Buccaneers: Bruce Arians is the problem for Tampa Bay

Bruce Arians is the problem for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be playoff contenders, but the truth of the matter is that Head Coach Bruce Arians remains a problem.

Many Buccaneers fans have come to enjoy Arians and there’s no doubt that he has been a good leader and bringer of change to the franchise, but his on-the-field decisions continue to cost Tampa Bay more than we realize.

We’re not saying that Arians needs to be fired or that he’s the sole reason that the Bucs have lost some tough games this year- or last year, for that matter. So, don’t take that the wrong way.

But what we are saying is that there is an issue deep in the DNA of Bruce Arians that makes it tougher for the Buccaneers to win on the big stage

Arians has yet to come into the 21st century with his offensive approach and it’s showing more and more as the Buccaneers play big games. Arians’ offense has always been predicated on the vertical pass and he’s always been tough on quarterbacks, especially in their first year.

The lack of window dressing at times and the pre-snap chess match that doesn’t take place under his watch is costing the Bucs.

Arians refuses to change despite the personnel he possesses. It would make sense to use those talented receiving options and get the ball out quick, but instead he and Byron Leftwich rely too much on long-developing routes that put pressure on the QB and offensive  line alike.

Arians has also been on the end of a handful of just bad decisions in his in-game strategy, such as electing to kick a field goal or not going for it on 4th and short when you badly need a first down.

The worst problem that Arians has, though, is that he just is too brutally honest. That’s not a bad thing by any means, but he continues to put the blame on his players- in particular Tom Brady– without taking any responsibility himself. He throws Brady on the bus and deflects blame from himself.

If the Buccaneers are going to make a run in the postseason, things are going to have change within the organization and- believe it or not- it all starts at the top with Arians. If he doesn’t change, nothing else gets better.