Play To Win Or To Evaluate?
December 28th, 2019
Reps or wins?
It’s sort of a conundrum.
Joe would play young players tomorrow, save the veterans and hey, if you are not in the playoffs, a loss is a good thing.
Of course, Bucco Bruce Arians would like to see how young players or reserves perform with some key Bucs out of tomorrow’s 2019 season finale, such as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
But coaches are not wired to lose. In part, they have a responsibility to the players. And the players don’t give a damn about the draft.
Yesterday after the final Friday practice of the season, Arians was asked about getting snaps for backups to close the season at the Den of Depression. Arians admitted it is not just games where players are evaluated.
“You’re always evaluating every single day,” Arians said. “Like I always say, ‘One man’s injury is another guy’s opportunity.’ Some picked it up last week [and] some didn’t. Let’s see who picks it up this week.”
Arians won’t be treating tomorrow’s game as a preseason game, of course. It isn’t about getting guys reps. It’s about getting a win.
The Dixie Chicks have been playing hard to save Dan Quinn’s job as the Dixie Chicks’ coach — if you believe in the cheerleaders in Georgia. Now that his job is saved, will Atlanta ease up?
December 28th, 2019 at 10:06 am
ALL about the wins baby!!!!!
December 28th, 2019 at 10:13 am
An 8-8 season is more important than a slot or two in the draft. Winning the draft means getting talent in the middle. Godwin was drafted 84th.
December 28th, 2019 at 10:18 am
Evaluate young guys? Exactly who are these young guys on the bench we need to evaluate?
Rookie and second year guys playing on the secondary. Check
Practice squad guys playing receiver. Check
Rookie linebacker. Check
Rookie kicker. Check
Second year running back. Check
Griffin is not a young guy and unfortunately we are still evaluating our 1st round QB in his 5th yr making $20.9M
That leaves D line and Oline, the dline has been on a full rotation and Nelson was injured. Oline, we have second year guy Cappa. Check. And we’ve seen a few backup positions fill in doing horrible when Smith went down mid game, then ok when he was out for a game.
Is there a rookie punter or long snapper I’m not aware of?
We have one of the youngest teams in the nfl, who exactly is it you want to see play Joe?
Geesh…
In BA I Trust!
December 28th, 2019 at 10:34 am
Let’s win we want winners!!!
December 28th, 2019 at 10:41 am
Joe, what’s up with all this losing is a good thing talk? Players want wins, coaches want wins, fans want wins. The taste left in your mouth during the off season matters in regards to momentum and confidence. Our FA’s are more likely to want to return knowing they aren’t coming back to a team that just suffered another losing season. Herman Edwards had it right..
December 28th, 2019 at 10:47 am
“5000 yds equal $30 million dollars
Kobe believes this is the motto coming out of Jason Gump and the Glazer boy band lip syncing
To justify and appease the Bucs redneck nascar fanbase
Will they come storming down and buy every available seats at mighty RJS next year?
LOL”
Kobe Faker
December 28th, 2019 at 10:47 am
“Meaningless” game……my a$$
December 28th, 2019 at 10:49 am
Sport – great post. The young guys that need to be evaluated have been evaluated all year. Our backup offensive lineman are scary bad and not part of the future, neither is Ryan Griffin. I’d rather close out the year getting first downs and touchdowns. Watson is the one young guy that could use some more opportunities to make plays and log more experience and he won’t do that with backup offensive lineman in, getting Jameis or griffin killed. Not sure what else they can do, give Ronald Jones ALL the snaps maybe. Whatever, finish 8-8 and roll in to off season
December 28th, 2019 at 10:52 am
“Playing to win” is a somewhat loaded term when you use it referring to reps for individual players.
This was a critical debate at mid season when it became clear the playoffs were not going to happen this year.
I was glad to see us play our best players. Injuries and other reasons have conspired to give most of our rookies plenty of reps anyway.
What we did against N.O. to get J.W. first in the draft may be the reason he and we have been truly cursed for five years for violating a basic premise of athletic endeavor…PLAY TO WIN.
But worst of all is playing TO LOSE!!! ON PURPOSE! A little puke just came up in the back of my mouth!
Violate that at you own peril. How did it work out for us? Even if JW leads us to a SB in a few years was it worth the hell we have endured for five seasons? Really? That’s five years of my fan life gone! FOREVER!
I HATE DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN PLAYING TO WIN. IT’S CHEATING LIFE AND SPORTS OTHERWISE!
