Rough Roads After Calling Plays For Todd Bowles
February 14th, 2023
Todd Bowles
It was popular in some circles to blame everything that went wrong during Todd Bowles’ time as Jets head coach on miserable Jets management.
Perhaps that’s a fair take, perhaps not.
What Joe finds curious, though, is that Bowles’ last three offensive coordinators flamed out so badly. His last one with the Jets, Jeremy Bates in 2018, hasn’t returned to football. (He’s only 46 years old). And the guy calling plays prior to Bates, John Morton, was out of the game for a year before re-emerging as a general offensive assistant with the Raiders before getting the same job with the Lions.
And then there’s Byron Leftwich, who was fired 26 days ago. He appears to have no NFL job prospects and Bowles doesn’t seem interested in interviewing any of the remaining guys under Leftwich for a playcaller role.
A story on the reputable SNY network noted in 2018, right after Bowles was fired, that Bowles’ shaky job status didn’t leave him preferred choices at coordinator.
This was the second straight season that Bowles had issues with his offensive coordinator. His previous coordinator, John Morton, lasted only one season and was fired after what a source said were multiple clashes with other assistants and players on the team. One former player said at the time that many offensive players had expressed private frustrations with Morton’s play-calling and scheme.
The offensive coordinator problems highlighted one of the biggest problems of the Bowles era – his inability to assemble a top staff. Neither Morton nor Bates were his top choices to be his offensive coordinator, a team source said. His tenuous job security and the lack of talent on the roster made it difficult for Bowles to recruit the coaches he wanted.
Joe is glad the Bucs have talked to many prospects for their vacant playcaller gig. It’s in the double-digits. But the delay in hiring someone is making Joe very nervous, especially given Bowles’ history in New York.
February 14th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Bowles is not only a bad HC but has shown he can’t assemble a competent coaching staff either. Bucs will have to reach for an unproven OC coach bc the job and HC are radioactive! Thanks BA and Glazers for setting the franchise back several years!
February 14th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Fire the Bowel movement and the worm will turn.
February 14th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Well, look on the bright side. At this moment, our offensive coordinator is a vast improvement over Leftwich.
February 14th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
Nervous?
Why?
Because even bottom-barrel candidates don’t want to crash and burn along with Bowles?
File this under “dog bites man.”
February 14th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
Shocking
February 14th, 2023 at 5:56 pm
I can’t blame BA! He’s a loyal man who brought us a superbowl his second year as head coach! Todd bowels is so horrible that literally coaches are turning down jobs out of college to not come here…lol it’s going to be a longgg season bucs fans
February 14th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Hopefully they are waiting for Eric Bieniemy to be a free agent coordinator
February 14th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
They should go after Eric Bieniemy. He will never become a head coach under big red because Reid gets all of the credit. If he comes here and shines opportunities will become available
February 14th, 2023 at 6:02 pm
ATL… he has had some personal issues. I think that stands in the way.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:06 pm
“What Joe finds curious, though, is that Bowles’ last three offensive coordinators flamed out so badly.”
Thank you Joe! Todd Bowels is the root cause of the problem because he is a defensive coordinator and NOT a head coach capable of fixing BOTH the offense AND the defense
RIP no risk it no biscuit 🙏
February 14th, 2023 at 6:07 pm
I am not a fire the guy type but fire Bowles and offer the head coach and offensive coordinator job to Brian Johnson.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:08 pm
Fantastic. As if his eye for offensive talent wasn’t already his handicap. Now he’s going to have to find a needle in a haystack without knowing what the needle looks like.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Joe … ‘Neither Morton nor Bates were his top choices to be his offensive coordinator, a team source said. His tenuous job security and the lack of talent on the roster made it difficult for Bowles to recruit the coaches he wanted.’
Interesting way to state the problem Joe. MAYBE ‘the lack of talent on the roster’ led to Bowles’ inability to land his preferred OCs which then led to ‘his tenuous job security’. Everyone knows that the NFL is a BUSINESS, and the bottom line is “Win or else’. Bowles didn’t win in NY, so the ‘or else’ took effect. And if he doesn’t win here, the ‘or else’ will take effect here too.
