would have sworn that Chase Young was the second coming of Lawrence Taylor?
January 18th, 2021 at 7:01 pm
I rarely post but during the draft I posted Winfield wouldn’t amount to much…I’m here to admit I’m an idiot.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:08 pm
If this defense can keep performing, Tampa Bay will keep on winning.
Think they can do it for 2 more games?
January 18th, 2021 at 7:09 pm
Be careful Howard Cosell, Conte is Don Barzini’s grandson 😂😂
January 18th, 2021 at 7:11 pm
Howard. Is amazing how much better out safety play has been since we stopped trying to find a white gut to be the next John Lynch
January 18th, 2021 at 7:12 pm
Age 22 is the best part. You can tell he is a smart player
And the dude looks barely 5’9
I May be getting his jersey soon.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:14 pm
As I am re-watching the game right now, that first interception was 80% Devon White’s contribution. SMB got pretty lucky there
January 18th, 2021 at 7:19 pm
Oh snap, Ruskin on the map.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:30 pm
How about Sean Murphy F’ing Bunting?
That game he played was bada$$.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:31 pm
When the Bucs selected Winfield in 2nd round i was skeptical, too many DBs the Bucs selected in years past did not pan out. Winfield is the real deal, he’s just instinctive, something you can’t coach.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:33 pm
Joe … I’m hesitant to ask you to unpack WHY you think that Chase Young is a ‘sexy name’ so I won’t.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:40 pm
This kid will be a HoF’r if he keeps this up.
January 18th, 2021 at 7:41 pm
We sure are set at Safety now! I love it! Finally!!!
January 18th, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Best Bucs safety since Tjack
January 18th, 2021 at 7:47 pm
Called this pick the day of the draft – the pedigree and instincts are 2nd to none- 10 year starter, Pro Bowler and overall team leader, maybe JL’s best pick ever based on value
LOVE the kid
January 18th, 2021 at 8:02 pm
I was a fan of Antoine Winfield Sr., smaller guy who would stick guys in the running game. You can tell Jr. loves football and will only get better.
January 18th, 2021 at 8:08 pm
Think about the contributions yesterday from recent draft picks.
2020
Wirfs held jordan to 0 sacks 0 TFL and 1 qb hit.
Winfield had a FF and 5 solo tackles
Johnson had an amazing catch on 3rd down to keep an important drive alive
2019
Devin white had 10 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pick.
SMB had 5 solos, 1 TFL, 2 deflections and a pick.
Jemel dean had 3 solos and a deflection.
Edwards had the game sealing pick.
Thats huge contributions, mostly on defense just from the last 2 years. And thats noy mentioning Davis who gave up all of 0 catches to thomas. All these guys are balling. IMo winfield could easily be the DROY and Wirfs could be OROY if the award was unbiased to qbs and pass rushers.
January 18th, 2021 at 8:10 pm
This team now has game-changers on both sides of the ball. On the defensive side it is Devin White. He’s learning how to manipulate quarterbacks. That combined with his speed and instincts make him scary for opposing offenses
January 18th, 2021 at 8:11 pm
No coincidence that the Bucs D suddenly became effective in New Orleans
January 18th, 2021 at 8:24 pm
The Skins didn’t promote Young. He got his on draft night. All eyes on the draft. Bucs didn’t show up primetime. If they want awards they will have to. All I want is the trophy. Leave the rest to you spotlight seekers. The one’s who dont buy tickets so you love the national media
January 18th, 2021 at 8:38 pm
It was definitely the biggest play of the game! The Saints score there they go up by two scores and momentum swings their way and maybe we don’t recover.
January 18th, 2021 at 8:39 pm
This kid it’s a chip of the old block in every sense a baller
January 18th, 2021 at 8:41 pm
@ The Scourge
Kudos to you sir for owning up. I am just glad that Npup and the Sheep lover do not posses your intestinal fortitude.
Good riddance!
January 18th, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Chase Young did more talking than playing when we played them. Every single camera shot he had to be in.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Kgh– Only people on JBF think the bucs aren’t good at drafting DBs. That’s a complete lack of draft knowledge. Licht drafted an entire squad of above average DBs without using a 1st round pick. Almost every player hit. VH3 was over drafted but is still a starter in the NFL. MJ Stewart was starting this year. Licht got 3 starting CBS after the 1st round. 3 starting safeties after the 1st. One was a 4th. The average fan has a totally overblown expectation of the draft. Most teams are lucky to hit on 25% of their picks. Don’t even get me started on WRs. If licht drafts a receiver you can take that pick to the bank almost every time.
January 18th, 2021 at 9:44 pm
@Joe How’s your site been looking these past couple weeks? Bet it’s been out of this world.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:08 pm
Can we figure out a way to start Mike Edwards? The guy is a ball hawk having him plus FS and Winfield maybe play slot so he can attack the QB more is something I would like to see more next season
January 18th, 2021 at 10:11 pm
Can we find a way to start Mike Edwards and Winfield? Maybe put Winfield in the slot a little more
January 18th, 2021 at 10:35 pm
As the second overall pick in last year’s draft Young has underachieved. 7.5 sacks is ok, but I’ve always thought that getting at least 10 was required to be considered a good pass rusher? If Winfield played in the Northeast, he would already be considered a sure fire hall of famer by the doorknobs that cover football up there.
January 18th, 2021 at 10:45 pm
He was great and I believe him and Whitehead will be the safety tandem for a long time but… They both need to improve at the number one rule of a safety-
Do not let a receiver get over top of you
January 18th, 2021 at 10:51 pm
WhattheBuc.
You are absolutely correct. There’s so many haters on this website when it comes to the GM and draft picks. They look at a reach with a kicker and never let him live that one down. To me it is a lot of ignorance.
Licht has been great, he put together the team that’s going to the NFC championship game right now.
The problem is this Fanbase will sit there and point to 2-3 picks (that the majority of them applauded on draft day) and say who they could’ve gotten in hindsight. It’s a joke.
He has been one of the best GM’s in the league
One thing no one ever talks about is how stability with coaching helps a GM and vice versa. Just like stability with the coaching staff helps quarterback development.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:22 pm
I said this earlier this year, the kid only has 4 sacks less than Young while doing a hell of a lot more to disrupt games. He makes plays all the field, including the backfield.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:37 pm
David, exactly. And when licht got here it was a mess. The mess continued a few years while he figured it out and this is the product. A few more solid drafts with a good qb and this team is set for many years to come.
January 18th, 2021 at 11:39 pm
Win in February and every starter is known by the press.
Then you go back to work and focus on getting to next February. Repeat x 7+.
January 19th, 2021 at 9:59 am
We are a MUCH better man coverage team, than a zone team.
January 19th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
How many game winning plays does chase young have this year? Winfield has at least two game winning plays that pop to mind and I may not be remembering everything haha! But the strip last game and the game where he was between the ball and receiver in the end zone. Two huge plays this season that actually effected the outcome of games, which we won. In the future things perhaps will be different, but this year Winfield was better.
January 19th, 2021 at 11:52 pm
Winfield reminds me a lot of Ronde. Instinctive. Unafraid of the big moments. Draft steal.