Louis Murphy: “Lay Off Of Todd Bowles”
February 17th, 2025
St. Peterburg native and retired Bucs and former Gators receiver Louis Murphy still lives locally and keeps track of his Buccaneers.
Interesting to Joe was Murphy sounding very surprised that Bucs fans are on harsh on head coach Todd Bowles.
His comments were delivered on The Rock Stops Here podcast with Joe’s buddy Rock Riley.
“I personally know Todd Bowles. I did a coaching internship with Todd Bowles for like four months and I think he’s a great coach,” Murphy said. “I think we need to give a little grace. We’re in the playoffs every year with him. We have a chance, and we beat some really good teams this year. We beat the Eagles this year, beat the Lions. …A perfect record doesn’t happen.”
Murphy added that Bowles has a “stoic” style but there are varying coaching approaches. He said the Bucs overcame injuries to top-shelf players and still won the division — “injuries got us” — and that needs to be understood.
“So you got a coach that’s dealing with all those injuries, man. Hey Bucs fans, I love you guys. Lay off of [Bowles],” Murphy said with conviction.
Yes, there were a load of 2024 injuries to stud players, and that list includes the oft-forgotten setbacks to Calijah Kancey (5 games) and Luke Goedeke (4 games).
Joe thinks it’s fair to say Murphy would have been among the 4.83 percent of fans who voted “Very Confident” in the latest Todd Bowles confidence poll here at JoeBucsFan.com.
February 17th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Fortunately, Bowles doesn’t read fan site comment forums like this. So I’ll think he’ll be fine even if they don’t lay off.
February 17th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
Does Louis Murphy watch the games? Has he seen Todd Bowles clock “management”?
February 17th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Todd Bowles seems like a nice enough guy, I’ll give him that.
February 17th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
You can predict the games Bowles is going to lose …
Sean Payton = Loss
John Harbaugh = Loss
Kyle Shanahan = Loss
Prime Time = Loss
Rookie QB/Backup QB = Loss
Former Pro NFL pundits blew up Todd’s scheme all year. He’s an average coach and he coaches like one.
February 17th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Dude locked himself in a museum overnight. nuff said
February 17th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
We have to get behind Bowles this year. No more excuses. He needs to reach the NFC Championship game
February 17th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
Louis Murphy?
Ummmmm.
OK.
LOL!!!!
February 17th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
The way this fan base lashed out at Bowles after the playoff game where the offense couldn’t execute 2 basic handoffs was embarrassing
February 17th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
But like LouisFriend said, good thing Bowles isnt the type of coach who would read comments from a fan base who largely has no clue what they’re talking about
February 17th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Yes, the Bucs are technically in the playoffs every year. But I don’t think that would be the case in any other division.
The NFC South is bad.
As a Bucs fan I just want our team to win. It’s nothing personal with Coach Bowles. I just don’t believe he’s the guy to get the Bucs back to the Super Bowl. I honestly hope Coach will prove me wrong.
February 17th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
If you look at the stats, or the consistent playoff appearances you think man, this guy is a good coach.
But if you actually watch the games, the clock management, the clownish ways defensive players are used, the hesitation to go for it on 4th downs, the baffling decisions to trust a bad defense over trusting a good offense and the inability to scheme up a pass defense shows he’s not a good coach unless the opponent has a key deficiency
The only times he seems to win is if the opponent is injured, their coach has a lapse in judgement or the team is significantly less talented than the Bucs. Todd is not a good coach but just a lucky assistant in a good situation
February 17th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
This all could be part of Bowles’s genius, doubt it, but it could. What HC worth their weight in salt would not want the blame heaped on himself rather than his players? Protect the AWJs, injury prone KC or Dennis, overlook 16 ints and 13 Mayfield fumbles… from the likes of you all turning his team into D. White head cases. His personality and stoic disposition are what keep his guys light, unified, and capable of overcoming those mid season skids and injuries.
With that said, fo god’s sake man make some adjustments, hire a clock manager, and stop making us the fool of prime time!!
February 17th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Give a little grace… Haha. The keyboard warriors here comprise a grace-free zone. You would think we had one of the worst teams in the NFL if you read these posts instead of watching the games.
February 17th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Todd Bowles is currently a top 12 coach in the NFL….. He may not be someone that can take the Bucs to a SB victory but what available HC can? BB?
February 17th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Also I havent seen much if any people that know football that think the Bucs should let go of Bowles now. That tells you something…. Not drunks on joebucsfan.com
February 17th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Go Bowles
Go Bucs
February 17th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
No thanks. He deserves all the criticism and it will continue until he proves he’s something other than a mediocre HC.
