Five Things
January 6th, 2025
Mission accomplished.
What a wonderful Victory Monday this is! 2024 NFC South champs. Mike Evans kept his streak alive. A Sunday night playoff game. Good times. Fun times. Let’s get rolling. So grab your mug of coffee, piping hot! None of this iced stuff. Act like a man!
Quite A Turnaround
“This Joe” has to admit to thinking two months ago that the playoffs just weren’t in the cards. The Bucs had lost four straight, three of those four to playoff teams and a fourth to a team that appeared to be the new big dogs of the NFC South, the Dixie Chicks.
The Bucs were beaten up, badly. The physical Crows put Mike Evans on ice for three games and put Chris Godwin out for the year.
It appeared really grim. But with a crafty offensive coordinator who found ways to make chicken salad out of chicken s(p)it, the grit of Baker Mayfield and the steady guidance of Bucs coach Todd Bowles, the Bucs came back from the bye on a mission, winning six of the final seven games.
Very impressive.
As a result, the Bucs are one of the hottest teams in the league. Sure, they stubbed their toes at Dallas and nearly shat the bed yesterday at The Licht House. But each week the Bucs found ways to win, more often than not.
Bucky Irving here, Jalen McMillan there, Cade Otton over here, Anthony Nelson there, Calijah Kancey over here. Each week someone stepped up. Devin Culp, too.
And the Bucs kept winning.
At the end, you look up, shake your head back and forth like Yosemite Sam, and realize, “Wait a minute. The Bucs won another division.”
Could the Bucs win a playoff game or two? Why not? After the Bucs lost to the 49ers, who exactly expected the Bucs to be where they are today?
The Mike Evans Streak
Way cool that despite missing three games, Evans was still able to pull in 1,000 yards receiving. So Joe doesn’t want to hear anyone whining about Evans playing 17 games — no he did not!
Joe thought Evans said something very interesting after the game. In the first half, Evans got loose down the right sideline and was wide @ss open. He catches that pass, he blows through 1,000 yards. But Mayfield overshot him.
The fans at The Licht House were sick. You could hear the moans and feel the anguish. But Evans told reporters he would never get after Mayfield for missing him. Evans added, in so many words, Mayfield’s human too.
“It happens – it’s football,” Evans said. “I drop passes, we miss blocks – things happen. I could never be mad at Baker.
“He has been our rock this whole year. Even when I was out, he was still making plays. He’s an unbelievable player – I’ll never be mad at ‘Bake’ for just missing a throw. It
comes with the game.”
Now that’s a class act and that’s why Joe thinks Evans is such a fan favorite. Humble. Virtually no ego. Little to no diva.
Players Were Locked In — On Mike Evans’ Streak
Joe heard (and read) the following question quite a bit yesterday, especially through the first three quarters.
“How could a team with so much on the line come out with so little energy and play so sloppily?” Joe is beginning to think the Bucs were too focused on the wrong prize.
Every Bucs player Joe spoke with — several — after yesterday’s game pretty much said the same thing: Getting Evans past the 1,000-yards receiving plateau was a big thing throughout the game.
Joe had defensive players tell him there was constant chatter on the sidelines, “How many more yards does Mike need?” Bucs corner Zyon McCollum told Joe on the slimy Saints’ last possession, he was yelling at fellow defensive backs to get the ball back so Evans could keep his streak alive.
Of course, this was hovering over the offense all afternoon.
Maybe the Bucs were thinking about Evans’ streak a little too much?
Don’t get Joe wrong: Joe’s happy as can be Evans is now going for an NFL record 12 straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving. But with so much focus on Evans by his teammates, did they sort of forget or maybe lose sight of the fact they were playing for a division title?
As it turned out, the Dixie Chicks did their part and lost. That Carolina-Atlanta game went into overtime while the Bucs were still battling.
At halftime, Bucs linebacker K.J. Britt told Joe “reality hit” and players began to get their minds straight. Still, from what Joe was told, the Evans chatter on the team was constant.
So maybe the Bucs came out so sluggish yesterday and playing like they were in slow motion is because not enough of their concentration was focused on the win.
Hey, it all worked out though, right?
Time For Todd Bowles Props
It’s high time for fans to come to grips with reality. The Bucs have a good coach in Todd Bowles. If anything, he’s closer to getting a contract extension than he is getting run.
Bowles became the first head coach in Bucs history to lead his team to three division titles in his first three years. John McKay didn’t do that (obviously). Father Dungy never did that. Chucky failed to pull that off. Not even Bucco Bruce Arians climbed that mountain.
But Bowles? Yeah, he did.
