Todd Bowles Doesn’t Care What Outsiders Think
February 8th, 2025
Expectations.
The Kirk Cousins drumbeat began about 11 months ago after the first wave of free agency.
The Dixie Chicks signed Cousins. The Bucs, who some thought would win just two games (!) the prior, were toast. They’re run is over.
Perhaps the most underachieving Pro Bowl quarterback in the NFL, Cousins was supposed to lead the Dixie Chicks to the Super Bowl. Good times in Atlanta.
This was barked over and over and over and over again through October.
Something funny happened along the way. The Dixie Chicks stunk. Cousins was beaten up and eventually benched. In a playoff run! Who benches the next Hall of Fame quarterback in a playoff run? (Please note Joe’s sarcasm.)
The Bucs won 10 games and another division title. So they exceeded expectations, right?
Bowles scoffed at this last month and bluntly said what someone in Los Angeles or Cincinnati or New England — who has never been to a Bucs training camp practice or ever sat inside One Buc Palace — has to say about his team means nothing to him.
“We underachieved as far as ourselves are concerned,” Bowles said. “We don’t worry about external expectations. Our internal expectations were for us to go to the Super Bowl.
“Injury or regardless, our internal expectations are to go to the Super Bowl. We did not get that accomplished.
“We did some good things throughout the year, yes. We had guys injured, yes. We got to the playoffs, yes but our expectations are to win the Super Bowl.”
Tomorrow is the Super Bowl but the Bucs were bounced at home in the wild card round.
Bowles has said this offseason is time for reflection. How can he be a better coach? How can the Bucs be a better team.
Well, a starting point is very simple to Joe: Go get a friggin’ edge rusher.
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February 8th, 2025 at 8:15 am
It won’t matter to some of this fanbase, but I hope he gets the pieces he needs and this defense comes out firing this season. I think our defense has done enough in moments in games to give our offense a chance to win. When the offense can’t close we circle back to the “horrible” game the defense had.
I’ve seen terrible defenses in Tampa, we had a pretty long stretch of mediocrity during “the lost decade” …this defense, as rough as it’s been is not any of those defenses. Bowles scheme, minus the plays where he’s dropping Vita in coverage, gives a team that lacks stud players in key positions in his scheme, a chance to make a game-changing play. It’s agonizing to watch sometimes, but this is “when life gives you lemons…” scenario. Hoping the reload this offseason allows us to see less of the soft zone, with more consistent pressure on the QB.
February 8th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Press man sticky coverage coach, PLEASE…. Or as least pick up the man in your zone and done let him run free
Licht keeps him around for a reason, he gets to work at 4 AM, obviously he tries to win every game, and he always has a good staff that gets poached… Id say we give him the benefit of the doubt
BUT if I see baby poop soft zone and vita vea dropping in coverage again this year, see ya bro
February 8th, 2025 at 8:32 am
“Get an edge rusher”, from the same guys who swore Fameis Jameis was the answer and you needed to be ready to spend major draft capital to get a “franchise QB”. Of course reality flies in the face of this thought.
The Bucs two SB winning QB’s were NOT drafted by the Bucs, their current “franchise QB” was also not drafted by the Bucs.
If this team had a healthy AW45 along with DW45 in his prime which sadly lasted for only 2-3 years but for awhile White was the real deal. Those two alone would have made a huge difference.
Pressure up the middle is perhaps even more effective than an “edge rusher”!
Force the QB to the outside and the Bucs OLB’s should handle the job. YaYa is ready for sure, hopefully Braswell continues to develop.
I’ve read a million excuses here for the Bucs poor pass defense. They were SEVENTH in the league in sacks, they SUCK out loud in the back six when AW45 is out and Dean occupies his usual spot in the whirlpool and Britt is the excuse for ILB. Get a game changing ILB like the kid from “Bama”, get AW45 healthy, and pick up a great “cover corner” to pair with Zyon. Problem solved! And without an edge rusher and certainly without giving up 2 first round picks a 3rd rounder and more! We’ve already experienced what can happen when you waste the #1 overall pick in the draft.
Why bring in the guy who was such a cancer in Cleveland he got Baker run in favor of Deshaun Watson! The Bucs currently have a great culture and don’t need to challenge that.
February 8th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Bowles needs to relinquish playing calling duties so he can manage his team better in games. That Washington game seemed like he wanted to die with his sword (his calls, his defense) when the strength of our team all season was our offense. Not going for it on 4th down in a few short yardage situations was costly. The decisions in those situations showed that. He got conservative at the wrong time, gotta let it all hang out, we had the better team period!