December 28th, 2019 at 10:58 am
Win. There are plenty of potentially good players that would fit our needs at pick 20.
December 28th, 2019 at 11:02 am
Both. We are already playing a bunch of rookies and second year guys. Let’s continue evaluating them and win! Go Bucs!
December 28th, 2019 at 11:04 am
“Just win, baby.”
– Al Davis
December 28th, 2019 at 11:09 am
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME—PERIOD!!!!!!YOU THINK THE PATRIOTS GIVE A DAM ABOUT PICKING LAST.
December 28th, 2019 at 11:19 am
Who cares about tomorrow ‘s game!!!!!!!!! The “real” entertainment will be the season ending BS press conference from ole stale biscuit and the garbage gm!!!!!!!!!! And the only thing to pay attention to is how high will be the pile of bull-sp!t will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And worst will be the local media who already have packed their softballs to tea up!!!!!!!!!!!! Those parrots are just happy to shove the bananas foster down their pie-holes so you know that they are just all happy to e there and will repeat the garbage as gospel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait until next’s year lost season and excuses, after tough talk from one buc this offseason!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry New Year Sheep
December 28th, 2019 at 11:25 am
The chance to go 8-8 and defeat an improving division rival should be a huge incentive to play hard Sunday. Additionally we have guys that could break records and win contracts next year. No game is more important to a professional franchise than the one they are playing. Were trying to develop a winning culture.
December 28th, 2019 at 11:28 am
Joe,
Is it accurate to say the Bucs are one of the youngest teams in the league?
If they are, then isn’t it fair to say the young players are playing!
Just an observation, I don’t recall any excitement from 1joebucHQ about watching the future ups or fed ex drivers , can’t recall any hype for future publix or xfl employees either, during the 2nd 3rd or 4th preseason games.
Why now ?
December 28th, 2019 at 11:37 am
down in the dirt doug Says:
“YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME”
~~~~~~~~~
Herman Edwards put it best. 😉
December 28th, 2019 at 11:38 am
“6 pack of Budweiser or a pack of 305s will cost more than a Bucs RJS ticket
We are going to need to replace the Buc cheerleaders to the strippers down the street and call it Delilah s Den
Free lap dance for each interception”
Kobe New Marketing Director Faker
December 28th, 2019 at 11:53 am
Evaluate what?
December 28th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
If Fantasy Football were still running I would definitely be starting Tampa’s D!
We sacked Ryan 6 times last game. I think we do it again tomorrow
December 28th, 2019 at 1:09 pm
I am sure the Atlanta staff is evaluating their team as well as us. I also believe they will come out firing as the grey cloud over the head coach is no longer an issue knowing there is no “pass” from a new head coach.
December 28th, 2019 at 1:22 pm
Pick #12 throgh #19 is our opportunity. If we win, the best we could get is #17. If we lose, we’ll probably end up around #14.
Play to win and 8=8. However, it wouldn”t hurt my feelings if we lost on a late score.
December 28th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
^^^^^^ Did you mean a late pick by JW?
December 28th, 2019 at 2:11 pm
Win
December 28th, 2019 at 2:29 pm
The only person that needs to be evaluated is Ryan Griffin. He needs a full game so we can see where he is at.
It might also give Jameis some perspective. He still seems to think that he is the 100 million dollar man. I don’t think he is, not here. There has to be psychological thing that makes him play better away from home.
December 28th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
The higher you draft, the more numbers one draft picks you need. You only have one. High draft picks are a bad sign. In 2018, “The Riot Report” reported that first round picks only have a 53% success rate. I have no idea how individual success is being discriminated from team success with a team game, but it is an idea.
December 28th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
I believe this is Winstons make it break the bank day. If he has a good game one int and bucs win maybe a good contract. If they lose and he throws 3 or 4 picks the Glazer boys aren’t going to be happy.
December 28th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Hell our vets barely know how to win. They need the reps as much as anyone.
December 28th, 2019 at 5:59 pm
I’d offer three first rounders to the Bengals so that we could draft Joe Burrows. Would they bite?
December 28th, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Joe Burrow? You would be sorry.
December 28th, 2019 at 6:13 pm
Where are all the pseudo fans and know nothings that want the Bucs to draft Jalen “Lord Howitt” Hurts?
December 28th, 2019 at 7:29 pm
Gotta win the Game!
The fans who show up deserve it above all else.
December 29th, 2019 at 9:51 am
its a little late to evaluate players. If you don’t know what you have by now Im concerned about your coaching ability. . . or lack thereof