Bowles did his job for BA in 2019, 2020 & 2021: Build a defense that could complement a high-powered offense & win it all. But make no mistake, most of the $$$ went to the offense, particularly in 2020 & 2021. Bowles was left to work with a few FAs from outside (like Shaq & Suh), but mostly with raw young talent like Vea, White, Winfield, Dean, SMB, Edwards, Nelson & others. He molded them into a very competent defense IMO, but now most of them are poised to move on because we don’t have the $$$ to keep them.
What we just saw in 2022 looks like a repeat of what happened in NY in Bowles’ year 2. It’ll be interesting to see if he learned enough from that experience to preclude it from repeating itself here in 2023.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:16 pm
That affirmative action in action
February 14th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
No one wants to come to a dumpster fire with a 12 month expiration date on their loser head coach.
We will suck. And for a long time.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
Joe, be afraid. Tom Brady kept this loser from having the greatest fall in one season in the NFLs history.
Bowles is great…..at being a putrid and outclassed head coach.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:35 pm
Jack Clark … ‘Todd Bowels is the root cause of the problem because he is a defensive coordinator and NOT a head coach capable of fixing BOTH the offense AND the defense’.
Let me ask you something Jack; was Chucky capable of ‘fixing’ the defense if something had gone wrong with it in 2002? He11 no. That side of the ball belonged to Monte, and in 2002 our defense ranked #1 in the NFL, giving up a meager 196 points in the regular season (a scant 12.3 PPG average). Chucky’s offense in comparison ranked #18, scoring only 346 points (21.6 PPG average). Oh and BTW, the Bucs’ D scored 5 TDs that year (35 points), so Chucky’s offense really only scored 311 points (19.4 PPG average). We won’t even talk about the 38 takeaways our defense generated that year, and handed the ball back to the offense, often with short fields.
Point being Jack: Yes, Chucky won a Super Bowl … yay. But there’s no way on this green earth that would’ve happened if not for Monte’s defense. Yes, Chucky’s offense was that pedestrian. Heck, Tony Dungy’s offense, led by Clyde, compiled 324 points and ranked 15th in 2001. Bucs went 9-7 & Tony got fired. The year before that (2000) Bucs offense scored 388 points with Les Steckel as the OC & ranked #6. But apparently ex-Marine Steckel was too hard on the offense so he was asked to leave. What a shame.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:46 pm
As blasphemous as it sounds…making the playoffs/winning the division was a net negative. The Bucs absolutely laid an egg in the playoff game, it cost the team 10 spots in the draft order and gave Bowles another year. Winning the division did nothing else…not even retain Brady.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Wow, where is Jason in all of this? Where is BA? Bowles needs a lot of help and they can help him. We could end up with a lower quality OC than Leftwich. Is anyone at OBP going to put this dumpster fire out?
February 14th, 2023 at 7:04 pm
If it’s not Brian Johnson. I’d take a shot with Shea Tierney who did a good job with Daniel Jones. Canales from Seattle would be the third option.
After that the only other options available don’t have a history of developing QB’s which is what the Bucs are really in need of.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:08 pm
Defense Rules Says:
February 14th, 2023 at 6:35 pm
Jack Clark … Let me ask you something Jack; was Chucky capable of ‘fixing’ the defense if something had gone wrong with it in 2002?
That’s my point 😑 Did Chucky interfere and RUIN an ALREADY WORKING defense? Or did he stay tf out the way and trust his DC to do his job?
February 14th, 2023 at 7:10 pm
Still NOTHING from
The Glazer’s
The Licht
The Todd
Since they walked off the field after losing in the miserable Wildcard Game
February 14th, 2023 at 7:11 pm
Todd Bowls needs to stay his incompetent as over there on the defensive side of the ball and let his OCs work their magic
February 14th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Update on Byron Leftwich. ND OC went to Alabama. Leftwich reached out to ND. They didn’t reach out to Leftwich. Told him don’t call us, we’ll call you.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:19 pm
Todd Bowles is dead man walking already we all know he will certainly have another losing season perhaps top 3 2024 draft pick, nobody with a shred of decency will play for this fool as it will be a one and done forever. Get ready for an awful season 2023. Todd Bowles gave the Cleveland game away and made so many other unforgiveable mistakes in 2022, he has been historically very bad. Might as well not even have an offensive coordinator, kind of doesn’t matter. Team is going off the rails even more into the ditch. 2024 draft with chance at #1 pick, new coach, rebuild on the way.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:25 pm
Some of the letters Bruce Arians are starting to fall in the RayJay ROH
February 14th, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Joe
I know you won’t answer this query because I know you can’t. But do you REALLY believe Bowles is a good coach? You guys have access to stuff none of us casuals do, and SO many of us have formed a negative opinion of Bowles after only 1 year. I know you can’t/won’t answer because you can’t burn your bridges within OBP, but man, I’d LOVE to privately hear what you guys, and Ira, truly think of Bowles. I think he’s not a competent head coach, for what it’s worth. First, don’t be ridiculous. Joe doesn’t play censorship games. Bowles is not a good head coach because that’s what his record proves after five seasons on the job. The results are on the field in Tampa and in New Jersey. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t good enough to get a second season to retool the Bucs and show everyone that he is a good head coach that can adjust and improve. –Joe
February 14th, 2023 at 7:36 pm
Why not get Arians to call the offense?