Why did Joe bring up those four coaches? Because all four* are in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor (*-Chucky’s name was ripped off the Ring of Honor but the process of possibly putting Chucky’s name back in its rightful place is underway).
What has Bowles not done that those other four have? McKay, Father Dungy, Chucky and Bucco Bruce all got the Bucs to an NFC Championship game. To get there this year, the Bucs will have to win two playoff games.
Joe gets that some fans don’t like Bowles and maybe never will. There are various reasons: Cooper Kupp, stoic sideline demeanor, nasty habit of losing close games, uneven play from his defense, play-it-safe strategy, etc.
Some of those elements will never change. Bowles isn’t going to go out there and act like Chucky on the sidelines to please anyone. That seems to be a huge gripe some fans have.
But dang, the Bucs have gotten better every year Bowles has been the head coach. His teams never quit, even though they have a habit of painting themselves into a corner midway through a season. And the past two years, the Bucs entered the playoffs on a hot streak.
So, yeah, Joe thinks folks ought to be giving Bowles some credit, not scorn. If the Bucs, for whatever reason, had to replace Bowles later this month and you knew a candidate to fill the vacancy would win division titles in the next three seasons, you’d hire the guy on the spot.
Well, the Bucs already have that coach. His name is “Todd Bowles.”
Playoffs, Baby!
This will be a fun week. All of us hoped but none of us knew the Bucs would be prepping for a playoff game on this wonderful Victory Monday.
Sunday Night Football. Under the lights. Prime time. Not bad. Not nearly as much buzz as Monday Night Football but it’s better than an afternoon game.
Instead of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, the Commandos and Bucs will get Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth. Instead of “Stay in Bed” and “Last Take” — hell, both shows may have set up shop at The Licht House, pimping the Bucs game for hours next Monday morning — the Bucs will get a lot of run from Mike Florio at the NBC studios in Rockefeller Plaza.
The Bucs made it. They got to the playoffs! They won the NFC South for the fourth straight year — fourpeat!
Anything can happen now. This will be a fun week. Joe’s going to love it.
Duck yeah!! 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VZ4G3Txi3c
— Jason Licht (@jasonrlicht) January 6, 2025
January 6th, 2025 at 5:36 am
I’ll give Bowles props for coaching better in the second half of most of the games since the bye week, the problem with that being the Bucs defense will have to play a complete game to beat a good team. It’s not outlandish for us fans to think the Bucs would’ve been 12-5 or so if the defense held up their end, with both Atlanta games coming to mind. They would’ve probably been well under .500 with a Leftwich or Canales offense. Yes, Coen saved him, IMHO. Remember when Bowles said the DB’s need to get their head out of their a$$? That’s the way A LOT of Bucs fans feel about Bowles, and it’s because the defense is so inconsistent, NOT BECAUSE OF HOW HE ACTS ON THE SIDELINES.
Bowles is 28-26 (51.8%) as Bucs Head Coach in a NFC South that’s been terrible for the last 3 years. You honestly think that he deserves a contract extension?
January 6th, 2025 at 5:43 am
I need injury news – chances of Dean / Winfield returning for Sunday?
January 6th, 2025 at 5:51 am
Right on point, Joe. Bowles is the man. And has had the locker room all this time too. They love him. We are so lucky to have him as the Bucs HC.
Loving “Duck Yeah!”
January 6th, 2025 at 6:04 am
Primetime game just what the Bucs need. They do so good in primetime. Next week when rookie Daniels throws over, and runs through the Buc’s defense Joe will be singing a different tune about Bowles. Rattler as bad as he is had a career day yesterday. Cousins, Cooper Rush, had career days against Todd’s defense. Now when the rookie sensation comes back to town, and tears up Todd’s defense for his first playoff win we’ll see who thinks Bowles should get an extension.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:22 am
Hodad…..gtfoh
January 6th, 2025 at 6:29 am
More concerning than Todd Bowles coaching talent are the injuries to this team.
We simply can’t compete with the other playoff teams if we field the same players next Sunday. We need starters back.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:31 am
You could tell the offense was too focused on Mikes record in the 1st half. Too much passing, too many cute plays. This teams strength is downhill and counter running, and it was absent. After halftime, adjustments were made and viola! The beatdown ensued on the opening drive of the 2nd half.
The previous 5 years I’d say the Bucs needed to pass to set up the run. It’s the opposite this year, and yesterday was evidence.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Godard, your up past your bedtime, put your coloring books and crayons away.. this site is for adults. I’m. Going to tell your parents on you.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:39 am
“Cooper Kupp, stoic sideline demeanor, nasty habit of losing close games, uneven play from his defense, play-it-safe strategy, etc.”
