“That Cooper Kupp Gets 64 Yards In The Final Drive Of The Game Is A Fireable Offense.”
January 27th, 2022
Bucs DC Todd Bowles
Former coffee fetcher for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, former NFL suit Michael Lombardi, has made no secret how much he respects and likes Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
Two weeks ago Lombardi campaigned for Bowles to be hired as a head coach. When Lombardi does his weekly picks for VSiN or SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, or for social media, he likes to match up coordinators. If a shaky coordinator or a suspect offense is playing the Bucs, Lombardi often says it is a win for Tampa Bay because of Bowles.
This does not mean Lombardi gives Bowles a full and total pass.
Dissecting the Bucs’ loss to the Rams last Sunday, Lombardi was fully outraged how the defense (yes, Bowles) allowed Rams wideout Cooper Kupp to basically end the Bucs’ season with suspect defensive play designs and playcalls, as Lombardi said on his podcast “GM Shuffle.”
“That Cooper Kupp gets 64 yards in the final drive of the game is a fireable offense,” Lombardi yelped. “It’s unbelievable! [The Rams’] best player gets 64 yards. How can you let that happen? How do you justify that? How do you sit there after you’ve had no business being in the game?”
Lombardi had other thoughts besides being revolted by what he saw from the Bucs’ defense in the final seconds.
Tom Brady never looked comfortable, Lombardi said. And as he has said many times, if Brady trusts a receiver he targets him often. He named Antonio Brown as a guy Brady trusts and called Chris Godwin Brady’s Julian Edelman on the Bucs. From what Lombardi sees, he’s not sure Brady trusts Mike Evans as anything more than a big-play threat, which seems very odd to Joe.
As for what hurt Brady and the offense, “Donovan Smith decided to have his worst game of the season” against the Rams, Lombardi said of Smith getting worked over by Von Miller.
This is not to say Lombardi has turned anti-Bowles. He hasn’t, and Joe will have more about that tomorrow.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:12 am
No… well it is
But not an appropriate address to the issue
January 27th, 2022 at 8:13 am
Lombardi is an ass
January 27th, 2022 at 8:13 am
How about our secondary, and special teams coaches be fired. No matter what players are on teams, no matter who lines up in the secondary, both units have been in the bottom of the league. Bowles might’ve blown that call, but our secondary has been crap for the last 3 years, same with teams. Pinion kicked the ball OB twice! Blame him if you want, but I’m sure he was told to angle both kicks to that side, why? Bad kick coverage, worse return game, secondary always lost, and confused, how are these coaches still employed? I’ll tell you. Arains is loyal to a fault. He’ll be quick to blame his players, but have you ever seen him call out a coach?
January 27th, 2022 at 8:14 am
At halftime, Aaron Donald had a 44% pass rush win rate. Donald recorded a 27% PRWR this season, which ranked second among all players behind only Micah Parsons. (ESPN / NFL Next Gen Stats)
The Bucs’ pass block (so our oline) win rate at halftime was 13%. The worst PBWR by a team in a single game this season was 20%. (ESPN / NFL Next Gen Stats)
Oline got abused. Yah prolly had something to do with slow start. We had no plan for this either? Just like defense blitzed when it what stafford excelled at ? No wonder brady may retire. Jk. Wirfs hurt big time. Jensen playing hurt. And smith played like dog 💩 – clearly his worst game of year
And rams oline stoned our d line. Of course we losT
Posted yesterday
January 27th, 2022 at 8:20 am
You play straight up and hope the pass rush can get to Stafford. They gambled and paid for it. Stafford has been great against the blitz. This is an example of why coaching can lose you ball games. Thanks bowles!!!! All they went for nothing.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:25 am
I don’t see how Evans goes for over 100 in that game if Brady didn’t trust him.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:26 am
I hope some team hires Bowles.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:28 am
Charlie Weiss said it best to Tom Brady, when he said “Tom, Bowles let you down”.