February 14th, 2023 at 7:36 pm
Face it. Bowles is a Jinx.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:41 pm
D-Rok Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:40 pm
Dang it. Moderation purgatory cuz I asked Cronkite-like questions.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
I think Bowles is Lovie Smith 2.0
February 14th, 2023 at 7:47 pm
I’m pulling for Bowles to succeed but my gut tells me he’s better as a defensive coordinator than head coach.
He was the captain of a winning ship and it sank like the titanic.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:59 pm
This is starting to stink.
The longer this takes the more it feels (smells?) like the team might move on from Coach Bowles….
February 14th, 2023 at 8:00 pm
I think he’s not a competent head coach, for what it’s worth.
“First, don’t be ridiculous. Joe doesn’t play censorship games. Bowles is not a good head coach because that’s what his record proves after five seasons on the job. The results are on the field in Tampa and in New Jersey. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t good enough to get a second season to retool the Bucs and show everyone that he is a good head coach that can adjust and improve. –Joe”
Sorry, Joe, I was not trying to be ridiculous at all, just trying to ask a serious question that I believe is on many Bucs fans’ minds. I thank you for answering that Bowles is not a good HC, and so many of us know it.
However, CAN Bowles get better? I believe he can – look at Belichick in Cleveland. It’s possible. My issue today is, can Bowles get better with the current roster, coaches, and cap issues? I think even if he could be a good HC, he is facing a super uphill battle as HC in 2023. If Bowles can sport us a .500 record in 23, it will be a super achievement and this fan will start to support Mr. Bowles. Thanks for responding, Joes – it means a lot to us “petty” fans.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:04 pm
At this point, I don’t even want to engage the Bowles hate. He’s a horrible Head Coach and a good enough D Coordinator. There’s no way he should be coaching this team next year ….but he is. Jason Licht did a terrible job plugging the massive O Line holes. Little effort was even made. The Shaq Mason trade was nice but what else. Marpet retiring was a blow that Licht had to mitigate. He hardly did. Not only was Marpet gone but so was Jensen for most of the year. Donovan is booty. Licht’s gorgeous pick of Marpet is looking more like a lucky prize and less like a pinpoint, skilled pick. I don’t blame Licht even because I don’t really know if he’s capable. His hits are there but they are about average and his free agency moves have been uninspiring. This is why I don’t blame Licht. He can’t seem to be consistent enough to handle finding a head coach. The blame I have is on the Glazers. You chose to save a few bucks rather than firing Bowles. There is no doubt that we will be picking high in next year’s draft. Even if a rebuild needed to happen, it needed to be done with a savvy football mind that is relevant to today’s game. 46 handoffs and predictable, conservative decisions don’t win games. Bowles should be gone and the entire world sans the ones paying the salary can see that. Licht should be on the burning hot seat.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
I didn’t even talk about the greatest weakness that Licht hasn’t been able to address which is our soft D line.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:14 pm
Bowles sucks!!!
February 14th, 2023 at 8:15 pm
cmurda Says:
February 14th, 2023 at 8:04 pm
“Licht’s gorgeous pick of Marpet is looking more like a lucky prize and less like a pinpoint, skilled pick. I don’t blame Licht even because I don’t really know if he’s capable.”
