“They’re Gassed, Dude.”
December 21st, 2021
Barber talk
Joe is always intrigued to hear the opinion of a Bucs-friendly, Bruce Arians-friendly guy after he says he watched a specific Bucs game for a second time.
Today that man is Tiki Barber, the running back great and the brother of Bucs legend Rondé Barber.
Tiki is a CBS Sports Radio host and has maintained a friendship with Bucco Bruce Arians for decades. He may love his Giants, but the Bucs are his second favorite.
Barber said his re-watching of the Bucs-Saints affair shows a glaring issue for Tampa Bay.
“Their receivers are running so many routes that, you know, 8, 10, 15 plays into the quarter, they’re just gassed. They’re gassed, dude,” Barber said with conviction. “When you watch them, like the routes just aren’t crisp because they throw the ball every single play. I mean, it literally got to the second quarter before you saw a running play.”
Joe has always maintained that the concept throwing every down sounds nice on paper, but it’s not a reasonable reality for receivers. When Mike Evans is lined up left and the Bucs run right, that amounts to a needed rest for Evans.
Perhaps Barber has a point considering the Bucs lead the NFL in pass attempts per game and have been running an up-tempo offense often over the last five games.
On Sunday at Carolina, it’s a near certainty that the Bucs will look for more balance. Mike Evans has a bad hamstring. Chris Godwin is lost for the season. Antonio Brown hasn’t played in more than two months. Breshad Perriman could have a COVID issue. And Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson may not be ready for a huge route load. (Joe’s not sure what Jaelon Darden can handle no matter what the circumstance.)
Were the Bucs receivers a little gassed on Sunday night?
Joe’s not sure, but Joe also highly doubts that Barber is taking a nasty shot at Tampa Bay.
Barber added that the Bucs “are so dependent on running the football that they can’t do anything else.”
December 21st, 2021 at 11:10 am
Keyshawn Vaughn better take advantage of this second chance.
December 21st, 2021 at 11:28 am
Keyshawn Vaughn isnt getting a second chance. Kenjon Barner will be “that guy pal” as the backup if Fournette is out. Vaughn is done, he can go drop passes and fall down on another team next yr. Same goes for Darden for that matter. While im at it, Scotty Miller: good bye. You think we’re deep until we actually have to rely on depth, and then the team becomes a shell of itself because LESSER THANS cant win one on one matchups.
December 21st, 2021 at 11:29 am
More WALK THROUGHS!! It’s called practice, when defenders are hanging on you or blockers grabbing pads, it’s like mini wrestling matches that your body adjusts to, the cardio aspect of it. Sprints, hills etc build endurance, you don’t have to hit, walk throughs do SQUAT! BAD COACHING!!!
December 21st, 2021 at 11:30 am
Another tough loss to a very good coached football team. I really didn’t see a gassed football team but I did see a team get pushed around. The saints bring it every down and we didn’t hit back. Seeing Godwin go down was heartbreaking which I think is a clean hit. It’s what is taught and the defense is at a huge disadvantage anyway I do not blame players for this type of tackles. Laying an egg on offense is inexcusable with the rules in place. We played a better coached football team and a team that dictated the physicality of the game. The trenches win games and our Wr’s were pressed and hit. No excuses other than playing soft football. The O line which I raved about earlier Sunday was manhandled. Credit Allen and their defense for the game plan and executing. They clearly know what beats us. Play fast and physical
December 21st, 2021 at 11:37 am
Vaughn has been a failure every time he gets a chance to play.
December 21st, 2021 at 11:43 am
A future HOF’er would have a really good idea on this. So I totally believe it.