February 17th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
The number 1 sign of a great coach is the locker room never gives up. Mayfield, Evan, David and Bowles are why we will win our 3rd SB in 2026!
February 17th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Couch Fan mediocre fan.
February 17th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
In the WAS playoff game it was 4th and 3 on the 14 yd line with 4:45 left in the game.
Did Bowless trust his $100 million QB, HoF WR or rookie phenom RB to get THREE YARDS? Nope, he trusted his kicker instead to tie the game and the Bucs never got the ball back.
I’m sure Bowles is a great human, and players love him, that’s all good but that doesn’t make him a great coach. We’ll see if his decision making improves.
February 17th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Bowles has done a good job navigating this team to 3 straight division titles amidst a wide array of difficult circumstances.
Including the late takeover and stuck with assistants he didn’t want – with major Brady distractions and the complete collapse of his entire interior offensive line in 2022 – which continued into 2023…. as did his team’s utter inability to run the football effectively….
Having to hire and adapt to new Offensive Coordinators and new offensive schemes every single year….
An imbalance of resources being allocated to offense in 2024 combined with a slew of injuries to important players (Godwin, Winfield, Evans, Kancey, Goedeke, Dean, Bryce Hall, Sir Dennis…)
All this while paying back over $50M in debt each year for 3 straight years (including the current, upcoming season…)
Detractors will call these excuses – but the facts are that despite these many obstacles and challenges, Todd Bowles has a winning record as Tampa Bay’s HC, has won 3 straight playoff appearances and 3 straight division titles and the team has increased it’s wins each year of his tenure.
I really got a chuckle out of numerous posters on the previous (McCollum) thread saying Bowles scheme sucks and its outdated and no one would want him anywhere else…. If the Bucs were to have fired Bowles at the end of last season like so many oddly seemed to want – he would have instantly had like 1/2 dozen teams blowing up his phone to see if he wanted to keep coaching and would he please consider coming to run their defense…
February 17th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Bee – yes but also having the audacity to trust that your defense was going to force a punt. Something the Bucs didn’t do the entire game. Literally everyone knew that with 3:45 to go the Bucs won’t get the ball back and that Jayden will slow kill us until we bleed out with the same paper cut drive they’ve been doing all game – and guess what, that’s exactly what happened. Now we got Louis murphy burners posing in here apparently talking about how the fans don’t know what they’re talking about, as if clock management and seeing with your own two eyes how awful HIS defense is requires some high iq thinking. Yeah you just don’t know ball broooooo. How dare you guys complain about the stupidity of yaya dropping back in to coverage instead of rushing the passer! You just don’t know ball!!
February 17th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Bowles is a players coach
Coaches have to push their players and prepare every game
Bowles wants to be liked and it shows in some of our games
Why are there so many fans who don’t think Bowles is a good HC ???
Got to be something there to look at.
February 17th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Could the Bucsl C’s have a better coach? Yes! Could the Bucs have a worse coach! Yes! We are stuck with an average to slightly above average coach! His 500 ish winning record is proof of this!
February 17th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
I agree. I wish Rock’s podcast was still here. Thanks for the link.
February 17th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Heaven forbid anyone should disagree with the self-appointed football geniuses on this site.
February 17th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
SlyPirate Says:
February 17th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
You can predict the games Bowles is going to lose …
Sean Payton = Loss
John Harbaugh = Loss
Kyle Shanahan = Loss
Prime Time = Loss
Rookie QB/Backup QB = Loss
Former Pro NFL pundits blew up Todd’s scheme all year. He’s an average coach and he coaches like one.
=================================
Maybe, except when he is coaching against the Detroit Lions or Philadelphia Eagles who the Bucs beat in 2024 season. Why not give Coach Bowles a break and see how he performs with an imroved defense in 2025?
February 17th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Save Plan 9 from Outer Space!
February 17th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
What would help all concerned is full time defensive coaching and full time head coaching.
February 17th, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Someone disparaged the Bucs as being “technically” in the playoffs. It’s the only way anyone is in the playoffs: they feed the data (W-L, tie breakers, etc.) into a computer and the list comes out. I know it’s a technical point, but it’s also the truth. The Bucs are in only the third year of a rebuild after a post go-for-broke-with-Brady collapse. This is not obvious to some because it was jump started by the signing of a Number 1 overall draft choice quarterback with five years built-in NFL experience and some remarkable draftees. Recently, two Bucs OC’s were signed as head coaches. I’m sure their new employers were very pleased if the new coaches promised them that their teams would be ten-game winners in their third year. The Bucs have a number of talented players coming of age, and they are already a consistently winning team. Some people mock a .500 record. Being a consistent winner is the foundation on which champions are built when all the stars align.
