“They Think They Are Going To Be Better”
August 5th, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians
No journalist is more plugged in with the everyday machinery that is the NFL than BSPN’s Adam Schefter.
Joe acknowledges the Bucs were a huge story in a pandemic-stunted 2020, not just because they won a Super Bowl but because of the guy that personally kicked dirt in the face of The Lost Decade, Tom Brady.
So it’s hard to beat a great, feel-good story, right? Well…
This week on “Stay in Bed,” seen weekday mornings on BSPN, Schefter said the Bucs have plans to one-up themselves.
“They think they are going to be better than last year,” Schefter said. “Which is hard to imagine, right? But, again, last year irregular offseason program, getting used to the offense. They had some injuries. They get people back.
“Now [Brady] is comfortable in the offense. Now he has the players he wants. Now he has the confidence of winning a Super Bowl. Now, technically, they should really be rolling when they were rolling at the end of last year.”
Joe doesn’t argue with anything Schefter says here. The Bucs were rolling with an eight-game win streak to win the Super Bowl. They exorcised demons in New Orleans, outpunched Aaron Rodgers (despite Brady’s three picks) in Green Bay and curb-stomped the Chiefs.
We may never see a Bucs team run through a gauntlet like the last three games of the 2020 postseason.
“No one could stop them,” Schefter said.
He’s not wrong.
August 5th, 2021 at 6:15 am
KC thought they would be better last year, too. They had injuries late, a major distraction during the SB week, and still made the SB. The point is winning the SB is the only achievement the team should be seeking, but it is not the focus until the clock expires on the NFC Championship game with more points on their side.
Until that moment, just focus on winning each game. They don’t have to be better. They don’t have to run out the clock. Win ugly. Win on a late score. Win on a fluke. Just get the win. Then think about next week.
August 5th, 2021 at 6:35 am
They finally learned how to win…even the ugly games
That matters …the losing culture was here far to long
We got the right guys out of the building and brought in winners
This team should feel confidence that they are tops in nfl
August 5th, 2021 at 6:45 am
No one’s more plugged into the Bucs than: Pete, Joe & Ira
You can’t smuggle sunrise past these 3 roosters
August 5th, 2021 at 6:48 am
Anything less than 14-3 and a super bowl win, I would be disappointed.
August 5th, 2021 at 7:17 am
So 13-4 and a SB you are upset?
August 5th, 2021 at 8:02 am
Mod hair Ken you make a good point- but the difference is Tom Brady & what he brings
Like a veteran Championship race car driver who has won with good cars
This is the most complete Team Brady ever directed- so I believe it will be special- they aren’t complacent- everyone is locked in
Mahomes- like Brady in 02-03 thought
Every year would be back then 07-11
Heartbroken to lose those games & now
He knows exactly what to do
August 5th, 2021 at 8:29 am
I am thinking every team out there is trying to improve too. Bound to be some surprises, teams that way out perform expectations. Bucs did it last year. Somebody else may be a huge surprise this year. Let the games begin!
August 5th, 2021 at 8:44 am
Given the situation in 2020, no rational person would conclude that the Bucs won’t be better in 2021: Same starting lineup and coaching staff (-1), Brady fully immersed in offensive scheme, Brady’s knee repaired, full training camp and preseason to get in sync, AB here for full year, OJ back off injury, relatively easy schedule based on last year’s records, and a ton of confidence coming off an 8-game winning streak and SB victory. The Bucs will not lose games like those in the first half of last season. The only things getting in the way, which the Bucs have limited or no control over, are injuries, bad luck, and a regressed kicking game. This COULD be the best all-around team in NFL history. They COULD have a perfect season. They COULD set records on both offense and defense. I’ve never had this much confidence in this team as I do this year. Fingers crossed and lets fu*!ing GO!
August 5th, 2021 at 9:27 am
“Yeah we don’t think we’re going to be better than last year.”
– No professional coach ever
August 5th, 2021 at 10:22 am
I agree, this team should be better. Does that mean they’ll have better production, more wins and another S.B. win? As anyone that watches football knows, there are a number of other factors that can decide how good or bad a team can be, will they be relatively injury free, keep penalties down and how will other teams play them. A couple of bad injuries in the wrong position groups, if they self implode with mental errors and if other teams find a formula that works against the Bucs, this could be a VERY long year for the Bucs and the fans(but I hope & pray it isn’t). Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2021 at 11:08 am
It is such a logical argument. We all want to believe. However it just feels too over the top. Too much hype. On the cautionary side, age will eventually catch up with Brady and the Bucs. Will it be this year? Hopefully not. A more subtle concern is that we lose the intensity of focus. All the hurdles of last year forced an intensity of focus by the entire team and by Brady in particular. Our veteran laden team was able to overcome what was missing due to experience and the leadership provided by Brady and Arians. Brady in particular knew what needed to be done and was laser focused on achieving it. He succeeded. Now with those hurdles gone and a hyper success story in the books, it may well be impossible to maintain that degree of focus. There will be an inevitable relaxation by at least some. Can that become an achilles heal? On paper we are a juggernaut. Hopefully our heads have not outgrown our helmets. In Brady we trust. He is a leader like none other. Can’t wait for the season. Go Bucs.
August 5th, 2021 at 11:23 am
Don’t misunderstand me, I think there’s a chance they go undefeated, realistically I believe they have 2-3 losses.
That said, I don’t like all the hype about how great they’re going to be. They squeaked through a lot of games last year.
They almost lost every playoff game except the SB.
They have a lot of work to do to get to the consistent level they’re capable of being at.
August 5th, 2021 at 12:44 pm
The Bucs D figured out a lot of things in terms of using more press coverage with safety help over top and getting to the QB with the front four and not blitzing as much, and the offense learned that motion and play action were a great foundation for success, so yeah, all of that is going to carry over to this season and the Bucs are going to be hard to stop.
August 5th, 2021 at 8:37 pm
wooo kids, don’t buy the hype.
like BA tells us, it’s a brand new season and we haven’t done anything yet. OMG, things are looking pretty freakin’ good, but remember, there’s been no repeat since 2004. let’s go week by week, pray there’s no major injuries, and enjoy the ride. this could be fun. GO BUCS!
August 6th, 2021 at 10:00 am
KC is incredibly talented but our Roster is prob the best to ever play the game from top to bottom. We always were the better team.
Go Bucs