Ian Beckles: Todd Bowles Giving Up On Offense In Cleveland May Have Damaged Bucs’ Mentally
December 10th, 2022
Former Bucs guard Ian Beckles.
Joe admits to considering this.
Remember how despicable it was to watch the Bucs, with two timeouts in their pocket, give up on Tom Brady leading a game-winning drive for a field goal in the final seconds of regulation in Cleveland? That allowed the clock to run out with the ball in Browns territory. It was a disgraceful move.
Afterwards, Bucs coach Todd Bowles confessed fear that the master of the two-minute drill, Tom Brady, might throw a pick.
A former Bucs offensive guard believes that may have done irreparable damage to team mentality.
Popular local sports personality Ian Beckles believes the way the Bucs were worthless last Monday night for 55 minutes proves the offense is psychologically damaged from Bowles pulling the rug out in Cleveland. That is what Beckles claimed on his podcast “In the Trenches.”
“Not calling timeouts in Cleveland messed with the Buccaneers’ psyche a little bit,” Beckles said. “If you are in the offensive huddle, and there is thirty-some seconds and the clock is ticking and you are not trying to call a timeout, everybody in the huddle is talking.
“‘What the hell is going on? They have no faith in us.’ This is real. That’s what’s going to happen. ‘This is bullsh!t!’ That’s what’s going to be said in the huddle. I just want to let you know. ‘What the hell is going on here — a defensive coach.’ That’s what is going to be said in the huddle.
“I’m not saying Todd Bowles lost the locker room but sometimes the locker room gets divided. I can see it and feel it a little bit. A little bit.”
Despite this, Beckles is convinced the Bucs will host a playoff game next month.
“It doesn’t matter if the Bucs win or lose, the Bucs are going to win the [NFC] South, the Bucs are going to the playoffs.”
Regardless, the horrible offense for 55 minutes on Monday night tells Beckles the Bucs are not a contender. Beckles senses something is going on between Brady and Mike Evans but Beckles can’t figure out what “something” is.
“There a lot of long balls hitting the ground people, a lot of long balls,” Beckles said. “I don’t know what is happening between Mike Evans and Tom Brady but it is clear something is happening.”
Beckles had other thoughts:
On the Bucs putrid offense:
“You scored 17 points everybody. It’s good enough to beat Andy Dalton and the Saints. Are we going to be good enough to win a home playoff game?”
On Playoff Lenny:
“Personally I think Fournette is our best bet. That’s just me.”
On his favorite piñata, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka:
“Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Did you hear his name? Did you hear his name at all? He can’t play. He can’t play. He. Can’t. Play. Period. … Carl Nassib makes way more plays than JTS does. JTS don’t make plays and he’s soft when he’s doing it. He’s a liability.”
On the sad state of the Bucs offense:
“Name a player that is better than last year, on offense. I can’t think of one player. … The Bucs get so many darn three-and-outs. My, Lord!”
December 10th, 2022 at 8:10 am
I had no idea, read ‘elsewhere’ that Brady was pressured 16 times out of 54 attempts against the Saints, hence the large number of dump-offs too the running backs, the very FEW passes to Evans
December 10th, 2022 at 8:16 am
I think Evan’s is hurt, remember the rib shot? His first catch Monday he got hit and took himself out. Does Beckles know Leftnut changed Evan’s role on offense. FYI Joe, Bowles had 3 timeouts with 39 something seconds left he burnt one after Julios catch and saved the other two for another day. I don’t care who your QB is, you take your shot. If he throws a pick, so what the other team has 12 seconds to score? And that team was Cleveland??? That’s a shot at both sides of the ball not just O. Maybe he was afraid ST’s would get gassed.
December 10th, 2022 at 8:23 am
Talent audition for TB12 tomorrow afternoon.
December 10th, 2022 at 8:32 am
Take your rifle out and shoot a 50 yard target time after time, then suddenly switch to a 300 yard target and see how long it takes to regain maximum accuracy. Without a scope btw. Brady having zero room to step up on those throws to Evans is also affecting the accuracy on deeper throws. He’s throwing flat footed or off his back foot on a lot of throws. IMO
December 10th, 2022 at 8:35 am
I’m glad I’m not the only one that feel that way about Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. He is terrible! He gets fooled n manipulated at ease by OL lineman. He literally plays confused n like a lost kid. Passive at tackling n will not leave his feet to vertically bat a ball down that’s within his arm reach, lackadaisical. Please keep Nassib in and let’s see more of Genard Avery. It’s time get rid of dead weight…Darden, JTS,DSmith, n bench Zyon McCollum, he’s a lost puppy also. He’s not ready.
