Risky
July 16th, 2019
Long-term outlook.
If Joe would have to lay cash, Joe would bet a pricey sum the Bucs will be coached by Bucco Bruce Arians in 2020.
But a columnist for a popular national publication isn’t exactly 100 percent believing that will be the case.
In looking at the riskiest move of every NFL team this offseason, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report is of the mind that there is a chance that Arians might just pack it in after this season.
He announced his retirement from football just a little more than a year ago, citing family as a big reason why he wanted to walk away. His feelings have obviously changed a bit over the last year, but there’s no guarantee his desire to get away from football won’t soon return, especially if Tampa’s season goes south early.
Arians has now “retired” twice in the past 10 years—though his retirement from Pittsburgh was a bit of a forced issue—and the Buccaneers do run the risk of having him retire a third time before his vision for the team ever truly takes hold.
Again, Joe expects Arians to be around for a least a couple of years. But there is a chance he may not.
First is, his health. Oh sure, he passed a physical this past spring. How many people you know that passed physicals and months later weren’t so healthy?
But here is where the unpredictability of Team Glazer floats to the surface. Let’s say the Bucs have a horrible season. Does America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston return? Does Team Glazer throw in the towel, hit the reset button, have a fire sale and go for a quarterback in the first round and undergo a total rebuild? It’s happened before.
Just after the 2007 season, Chucky was given a three-year extension by Team Glazer, the only coach in franchise history to win a Super Bowl for the Bucs. A year later, he was out and the Bucs had a housecleaning. And remember, this was after Chucky had consecutive 9-7 seasons.
Now Joe doubts this would happen with Arians, but who knows? It’s not like it never happened before. Also factor in Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is on the final year of his contract. Arians boasted that Licht is a big reason why he is here.
And we all know what Arians said when he was introduced as Bucs coach, he is not here for a rebuild.
July 16th, 2019 at 10:20 am
I will even one up the prediction!!!!!!! The “real” fans don’t think that ole coach stale biscuit will match the 19 wins that Head Coach Koetter got!!!!!!!!!! The fact of all the trash talk that ole stale biscuit is the most puzzling of all, because he either is a liar or has been grossly deluded the whole situation!!!!!!!!!
The good news is it will not take long for even the most stubborn sheep to finally catch up of the whole disaster this year will be, and what a mistake it was to hire a whole coaching staff to fix and drag jw3 to wins and salvage his career!!!!!! What a mistake to hire coaches to fix a player/ say how great he is, and not to better a team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 10:21 am
The bucs have a way of burying coaches that come to tampa on their 2nd act. All the way back to leeman bennett. Lovie being the latest abysmal failure to get the TKO in Tampa. This team is not very good from a personnel point and not sure the best Skeeter’s big biscuit can smother enough gravy to cover up the collosal failures of the GM
July 16th, 2019 at 10:21 am
If Joe would have to lay cash, Joe would bet a pricey sum the Bucs will be coached by Bucco Bruce Arians in 2020.
You better hope BA makes it through one year in the NFL’s black hole ran by the apathetic and incompetent glazers.. its equally as likely BA bails between week 7 and 9 as it is he is coaching in 2020….
July 16th, 2019 at 10:24 am
Never say never given health problems can always resurface in a high stress role like NFL head coach, but I can’t imagine BA walks away from the chock-full toy chest that is the Bucs receiving game. He has a true connection with Jameis and really wants to help him realize his potential, but if Bad Jameis shows up for the season and all goes awry… I bet he goes for the “reload” and soldiers on with a new face behind center for 2020. No abandoning ship on the horizon.
July 16th, 2019 at 10:35 am
Oh Lord….the negativity on this site has become unbearable….starting with you Joe…..smdh
July 16th, 2019 at 10:37 am
Buc realist needs to find a new team to rout for.
