Bruce Arians Discusses Injured Bucs
November 20th, 2021
National TV appearance.
You may breathe a sigh of relief, Bucs fans. The cavalry is coming.
The Bucs, especially the cornerbacks, have been riddled with injuries this year, minus two of their starting corners for weeks. It is a big reason why the Bucs are 6-3.
Sean Murphy-Bunting, for example, was lost in the first half of the first game. Joe’s already noted the good vibes Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians is sending about SMB’s return nearing.
Friday afternoon, Arians appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” and talked about how injured Bucs are getting healthy.
“For us, it’s getting healthy and staying healthy,” Arians said about snapping a two-game losing streak and getting ready for a playoff push. “We’re probably starting our ninth or 10th different secondary” on Monday night.
Arians mentioned how SMB and foot-rubbing, car-littering film guru tight end Rob Gronkowski are very close to returning and might just see the field Monday night against the Giants, though Arians didn’t call it a done deal.
Arians added that furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing receiver Antonio Brown is unlikely to play Monday but Arians said there is a chance he could play a week from tomorrow at Indianapolis.
As for Scotty Miller, Arians suggested Miller may be a “gametime” decision Monday. Arians said Miller is “close.”
November 20th, 2021 at 7:05 am
Grave Diggers are BACK! The legendary HOF worthy lockdown Secondary is gonna strike panic thru the NFL
THE GRAVE DIGGERS ☠☠☠☠☠☠☠
November 20th, 2021 at 7:08 am
Just beat the d@mn Giants and all will be right with the world…well, almost.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:34 am
Antonio Brown is perhaps one or two weeks away from playing. The fact that Arians mentions Brown and Monday night together is a very good sign.
The bad sign is the lack of a Carlton Davis update. Don’t expect him back until December.
November 20th, 2021 at 7:35 am
Until Arians actually says a player will play……not counting on anyone……Gronk is the most important piece…..then Davis IMO…..
November 20th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Our two press man corners are hurt, making us play soft zone with backups. That means QBs can get the ball quicker. Our entire defense changed without our corners, you can’t denie that. Once they are back we go back to normal, getting sacks and picks. Secondaries and Defensive fronts feed off each other in tandem. When one facet fails, it hurts the other one. Once we can press, jam, and run with receivers, we will get pressure. Causeling miss throw picks, and sacks.
If you break a piece of a Machine, the whole thing shuts down.
November 20th, 2021 at 8:24 am
BA won’t go to meeting but will take any chance to interview when offered. Again nothing about focus on Giants, goes right to the long term goal playoffs. This man is a joke of a coach.
November 20th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Excellent point Austin about Secondaries and Defensive fronts feeding off each other in tandem.
Last year we had 24 sacks & 14 takeaways through 9 games. This season we’ve got 22 sacks & 15 takeaways. Pretty close statistically, but I suspect that we’ve gotten fewer coverage sacks this season than last season (can’t prove it though). It just seems like that all this season opposing QBs have been getting the ball out quicker and throwing more short stuff that’s harder to defend.
What Todd Bowles said the other day about coaches needing to play-call better and players needing to execute better intrigues me. Makes me wonder just how much injuries have affected what he wants to do defensively. Like what you noted Austin about pressing, jamming & running with receivers. Obviously our starting corners are better than their backups, but the question still remains: How much did all these substitutions and injuries affect the defensive scheme (game-plan?) and play-calling?
November 20th, 2021 at 8:43 am
“I’m a blocking tight end baby, 2 catches last game were 2 more than I was expecting”.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:27 am
I have been a Bucs Fan for a long time. I have seen a zillion different Head Coaches. This Coaching Group does not seem to alter their gameplans at Halftime. Of all our ex coaches,, Tony Dungy led teams would completely change their gameplan at Halftime.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:28 am
DR, what your missing is the last two games the QB’s were not starters, backups as well.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:30 am
Once we’re healthy I’ll go back to fearing no team! When healthy we’re practically unstoppable
November 20th, 2021 at 9:37 am
Rotten, the offense is, the defense is stilled flawed in the secondary and was all last season until GB playoff game. The last two games were against a 3rd and 2nd string QB but coaches were Payton & Rivera. Say what you want about secondary, offense, Brady, pass rush etc. they were out coached, and yes penalties and turnovers are a lack of focus and discipline also on coaches.
November 20th, 2021 at 9:48 am
24, 27, 19
Our three losses were not only on the defense…..the offense also under-performed…..but the true problem was losing the turnover battle.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:01 am
JPP belongs on ir.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:23 am
Some of the reason the defense didn’t get off the field in last 2 games is that they made stops but dumb penalties gave opponents first downs. Give-away 3rd down conversions via penalty is only second to turnovers in terms of the ingredients of a loss.
Without some of those unforced errors you get punts and more time of possession. The Bucs have been decent at not allowing too many touchdowns but when opponents hold on to the ball almost twice as long as Buc offense and then add on turnovers, you are going to lose.
What Leftwich needs to correct is the 3 and outs that has been evident. Earlier in the year the Bucs converted third downs well but the penalties and poor first down runs have made second down a longer yardage situation than when they were getting 6-7 yards on first down.
I would like to see the stat as to the average 2nd down yardage in the WFT and Saint games.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:34 am
Listnfrmafar … Had to reread what I wrote to understand your comment, then realized that I SHOULD have said ‘Obviously our starting corners are better than OUR backups’ (I need to start rereading what I write).