December 10th, 2022 at 8:46 am
When you are in a relationship and you lose respect….it’s over….
Todd Bowles did the unforgivable…….not the decision to fail to call a time out….but admitting why…..
He would have been far better off just saying…..” I f…ked up”
The only way he recovers from this is to go deep in the playoffs and convince Tom Brady to return…..then he may survive.
December 10th, 2022 at 8:53 am
Bucs don’t have irreparable damage mentally- nonsense.
They’re fighting through injuries on offense and defense – seems every time receivers get healthy, Oline or Fournette gets hurt.
And every time Dline gets healthy, secondary gets banged up.
They lost to Browns because the D let Browns run all over them, Myles Garrett kicked butt and Bowles made some questionable decisions at the end – they lost as a team.
Offense is struggling, including Brady, but they’re fighting and White and rookie TE’s are emerging- hopefully Leftwich doesn’t go back to stupid trick plays and Brate.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:03 am
Joe … ‘Remember how despicable it was to watch the Bucs, with two timeouts in their pocket, give up on Tom Brady leading a game-winning drive for a field goal in the final seconds of regulation in Cleveland? That allowed the clock to run out with the ball in Browns territory. It was a disgraceful move’.
Despicable? I’ve tried to understand what all the fuss is about, but for the life of me I still don’t get it.
The Bucs’ next-to-last series started with 2:35 left & had gone Run (White for MINUS 3 yards), Pass (incomplete), Sack (MINUS 7 yards), Punt (from the Bucs’ 10-yard line returned to the Tampa 46-yard line). That drive ate up a grand total of only 25 seconds on the clock; our defense was GASSED when it went back in at 2:10 remaining. Gave up a 28-yard run & a 12-yard pass as the 2 big plays that allowed Cleveland to score a TD to tie it. Bucs got the ball at their own 25-yard line with 32 seconds left after the touchback on the kickoff.
So they had 32 seconds to play with to go at least 40 yards (minimum) for a FG try. FIRST PLAY: Brady SHORT pass to White for 1 yard that puts the ball at the Bucs’ 26-yard line. WHY THE SHORT PASS with only 32 seconds left with that much ground to cover? And WHY NOT USE THE SIDELINES if you’re trying to save timeouts? Probably took 5-7 seconds off the clock so the Bucs COULD have called a timeout with about 25-27 seconds left.
BUT THEY DIDN’T. Why didn’t Brady call a timeout? Or Leftwich? Instead they hurry-up and get the SECOND PLAY off 10-12 seconds later with 14 seconds left: a DEEP PASS to Julio that gets the ball to the Browns’ 48-yard line with 8 seconds left. THEN THEY CALL A TIMEOUT (their first). Why didn’t they go DEEP on the 1st pass instead of the 2nd? Why call a timeout with only 8 seconds to go IF you’re supposedly trying to run out the clock?
THEN Brady throws SHORT incomplete to Brate with the 8 seconds to go, and that stops the clock with 2 seconds left. Bucs needed at least 13-15 yards at that point to be in FG range. Instead they throw SHORT? And to Brate of all people? IF he’d caught it, time would’ve expired before he could get the 13-15 yards needed for a FG try.
None of the sequence of play calls makes the slightest bit of sense to me. Why not go DEEP first? Why didn’t Brady or Leftwich call the timeouts? I refuse to believe that any NFL team would ONLY allow their HC to call timeouts. Bowles was almost certainly a SPECTATOR starting at the 32 seconds; it was the Leftwich & Brady show. And none of it made a lick of sense. The discussion SHOULD be about the PLAY-CALLING in that sequence … and in the previous one … more than anything else.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:13 am
Hey Defense Rules, great recap. The short pass to White was rediculous. The last pass to Brate even worse. Nobody will convince me that either BL or TB couldn’t call a time out. They decided not to. But this was clearly all about play calling. And if you’re Bowles would you trust these guys at that point in the game. Bowles is taking the heat for that game but it needs to go girt back to BL. No idea what TB was thinking either.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:19 am
Says the guy that won 6 games a year at the most during his career hes a loser and dont know what winning in nfl feels like just another big mouthed hater
December 10th, 2022 at 9:21 am
DR- you could add in the 4th down and 10 Browns TD when the Bucs Dline had Vea and Hicks on the bench and White didn’t blitz.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:23 am
PUKE!!!!!!!
