Antonio Bryant's red zone proposal

WR Antonio Bryant, asked about the Bucs' red zone struggles this season, offered a potential solution: throw him the ball a bit more.

"I would like to be involved more in the red zone, to be honest," Bryant said. "I'm quite sure a lot of the receivers would like to be involved more. But we have our designated plays that we're going to run and hopefully we're going to execute them a lot better. Unfortunately, we've been in the redzone many a time. It's not like we're not getting there. We just have to capitalize. The biggest thing is to just consistently score touchdowns."

That's something the Bucs haven't done too frequently inside opponents' 20-yard lines. Tampa Bay has scored 18 touchdowns in 51 trips inside the redzone (35.3 percent). That pales in comparison to their opponents, who have scored 14 touchdowns in 28 visits to the redzone (50 percent).

Comments

[Nick]

Carefull Antonio, this may be taken as questioning the coach. You know Gruden isn't keen to any idea about improving the team unless they are his. One more smart comment out of you and you'll be with Joey. FIRE GRUDEN!

[Drew]

Damn, AB! Why? Galloway will be starting this week, because your statements just put you in the Gruden Dog Pound.

Thanks for the loss...

[BC]

Of course he wants to be included in the red zone plays...every skill player does. But you idiot Gruden Bashers think it's the play calling and designs that are failing. Obviously, you've never played or coached football. It's about the EXECUTION OF THE PLAY!!! You people are unbelievable!

[Valrico Rick]

I'm sorry Bryant made a fantastic one handed catch when they threw the ball to him in the endzone, and we have a tight end that is 6'7, that could out jump a corner standing on a ladder. It is the play calling, and even if you were right, Gruden is still responsible for how the players are prepared to execute the plays he calls. If you don't get a good player, and you don't teach the player to play the best he can, and you don't put him in a position to make plays, you can't blame the player! 'Nuff Said!!!

[BBFan10]

You know, I have been reluctant to pile on Gruden because I have always thought that he has very little talent, but I have been thinking about the fact that he always seems to have these "falling outs" or personality conflicts with players. It is always a QB or a WR and I am starting to think there is a little "Napoleon Syndrome" here. Antonio is right, but maybe he should be careful.

[Nick]

I want someone to tell me exactly what Gruden has done to make him special. Everyone agrees the SB win was on the defense. They scored just as many points as the offense on that day. After 6 years, we have Brian Griese starting games for us. Think about that. Brian Griese is still in the organization starting games. Dungy did more with the offense. Dont forget he was a couple plays away from the SB with Shaun King!

[BC]

These are professionals. They know their assignments and they're coached well. If all it takes is to throw the ball to the tallest receiver, then the game would be awfully simple and every team would be scoring touchdowns everytime they're in the redzone. Wow, Valrico Rick, you should coach in the NFL. It's so easy, you'd no doubt take your team to the Super Bowl every year!

[Leo In Canada]

One cannot help but question the player's execution of the coaches calls. This has only been a problem this year. Same coach, same plays & same players. I do wish they would open things up on offence so they score more from beyond the 20. I am at the same time aware of the lack of speed at WR. These problems were minimal when Joey G was healthy and playing regularly.

[James]

Questioning the coach Nick?

Please, he's questioning the ability of his QB's to get him the freaking ball.

Coach wants him to get the ball... can't you f'n tell that already?

[Vince]

Nick, he is not questioning the coach, he is questioning the QB.

[Adam]

"Hello? Paulie Walnuts?.... yeah, this is Coach Jon Gruden......"

[MEDOCRITY]

I am delighted to be a part of "The Bucs" organization and have enjoyed being here right after their 1st and no doubt only superbowl win, ya know, the one with Dungy's players and the former raiders coach, Little Jonny, having the "Radahs" playbook. Since then life has been good and I hope all of you stupid bucs fans keep attending games to see me!!!....Merry Christmas and hope to see you all again next season!!!

[common sense]

If they can FIRE Dungy, they can FIRE Gruden. He most think people are REALLY stupid!!!!! You can't figure out a way to use Bryant and Galloway? There's something not being said.

[vinson broome]

Hey Guys since we're all in favor EXECUTION, let's start with Jon Boy,Bruce Almighty, and then maybe...hmmm, oh I know The Terrifying Trent .

[BBFan10]

I'm telling you guys, it has something to do with these ridiculous "conflicts" that seem to arise between coach and QB/WR. Keyshawn, Simms, Garcia and Galloway. Other coaches don't seem to have these conflicts. I think Gruden is a "my way or the highway" type and I know he hates when players get hurt and do not practice/play hurt. There is really no excuse to not play Galloway and even Jackson now and then if for no other reason than to stretch the field, take some pressure off Bryant and our TE's.

[IdahoBUCfan]

It is always fun to watch the comments of all the arm chair coaches, um, How many trips to the playoffs have we had with Coach Gruden? What, every year except two? You guys (or girls) make real Buc fans SICK! I didn't like the fact that Brian played this week, but aside from that decision, I think Gruden has done a very good job considering all the injuries. Bring in a new coach? I think the Chargers tried that When they felt pressure from idiot fans that never appreciated the job that Marty Shotenhiemer did out there, and could you tell me if the new staff was a vast improvement? From now on I think we should realize that Valrico rick must really be a Charger fan, or at least has the same mentality!
GO BUCS!
Oh, and by the way, I do not think that every player LOVES every one of their coaches, regardless of which team we are talking about!

