Bruce Arians: Antonio Brown Still Learning Receiver Role
December 24th, 2021
Antonio Brown
Thought-provoking nugget from Bucco Bruce Arians.
Bucs fans have long heard from head coaches and coordinators past and present that wide receivers are cross-trained at their position for obvious reasons. Backups need to know all the receiver roles, and starters often do.
So it caught Joe’s ear this week when Arians told his Hall of Fame GM friend Bill Polian on SiriusXM NFL Radio that the Bucs are hustling to teach Antonio Brown the “X” receiver position. And Arians said depending on how much Brown can absorb, will determine his usage.
“He’s been primarily an outside [receiver] on the tight end side. He’s been playing “Z.” He plays a little bit of X also, but now we’ll have to see how much we can get him taught to play both positions, but primarily he’d be an outside guy,” Arians said of Brown.
This is just a little odd to Joe, considering it’s been said that Brown has a superhuman football IQ and because Brown has been with the team for multiple seasons and a training camp.
Joe can’t figure out why the Bucs would still be teaching Brown in December of 2021 to get him up to speed so the Bucs can maximize his ability.
December 24th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
AB is a hall of Fame WR & Bruce is not a Hall of Fame coach. Just sip egg nogg the next few weeks Bruce because u are clueless
December 24th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
Yah. Arians all over the place these days
Im sure AB has been there and done that in all situations
December 24th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Does BA even know what he’s talking about? So what he’s saying is Johnson will play AB’s normal position and AB will learn a new one? I guess that makes sense who would adapt quicker Johnson or AB? Have TB12 draw the routes in the dirt during the huddle. Oh boy, can you imagine if Bucs had a different QB? The fact Brady spreads the ball around should work in Bucs favor but I see a big dose of Gronk this week. I hope he changes his butter smeared gloves.
December 24th, 2021 at 1:23 pm
Yeah, sounds like BS from BA to me.
December 24th, 2021 at 1:35 pm
He likely hasn’t been getting the lessons because of how little we’ve had him. While two seasons and a training camp seems like a lot, we haven’t had him for two full seasons. Last season we picked him up in week 8 and he started playing in week 9. This season he got injured week 6, and hasn’t been back since. Probably wasn’t a rush to get him up to speed for X during training camp because we thought we’d have the rest of the season to handle it.
December 24th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
trolls.. im sure BA is going to share all of his player positioning with you aholes, media and the panthers. wake up dip spits
December 24th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Not that surprising…Godwin had become an all pro type slot guy and Tyler Johnson was to be a capable back up but has underwhelmed at best. Brown will have to save this receiver group. I have little faith in Miller, Johnson ( perhaps some in Perriman ) and the back end of the receiver group. Suddenly Justin Watson looks like a viable player if healthy ( not really ).
December 24th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
Don’t take brown out of the position he has been great in.
Moving a great player to fill another gap weakens 2 positions.
And, out 3 week, AB may be likely to get a hamstring injury if he keeps going on the longer routes.
December 24th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Everyone’s still learning something. Next
December 24th, 2021 at 3:43 pm
When will casuals realize Arians is a Master at Liar’s Poker?
December 24th, 2021 at 8:20 pm
He must not be very smart.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:50 pm
Second year with the team. Cmon Bruce, who you trying to fool? GOBUCS!
December 24th, 2021 at 9:20 pm
BA needs to go full Bellichick and stfu especially during playoff time
December 24th, 2021 at 11:58 pm
Arians is just being coy with the media. I’m sure he wants Carolina to spend a bunch of time trying to figure out how they are going to cover AB in the slot.
Oh, and Medicated Pete, you’re still an idiot.
December 25th, 2021 at 12:02 am
This is not surprising to me. He missed a lot of time at the beginning of last year and some this year. They have Evans and Godwin and Tyler Johnson and Miller, so getting him in at his normal outside receiver position seems more critical than cross training
December 26th, 2021 at 2:55 am
My thoughts on the AB “X and Y”, I think Arians May have thrown this statement out about AB just now learning the “Y” as a strategy to mess with other teams that they will be facing in these last few weeks. AB learning the “Y “ is not as in depth as Arians made it seem, learning the routes and where he needs line up at when he is in the “Y”. I have faith in AB and TB 12, they will have everything working like a well oiled machine!