Bro, posters here have excoriated me this last year for calling out Licht’s inaction addressing our O-Line injuries / retirements / defections from last year to this year. I still stomp my foot and say it was the fault of JL for not bringing in competition to the O-line before this year even began. JL is a good/decent GM, but his inaction at the start of this year sorta doomed this team from the start, and that’s my opinion. And JL needs to do better.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
This is a bleeping comedy of error. A flat out embarrassment.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:23 pm
geno711 Says:
February 14th, 2023 at 6:07 pm
“I am not a fire the guy type but fire Bowles and offer the head coach and offensive coordinator job to Brian Johnson. ”
I thought about this too…but I don’t know if Johnson is ready for a HC gig.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
cmurda Says
February 14th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
“I didn’t even talk about the greatest weakness that Licht hasn’t been able to address which is our soft D line. ”
A year ago, they were one of the best DLines…so I don’t see how you come to that conclusion. This year? They weren’t great, but they weren’t soft.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Dr
Solid as usual. From you it’s expected and you’ve done such a fantastic job on this board. If there was a ring to place your name as one of the best that backs it up if nessesary plus plenty of wit with a touch of charisma, well you might just get my vote for placement. In fact you’ll jump in front it and cut the “where is your proof” argument off at the pass with facts and stats. Stellar every day energy as well. Yep, if there were a ring of fame here at JBF I believe you’d be in it here. SO YOU BETTER KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK OR ELSE!
@Bucs4ev
Spot on my man! Bowles needs help! And I’m NOT being a smart arse either! I believe in my heart of hearts that Bruce Arians IS the Man for The Job to! Really. I don’t believe there is a better guy for the job considering the STRONG Presence and Command of the offense that he still holds plenty of sway and A TON of respect from here in Tampa.
HOWEVER, that wouldn’t happen in a Billion years if Bowles has ANYTHING to say about. And of course HE DOES! Bowles is VERY jealous of Arians in my opinion. Very! And he simply isn’t going to let Arians up stage him. EVEN THOUGH it is CERTAINLY the by far best and SMARTEST play “IF” we actually mean to challenge for the Super Bowl. Hands down correct in my book of opinion. Only Licht or the Glasers could make that call to go over Bowles head and put him in the back seat. Make the “Adult decision”. But so far I have a feel that the kindergartens are in charge at this time. We could actually challenge if Bowles could by Grace of God get over his daddy complex with Arians. (EVEN THOUGH ARIANS HAS SUPPORTED HIM 100%!) Got him the job…….
Besides that I feel that the bubble is going to burst (IN OUR FAVOR) Any minute now about our new OC! Besides, if I say it every day then eventually my prediction will come true… Not so sure if I said it’s tomorrow that I would be correct BUT I MIGHT BE! I just Know It!
February 14th, 2023 at 8:38 pm
Here’s a little context from the real world that the journalistic pros cosplaying as your “average” Joe Bucs Fan have left behind in the Bucs “endless” OC search: “Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose (Todd) Monken after a process that included 21 interviews with 14 candidates over a four-week span.” (ESPN reporting) The Ravens did their due diligence and found somebody that has the bona fides and possesses the cultural fit with their current organizational philosophy. When the Bucs are trending the same way with just 10 known candidates… it must be Todd Bowles as the problem? (click bait much?) Really? I guess no one wanted to work for the Ravens either, needing to go through the more than dozen of candidates and 20+ interviews. Something must be wrong with them right?
Being someone that has to hire and terminate people, it’s not a easy trivial task nor a fantasy draft where you just plug and play your favorite name. The person must fit what you as a department/organization is looking for, even if its a placeholder one season many of you masochists are dreaming of (seriously get a healthier hobby, instead of vainly praying for people losing their jobs). Most of the times the candidates on paper, don’t match who they claim to be or struggle to articulate that persona in person and most of the time you just need that cultural fit or at least buy-in to the direction you want them to head with you in the field (or office), else things get dicey once they sign that contract and are disastrously unprepared or unmotivated to grow in their new position on day 1 or in the on-going basis. It’s not easy hiring the right people, and sometimes last one selected proves everybody wrong, ask Mr. Purdy or the most famous draft pick #199.
