Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Texans
November 5th, 2023
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
There’s a pretty good chance the 2023 Buc season ended Sunday at 4:27 p.m. EST.
That’s when the clock ran out on the visitors in a surreal 39-37 setback that had to be seen to be believed. Buc fans still don’t believe it — and who can blame them?
The NFC South standings say the Bucs are only a game behind the first-place Saints in the loss column, but this was no ordinary loss at Houston. All you had to do was listen to Todd Bowles at the post-game podium.
Bowles has been in the NFL for three decades as a player or a coach and even he acknowledged Sunday’s meltdown was extraordinary.
Losing four in a row after a 3-1 start is bad enough, but now Tampa Bay has nothing to cling to in terms of consistent play. The league’s sixth-ranked scoring defense was just ravaged by C.J. Stroud, who looked like anything except a rookie.
Stroud threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns in the second half alone as the Texans overcame a ton of adversity.
A defense that had excelled in the red zone was left battered and blue as three of Stroud’s targets finished with more than 100 receiving yards.
And then there are the Glazers watching the wheels come off yet again and wondering whether Bowles is the man for the job. A significant segment of Buc Nation has already decided. They’ve lost confidence in the head coach and now you have to wonder whether that skepticism extends to the locker room and the executive suite.
You can’t spray some perfume and pretty this one up.
This loss was inexcusable, even while acknowledging Stroud displayed remarkable poise under difficult circumstances.
The Texans lost their kicker and finished with 62 more penalty yards than rushing yards. The Bucs won the turnover battle and owned field position throughout, yet still walked out as losers.
Maybe the Bucs can end a 3-game slide at home and beat the woebegone Titans on Sunday.
Maybe.
Perhaps Bowles can rally his guys for the final nine weeks and make a run at a third consecutive division title.
But at this point, the arrow that ownership traditionally fixates on is pointing straight down. And as Sunday showed, the Bucs can no longer count on a stingy scoring defense to keep them competitive.
Baker Mayfield did his job. He made some huge plays in crunch time, finding Trey Palmer for 21 yards on third-and-23 before running 5 yards for a first down. That set up what should have been a game-winning TD pass to Cade Otton with 46 seconds remaining — only it wasn’t.
Stroud countered with a TD drive of his own, carving up a secondary that was undermined by a soft pass rush. Now comes the hard part, rebounding from the most bitter Buc setback since the playoff loss to the Rams that ended their 2021 season.
Give the young man his due. Stroud was phenomenal in setting an NFL record for most passing yards by a rookie. Still, he had plenty of help along the way from a Buc team that appears to be stumbling toward regime change.
Here’s how the Texans gave the Glazer family a lot to think about on that return flight home:
* It’s hard to imagine Carlton Davis having a worse game. He was far from the only culprit, but he was downright awful.
* On the flip side, Devin White played with energy and purpose, registering 9 stops and a sack. Calijah Kancey showed his promise with a sack and 3 tackles for loss.
* Anybody seen Chris Godwin? Didn’t think so.
* You had to figure the Bucs were destined to win when Mike Evans capitalized on his great hustle and a fortunate bounce tp fall on Palmer’s fumble with less than a minute remaining. You figured wrong.
* Not to take anything away from Stroud’s spectacular afternoon, but Tampa Bay’s pressure was abysmal. He consistently had ample time to work through his progressions as Bowles decided to drop seven into coverage and rely on a 4-man rush. That might work against Will Levis, but it was a disastrous plan on Sunday.
* Rachaad White played well once again, gaining 73 yards on the ground and 46 more as a target out of the backfield. The offensive line did a better job opening some creases in the run game.
* Nothing came easy for Houston’s offense. Out of 12 drives, the Texans started 11 times from their own 25 or worse. The Buc defense can’t blame short fields for a miserable afternoon. That’s why Bowles was so crestfallen after the game. He knew his guys have to own this disaster, unless you want to blame it all on an early injury to Jamel Dean. Let’s get real.
* At 3-5, the season isn’t over, even if it feels that way. From the players to the coaches, this will be a major test of leadership and resolve. If this losing streak extends much longer, Jason Licht may regret declaring Evans off limits at the trade deadline.
* Chase McLaughlin remains a bright spot in a dark season.
* With a rookie QB and no running game, the Texans just averaged 8.0 yards per snap. Bowles needs to flash that number on a big sign in the defensive meeting rooms this week. Professional pride may be the only thing standing between this franchise and a 6-11 finish that would trigger an offseason overhaul.
