Todd Bowles Highlights Offense’s Misfires, Points To Good Performances
October 18th, 2023
Very interesting assessments by head coach Todd Bowles yesterday.
Bowles was more pointed in his postgame commentary on the Buccaneers Radio Network than he was earlier this week following the 20-6 drubbing by the Lions at The Licht House.
Asked to give reasons for his offense’s struggles on Sunday, Bowles served up this response.
“I thought we struggled in practice all week,” Bowles said. “I thought we missed some deep throws. I thought we were off here and there in the run game and mentally sluggish — I don’t want to say ‘physically’ because they played hard. And it was a guy here or there; it wasn’t the entire offense at the same time. Certain guys played well. I thought Luke [Goedeke] played a very good ballgame, Luke and Tristan [Wirfs].
“We had no sacks [allowed] but we couldn’t get the ball down the field like we wanted to and make those connections. And getting off the field on third down and not being able to sustain drives, that was probably our biggest thing.”
Extra intersting to Joe was Bowles noting he was pleased with the play of backup running back Ke’Shawn “Sneak” Vaughn.
“Sneak comes in there, he had some hard runs [Sunday]. He’s a tough guy. He’s a good run-in-between-the-tackles guy,” Bowles said. “I felt it was a good game for him. We just couldn’t get him going.”
For those counting, Vaughn had six carries for nine yards against Detroit.
Joe was pleased to hear Bowles say he liked the physical effort and only thought the mental side of the game was off. In some ways, that’s a much easier fix.
As for Vaughn having a “good game,” Joe will be curious to see if the Bucs shake things up Sunday against the Falcons and give Vaughn the ball to start the game.
October 18th, 2023 at 11:59 am
As ordinary as Vaughn seems to be, he is less ordinary than White. Save White for third downs and use Vaughn early. Find someone who can run with authority and vision.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
What happened to Sean Tucker?
October 18th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
i agree with coach, sneak does run in between the tackles decent – better than white – he’s sort of slippery in there and gets a few extra yards now and then – oddly enough, somehow the stat sheets prove otherwise – go figure…
when is one back going to tote the rock 20-25 times…old school football style…
this might be the weekend to feature sneak or tuck
October 18th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
“He’s a good run-in-between-the-tackles guy”
I think his barometer for good needs to be recalibrated.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:12 pm
I seems like Caneles isn’t opening up his playbook. WHY? If the line can hold up like they claim then use plays to open lanes for the running backs and receivers.
STOP babysitting the players.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Ke’Shawn Vaughn sucks.
He has sucked since year one and he will suck next year when he plays for the XFL.
I blame our GM for the lackluster group of running backs the Bucs are currently stuck with – Chase Edmonds and Sean Tucker was his solution to a poor running game? WTF?
I blame the interior line for not run blocking worth a 5h1t.
I blame our QB for not being able to hit a pass longer than 12 yards.
I blame our new OC for his play calling and continued worthless running plays up the gut and results that are worse than Coach Flat Bill.
Plenty of blame to go around.
Until these issues are resolved this team is just mediocre and they won’t beat a good team this season.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
I think the reality of the running game is when we block it poorly, both backs will lose a few yards and kill our down and distance. When we block it correctly, Vaughn can get an extra yard out of it on most plays, and White can get us 10 from time to time but will leave plenty of yards out on the field.
October 18th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
we are overdue for a big run play…this could be the weekend…i was shocked to hear our most productive run play of the year is 13 yards…that’s crazy…it should be the lowest in the league
October 18th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Give Sean Tucker 20 carries.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Thank goodness Chase Edmonds looks to be coming back soon. He looked good in his limited carries before getting injured
October 18th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
Isn’t it the HC’s job to tighten up the mental aspect of th game. Bowles see the team struggling the entire week in practice and he has extra time ( bye week) to fix it and we see the result. Bowles appears completely incapable of recognizing what is not working and adapting. Not to his personally (eg. R. White is a 3rd down receiving back), not opponents (e.g. when an opponent kills you on 3 consecutive 3rd and longs by dumping 8 yards between LBS and DBs, bring DBs to line and start knocking WRs of their timing), not game plan (it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, same offensive and defensive game plan week after week), Not the emotional barometer of the team ( flat liner). He simply does not have HC skills or demeanor. To boast about all the time spent with DBs in office only to see them get torched or to vaunted an RB who peaked at 9 yds (1.5 ypc) in a game is just embarrassing.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
Why is Sean Tucker still listed at #2 if they aren’t giving him backup carries?
I don’t understand anything this team is saying or doing.
One thing is clear, Dave Canales isn’t going anywhere next year in terms of being a HC. He certainly isn’t taking Mayfield with him unless it’s the couch.
October 18th, 2023 at 1:57 pm
@ BillyBucco
Vaughn was elevated from RB3 to RB2 for the Lions game.
Our head coach said that they will probably continue to rotate Tucker and Vaughn the rest of the season until one of them proves they suck a little less than the other guy…
October 18th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
@ Anthony
“Thank goodness Chase Edmonds looks to be coming back soon. He looked good in his limited carries before getting injured”
What good will it really do. Chase Edmonds has missed most of the games the past two seasons do to – DRUM ROLL PLEASE – INJURIES…
The dude is done. Toast. Hot tub hero. Absolute zero… Just taking up space at this point.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
this cat is like the guy on talledega night.
lets look at the bright side, we have our health, we’re all having fun, we get paid win or lose………etc, etc
what we need is a little SHAKE AND BAKE!
