Dave Canales: Todd Bowles Isn’t Conservative (And Neither Is Running The Ball)
September 15th, 2023
Not Todd Bowles, Bucs’ OC says.
Who knows how this season plays out? But whenever the day comes when Todd Bowles is no longer the Bucs coach, unless he has a full transformation and installs an Air Raid offense, he will forever be remembered by Bucs fans as the man who took the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands.
It was the first game after the bye last year, the first game after the Bucs played their best game of the 2022 season in Munich whipping up on the Seahawks.
The bungling Browns hung around and hung around and tied the game in the fourth quarterback behind Canton-bound quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
But, as he has done time and again for decades, here came Tom Brady. The greatest to have ever lived was ready to bring the Bucs downfield to win the game when Bowles pulled the ball out of his hands.
After the game, Bowles said he was concerned Brady might throw a pick. Entering the late-November matchup, Brady had but two interceptions through the Bucs’ first 10 games.
For better or worse, accurate or inaccurate, so many Bucs fans are convinced Bowles is that man. If he will take the ball out of Brady’s hands, then what might he do with Baker Mayfield?
Yesterday, Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales tried to downplay that image of Bowles being a ground-and-pound kind of a guy. No, Canales said, Bowles doesn’t gain inspiration from a Woody Hayes portrait hung on his office wall.
And, Canales added, wanting to run doesn’t mean a coach wants to turn the clock back to the NFC East of the late-20th century.
“Todd doesn’t want a conservative offense – that’s not why I was hired,” Canales explained. “He wants to run the ball. That’s not conservative in my mind, especially with the RPO’s that we have on there.
“And then, of course, you don’t get your 25-30+ carries unless you’re ahead at the end of the game, usually. Unless you just can’t do anything else – they make it really hard and you just kind of have to just keep banging away and banging away and hoping you kind of overtake them. That’s not what Todd wants.
“He doesn’t want me sitting back, he wants me to be aggressive based on what the defense is giving us – in a smart way. Hopefully, we’re trying to attack it intelligently but we’ve got Mike Evans and Chris [Godwin] and Baker [Mayfield] can throw it a mile. It’s not going to be small ball.”
Canales said he went on this defense of Bowles in an effort that “clarifies” for fans what he and Bowles want to do offensively.
Well, here is the thing: Nothing would make Joe happier than if the Bucs stepped into the 21st century, throwing the ball and throwing often. Yes, the Bucs have the receivers to run that kind of offense. However, the Bucs don’t have the quarterback to break out the pass in that way.
Think about it: Is it wise to have Mayfield put the ball up 40 times a game? History suggests that’s not smart football.
As Mayfield himself said in his introductory press conference in Tampa Bay this spring, he’s not Tom Brady. He won’t ever be Tom Brady.
So Joe doesn’t expect him to play like Brady. Or any of the other pass-happy-team quarterbacks.
September 15th, 2023 at 4:13 am
It’s early, and I said this in a previous post but I’m getting more and more certain that we’ll see a more improved Bowles because he has his guys. BA setting him up, didn’t really do him any favors it would seem. I think he really wanted to help, but he had way too much faith in Lefty, as he couldn’t scheme anything. Plus injuries and talent leaving definitely helped doom Bowles year one.
If I continue to see more of what we saw against Minnesota, but with improved offense/more points, good decisions to go with the risky ones, improved Special Teams, I certainly won’t have any issue with him having another year at the helm. Keep getting better every week.
September 15th, 2023 at 5:03 am
Joe … ‘For better or worse, accurate or inaccurate, so many Bucs fans are convinced Bowles is that man. If he will take the ball out of Brady’s hands, what might he do with Baker Mayfield?’