Exactly.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:39 am
Bowles has won with the second youngest team in the NFL and a roster being rebuilt after salary cap hall from the Brady years – which we are STILL paying for. We need a serious talent infusion on D and he’s managed to get through it despite almost no depth and a ton of injuries.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:42 am
I m a Bucs fan, i want the team to win and do good. I dont want to be right and feel validated.
But i will say it one more time.
After 3 years as HC here (and 3 in NY) we have seen what a HC coach Bowles is. Either you think he is good or you think that he is not. I can accept both opinions even if i disagree. What i cant accept is people and media change their opinions on a weekly basis depending on the result.
I dont have faith in coach Bowles for many reasons, wont state them all again but the main two are he is a defensive coach and the defense has been gettin worse every year with his soft bent but dont break mentality and the 2nd is he constantly shown that he cant make good decisions in clock management/situational football.
But again i dont have issue with those that think he is a good HC because he won the division 3 straight times with 8,9,10 wins.
Just stop change your mind every week. Stop waiting a good result or a bad result to say I m right and the others are wrong.
I dont have faith in him but I m a Bucs fan and prefer to prove me wrong, but to prove me wrong this team must show significant improvement year to year. I have not see that. We have a top 5 scoring offense and we are at 10-7 with coach Bowles defense. It is what it is.
Go Bucs
January 6th, 2025 at 6:43 am
For the record the O line and the secondary was awful yesterday. They were abused constantly.
And the penalties were ridiculous. This team was not ready to play simple as that.
That was about as bad of a first half as you’ll ever see. Fix it Bowles.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:45 am
My sentiments, exactly Mike C.
GTFOH,with B.S!
FREAKING crybaby!,
Someone get these babies a nipple in their mouth and change their soiled drawers!
January 6th, 2025 at 6:56 am
“If the Bucs, for whatever reason, had to replace Bowles later this month and you knew a candidate to fill the vacancy…”
I know several candidates, Joe, and amazingly they all post on this site and have side hustles. Maybe do the Bucs a favor and allow these electricians and attorneys and bartenders who know football better than Coach Bowles to post their resumes on here?
“1988 to Present: Have watched and analyzed football on TV while drinking”
I’m sure the Glazers would appreciate this.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:16 am
@bringbackducky
January 6th, 2025 at 7:28 am
So Funny 79
January 6th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I saved NFL guru Adam Rank’s prediction of 6-10 on my computer. I will now officially delete it!
January 6th, 2025 at 7:35 am
My bad: NFL guru Adam Rank predicted that the Bucs would be 6-11.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:35 am
Mr. Editor Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I saved NFL guru Adam Rank’s prediction of 6-10 on my computer. I will now officially delete it!
^^^^^^
How many years ago was this prediction? They’ve been playing 17 games for a while now.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:38 am
The NFL like the NBA has changed all the rules to Favor offense. Every team will give up lots of points. It is baked into the rules. Bottom line is Todd made the plAyoffs on a post bye win streak. Hurricanes, injuries, ducks oh my.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:42 am
The secondary was poor for a reason; lack of talent. I would bet that as far as talent goes, we might have the weakest secondary in the league. The salary cap has made it difficult to sign not only starting quality players but also depth quality players. I don’t understand how people cannot recognize how Coach Bowles has used duct tape to keep this defense together. Coach Bowles has done as good a job covering up for various weaknesses as any coach could do. Great job Coach Bowles.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:46 am
You now what good coaches do. Look at Detroit’s Coach. Their team has lost so many players to injury and their D rocked the Vikings.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:58 am
I like Bowels and his steady approach. What he’s done with 3rd string/Amazon delivery guys @ LB & DB should be respected. Lose a safety-starter in training camp and having to play without your 2 top guys, one the highest paid safety/playmaker in the game and still put up 10 wins speaks for itself. We have 1 legit LB who is the oldest starter in the league and no pass rush? Other than our kicker, our ST hasn’t produced at all this year. Lose 2 of the best WR’s in the league in the middle of the year and we still get to host a playoff game? Yes., they drive you nuts, but we get to scream at the TV once more this year! commander’s are much better than we played them the 1st week and its a night game, so they need a great week of prep and get that “night-game stink” we’ve had on us off.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Bowles and Campbell have done great jobs with all the key injuries. I think those injuries will prevent the Lions and Bucs from reaching the Super Bowl.
January 6th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Bowles is the HC
It was his decision to roll w Baker
Bowles hired Canales and Coen
Team is built around the offense. Defense is built to complement the offense.
Bowles gets credit for the offense and the defense.
