“It’s A Big, Big Addition To Us In The Red Zone”
November 4th, 2021
Giovani Bernard
The Bucs thought they had their next great receiving back/red zone threat in Charles Sims back in 2015.
What a year Sims had.
Then a second-year man, Sims rung up nearly 1,100 yards from scrimmage. And he did it all, including averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Sims also had four receiving touchdowns that season. No Bucs running back has had more than one in a regular season since — until now.
Newcomer veteran Giovani Bernard has three touchdown catches after his grab against New Orleans on Sunday.
It’s like watching a new football team in the red zone for Joe. Before Sims had four TD grabs under Lovie Smith, the most registered by a running back was Cadillac Williams with three in 2009. Michael Pittman had the same total in ’04.
Bucco Bruce Arians was loving his new acquisition during on his radio show Tuesday, streaming at the official team website.
“I thought Gio had a heck of a ballgame [against the Saints],” Arians said. “It’s a big, big addition to us in the red zone.”
The head coach went on to talk about how “Gio can exploit a mismatch.”
Joe likes having a new and different weapon in the red zone. It’s fun. That also can come in handy, say, on the road again in January at Green Bay.
November 4th, 2021 at 1:33 pm
I wanna see him get a few more decoy touches on the ground. He’s pretty good and it becomes a pass coverage defense when he steps on the field.
November 4th, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Brady loves to send backs on option and jerk routes in the red area. He’s not the player he once was, but Bernard is still quick enough to stick his foot in the ground, and gain separation in tight spaces. Ben thought anything you got from gio would be gravy. He started slow, but he could be a life saver against the Rams.
November 4th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
I was all Gung Ho when we signed Gio Bernard, but after watching him almost get Brady Killed a few times on either missed blocks, or failure to pick up a blitz, I became concerned.
Arians caught this too, and even publicly said if it happens again, he is gone.
So far so good, and he is a very valuable weapon in the passing game.
He has the hands of a receiver, in a running backs body!
On that TD Play, the Saints chose to concentrate on both Evans and Godwin, leaving Gio free to creep out of the backfield, and sting them.
November 4th, 2021 at 1:54 pm
Pablo Thought we had a great receiving back last year with the addition of Lesean Shady McCoy… Hopefully this experiment works out better
November 4th, 2021 at 1:54 pm
I sure miss the old days……
Speed in space
The Dunkaneers
Tennessee Ready
Seige the day
😂😂😂
November 4th, 2021 at 2:19 pm
Then how about you put him in the game versus rock hands Lenny. This was the perfect addition for Brady but rarely used.
November 4th, 2021 at 2:34 pm
Gio made several very nice blocks against the Saints. I was impressed how he stood players up with that little body.
November 4th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
Gio doesn’t get a lot of touches but he’s quite effective when he does.
November 4th, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Joe, what happened to Charles Sims? He looked like he had such promise that year for that role.
November 4th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Evans, Godwin, AB, 4Net, Gronk, Brate, Benny …
TB12 distributes to so many people in the red zone.
November 4th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
i know, let’s run it in
just had to say it
November 4th, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Consonant boy clearly doesn’t watch the games.
November 4th, 2021 at 6:10 pm
I do hope browns release OBJ. And we sign.
November 4th, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Who says we’re going to Green Bay in January? I’m anticipating everyone coming to our house
November 4th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Bernard needs playing time. Screen plays with a couple of blocks and this kid is gone.
November 4th, 2021 at 6:51 pm
I expect to see more usage of Gio moving forward….
November 4th, 2021 at 6:51 pm
I don’t know if I’m the only one who has noticed , but the once SURE HANDED BRATE DROPPED 4 PASSES LAST WEEK !! 2 WERE EASY TOUCHDOWNS !! AND IT’S BEEN EVERY GAME JUST ABOUT !! SHOULD HAVE TRADED HIM WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE AND WHEN HE WAS CONSIDERED A SURE HANDED TIGHT END AROUND THE NFL
November 4th, 2021 at 11:48 pm
The stupid Browns are releasing OBJ…
Who is going to sign him? Probably the stupid Saints.
People think OBJ is washed up, but for what it’s worth, Chris Simms, who I generally trust with analysis, says OBJ has not been the problem in Cleveland, it was the QBs not throwing him the ball. This stinks, if Simms is right, and OBJ isn’t washed up, he’ll be a huge asset for the Saints. If OBJ is washed up, he’ll still be a huge asset to the Saints as 25% of OBJ is better than the trash they have at WR (which yes, says a lot about how terrible the 8th string corners we had out there playing are).
The Saints need a WR more than anyone in the NFL, and he played at LSU. The only issue I guess is if the TE Hill is going to play QB, and they go to run first offense then it’s like being in Cleveland again.
Just for giggles, the Bucs should offer OBJ a min contract. With Miller still MIA with no word about him… well, that would be fun, Evans, Godwin, AB, OBJ, Gronk…
November 6th, 2021 at 10:59 am
YEAH BRUSKI AIRHEAD WE HAVE ENOUGH FIREPOWER FOR AT LEAST 5 TEAMS AND WE WOULD STILL BE GREAT ONLY IF YOU KNEW HOW TO USE YOUR PLAYERS IF ANDY REID, SEAN MCGAY, KELLEN WINSLOW, AND CLIFF CLINGSBURY FROM ARIZONA HAD AN OFFENSIVE MACHINE LIKE BUCS DO WE WOULD SCORE 75 PLUS NO MATTER HOW BAD OUR DEFENSE IS. I THINK YOU GOT TO SEND LEFTWITCH TO THE SAME OFFENSIVE SCHOOL THEY WENT TO. AMD YEAH EVANS IS THE BEST RECEIVER IN THE NFL HES ONLY BEEN MISSED THE BALL 100 PLUS TIMES WITH WINSTON AND BRADY PUT TOGETHER. ANOTHER THING IS SAINTS MOONSHINE FLATTIMORE HAS BEEN HOLDING EVANS SINCE DAY ONE BECAUSE HE IS NOT A TOP 100 SAFETY OR DEFENSIVE BACK YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE HIM GRABBING EVERYBODY’S JERSEY NOT ONLY EVANS ENTIRE NFL TEAMS HE PLAYS AGAINST. ALSO THE ZEBRAS THEY NEED SCHOOLING THATS WHY WE LOST AND SAINTS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE TRUST ME SO WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM SAME WITH RAMS THEY PLAYED NOBODY. ONLY TEAM BUCS GOTTA WORRY ABOUT IS DALLAS. THE ZEBRAS I THINK THAT’S WHY WE LOST RAMS GAME TOO. F THE ZEBRAS AND THE MR. KNOW IT ALL FROM NY LIKE WE CARE WHAT THAT IDIOT SAYS.