Bruce Arians Explains His Scouting Role
February 13th, 2024
Yes, Bucco Bruce Arians spent most of his 2023 time in Georgia enjoying the lakeside lifestyle: golf, cocktails and cool breezes.
But Arians has not disconnected from his duties as an advisor to Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
Arians joined The Rock Stops Here podcast with Joe’s good friend Rock Riley this week and noted how he remains engaged with the team.
“Jason and I talk every Sunday and Monday after the game,” Arians said. “And Mondays [I’m] doing a little scouting for the quarterbacks for the draft. Looking forward to it.”
Arians added that he’s been scouting quarterbacks for 25 years and he believes that experience — combined with reveiwing the NFL careers of those players and Arians’ assessments — makes him better than most in that scouting role.
So what college quarterbacks will Arians dive into and want the Bucs to draft?
Joe is very curious to see if Arians hits the road for a pro day or two. As old school as Arians is, he’s going to want to see the ball come out of at least one guy’s hand.
February 13th, 2024 at 8:48 am
Arians is retired and basically out of the picture. My guess would be that he has some input, but not a lot of influence at this point. Too bad he didn’t have more influence over Canales miserable play calling last year.
February 13th, 2024 at 9:05 am
Can we not draft quarterbacks we have no intentions of playing.
February 13th, 2024 at 9:31 am
Agreed, Joe please keep close tabs on where Arians goes for scouting and pro days.
February 13th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Hey Joe, You have never been to Lake Oconee, only cool breezes happen in the winter time not for very long either. I recently moved from there. Nice place. Beautiful lake. I didn’t get to meet Coach Arians. Seen his house from the lake though.
February 13th, 2024 at 9:45 am
@elite bucs: I see your point but I disagree. I like the GB Packers model that they used with Aaron Rodgers and then Jordan Love. It works.
February 13th, 2024 at 10:08 am
“Can we not draft quarterbacks we have no intentions of playing.”
“intentions”
How about we do a better job of scouting QB’s so we don’t waste second round picks on guys who can’t beat out a journeyman to even achieve backup status much less compete to start.
Surely nobody here is stupid enough to believe JL drafted a QB in the 2nd round INTENDING not the play him!!! Why would he do that…to damage his rep or those of his scouts.
Does anybody here believe that? Do you also then believe that John Lynch spent THREE first round picks on Trey Lance…63 picks ahead of Trask INTENDING not to play him.
What if Lynch had used those three first rounders somewhere else…could that have gotten SF over the hump against KC? Just askin’.
February 13th, 2024 at 10:11 am
BA has a reputation as a QB whisperer because of four successful NFL QB’s he worked with…but he didn’t draft them. I’m curious as to which QB’s he had a hand in drafting?
Coaching is one thing…BA has scoreboard there…Drafting/scouting are another and I’m genuinely curious if he has scoreboard there?
February 13th, 2024 at 10:15 am
I know we aren’t going to do it but what if we could sign Chris Jones and throw him in with Vea and Kancey!
February 13th, 2024 at 10:35 am
I mean… Brady was the starting qb when trask was selected…. I assume the intention was to start Tom Brady…. (We were mere months removed from a superbowl with every member coming back, draft to help now not much much later (or never as weve seen)) The same should hopefully be the case come draft time but with Baker. Why waste a pick on a backup. If your backup comes in more likely than not the season is cooked anyways. Use valuable capital on contributing players. you can find a back up anywhere.
February 13th, 2024 at 10:35 am
Wasn’t Arians around when we drafted Trask…….either Trask was a bust or Bucs have been fools….
February 13th, 2024 at 11:01 am
New article says Arians really likes Penix.
Horrible injury history and the NFL will make it worse.
Maybe if he falls to the 2nd or 3rd round but dang do we really want another 2nd place Heisman guy?
His accuracy on the deep ball was cited by Arians as being one of the eat in 15 years.
Really?
February 13th, 2024 at 11:08 am
We’ve got to get this first pick right. I want a stone cold baller. Cooper Dejean fits that mold….then get that C Jackson Powers and move Hainsey to LG….then Audric Estime to pair at RB with White. You want a 6th rd QB? Michael Pratt,
February 13th, 2024 at 11:39 am
His scouting role? I thought this dude was in Arizona somewhere baking cakes with his wife!
It’s 2024, and we’re talking about Bruce Arians role? Stop it joe! We need to hear about how Todd Bowles will develop a pass rush and a running game! The only QB Bruce should be watching is USF quarterback Byrum Brown.. we need a Lamar jackson type QB that already know what’s it like to practice in Tampa fl as a QB in the heat.. I’ll take baker for one more year but BROWN should be the QB of the future. 0-17 here we come
February 13th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
all that insight got us a 2nd round pick wasted in trask
February 13th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Cashing his paycheck
February 13th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
BA is a credible source for feedback, particularly with QBs. Nothing wrong with an extra set of eyes when scouting QBs. I get the impression BA loves football but health wise couldn’t continue coaching. I would much rather go with BAs recommendations vs Licht when it comes to QBs.
February 13th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Once Baker is re-signed, the Bucs have three seasons to groom a starter.
I like Trask but I wouldn’t mind competition if they find a player in rounds 5-7.
February 13th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
^^^ You sure? BA also loved Leftwich.
February 13th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Man – if Arians could help identify a 3rd or 4th rd diamond in the rough QB out of this supposedly stellar QB class….
I sure hope Licht and his scouts would do a deep dive (covertly of course) on that player and if all the research seems to add up to some great potential at a “value’ price….seriously consider using a mid round pick on a QB this year.
February 13th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
Great read Joe.
Glad to see Bruce still is in the picture.
The year he stopped coaching was the worst year of Brady’s career.
He must be helping the scouts and GM will player evaluation… all inputs from him are duly noted.
February 13th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
I am so glad that Arians still has a role with scouting. Hope they listen to him. Arians recently said he really liked Penix too. He likes Baker.
February 13th, 2024 at 7:11 pm
If you don’t like Trask then you don’t want Penix. He threw for less yards per completion, less TDs, and more Ints than Trask when comparing their last two years in college.
We don’t need to spend a premium pick on a QB if we re-sign Mayfield.
February 13th, 2024 at 7:15 pm
Why would u dump Trask who we moved up in draft to get, to draft someone in the 5-7 th rounds!? Keep him as a valuable back up!
February 13th, 2024 at 8:16 pm
And Licht just sits there and politely nods his head until the crazy uncle finally leaves the room. Then life carries on as if the conversation never happened.
February 14th, 2024 at 11:33 am
A QB scout who claims Blaine Gabbert is the most underrated qb in the league…