Run Chicken Little, run; the sky is falling again. I can’t believe that you’re still on that false ‘Bowles took the ball out of Brady’s hands in the Cleveland game’ kick. The Bucs’ offense had been playing like crappola in that 2nd half, and Todd Bowles made a HC’s decision to punt in a 4th-and-long situation with the Bucs leading that game 17-10. We had SEVEN drives in that 2nd half, and ended up punting on 5 of them (got 1 TD early in the 3rd qtr to go ahead 17-10 then stagnated the rest of the half).
o On our 4th drive of the half Bucs had a 4th-and-2 on the Cleveland 37, then Brady got called for a delay of game. Bowles elected to punt with a 4th-and-7 at the Browns’ 42. Bowles had Camarda punt, obviously hoping we could down it deep in Browns’ territory (we didn’t & ball came out to the 20).
o On our 5th drive of the half Bucs had 4th-and-2 on the Cleveland 48 (after Brady threw an incomplete pass on 3rd down), and Bowles elected to punt once again. This time they downed it on the Browns 5-yd line & our defense held. Bucs got it back on our own 20-yd line after a Cleveland punt (with them still trailing 17-10).
o On our 6th drive of the half (leading 17-10) the Bucs offense imploded. White for MINUS 3 yds; Brady incomplete short to Evans; Brady sacked, bringing up a 4th-and-21. Bucs punted yet again from our own 10-yd line (good punt & return, giving Cleveland the ball on the Tampa 46-yd line). One long run (28 yds) by Chubb then a 12-yd short pass for a TD & the game was tied 17-17, then went to overtime after we did 4 plays that got nada. We ended up losing.
Bowles the HC was obviously trying to play the field position game with those 3 punts. The Bucs’ offense hadn’t been doing diddly after we went up 17-10 early in the 3rd qtr. Brady wasn’t playing like Tom Brady the GOAT at all, and our OLine & running game was sputtering. But ya Joe, let’s keep bringing it up & up & up, especially after a opening season win that has others feeling like MAYBE there’s hope for this season. That’s the ticket for sure.
September 15th, 2023 at 6:07 am
Dave Canales: Todd Bowles Isn’t Conservative (And Neither Is Running The Ball)
I’m guessing the pic of Woody Hayes, standing in shirt sleeves during a snowfall, has some analogous connection to the headline above. But I’m gonna need help with the connection.
Guess: Woody Hayes defines conservatism?
September 15th, 2023 at 6:21 am
@Joe.
I got to agree with @Defense Rules on this one. This is how I recall the game going. Let’s change the record dude.
September 15th, 2023 at 6:22 am
The Eagles ran on the Vikes for 259 yards.
Why couldn’t we?
September 15th, 2023 at 6:23 am
This is a modern offense Joe, what we were running the last 3 years is as old as Arians. I don’t want to see Baker throwing 40 times a game either, neither should you. If Leftwich could scheme a running game, I think Brady would’ve been happy to hand the ball off more. This is a 21st century offense Joe, more teams are running it than Arians vertical biscuit scheme.
September 15th, 2023 at 6:34 am
There is some truth to what he is saying. At least thus far this season. Canales play calls were agressive at times Sunday and were smart as well. Especially when you ae focused on not turning the ball over and the opponent is throwing every blitz known to man at you. He did well folks. I’m not a Canles fan BTW just honest enough to see he had a tough job Sunday and did well.
Go Bucs!
September 15th, 2023 at 7:05 am
Fans and shallow minded analysts focus on passing the ball as the end all and be all of “exciting football”. In this, the supposed pass happy NFL, the two teams that played in the Super Bowl last season passed 61% and 49% of the snaps, respectively.
The team that passed 61% of the snaps – the Chiefs – had the 15th ranked scoring offense in the league last season.
The team that passed 49% of the snaps – the Eagles – had the 3rd ranked scoring offense in the league last season.
I dunno about JBF and and passing obsessed fans, but for me and I think for most fans, scoring points is a lot more exciting than passing up and down the field but not scoring points.
Just ask the Vikings about that after their game with the Bucs last Sunday and their game last night against the Eagles, both of which they lost despite winning the passing yards stat contest in both games by huge margins, almost 2:1.