February 8th, 2025 at 8:40 am
His ‘playing not to lose’ is getting old.
February 8th, 2025 at 8:41 am
The Bucs that won the first Super Bowl are revered for what the defense did up the middle with Sapp, Brooks and Lynch. But the unsung hero that made that possible was Simeon Rice who brought so much pressure from the outside that it forced everything inside to the superstars.
February 8th, 2025 at 8:42 am
If the Bucs don’t send 6 people, they don’t get a sack. Eagles and Chiefs don’t suffer from that shortcoming
February 8th, 2025 at 8:50 am
He’ll forever bring up injuries as if no other teams deal with them. Detroit was devastated by injuries and played in a much tougher division.
February 8th, 2025 at 8:56 am
You’d think every coach self-reflects/scouts in the offseason, so those words are just scripted cliches (his normal PC basically). Considering he’s still making rookie HC in-game errors and decisions after 7+ years of doing it, it’s fairly obvious whatever he’s been doing in the off-season isn’t working. And he DEFINITELY can’t say anything about Cousins, who probably choose the Falcons just for the oppt to face Bowles’ defensive genius playcalling twice a year lol. Just hoping we get a legit HC in ’26 who can help this team make a SB run before Mike hangs up his cleats. Believe LVD has seen his last oppt unfortunately, even if he returns this year.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Todd Bowles knows what many never learn. Who cares what other folks think? He’s as much a part of what we have going here in Tampa as anyone is. And I for one would like to see him inked to a deal for at least the next few years. If he’s the lowest paid coach in the league then rectify that. We’ve got a highly respected high character organization. Time to move on that. The message that’ll send to our team will be a positive one. And it won’t change Todd Bowles coaching philosophy one iota. He and Jason are going to find us a few more playmakers on defense and Winfield is going to stay healthy. We’re close. Very close.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Bucfan says ” His ‘playing not to lose’ is getting old”
I couldn’t agree more!!!!! This strategy costs the team at least 2 Wins every year! If he believes he is coaching a Superbowl quality team then he should believe in them when the game is on the line.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:39 am
I agree with allot of what you are saying stpetebucsfan i have been writing for months that one of the main problem with the Bucs was not just not getting a hand on opposing quarterbacks but the fact that we got no pressure on any of them. A great edge rusher would be fantastic but more important are players who can really drive a QB out of the pocket.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:45 am
StPete … ‘Pressure up the middle is perhaps even more effective than an “edge rusher”!’
You couldn’t ever get Joe to agree with that St Pete, even though that’s been our normal way of doing business since 2020 (maybe even since 2019). I’ve been thinking lately that none of us seem to really understand what TB’s been doing as our DC.
I thought he was running primarily a 3-4 hyrbid defense. I don’t believe that anymore after looking at some of our defensive formations from last year. Sometimes it is the 3-4, but with a twist (sending a DB as the 4th attacker instead of one of the OLBs or ILBs). Sometimes he runs a 4-3 (with the nickel as his 3rd ILB).
But think about how many times we’ve seen the Bucs line up in a 7-4, 8-3 or even 9-2 formation (I still view it as the 9-2 scramble because I have no idea who attacking vs who’s falling into protection). Almost everyone on the line, then some attack, some fall back. Lots of disguise & movement to … CREATE PRESSURE and BE UNPREDICTABLE, while all at the same time stopping the run. With super-talented players like Vea, Suh & JPP that must be a nightmare to defend. Plenty of open areas for the QB to throw to though, by design.
The key to making Bowles’ defense work IMO is talented people. Speed helps, but what’s vital to make it truly work well is for ALL the players to understand his defense intimately. Otherwise players get burned (far too many explosive plays allowed last year). I think that’s why guys like Brasswell take so long to slide into the starting lineup.
I’m also starting to think though that MIGHT be why Todd hasn’t been able to give up the DC reins yet. I’m now thinking that this defense is so ‘complex’ that he doesn’t yet trust anyone else to run it. In any event, I fully expect this defense to make it back into the Top-10 this year and for th Bucs to move into Tier-1 (teams 1-8) and be contenders for the Super Bowl.
February 8th, 2025 at 9:45 am
“His ‘playing not to lose’ is getting old.”
I get the power of “first impressions” but why does Todd have so much trouble getting ANY recognition here.
In perhaps the most critical game of the year, the final contest to see if the Bucs would make the playoffs with 10:49 left in regulation, facing a 4th and 8 at the New Orleans 42-yard line, Mayfield found Jalen McMillan deep downfield for a 33-yard gain. NO FG attempt but a bold move with 4th and LONG!
