Todd Bowles Seemed To Indirectly Wag A Finger At Bryon Leftwich
December 1st, 2022
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
This may be the closest thing Joe has heard Bucs coach Todd Bowles say that was remotely critical of his failing offensive coordinator, Byron Leftwich.
While Bowles, near and far, deservedly is getting grilled over his decisions late in the galling “Mistake by the Lake” Cleveland loss, so too is Mr. Three-and-Out for his grossly underperforming offense.
A key narrative about Leftwich from his many critics is that he doesn’t adjust. This was so glaring late in Sunday’s game that even former slimy Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma roasted Leftwich while working the game for FOX.
Browns monster pass rusher Myles Garrett had heated up, but Leftwich didn’t slide any protection over to the left to help out left tackle Donovan Smith.
On one play, Leftwich had Rachaad White chip Garrett, who simply blew past both Smith and White. On another play, Leftwich hung Smith out to dry by putting him on an island to spar with Garrett mano-y-mano. Garrett dropped Tom Brady on the play.
Vilma was morally offended by the lack of attention to detail.
Today, Bowles was asked about some sort of blocking packages to help out Smith in similar situations. Bowles said the Bucs installed just such protection packages for the Browns, but Leftwich didn’t use them.
“The gameplan, we had some things in place that didn’t get done for one reason or another,” Bowles said. “We have to coach it better and we have to play it better.”
Bowles was careful not to throw Smith under the bus.
“He’s had some good games, he’s had some not-so-good games,” Bowles said of his veteran left tackle. “We trust him. We expect him to play well Monday.”
Joe finds this refreshing but long, long overdue. For way, way too long it seemed Bowles was protecting Leftwich. Has it gotten to the point that Bowles can no longer defend him?
Joe guesses this can be summed up by using the phrase, “better late than never.” But since it is late in the season (December), Joe can’t see Bowles or the Bucs having a major staff shakeup.
Will the Bucs offense overcome?
December 1st, 2022 at 4:43 pm
I can’t stand how Bowles always sugar coats his criticism. And Byron has earned every single finger waggled his way.
December 1st, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Guess who just got arrested for sexually molesting a woman in a Hotel Pool here in Tampa?
The Nutjob who danced his way out of Brady’s house, off the Bucs, and out of the NFL.
December 1st, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Well Joe, you can get the News later I guess. But he did get arrested.
December 1st, 2022 at 4:54 pm
This is also a reason I miss BA. That same question to him would’ve had an answer like, ” Hell it’s pretty simple Byron has to do a better job at seeing these things and not letting it happen that’s Myles Garrett we can’t let their best pass rusher wreck what we’re trying to do.”
December 1st, 2022 at 5:05 pm
Will nailed it.
Excellent journalism, Joe – “Mistake by the Lake.” Good stuff, man.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:17 pm
we can’t let their best pass rusher wreck what we’re trying to do.”
That’s an interesting comment since Devin White is arguably the Bucs best pass rusher since Barrett’s injury. White plays best when the DTackles occupy the opponents’ interior linemen so he is free to pursue a runner or QB. White is not strong as a pass defender. So has Bowles explained adequately why Vea and Hicks were out of the game and White dropped back into pass coverage on the Browns’ game tying 4th down play?
You’d think he’d want the Bucs best pass rusher to wreck what the Browns were trying to do.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:19 pm
OK guys, I just heard on the Bucs site Bowles’ most recent presser. Media pressed him on a number of topics and I was impressed by the questions and quality of questions. Bowles gave his normal monotone, “We understand we have to be better, coaches and players,” type of answers.
Then questions were asked about Bowles Cause for Cleats, which in his case is for Autism for his son. Bowles gave great answers and I admired his responses.
What struck me is just how monotone and emotionless Coach was while discussing something obviously personal, near and dear to his heart. He gave a similar delivery and talking-style, talking about autism, that he gives when talking about this team.