There’s nothing “conservative” about running the ball, and there’s certainly nothing “conservative” about scoring points or in winning games.
September 15th, 2023 at 7:13 am
AKickintheBucNuts – it’s up to capable game analysts to answer your question as to why the Bucs did not get near the rushing yards of the Eagles.
But I’ll say two things in response:
1) The Eagles are the defending NFC Champs who last season had the league’s top ranked rushing offense. So obviously they have a great offensive line – the most important factor in running the ball – and a couple of great runners, including their quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Bucs don’t.
2) Who care? The only stat that ever matters is the points for vs. points against stat … and both teams won that stat in both games against the Vikings.
There are no points awarded for most rushing yards or most passing yards. The only points awarded are for points scored.
September 15th, 2023 at 7:18 am
Wow! What a thread so far. All but one of the posts were very thoughtful, IMHO accurate, and lacking in stupid names and hyperbole.
Leopold….I saw that post earlier and agreed. I think you’re correct. Last year it wasn’t BA’s team, it wasn’t BL’s team, it wasn’t Brady’s team, and it certainly wasn’t Bowles team. It was the WORST setup for Bowles that could have existed including the fact the GOAT’s skills were eroded, and he went all drama queen in his personal life.
D.R. What a great bit of analysis! I had the same “feeling” but feelings are not facts and you went and did the actual work that illustrated for me why I felt that way.
Tom Brady was and is the GOAT until Mahomes or somebody catches IF that ever happens. He did not PLAY like the GOAT last year. Brady hung on at least one year too long and probably two IMHO. His skills and motivation were obviously waning after he set out to make his point. They weren’t all BB’s SB’s Brady proved he could win without BB while BB has yet to prove he can win without Brady.
Last season was the perfect storm of horrible breaks and situations. It’s time to move on from Brady and last season. Let’s see what THIS team…Bowles first true team…produces. One week in and it’s all good. A long season there will surely be some boneheaded plays, picks by Baker, missed tackles etc mixed in.
Let’s hope last Sunday was a preview of how “most” of them will go.
September 15th, 2023 at 7:30 am
The game is won and lost in the trenches….
In a perfect world a balanced attack puts the defense off balance I have been pleasantly surprised to see bowls be aggressive
I still say offensive coordinator Canales is underrated stay tuned
September 15th, 2023 at 7:42 am
It’s not whether we run the ball or not….it’s how well we run the ball…..
I do think ti’s important to run…..we need to find a way to do it well.
If we had a good running game, it would eventually show itself with huge numbers in a game….I’ve yet to see that game.
September 15th, 2023 at 7:54 am
Unlike our super bowl team, this team has almost no depth behind the starters. Too many injuries and we’re done. The best way to reduce the risk of injuries is to shorten the game by running a lot.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:02 am
The-greatest-QB-who-evah-lived stunk up the joint last season and threw picks in almost every game. I don’t blame Bowles for taking the ball out of Methuselah’s hands and punting in that Cleveland game. It wasn’t Bowles’ team. It was a cross between Brady and Arians (in the background). It’s Bowles’ team this season. As a longtime, loyal Bucs fan, I’m rooting for him, Canales, the ST coach, and Licht to shock the crap out of the country this year. BTW joes: what is the name of our ST coach? Thanks!
September 15th, 2023 at 8:26 am
DR, spin it anyway you want, the O was not playing well against the Rams, how did that work out? Buffalo the season prior when BOWELS super D was shatting themselves, the Seattle game the Bowles D let them back in as well as Carolina game 2 same thing, Baltimore the D pissed themselves in the second half. We all saw the Cleveland game and how Bowles failed to use his TO which cost them any chance of winning that game. I guess you never watched the Atlanta/Pats SB down 28-3 late 2rd qtr.