Yall haters sound ridiculous.
Baker would run thru a wall for Bowles
January 6th, 2025 at 8:12 am
JoeinMichigan
As a part time Michigander myself I always read you and respect most of what you post which is why I come to you with this question.
You represent many here who celebrate a 4th straight Division title with more over top criticism of Bowles. I get that Bowles makes mistakes, name a coach who doesn’t, but your criticisms are growing pretty weak as he continues to win, more than BB did without Brady! More than any other previous Bucs coach if you’re talking about CONSISTENTLY winning despite SB hangovers, CAP hell, bad luck with injuries and a group of fans who want to run him out of town.
WTF ever happened to the late great Al Davis’ “Just Win Baby”. Todd does that!
Not in the style or the rate that many here appreciate and that’s ok but the over top criticism is starting to make many of our posters look desperate.
It’s almost as if Todd Bowles has slept with the wives and girlfriends of many of our posters. He’s winning, despite the challenges, and yet all many can do here is rip him hyperbolically.
A serious question for ALL here. IF the Bucs somehow reach the SB would that even change all this incredible negativity.
Reading some of the Bowles comments here literally would make a stranger to the Bucs wonder if they lost yesterday and missed the playoffs this year?
January 6th, 2025 at 8:19 am
BTW I realize American in general and sports fans worst of all are not very good at nuance or perspective.
But what kind of perspective does it take to win a fourth freaking title and come here to criticize the fashion Bowles “gets er done”.
I get that is what this is all about, second guessing and critiquing it’s why we’re here! But disliking style, (I’m not a defensive guy) or personality, Todd IS boring, is not a reason to keep trashing a guy who has freaking WON!!!
If Bowles team’s win so much they reach 3 Division Championship a first round playoff win last year as well…WTF will it take to get him out of the Rodney Dangerfield category, since it’s clear WINNING is not enough for many here.
Bowles is not an exciting wild man like Chucky he’s much more like Tony Dungy. Guess what. Both Dungy and Chucky won SB’s Tony just had to get run out of TB to find a QB. Dislike his style but the lack of respect for success is starting to suck!!!
January 6th, 2025 at 8:25 am
I think part of the issue is that our new offensive coordinator is special. I do not have faith in Bowles. He just makes the same average decisions regarding time outs and in game adjustments. The biggest problem is that, unlike the coach of Detroit who proudly says “I screwed up” Bowles never admits mistakes and uses very odd reasons. That is very poor for the person in charge.
I do not mind Bowles staying if Liam is also staying with the plan to take over at some point. I would be very disappointed if Bowles stays and Liam goes. You need to have a the right OC for the right QB and we seem to have that.
Go Bucs!
January 6th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Coach Bowles is 2 for 2 in picking offensive coordinators. I believe he knows what makes an excellent coordinator and will be fine with the next coordinator. The best offensive minds would love to work for the Bucs.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:00 am
This Bucs team is winning with a qb no one else wanted. A defense that has very little talent. An offense that has has one veteran playmaker but they just won the South again. This is a product of chemistry and culture. Yes, Bowles has made some obvious mistakes , but does a different coach get the same results as Bowles ? Who would you replace him with? Stop bitching and start appreciating what this guy has done.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Proud of Mike and the team for helping him. That was the first time I had to fight back tears since Ronde’s pick 6 at the Vet.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Bowles is not a good coach
January 6th, 2025 at 9:10 am
The reason people have a problem with Bowles is because he’s the defensive coordinator and his defense has been the weak link the last two years. Pretty simple.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Every Coach makes mistakes or has bad games.
I completely understand the big swoon for Liam Coen. He’s been awesome.
But even the great Liam got his comeuppance from Saints DC Joe Woods!!!
Coen was clearly outcoached!!! Baker is the ONLY reason the offense was able to SAVE that freaking game NOT Coen!!! It was if Woods was on the headsets with Coen and then funneling the plays into his D. They seemed to know EXACTLY where the play was going.
I’m not whizzing on Coen’s incredible success this season. Yes he’s been a revelation but he’s not perfect and he does not yet walk on Tampa Bay.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:20 am
Every single person who says the defense struggles are on Bowles would also.say that the team lacks pass rush talent, CB talent, and LB talent.. thats half the defense
The team is built around the offense!!!! Bowles chose to roll w Baker!!!!
