Will Bruce Arians Outcoach Andy Reid?
February 5th, 2021
It all feels like ancient history. But do you remember when Bucco Bruce Arians called back-to-back timeouts?
And that time he played scared and took penalties to back up his bad kicker for what was a game-losing field goal?
What about in October of this season, when Arians was the opposite of bold with a shot to close out a critical game?
Again, like Joe wrote, that all feels like ancient history.
Joe believes Arians has improved along with the Bucs. He doesn’t feel like the same coach who arrived in Tampa to start last season. Overall, the Bucs are on a 19-8 run since opening 2-6 in the first half of last season.
Asked this week about how much he learns from Tom Brady, Arians said it’s been quite a lot and if you’re not learning as a head coach then you’re not growing. Hey, The Brady Effect runs deep.
Arians coached the Bucs out of their slow starts and the nasty penalty habit that plagued the team earlier this season. He likes to say the players tune him out but listen to Tom Brady, but Joe’s not buying that. Coaching matters a lot.
This all gets Joe to Sunday’s Super Bowl coaching matchup. Joe loves how the Bucs stack up talent-wise to the Chiefs, but Joe is having trouble making a case for Arians’ staff being better than Andy Reid’s.
Reid has that crazy regular-season record of 18-3 following a bye week, and he’s 6-2 after first-round byes in the playoffs. And, of course, he won last year’s Super Bowl against San Francisco after a pseudo bye week for both teams, making up for his Super Bowl loss with the Eagles.
Nothing about that 25-7 combined mark is a coincidence, and Joe can’t ignore it — or the tremendous challenge it represents for Arians. The Chiefs will be more than ready for whatever the Bucs throw at them.
Joe has no doubt the Bucs can win the Super Bowl, but Joe believes it will take a Hall of Fame coaching job by Arians.
And if Arians adds a Super Bowl win over this Chiefs juggernaut to his resumé, then he probably belongs in the Hall of Fame alongside Reid one day.
February 5th, 2021 at 7:37 am
He’d better.
February 5th, 2021 at 7:49 am
Sorry to say, I don’t think so. I do think the leadership on the field can make up the difference though.
February 5th, 2021 at 7:53 am
I think the thing I like most about Arians is he’s just a good guy, with a good heart that’s in the right place. Sometimes that’s all you need…
February 5th, 2021 at 7:56 am
Don’t overthink it. Empower Bowles, Byron, and Brady to win this game.
Hit them in the mouth, dominate the LOS, swarm the ball, and tackle/block with authority. This is for all the marbles.
February 5th, 2021 at 8:01 am
So what happened to Ira’s podcast it’s super bowl week and only one pod? Is it cause It’s is a Chiefs fan hmmm? Silence from NPR! Haha. Funny. Two podcasts still to come this week.–Joe
February 5th, 2021 at 8:01 am
All coaches have bad games in their past. Andy Reid was known as a big game choker his whole career until he got Mahomes. Terrible time management skills in the Super Bowl against the Pats and several other times. It only matters where they r at mentally now. Reid gets a pass on his past because he’s well liked.
February 5th, 2021 at 8:07 am
Do coaches make the players? Or do the players make the coaches?
Perhaps we should ask Mr. Bellicheat?
February 5th, 2021 at 8:13 am
Each coach has their own style of coaching and their own view of how they want the game played. If they have the wrong talent around them, they fail. A truly good coach adjusts his style to the talent he has while teaching that talent to play the way he wants.
I think Ariens checks those boxes this year.
February 5th, 2021 at 8:18 am
I also recall Reid being thought of as choker til along comes Mahomes, the ultimate eraser. This game will come down to who has the dominant defensive line, and that’s us. Go Bucs!
February 5th, 2021 at 8:25 am
Reid and his Eagles choked against us, in their own Stadium.
February 5th, 2021 at 8:26 am
It would not surprise me. So far they have outcoached everyone in the playoffs, including the great Sean Payton.
