Bruce Arians: Antonio Brown Fill-Ins Aren’t Winning
November 17th, 2021
Sunday’s Capitol Clunker was a hell of a day for expressing the value of Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin.
The guys filling in for Brown at No. 3 receiver couldn’t beat man coverage, says head coach Bucco Bruce Arians, whereas Brown always beats man coverage.
Arians was firm in that assessment during a stint on his streaming show at Buccaneers.com yesterday.
“The No. 3 receiver, whoever it might be, whether it’s Tyler [Johnson], [Breshad Perriman], Jaylon [Darden], whoever it is right now needs to step up,” Arians said. “… Those guys are getting singled; they gotta win.”
Joe really was disappointed in Johnson’s play Sunday. This was an ideal game for him to shine, but he didn’t. Joe was expecting a lot more than three catches for 17 yards. Johnson did nothing to make anyone consider him a strong No. 3 receiver let alone a potential replacement for Godwin.
The Bucs can have a special offense without Antonio Brown, as they did for much of last season including in postseason games. But they need someone to step up.
November 17th, 2021 at 9:53 am
They were NOT special before AB showed up…….they limped through to mid season. maybe W’s, but they were not looking like a SB team.
right now they look like burnt toast
November 17th, 2021 at 9:55 am
Tyler will never replace Godwin … He will complement him if anything … BA how about using ur top targets more , might have better luck wit them then asking the backend to step up . BA too smart for himself sometimes lol
GoBucs!
November 17th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Shocker, huh?
The reason why Brady loves to throw to Gronk and AB is because they have sky-high football IQs. They know how to read the defense and run the right route. I’ve seen Brady ignore receivers either intentionally or unintentionally, purely because they are nowhere they are supposed to be as he quickly scans the field.
November 17th, 2021 at 9:57 am
AB has Hall of Fame skills & Bruce never wanted him here. GM TB12 forced it to happen
November 17th, 2021 at 10:01 am
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are dumb and struggle reading defenses and cannot run routes? May want to rethink this.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:03 am
No, I’m not rethinking this. I’ve been watching Brady since the 2000 Orange Bowl. How long have you been watching him?
November 17th, 2021 at 10:09 am
How long have you been watching Mike Evans and Chris Godwin? They didn’t seem to have any issues with lesser quarterbacks and reading defenses and running routes. And, Evans was open most of Sunday afternoon.
All of a sudden Evans and Godwin are the problem? Rethink for your own sake.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:10 am
CG can run routes.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:20 am
Here’s the point that I think you’re missing, Joe. The receivers are supposed to run static routes; Brady wants his receivers to run option routes. He wants receivers to be able to read what the defense is giving them and adjust, because defenses can be disguised prior to the snap. This means you need a good football IQ and spend time in the film room understanding the team you’re going to face.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Everyone these days works in absolutes…
O’s issues are partly on TB12, WR’s, TE’s, O-Line, RB’s…its not absolute. They have to figure out how to work within one another’s strengths.
The D…well…not sure there. That may simply be age/personnel unfortunately. When the secondary semi-heals, maybe it gets better, but I am not expecting a 180. Let’s try to not totally stink first.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:31 am
CG and ME, not only know how to run routes, they are top 3 WR duos on the league, and Tyler is a good prospect……last year was awesome this one so so….But makes sense…..Is a matter of being patience and not overthinking…..
Everybody knows the Bucs are not playing well….Again, patience is key….
November 17th, 2021 at 10:33 am
Yes, Evans and Godwin have great attributes that you want in WRs. Yes they both can run routes. The question is whether they’re running the right option on the routes.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:34 am
ABs nor Gronks replacements.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:37 am
The dynamics changed when Gronk and AB went out . Simple as that.
November 17th, 2021 at 10:38 am
I said it before, but you’ve gotta play coverage and hope you’ve got a couple dogs that can spook Brady and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. Saints did it, and Washington did it just enough. The issue is less guys not winning their routes, more that the O-Line had probably their worst game of the season. Also wish they’d use Gio more if teams are going to insist on playing two-high all day. Lenny is just average as a pass catcher, and with AB and Gronk out Gio is probably the best short area guy they’ve got.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:10 am
I’ll tell you something else: Gronk fill-ins are getting *any* job done either.