Bowles was also called out by Tony Dungy and others.
I am still sick over that loss, but I have a close friend who is a Buffalo Fan.
They were ahead with 13 seconds remaining, so all they had to do was a pooch kick that would have forced Kansas City to return it, and burn up the remaining time.
So what did they do ? They kicked the ball deep and out of the end zone, giving the ball back to Mahomes with 3 time outs!
They lost the game too on a very stupid call.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:36 am
The Bucs Beat GB the same way when Scotty Miller burned King, and now the Bucs go down the same way to the Rams when Kupp burns Winfield.
You live by the Sword and you can also die because of it too, and the Bucs did.
It is football whatever. It is over.
Dave Moore told it how it is, like it or not.
The Bucs should never have even been in that position in the first place.
A Brady led offense scores its first TD, with 1+ minutes left in the 3rd Qtr.
But hey it is “beat a dead horse season” now, I mean what the heck……
Bowles is a genius when shutting down KC.
Now he is a bum.
Sorry Bowles helped turn around a terrible defense when he came to the Bucs.
Regardless of all the crap being thrown at him, he is still a good coach period.
‘Hey lets just Beat a Dead horse” T Bowles sux,
The season is over.
The Bucs got their azz handed to them by the Rams.
The Rams were the better team that day.
GO BUCS!!!
January 27th, 2022 at 8:41 am
I admire Vrabel and Belichick saying “We didn’t coach well enough.”
You never hear that from Arians or Bowles–it’s always execution.
January 27th, 2022 at 8:45 am
While I believe our secondary is in need of improvement…two of the “stars” lack the most critical ability…availability! But that’s all at the corner position.
We can make excuses but IMHO the single most important reason was the play of our OT’s…and the health of Jensen
You can’t just sit a Pro Bowler like Wirfs and then have your LT play his worst game of the year and think you can be successful on offense.
What goes around comes around. In fairness one of the reasons we were able to do to the Chiefs what the Rams did to us is the Chiefs did not have their OL in normal shape. Like us they were hurt by injuries.
My dad was a bookie so perhaps I’m biased but I’ve always felt it’s better to be lucky than good.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:05 am
Our secondary needs work plane and simple for the last two seasons it has been our weakest link.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:07 am
Bowles won’t lose his job, but I suspect he’s lost the faith of most Bucs fans, whose hearts he broke by allowing that pathetic winning drive. I know I’m hoping he gets hired for a HC job.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:12 am
Sasquatch
The faith was lost well before the final drive. 27 points at halftime was inexcusable. If not for well timed fumbles that was 41-3 easily. Rams deserved to win. Bowles had a terrible game. As did Leftwich.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:18 am
Just read something interesting on the Bucs site that no one’s mentioned to my knowledge:
‘Arians indicated that the Buccaneers had called an all-out blitz but some of the defenders did not get the message.
“Some of the guys didn’t blitz,” said Arians. “I don’t know if we didn’t get the ball but it was an all-out blitz and we should have got a ton of pressure.”
Hmmm, I would think that it’d be up to the defensive play-caller (White?) and defensive captain (LVD?) to make sure that everyone out on the field was on the right page. Sounds like that didn’t happen.
Maybe that explains LVD standing around with his hands on his hips as the play is being executed. Maybe it explains Shaq not even being in position to blitz. Maybe it explains White looking like a pinata on that play as he hit the DLine. Maybe it explains our entire Secondary being caught by surprise as the Rams came out of the gate quickly on that last play.
Turns out that we’d burned our 3 timeouts earlier in the quarter. Had we had one timeout left, got a hunch Bowles probably would’ve used it right then & there.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:28 am
Arians claimed on Monday he misspoke and that everyone was on same page.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:36 am
You have Dungy, Brooks, Sapp, and countless others saying that blitz was the wrong call.
So for you people who are defending Bowles, what’s your argument that all these other experts are missing?
