“The Key To It Is Sleeping On The Plane”
October 10th, 2019
Bucco Bruce Arians has been trumpeting his cutting edge sports science staff since he was hired.
And yesterday, we learned the scientists say key to the Bucs’ success against the Panthers on Sunday morning in England is players being able to sleep tonight during a late-night, trans-Atlantic flight.
Joe will refrain from being a wiseass and won’t question the sports science staff. But man, getting solid sleep on a plane is difficult. Joe feels uneasy about that being part of a team’s preparation plan.
Joe was lucky enough to travel on the Bucs team plane with the club two years ago on its way home from Charlotte. Conditions of Joe flying with the team included Joe not writing about things heard on the plane or the specifics of the trip. However, Joe will say that where the players sit is the exact opposite of flying coach on, say, Allegiant Air. So the big guys will recline well tonight, but it’s still not a bed.
Arians said on SiriusXM NFL Radio last night that he’ll have trouble snoozing on the flight but expects players to.
“The key to it is sleeping on the plane, which is very hard for me. But for the players, they need to get as much sleep on that plane. And then we’ll go into a normal Friday routine, meetings and then go straight to practice and try to stay on their time,” Arians said.
Some players have taken Ambien and popped melatonin this week, Arians said, in preparation for the overnight flight where they will do the same.
When Arians took his Cardinals to London, he flew out on Monday and said the team had a great week of practice in England but didn’t play well.
Joe sure hopes the scientists know what they’re doing — and find away to counter turbulence and/or loud snorers.
The last Bucs head coach who was militant about plane rides and other sports science matters didn’t fare to well. So Joe has fingers crossed.
October 10th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Why is the NFL doing this – sending teams to England to play? It’s stupid. 10 hour flight one way. The logistics flying a team to Atlanta are challenging. England? Can’t imagine the cost and logistics flying a team to England to play a sloppy tired football game only to stumble back on a plane for your 10 hour ride home.
October 10th, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Shouldn’t be any trouble for VHIII…
Asleep most of the time anyway.
Yeah, I know, that was too easy.
October 10th, 2019 at 12:45 pm
@Colorado, would ya look at that. That groundbreaking scientific discovery from the Bucs very own team of sports scientists. Who would’ve thought sleep would be important, geez how did they ever figure that out….
October 10th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Seriously Joe
Didn’t realize you were such a big VH fan
October 10th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
LOL…it takes several days to adjust and it is different for each individual…quickest adjust for me was on a trip from Tampa to Brisbane Australia…went for a cruise ship dry dock refit. We arrived in the morning around dawn and when we got to our hotel were met by half the crew that had been there for a week. We were not going to start for a few days so we went out for breakfast and started drinking all that day….went to sleep about 9 Australian time that night and the next day I was fine….the return not so much…So I recommend heavy drinking upon arrival and going to bed 9-10 PM London time 🙂
October 10th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
@Old Sombrero – Like any business they’re just trying to grow the brand.
October 10th, 2019 at 1:13 pm
If VH III is Bucs best hope of victory, then all hope is already lost.
October 10th, 2019 at 1:14 pm
Don’t understand why flying overnight….it’s not a commercial flight……playing 6 hours later is like playing a 7pm game…..
Could fly daytime…..sure there is a time difference but that overnight flight seems to be a mistake.
October 10th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
The most important thing when flying overseas is to FIRE 🔥 LICHT before you go.
October 10th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Sounds like BA churning up pre-excuses.
The Key to it is score more points than the other team.
How about THAT key.
October 10th, 2019 at 1:35 pm
No watch the whole team is going to get charged for PEDs somehow lol
October 10th, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Don’t understand why Davis, Dean and Bunting are not starting over VH111 and MJ Stewart. Also, why is RoJo second to Peyton Barber? If this continues too much longer, then my opinion of BA will be sinking.
Peyton will be a free agent after this season and VH111 only has a guarantee from injury. The Bucs and the new coaching staff have no obligation to these veterans. Need to trust your rookie as this guys are high draft picks and deserves a chance to prove themselves.