December 21st, 2021 at 11:46 am
That game was a disaster on so many levels it’s mind boggling.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:19 pm
How long before TB says enough is enough with Byron play calling? People (including me) want to say TB is really calling the plays but that doesn’t make much sense as a OC would probably have his feeling hurt. I truly believe Byron is just not good enough to be a OC just yet. I wonder where he would be if Aries didn’t come back to the NFL.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Dang. So the Saints and our coaches completely destroyed our entire arsenal. Unreal.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:24 pm
If Brady were.calling the plays he wouldn’t be looking to BL between downs or looking at his wrist band.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:28 pm
@gofor. I agree except on Scotty. Maybe I’m too sentimental over last year’s NFCCG play but I don’t feel the jury is out yet on Scotty.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:36 pm
The hit on Godwin was not made to just tackle him but to take him out of the game. I watch the play several times and the DB targeted the knee he went down low and launched himself at Godwin’s knee. Maybe it was payback for the horse collar on Winston or just New Orleans decided to take out our top receivers so they could win the game. I am going with bounty gate 2.0.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:44 pm
People reading a little too much into this loss. No different after WFT. Some teams just match up well against us and both teams are very well coached. With that said, the results of games like that usually are about just a few plays. Missed FG, Gronk missed opportunities, O Line broke down on 3rd downs when driving in Aints territory. At least one of them droves us out of FG position. Cappa had a really rough game but he had been solid. Gotta just have a short memory. Seize the opportunity to take the division and get some mojo back.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Guess what?
We are going to the playoffs! And yes first game at raymond
December 21st, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Killing Vaughn when he didn´t get any rep in the season is just ridiculous.
How can somebody destroy players that didn´t even get to the field, just give them a chance!!!
Pisses me off when people just destroy Miller or Tyler J, because they don´t produce in just one game!!!
They are substitutes of players like ME13 CG 14 AB or Lenny….Just give him some time!!!!!
Some fans need to double there anxiolytic dose men!!!!
Just trust, there is a lot of evidence for turst….
Just chill!!!!
December 21st, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Saints we’re desperate for a win, Sean Peyton done bounties before.
December 21st, 2021 at 12:54 pm
I noticed that they only had 1 run in the first 15 scripted plays. Aren’t those the plays that the QB selects before each game?
December 21st, 2021 at 12:59 pm
I think the best play of the game was when the Bucs ran off the field when the clock was “00”
December 21st, 2021 at 1:04 pm
They should have definitely used a different scheme considering bucs backups were going up against dogs oozing with elite talent. Succop needs to nail that kick and we needed to come up with seven team really needs to come up with some better answers than plan A until the game is over because sometimes plan A doesnt work and the offensive line needs to play better they were abused all game very pitiful performance from the oline and if the oline is failing nothing is going to work.
December 21st, 2021 at 1:05 pm
vaughn sort of has this bumbling darden-ness to him
December 21st, 2021 at 1:06 pm
Ironically….our back up RB that had less then 10 carries was also “gassed”. Leftwich is in over his head, if Brady weren’t there it would be another year of stat talk as we miss the playoffs again.
December 21st, 2021 at 1:09 pm
If the Jags owner saw Brady throw the playbook in the garbage, he may have second thoughts about hiring Lefty.
December 21st, 2021 at 1:10 pm
I do know there is an unwritten rule in mlb. Yeah, if opposed pitcher beans your guy, your pitchers bean their guys. It’s how teams protect themselves.
My bet is that the aints got huge pay back coming in next game, they play bucs, whether in playoffs, which is hopeful to this reader, or next year.
It’s how the Bucs protect themselves.
Hell, they went after all of our stars knees repeatedly. Knee capping may be legal, but so is payback.😎
December 21st, 2021 at 1:11 pm
Remember, our guys get paid too.
December 21st, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Zzbuc says “wahhhh cmon guyyyuuus just give them a chance.” As if we didn’t have evidence beyond just the saints game. That’s one. 2 we arent running a charity here. They aren’t my personal friends and they are t paying my mortgage. It’s Zeros and one’s for me guy. Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller are not starters and they damn sure aren’t starters you win superbowls with. No one has time for your: “but cmon guyyyyyys Scotty Miller is a person tooooo give them a chance.” Especially Tom Brady, and a Bucs team needing to make a run….You should always, ALWAYS be looking to improve whether it’s in sports or in business. I know, life is hard, feelings get hurt – that’s life in the big city
December 21st, 2021 at 2:11 pm
This is where you find out about your team. You have to be creative. They still have weapons. It’s still there in front of them.
December 21st, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Everyone was gassed.
December 21st, 2021 at 3:18 pm
Because dumb-f#ck Leftwich called about five or less running plays with Lenny in the first half compared to like 20 passes against one of the best secondary defense that has worked Brady and the Bucs since the beginning of time.