January 6th, 2025 at 9:23 am
I really don’t see how the Bucs were focusing on Mike too much. If you watched the game, they never really forced him the ball until that last catch. It was always steady, methodical take what the defense gives you. Mike was slowly getting his yards. Was it still a distraction? Definitely. But, they seemed to be dialed in on win and go to the playoffs. We just have a historically difficult time with a division rival who wanted to play spoiler. If the Saints were playing the Falcons, they would have played the same. You want your division rival to go fishing with you. Just look at the Panthers and Falcons game. It was a slug fest. The Falcons had the same thing on the line as we did, except they needed some outside help to decide their fate.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:31 am
I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again today. Bowles has a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs and he’s led the team to 3 straight division titles. He has a better win percentage than Jon Gruden and if the Bucs go 8-9 next year then Bowles will surpass Tony Dungy’s win percentage.
You could also refer to Bowles as Ring of Honor Head Coach Todd Bowles like you do with Jason Licht. It’s only a matter of time.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:31 am
I am sure I speak for many who say that coach bowls is very likeable guy he’s very knowledgeable guy and the players love playing for him. He is also been the one who is hired our current offensive coordinator and so I think he also knows where to look to get the offensive production that we need and stay out of trying to coach that area..
I also give him a bit of a pass because his defect is on the complex side and when you have a constant rotation of backups and practice squad players starting for you due to injury it is easy for mistakes to be made and I think that is why his press conference is he always talks about mistakes being made by the defensive player not being either assignment sound or poor communication. Since none of us are in those defensive team meetings or at practice we do not know when a guy is wide open is it because the guy wasn’t covering or was it because one of the defensive player was not shading over to the right spot.
Where I will criticism is the fact that he has not adapted the defense as much as he should have to the personnel that was available for him. If it doesn’t allow him to run a defense that is complex that will work with the right personnel then he should simplify it to allow even a mediocre performance rather than some of the laughable halves of football we have seen by the defense.
I do think with time the draft free agency and healthy recovery of some defensive pieces that assuming he remains our head coach text here I do expect the defense to improve. I also think if he is given an off-season where he can look over a lot of the defensive blunders he might realize where he needs to make some adjustments in how the defense is run for the type of offenses he now sees. I think Licht will also have to draft and sign players in free agency to make sure that we have more depth in the back seven that has enough experience for us to run the type of defense he wants to.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:33 am
So many reasons not to like Bowles, start with, he was gifted the job. He has a history of being a loser even before he came to the Bucs. The superbowl performance and the playoff games that year were amazing. Just have gotten fed up seeing other teams dink and dunk us all the way to the endzone over and over. Mostly–we have no decent edge pressure(his fault), just a very good run defense. Now if we can neuter the Commanders and Jayden Daniel next week then good. Mostly I want to keep Coen.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Btw, Dave Canales could have easily thrown in the towel and made it more difficult on us to get into the playoffs in case we lost. They had top 10 draft status on the line. So, thank you Dave for leaving Tampa and beating up on the Falcons. He did turn around Bryce Young finally. So, he may not be better than Liam, but he’s definitely part of the youthful/offensive-minded trend in head coaching going around in the NFL.
Why would anyone want Jon Gruden? Jon was stubborn when he was the hot thing in the league. Nothing has changed. He is a relic of a different NFL.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:42 am
a weak division , Baker and the Offense are the reason for the division title. Barely beat a backup qb this defense relies on the mistakes of the offense. Fire Bowles no matter what
January 6th, 2025 at 9:47 am
So Bowles made some changes or the PLAYERS KNEW he was gone if not for a playoff run whichever the question is not just this game
The QUESTION ON BOWLES is how many games did the Bucs look unprepared which is unacceptable
Bowles is not a HC we will never win the big game with him
January 6th, 2025 at 9:50 am
The NFC South is slowly starting to improve. Not surprised that Atlanta and the Panthers slugged it out. These NFL Divisions are like everything else. They go through cycles of good and bad. I’ve backed Bowles since he came here for BA. The support and respect he has with his players is well-deserved and a ‘tell.’ Coen will be back, and hopefully, so will Chris Godwin. Go Bucs Sunday Nite!!! It’s your turn to win.
January 6th, 2025 at 10:00 am
I don’t think there is anything wrong with our fanbase criticizing our Coach…there is a very fine line between being good vs great. Liam lost Evans and Godwin – has his own issues with playing with young 1st and 2nd year players. He figured it out – his offense didn’t provide career days to avg at best players over and over. But how many times has this defense made avg to bad QBs look all world? How many times do we hear – bad communication / poor fundamentals?
I’ll concede that Bowles is a good coach – I’m just not sure you can win a Super Bowl with a good coach. We’ll see!
Go Bucs!!!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Agreed!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:11 am
I still disagree. They have been a second half team all season anyway and Saints came to play.
