Judging From Bruce Arians’ Words, Jaelon Darden Seems Safe
August 30th, 2021
Bruce Arians defends.
It sure didn’t seem like rookie Jaelon Darden had a good game Saturday night. But Joe is not a Bucs coach and was watching a TV broadcast with a naked eye. Coaches look at (and see) the game differently using All-22.
Now Joe figured all along that Darden, a fourth-round pick the Bucs traded up for, was going to make the team unless he was the bad Dexter Jackson-horrible. (Even then, Jackson survived for weeks before Chucky could no longer stomach him any longer).
Joe thought Darden had a bad game in Houston, the result of a meh preseason and a training camp where he seemed to plateau two weeks ago. Joe even made the case that Darden was not yet the best return man on the Bucs.
In speaking yesterday in his day-after presser, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians defended Darden — but not his botched pass route that caused Blaine Gabbert to throw a pick.
The way Arians spoke about Darden, it appears he may be the Bucs’ return guy a week from Thursday when the Bucs open the season against Dallas.
“Return game-wise, he’s fine,” Arians said of Darden. “We’ve got to block for him better, give him a chance, but he showed his speed getting around the corner and doing some of those things.
“Receiver-wise, he’s still learning the nuances of different coverages – do you run this route versus that, and this and that? So, the dependability isn’t quite where it can be.
“When he knows what he’s doing, it’s impressive. We’ve just got to do a better job of getting him to know what he’s doing.”
Well, coaches generally don’t drop the word “impressive” on a player who may get cut. So that further reinforces Joe’s notion that Darden is safe.
It’s very likely that Arians and the Bucs’ braintrust already know the 53 guys that initially will make the cut. Arians said yesterday the team was meeting all day to set the roster, but likely would not release names until Tuesday. Basically, Arians said they had 48 players decided and were unsure of the final five.
Of course, those five might be hanging on for dear life as Bucs players. Arians already said the Bucs will be sifting through the newly unemployed players throughout the league to determine who the Bucs may sign before kickoff against Dallas.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:04 am
Darden = potential
Not many teams will cut their 4th round picks unless they are awfully terrible. The biggest risk of cuts are usually between rounds 5-7.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:23 am
No worries he’s young n still learning on the job. Remember when folks were all over RoJo calling him a bust. Former Bucs coaches failed to do their job to pair him up with someone to elevate his confidence. The skills were there all along. Post Koetter, great coaching identified glitches n flaws then made corrections. JD will be fine. On to another topic, the player that continues to do the same thing for the past 5 yrs is OJ Howard. I disagree with the commentators when they said he did a good job blocking on Keshawn Vaughn’s fumble at the line of scrimmage. Howard was timid n passive as he failed to square up with the linebacker to prevent the disruption. As a matter of fact the linebacker simultaneously handle OJ n Vaughn which caused the fumble.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:24 am
Have some patience with the young grasshopper. He has some great receivers and TB12 to learn from.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:30 am
TB12 will groom this kid to be his next great smurf: Edelman, Amendola.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:38 am
I think he’ll be fine but way too much east and west on the punt returns. Make the the first guy miss, plant your foot and go north and south.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:55 am
Yup , extra receiver with mickens too and only 3 tight ends.
August 30th, 2021 at 7:10 am
One cut !
Then put your foot in the ground and get upfield!
August 30th, 2021 at 7:52 am
“When he knows what he’s doing”……sounds like a heap of rookie mistakes….but not ability…..he may be a bit of a project, but he’s certainly worth it.
As long as he doesn’t fumble…..I’m beginning to worry about Keyshawn Vaughn’s ball control.
August 30th, 2021 at 7:54 am
I would still keep Mickens also. Use him for kickoffs and Darden for punts.
August 30th, 2021 at 8:53 am
When you’re still unsure of the final 5 spots, it tells you guys didn’t show up enough against Hooston, then again a lot of them didn’t the other two games either. Our 3rd and 4th stringers were horrendous, especially our lines and STs.
Time to check the waiver for sure
August 30th, 2021 at 8:55 am
You guys have a great podcast, but contemplating if Darden or Hainsey are going to make the team was a waste of time on the podcast. There is absolutely no chance either of them will be cut. They both may be inactive early in the season, but they will both easily make the team.
My guess on draft picks being cut are Grant Stuard and Chris Wilcox.
Wilcox has not shown much. Stuard is on the ground a bunch and he lost containment on at least three long runs Saturday night. I think he lacks the athletic ability to play in the NFL.
August 30th, 2021 at 9:38 am
Man Joe you were really grinding me yesterday pre BA PC that Mickens was the superior return man and Darden had a good chance to go to the practice squad. But that’s the past. Now we’re looking at Darden and Mickens future. I wish we could keep them all cus this is the most talented roster of all time.
August 30th, 2021 at 10:43 am
Darden, Howard, Garrett & Vaughn haven’t showed me anything but BA seems to be in love with these losers. Don’t even get me started on lazy ass Smith.
August 30th, 2021 at 10:47 am
Darden surely hasn’t shown me much to get excited about. Conversely, JTS is impressing more and more as we work towards Sept 9th. I was expecting just the opposite. Was waiting to see Darden juke and jive on kick offs and punts and take it to the house a couple of times. Didn’t happen. I expected Tryon to slowly develop over time. He has exploded and still has a lot to learn. His potential is through the roof.
August 30th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Return guy at this point. I’d probably try to pick up Perriman and put Darden on the practice squad as Darden has simply been Mediocre.
August 30th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
It took RoJo a year to understand that a move only worked if you were going down hill and then you only had one juke ! Dancing doesn’t work in the NFL
August 30th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
He’s explosive with damn good hands from everything we have heard. There’s no doubt in my mind he will be returning Punts And seeing some playing time as the year goes on
August 30th, 2021 at 10:09 pm
TOM.. you are kidding…right?
Smith is part of a superior O line. I wouldn’t want to change any of them.
Howard..have to give him his last chance to shine here before he hits FA. The injury bug has slowed him down.
Vaughn. If he can be a serviceable number 2 next year, I’m fine with that.
Darden..a forth round rookie…enough said.
Garrett…Who is that? You mean JTS, possibly the next Myles Garrett?