How come nobody trashing Bowles EVER mentions things like that! Uh because it totally goes against what some “wish” to believe?
As far as clock management an honest question. I certainly concede Bowles has made mistakes as have Andy Reid, Dan Campbell and other respected coaches.
Can one of the fire Bowles crowd simply document the number of times Bowles has misused timeouts? If you read JBF it must be at least a dozen times or more! If it’s a MAJOR problem I would like to know since I concede he’s certainl had “some” mistakes. Enough to ignore his 3rd best coaching record in Tampa Bay Bucs history?
February 8th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Bobby M. Says:
He’ll forever bring up injuries as if no other teams deal with them. Detroit was devastated by injuries and played in a much tougher division.
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For Detroit to do as well as they did this season given the amount of injuries they had was amazing. Had that not been the case they might be playing the Chiefs tomorrow. Injuries have a real impact on teams and players. I have no doubt that that’s what caused Winfield to have an off-year this past season.
February 8th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Someone mentioned how complex Todd’s defense is and I agree and perhaps with the right personnel who know the scheme well it could be a great defense.
However the problem is the personnel doesn’t always work. Through injury which happens every team and happen to us quite a bit on the back end this year to having some guys who se talent level or play recognition is maybe not as good as some others they are just not necessarily in position to make the right play.
Because of this I think maybe this defense is not the right defense to use because it needs too much going right for it to be successful. I would rather see a simplified defense where each player’s roles are a bit more defined and players can thrive in doing fewer things but doing them better. And then once in a while you can throw in a few wrinkles from a more advanced defense for a play here or there for different situations. It seems that’s what successful coordinator is like Spagnuolo does on the chiefs..
February 8th, 2025 at 10:55 am
I never really, heard anyone say that the Bucs were going to SUCK last season. As a matter of fact I saw the ‘majority’ either have them winning the Division or going to the Playoffs as a Wild-Card. Even, for those who did not have the Bucs in one of those two categories, they still thought they had a good chance. Of course, there will always be an ‘outlier’ here or there. But, I just did not see very many at all, who thought the Bucs were going to suck it up.
February 8th, 2025 at 11:04 am
I like the fact that there’s an expectation to be SB contenders from within the organization but the last 2 yrs we’ve lost way way too many games at home. That can not happen. 9 home losses the last 2 seasons?
February 8th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Why can’t we win games at night??? This drives me nuts. Is there some rule against practicing at night? I don’t understand this, and I hate looking at the schedule in August and automatically chalking up the prime time games as an “L”.
February 8th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Week 2 Tampa vs Detroit
Zero sacks but two interceptions
Zyon and Vea left with injuries, Kancey and Winfield didn’t play.
There was Jameel Dean and whoever the backup up was after Zyon but nobody cares about injuries when it’s a win. An edge rusher will fix the defense if Bowles evolves and he doesn’t have to care what I think but I’m pretty sure insider the Glazers won’t allow Bowles to use the roster or injuries as an excuse this year if he has another poor defense
February 8th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
So tell me what happens when a coach “Plays to win”, and they lose, due to “enter your choice here”?
As one of only 32 jobs of HC in the NFL, how do folks think HCs do not always “Play to Win”? I do read here how this view says this and that view says that, mostly I read how the HC needs to be let go.
We had a tough year with injuries on D and O, then we had backups on D also get hit with injuries, and third-string players also getting bitten with injuries. Our NFL’s best top-paid safety was also injured, and so was our FA/ex-BUC Safeties. Our HOF LB is nearer to his retirement year than his Rookie year, we have (currently) very little behind him, an LB who looked good before him being bitten by the injury bug. DL looking nice with their rotation and depth. OLB core was always close, yet did not produce enough sacks or closing out of a third and long when needed.
Yes any HC “playing to win” usually has some unfortunate, choices to make that in hindsight may be second-guessed.
Our NFL HC, Has a consecutive 4 NFC South Championship Banners run going. Next season we have another chance to ADD to this total. Were they all dominant, double-digit seasons, sweeps of our division? Yet we did win them.
By the way, remember five seasons ago? The last time we did not win the NFC South Division, we went to the Super Bowl. Our current HC then DC beat Washington, then Brees in his last game in NO, and a Saint, Beat the Packers in GB to advance to the Super Bowl, where DC shut down KC allowing only three field goals to the Mahomes and the Chiefs. He had a great DC game then, didn’t he?
Ready for another Licht Draft to bring in new D players, restock the depth and skill level in LB, DB, OLB, and DL, and let HC/DC Bowles work with better ingredients.