July 16th, 2019 at 10:39 am
going for a quarterback in the first round is not necessarily a total rebuild.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:02 am
@Buc Realist… wow! This staff has made so many improvements small (GMC out) and large (3-4 scheme). How can you reduce all to fixing JW3? I didn’t like the look of running off Fitz to shore up JW’s ego (if you believe that was the reason)… but everything else has been very team oriented: drafts on D and role-based 3-4 vet signings. No crazy reaches on OL, no overpaying to keep Hump, no desperate attempts to get a big name RB to ease the pressure… not even any more Bobo Wilson/Seminole pal testimonials. This staff has not overly catered to JW, they appear to be executing a well thought out plan with a focus on greatest needs and catering to existing strengths… one of which is Good Jameis. IMHO, these coaches seem to embrace your “realist” label more than you.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:03 am
The buc realist knows whats really going on. Stale biscuit does not want a rebuild or he would not have brought in a 32 year old defensive end/tackle waiting on a 30 something defensive end with a fractured neck. Suh is slow and JPP probably won’t even play. Stale biscuit will retire in December citing health issues.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:09 am
Let’s see, the Bucs haven’t had enough to be concerned about this year with salary Cap issues, player turnover, consecutive 5-11 records, etc, so let’s just for kicks start worrying about NEXT YEAR or the YEAR AFTER. Aaah yes, that’ll do it; I feel so much better now that I’m focused on 2021.
I’m concluding rapidly Joe that you’re a worrier (or at least one of you is). You also seem to be quite pessimistic, especially about the Bucs’ DEFENSE. They gave up 464 points last year … how much worse can it get? No place to go but up. We’ve made some MAJOR CHANGES on defense … coaching AND players. No, the Bucs didn’t listen to you in the draft; I know … bummer. But MAYBE, just MAYBE, Bruce Arians & Todd Bowles know what they’re doing. I know, that’s a HUGE LEAP OF FAITH for you, but you can do it. There are lots of JBFers who can help you pull it off. OR you can stay mired in the Pit of Misery. Whatever.
I know, off to the ‘Awaiting Moderation’ dungeon.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:22 am
11-5
July 16th, 2019 at 11:25 am
Pryda dyslexic 5-11.HAHAHAHA!
July 16th, 2019 at 11:25 am
I must say that I agree with The Buc Realist but this was only after my eyes adjusted to all the exclamation points in his post. I believe this is going to be a 6-10 season (or worse) and Jay-Miss, with his inconsistency, will be a big reason why. If I am right, and I hope I’m wrong, then there will be no reason for Coach Band-Aid to stick around. I have to hand it to the Glazers though, they really have tried with WinsTOn.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:33 am
Negativity gets clicks. Its not abut providing good content. Clicks is all that matters.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:34 am
Physically BA is looking better than ever, so he’s cleaned up some eating habits, maybe curtailed some drinking habits. He’s lost a bunch of weight around his middle. He’s getting a lot of sunshine, which provides Vitamin D, that provides great over all health benefits.
BA has built a complete coaching staff that he’s confidant in. He won’t have to coach the coaches.
He’s using the golf cart so he lessens the wear and tear on his 66 year old body.
He’s secured his eventual retirement nest egg so there is no financial stress.
Looks like he might coach another decade.
Now, I would bet Gump will be gone soon.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:34 am
Arians didn’t “retire for health reasons” at AZ. He wanted out without burning bridges.
I would gamble on him being a Buc in some capacity, either as HC or a high football operations executive, for several years.
I suspect the Glazers are craving stability after the post-Gruden train wreck they caused.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:38 am
If the Bucs win a sad number of games (surely 4 or less, or 6 or less with arrows pointing down at season end), I would bet money BA decides to retire (again). Also, I maintain as I have regarding Licht…if they have a poor season, whether or not BA stays, Licht will be gone. BA and Licht are NOT joined at the hip, and it’s pretty clear BA is not here to rebuild. That said, if they do poorly, BA’s clout goes down as well.
