Bruce Arians Seems To Think Fans Forget Super Bowl LV
September 1st, 2022
“Jason, if Tom Brady can go to the Bahamas in August, I can spend a couple of days in New York. “
Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians was talking to just about everybody Tuesday in his swing to the Big Apple.
In Arians’ media carwash, one reporter he spoke with was former Giants and Eagles beat guy Matt Lombardo, now typing for Heavy.com.
Arians, as he has done in all interviews, spoke glowingly former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles who succeeded him as head coach. Arians told Lombardo he was frustrated that Bowles wasn’t hired as a head coach by another organization in the last two coach-hiring cycles.
And while Bucs fans are still bitter how Bowles’ defense didn’t show up in the playoff loss to the Rams, and allowed a deep completion to Cooper Kupp to set up the game-winning field goal, Arians seemed to suggest too many folks are forgetting the previous season. That’s when Bowles’ gameplan to stop the mighty Chiefs and Pat Mahomes was one of the great defensive performances in the annals of the Super Bowl.
“Todd’s game plan in the Super Bowl was historic,” Arians said. “I wanted to see if we could win two in a row, and we got really, really close.”
That was a historic defensive game. It proved to be the first time a Mahomes-led Chiefs offense was held without a touchdown. In an era of high-powered offenses, that feat is way overlooked.
Joe gets that fans are peeved about the loss to the Rams. Understood. And the way the Bucs lost was a kick to the groin. But dang, if the Bucs’ offense would have done anything in the first half, people wouldn’t be kvetching about Bowles’ defense in that game.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:04 pm
I agree some of the coaching hires have been headscratchers.
How do guys like Arthur Smith and Matt Eberflus get HC jobs over Bowles?
September 1st, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Bowles is a very weak coach.
Lost the Rams game with his blunder-headed strategy.
Now the team is in an O Line predicament because he played our only serviceable players in a preseason game and they got hurt.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Mahomes was the most pressure QB in SB history, 2nd time playing an opponent that blew us all the way out earlier in the same season, and forced turnovers against one of the better teams in terms of turnover margins in all the NFL. Also, everybody is quick to run to Bowles time with the Jets, but you hardly hear about how he turned the Cardinals D around just like he came in to turn our D around in 2019. Bowles earned my respect as a Bucs coach before the end of the 2019 season, because I can remember when we had Lequan Lewis playing in the same defensive backfield as Darrelle Revis and other defensive horror stories from the lost decade.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Bowles v McVay
2019
Defense gave up 33 points (7 of the 40 came off a Jameis pick 6)
Defense gave up 518 total yards
Forced 1 Punt
2020
Defense gave up 27 points
Defense gave up 413 total yards
Forced 5 Punts
2021
Defense gave up 34 Points
Defense gave up 407 Yards
Forced 3 Punts
Defense gave up 30 points
Defense gave up 428 yards
Forced 4 Punts
Unless Bowles Defense forces a lot of turnovers he can’t outscheme good coaches.
Super Bowl was awesome, as a fan I am forever grateful. Just need to see him outscheme some good offenses. Run defense has been great, the pass defense is disgraceful though
September 1st, 2022 at 1:36 pm
George Says:
September 1st, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Candidate for dumbest comment of the week.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:41 pm
@Sasquatch
Agreed. I imagine that’s how humanity ended up being bio-batteries in “The Matrix” series
September 1st, 2022 at 1:43 pm
Hold up!
Andy Reid and Sean Payton are not good coaches???
In the past two regular seasons, the first and fourth games against the slimy Saints were winnable games. The Bucs’ offense shat the bed both times.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:44 pm
The Chiefs O-line was on backups….kind of like us now. If you dont believe me, do your homework. Everyone should know that if you’re a deep digger into the games like me….if you’re not, then you’ll attack me and call me names, posting drivel, a wimp. All good. I know my jit. Mr Licht has taken my advice on draft picks that have worked out…that I was promoting right here the last 5 years!
Im a nobody to most of you, and laughed at, especially when I was promoting Big V and Devin White…then Wirfs and Winfield. And I said we need a punter this past draft. We got one, and trust me, the kid will work out just fine.