I forgot we are fans of these current Tampa Bay Buccaneers right? Not the Houston Texans or Chicago Bears? The organization won a Lombardi recently, went 13-4 a season ago and just won back-to-back division titles, but some how that recent success isn’t good enough, for the franchise that has the lowest winning percentage of all active NFL teams (0.404)? Some fans pretend we must have went 0-17 last season, because they have nothing better to do than complain, just because the current head coach isn’t a fire and brimstone rah-rah personality that is . He must be incompetent, stubborn, (fill any negative adjective here) because he is the sole reason your team didn’t do as well as you expected? First is was Byron Leftwich’s fault until his dismissal, then it’s Bowles or sometimes Licht or the Glazer ownership group or even Devin White or Donovan Smith or whomever else is your personal doghouse of blame. Get over yourselves. Find another hobby because time and time again, the moves of this organization aren’t dictated personally by you, no matter how many times you cry out to fire him (or her) or sell the franchise or get rid of the players, ad nauseum.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:38 pm
Bowles is toxic among the NFL offensive coaching community. Everyone saw how he scapegoated Lefty because no one wanted to point to Brady’s decline.
Everyone in the coaching community knows the roster & cap situation says Bucs are a sinking ship w/ Bowles on 2023 hot seat. Only a fool would want the job knowing the above.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:48 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai.
Some of the reasons for my recent love of Brian Johnson after looking at him more closely.
When Alex Smith was preparing for a season that would end with him as a Heisman Trophy finalist and the top pick in the NFL draft, he was matching wits on complex football terminology with someone who graduated early from high school. “I remember being blown away by his football knowledge compared to mine,” Smith recalled in a recent telephone interview. When Smith suffered a devastating right leg injury while playing for Washington in 2018, Johnson was among the first nonfamily members to visit him in the hospital. Now that he’s retired and serving as an analyst for ESPN, Smith said he often calls Johnson to break down what he might not understand.
“My estimation is he’ll be a head coach in the NFL in the next two to three years. That’s how much I think of him,” Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Brian has always been ahead of the curve his entire life.” “He’s one of the smartest players ever to come through here. He gets it,” Whittingham said of Johnson.
“He can function with every type of quarterback,” Mullen said. “He can do it all. He relates to the players, coaches them through the eyes of a quarterback and the eyes of a coach, and then he understands the scheme at such a high level.” Mullen recruited him as a 1-star recruit telling Urban Myers he has the smarts. Johnson finished as the winningest quarterback in school history, going 26-7. He led Utah to an undefeated campaign (13-0) as a senior, including a 31-17 win over Nick Saban’s Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
When the Eagles stumbled to a 2-5 start in 2021, Sirianni had Johnson move from the booth to the sideline, where he could immediately counsel his quarterback and offer feedback after drives. After the move was made, the Eagles went 7 and 3 the rest of the way and in November, Sirianni said. “So, I think he’s been a great influence on Jalen on the sideline. And then, yeah, I mean, Brian just brings a wealth of knowledge in a lot of different areas; blitz protection, quarterback play, different styles of quarterbacks. So, yeah, Brian’s a major, major key. And I just think we have a really good offensive staff. Can’t say enough about our offensive staff and who we have in that room.”
Sirianni explained that the QB coach does a great job of simplifying the checks, the reads, and the defense. “I think what you always want for coaches is to make this game, which is complex, simple. Because they’re making these decisions in split-seconds and it’s hard to play this game in your mind super complex, you have to play it simple so you play fast. And, Brian does a great job of that.” “He’s just super sharp,” “Then on top of that, he gives us the ability to take some things from the college game to make our offense just become a little bit more difficult to defend.”
Johnson has a way of communicating with Hurts that doesn’t require a lot of words, and he coined a phrase that Hurts loves, referring to him as a “triple threat” who can be effective with his arm, his legs and his mind. “He’s going to be a star one day. … I have no doubt in my mind,” Hurts told reporters in Phoenix this week. “Hopefully, we can keep him here as long as we possibly can. Nonetheless, I’m proud of him, and it’s definitely just the beginning for both of us.”
“A lot of people, they think they have to be something else as the stakes get higher. He’s just so comfortable in who he is and his knowledge base, and he hasn’t changed. He’s his same old self,” said Smith, who added that he expects Johnson to be deliberate with his next career move. “You want to pick your spots. I think Brian is going to be very careful about that and very thoughtful about his opportunities. I think he loves where he’s at, the organization. It’s going to take equally a good opportunity to pull him away.” To Smith’s point that he will pick out his path, Johnson actually called Nick Sirianni after Sirianni was hired by Philadelphia letting him know that Jalen Hurts father was his high school coach and Jalen was the ball boy while he was there.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:49 pm
Bucs should have fired Bowles on the Monday after the playoff loss and made a serious push for Jim Harbaugh. Brady hadn’t retired yet and might have added some incentive for his buddy to come here. Brady might have even given it one more year.