October 18th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
Give Sneak the ball. Lots.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
This team very rarely fails to dissapoint.
For Bowles to have anything good to say about this run game shows just how content he is with mediocrity. I know we fans aren’t content with that.
Sad.
October 18th, 2023 at 2:42 pm
AGREE OR DISAGREE?
Give Baker Q2 (Lions, Falcons, Bills, Texans). If this offense is still terrible, it’s time to see what Trask can do for 8-9 games. That way we finish year knowing what we have at QB going into the offseason.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:02 pm
I’m gonna say it again. We need a big bruiser fullback that is impossible to tackle and catch the ball out of the backfield.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:06 pm
Our 3rd down performance was abysmal (2-for-12), but in most cases we were in 3rd-and-long situations. But 1st down performance was equally poor, and that’s largely why we ended up in 3rd-and-long situations.
Bucs had 23 first down plays … 10 rushes & 13 passes. The 10 rushes netted 37 yards. Actually not that terrible, although 5 of them went for 2, 1, 3, 0, 2 yards (8 yds) while the other 5 went for a more acceptable 6, 4, 8, 7, 4 yards (29 yds). The 13 passes on 1st down (7 complete) netted 99 yards & 1 of them was intercepted. Baker threw 7 of them short (5 complete) for 55 yards, and 6 deep (2 complete) for 44 yards.
Seems to me like we got impatient & just started flinging the ball deep on 1st downs too much (5 of the deep throws on 1st down were in the 2nd half). That’s not Baker’s strength IMO. On the day he was 4-for-12 deep overall (on all downs) for a total of 81 yards. In all fairness though, 8 of those 12 deep passes came in the 4th qtr (only ONE was complete).
October 18th, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Many of the Bucs fans on this site are nothing more than WHINERS. If you whined when Brady was your QB, you’ll whine about anyone. Honestly, guys like you make me sick!
October 18th, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Joe my point is, if Bowles know what the problem is, why can’t he fix it or at least improve it. As my grandmother use to say, crap or get off the pot. Hopefully we can right the ship over the next few games. I do think if the Bucs struggles with Atlanta this week Bowles seat will get a bit hotter. I like Bowles but as Jerry Glanville said NFL stands for Not For Long especially win you don’t win
October 18th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
It is difficult to believe that Bowles is still the coach after that interview. The running backs are a complete failure. You can blame the offensive line all day, but these two running backs are 3rd string backs. They are a joke to be 1st string backs. Bowles has to go. Go Bucs.
October 18th, 2023 at 3:44 pm
WyomingJoey is TRIGGERED!!
October 18th, 2023 at 3:44 pm
Amen Texas Joe!
October 18th, 2023 at 4:57 pm
Six carries for 9 yards is acceptable? Todd. Come on. That’s about the stupidest thing you’ve ever said. I’m trying real hard to be supportive here. But Jesus.
October 18th, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Defense Rules. Excellent analysis. Get on radio.
October 18th, 2023 at 5:43 pm
I have a feeling we’re going to hear a lot more excuses and “assessments” from Coach Bowles over the next 12 weeks.
October 18th, 2023 at 7:11 pm
ATTN TODD BOWLES:
You have a pass first team, please adjust
October 18th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Interesting that he said “I thought we struggled in practice all week”… after saying just one day earlier something to the effect of “we’ve been hitting those plays in practice all week, just didn’t happen today”…
It appears Bullchit Bruce has passed down the art of lying to Bullchit Bowles
October 18th, 2023 at 9:04 pm
We are paying off a Super Bowl victory, are in first place in our division, and yet fans are pissed we lost to a better team. How many superbowls does Detroit have again?? Calm down.
October 18th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
I’m sure Bill Belichick will fix these issues when he is hired as HC in the off season. Ha!
October 19th, 2023 at 2:30 am
Sometimes Bowles just make stuff up on the fly I think. Vaughn? Really?
Maybe he thinks that if he talks Vaughn up it will light a fire under someone.
Geez!
Go Bucs!
October 19th, 2023 at 2:35 am
how crazy would it be if that meshuggenah belichik became our head coach next season… 🙂
wilder things have happened
October 19th, 2023 at 3:34 am
Vaughn had 6 runs (4, 1, Minus 6, 7, 2, 1 yards) for a total of 9 yards (1.5 YPC). In what world is that a good day at the office?
White had 7 runs (2, 1, 6, 8, 0, 5, 4 yards) for a total of 26 yards (3.7 YPC). Not a fabulous day by any means, but at least 4 of his 7 runs were reasonable.
Bucs ran 16 times in the Lions game … 12 in the 1st half (6 runs in each qtr) but only 4 in the 2nd half (all in the 3rd qtr). Our 2.8 YPC average in the game didn’t really provide much of a complement to the passing game, nor did it help run the clock much. Lions won the TOP Battle 36:30 to 23:30, meaning that our defense spent 13 more minutes on the field than Detroit’s defense did. Part of the ‘blame’ for that falls on the offense, but a big part of it falls on the defense for allowing the Lions to keep drives alive on 3rd downs.