The Oline is my main concern right now. I really hope the bandaids hold up and keep Brady safe.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:47 pm
Here is some more homework: Since the first quarter in the first game against the Chiefs in November 2020, Bowles’ defense has allowed one touchdown to the mighty Chiefs in over seven quarters.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:57 pm
@Joe
Payton didn’t call plays in the 9-0 embarrassment in Tampa. You can try to move the goal post to prove a point but our pass defense is a liability. Teams know they can’t run on the Bucs and STILL our CB’s aren’t even close to wide open receivers.
It’s a bad sign when you know what a team is going to do and you still can’t stop it. Bowles is great against backup QB’s and lower level starters but I don’t trust him against the top offenses
September 1st, 2022 at 2:01 pm
The first game against the Saints last season the offense did their part. It was the best they’ve ever looked against the Saints. I believe they had over 350 of total offense that game. The defense couldn’t stop Trevor Siemen and had boneheaded penalties. Bowles catches more crap than he should, but he has been throughly out coached by McVay. McVay is a master schemer, and let’s be real. The Chiefs had a makeshift line and that limited their offense during the SB. Bowles had a great plan, but his job was made easier because he could just get pressure with 4, and didn’t have to blitz. He could just play coverage against Mahomes.
I also love how people conveniently leave out that Wildcard game against Washington when waxing poetic about our D. We were one clutch pass and catch by Brady and Evans from getting knocked out. There would be no great Saints and SB. The D made Hienieke look like Montana that game. The Offense put up over 400 yards of offense and 30 points. They should’ve had more if not for Godwin’s drops.
Let’s have some nuance when discussing Bowles. He’s not garbage as some suggest. He a damn good D coordinator, but there are times where he gets out schemed by some coaches. He also blitzes too much. His strategy against Stafford was flawed. No one can argue that point.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:02 pm
How quickly we forget.
Last three postseason games in 2020: Drew Brees (future Hall of Famer), Aaron Rodgers (future Hall of Famer), Pat Mahomes (likely future Hall of Famer). All three wins for the Bucs. Tom Brady even said Bucs defense won the slimy asaints playoff game.
“backup QB’s and lower level starters” 🤦♂️
September 1st, 2022 at 2:07 pm
I feel like it was yesterday sometimes.
More excited to do again though.
Looking at the scope of the NFL Denzel Mims of the Jets requested a trade and then went out and had a 7 catch 100 yd 1 TD game.
This guy is 5th on the depth chart and was the 59th overall pick.
Tyler Johnson was so coveted, why didn’t we try to swing a trade.
I still think we should have some young developmental WRs and we don’t.
We pretty much know what Perriman and Miller give us.
Darden will be better, but can any of them do what Mims just did?
September 1st, 2022 at 2:13 pm
2020 Post season was glorious, no doubt about it. Minus the WFT QB named after a Beer punking our soft D.
I won’t dismiss the Super Bowl Defense as other’s have as the Chiefs failed to adjust with their makeshift o-line. No screens, quick passes, play action, pocket movement etc. All staples of a Reid offense.
Bowles is good, but until he finds a way to scheme up a better pass defense the Bucs will struggle against the better coached teams
September 1st, 2022 at 2:19 pm
McVay generally dog sh*t coaching against the 49ers.
What has he won just 1 of his last 7 against them.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:22 pm
The Joe’s are 24/7 on the Bucs. Butt heads with them and you’ll probably lose. 😉
September 1st, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Bowles has been really a blessing. But all we can do is see how this season plays out. There are plenty of good OC and DC that can’t HC.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Bojim,
The Joes openly admit they aren’t versed on X’s and O’s. Entertaining site and pod. They seem to be up on Bucs news and over analyze silly things but they are far from the end all be all of Bucs info.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:37 pm
@Joe, injured Oline with backups….but thanks for proving my point…all good, you know I love you guys 🙂
September 1st, 2022 at 2:37 pm
I have got a feeling we will be 11-6 or 10-7 this year. Then next year Bowles will refer back to his Jets years. Winning record the first year and a Gabbert or Trask led offense the next year will spell 6-11 or 7-10 record at best.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Yes, Joe. No one is denying the D came up big against the Saints, but my point was there wouldn’t even be a Saints, GB, or SB without the play of the offense against Washington. Are you denying that the D didn’t play well against them? Also, the offense averaged 30 points a game in the playoffs. Let’s not act like this was Manning and the Broncos D his last season. The D played a big part, but let’s not act like the offense was just along for the ride.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:44 pm
?
September 1st, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Great article Joe’s. You have such a wonderful way of keeping your readers hooked.
LOL
IMHO, Stop selling that BS Drama though.