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November 5th, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Ira spot on….. Don’t forte y about Jason Licht…. He has a portiion in this one…..
November 5th, 2023 at 7:37 pm
Stroud averaged 16 yards per completion…….picked us apart all game
We made no adjustments…..
And…..we need to stop running on 2nd down……this is what is putting us in 3rd and long……stop it!!!
Canales seems to be as stubborn as Leftwich……..the only difference is his command of the English language…..but that doesn’t rack up wins.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:38 pm
Nothing will change until something changes.
This is a typical Bowles team.
At least the Bucs are still in the tourney for the #1 pick. For a new coach.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:39 pm
@tbbf: Canales should wear a flat brim.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:42 pm
“With a rookie QB and no running game, the Texans just averaged 8.0 yards per snap. Bowles needs to flash that number on a big sign in the defensive meeting rooms this week.“
Or maybe flash that sign in Canales’ room. You don’t need to establish the run game to successfully pass the ball!
November 5th, 2023 at 7:42 pm
This loss is on Bowles and Bowles alone. 40 seconds left and all you have to do is keep everything in front of you and you let the Texans march straight down the field..Todd must be fired!!
November 5th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
our next coach will want the highest draft pick possible
November 5th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Time to finally rid the Bucs of Bruce Arians leftovers.
Really embarrassing loss from a team with a “defensive guru” head coach.
Clean house.
Tear off the band-aid like the Raiders did and at least we have a chance at hiring the best head coach available – Jim Harbaugh.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
“Anybody seen Chris Godwin? Didn’t think so.”
Well he is a WR, and to see them, you need to throw them the ball.
But hey, 250 yards and 2 TDs, should be good enough to get you a win every day of the week!
November 5th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Licht spending all that glazer money on cornerbacks isnt a good look either
November 5th, 2023 at 7:47 pm
TonySoprano Says:
“With a rookie QB and no running game”
———–
LOL! As if — everyone knows you CAN NOT win if you don’t run the ball! You need to go back and recheck your stats, they’re clearly wrong.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:48 pm
Something is wrong at one Bucs place. Ira I think you may have opened a can of worms with the statement Bowles could lose the locker room. I think he has lost it. The way his defense played today and the statement Mayfield made, I think Bowles have lost his locker room whereas players or just not listening anymore
November 5th, 2023 at 7:49 pm
Oxycondomns Says:
November 5th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Licht spending all that glazer money on cornerbacks isnt a good look either
———–
Well, maybe he spent the money not knowing the brilliant coach would change the scheme to literally play zone over 90% of the time.
Over 90% is a real number. Those expensive man-to-man corners being told to sit back in a passive zone, it’s a complete waste, just like having White sit back in the 2nd half and stop rushing was a complete waste. But that’s what you get when you have a moron as your head coach.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Players aren’t listening to Bowles….nobody cares what inspirational tactic he uses, he’s being tuned out at this point.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:56 pm
Baker cannot see Godwin over the line, and he doesnt get clean windows. Bowles secondary flat out gave the game away. The front seven would make splash plays, and Stroud looked all world on third and long. Its his guys, on his side of the ball, on his team…
November 5th, 2023 at 7:59 pm
6-11 is not what this franchise needs. 3-14 would do.
November 5th, 2023 at 7:59 pm
Arians played to win. And we won. Bowles plays not to lose. So we lose.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:05 pm
Bobby M. Says:
November 5th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Players aren’t listening to Bowles….nobody cares what inspirational tactic he uses, he’s being tuned out at this point.
The crazy part is I bet there’s a chance Bowles doesn’t even give speeches before games. I can legitimately picture Todd going entire weeks without talking to some players.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:06 pm
I love the Bucs but this is a poorly coached team. The offense had 14 yards in the entire third quarter if I remember correctly. The whole “they haven’t installed the full playbook yet” just baffles me. Yes the defense was as soft as ice cream in the sun.
@Joe why can j. Dobbs be on a team less than 7 days and they still managed to put him in a good situation carry that team today. Why are we still doing the run run pass punt playbook? The amount of targets mike and Chris had today is a fireable offense even for a rookie play caller.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:06 pm
If they don’t fire him they need to force him to give up defensive play calling as well as having someone else in charge of clock management. Ending the 1st half with all 3 timeouts when the defense was getting sacks was stupid. Get the ball back and try a long field goal at least. So coaching scared.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:07 pm
If he learned from his mistakes he would do well, he makes so many.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:08 pm
In each loss this year Bowles says, “Players were out of position.” Guess what? Coaches coach player position and responsibility. That is literally what a DC job is to do. According to Bowls each of the 4 losses is a result of bad coaching. I couldn’t agree more.