I am officially on the anti-OJ Howard team. That guy is totally MIA.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:16 am
“Capital Clunker” – nice one Joe!
November 17th, 2021 at 11:47 am
Johnson isn’t going to replace anyone, Perriman was with the team for, like, three days, and Darden got the wind knocked out of him early. Getting the wind knocked out of you isn’t really a big deal, in a day or so, but it hurts for a day.
Why wasn’t Grayson stuck in and told to run as fast as he can. The object is to blow the top off the defense, not run slants and posts.
Game plan was still a stake vanilla biscuit, no matter how you justify it.
November 17th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Here is a newsflash….Fill ins for Gronk aren’t working….as are fill ins for Davis & SMB……..we are getting hosed.
The only good thing about the loss to WTF is that now we know anyone on a given day can beat us….
November 17th, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Exactly right
whoever said it
you take one of the best tight ends in the league and one of the best receivers in the league off your team
you’re lucky to win a game
take Kelce and Hilll off the Chiefs and see what happens
November 17th, 2021 at 3:18 pm
In the first 8 games before the Bucs had AB last year Scotty Miller had over 70 yards receiving in 4 of them.
Getting him back could help. He proved he can beat single coverage and is reliable when on the field.
Not as productive as AB, but an improvement over what they have now with Johnson and Darden.
November 17th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Tyler Johnson is so unbearably slow he is not a cg replacement
November 17th, 2021 at 4:29 pm
I am not sure what route Evans is supposed to be running incorrectly.In the
beginning of our losses to the likes of Rams, NO, and WFT Brady has missed Evans badly
The pass is either behind or too high for even Evans to reach. He seems to have some nervous jitters in the beginning of games. He has got to set the tone with
some first half scores against the better defensive schemes. In those three games especially he has been slow to get in rhythm. One thing that might help the 3rd WR receiver problem of getting open is sending the TE’s out on routes more often.
November 17th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Sam Huff died days before this game. One of the great linebackers for the SKINS back in the early 60’s, and HOF.
Not a single mention during this game. Not even a moment of silence!
I guess the NFLess doesn’t need role models THESE days?!
November 17th, 2021 at 5:32 pm
Ab and Gronk are matchup nightmares for other teams
November 17th, 2021 at 6:05 pm
PassingThru…. you don’t know jack about the plays being run. Not all routes are option routes in any play or offense. There are always routes that never change due to the look they give the defense to open up other routes and unless you’re in the huddle and have a copy of the playbook, you have no friggin clue. STFU and stop trying to pretend you’re smart. Brady has been sub par the last two games, granted, we haven’t even tried to run the ball and that is a large part of the problem. Of course, Jedi Master Brady could always override in the huddle or audible to a run.
November 17th, 2021 at 7:06 pm
Our offense is missing the attitude and energy that AB and Gronk bring just as much as their talent. Our team is acting like the bully that messed with the wrong dude and got punched in the face. We’ve lost our nerve and better find it soon, or we’ll get knocked out in the wild card round. I never expected this from a team with Brady, JPP, Gronk, and Suh on it. C’mon dudes, you are better than this!
November 17th, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Brady has great chemistry with Brown and Gronk. He misses those two more than you realize. Tampa needs those two to get back, so we can get back the the Super Bowl. GO BUCS!
November 17th, 2021 at 9:08 pm
The run game is not their. The offensive line needs to get the run game going. It would help the defense with all the injuries and keep them fresh
Gio dropped 2 passed inside 5 yard line on back to back plays Tampa had take FG instead of Td. With Gronk and ,Ab out defenses are keying in on Me and Cg. If Tampa can get injured players back within next 2 weeks would be great.
November 17th, 2021 at 9:41 pm
I just looked up a WR that TB12 played with on Pats. Chris Hogan was a good WR that Brady trusted. He’s play for the Saints in 2021 but only played in 3. games. He’s not being used. I think the Bucs should try and get him.
November 18th, 2021 at 4:31 am
I think Chris Hogan retired within the past few weeks.
November 18th, 2021 at 10:12 am
No other quarterback had a problem getting Mike Evans the ball. This is same Jamies yall said was trash and that’s why I told yall they made him the scapegoat on this team. But yall said I didn’t know nothing about football and now the truth is finally being seen. Brady is not the right quarterback for Evans and I’ve been saying that.