“Ok, fourth and one and we’re desperate with Lenny out. Let’s put Vaughn in up the gut instead of RoJo. Vaughn always produces.”-BL
December 21st, 2021 at 3:43 pm
@gofortheface30
I 100% agree with you about everything you said!
Keshawn Vaughn, Scotty Miller and Darden all need to go next year.
Too bad we let Mickens go, he signed with another team.
December 21st, 2021 at 3:58 pm
This is what Ira said and one of the joes said to keep throwing it which you can’t because of this exact issue. How we threw the ball to open the game 10 times is terrible. It is like they forgot the same issue that happened last year on SNf
December 21st, 2021 at 4:16 pm
This is clearly the work of BL. Dude was a bust as a QB and sanz TB arriving, he was the OC that saw his QB throw more interceptions than TD’s. Please seek life elsewhere.
December 21st, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Pass-happy+ predictable must stop. Soft must stop. Brady loved being set free after the more rigid controls in NE, but right now, he should know balance and creativity are badly needed, if he wants another one.
But there isn’t a tough, every down reliable feature back on this team. Not really. No, Lenny is not that. So frustrating that Rojo has the explosiveness but can’t or won’t fix the rest. Journeymen backups…good luck riding them to the playoffs. Not with BL calling the shots.
December 21st, 2021 at 5:20 pm
One thing we do know for sure, is that Brady will giving the likes of Miller and Johnson plenty of reps this week. I have to wonder how many they have taken from him in practice total since camp started. But that alone will help get them in synch.
December 21st, 2021 at 5:21 pm
I have to wonder if BL spent a little less time preparing this week than he otherwise would have, in dusting off his resume and plans to interview up the road before too long.
December 21st, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Gronk needed to catch the pass that hit him in the hands when he was going down the sideline. Game Changer.
December 21st, 2021 at 8:40 pm
It sure makes sense Joe, but it’s easily corrected. Can’t keep guys into the ground. They have all the weapons, just have to find a way to incorporate them. GOBUCS!
December 21st, 2021 at 10:26 pm
Guess what, the Bucs have a pretty decent rushing game when they commit to it. For some reason, maybe ego, they think they have to show what a great passing football team they are. Let’s get over the let’s throw the ball all over the yard attitude and run the damn ball and get back to play action passes. RoJo can be a pretty good running back when you let him run the ball and get him all lathered up. Do you remember the Super Bowl when the Chiefs Safety commented this guy’s running the ball like he’s Walter Payton. Of course Lenny was one of the hero’s of that game but they were talking about how hard RoJo runs the ball. Let’s let him pound on people and see what happens.
December 21st, 2021 at 11:46 pm
LakelandSteve…I agree with you.
December 22nd, 2021 at 1:13 am
absolutely–just let ROJO play ,let him get into a rhythem..he was doing pretty good end sweeps until BL took him out for some dumb reason ..
BA said as much monday am..
December 22nd, 2021 at 2:13 am
I agree with all of you. BL sux, dump the slip sisters Darden and vaugn (how did either make team over mickens-coaches), Gronk had a rough game but rarely missed a block–so run the ball-coaching, subs unprepared and in poor condition – coaching, oline struggling in pass protection, so keep throwing – coaches, oline looked OK run blocking, but play calling and personnel choices failed – coaching, game still winnable until late in 4th and BL obviously struggling, wtf doesn’t Bruce wake up and take over. Don’t get me wrong BL laid an egg, has gone 6 qtrs without scoring, has not developed 1 offensive player drafted by these coaches (wirfs is a phenom) and Bruce looks like granddad looking for his car in the Walmart parking lot. Why does this guy get a pass. Wake the fnck up Bruce and get this sh!t under control. #1 offense means nothing when teamS (saints, wft, rams, bills in 2nd half… ) can impose their will on you. It means as much as Jameis throwing for 5000 yds. This is a NY Yankees model, gm buys a team and media friendly manager/coach rides the wave.
December 22nd, 2021 at 12:44 pm
RoJo has the ability to single-handedly carry this offense, a better all-around RB than Fournette (who tries to dance way too much)… this coaching staff is an absolute joke…. when Brady’s age finally does start catching up to him, as it looks like it might have, this team is toast.