Also, if we’ve noticed, Baker has a bad record in seconds quarters and second playoff games. This team has gotten good at overcoming the second quarter blues and been dominant in the second half much of the season.
I predict if they win the second game, they at least get TO the Super Bowl.
January 6th, 2025 at 10:12 am
Ultra Clod-I agree!! shed some tears!! I was at the Vet that day same kind of feeling!!! Go Bucs!!!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:22 am
Hard not to be really worried going into a game with the secondary as beat up as it is.
January 6th, 2025 at 10:36 am
Buccaneers are 3-0 against NFC playoff teams. They are 4-2 against all playoff teams. The AFC South is much worse than the NFC South. The NFC West also is weak this year. Coach Coen would be foolish to leave. He is not ready. He is bright but he too makes mistakes. The game plan yesterday was terrible. Baker bailed him out. One reason teams find it hard to three-peat is finishing first gives you a first place schedule. Give Bowles more talented defensive talent and he will get to the super bowl. He is the only defensive coach to make Maholms look ordinary. He was not gifted the job, he earned it
January 6th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Sucks we have to listen to Cris Collinsworth though. Guys is such a turd I can’t stand him
January 6th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Many folks would prefer to complain about anything as opposed to complimenting the same, even when complimentary is deserved. It is just some are predisposed to b1tching I guess.
However, Bucs are now in the playoffs with the opportunity to accomplish some incredible things and that we should all rally around. Put away all the tired tropes about Coach Bowles and be appreciative you are not a Jets fan.
Get behind the Bucs like you never have or just go away til next year.
January 6th, 2025 at 11:10 am
stpetebucsfan Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 8:12 am
JoeinMichigan
As a part time Michigander myself I always read you and respect most of what you post which is why I come to you with this question.
top criticism is starting to make many of our posters look desperate.
It’s almost as if Todd Bowles has slept with the wives and girlfriends of many of our posters. He’s winning, despite the challenges, and yet all many can do here is rip him hyperbolically.
^^^^^^^^^^
Hi Sir, In my posts from the last several years, before this year, I defended Todd Bowles. I thought he was a decent HC and DC, he would usually get outcoached by the Sean McVay’s of the NFL, but was willing to live with that. This year, it seems as if the Bucs have found their own Sean McVay-type coach in Liam Coen. I don’t have anything personal against Bowles, it just seems that his system isn’t effective and he coaches scared.
If the Bucs can get Coen to stay as OC, great. If they can’t, the Bucs brass will have to decide who would be the better HC going forward.
January 6th, 2025 at 11:13 am
Bucsfan Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Many folks would prefer to complain about anything as opposed to complimenting the same, even when complimentary is deserved. It is just some are predisposed to b1tching I guess.
However, Bucs are now in the playoffs with the opportunity to accomplish some incredible things and that we should all rally around. Put away all the tired tropes about Coach Bowles and be appreciative you are not a Jets fan.
Get behind the Bucs like you never have or just go away til next year.
^^^^^^^^^
Or how about I say what I want? You’re b!tching about people b!tching, classic!
January 6th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Joe in Michigan
I suspect had you been around in WWII you would have complained about Roosevelts’ decisions too.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
I am gonna shut down my Bowles rhetoric because it’s tiresome and I hope he proves me wrong.
Time will tell. This team can win it all next year, I bark on here about Bowles because my biggest fear is that a SB roster will miss an opportunity to win because the HC makes a simple wrong move or multiple wrong moves. Those wrong moves aren’t exclusive to Bowles, but having seen them hurt the Bucs for 3 seasons, I am weary.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
i hope i am wrong when saying this but the bucs will never get to a championship game with todd as their hc.
when you drop the likes of Vea, Nelson, and Yaya into pass coverage, we have a coaching problem.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
How many division championships does Bowels win in any other division in football? None.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Joe in Michigan why do u post on bucs site u r no Bucs fan jackass
January 6th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
The NFL record worth talking about is 9 straight seasons of 1,200 yards or more. That’s the bar. Break that record and we have something to talk about. This 1,000 yard marker is just silly. It is a good accomplishment but it’s not a record worth crowing about. BTW in 11 seasons Mike Evan has had 4 seasons of 1,200 yards or more. Keep it real folks.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Bucsfan Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Joe in Michigan
I suspect had you been around in WWII you would have complained about Roosevelts’ decisions too.