My summation? (And I’m not trying to be mean or heartless, just an observation of his personality)
Todd Bowles is a cyborg. And I think the players want more than a machine.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:36 pm
BA needs to be running the offense. BL needs to be benched.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Again, this is pee-wee level stuff being glossed over
never leave their by far and away best defensive player single blocked, ever
You’d think a pro would know better but we could say that about 100 things with this hack of an OC
December 1st, 2022 at 5:39 pm
We might win 2 more games. I’m looking forward to the off-season.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Such a weak leader. Clueless Todd!
December 1st, 2022 at 5:40 pm
For all the negatives on the o side and from a leader standpoint there is no denying the D has played well enough for us to be at least a 7/8 win team right now – the o and the poor game management has just killed us again and again
December 1st, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Leaders do not throw their staff under the bus. Shows the character of the people in charge. He should be sitting down with Leftwich and trying to help his offensive coordinator. If Leftwich cannot do the job, he should be released. No different treatment than he would give a player. Weak coaching from the top,
December 1st, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Idk. The coaching staff seems to be low hanging fruit. Lets research how bad these players been playing??? And BA is right. Brady blows right now. Probably hard to coach a QB like that right now.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Wirfs and Windfield out for some time. Add that to the bad head coach and bad offensive coordinator and just bad coaching all together on this team. Add players not putting there all into every game. I mean this team plays like they know there going to make the playoffs somehow no matter how bad they play between now and at end of season. That is terrible mentality to have, and doesn’t motivate. I predict we get pushed around by Saints defense. And this season just strongly feels like it’s already over. Just don’t see how you can just barely stumble into playoffs and then team just expects to turn on some switch and then be able to beat the best and consistent teams in playoffs. I’m mad at Glazers for not doing something dramatic here and just standing by and letting this team waste final season of us having Brady in a Bucs uniform. This is going to sting for years to come.
December 1st, 2022 at 5:58 pm
And then around these parts…. When we win..It’s all Bradys greatness. When we lose it’s everyone else fault. It gets so bad, we want the owners to do something about it and fire the OC and the HC to embarrass his staff by publicly calling him out. All to cover for Brady. Bs
December 1st, 2022 at 6:04 pm
And not just Brady… Aaron Rogers, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco..I mean all these older QBs are done!!!
December 1st, 2022 at 6:09 pm
For Christ sake, it’s not the Riemann hypothesis. I said it before the game, don’t let Garrett wreck the game. Good teams make you play left-handed. You take away what they do best, and live with it if someone else beats you. Brady only threw a handful of passes in the first half. They had to know Garrett would be licking his chops. Two sacks, and a bunch of pressures and hits in the second half. Inexcusably dumb.
December 1st, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Never seen an offense overcome it’s OC and HC bringing them down. Count me out
December 1st, 2022 at 6:36 pm
Like clock-work the Bucs will lose Monday to a bad Saints team, and the reason they will lose? The offense not scoring enough points. It’s. like this coaching just do the same things over and over expecting a different result.
December 1st, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Why would All-World LT, Durable Dependable Donnie need help?
Don’t you guys believe all the accolades you constantly throw his way?
December 1st, 2022 at 6:50 pm
is it true AB is holed up in his house in a mexican standoff with the popo?
heard it on the radio
December 1st, 2022 at 6:53 pm
wave a finger at yourself you POS!
December 1st, 2022 at 6:55 pm
Bowlzo finger wagging…..Over and Out!
December 1st, 2022 at 7:03 pm
Lovie Jr.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:11 pm
This season is already gone.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Adam, yes. The fuzz didn’t want to bust down his door, and risk getting clipped, for a misdemeanor domestic violence change. He apparently put a handwritten eviction notice on his front door, for one of his baby mommas. Then he chucked a shoe at her.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:14 pm
It’s getting to the point where the bucs aren’t fun anymore. Sometimes it hurts so badly I cry out loud. I am sorry. Are you listening? Plagerizing Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young! Dam but thats how I feel. Maybe just record the games and watch the hi lights later. If there are any.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:15 pm
So the main moral of this story is that Donovon Smith can’t handle the league’s premium pass rushers
December 1st, 2022 at 7:21 pm
@Redeemer:
yes i know what’s going on with all that, up until them outside and him inside in some sort of stand off…
he’s a wild dude…what if he comes out blazing like clint eastwood…
and with all those kids in there…
we are talking about the ever unpredictable rap star AB
December 1st, 2022 at 7:33 pm
No. Thwy are hamstrung.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Its the perfect time to get rid of Leftwich.BA could come down and be OC for thje remainder of the season
December 1st, 2022 at 7:36 pm
In defense of white , I watch Lenny go out on pass patterns and I not seern pass protect in sometime. I have seen White pick up a couple of blitzes in his last couple of games. Not sure what angle he was supposed to chip from but his hit seemed to impact Smith who has seemed to be slow footed when making lateral
moves at times.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:47 pm
Time for at least 3 years of rebuild fellas….unless Licht and the Glazers dont give a dmn….in that case its 6+ years….just saying.