It’s too late for Brady, but still not too late to cut bait on BA’s replacement plan and go after Harbaugh. He can assemble a great staff, he can evaluate talent and he can attract decent FAs that would otherwise avoid this ever-worsening scenario under Bowles.
Short of doing that, I don’t see the Bucs being relevant again for a long time and that sucks. I hope I’m wrong
February 14th, 2023 at 8:54 pm
Simple fire bowels now. Problem solved. A new head coach like Eric Bienemy would have little difficulty putting together a staff.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:56 pm
The solution is obvious AND simple:
‘FIRE BOWLES!’
Media types: Another black HC fired after 1 season!… Now there is 1 less…
All for diverse HC BUT quality ones which Bowles obviously isn’t!
Keeping low or non-productive non-white HC feed the stupid stereo type and harms the progress…
February 14th, 2023 at 8:58 pm
@D Rok
I gotta put out one more call out that’s fairly new. I 1000% agree. And I bet there are A Lot of us that feel exactly like that! I’m disappointed that he didn’t do the smart thing. It was TO BIG of a risk! And obviously he Lost that gamble.
Look I get that corners have to be cut to save hard to come by salary cap money BUT COME ON MAN! “IT’S A COMMON MAN MOMENT!” YOU DON’T LEAVE THE GOLDEN GOOSE OUT THERE FOR THE WOLVES! You KNEW better than THAT in your gut. EVERY SINGLE GAME!
You maybe using the “I was sold a bill of goods” excuses BUT YOU KNEW BETTER! And you did nothing to bring more help in to protect Tom Brady!
In reality we haven’t talked much about it BUT you did Your Part in Scarring Tom out of town…. You did and you Knew it and you Know it. Don’t you…. Still, I consider you the best GM we’ve ever had.
Please don’t disappoint us with an immature and risky decision of that type of LARGE MAGNITUDE Ever Again! Man, you’re slicker than that! WT?
February 14th, 2023 at 9:05 pm
@geno711
I might be very wrong but isn’t Johnson spoken for? I’m sure he might have a great future but I thought he’s already signed with another team or decided to stay where he was?
February 14th, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Bowles is ‘untouchable’ this year…
BUT that doesn’t mean any one with half a brain will be 1 year OC for him…
February 14th, 2023 at 9:21 pm
I was saying the day Lefywhich was hired YEEEEAAARS ago that the guy was not qualified and made his name under Ariana and then Brady. Byron had his ride and will never be successful again under any position in the NFL unless it’s under someone who is proven….Todd did get a bad hand with the jets and I thought he would do much better but he obviously failed.
February 14th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Joe….The results are on the field in Tampa and in New Jersey. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t good enough to get a second season to retool the Bucs and show everyone that he is a good head coach that can adjust and improve. –Joe
WHY PROLONG THE MISERY, T BOWLES WILL BRING HIS SAME LIFELESS APPROACH, AND WE WILL BE COMMENTING NEXT YEAR RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE NEW HEAD COACH THAT WAS JUST HIRED.
UNTIL THERE IS A NEW HEAD COACH AND A NEW TALENT CYCLE, THE DEN OF DEPRESSION IS IN FULL STINKIN BLOOM
February 14th, 2023 at 9:26 pm
Bring in Dan Mullen. He’s a jerk but can put up points. Did it in 2006 and 2008 as OC for the national champion Florida Gators. Did it with Dak Prescott as HC at Mississippi State. Did it for two season with Kyle Trask as HC at Florida, losing to eventual national champion Alabama in a wild 52-46 SEC Championship shootout for the ages.
February 14th, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Is Todd Bowles trying to play OC search safe until Overtime like against Browns?
His gametime management somewhat resembles how things are moving.
Go Bucs!
February 14th, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Bowles lost me in Cleveland..
4th and 2 at the +37 with a 7 point lead…we punt…
February 14th, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Do the Glazers and Licht realize that this is, in fact, a dumpster fire with a 12-month expiration date (as Sinking Ship so succinctly describes it)?