Bucs’ defense is an average defense at best this year (that’s why we’re currently #17?). But I still believe that with our starters in there, we can do better than that (like maybe up to #8-#10?). In any event, we don’t have the talent to be a truly elite defense, regardless of who’s coaching it.
TBBF … Agree wholeheartedly that it’s really difficult to overcome losing the turnover battle, but still think that the reasons for our 3 losses go deeper than that. We got the snot kicked out of us in all 3 losses far as I’m concerned, on BOTH sides of the ball AND we got out-coached in all 3.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:44 am
DR, I agreed, if Bucs can get to a #10 or under D and keep the #1or 2 offense Bucs should be ok. I also agree with your last sentence which I have no answer for.
November 20th, 2021 at 10:47 am
Ed … Excellent analysis. Last season the Bucs scored on 86 of their 180 drives in the regular season (47.8%) and only had 16 turnovers in those drives (8.9%). In the playoffs we scored on 23 of our 45 drives (51.1%) and only had 4 turnovers (8.9% again).
This season (through 9 games) the Bucs have scored on 44 of our 101 drives (43.6%) and have already had 12 turnovers (11.9%). My guess is that if we tighten up on the turnovers (fewer giveaways), our scoring percentage will go up to where it was last year (about 48%). That right there could be the difference between winning & losing in 1 or 2 of the remaining games.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:31 am
I don’t believe the loss to the Rams is a reflection of how Bucs played last two games. The Rams were better prepared, more motivated and wanted to prove something not to mention Bucs injuries and the loss of Gronk. Even New Orleans was a compiling of penalties (not all warranted) and turnovers. It’s the WFT game that is concerning that was a complete melt down of all phases. Monday night will most likely tell us what direction this team is going to take.
November 20th, 2021 at 11:40 am
A night game? On National TV? Against the Giants? What could possibly go wrong?
November 20th, 2021 at 12:02 pm
Jmarcbuc, last I checked Tom Coughflin is not Giants coach and Eli, Straham and crew are retired. I am also over 22 years Brady has won quite a few primetime games considering EVERY SB is a night primetime game. I believe the Giants come in over confident and feel the rath of the embarrassed Bucs.
November 20th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Hope you’re right.
Historically we do not play well against the Giants .. Home or away.
And Tom’s bedtime is 8pm. Super Bowls tend to start at 6:32 if I’m not mistaken.😂
November 20th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“we don’t have the talent to be a truly elite defense, regardless of who’s coaching it.”
Did you WATCH Super Bowl LV? That was a “truly elite defense” on display.
We have every key player including all starters of that defense “back”.
Barrett, Suh, Vea, Gholston, JPP, David and White
If all those guys are healthy and playing well – you name me a better, more complete, more talented front 7 in the NFL……
Carlton Davis is a top 10 Corner without question. Dean’s stats are fantastic this year so far and place him squarely in top 10 status as well. So thats 2 good starting outside corners. SMB has flashed real talent – but needs to work on being more consistent.
Neither Winfield nor Whitehead is playing at a pro bowl level this year – but both are solid, make plays and their potential for higher ceilings is obvious. Ditto for Mike Edwards.
Sorry DR – but claiming there is a lack of talent on defense is silly.
We HAVE the talent to play dominating defense. Jason Licht did his job in that regard.
Its just impossible to account for injuries. That is the #1 thing holding this defense back currently. JPP is playing very hurt. David had a nasty ankle sprain and still isn’t back to playing like he can. All the injuries at CB in particular have really hurt our defense’s ability to operate effectively. The loss of #1 CB Davis for so many games has made it especially difficult for the D to play well….
If and when we ever get Davis and SMB back into the lineup so our intended starting Defense entering the season can actually play a whole game or three TOGETHER – then you will start to see vast improvements in Defensive play as a whole.
Just Sayin’ DR – don’t give me that “lack of talent” jazz…..
No way you can see the names of our starting defensive players listed and say there’s a lack of talent on this defense.
Health? Focus? Planning? Execution? TACKLING?? – These are all legit areas to key on for improvement. But “talent” is absolutely NOT the problem with this 2021 Buccaneers defense.
November 20th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
cavalry???? AB in the headlines again…….
November 20th, 2021 at 1:59 pm
Sometimes it’s just having Things Fall your way. You have to get a few bounces here and there. It was obvious that happened to us several times and look what happens our defense can’t shut down. Last week we had prime opportunity and gave up a long cut wrenching killer Drive which ended in a Washington touchdown and everyone getting their kleenexes out. Giants are Tom Brady’s nemesis and Monday night is our nemesis I don’t feel good at all about this game. If we don’t get up early by at least 10 points it’s over
November 20th, 2021 at 6:13 pm
Any time TB faces the Giants is bad news. Memories of Spagnolo, sack after sack, and buck-toothed jerk Strahan jumping up and down on the Patriots logo. I’ve been waiting for 12 to get those monkeys off his back for a long time. Gronk, too. Remember him, crippled, trying to win a SB? Please just destroy the Giants.
But this week, with this troubled group, led by coordinators that (as ChrisApple points out) never seems to make adjustments?
November 20th, 2021 at 9:56 pm
I think with our starting corners back, Bowles can play the secondary much more aggressively on the los. That makes all the difference. Give an extra second for the blitz and front 4 to collapse the pocket. More hits on the QB and the QB starts worrying about the pressure. It’s a different game. I think we will see that once the secondary has played 3-4 games together. It does take a couple games to start playing together again. I hope it happens in time for the playoffs.