Despite Losing Liam Coen, Bucs Should Be Strong
February 4th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
OK, maybe Joe is looking through pewter-colored glasses here, but Joe sees no reason why the Bucs couldn’t be as good or better nexst season.
The offense is good. Unless Josh Grizzard is Byron Leftwich reincarnate, there is no evidence the Bucs won’t be able to run the ball, won’t be able to pass and won’t be able to block for Baker Mayfield.
If the rookies take a step up and don’t play like rookies, the offense could be improve from its damn good average of 29.5 points per gam.
Center Graham Barton needs to make better snaps — he looked at times like a guy who hadn’t played center in three years. Jalen McMillan vanished for much of the season but he was hot as a firecracker in the closing weeks, the games that meant the most.
Bucky Irving? He didn’t play like a rookie so Joe is stoked to see his second year.
You have to figure the pass defense will be better. It can’t get much worse. So Joe hopes Bucs coach Todd Bowles makes strides there.
So yeah, Joe is bullish for the fall. And that’s not even factoring in this year’s crop of rookies and free agents.
February 4th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Need some strong defense in the draft while trusting Jason to take the best player for the Bucs that’s on the board.
Bullish for this next season too, Joe. LFG!
February 4th, 2025 at 9:56 am
I was honestly surprised Coen had this team averaging 29 ppg not surprised Bowles defense was the weak link
February 4th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Counting on Todd Bowles to make strides on adjustments to his defensive schemes and his clock management issues is something which is likely much more of a concern than the offense. I truly hope that an upgrade in talent in key spots of the defense and not as many devastating injuries in 2025 will allow the D to not be such a sieve when push comes to shove and will not allow everyone and their grandma to move the ball right before halftime or in the waning seconds of the 4th quarter/OT.
February 4th, 2025 at 10:09 am
On top of that, the Bucs don’t have any significant FA. Yes Godwin, but he didn’t play for much of the year.
Upgrading MLB and Edge will be a significant step forward.
February 4th, 2025 at 10:15 am
There is no reason to NOT be bullish next season unless there is an irrational dislike of Coach Todd Bowles.
Do records even count with some of our posters. Seriously are RESULTS not germane to any discussion of firing Todd Bowles.
Let’s compare Chucky to Bowles and look at their post SB records
Chucky went 7-9…5-11…11-5…4-12 no yelling about firing him!!!
Todd goes 8-9…9-8…10-7…..?-? Do we think Todd will win more than 4 games this year? If he does will the fire Todd crowd calm down? Where were they when Chucky went 27-37 his first four years after the SB. Todd is already ahead of that schedule at 27-24! If he simply duplicates his first season of 8-9 he’ll be waaay ahead of Chucky at 35-33. Do we expect Todd to win more this year? ABSOLUTELY! So he’s going to leave Chucky in the dust! But if he only wins 10 and maybe 11 for some of these goobers they’ll still be yammering, fire (put in what ever juvenile insult you wish for Todd’s name here.)
Like most here I believe Todd should hire a DC from a simple managerial time management issue. He might actually wish to help Grizz a bit as well.
I guess Chucky’s bombastic arrogance is more appealing that Todd’s reserved, calm demeanor. I suppose if you ain’t yellin’ you don’t care?
February 4th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Bucs should probably be viewed as a top 3 NFC Team out of the Gate. The offense is a juggernaut and the Defense should only improve with all the incoming new starters (hopefully) and players getting heathy
February 4th, 2025 at 10:43 am
“ The offense is good. Unless Josh Grizzard is Byron Leftwich reincarnate”
Well, let’s hope this is the case because this would mean Grizzard is a Super Bowl winning OC.
February 4th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Still amazes me how much crap Leftwhich still takes even though that 2022 roster was no good.
February 4th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Defense,Defense,Defense. Maybe Jason will finally listen?
February 4th, 2025 at 11:06 am
They reason Canales had a losing season with Carolina was lack of talent. The reason Coen will have a losing season will be lack of talent. The Bucs have a lot of talent where any OC can be successful if the offense executes. Grizz will have a good year for a 1st year OC because of talent.
February 4th, 2025 at 11:16 am
McMillan did get so much better toward the end. I really like Graham and agree. He had his share of penalties too, rookie errors. He will be so much better next season too.
I am absolutely on board with Coach Bowles. Can’t wait to see who replaces Kacy and possibly hire someone else to help Todd too.
Agree Dewey – We definitely have the talent.
February 4th, 2025 at 11:32 am
St.Pete…”Like most here I believe Todd should hire a DC from a simple managerial time management issue.”