December 1st, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Brian Flores or Eric Bienemy
December 1st, 2022 at 7:56 pm
I guess BL agrees with the creator(s) of this website that Donovan Smith is good
December 1st, 2022 at 7:58 pm
OMG 😳… Someone stab me with a sharp object…. I just can’t handle the bull sh@t we are being fed from the coaches
December 1st, 2022 at 8:16 pm
@ Lamarcus, unfortunately you are correct. The game has passed these older qb’s by. Brady just doesn’t look good and has lost what little mobility that he had. Also on top of the age issues, he has so many personal issues this year that I don’t see him winning a lot more games.
December 1st, 2022 at 9:05 pm
LOLOLOLOL!!!! Abrown is in a standoff right now with police HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! F you ab!
December 1st, 2022 at 9:12 pm
Guys if AB is in a standoff with police, it’s likely it will end with him dying. I mean, the guys a nut-case, but man, don’t ever celebrate someone dying or being put in a straight-jacket.
It’s clear AB has severe psychosis, probably from CTE. Such a sad waste of talent.
December 1st, 2022 at 9:13 pm
Face it, press conferences are largely meaningless. Belichick, for example, says nothing, grunts, scowls and provides nothing. He is a different guy when doing the real work, and his players will attest to this.
I don’t expect poetry and insight from any coach in front of a public microphone. The bottom line is results on the field.
Clearly Bowles is not doing the job and appears to have lost the locker room. The play calling and leadership are missing. The all-important connection to the players, collectively and individually, is missing. A team that fails to believe is not a winner.
December 1st, 2022 at 9:14 pm
House of cards stage
This season can’t get over with fast enough!
Both the Bucs and Brady would be better off if he stayed retired.
Not saying that the Bucs would have been better just that they would be closer to next QB .
The Lost Season
December 1st, 2022 at 9:20 pm
Buc4evr, how can anyone expect Brady to perform like prime Brady if he is saddled with an offense like this one, an OL that endangers his life every second, etc. etc. I don’t care who is back there, Mahomes, Joe Montana, doesn’t matter.
Any QB would be hesitant and frustrated.
We won’t know Brady’s actual condition until and unless he is on a good and well coached team, behind at least a very good OL, with receivers who are all-in with him, and a feature RB.
It was only last year that Brady showed some better mobility. That was because he had a better OL and better support.
December 1st, 2022 at 9:21 pm
Well he sang it…”pit not the palace” … and no, i dont celebrate a dude dying, im not like that dog, just laughing after all the BS he threw at us and Brady….he dug himself this hole….I have no sympathy whatsoever and will laugh at his own demise he brought on himself!
December 1st, 2022 at 9:31 pm
Max,
C’mon bro. Where’s your humanity? Of course, the way AB left this team, we are all kinda pissed at him. I sorta am – he cost us a chance at a repeat SuperBowl. And that’s got me pissed at AB the athlete.
But you know what I’m not pissed at, Max? The situation at hand, and we have an ex-Bucs player in real time about to throw his life down the tubes, and that makes me sad.
Just don’t celebrate his demise – AB will take care of that himself, like Elvis and Marilyn Monroe did – don’t celebrate it. Be sad.
December 1st, 2022 at 9:44 pm
Todd Blowes when asked about making halftime adjustments against the Panthers ” we don’t have to make adjustments, we just need to execute our gameplan.”