Can I just say I am sick of hearing – how can the Bucs defense stop KC.
The Bucs have one of the best defenses in the NFL and have been playing out of their minds in the playoffs.
The question should be – how can KC stop the Bucs?
They are probably the worst defense the Buccaneers are facing in the playoffs. The Buccaneers have put up at least 30 every playoff game and a few more before that.
They average more points per game than KC.
LFG!
February 5th, 2021 at 8:30 am
No and KC’s staff is better. Reid is known to have clock issues when he’s under pressure. This game will come down to Bucs players. One very noticeable difference is KC’s return & coverage special teams are far superior to Bucs. Harmon is just as dangerous as Harris from NO.
February 5th, 2021 at 8:33 am
@David. Agreed. The Bucs offense is being disrespected to a degree.
February 5th, 2021 at 9:11 am
The simple answer to that headline question is No. He lacks the creativity to out-coach Andy Reid. But we could be better prepared.
February 5th, 2021 at 9:19 am
Both coaches not particularly good game managers or clock managers. Reid’s seems better in the planning department. Arians seems better in making adjustments during the game. It will come down to who plays better on the field.
February 5th, 2021 at 9:34 am
Thanks Joe I rely on you guys during game week! I was joking about Ira!
February 5th, 2021 at 10:58 am
I wasn’t a believer in Arians but since beating the Saints I feel there is empirical evidence that we are the better team. I have never felt this confident about my team.
February 5th, 2021 at 11:48 am
It looks to be a great game.
February 5th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
In these playoffs alone he’s outcoached Sean Payton and Matt LaFleur, so let’s make Andy Reid a 3rd!
(Might be a stretch to say he outcoached Ron Rivera, but we still won handily nonetheless)
February 5th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
until last year, Reid was famous for confusing late-game management and not capping off some stellar seasons by going all the way. 2 super bowl runs later, he’s invincible in the postseason.
Both coaches will make enough good decisions to win, and the losing coach will be cast as a “choker” or bad decision maker based on a little bit of difference in luck and player execution
February 5th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
Two DIFFERENT coaches and coaching styles. More importantly than “out-coaching” Reid, is NOT to out-coach himself.
Mike Tyson famously opined that “Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth!”
We got here just fine with THIS coaching. Don’t overthink it. Punch them square in the mouth over and over and over…
February 5th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
The Bucs have a plan for Tyreek, Kelce and young Mahomes up until the plan goes out the window and we play ball. The refs probably have a plan too and that will matter in this game.
February 5th, 2021 at 7:00 pm
I would have to be objective here and say that Andy Reid is the better coach. Andy is always on the cutting edge of offenses, always adjusting and adapting to the times, while Bruce has predominately stayed with his system only putting in new wrinkles every so often. Ultimately Bruce will not outcoach Andy this Sunday, I’ll leave that up to Bowles.
February 5th, 2021 at 7:03 pm
no, 100% no.
February 5th, 2021 at 8:30 pm
Jan 2003 is the only thing I remember about Reid.
February 5th, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Who cares who is the best coach between tow great coaches? They are different. And they have a different approach to the game entirely.
The question is: who will put his talented players in the best position to win?
A good game plan for the kind of tallents yours own guys have on tour team is mandatory. Without it, even the best roaster cannot win.
What are the aptitudes of your players on your team? With these guys, what is the best way to win? And it’s not the same game plan you will do if you coach another team with guys who have another skill set. Believe me.
Reid and Arians must find what their own guys can do best. Only after that, they can decide how to approach this peculiar opponent. So, they will have a different game plan from each other, because they have different skills sets on their own team.
So, to decide who is the best coach with one game is futile. No comparaison is possible, because they have different players with different skills sets to coach.
One thing only is sure: they are both good enough to go to a super bowl. And it tells usual, that they are damn good coachs!
GO BUCS!