Locker Room About To Split? Calijah Kancey Said No Chance.
November 11th, 2024
Declares unity.
When a season has such high expectations — who among us didn’t think the Bucs could make a play for a deep run in the playoffs? — and it comes crashing down before Thanksgiving, two things could happen.
(There is a split at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. One Joe still thinks the Bucs can go 6-1 and make the playoffs, or better. The other Joe is highly dubious that a team with a defense that almost weekly folds in the final minute can overcome a weaksauce schedule.)
A team could rally, bond and go on a winning bender or a team can fracture into 45 pieces and dudes could make business decisions or look out for their own stats and their next contract.
Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey declared there would be no fracturing of the Bucs locker room as the team heads off to enjoy their bye week.
“We’re all brothers,” Kancey said from the Bucs’ locker room after a demoralizing 23-20 loss to the 49ers. “We all trust each other in here – nothing will bring us apart.
“We all believe in each other. We have to go out there and play together. We put in the work together so, nothing will break us up.”
That’s easy to say, but is it practical?
Look, Joe isn’t being outrageous here or flippant. Let’s address the elephant in the room.
The Bucs were expected to contend for a possible NFC title game appearance. Now they are 4-6 and this team sure looks a lot more like a team that will circle the drain in the final seven games than a team that will run the table and maybe outpace the Dixie Chicks.
And the biggest reason why is the defense, specifically in fourth quarters. The Bucs have now lost half their games on a game’s final drive. That’s not an accident; that’s a trend.
On top of that, despite the Bucs drafting all kinds of players to rush the quarterback from the edge, the Bucs still struggle to breathe on quarterbacks with an edge rusher.
And week in and week out, there are dudes comically wide open over the middle. Yet nothing appears to be changing. Or adjusting. It’s the same ol’ same ol.’
All of this under the gaze of a head coach who made his bones on the defensive side of the ball. Not a good omen.
So yeah, Joe finds it hard to believe Team Glazer hasn’t had at least informal talks amongst themselves about the future of Todd Bowles.
If the Bucs’ losing streak continues even by a couple of games, how is the team going to stick together then?
November 11th, 2024 at 9:06 am
“Declares unity” lol
Reminds me of the time Michael Scott declared bankruptcy.
November 11th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Per Pro Football Reference, the Bucs Defense is:
—–
#31 in Points allowed
#31 in Yards allowed
#30 in Yards per play allowed
#30 in 1st downs given up
#31 in Completions allowed
—–
Stats really are for losers.
Great work Todd!
November 11th, 2024 at 9:13 am
Now that you mentioned edge rushers i remembered something that got lost from yesterday with all these bad calls and bad decisions.
FOX showed the replay of the last TD of the 49ers. Purdy stood and hold the ball for 8,5 seconds before throwing the pass.
8,5 seconds and not one Bucs player got 2 yards close to him.
8,5 seconds. Ridiculous
November 11th, 2024 at 9:23 am
@eliot
Not saying that Bowles has his things because he has, but I’m not easy to coach a team with no CB only one LB that has 34 years old because the others are garbage, and no pass rush, seriously is on the coach what both safety’s are doing on the field? he is a coach not a magician, that roster is GM responsibility.
That being said, is on the coach playing to tie and not to win, is hard to defend Bowles on that, but this bad roster is on the GM, the same with no activity on the market fora WR a CB or a pass rusher
November 11th, 2024 at 9:26 am
CK has 4 sacks in 5 games. He’s one away from being the team leader in 1/2 the games played. He could end up with a 10 sack season.
November 11th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Pathetic
November 11th, 2024 at 9:32 am
I do not see how our defense is magically going to get better. Linebacker is a glaring weakness, and the Bucs did nothing to improve that position. On top of that, if Tristan Wirfs in out the rest of the season, Baker’s going to regress. That was to be expected with the loss of both starting receivers, but it will be compounded now with Tristan’s injury. I think the Bucs will be lucky to win 3-4 games. Is it too early to start looking forward to the draft?
November 11th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Toilet Bowl needs to GO!! And if the players love him so much why does the defense SUCK!! PLAY BETTER #noonecares
November 11th, 2024 at 9:43 am
I want to know about the defensive line. Is it the chicken or the egg? Is it Jason Licht’s picks on defense or is it Todd Bowles scheme?
