“It’s About Winning Championships”
September 5th, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
So the Bucs have one of the most loaded collections of passing weapons the game has ever seen. Generally, if a fan’s team is fortunate enough to have such a collection, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
Receivers tend to be divas. We know that. Not to mention when you throw in excellent tight ends and dangerous running backs.
But there is but one ball. How do you allow each man — who has an ego — to wet his beak enough to be satisfied? Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians was asked this today. He was queried if keeping egos in check is an undervalued obstacle for a team making a second straight Super Bowl run.
Arians seemed to indicate today his players know the true value and goal of what the Bucs are trying to accomplish this season.
“Our team knows it is about winning,” Arians said. “It’s not about individual stats. It’s not about fantasy games. It’s about winning ballgames and winning championships.”
Could it also be about history? The Bucs, if they could repeat, will only be the second team to do so this century. And if the Bucs pull off another championship season, it could mean lifetime glory for many.
The Bucs will likely become a modern-day dynasty with another title. The salary cap virtually prevents teams from becoming dynasties. And dynasty teams often have several members who become enshrined into Canton.
Perhaps the Bucs understand that a second title means all get to wet their beaks for many more years, if not decades, to come.
September 5th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
Every year Brady is here we are a relevant threat.
September 5th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
That’s why Mike Evans will have under 800yds this season. No more forcing the ball to this guy
September 5th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Guy probably drew more PI’s than any receiver in the league. He’s also a monster anywhere near the end zone
September 5th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Pete…the beauty of a passer like Brady is that he will normally only deliver the ball to the open man. You don’t get open? You don’t get the ball. No need to force it to anyone, with all these quality receivers and TE’s. At least one will be open…it is incumbent on Brady to find one of them.
September 5th, 2021 at 4:21 pm
Mike Evans will still have a MONSTER year and put up huge stats. He’s still the #1 WR and will be Tom’s “first option” on most plays. When Tom makes his reads, if Evans is open or has his man beat, that’s where he’s going with the ball. Mike usually gets open pretty easily, so he’ll get plenty of opportunities.
Especially if Mike is covered one-on-one. It’s very very hard to beat Mike on 50/50 balls if you’re a smaller defensive back.
Evans will also continue to dominate the red zone. I bet he has 15+ TDs this year to go with his 13 last year.
Godwin will open things up in the middle and make it a lot harder to teams to double-team Mike to his side.
And then of course… how do you dare leave AB one-on-one?
HAHAHA oh man… this is going to be a SCARY OFFENSE for a team to defend against.
With a little more creativity with the play-calling, utilizing the TEs in routes and Bernard and other backs out of the backfield… holy crap will this be an offense that’s very hard to stop.
September 5th, 2021 at 4:22 pm
The Pass Rush may really FEAST this season. Most teams may fall behind us early and have to go to the air more to try and catch up – this is only going to let our Pass Rush be more aggressive.
The teams we will struggle with are the balanced teams that will commit to the run & pass and be okay with quick, short underneath and slant routes.
September 5th, 2021 at 4:39 pm
There are no divas here,with one possible exception, who seems to be under Tom’s spell.
September 5th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
This team is going to break all kinds of records. Wouldn’t surprise me, particularly with 17 games, to have 3 receivers break 1,000 yds this year. Unless he’s injured (fingers crossed), Evans will have 8 straight years of 1000 receiving yards. Crazy!
September 5th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
@Mark2001
The majority of TB12’s INT’s & incompletions last season were b/c he was trying to FORCE the ball to Mike Evans. That nonsense is OVER this season
September 5th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
50-15 . I think we can live with those numbers Pete.
September 5th, 2021 at 5:34 pm
Medicated, ME13 will hit 1,000 yards once again, just like he has for the past SEVEN seasons. Take a close look at what he did last season playing with Tom Brady and you’ll become a believer.
In Mike’s first 6 seasons, he was targeted an average of 139 times each season, and averaged 77 catches per season. That’s a catch percentage of 55.4% average … almost all of those with Jameis Winston.
Last season Mike was targeted only 109 times in 16 games, the lowest in his 7 seasons (and 32 targets below his seasonal average). He caught 70 of those for a catch percentage of 64.2% … nearly 10% MORE than his seasonal average. He had the most TDs of any of his 7 seasons (13) to go with that highest catch % of his career. Isn’t it amazing what having the best QB of all time throwing to you can do for your stats.
With 17 games this season, Mike would only need to be targeted between 6-7 times per game, and catch a little over 4 of those to make his 1,000 yards. Assuming of course that he once again averages the same 14.4 yds/reception like he did last year (which was the 3rd lowest of his career BTW). Yes Tom Brady has a lot of other targets to throw to, but don’t sell Mike Evans short. He’s still our #1 receiver.
September 5th, 2021 at 8:33 pm
Pete.. Last year he didn’t have all the timing down with Godwin, Brown only played half the season, and Gronk was out of shape. And I think some of those intercepted balls were because of the knee injury. I expect him to cut those INTs, maybe about in half, this year.
September 5th, 2021 at 8:37 pm
Also Pete, Evans said his connection with Tom Brady was miles better than it was last year, now that they have worked together for a year. So I expect great things from all of them.
September 5th, 2021 at 11:56 pm
Spirited discussion among real fans here. I love it!
I am going to make a special effort to remember to take a close look at the offensive stats after the EIGHTEENTH game. I will be thinking about today’s debates.
Go Bucs!
September 6th, 2021 at 12:04 am
A senior moment! 🙃
I meant to say I will look at the “season” stats after the SIXTEENTH game.
September 6th, 2021 at 9:53 am
Jimbo I was actually thinking you meant after the 1st postseason game.
There are so many scenarios of where Tom will go but that latest drive in preseason sure indicated Godwin would see the Lions share of targets.
They could all have 1,200 yds plus and 12 TDs in 17 games when Brady throws 55+ TDs.
You don’t think that’s a record that irks him?
What a year to take a stab right.