The good Dramas sell themselves and there is an abundance of GOOD DRAMA to sell.
September 1st, 2022 at 3:26 pm
“But dang, if the Bucs’ offense would have done anything in the first half,”
Who was the #2 WR in that game?
Tyler Johnson, was 3 of 6 for 15 yards, with 2 drops. 56 QB rating when targeted.
Scotty Miller was 4 of 6 for 38 yards, zero drops. 84 QB rating when targeted.
Ironically, Brady was at his worst when throwing to Gronk (26.7 QB rating) and at his best when throwing to… OJ Howard (95.8 QB rating). Although with OJ it was just one pass. Evans was right there with OJ (95.6 QB rating).
But why is TJ gone? Just look above. They basically had him as a starter and he couldn’t get open, and then if he did, he’d drop the ball. Also Brate was terrible in that game (1 for 3, 9 yards, with a drop).
If Arians doesn’t throw a fit and fire AB on the sidelines in the Jets game, then Brady has someone else to throw the ball to and the Bucs win that game. As it was the team was down to playing John Brown at WR for 5 snaps – which, BTW, was 4 more snaps than Darden got in the game.
September 1st, 2022 at 3:33 pm
It’s the same coaching squad from the past three years that Arians and Bowles put together. Arians at the beginning said he’s giving Bowles the defense, Leftwich the offense, and he was gonna blow smoke and sit on the golf cart.
For all the ignorance and arrogance about Bowles and his defense that held the Rams 27-3 comeback to lose by a last second field goal. Remember that when you cry about the Rams LAST YEAR.
For all the trolls and national analysts about oline trouble:
-Jensen was a gigantic lose
-Stinnie wasn’t even a guaranteed starter
-Shaq Mason is a beast that has 2 SB wins with Brady in NE
-Shaq next to All Pro Wirfs
-Donovan on the back end
-I believe Goedeke can get better with more practice and reps with Brady (imo)
-Depth is the situation that needs to be addressed.
September 1st, 2022 at 3:46 pm
SOEbuc – Goedeke looked terrible in that Indy game, at least for a few snaps, but he was also playing at RG, when he will be playing at LG. Once they moved him to LG, I didn’t really notice him, which is what you want from a guard. He was beaten so bad on those plays at RG, I almost wonder if it was just some sort of confusion on what he should be doing.
But Licht and Bowles are not going to play Goedeke if they don’t think he can play. They know their futures are based on Tom Brady staying healthy and not getting killed because a rookie guard wasn’t ready to play.
As for Stennie, he’s a career backup, if he was starting, it was a huge issue. I really like having him for depth, but not as a starter, and losing him as depth is a big deal. But if the Bucs had zero faith in Goedeke they would have grabbed someone after the cuts or traded for someone.
September 1st, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Game plan a game against a team that killed you with deep passes and then the rematch has them with two trash bin scrubs at OT — um, you better not let Tyreek Hill get 200 yards in the first quarter because you’re too stupid to double him.
Yes genius Bowles blah blah blah from the SB.
How about the Commanders? Jets? Rams? Couldn’t stop the first two and then decided Cooper Kupp could be ignored.
Cee Dee Lang licking his chops to feast and beast on the Bucs secondary.
September 1st, 2022 at 4:01 pm
*Lamb
September 1st, 2022 at 4:04 pm
I Agree with “MadMax ” and have stated similar things in the past. GB was without their Stud Left Tackle in Championship Game and we may have lost if not for the GB defensive Blunder the end of first half.
Super Bowl, the KC was without TWO Tackles and also had to move people around the line to get their best reserves of the OL in. Mahomes had NO PROTECTION all day.
September 1st, 2022 at 4:12 pm
^ Thank you Sir, it was magical timing….no knock against our D, but they could feed and they fed like they were supposed to….just stating the obvious.
September 1st, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Todd is an Achilles heal.
September 1st, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Im having doubts too Goat….I really hope Mr Light and BA can keep their hands on the controls of this (per the Glazers)
September 1st, 2022 at 4:24 pm
And Im calling him Mr. Light because the LIGHT needs to come on…unless he just doesnt care….in that case step aside and I’ll step in….
September 1st, 2022 at 4:31 pm
The Bucs win on offense, not defense. It’s not 2002.
September 1st, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Rod Munch
I like to say Brady had plenty of time with his starters. Team sport so when you got Brady and his weapons, not the same defense for others.