December 10th, 2022 at 9:24 am
No risk it no biscuit served this group of players well. Playing not to loose, not so much. Bowles obsession of making this team something it isn’t and will never be is going to close the window soon.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:26 am
DR, first of all an assistant coach cannot call a TO, it has to be a player or HC. The White pass didn’t make much sense unless the original play got blown up and Brady figured White could get OB. Never the less, prior to the throw to Julio the TO should have been used, it was 2nd down. Bowles burnt 13 seconds. At the 48 21 seconds with 1 TO left is literally 2 to 3 plays to get in FG position. The Brate pass my guess again original play was blown up or Brady was under pressure and threw it away in the direction of Brate. Total mismanagement of time and if the White call was on BL, he definitely should share in the blame. Bowles reason for the call is just as concerning if not more than the call because that excuse says he didn’t trust his team on both sides of the ball. I am so tired of the D gassed excuse I’ve heard over the last 3 seasons, condition more the game is 60 minutes.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:32 am
As lousy as Bowles and Lefwitch have been its all about health. Other than the QB the two areas where ALL teams can’t afford to lose players are the OL and defensive back-field. Bucs have lost almost EVERY starter at these positions. They get healthy AND they make the playoffs (not a given) then they have a legitimate shot to go far. If they are not healthy AND do make the playoffs they are one and done. Simply put. Everything else is nonsense.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Reading the article and the comments, the Browns game could have been won, but they blew it, for a variety of reasons. Really, it was the whole team who blew it, although some individuals share more blame than others. It was a team loss.
What do mentally weak teams do afterwards? They fold, right? They give in, they quit. Right?
I didn’t see any quit in Bucs in the Saints game. Sure, errors were made, and blame and praise were higher and lower in some people. The team didn’t quit, though. They fought back and pulled out a miraculous win.
I don’t agree with Beckles about the mentals part. This team has many issues, but they are fighters.
December 10th, 2022 at 9:51 am
PS: And from an optimistic lens, the clock management in the Saints game was improved and allowed a win, so perhaps Bowles learned a few lessons from the Browns game?
December 10th, 2022 at 9:52 am
AGREE ON PLAN 9. Get him out. Shanahan will not outblunder Bowzo.
December 10th, 2022 at 10:10 am
Don’t go overboard praising Shanahan. Like Andy Reid, a great offensive mind who has had his fair share of game mismanagement and a few straight up chokes.
December 10th, 2022 at 10:21 am
NEfan … I don’t disagree with you that with 3 timeouts, the Bucs should’ve used one of them after the 1st down SHORT PASS with about 25-27 seconds left in the game. Instead they wasted 11-13 seconds before getting the 2nd down DEEP PASS off with 14 seconds left.
Could Brady have not called that timeout? Could BL not told Brady via the headset to use a timeout? It was THEIR SHOW at that point. IF they were trying to run out the clock after that 1st down play, and IF Bowles was taking the game out of Brady’s hands, WHY THROW A DEEP PASS? Could’ve been intercepted & returned with for a Pick-6 or a FG try. And then even with 8 seconds left (AFTER our 1st timeout) WHY GO SHORT TO BRATE? Why not try to get into FG range with an intermediate pass of say 15 or so yards to Evans or to Julio or even to Otton THEN call a quick timeout for a FG try?
And BTW, I agree with Alanbucsfan about Vea & Hicks being on the bench for that last Browns’ TD. I’d want my best pass rushers out there to pressure Brissett. Not sure I’d agree, in retrospect, about blitzing White though. The play was a short pass over the MIDDLE to the TE Njoku. Whose area of responsibility is that usually?
December 10th, 2022 at 10:23 am
Worst coaching staff in the league.