And continue to “Play to Win”!!!
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
I’m sure he doesn’t care
He will coach in Tampa as long as he wants to the Glazers will not fire him
Also its evident he doesn’t care about fans or giving the best product to the men and women paying
He got to the Playoffs so he’s good
Sad excuse for a HC I don’t think any other team would stay with his mediocre coaching
The Jets didnt
February 8th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
He needs to care because we are the ones who pays his salary, no fans no money
February 8th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Mike
“He needs to care because we are the ones who pays his salary, no fans no money”
So do fans actually trump won lost records? Sadly perhaps but other than here I’m not seeing it. Most people are from the Al Davis school. “Just Win Baby!”
Overall Todd has improved every one of this three years in the win column. He now sports a better win % than Chucky on the Buc list of HC’s.
Again they don’t ask HOW, they ask how MANY? The fans are not a problem if the team continues to win.
February 8th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Wrong Melvin Jr just about every expert picked Atlanta to win the Div in a weak Div So with out saying we sucked that is what they were saying.
February 8th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
StPeteBucsFan… there is a very simple answer for that. Bowles was trying to save his job!
With the benefit of hindsight, seeing how the Saints O couldn’t really move the ball in the 2nd half and Carolina beating Atlanta, he didn’t need to go on 4th and 8 and if Bowles had all that info, he absolutely would not have gone for it.
We potentially lose that Saints game and Bowles is fired if we don’t convert that 4th and 8. Not really a choice to make at that point. In almost every other scenario where Bowles had a chance to trust the O and be aggressive he didn’t not.
4th down vs SF and in the playoffs vs Wash. Going for 2 to take down KC (as a large underdog on the road vs defending champs and best QB in the league…) and you cannot tell me the guy who didn’t want Brady to throw in fear of an INT isn’t dictating the code turtles .. ATL run run screen trust the D lose the game. You can point to these exact situations playing out the year before and costing Ws. It’s a pattern he doesn’t learn from.
If you have a top 5 O and continually trust your 29th ranked pass D that is very injured … you aren’t learning jack and it’s a problem.
February 8th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
And the majority picked Atlanta to win Div. Did you not read the article?
February 8th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
In all the evidence we have with Bowles as HC, he can get aggressive to save his job, he can barely get the players up for must win division games in back to back years. Winfield saved his job with the goal line strip vs Car week 18. Baker and JMac save his job with a conversion on 4th and 8.
Gets to the playoffs, well job is safe, time to be conservative again and play not to lose. Detroit screwed up, take a TO and get the ball back one last chance ! Nope game is over. Haven’t forced a punt all day but 4th and 3 to take the lead … nah, my D will stop them this time!
Bucfan is 100% correct that his play not to lose mentality costs us wins in every season of his HC tenure. It’s a PROBLEM. Anyone who says it isn’t, isn’t serious about wanting the Bucs to win games and another SB.
February 8th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
There are a few knowitall posters who get triggered at any hint of criticism about Bowles, his reputation as a genius, his defense, and his decisions. Those who dare criticize Saint Todd are labeled “haters.” Being selective with the data does not change the truth.
February 8th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
I think one thing we can all agree on besides the dude trying to give Bowles credit for BA’s Super Bowl run is that the division sucks and we are always in a close race win and you’re in scenario but None of that matters this year, injury excuses, edge rush excuses, developing players etc. if you want to brag about winning 10 games and the division ok however no one overhauls a defense with two borderline HOFers and two of the highest paid at their position. Bowles has 5 months before training camp and that’s plenty of time to get it right. I hope he does for Mike Evans and LVD hall of fame bids and Bucs fans superbowl glory. All Bowles has to do really is fix his soft zone mentality, the clocks management it is what it is the guy is far from perfect and offensive coaches think differently
February 8th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
I wonder if Todd Bowles saw the games we did. If he does not think he needs a pass rush, then he is blind. Get us a premier Rusher Todd.
February 8th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Todd will get this chance with a team only limited by 30 mil of dead cap instead of 60 or 80 like in the past few years. The offense is set, the defense has several stars and some decent young guys and will get an infusion from the draft and FA. Bowles deserves the chance for holding the cash strapped team together and getting to the playoffs with the post-Brady diminished talent.
Bowles may not have the talent to get us over the top, but the FO owes him the opportunity to finally have sufficient talent on both sides of the ball. Bowles continued employment will more than likely be contingent on this year’s record. A playoff miss or first round exit could get him booted. Glazers ousted Gruden and Dungy for lack of advancement. I think this is a prove it year with maybe one more if they get to 11 wins.