The Glazers have had no problem firing three coaches in the past who went to SBs. So why is BA, who has not put that feather in his cap, any better or different?
Let’s get some results, then we can talk.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:48 am
Realist calls for GMC to be traded and a 3-4 defensive move in 2018.
He says if we do that then the coaching staff gets a 2 year grace period.
Fast forward to 2019. The coaching staff moves to a 3-4 and gets rid of Gerald McCoy.
He now says blow it all up today while predicting doom and gloom and no grace period for the new staff.
Dude’s losing it lol. Or he’s just related to Mike Smith.
GO BUCS
July 16th, 2019 at 11:50 am
@Cobra
Arians just seems like a guy who never wants to leave football. He thought that doing the media thing would be enough satisfaction but it wasn’t. That’s why he is back IMO.
If this thing ends up being a success I see him staying in football for a while even if it’s a president of operations or some role like that
July 16th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
all things being equal BA has accepted the challenge to turn the team around.
I will besurprised if he walks away prematurely for any reason other than health.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Anybody who is making fun of our coach before he even gets to manage a game is a absolute stain on this fan base.
You call yourself a sheppard. Us sheep refer to you as the crazy on the internet.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
When you coax a coach out of retirement you get the effective play caller delegating to his friends rather than directly coaching to turn around a team. This is why this was a bad hire.
Bucs aren’t getting Arizona Arians they are getting semi retired Arians
6 wins tops with this qb run game defense and kicking game
July 16th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Bucco Bruce will prolly get sick of the Jameis Bashers and retire again than deal with their lunacy. The Jameis Bashers are the plague of this organization.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Her bruce a good gm and we can have a 3-5 year run
It’s hard to win with the worst gm in football
July 16th, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Hire
July 16th, 2019 at 12:28 pm
I try to ignore the negative and accentuate the positive at least until we see what we have considering no games have been played yet.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:36 pm
The sky is falling nellies have driven away serious posters who understand football. Too bad! But they will be back when the fans see BA’s big results!
July 16th, 2019 at 12:38 pm
@Lord C … “If this thing ends up being a success I see him staying in football for a while even if it’s a president of operations or some role like that”. I’m thinking exactly the same thing LC. EVERYTHING that BA has done from Day 1 says “I’m in this for the long haul”. That ‘long haul’ IMO will include a transition for himself from HC to President of Football Operations (or whatever they call it) probably after year 2 or 3. I beleive though that he really does want to win a Super Bowl and feels he can do that in 2-3 years here. I hope he’s right.
BA has a reputation of being extremely loyal to ‘his guys’ (and they to him) and he’s brought on a whole bunch of ‘familiar’ coaches since being hired. He’s also created a nice mix of age & youth … IOW, he’s building this thing with an eye towards the future. He’s talking ‘high expectations’ but he’s also a realist … it’s REALLY TOUGH to turn around a train wreck in 1 year. Despite all the talk of ‘SB or bust’ I’ve got a gut feeling that BA & his coaches would be more than satisfied with a break-even season in which they get this team playing MUCH BETTER and in which they’re able to determine what pieces to keep & what pieces to move on from.
The 2 coaches who most intrigue me are Todd Bowles (age 55) and Harold Goodwin (age 46). IF I had to pick the 2 coaches on his staff who are prospects for assuming the HC reins here in 2-3 years it’d be one of those two, with Todd Bowles having the upper hand IMO. TB had an opportunity from what I’ve read to take over as DC of the Chicago Bears, but opted for the Bucs instead. Why? The only reason I can think of is that TB was told ‘Turn this defense around & you’re #1 in line for the throne when I move up in 2-3 years’. THAT’s the only ‘carrot’ that makes any sense IMO.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:39 pm
I think two years is a pretty solid prediction…..I suspect we will see improvement this year and a playoff team next year.
BA has hired a huge coaching staff that he trusts and is very loyal to…..he has to be excited about that.