December 10th, 2022 at 10:50 am
DR. Bowles has already said that if they didn’t pick up yards on the first play that he had already made the decision to play for overtime, so Brady was told not to take a timeout.
December 10th, 2022 at 10:51 am
The Bucs played the same game vs. the Rams, and that was BEFORE the Cleveland game.
December 10th, 2022 at 10:52 am
And I know it doesn’t make sense????
December 10th, 2022 at 11:10 am
Bowles is so far over his head as a HC it boggles the mind to think some of you believe this hack will get a second year
We will clean house at the end of the season after limping to a 7-10 or 8-9 record – this offense isn’t beating SF or Cincy – 6-8 heading to the final three games is the most likely scenario – Bowles would be happy to just win two more games and make the playoffs – where we get smashed in the first game and booed off the field
Complete and utter disaster of a season with a roster loaded on both sides of the ball
If they bring back this staff I will absolutely cancel my season tickets
December 10th, 2022 at 11:15 am
Maybe give Scotty some more shots at the quick slant. He seems to be the only one who can get open in 2 seconds. It’s getting late in the season, I believe as we get closer to the playoffs Brady will start holding the ball a little longer. The main difference between Hainsley and Jensen is Hainsley gets pushed back into the pocket more, Brady doesn’t have room to step up and throw.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:18 am
@Defense Rules
I believe that your game and player analysis, backed with stats, makes you one of the most respected commenters on this site. However, your mostly irrational defense of Bowles is hurting your credibility.
Everyone in the stadium expected Bowles to call a timeout after the short pass to White, including Brady. In retrospect yeah, I’m sure Brady is kicking himself for not calling the TO himself. As for the short pass to White, the thinking may have been that it was a safe pass that could have gone for good yardage then run out of bounds (and the element of surprise since the D was expecting a long pass). Again, if it gained short yardage, as it did, then simply call a time out and get 3 more chances. Or maybe the deeper options were covered and Brady didn’t have time for someone to get open down-field, as has been the case all season. Probably the same thing for the last pass to Brate. Brady just wanted to get positive yards and had a timeout left. The sequence of plays makes sense during that last drive against the Browns, if the time outs had been called properly.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:19 am
Kentucky is correct Bowles did state that and never threw Brady under the bus for it, if he could he would have. The play to White confuses me, again if not by design Brady had to think he was the best option to get out of bounds or though the TO would be called and not extend the play time. Brate was a throw away so they would have one more attempt. If if Brate caught it, Bowles could still call TO and you have the option of a long FG and or hail mary. The bottom line is with two more plays and two TO’s FG range was attainable, it’s not like Brady doesn’t have the skillset and 3 elite receivers.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Kentucky Buc … I get what was said (no timeouts if 1st down play not successful), but WHY did they throw DEEP on 2nd down if they were playing for overtime?
And THEN they called a timeout. And then followed THAT up with another SHORT PASS that only stopped the clock at 2 seconds because it was incomplete. I don’t get the logic of what plays were being called/executed versus what Bowles said. Do you?
December 10th, 2022 at 11:28 am
NEfan … IF Brate had caught it, time would’ve run out (there was only 2 seconds left after the incompletion) and they still most likely wouldn’t have been close to FG range.
The whole sequence of play calls doesn’t make sense to me IF Bowles was REALLY playing for overtime. WHY would they throw DEEP on 2nd down? WHY would they subsequently call a timeout after that? There’s more going on than meets the eye. I just can’t figure out what it is.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:37 am
I believe the short pass to White was thinking the d-backs and linebackers would be running back chasing receivers and the rushers were going full bore rush, that White maybe could pick up 10-15 yards. But not calling timeout, I think pissed Brady off to the point he wasn’t focused in the over time.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:43 am
DR. I agree. The whole thing was baffling. The shot to Julio may have not been what Bowles wanted.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:44 am
DR, valid questions, what if BL & Brady said F Bowles and threw it anyway? Then the question is WHO called the TO, it would have had to be Bowles or Brady. Interesting question?
December 10th, 2022 at 11:51 am
That game was the Bucs Roswell. We will probably never know. Bowles answers made 0 sense.