Hey Todd, how did that turn out?
December 1st, 2022 at 9:48 pm
I get all the doom and gloom. I’m sick of both Bowles and Leftwich, but I keep thinking of what Brady said. We’ve been playing much better in practice. If that’s the case it’s going to start showing up in the games and I certainly trust Brady to know if they’re improving. If that’s the case there may be a hope for us. Of course we e may need Bowles and leftwich to share a Covid cubicle through February. Here’s to hoping. Let’s Go Bucs!!!
December 1st, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Lol…D-Rok, its the stuff he did afterwards, not just what he did to us in the game that day…he’s a POS for a human…just saying. But I get you and appreciate you.
December 1st, 2022 at 9:57 pm
Thanks for your comments, Max Appreciate you too.
December 1st, 2022 at 10:00 pm
Smashsquatch Says
“I can’t stand how Bowles always sugar coats his criticism. And Byron has earned every single finger waggled his way.”
Weird how differently people view it…I saw it as Bowles avoiding taking responsibility himself.
December 1st, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Fire Bowles, make Lefty an interim HC, then fire him at the end of the season. You never know…Left might be a better head coach than OC.
December 1st, 2022 at 10:22 pm
SIEGE THE DAY AND THROW BOWLES IN THE BAY!!!!!!!!!
We have seen this movie to many times with other Head Coaches in Tampa.
December 1st, 2022 at 10:52 pm
Brady is getting older but I don’t see any other quarterback doing well on a team with terrible coaching, no run game and two seconds or less to get the ball out. Wouldn’t hurt if the defense could get a few turnovers also.
December 1st, 2022 at 10:56 pm
Todd Blowes still employed?
December 1st, 2022 at 11:05 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
December 1st, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Fire Bowles, make Lefty an interim HC, then fire him at the end of the season. You never know…Left might be a better head coach than OC.
Huh??? Hey hit me in the head a few more times, NO, we see his lack of making changes,
“Maybe if we run the ball on first down again, it will work this time, screw what people think and our lack of a running game”BL
New Regime, after they SIEGE THE DAY THROW BOWLES IN THE BAY!!!!!
December 1st, 2022 at 11:27 pm
You could see this coming from a mile away with AB. He is completely detached from reality. He lives in Florida, a state that still believes in law enforcement. He is mocking Tom Brady as he goes through his divorce. After Brady threw him multiple life lines to resurrect his career. I do believe that Brown suffers from CTE. He has been shielded from the justice system his whole career due to his wealth and status. No one is protecting him anymore. I suspect he will be spending much of his life behind bars from now on
December 2nd, 2022 at 7:56 am
Concerning AB, the ONLY ones I feel truly sorry for is the kids. Maybe the women. And that’s a maybe. His insanity isn’t a new thing. I get that “perhaps, probably”, the mothers of the children saw the gravy train and jumped right on, and that’s why it’s a “maybe” concerning them. If any of these ladies actually love or loved him then I definitely feel bad for them. Besides that…. AB is SCUM of the Earth and his children are saddled with him and the destruction that he already has laid apon them and certainly WILL tarnish the children’s chances at a good life. The children WILL BE emotionally scared and potential love life relationships will be a sad crap show for all involved. I feel bad alright. I feel bad for the children. The rest well…. Karma can be a beotch. And I think after watching what he was willing to do to a man who put his personal reputation, family, and much much more on the line for the ungrateful bastard, well I’d say Browns KARMA is licking it’s chops to settle up starting with the popo AT THE DOOR!
December 2nd, 2022 at 8:36 am
[Sorry, we’re not going there. — Joe]
December 2nd, 2022 at 12:15 pm
I wish I knew the true story behind BA leaving and hiring this career loser (Check his record). We were afraid someone would take him from us, really? We should have been so lucky, maybe it would have been someone in our division. Poor play calling on both sides of the ball, poor clock management, poor creativity, poor motivator, poor, poor poor! And can someone tell Leftwich, Belichick is calling and wants his dull 1990’s offensive scheme back. Major changes need to be made, the sooner the better!