February 17th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
“I personally know Todd Bowles. I did a coaching internship with Todd Bowles for like four months and I think he’s a great coach,”
In other words, an absolutely biased opinion.
I don’t think Bowles is actually a bad coach, but way to often the side of the ball that he’s supposed to be an expert on sucks. It’s hard to explain that away.
February 17th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Ah, my inspiration!
February 17th, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Say fire Todd Bowles then listen to goof ball fans say we’re in the playoffs every year. Say the defense is horrible and the same fans will say a team that’s in the playoffs every year needs better players. He has always had a high blitz rate, Dudes blitzes for the hell of it which means soft zone people even if Licht went out and got the top two pass rushers in free agency he’s still going drop Vea back in coverage
February 17th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Many know The Bucs will NEVER achieve much more with Bowels….
The Bucs have maxed out their success with Bowels at HC….
Playoffs are to big of a stage for him…
Not many are top tier NfL quality HC and his best is mid to bottom tier!
February 17th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
When he opted to kick the field goal against Washington to tie with 4min left…My wife as a casual NFL fan, looked at me and said “We just lost didn’t we…”
The rules are geared to the offense – even if you have a good defense – you better have the ball last to win 1 score games.
Trying to win a SB you’ve got to steal a couple of wins here and there…I just don’t think Bowles is capable of doing that…I don’t think he sucks as a HC – he’s a solid HC…do we sit and wait? The Bengals did and were 0 – 7 in the playoffs…
Go Bucs!
February 17th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Pretty decent receiver for the Gators. Caught a few balls for the good guys. Loyal to his friends. Spends quality time at the museum. Other than that. Hmmm..not so much.
February 17th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
“YO”
February 17th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
I do not know if Todd Bowles can take us to another Super Bowl. The Glazers and Jason Licht must think highly of him. Otherwise they would have canned him by now.
For this year he remains our head coach so I am supporting him as a fan. Calling him nasty names adds nothing to the conversation.
February 17th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
The timeouts are something that can be improved upon.
Bowles’ ability to be a leader, have teams that show up, is what we call “intangible”
February 17th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Not surprising…Pickgin FTW!
February 18th, 2025 at 12:45 am
Is Bowles a bad coach?… I don’t think so.
Is Bowles a good coach?… Again, I don’t think so.
He can be a good coach except he has some minor, but glaring faults.
1) He has a tendency to make few if any changes to his defensive game plan, regardless of who we’re playing.
2)His ‘in game’ time management, and time-out usage causes head scratching at the very least.
3) His talent assessment and development of young players is suspect.
4) His aggressive nature is not balanced between the offensive and the defensive side of the game.
This last is a bit of a peev for me.
5) He has a tendency to call out his players for poor performance rather than taking responsibility for being ‘outcoached’.
Most of this can be fixed IMO with the addition of a full time defensive coordinator.
It would at least give him more time to work on them.
The last one, ‘accountability’… That’s on him to recognize and accept.
February 18th, 2025 at 12:48 am
BTW
Until he addresses these faults substantially, I will continue to vote “No Confidence”.
February 18th, 2025 at 5:46 am
Atrain
“Why are there so many fans who don’t think Bowles is a good HC ???”
READ PICKGRIN’S POST!!!!!
February 18th, 2025 at 6:44 am
Awww,all these Bowles haters!!
WE DONT CARE AND NEITHER DOES TODD!
LOSERS
February 18th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Lets see if they give him a contract extension- lets see what kind of free agents he lures – the rest of the NFCS coaches suck too
February 19th, 2025 at 1:29 am
What a bunch of sniveling complainers masquerading as coaching experts attend to this page. I’ll bet that 75% of Bowles’ critics ever learned to skip rope or bounce a ball, much less coach a team (any team) to a championship. You don’t hear any complaints about Bowles from his players…publicly or privately. That should tell all you need to know about his coaching prowess.
February 19th, 2025 at 5:54 am
Marion Morrison Says:
February 19th, 2025 at 1:29 am
What a bunch of sniveling complainers masquerading as coaching experts attend to this page. I’ll bet that 75% of Bowles’ critics ever learned to skip rope or bounce a ball, much less coach a team (any team) to a championship. You don’t hear any complaints about Bowles from his players…publicly or privately. That should tell all you need to know about his coaching prowess.
^^^^^^^^
Do you honestly think, just because players like a coach it means he’s a good coach? If so, Raheem would still be the Bucs coach after all of these years.