Bowles MO is conservative to preserve the players for playoffs they will never see again under him. Oralbuc, you are just a moron, the guy missed Roger’s completion without a int record by one pass. Congrats, the Bucs snuck by the current WORST team in the NFL and I suspect when they play another lousy team this weekend it will be another nail biter.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:28 am
Sorry late 3rd qtr. My bad.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:35 am
Well, look who’s back: NE Fan. Hey yahoo, your hero has retired. You’re on a Bucs blog. Get lost! Hope you’ve got enough brains to get your storm prep ready.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:38 am
^^^^ NE FAN CLUELESS!!!!! 🤣
September 15th, 2023 at 8:39 am
Just do 5-10 minutes of research on Woody Hayes (Al Michaels last night even had a Woody Hayes reference during the Vikings-Eagles broadcast.)
Joe will just leave you with maybe Hayes’ most famous quote.
“There are only three things that can happen on a pass play and two of them are bad.”
September 15th, 2023 at 8:42 am
“False?” The only thing false about that is you claiming it never happened.
So who pulled the plug on Brady? Kacy Rodgers?
Hell, Bowles admitted it after the game. Stop spreading lies! Claiming Joe is making crap up could get you run.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:53 am
NE Fan … ‘DR, spin it anyway you want, the O was not playing well against the Rams, how did that work out?’
That’s a FACTUAL chronology of what happened in the 2nd half of that Bucs-Browns game because … oh ya, that’s the game Joe was referencing in the article. There’s no ‘spin’ involved; they’re called ‘facts’. You should try it sometime.
You got me wondering now if they threw you off the New England site after their loss to the Eagles last Sunday. Too much complaining?
September 15th, 2023 at 9:02 am
DR, is Bowels a close relative? You failed to address the FACT that Bowels failed to stop the clock!!! When the Bucs beat the current Eagles (current #1 team in the NFL) you can pump out your chest. Nice call out Joe. DR is in denial!!!
September 15th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Joe … ‘False?” The only thing false about that is you claiming it never happened.’
Todd Bowles made a HCing decision to punt on 4th down because of the game situation that he felt existed at the time. THAT’S his prerogative as a HC. Fans could look at every 4th down situation that ever existed as the HC taking the ball out of the QB’s hands. I guess it’s all in how particular fans view it Joe.
I go out of my way when commenting to use facts as the basis for objective analysis. I’m surprised that you view that as me making things up. I enjoy various articles, comments & analyses on JoeBucsFan but it’s your site.
September 15th, 2023 at 9:08 am
DR, you still refuse to acknowledge Bowles did NOT stop the clock until it was too late. FACT man!
September 15th, 2023 at 9:12 am
My reference to the other games were proof of Brady’s ability to come back in the 11th hour of games no matter what the situation. Isn’t he the guy that holds the NFL record for come back wins?
September 15th, 2023 at 9:21 am
How happy will Joe be if we do this: “Nothing would make Joe happier than if the Bucs stepped into the 21st century, throwing the ball and throwing often.” And we end up with multiple passes dropped deflected or miss-thrown, and we have to again climb out of those 3rd and 10 holes? We need to run to make them have some sense of that being a threat. Otherwise, it is pin your ears back for the defense and rush the passer which creates sacks, and possible fumbles. I would rather run and pass than just pass. Our defense has made it a point to make the other team “one dimensional” by having to stop the run to force the pass. I guess Joe knows something that I have not heard from any of our coaches and players as to how our defense works to stop the run to make the other team only pass… That must be an alternative defensive concept.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
September 15th, 2023 at 9:38 am
I know joe is taking Bowles literally but I really think he was saying since the O stunk he didnt trust Leftwich. Which I think we know he did not was BL as the O coordinator last year either.
September 15th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Yo – Masshole – GTFOOH
September 15th, 2023 at 9:56 am
Did the Bucs win 29 games in two years leaning on the run and not using the superior (and expensive) weapons they had in the passing game? Of course not. If that was the case, then they didn’t need to go out and get Tom Brady.