December 10th, 2022 at 11:51 am
DR,
The most logical and common-sense explanation to this fan is that Bowles was not playing for overtime. He blew the non time-out and covered his butt after with a lame excuse/explanation. His actions tell us exactly what he was thinking and playing for – to win the game, but he made a mistake. So of course none of it makes sense given what played out on the field.
As to why Brady didn’t call a TO, it’s because he knew it was Bowles’ job to do that, and Brady respects the chain-of-command. Perhaps it was a subtle error on TB12’s part to not over-ride his coach, but if he had, as I’m fond of saying, it would have been akin to mutiny.
At some point, Brady just may mutiny on the field when it’s most important, but doing so would fracture the QB/HC relationship, and he wouldn’t do that because he’s a team-first guy. Those are my thoughts, for what they’re worth.
December 10th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
NFL teams have people on the payroll incharge of letting the HC when a TO should be called, did the Bucs run out of money because of their multiple coaches payroll and not hire a stats guy or is it simply due to the fact Bowles and BL do not value stats?
December 10th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
NE, it’s all a big mystery. But as a fan, wouldn’t you love to listen in on a head-set for a game, at least once in your life? I know I would. Maybe I’ll audition for back-up Assistant Waterboy, which would be my only chance to be on the sidelines for a game.
When are those open try-outs? Missed them this year, LOL.
December 10th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
NEfan … Just rewatched the last minutes highlights of the Bucs-Cleveland game just for kicks. Noticed 2 things I hadn’t seen before. On the typing TD throw, Njoku was covered by Devin White … who fell down a couple seconds prior to the catch. On that last long throw to Cooper at the end of TO, he was wide open because our covering DB fell down in trying to cover him much earlier in the play. I couldn’t tell the DBs number, but it looked like SMB. Delaney was the closest after that & did make the tackle, but why was he even in the game?
BTW, earlier in the 4th quarter, the Bucs were really struggling to keep the pressure off of Brady. And on several key plays, the Browns only rushed TWO guys.
December 10th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Imagine being Brady and having to listen to this Clown Coach Team babble in your helmet radio during a game.
December 10th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
Even the play by play announcers were commenting in a negative way about our lack of clock management.
Had we used the clock correctly, there was plenty of time left for Brady to win that game for us.
AS we play more games, Bowles is being revealed for the poor head coach he is.
Now everyone can see why he was so hated in New York.
December 10th, 2022 at 4:51 pm
DR, they got pressure rushing TWO guys? The DB that fell down was Davis. Obviously LVD would have been a better choice to cover the TE?
December 10th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
WELL DONE on all of the comments today, instead of just vapid opinions. Truly enjoyed it!
December 10th, 2022 at 7:26 pm
kentucky buc^^^ army expert rifleman here and we all can switch easily between targets from 25 to 400.. just saying..
December 10th, 2022 at 7:27 pm
kentucky buc^^^ that was iron sights to brother…
December 10th, 2022 at 7:52 pm
HEY!!! HEY!!!! HEY!!!! I know! How to fix Todd no Balls I mean Bowles bas no scores OFFENSIVE offense. Its so freaking easy do do heads. Dur Dur Dur!!! You got to trick the other guys. DUH So if you have two of the best Wideouts you dont throw them the ball No siree NOT at all. You run it up that gut where we never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever have success. But this time dummies will be the ONE and everyone can see how amazing my big brain is. You have to just… okay..Just stop thinking take deep relaxing breathes. Now imagine why would we take advantage of any mismatch at all. Silly dumb not nfl players who never played. If you run it up the gut over and over and over losing yards your setting up the defense for a tricky play like you know throwing to a wide out headed to the hall of fame! No sir cuz we is so smarter if a cb is 5 foot 3 and Evans is 6 foot seven dont throw him the ball cuzzes we wonts go to heaven.
December 11th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Some people aren’t made to be head coaches. Coordinator does not equal head coach. Bowles looks like he is one of them. Anyone can take over talent and run it into the ground.
Being a head coach is less about X and O’s and more about management of players, situation and time. None of these qualities appear to be in Bowles wheel house.
December 11th, 2022 at 10:39 am
Hasn’t Brady always had the permission to call his own plays since the BA days? He didn’t do a very good job managing clock @the end of the Cleveland game.