February 14th, 2023 at 9:38 pm
You guys are hollering for something that’s not going to happen. Like Joe hollering for Rachel Watson.
February 14th, 2023 at 9:39 pm
Per ESPN and other outlets, “Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose Monken after a process that included 21 interviews with 14 candidates over a four-week span.” This real world information runs contrary to the “Joes” narrative of Todd Bowles being the sole problem as to why the organization (aka our team) hasn’t found their Offensive Coordinator. Are the Ravens just as incompetent? I’m sure the media is saying Harbaugh and the Ravens front office just did their due diligence? Its not rocket science to think any candidate that accepts has a lot of challenges regarding cap constraints, positional holes, and unease by the Buccarati.
My feeling on Eagle’s QB coach Brian Johnson is out of the mix, because Johnson is the Eagles leading candidate to replace Shane Steichen and keep some staff continuity in Philly. However, let me spit ball an idea, there is an ole’ ball coach (no not original Buc Steve Spurrier) that has recent ties to Tampa Bay’s 2nd favorite professional outdoor football franchise (currently dormant USFL 2.0 Bandits), Todd Haley, who at one time was the hotness as a young hotshot coordinator (Cardinals, 2008 top 5 offense for both points and yards) then moved up in pay grade to the Chief HC ((2010-2011) succeeded by Romeo Crennel, then Andy Reid), then back to OC for the Steelers (2012-2017 his offenses were in the top 10 for both scoring and yardage (2014-2017), also top 3 in points scored and passing yards 3 times in the same 4 year period), then Browns OC in 2018, a stint in HS ranks (Riverview HS (Sarasota), and back with the Bandits last year in a dual role as HC/GM. He is under contract with the Memphis Showboats, but quite a few USFL coaches have moved on to better things. He isn’t the shiny new object all teams are pining for, but he has a proven track record of success, but at times it has been reported can be grating to his players, yet it seems his tenure in spring football has mellowed his demeanor. He is oftentimes a personality on NFL Radio (SiriusXM), so he still has some connection of knowing today’s game. He is 2nd generation NFL (dad did time in the from office of the Steelers and Jets) so he’s well grounded in NFL culture. Maybe he’s the steady hand that can help rebuild to offense?
February 14th, 2023 at 9:52 pm
D-Rok what you don’t like trading into the 2nd round to grab a bust kicker? Come on that was a genius move! Licht hit on one lineman – who retired in his prime BTW – from a small school and now he thinks that’s where all the good players are. Those sleepers!
Its all gloom and doom right now because the longer the Bucs go without being able to hire an OC the more it confirms Bowles is a dead man walking. 10 candidates interviewed. Nobody wants the job. Are their agents advising them not to accept an offer from the Bucs? The interview puts them on the OC radar, but as this Joe post articulates working with Bowles as an OC is career suicide.
So what happens if the combine starts and the Bucs still don’t have an OC – or at least one settled in enough to credibly represent the org during evaluations? I think at that point, no matter how much anyone says Bowles is untouchable – and promises made be damned, reality is reality. You have to fire Bowles. The hand is forced. If a HC can’t field a credible coaching staff then how can he coach the team?
The Bucs were an undisciplined mess last year and the slapping the Bucs got from a not-that-great Cowboys team was an exclamation mark on how unprepared the Bucs were. That’s on the coach. There were more than a few heads up people’s own hind ends. It was a problem.
I don’t know if it is sticking to a gentlemen’s agreement between men, or putting too much emphasis on coaching demographics or if its about the extraordinarily stupid 5 year deal they gave Bowles before the season that has left them too weak in the pocket to attract a commodity at coaching – or perhaps its all of the above that’s making them attempt to commit to another season with Bowles – you simply cannot a run a football team when nobody out there wants to call plays for you. It is what it is.
If its about money then its time the Glazer open wide and take a big bite out of the ish sandwich. You like Dan Johnson? Great! Hire him as HC. Or else what? You think you’re going to attract young coaching talent you can bring along? If Bowles bombs as bad as we think he’s going to bomb you’re going to clean house anyway. Its a wasted effort.
All the guys out there the Bucs are targeting for an OC job just need to wait the Bucs out a year and then interview for the HC job in 2024. Meanwhile no OC. The clock is ticking.