October 10th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
@Old Sombrero Says: this is all about money. The NFL is trying to cultivate interest to put a full-time team in place. The idea of this being a sport left in the late 60’s
October 10th, 2019 at 2:05 pm
Well VHIII plays like he sleeps on the football field.
October 10th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
Is xanax a band substance…pop a couple xanax and some jack daniels and they will be passed out by the time they hit greenland
October 10th, 2019 at 2:09 pm
xanax and jack daniels are definitely “band” substances….but are they “banned” in the nfl?
October 10th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
all bands love xanax…..
bucs will have plenty of excuses. they either need to man up and win or just quietly collect another basement title while the delusional optimists entertain me.
October 10th, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Hargreaves already sleeps during the games
October 10th, 2019 at 2:32 pm
Don’t like the idea that just because the Cardinals stank out the joint when they played in London that the Bucs will leave it late to travel and hope for the best. The Bears also arrived on Friday morning last week and didn’t score a point in the first half so no pressure on the Sports Science team…
Flight from TPA – London with the jet stream is a maximum of 8 hours so even if the players went to sleep as soon as their backside hits the seat they are not going to get a long sleep.
Fingers crossed for Sunday but we are already behind the Panthers who arrived today.
October 10th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
the best thing to do is exactly what coach said. Me and my wife flew to London a couple years ago. We left at 10pm est, slept on the plane (with the help of some alcohol) and got there around noon and hit the ground running. No issues with being tired and we were adjusted quickly.
October 10th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
This is all stupid talk you get on a plane you rest you get off the plane and get ready to play football you don’t think about what time it is you don’t think about anything except playing a game damn they’re making this complicated
October 10th, 2019 at 3:19 pm
I hope that Doug martin is still friends with some of the guys because he can give them some Adderall to pop pre game, this way we only give 325 yards passing versus 500 yards. Jameis will be on his best behavior with London Uber drivers.
October 10th, 2019 at 3:52 pm
OldSombrero because if the NFL wants to make more money they need to expand outside of America. The U.S. market is extremely saturated (57% of Americans identify as NFL fans) making it difficult to get more customers and watchers inside the U.S. That’s why the NFL plays games outside the country.
If you’re truly interested in NFL logistics I would recommend taking a look at the video below (14 minutes):
https://youtu.be/pJ_LUFBSoqM?t=9
October 10th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Overseas games SUCK!!! Let the Euros keep their little kickball game err soccer and we will keep football!
October 10th, 2019 at 4:46 pm
I love all the advice the people with masters and doctorates in sports science and the medical field give on this site!
Wait, you’re telling me that random people on a Bucs fan website aren’t scientists? You mean to say they’re talking out of their ass and don’t have any experience or knowledge about what they’re talking about? Wow I wouldn’t have guessed that.
October 10th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
I’ve lived in Europe and still make the flight over multiple times a year—. Everyone’s internal clock is a little different, but rolling off the flight and straight into the day is the best way to deal with the time jump. Next step is getting to bed at a good time but not too early. Popping pills and sleeping aids seems like overkill for a manageable 5 hour time jump— 10-12 hrs, sure, but 5? Nah.
October 10th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Went to Holland with my wife. Got there, ate then slept for 14 hours. Jet lag will kick your behind. Sleep well tonight please.
October 10th, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Sounds pretty stupid to give melatonin to a bunch of guys not used to it and who are trying to gear up for a high intensity physical sport like football. But I’m no doctor.
October 10th, 2019 at 7:02 pm
It’s a 5 hour difference, for goodness sakes! It’s 3 hours for a west cost game. Do they make major scheduling adjustments for those?
Playing well has much more to do with preparation, routine, skill, execution and scoring…OR we can just stress the time difference into existence!?
Leave Licht there, please!
October 10th, 2019 at 7:02 pm
Coast
October 11th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
yada, yada, yada & the Bucs lose