I feel you and still very upset they haven’t already brought in a vet IOL right after Stinnie went down. Anyone remember when Wirfs went down? Had to put in the already garbage, already injured Wells to get pummeled. Not very happy with the cuts and lack there of bringing any IOL asap after Jensen.
We’ll trade the only tackling talent on ST for a sixth round pick, and cut the best talent in camp and PS because he doesn’t have any special teams talent. We gotta make room for one trick Scotty in his contract year. I keep my faith in the FO but smh big time at the moment.
September 1st, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Glad Todd told Jason to bolster the O-line.
Oh, wait.
September 1st, 2022 at 6:34 pm
I am glad they have BOWLES leading the defense and BL leading the offense. The defense got better and better in 2020 and took a step back in 2021 because of being decimated with injuries… And the fact that age hit Suh like a brick house and he became a liability.
As for all the so-called buccaneer fans who bash him and BL… It really is rather pathetic. They’re on the verge of being a powerhouse defense again and in the middle of the most prolific buccaneer offensive run in history.
But here we are with a bunch of armchair quarterbacks saying both of them suck. Thank God they have nothing to do with this organization
September 1st, 2022 at 6:39 pm
Max, yes I know the Chiefs had backups for the line, but everyone in the lamestream media had already crowned them before and even after that happened to them. Plus they didn’t seem to miss a beat during the divisional and afc championship. Plus we were rolling with Stinnie at that time too. Plus Mahomes is a very good scrambler. His receivers didn’t help him at all, I remember a lot of dropped passes.
September 1st, 2022 at 7:55 pm
Bruce Arians seems to forget that Bruce Arians is no longer the head coach.
September 1st, 2022 at 8:07 pm
These are starting to feel more like the old comment sections when Tampa 2.0 and The Realist would hijack every thread and flood them with mindless drivel.
September 1st, 2022 at 9:27 pm
Joe, BS the first Saints game of 2021 Bucs took the lead with about 2 min left and the D let Simeon go right down the field in like 30 seconds and score. Get your facts straight. Brady had 1:46 left with I think 1 TO. He can’t perform miracles every time. If you listed coaches from best to worst Bowles would be floating near bottom. Brady saved BA’s.arse. That Bucs team was NOT prepared to play the Rams that day because of COACHING!!! Kupps 80 yds reception was the EXACT play Jackson scored on in their first game. McVay will be Bowles and or BA 10 out of 10 times. Why? Because he works harder. BA,.keep living in the past like August and other Buc fans.
September 1st, 2022 at 11:47 pm
Yall mf’s hate criticism…..bunch of nancy boys in high dollar positions….better come around and figure it out
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:18 am
You Bowles sycophants need to shut up till the Chiefs game this year. They lost a ton of talent. See if Bowles can stop Mahomes when he has his O-line. He won’t have the most explosive receiver in football either. I’ll believe it when I see it. So far he can’t get his defense off the field on 3rd down. Can’t rely on turnovers to save your defense. The schedule is brutal this year. He’s going to need to out coach the opposing team and not rely on Brady to bail him out. BA manipulated Bowles ascension to head coach. No other team thought he had the right stuff. This is his prove it year. If he doesn’t get it done now when will he? Not after Brady’s gone. I don’t think he’s head coach material. I’ll be the first to admit I’m wrong if he gets it done this year.
September 2nd, 2022 at 6:24 am
Momma always said “be careful what you pick, you may end up with a booger”. But in Bowles case, I think he’s a great pick. He’s an aggressive play caller. He loves the blitz. Coaches will scheme to try and beat it, with quick high percentage passes. So the CBs need to step up. On that last Rams play of the playoffs, the outside blitz was too slow, and even though Suh came up the middle and almost got to Stafford he was able to release the ball. Had the blitz gotten to Stafford, y’all would be singing a different tune.
September 2nd, 2022 at 7:50 am
Bowles pass defense is terrible. The CB’s here give up so many plays and very rarely get INTs. O-line is not good this year, and too much reliance on Shaq to make plays on defense. Will be lucky to win 10 games this season, unless offense will play lights out…
September 2nd, 2022 at 12:32 pm
“Bowles defense beat 3 great teams on the road”
Nope
Bruce Arians defense beat those teams.
While Arians was reportedly very hands off with his 2 coordinators, ultimately- It was Bruce Arians team.
How will Bowles do in the big seat?
If his handling of the Oline is example, then we are in for trouble