Joe thinks he’s been pretty clear you don’t want Mayfield throwing the ball 40 times a game.
September 15th, 2023 at 9:56 am
I think it’s becoming clear that Bowles wasn’t worried about Brady last season; he was worried about Boron. And rightfully so.
September 15th, 2023 at 9:57 am
DR Says:
” I can’t believe that you’re still on that false ‘Bowles took the ball out of Brady’s hands in the Cleveland game’ kick…. (provides evidence that the narrative is silly)… But ya Joe, let’s keep bringing it up & up & up”
LOL – When Joe(L) sinks his teeth into a bad narrative – he beats that dead horse till there ain’t nothin left but a few strands of mane and tail….
I’m pretty sure its on purpose because there have been SOOO many similar instances over the last 15 years…..
September 15th, 2023 at 9:58 am
LOL!!!
September 15th, 2023 at 10:14 am
NE Fan
A serious and respectful question. Why are you here? We get that you are a Brady fan which is why you showed up. If I was an NE Fan I too might have that idolatry. Tom says he’s a Patriot for life so why are you here? Are you here to simply troll us.
Accountability is all I ask. Tom Brady was great in N.E. with perhaps the greatest DC…not HC but DC in the NFL. The two of them had a great run so enjoy it!
One is an absolute jerk and the other is an egomaniac. That does not diminish their talent at all in my eyes. It does diminish the urge to cheer them on unless they were on OUR team. I can cheer for Reid and Mahomes unless they’re playing the Bucs even though I do not nor have ever lived in KC. I’ve always hated the Pats even though they play in one of the greatest cities in America.
LOVE Boston…LOATHE the Patriots and their slime ball owner, their jerk coach and their former conceited egomaniac of a QB. He says all the right things but last year’s actions revealed the true Tom Brady! He was literally NOT a TEAM player and the record reflects that.
“Bowels” Really NE Fan. I always considered Bostonians to have a lot more class! But then perhaps you’re not from Boston and just a fan.
September 15th, 2023 at 10:45 am
spbf – rule #1 on a sports blog….. DON’T FEED THE TROLLS
September 15th, 2023 at 11:42 am
Pickgrin…
LOL You are correct sir and that’ll be my last time with him. Thanks for the reminder.
September 15th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Hmm the morons are out in groves. I enjoy Joe’s blog and participate when I feel fit. Calling Brady a egomaniac shows how poor a judge of character you have. Have you ever heard a teammate or coach make that claim? He only played for 23 season. The reference was about the Cleveland game and how Bowels pulled the plug on the O. Suggesting he didn’t is a form of ignorance and or bias, either way it is what happened. I guess he wanted the team fresh for the Dallas PO game.
September 15th, 2023 at 2:42 pm
“Boron”. Perfect.
September 15th, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Bowels said it himself that he was afraid of Brady throwing an interception. How much more obvious is that?
September 15th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
Hey NE Fan aka yahoo. So, Brady is no egomaniac, huh? Are you for real? Why else would he still be playing way past his prime years? He had some sort of lucky charm or ownership guarding his arse so he didn’t get badly injured, too. Yeah, he was talented; he’s a first round HOFamer. But, so is Aaron Rodgers, another me-firster. Guess what? He tore his Achilles heel in his very first game as a Jet. He’s 39. Guess he didn’t have Methusaleh luck. Just get lost and don’t come back. You’re no Buc fan, and we deal with enough yahoos as it is.
September 15th, 2023 at 8:04 pm
The Vikings have thrown moe than passes in both their games. They are 0-2. Eagles have thrown fewer than 30 and are 2-0.
September 16th, 2023 at 11:59 am
Joe – please don’t run DR – he is the best poster in this site imho. I would considering hiring the guy.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Oralsuc, 23yrs not one teammate or coach,just you and a few other haters on this site. Ya he played past his time to give a shat team almost two SB’s and 3 division titles. The old f$#k. How SB’s does Karen Roger’s have again???