January 27th, 2022 at 9:41 am
Darin hard to win when your line can’t protect and some of these guys where’l not getting open. I said they needed to get more johnson and miller in this game for the offense to be effective since they would take evans away early. They combined for 53 yards. That’s not good. Tyler Johnson has been a disappointment.
January 27th, 2022 at 9:51 am
Would be happy to see him go
January 27th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Donovan Smith decided to have his worst game of the season is right. Just abused.
And yes, those defensive calls and SMB were horrendous in the last 40 seconds.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Bucs need to make a Bowels Movement. He needs to be made an example of.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Kupp is the best WR in the NFL, and no one was covering him in a do-or-die last seconds drive????? Yeah, pretty sure Bowles needs to go. He can take BL with him, too. Still fuming the Bucs lost after tying it up and only needing to pin the Rams down for 40 seconds, and Bowles and his D screwing that all up. So freaking unfair to Brady and the O. If we’d won the coin toss in OT, Brady would have found a way to win.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:41 am
Joe … ‘Arians claimed on Monday he misspoke and that everyone was on same page.’
And after watching that piece that Warren Sapp broke down, it really looked like everyone was on the same page. And especially LVD & Shaq. Ya right.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:43 am
Please someone hire him or lets just fire him!!! He never cared about us FANS!!!! Watch his press conferences no mention , I know he is laid back but come on, I’m sick!!!!
January 27th, 2022 at 10:45 am
tampabayallday … ‘Would be happy to see him go’.
Be careful what you wish for. There are 9 NFL teams who’ll be hiring new coaching staffs shortly. I think Todd Bowles could get a DC job on just about any one of those based on what he’s accomplished these last 2 years.
But that’s OK, I hear Mike Smith is still available. And I’m sure that Lovie Smith would love the DC job here too.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:58 am
Let’s not forget that the offense didn’t play well throughout the game – it was the defense that created fumbles to get the Bucs back in the game.
The Bucs should have called a time out on their last play because they were not set properly- that’s on the coaches!
January 27th, 2022 at 11:07 am
Hey Joe, let’s settle this with a flash poll. Should the Bucs take a Bowels Movement? (eg fire Bowles)?
January 27th, 2022 at 11:11 am
Smith, looked like he had alligator arms…. seriously, look at the footage.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:37 am
So am I the only one that notices BA misspeaks a LOT?? He basically fabricates until he has time to think it through. If your defensive play callers were confused, chances are poor communication from the coaches. And when the coaches see this erupting, what do they do? NOTHING! This is another sign of lack of discipline and preparation. If you don’t think that both coordinators having job interviews 2 days and 1 day before the game wasn’t partial cause, then you’ve never interviewed for a job. To this day I don’t understand why they couldn’t wait until Monday. I don’t see a lot of the positions being.filled. Fire the lot of them, all 150.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Never like Donovan Smith, way too highly overpaid. Hopefully he doesn’t single handedly screw out cap situation
January 27th, 2022 at 11:51 am
Blaming Todd Bowles we got manhandled in the trenches simple as that
Stop blaming, all these suits and has been blaming.
Wirfs plays it might help to win.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
I said the same thing.
It’s not his fault we lost the game, but it’s his fault we lost on that play. If you know what I mean.
Probably the dumbest post season play call I’ve ever seen in my life.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
fern, yes Wirf plays, Godwin healthy, AB doesn’t go off, blah, blah, blah. The game is 27-27, momentum in Bucs favor, Rams O & D were spent. 28 seconds left, your beloved DC dials up a blitz on a QB that’s notorious for beating the blitz, your defensive play callers are confused for some reason, it’s not like they haven’t blitz before, Vita Vea is lined up off their left tackle out of the play and your 2nd year safety is one on one with the BEST receiver in the league and your HC tries to BS.his way out of it in a presser again throwing his players under the bus, not to mention your DC interviewed for or job both Friday and Saturday before the game. So to summarize, Bowles called the wrong play and my guess is that it was given late to the players. Season OVER! Fire his arse!!!