Like most of us here, the fact that it has not happened yet and I doubt it will ever is the main reason for my dislike. Bull headed is my evaluation of your hero.
February 4th, 2025 at 11:35 am
“Despite Losing Liam Coen, Bucs Should Be Strong”
I would like to think so. Most likely they made the best move they could to follow the path that Coen laid down. No surprise, I just don’t have faith in Bowles. Having seen the same mistakes over and over again. Suggesting he has hit his ceiling. Granted the D needs to upgrade its talent but doing that through the draft means mistakes and adjustments that come with it . Bowles defense is not easy. Not easy for the players to learn and not easy for the fans to watch.
February 4th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Stop with the “let’s draft and develop” mentality. It’s never worked since Licht’s been here so do what you do best go get a really good edge rusher in FA to pair with an ok Diaby. Aldo need a middle backer cuz Britt ain’t cutting it.
February 4th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Yeah right you keep losing coaches it will catch up to you eventually. If our new OC goes conservative a la Leftwich and defense still stinks we are sunk. Lets hope for the opposite!!!!!
February 4th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Pass defense has been AWFUL for years, and will not get better by keeping the coach in charge of the worst part of the team.
Definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results
It’s also the definition of Todd Blows pass defense
February 4th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Bucs will be strong next year. Hope they fill holes in the Defense with Draft and Free Agency. Sick of the Bowles hatred. It’s just dumb.
February 4th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
2 players already on the team – that few are thinking about much – could play substantial roles in 2025.
Reducing the perception of ‘holes all over the defense’ to a small handful of needs that are manageable through the draft and a few carefully chosen, affordable free agents…
I’m talking about Sirvocea Dennis and Chris Braswell. Both are very talented, athletic and smart.
Dennis has been dealing with and ‘playing through’ a bum shoulder since college. He showed very solid play the first two games of last season – then hurt the shoulder – again – vs Denver – and decided to shut it down and get surgery – come back strong in 2025….. Here’s hoping his injury issues are behind him now – because “Voss” is real player…. you’ll see….
Braswell was almost surely considered a bit of a ‘project’ when drafted – because he really only played 1 year of College ball at Alabama – but he’s got all the tools you look for with some extra ‘speed’ for good measure. You can’t get much better preparatory coaching than what the young men at Alabama were getting under Nick Saban. Licht and co. did their homework on edge players last year and I’m betting Chris Braswell will be a good player in time. Looking for him to make a big jump in year 2 – solidify that starting OLB spot opposite Diaby and get some homegrown pass rush coming off the edge…
If both those guys step and play well next year – then our defense instantly gets better than what we saw last year – even before adding more talent…
February 4th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Almost every fan of every team will say their team will be better next year, including myself and most of us. Winter came will Coen’s dirty departure, but Spring is coming with Grizz, Thad, and Carbs retained…
Once some of these decisions play out, Joe can run some polls….
Will Bowles bring in some good defensive coaches?
Let’s see if we win FA – will we lose Godwin and not pick up a meaningful player?
Let’s see how the draft goes, can Licht and Bowles find some defensive starters?
February 4th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Joe … ‘You have to figure the pass defense will be better. It can’t get much worse. So Joe hopes Bucs coach Todd Bowles makes strides there.’
Bucs’ defense ranked middle-of-the-pack at #16 this past season, allowing 385 points to opponents.
February 4th, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Forgot to mention Joe … Yes, we can get worse. 2024 was our worst year defensively since 2019, despite the fact that our defense was ‘only’ on the field for 28:19 average per game (our offense posted the 3rd best Time of Possession of 31:41, over 2 minutes per game better than we averaged in 2023.
So less time on the field in 2024, but more points allowed. So if our offense can’t replicate (or improve) its 2024 performance, Bucs’ defense COULD perform worse (especially given a harder schedule). We obviously need coaching and personnel improvements to keep that from happening. Can’t take anything as a given.
February 4th, 2025 at 8:54 pm
I agree with Picgrin. Additionally, we need to address an ILB, CB, and safety. There are also some great IOL and OT in the late rounds. The Notre Dame QB should be there for our 5th Pick.
Most of all, 2026 schedule is one of the easiest where as 2025 was one of the most difficult.
Lastly, our OC is an upgrade. Hopefully he will give Tucker more snaps because he is a game changer like Barkley and can close out close games with tough runs which Bucky or White can’t do.
I am looking for Evan, and Otton to lead while Culp operates in place of Godwin in the slot. He is faster, bigger, and more difficult to bring down that Godwin.
We have so much talent that Coen never used.
Go Bucs!
February 5th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Pickgrin….Solid take on those guys.. wish I’d said it..