Bruce Arians blasts offense, says all Bucs starters will play Saturday
TAMPA — Following the 13th — and perhaps most lopsided — practice of training camp, Bucs coach Bruce Arians confirmed “everybody” will play at least a few snaps in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Bengals.
Based on what Arians observed Monday morning, his offense could use every additional rep available.
“I felt that was one of our best start-to-finish practices defensively, and probably the worst offensive practice we’ve had in three years,” Arians said. “Kind of a pattern of behavior now: After a day off, our offense just stinks. ... But defensively, they answered the bell, they came out and dominated the entire practice, and it was good to see.”
A late night for Tom Brady can’t be pegged as the primary culprit.
Though Arians, Brady and other Bucs dignitaries got back home around 2 a.m. Monday after attending the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, Arians similarly blasted his team after its July 30 practice, which followed the first off-day of camp.
On Monday, Brady and the first-team offense didn’t appear to get in the end zone on three plays starting at the 3-yard line on the day’s final period. The first of those was a batted pass by nose tackle Vita Vea.
Other defensive highlights included a Mike Edwards interception of a Blaine Gabbert throw over the middle, and a Sean Murphy-Bunting breakup of a Brady sideline throw intended for Chris Godwin.
“Dropped passes, missed assignments on basic plays. It’s just a lack of concentration,” Arians said.
“Back in the day, we’d be out here running the s—t out of them, but that don’t work anymore; you’d go to jail for that stuff now. They’ve just got to grow up and man up, and identify. You’ve got to fix it. I’m not going to fix it — you’ve got to fix it.”
Though the NFL preseason has been trimmed from four to three contests, Arians said Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against the Bengals at Raymond James Stadium will be treated like a typical preseason opener, with starters making at least a cameo.
That includes the guy headed back to Canton in a few years. Just how much will Brady play?
“We’ll just wait and see how it goes,” Arians said. “It’s normally a drive or two. It won’t be many.”
Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.
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