January 27th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Why are you shocked to hear Brady sees Evans as only a threat? Have you been watching the Bucs over the past 2 years? Brady has almost 0 interest in throwing Evans the ball. Evans has some of the most suspect hands in the NFL…. Its better to use him as a decoy, which is exactly what Brady does.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:14 pm
I don’t hear Brian Flores’ name being mentioned for HC positions…
Bet he would be a good DC. TB can vouch for him.
The Defense needs to be restored.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:28 pm
LOL, yeah Brady trusts Evans so little he just threw him the ball like 12+ times in each of the past 2 playoff games.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
Flores would be a awesome house for HC.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Todd Bowles is a bum. He’s been flying under the radar and riding the coat tails of a talented team. Not NFL level for this team. Go to Jacksonville.
He needs to be fired.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
He’s in the same no talent NFL league as UrBAN MEYER.
January 27th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
He had a bad game. He made a dumb call. He’s probably punishing himself more than anyone. He might have lost a Head Coaching position from it. He was 100% opposite last year when his brilliant game plan won a Super Bowl. He’s been a hero, he’ll be one again. I don’t think anyone on earth is more qualified to be our D.C. than him. Firing him won’t change that outcome, but someone else could hurt our future.
January 27th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
“Brady never looked comfortable”? He damn well looked comfortable enough to tie the game, and probably would have won it, had it gone OT and they win the toss. They had figured out how to make it work. Despite being overmatched, outcoached, mistakes,etc. Had it not been for one pitiful defensive non-stand.
January 27th, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Let’s face it. That loss was a heartbreaker, all the more with the shocking way the Rams roared down the runway in the final 43 seconds. I find myself kind of wanting Brady to retire because another loss in post season would be a horrible way for the GOAT to go out. At least he went out with another mind blowing comeback.
January 27th, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Agree totally Bowles should be fired .!! But Bucco will NEVER do that
January 27th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Todd Bowles is not a great DC if he was we would be headed to the nfc championship game mr.blitz alot you should of gave your dbs help this is the reason you weren’t a good hc and not a good DC,let’s get a real dc
January 27th, 2022 at 10:44 pm
THANKS, TODD!
January 28th, 2022 at 12:10 am
bowles was garbage
lefty? garbage
This team always was and is Brady.
You could replace either OC/DC with a bowl of oatmeal and we’d be fine.
They suck.
January 28th, 2022 at 3:54 am
The optimist here… I know you feel the “don’t blitz Stafford” info was ignored to ‘malpractice’ lengths, but im curious how many other QBs are ‘Non Blitzable’? Ive always heard you don’t blitz Drew Brees. Maybe Aaron Rogers and Brady are also ‘no blitz’ they’ll pick you apart. im sure there are others. IF, and big if because I don’t know the numbers, someone else has to do the research, then thats a slight pass on Bowles. Time was (under Dungy/Kiffin) we didn’t have to Blitz, our 4 got there.
January 28th, 2022 at 3:56 am
Also, can the fire Bowles talk, no one, I mean NO ONE was saying that last week. so. don’t let one play define a person. if someone GETS to Stafford and sinks him, were singing a different tune.
January 28th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
To Many Demon 👿 out there don’t want to See a Black Man running aTeam
January 29th, 2022 at 2:03 am
Yeah that’s it anonymous,,white black, yellow or purple,dumb call,,
January 29th, 2022 at 2:42 am
It’s possible you may know football better than the numerous professionals who have invested millions of dollars or years of their careers in our two Coordinators , but there is no debating that you know trash better than anyone.
T REX Says:
January 28th, 2022 at 12:10 am
bowles was garbage
lefty? garbage
This team always was and is Brady.
You could replace either OC/DC with a bowl of oatmeal and we’d be fine.
They suck