If he leaves the Bucs on an upswing, his coaches will remain and Goodwin or Leftwich will be promoted.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:43 pm
@defense rules
Your crazy, No Way he makes it too the 2021 season!!!!!! And most likely there will be a silver alert for ole stale biscuits golf cart way before then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 12:45 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
Wrong again!!!!!!!!!!! total disaster this year with lots of excuses!!!!! They will try to franchise jw3 to ensure another year in 2020, which the whole staff will be canned and finally the inevitable rebuild will finally commence!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 12:52 pm
His 21-33 record and his league leading turnovers are a bigger plague.
July 16th, 2019 at 1:03 pm
He will last two years just like the last couple HC victims of the JW coach killer tactics.
July 16th, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Nobody wants to use it as an excuse but our schedule is setup against us. Had the schedule not been slanted against the Bucs I feel they had a good chance to finish 8-8 or better. Now, I’m not so sure we win 6 games. All these away games in a row is gonna hurt us, especially if we have significant injuries during that brutal stretch.
July 16th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
(Other Jim here) Another scenario is where the season ends somewhere south of success, Bruce stays on but a QB with high potential is drafted…
July 16th, 2019 at 1:44 pm
@jean lafitte
First, the schedule is easier than last year!!!!!!!! 2018 strength of schedule was 4th hardest!!!!!! in 2019 it is ranked a tied 12th!!!!!!!!!!! You might be worried of the long away schedule, but word on the street was that was the deal to keep jw3 suspension down from 6 games and to hide the letter of suspension!!!!!!!!! So without their “choosen” qb not facing multiple games suspended this year, and a much easier schedule than last year, what is the excuse??????????????? This coaching staff got almost all the players they wanted or did not want on the team!!!!!!!!! The money was easily shiftable, so no excuses there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its time to “Hold them Accountable”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real’ fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Let me stake my claim to not just blog optimist..but the cockeyed optimist.
D.R. posted that he feels perhaps B.A. came here hoping to win an SB in 2 or 3 years and he and staff will be happy with at least 8-8. That would make sense…first you have to stop the bleeding before we can begin to grow again.
But I have a feeling we might be headed to a special year in Bucs history…a Tim McGraw “Ya gotta believe” kind of year.
I want to be on the record with the boldest and of course craziest (to most of you) prediction. I believe this team will outplay BA’s expectations…which of course would mean they outplay all of the JBF’s posters expectations except for a very few of us.
10 wins…the team keeps growing…leadership and attitude have finally emerged..we have a kicker…and shock the world with our playoff run.
July 16th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
The negativity and pessimism is in full swing. It is commonplace in the doldrums of the offseason.
Realist- you should know there is a fundamental requirement to be a leader. That would be followers. Nobody, and I mean absolutely no one, would follow your negative-repetitive-sheep-comments and excessive exclamation points anywhere…Ever! The best you could ever hope for is someone on this blog responding to you. So congrats, you have reached your pinnacle in life.
Also, the vast majority of people who claim to be realists in this life are lying to themselves and everyone else, they are pessimists that don’t have the balls to admit it. Have you ever seen the AHoles that bet the don’t Come line at the craps table? They place their bet and either turn away or stand back like they don’t care or as not to draw attention to themselves. Why? Because they know they are AHoles.
Your new name should be El Bucco Pessimisto! At least then you could claim some integrity.
Lord Corn called you out on facts. But don’t let that get in the way of your obsessive-exclmative-pessimistic ways.
In BA I Trust!
July 16th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
Realist, are you suggesting that they should have hired a crappy coach and cut Jameis? How does hiring a better coach equate to a disaster.
God I can’t wait for this season to start
July 16th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
There is zero chance Arians quits after this season. If he does, and it isn’t because of some catastrophic healthy decline I would be shocked. He wants that ring as a head coach and knows that with a good defense and Jameis Winston he can get it.