Bowles is an enigma. Is he bad, good, just good enough to get you beat, good enough, or great? He’s been all of the above on a per game basis.
Go Bucs!
February 8th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
No idea why most seem to just associate Todd Bowles with being a defensive coordinator, he’s the head coach and has a lot more responsibilities than just that.
And he’s done a pretty darn good job at being a head coach. Yes the defense had flaws (mostly due to lack of talent)…. And Bowles deserves some for that, but nobody wants to give him credit for the tremendous culture he’s built here.
Instead Bucs fans would rather buy into that ridiculous notion of the so called “Brady effect” rather than giving Bowles any credit. FYI, if the Brady effect is so strong and supposedly still working to this day, then why didn’t it work when he was actually here His final year?
February 8th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
The Bucs did beat expectations a bit.
A quick search I did of 8 Power Rankings entering week one had Atlanta winning the Division 5-3. And, the Bucs finished about three and a half positions higher than they were ranked.
PFF predicted 8.1 wins for the Bucs, and 9.1 wins for the Falcons.
In particular,Draft Kings Sports Book had the Bucs 22 and the Falcons 15.
February 8th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
MelvinJr
“I never really, heard anyone say that the Bucs were going to SUCK last season. As a matter of fact I saw the ‘majority’ either have them winning the Division or going to the Playoffs as a Wild-Card.”
Here is the Walter Football 2024 preseason prediction…
Season Summary: The Buccaneers were projected as a bottom-five team entering the 2023 season. They were able to win nine games, though many of their victories were very fluky. It’s highly unlikely that Tampa Bay has the same success next year unless it makes lots of upgrades.
Projection: 5-12 (Tied 2nd in NFC South)
Sports Illustrated got it right at 11 wins Sporting News at 9-8 were close.
Then there’s the wise guys in Vegas. They helped me make money on this easy bet.
Bookmakers are expecting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be slightly worse in 2024, as the team’s over/under is set at 7.5 wins, compared to the nine games they won last season.
Walter Football is highly respected nationally and most give the wise guys in Vegas props for accuracy.
Bottom line is perhaps you were talking about HERE. Indeed many Bucs fans KNEW the real story but nationally the Bucs were not expected to succeed and the vast majority had the Falcons as the team to beat.
Lack of respect “nationally” never reached Rodney Dangerfield levels but it was pretty close.
February 8th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Lets not forget that cousins made bowles look like a rookie dc in both meetings
February 8th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
@Badbucs
Where you been bro? You nailed it. All the highs and lows and the reality that faces Todd this coming season.
Many here believe because I simply ask for decency(no nasty boring nicknames) and respect, 3rd winningest coach in Bucs history that I am a super fan. I have grown to like Todd after watching him hold an injured, young team together through two impressives stretch runs to the playoffs.
But I’m also a realist! I agree COMPLETELY with your observation.
” the FO owes him the opportunity to finally have sufficient talent on both sides of the ball. Bowles continued employment will more than likely be contingent on this year’s record. A playoff miss or first round exit could get him booted.”
February 8th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Doesn’t have to be Myles Garrett. I think for a little less draft capital TJ Watt can be pried loose from Steelers. They are both great players but if you could only have one, TJ is the one. Either one of these guys instantly makes the entire Bucs defense better. Was watching Bucs replays the other day and it was a joke watching opposing QB’s stand in the pocket for what seemed like 7-10 seconds. There is no way to cover NFL receivers for that long. Pressure on the QB is the best pass defense. Licht knows this. Hope he makes a big statement by getting a top shelf EDGE.
February 9th, 2025 at 5:36 am
Sorry if i have not faith in words anymore, after 3 years as a HC and 3 as DC we have seen what we have seen. This season was like an exact copy of the season before. The only difference was that even if we scored a lot more points we still didnt see anything change. Actions will tell.
And from what we have seen so far i dont expect any major changes. Time will tell.
Go Bucs
February 9th, 2025 at 5:45 am
Good for Coach Bowles, tune out the external factors. Yes, and one of those were the sports media making Cousins the next Brady comeback. That fizzled quickly. And I still think the refs leaned for the Falcons when we played them. Coach Bowles is like any other coach, playing to win. Doesn’t matter how old you are.
February 9th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Defense Rules – one of the reasons Bowles stayed with Britt is he’s very smart, was running the defense in OTA’s his rookie year. The guy just doesn’t have the athleticism to cover.
February 9th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Bowles should be taking notes tonight. If you cover the quick routes, pass rush can get home.