Bucs are 1-5 and have scored an average of over 30 points per game in that span. That’s only happened twice in NFL history. Both time with the Bucs. Now in 2024 and also in 2019… So who is responsible for the debacle?
November 11th, 2024 at 9:51 am
@ElioT
Those stats are alarming and should have Bowles unemployed by days end. His teams historically get worse with each year he’s in charge.
BTW, can we all please stop the talk about running the table to close the season, NOT HAPPENING. We go 3-4 last 7.
November 11th, 2024 at 9:56 am
Problem is Todd has plenty of influence on who the Bucs pick and in charge of how they’re coached.
Look, at the end of the day it’s about wins & losses and Bowles is 21-23.
He’s not the worst HC out there but he’s not THE guy to get this team to where everyone wants them to be.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:05 am
Do we not have enough DB’s available to form a dime coverage instead of worrying about one of our slow footed LB’s cover a 4.3 WR.Wake Up!!
November 11th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Players play, coaches coach, and GMs draft. Talent is there, as proven by the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win in 2020, especially after the challenges they faced in 2019, as a fellow Bucs fan here pointed out they had the same problems in 2019 going 1-5 with 30 points a game. However, Bowles isn’t coaching up the talent he has. Is it enough? Maybe/Probably not. But at the end of the day, he defended KJ Britt for weeks, even when it was clear to everyone after a week or two starting that he wasn’t performing. Bowles makes the decisions on who plays and who sits.
The decision to not play Antonio Grier is baffling. It’s criminal, especially when he opts to play KJ instead of JJ Russel as well. His choices frustrate me to the point where I feel like throwing my TV out the window every week at the end of the game. When they cut to his face after a penalty, I almost lose it—he often looks confused, standing there without any real reaction right call wrong call it doesnt matter. The common denominator on these historically bad defenses is Bowles’ coaching. The GM drafted enough talent to win a Super Bowl, even with Bowles as the coordinator in 2020. So clearly the talent is there…
November 11th, 2024 at 10:15 am
Todd Bowles has brought unity with most of the fans….. He has to go.
I was one that wanted to give the Major Payne impersonator a chance, but after yesterday their is no hope for this scheme to work. Besides who wants to watch an Incompentant team that can not defend or TACKLE. These guys are pathetic and it starts at the top.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:18 am
ElioT Says:
This in unbelievable for a Bucs team led by a “respected” D-minded coach.
I’m not sure even a Mike Smith D was this bad, and we laugh about him all the time.
Guys and Gals, wish all you want, but I doubt this D gets that much better, even with Dean and Smith back in the line-up. The entire middle of the field is a gigantic black hole, gravity just pulling completions into it.
This team can’t stop anyone in crunch time when it matters the most. Just like against the 9ers. Just like against the Chefs. Just like against the “immobile, overrated” Cousins.
Just like, just like, just like…
November 11th, 2024 at 10:21 am
To me, yesterday’s loss is on Coen and Mayfield. Where was the 30point average? Feels like Shannahan knew exactly what Coen was going to call each drive. Why did Mayfield not can the ‘White up the middle’ call and go play action? He’s the leader and I’m confident the coaches put play calling in his hands when he’s at the line. We needed that touchdown. And why, god why, after Wirfs get hurt was Mayfield not scrambling away from Bosa. Get out of the pocket man, your o line was at half mast
The defense broke down in the 4th, but we held the 49ers to 1 touchdown for 3 quarters, a stark contrast from the ravens and chief games (I get the 49ers are a softer team – but stats don’t quantify who’s soft)
November 11th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Coen and Mayfield were trying to run the clock down to ZERO so the Toilet Bowl’s defense wouldn’t give up the win anyways, but it didn’t matter as they didnt score a TD trying to managethe clock for his crap defense. I wanted him gone last year, even after making the playoffs. As a Bucs fan, I stuck with him and the team, but this is historically pathetic. I can’t waste another minute with him as head coach. Goodbye, Bucs, until the person who blows the lead at the end of every game is gone.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:43 am
I’m quite sure that no one on this board notices my comments from weeks past or any others I post. But, I am so frustrated by this team/coach/GM that I’ll post this for myself: I pointed out weeks ago about the Lion game, where everyone was printing SB tickets, that there was a significant hole over the middle of our defense where passes are not defended. IT’S STILL THERE!