February 14th, 2023 at 9:57 pm
Come on Joe my comment can’t be that bad that it needs moderation…
February 14th, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Having to deal with having no legit pass rushers
An old 54 an overrated 45
And a below average secondary
Then the worst offensive line talent in football
But nobody blame Jason Licht
February 14th, 2023 at 10:09 pm
Joe
Still on the Rachel Watson kick?
Good Man!!!
Proud of you!!!
Keep the faith!!!
February 14th, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Wow really Joe? Why was I censored?
February 14th, 2023 at 10:47 pm
There are only two levels above Bowles
The Glazer’s and Jason
They are responsible for this disfunction and have had plenty of time to correct the course of the Bucs, it was clear after the first 1/3 of the season that leadership in the coaching ranks was inept!
The whole NFL was watching but were not in denial like Licht and the Glazer’s.
This is inexcusable!
Jason needs to go now!
The Glazer’s need to sell the team and stop playing NFL franchise owners
February 14th, 2023 at 10:54 pm
D Rok I been in moderation for years here wondering if it has to do with permanent twitter ban I suffered in Jan/2020
February 14th, 2023 at 11:10 pm
All the good OC prospects are gone (absent the QB coach for the Eagles, whom we haven’t talked to, to my knowledge) At this point, it’s like picking a 6th round qb to lead you to the promised land, or as Killian says, somehow convince BA to do it. Bieniemy isn’t coming here, and probably isn’t much better than BL anyhow
February 14th, 2023 at 11:14 pm
Cliff Kingsbury and AR?
February 14th, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Still not too late to fire Bowels…it’s a rudderless ship with him as HC. Won’t watch one game with him at the helm.
February 15th, 2023 at 12:36 am
Yep nobody blame Jason
February 15th, 2023 at 1:36 am
Vancouver Buc Says:
February 14th, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Well, if you wanna create even more chaos, sure… go ahead… What other head coach candidates are out there? How do you think they’d fill out their coaching staff at this point? It would be a disaster, and then we’d have to go through another sh!tshow next offseason… Meanwhile, all the complainers would continue to complain, and instead of blaming Bowles, his replacement would be the target of hate, even if he’s given a sh!t situation to work with. But if you’re like so many on JBF, the whole point is b!tching and moaning… Knock yourself out.
February 15th, 2023 at 3:19 am
It’s darkly humorous to have a headless coich named Blowes, who sucks.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:43 am
Even a blind man can see that Bowles isn’t going to last here and no one wants ruin there career coming here with no direction and Kyle trask as your qb
February 15th, 2023 at 10:19 am
Where jay gruden lol at this point we desperate
February 15th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
firethecannons Says:
February 14th, 2023 at 7:19 pm
Todd Bowles is dead man walking already we all know he will certainly have another losing season perhaps top 3 2024 draft pick, nobody with a shred of decency will play for this fool as it will be a one and done forever. Get ready for an awful season 2023. Todd Bowles gave the Cleveland game away and made so many other unforgiveable mistakes in 2022, he has been historically very bad. Might as well not even have an offensive coordinator, kind of doesn’t matter. Team is going off the rails even more into the ditch. 2024 draft with chance at #1 pick, new coach, rebuild on the way.
___
NAILED IT!
February 15th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
Where have the “decisive” or “bold moves” that a team has to make when the situation presents itself?
1) “The Byron Leftwitch problem.”
Solution: Let Brady do his his own play-calling.
Didn’t happen.
……..
2) “The Bowles’ problem.”
Solution:
Admit the mistake & bring-back Bruce Arians as Head Coach (he’s right there, still.part of the organization; the league even had to order him to stop “appearing” as a coach on the sidelines during game-time).
Didn’t happen.
Two easy and obvious solutions just ignored.
The Buccaneers’ team management certainly isn’t unaware of the “bold moves” concept: they brought-in The Goat for Covid-2020 with his own, hand-picked offense with Gronk, Lenny, & AB.
They can do this, but can’t do something so routine as “handing-the-ball” to Brady and making a coaching change in the middle of a disaster year?
Belichick knows “bold moves,” benching his prized draft pick quarterback, Jones; same thing with the Jets and Wilson.
But, then, Belichick is a great coach…see how it works?
I’m not sure I do.