^^^^^^^
Just sharing my opinions, like you do.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Except he keeps beTing the beaten teams during the season so sick of hearing Bowles BS he has a superbowl ring WTF is wrong with u jokers
January 6th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
if 1000 yd season let alone 11 season is not a big deal then why r there only 2 people to ever do it?what a jackass statement!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Bowles deserves to be commended for steering us to the playoffs, but his defense is not getting a hand on opposing quarterbacks or any pressure on them whatsoever in the first half of games. That has to change to win playoff games. This team is very undisciplined and the way too many penalties they get are the result!!!! That is a coaching issue and needs to be addressed immediately as well. Congratulations Bucs!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
I have always given Todd Bowles props for being a very good DC. I completely disagree with the philosophy that you don’t have to have a good rusher and hopefully that’s just a lot of talk and bringing Shaq back will help Braswell and Yaya.
He must be given credit for playing with a bunch of guys off the street in the secondary and making adjustments to be the best defensive team in football in the second half over the last several weeks.
How about they start a game like that though?
I completely understand how the players were thinking about Mike’s record because I’m watching the game, they’re getting their butts kicked early on and it’s frustrating. All I can think about is the win BUT then every couple minutes, in the back of my head, the question will pop up “how many yards does Evans need?”
That record meant something to Mike , the players, the coaches, the entire organization and the fan base. So they did the right thing.
I’d also like to point out – stop saying he did it in 13 games. He did it in about 12 because he barely played the one and he played about three games before that with his hamstring clearly not healthy.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
Metropolitan area teams such as chiefs have an advantage over smaller area teams such as bucs,doesn’t matter what division bowles coaches in most coaches in nfl don’t have SB rings let alone 3 divion titles in a row i suspect all the coaches thru out this league r envious of bowles accomp. So shud the bucs fans on this site
January 6th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
The defense sucks not because the coach sucks but because they have injuries and bad personnel mixed in with the injuries. The linebackers as a group are poor but for David. The secondary is atrocious. The D-Line and a solid. The scheme to stop the run exposes the secondary. Credit Bowles getting creative with what he has.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
show me any team in this league that plays 4 quarters of flawless football once or twice a year that happens not 17 games period get the facts not fiction
January 6th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
The ladies from Bowles fan club getting their panties in a twist over criticism of Todd is a hoot. If you really believe he’s all that, surely you think he’s man enough to take it. You on the other hand, not so much. He doesn’t need you to hurt for him.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
FrontFour Says:
Bowles has won with the second youngest team in the NFL and a roster being rebuilt after salary cap hell from the Brady years – which we are STILL paying for.
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I’m glad someone realizes the Bucs are not out of “cap hell” yet. Constantly seeing comments about being done paying for the Brady years and about the $ Licht can spend next year…..
Bucs have $53M in dead $ to contend with in 2025. Thats the equivalent of 3 or 4 high end free agents we cannot buy next year.
That means at least 1 more year of having to rely on the draft for talent infusion – and shopping at the dollar store for free agents to fill in the gaps.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
I see there are a lot of turds in the punchbowl this morning. Haters complaining because we didn’t win the way they thought we should. How stupid is that?
Watching the whole team trying to help Mike Evans get his record- from coaches to players was awesome. Watching the post game conferences and how the whole effort was talked about- total class. Even if we had lost yesterday, I would be proud to be a Bucs fan over any other team. From The Glazers to the the girl who squirts water in the players’ mouth- that is a unified team.
You winers who disparage such thing need to move on. You may not like Todd Bowles, but you don’t have to make it personal- that’s what makes you trash. Move on already
January 6th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
@BakerBucs,
How many guys have 1,200 yards 9 years in a row? 1 Jerry Rice.
And if there wasn’t a player strike in 1987 which cost Rice 4 games the record would be 11 straight years.
Which is more of an accomplishment 11 years of 1,200 or 11 years of 1,000.
You can sit down now.
January 6th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
BAKERSBucs says Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Joe in Michigan why do u post on bucs site u r no Bucs fan jackass
^^^^^^^^
On the contrary, good sir. I want what’s best for the Bucs. I’d like to see the defense be as good as the offense. I’d like for them to have the best coach possible, a Sean McVay-type, and find a DC whose system works, and not having the big uglies in coverage so much.
January 6th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
So He was gifted the Job? You people don’t think we know what you really mean? What would happen if Bowles retired and The Glazers Gifted the job to Coen? You would not have a word to say.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Along with all of the adversity Todd has been through (and come out winning) is one that happened very early that everyone seems to forget. We lost Ryan Jenson! How’s that for an early punch in the throat? GO BOWLS, LICHT, and BUCS!