July 16th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Realist … “defense rules, Your crazy, No Way he makes it too the 2021 season!!”
You’re batting .500 Realist. I am crazy (been enthusiastically following the Bucs since 1982, does that tell you anything?). But BA will make it to at least 2020 or even 2021 if he hasn’t accomplished the goals he set for himself. Seriously doubt he’d coach beyond that, but he will move up to an executive position with the Bucs I’m convinced (all part of THE PLAN).
And TBBF, I doubt that the Glazer Boyz have the stomach for another rookie HC after Raheem, Schiano & Koetter. Goodwin is a possibility, but I still think that Todd Bowles would have the advantage IF he can get this defense turned around. IF he took over for BA after 2-3 years, he’d have a much better coaching staff AND roster here than he ever had with the Jets.
July 16th, 2019 at 4:20 pm
lol @ ranking 2019 strength of schedule before seeing how good the 2019 teams are.
SOS only matters after the season is over in terms of ranking it. Impossible to know which supposedly good teams end up sucking and vice versa.
GO BUCS
July 16th, 2019 at 4:34 pm
Bucs will win, and you doubters will eat sheep sht.
July 16th, 2019 at 5:11 pm
@lard of corn
Funny how you only find fault with comparing the SOS rankings that I used that came out at the exact same time before the season to compare, But you have no issue with someone saying how hard the schedule is for this year!!!!!!!!!
Are you planning the excuses already????? Since it is “impossible to know” how hard the schedule is???????????
Intern Zach ask: Mr Realist, why do you call them sheep?????
The Buc Realist says: Because they always answer when called!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 6:42 pm
This season hinges on 2 essentials things..whether Jameis takes his vital next step to improvement and whether this is a much improved Defense. Improve these 2 things and we might..have a winner in town. If not? Its the same ole..
BUC LIFE baby!!
July 16th, 2019 at 7:51 pm
What Mike just said.
July 16th, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Mike Johnson … You nailed it. In the years when we made the playoffs, the Bucs offense scored an average of 3 PPG MORE than the Bucs defense allowed. Clearly defense led the way with their consistent Top-10 rankings.
I’m expecting a LOT of improvement out of this year’s defense, and I think that Todd Bowles can get them into the range of allowing around 22 PPG average. That’s a huge 7 PPG LESS than what our defense allowed last year, but I still think that it’s doable over the course of the season (anticipating a somewhat slower start then picking up as the season rolls along, barring significant injuries of course.
I’m more concerned about the Bucs’ offense. In the first 8 games last year we scored 229 points (28.6 PPG) … Fitz started 5 games & came in in relief in 1 game; Jameis started 3 games & came in in relief in 2 games. In the last 8 games we scored 167 points (20.9 PPG) … Fitz started 2 games & Jameis started 6 games and came in in relief in 1 game. The concern? Offense was very inconsistent during the course of the year, and ended the year with mediocre performances offensively. Hopefully that’s not a problem this year and we can smooth out our offensive production to a more consistent 25 PPG or thereabouts.
July 16th, 2019 at 8:53 pm
@MikeJohnson…interested is what your take is on Winston…what does the “vital next step” mean to you? How good does he have to be keep? Not nailing you down to numbers unless you want…but all over I see Winston needs to take the next step, but some define it, some don’t. Some think he walks on water and should get a deal now.
July 16th, 2019 at 10:38 pm
stpetebucsfan
it was TUG McGraw the only talented mcgraw not tim mcgraw the no talent hack with a hot wife.
July 16th, 2019 at 11:01 pm
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is my assessment ………………
Here is some more of nothing !@#$%^%^&&*())__)%#@%^&&*&%=!!
The Bucs would be better if they would just …. @0+*& ……
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Win Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
____________
Wallowing in the mire, saying nothing and calling myself a Bucs fan is easy. !!!
I can shout as loud as anyone.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!