A huge gap in our pass defense over the middle. It was obvious then and is still there. Whoever is at fault should go- -today.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Bowles defense has been collapsing late in games for a few years now. Its his own fault, he blitzes constantly, has d-linemen running around in coverage, secondary players trying to break past linemen that weigh 100 lbs more than them……the entire defense is gassed.
That’s why Bowles has always forced the run on Leftwich, Canales and likely why you saw some head scratchers yesterday. Bowles needs the clock to run because he knows his defense is going to wear down late in the game. Anyone that’s been watching this team has likely noticed that for a few years. Even in the Rams game during the playoffs…….the defense needs a stop and instead of playing good fundamental defnese, we instead run an all out/chaotic blitz leaving Kupp wide open to send us home. Bowles isn’t a good DC, his scheme is outdated and every team in the league is gashing us the same repetitive way.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:50 am
We’re the definition of insanity. Same S, just a new year
There’s one question I have though. If management over ruled Todd being in back #45, then why didn’t management go after depth for our LB positions? Is clearly obvious where we have major issues.
Thank god for bye week.
November 11th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Losing 5 of 6 games and four in a row should be unacceptable no matter the injuries or opponent.
Especially with the talent available. We still have plenty of talent needed to win.
But the attitude of this team seems to be that losing is indeed acceptable.
They stand in lock step with the scare crow HC.
If he only had a brain….
November 11th, 2024 at 11:21 am
I think we need a new DC not a HC.
November 11th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Now it should be clear why Bowles is the “buddy coach,” and not “discipline coach.”He’ll, ultimately, need to hide behind the locker room in arguing to keep the job (and knows it).
November 11th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Watch the game highlights, you’ll see:
Missed tackles on Kittle, Jennings, Samuel and McCaffrey that a good tackling team would have held to 15 yard gains, these pass plays went for over 100 yards of offense when the ball was only traveling 30-40 yards in the air. Buc players all season havn’t been wrapping up.
Go with the flow. Bucky Irving was breaking tackles and ripping off good runs. Rachad White was catching balls out of the backfield. On the last red zone they both should have been in the game and rather than running White, you throw to him and why don’t you have Bucky in there to pitch out to. That was a horrible way to finish a penalty aided drive.
What is Winfield doing out there. He clearly had an angle on Piersall’s TD and ending up hesitating before he chased him and it was too late. On the rainbow pass to McCaffrey he should have been playing center field and moved over to ball hawk. The Bucs rely on him to make a difference, he isn’t.
How about stretching the field vertically and take a few shots a game. If you only do screens and short passes, the defense doesn’t have to worry about someone getting behind them.
As Brady and everyone else sees, the Bucs need to tighten up their defense and spread their offense more.
They cannot run off 6 or 7 in a row with this inferior effort and system.
November 11th, 2024 at 1:10 pm
If Lovie is still going to be the couch, he needs a stem and heated beat down by the Glazers and Jason.. Make it clear to him – he should be teaching at a community college now. If he wants to continue in football he needs to make improvements now. Consulting with Dungy, Belichick, should be forced as condition for employment.
The suckage on defense is driving fans away
November 11th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
yeah the locker room is about to split for sure…
into those who prefer mickey dee’s, or those who enjoy burger king…
with one or two freakin” weirdos who vote wendys
November 11th, 2024 at 2:38 pm
When they kicked a field goal late in the 4th I stop watching. The outcome was already determined. If I a football novice knew that then how in the hell does our nicely paid coaching staff not? Our defense is an embarrassment. Why in the F is it ok to play 10 yards away from your receiver on every single down? The idea is to stop the completion from happening not react and adjust when it does happen. Maybe we should all apply for the defensive coaching staff.
November 11th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
always Wendy’s
November 11th, 2024 at 6:45 pm
On a positive note, which I know is difficult for you drama queens to think about right now…
Kancey has 4 sacks in his 5 games back. He had 4 sacks in 14 games last year. This guy is a star and only going to get better.
November 11th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
The DL would look pretty good if there were an edge rusher or two to help them, imo.
Both lines can be very solid down the stretch. That and a good qb goes a long way toward wins, down the stretch. If bad coaching doesn’t get in the way!
November 12th, 2024 at 1:13 am
Drink up me hearties, yo ho. It makes it funnier when someone writes a treatise to prove this is Jason Licht’s fault, Todd Bowels is a better coach than Jon Gruden or Brice Arians, and Mark Donimik was a superb GM. And fond reminisces of the overlooked Matt McCoy.