January 6th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Thank you Joe i do gripe about bowels and his conservative ways and poor click management but honestly thats doesn’t matter only thing that matters is his team plays hard for him and they don’t quit. 2 years in a row with their backs up against the wall they come thru. Go Bucs
January 6th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Enjoy the damn win seriously WTF this ohh they won but I dont like how he did this or that crap is silly you don’t see Todd down there telling you how to make fries and flip patties at McDonald’s just enjoy the win life’s to short to be angry over nothing you never know when it will be over and we are rebuilding till then STFU and be happy the Bucs are winning it doesn’t have to be pretty or perfect or how you want it done it just has to be a W in the win column. :o)
January 6th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
I gotta give him his props he’s kept the ship afloat but his game time decisions along with clock mismanagement and timeouts are impossible to get past. Plus watching Vita Vea dropping back into coverage really rubs my rhubarb. I wish he’d let players play the position they played throughout college instead of forcing them to do things they’re not used to. If he’s going to send such “exotic” blitzes that fools almost no one at least play press coverage to give them a chance to get home.
As to that Mike Evans thing please stop the excuses. They were playing scared and we’re whiffing again on easy tackles something that has gotten worse with Bowles here. It’s so maddening to watch guys never expect ball carries to make cuts and they stand there with feet in quicksand while guys run right by them. Plus somee of the dumbest penalties especially at home yesterday This is a reflection on him and his staff. Still we could find worse and end up worse than where we are now. A little skeptical on those 4 division titles because NFC South has been crappy since Brees, Scam Newton and Matt Ryan retired
January 6th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
I do hope that Baker can add himself to that list of NFC South qbs who’ve taken or won their teams a Super Bowl title because there’s four of them. I don’t think any other dividing can boast about that!
January 6th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Division . Stoopid auto correct
January 7th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Hey! “This Joe”,
Please get real and let the light shine on that “… habit of painting themselves into a corner midway through a season” ignorance!
After playing 10 games, the Average team will have have faced teams with combined records of 80 Wins and 80 Losses after 16 games. (I am not counting the 17th games because some teams rested their starters and gave games away.
After 16 games, the teams the Bucs played in the first 10 games had combined records of 100 Wins and 60 Losses! Those teams included 7 teams that are now in the playoffs! Those teams included four division winners including both top seeds, 1 second seed and 1 third seed! The Bucs beat a first seed, a second seed a fifth seed and a sixth seed! And, yes, of course, they also lost some games. But, the level of competition the Bucs faced to start the season was gut busting!
And, here is one more thing: If the Bucs beat the same three teams that they beat in the first four weeks, THEY WILL BE NFC CHAMPS!
That is a Mighty tough ask! I am not saying that they can do it. But, they have done it. Right???
January 7th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Hey! “This Joe”,
Please get real and let the light shine on that “… habit of painting themselves into a corner midway through a season” ignorance!
After playing 10 games, the Average team will have have faced teams with combined records of 80 Wins and 80 Losses after 16 games. (I am not counting the 17th games because some teams rested their starters and gave games away.
After 16 games, the teams the Bucs played in the first 10 games had combined records of 100 Wins and 60 Losses!
Those teams included 7 teams that are now in the playoffs!
Those teams included four division winners including both top seeds, 1 second seed and 1 third seed!
The Bucs beat a first seed, a second seed, a fifth seed and a sixth seed! And, yes, of course, they also lost some games. But, the level of competition the Bucs faced to start the season was gut busting!
And, here is one more thing: If the Bucs beat the same three teams that they beat in the first four weeks, THE BUCS WILL BE NFC CHAMPS!
That is a Mighty tough ask! I am not saying that they can will do it.
But, they have done it. Right???
January 7th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Injuries to Winfield and Dean and White really hurt the Bucs bucks!
The numbers are a difficult to nail down because the salary for one year may be very different than salary for another year in a player’s contract. To get a greater understanding, you have to look at the entire contract and try to get an average.
This year, Jamal Dean nominally makes 5.74% of the cap while maybe averaging about 4.5% of the cap over his four year contract.
Winfield nominally makes 3.13% of the cap this year while maybe averaging about about 7% of the cap over his four year contract.
Whitehead nominally makes 1.76% of the cap on a two year contract.
The Bucs have 7 other DB’s whose combined salaries total about 2.38% of the salary cap.
In total, the Bucs nominally commit 13.01% of the salary cap to the secondary.
The three injured players account for 10.63% of the salary cap.
That means that players representing about 82% of the budget for the secondary have been sidelined, and that the Bucs fought their way into the playoffs with just 18% of their budgeted secondary.
Obviously, Winfield is an extraordinary player. When healthy, Dean can be top notch. And, when playing with Winfield, Whitehead has in the past been a superior contributor. These guys don’t come cheap!
But, putting 80 percent of the budget for the secondary into the salary of 30% of the players leaves you in a real bind when they are sidelined by injuries.