[DR]

I designate Antonio Bryant as captain...captain obvious.
You Gruden supporters are funny. Can't see the contradiction in your own comments. The Bucs are one of the worst red zone offenses in the league and you want to blame it on execution. Amazing as it is, its WEEK 16! Lack of execution at this point of the season would have to be the coach's fault. What goes on in practice? Nothing? I do think there is a lack of confidence in the system and rightfully so. The system is horrible. Bryant has proved himself and he has hands. To say that rap.... Stevens is a good go to guy is stupid. He's the biggest choke artist at the TE position. He choked in the super bowl for Seattle and don't forget that easy TD drop against the Panthers in the biggest game of the season. Gruden's system doesn't make any player better. It seems like Bryant has had to punch his way out of a sunken car to get where he has gotten. 300 yards receiving under 2 QBs the last 2 weeks. Let's see if Grudens ego puts Bryant into the dog house after these blatantly obvious statements.

[DR]

And oh, by the way, Tony Dungy just set a modern day NFL record with his 10th consecutive playoff appearance. If the Bucs don't make it to the playoffs this year , Gruden will still have zero back to back playoff appearances as a Bucs coach. Even if he does for the first time in 7 years, he wasn't worth 2 first round picks. If Randy Moss isn't worth just one first round pick (4th Rdr), no coach on earth is worth a 7th rounder.

[OAR]

Oh boy we are so lucky to have all these ex-pro football coaches on this site to enlighten...hmmm how does DR put it....us stupid, idiotic, SOB Bucs' fans.
All hail DR the football god has spoken once again, and again and again and again(he sure likes to hear himself).
Hey I got an idea go to the some of the Colts, Cowboys(whoever you like this week) sites and blog your little love affairs to them.

[DR]

Awwww, oar, are your feelings hurt? I'm just stating my opinion and support them with info. Nothing wrong with that. You Gruden supporters support him with nothing. You call him a great coach with one season of worthiness. We'll see what the good ol' Gruden can do this week. Couldn't clinch crap the last two weeks, the biggest two weeks of the season.

[IMISS_No47]

After a promising start, the end of this season is becoming similar to the end of last season: limping into the playoffs unprepared and without teeth. Like Strahan said, the Bucs were the only team they weren't concerned about (and that game was at Tampa). Bucs have injuries like everyone else, yet make matters worse by laying off the throttle. Like Gruden said on his radio show about last week: Wednesday was just a walkthrough and both backup QBs weren't prepared (his words paraphrased). Tom Coughlin is notorious for being hard on his players, perhaps the Bucs could follow suit. These highly-paid atheletes need more than walkthroughs no matter how many injuries there are and no player on a 53-man roster should be "unprepared" for a game. 100% nose to the grindstone all the time!!! Like drag racing, if you don't almost blow the engine up crossing the finish line, then you're not doing it right!

[OAR]

DR, I have no feelings, especially for you(well maybe disgust)!
You crack me up, I have never said Gruden was a great coach, but to say he only has one year of worthiness is just ridiculous(actually should not expect anything less from you).
As for your opinions(they are like a-holes, everyone has them, just some are bigger than others) and supporting them with info(which I myself have called you out three times for false info.) is also ridulous. Do some research before you spew.

[OAR]

Hey Nick lets not forget Gruden was a couple of plays away from what should have been his first superbowl(with Oakland). Shoot let's get technical, you haters say Gruden was lucky to play Oakland(his team old team) in superbowl, well I guess then you have to credit him for Oakland making it too, cause you say Callahan didnt change Gruden's playbook. I know the Bucs would have beat any of the other AFC teams(Jets, Tennessee, Steelers, or Browns) that year anyway.

[OAR]

What's funny about my last comment is it is exactly what you haters say about how it was Dungy's team!

[Vincent]

Dungy as great as he is, isn't walking through the door at one Buc place. I don't know, I think Gruden put a great game plan together and the Bucs just got out muscled. I have never said in any previous statement, that I was pleased with Gruden's play calling! I have never seen the Bucs throw down field as much as they have in the past two games. Guess what.... IT WORKS! Clayton, Bryant, it doesn't matter who, when they throw it down field they are catching it and making plays! Everyone talks about "the bucs don't have speed" to throw it down field. In my opinion, speed is over rated! When I watch Larry Fitz and Anquan, and Terrell make plays, those guys are usually covered like celebrity's by paperattsi! They get position and out muscle the defender! Tampa's receivers seem to posses this ability. Let's face it, the red zone struggles are a symptom of the real issue facing the offense, they can't run effectively on first down! Teams are clearly prepared to stop the Bucs run attack, and cover the short pass. Well that's essentially "red zone" defense all the time, ergo, no matter who the opponent, the team will struggle in the "red zone." Logic dictates that the team should be able to put together an effective vertical attack.

[Southern89]

I'm a new fan of Tampa Bay and honestly I feel that nothing in Antonio Bryant's comment was wrong. He didn't speak bad against anyone and that alone should prove to people his loyalty regarding his coach decisions as well as to his teammates. Regardless of Bryants past, he has proven himself this year and respectfully.