Stretching Aversion And Bruce Arians
December 16th, 2019
Bucco Bruce Arians did not believe in stretching before practice when he coached the Arizona Cardinals.
ESPN wrote all about it years ago, as did other outlets.
Joe does not know if Arians still follows that philosophy. Obviously, Arians had a lot of success in Arizona, so it’s not like he ruined the team with an array of muscle pulls and tears.
Arians is a big believer in sports science and he has staff dedicated to that with the Bucs. Joe can’t speak for the job they’ve done. In late October, Arians was trying to sell that the Bucs had travel-related issues even after coming directly off a bye week. Joe wasn’t buying any of that.
One reason Joe brings this up today is because of the hamstring injuries over the past two weeks to Mike Evans, Jordan Whitehead, Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller. Another reason is because former Bucs wide receiver Michael Clayton was blubbering on WDAE radio about rumors he’s heard that the Bucs don’t stretch.
Clayton was in disbelief.
Joe’s not a doctor and Joe does not know Arians’ pregame protocols for muscle preparation.
But Joe does know that the goal of every team is to be ready to play at full strength in January.
Injuries happen, heck, the Saints had a ton of players on injured reserve while they won the NFC South last season. But staying healthy is more than just luck.
Arians suggested the hamstring injuries may be on him because he gave too many reps in practice to receivers. He added he’d check with the sports science staff.
Regardless, it’s hard to believe all those hamstring issues are a coincidence. Hopefully, the Bucs can get to the bottom of it quickly.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:57 am
Need to get proper hydration for the climate. It is all about water.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:00 am
Clayton was only in disbelief because the receivers were primarily catching the ball, rather than blocking.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:03 am
Was Mr. Clayton flabbergasted?
December 16th, 2019 at 11:09 am
Ready for January? For what? The Outback bowl? This team is eliminated from the post season. If these were permanent injuries, I’d say, “stop the presses”. But in fact, shutting these guys down will have no bearing on January, so I’d say, who cares at this point. Bruce will check it out, and if we are in the running next year, he will make sure we handle it properly.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:10 am
It’s obvious! There is a preparation or training issue that needs to be corrected. I am a physical therapist with a ACSM certification and these hamstring issues are not random. I blamed the sports science dept immediately. Muscle imbalances can also cause these type of issues. But mainly its inadequate preparation, stretching and hydration. Whatever the problem is they need to make modifications now!
December 16th, 2019 at 11:10 am
I think in the case of Scotty Miller…..he’s had problems since training camp…..I don’t believe it ever fully healed……remember Arians saying he thought Scotty should get out there……..
Scotty’s desire to play probably affected his good sense……but, at least he got his first touchdown.
In the case of Miller…..Joe makes fun of him but he is the best later round draft WR we’ve had in a while.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Hopefully the Bucs receivers (and corners) are doing Nordic hamstring curls. I originally came across them through an article from an Illinois track coach who lamented the number of hamstring issues common in track. Once he had his team start doing them hamstring issues became a thing of the past. They strengthen the hamstring eccentrically and that’s where hamstring pulls occur while sprinting. I personally used to injure my hamstrings chronically before doing them and since starting haven’t had a single hamstring complication. They’re the closest thing to a panacea as I’ve found for anything in my athletic/coaching career.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:30 am
“A little off topic but
WTF was Justin Watson attempting to do on that punt return?
I know white guys cant dance but that was an abomination”
Kobe Faker
December 16th, 2019 at 11:33 am
ME13 has had problems with his hammy before….scotty earlier this year….
i believe BA…..
he may have ordered 7on7 everyday after practice…..only the WRs and whitehead have had ahmmy problems….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 16th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Colonel_MP Says: Need to get proper hydration for the climate. It is all about water.
That is accurate. One think I thought was crazy and now I look at as a plus, Im from Texas and a Longhorns fan, Tom Herman has a hydration chart. Literally makes sure players keep two Gatorade bottles with water on them at all time. If its empty at anytime a coach checks you have consequences at practice. The part that is extreme is he does random checks to verify how dark or light your urine is. However it works.
Besides major injuries. Cramps and pulled muscles rarely ever occurred this year. They just played poorly. During the LSU and Texas game LSU players were cramping up all over the field. Some of it planned to slow down the Texas offense but you could just tell they were suffering in the Texas summer heat ever though BR is more humid.
Plus the players are adults, They can stretch before practice and games like most adults do. They dont have to do it as a team activity. They should know how to take care of their bodies.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:58 am
In modern sports science the trend is dynamic warm up and the stretching happens after the workout / game / practice.
December 16th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Uncle is right
Many people believe that static stretching before workout is more harmful therefore they activate with dynamics and stretch after.
Colonel says we need to prepare for the climate by hydrating. This is this is true. ppl forget that it’s not the heat in Detroit that gets you. It’s the humidity
December 16th, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Well Dynamic warm up may be a trend but it certainly does not mean it’s better. Perhaps WR’s, RB’s, TE’s and DB’s should at least stretch Hamstrings and groins???
December 16th, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Joe you gotta stretch simple as that. If I don’t stretch before a game I play ultimate frisbee I will pull a hammy wen I raced bikes same way. Stretching an hydration. This is pro football how the hell they ain’t stretching
December 16th, 2019 at 1:42 pm
Interesting: I read this a little bit ago and thought nothing of it. Then when I was listening to one of my nutrition podcasts they talked about a dr who recommends not stretching. They just barely touched on it and didn’t go into any real details while teasing another podcast. But the context was something about the muscles regenerating their own glucose.
December 16th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Arians is right about the stretching BS; but now with these athletes eating such proper diets and their workouts that strengthening their core its a different era than the one arians is looking back at; these players all stretch out and warm up to the highest before every work out so arinas is right on with his stretching philosophy.
December 16th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Bring back Toriscelli!
December 16th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Stretching is for sissies.
That’s what Arians learned from Ray Perkins – and it’s what I learned from Perkins as well. We need 3-a-days in camp, and no stretching and no water. Stop being little whinny pukes and just go out there and play football.
December 16th, 2019 at 5:52 pm
Pedialyte, pickle juice and mustard, not combined but all of those help with making muscle loose and lubed up. Next year were in the playoffs!! Lets go bucs
December 16th, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Dark beer, pickles and soft pretzels with lots of mustard…
December 16th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
Contrary to traditional wisdom, stretching does not do much for injury prevention. The key to injury prevention is elevating core muscle temperature. as a matter of fact, NSCA did a study quite a few years ago that conclusively proved that static stretching BEFORE athletic performance not only leads to more injuries but noticeably diminishes athletic performance.
December 16th, 2019 at 7:06 pm
You dummies are all discussing ways to prevent cramping, not pulled muscles. warm ups through dynamic movements is the way to go. There’s about a 99.9% chance that the Bucs trainers are doing the right thing. They went to school for this and do continuing education.
December 16th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Dynamic warm ups are not a trend, it is proven science. You do not do static stretching before performing unless you want to perform worse and increase likelihood of injury.