The season isn’t over but it is.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
As a reminder, it was only the previous years offseason that the Bucs were picked to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl – that was last years’ team! That’s how bad Todd Bowles has done as head coach, how quickly he has destroyed the team.
We saw what can happen when you have a top tier coach like Arians.
And we see what happens when you have a complete buffon as your head coach, over and over and over again, with 3rd rate guys like Bowles, Dirk, Schiano.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:12 pm
I moved to Florida as a 12 year old boy in 1984. The following year was my first real memory of being a fan of football and I had picked up the Bucs as my team because back then there weren’t any other options on the TV. That was Steve Young’s rookie year with Steve Deberg as the starter.
The Bucs have been the only football team I have supported as a fan.
I realize that part of the fun of being a fan is having that hope every year – but this year I could not intellectually square the decisions made. This is my first year as a Bucs fan that I did not have that hope and could not bring myself to become emotionally invested in this season like I have in every other season since as a Bucs fan since I was 13 years old – and that is saying something considering this team’s history.
Todd Bowles should have been fired after last season. I knew it after the loss in Pittsburg last season when Trubitsky came off the bench to connect with Chase Claypool of all players to beat a vastly superior Bucs team. It was a gutless performance by Tampa. It was one of those games where you realized this team just doesn’t have the pride enough to summon what is necessary in a contest of wills. The Steelers just wanted it more – effing Chase Claypool (who is a headcase) wanted it more.
After I got done being furious about it I realized under Bowles this wasn’t the team. They couldn’t summon it from within them to do it in Tom Brady’s last year. Completely unfathomable and unforgivable. What an embarrassment.
And then the Glazers kept Bowles for a second season – blamed it all on Leftwich which everyone collectively followed suit on – and pretended like that was all OK. Todd didn’t have a chance to hire his guys, shape it to the kind of team he wanted – that was the spin.
I had trouble wrapping my head around that. Did they not just witness what we all just witnessed? Uh-oh we’re all collectively in for a rough one.
CONT…
November 5th, 2023 at 8:15 pm
I’m so sick of baker played well he played like an average to below average qb he made a few plays but stop sugar coating it, he is not a good qb!
November 5th, 2023 at 8:16 pm
Our overpaid corners. I was never a believer in Davis or Dean. In the past, when those guys shined, the opposing qb was running for his life. Disappointed in the front office.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:18 pm
Time to tank. It’s over. Don’t win another game including loosing twice to the panthers. Just need Arizona, Chicago and NE to pick up some wins. here we are just another normal Bucs season looking at mock drafts once Halloween hits.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:19 pm
Flush The Bowles and Licht’s Out…it’s time for a new regime head to toe/top to bottom.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Eric Says:
November 5th, 2023 at 8:15 pm
I’m so sick of baker played well he played like an average to below average qb he made a few plays but stop sugar coating it, he is not a good qb!
———-
People make a big deal about how many OC’s he’s had in career – and the reason why is because he gets them all fired. He shows just barely enough from time to time to make you think he might be a good QB, but the rug always gets pulled out from underneath the team. I don’t know how people don’t get the act.
250 yards and 2 TDs passing is not what you need from a QB in 2023 to win. He played fine today, but that’s it, he was fine. He missed a ton of guys who were wide open, and he needed Evans to make a heck of a catch on an underthrown ball. He’s not using Godwin at all, he rarely throws it down the field, and is quick to give up on plays and check the ball down.
But that’s what you get when you head coach literally says the QB’s top job is to protect the ball. In that regard, Baker is doing what he’s being asked to do. But we’ve seen him for years, and he is what he is, an inaccurate middlingly QB who can at times look OK, but will, in the end, get you fired.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:24 pm
Itzok Says:
November 5th, 2023 at 8:18 pm
Time to tank. It’s over. Don’t win another game including loosing twice to the panthers. Just need Arizona, Chicago and NE to pick up some wins. here we are just another normal Bucs season looking at mock drafts once Halloween hits.
————–
Arizona gets by Kyler Murray probably next week, if not the week after. So they’ll likely pick up a few wins.
Chicago gets back Justin Fields soon, but frankly, they have looked a lot better lately, and just got beat by a better team today. They should get a handful of wins between now and the end of the year.
The team I’d be worried about is the Patriots. Their offense is so bad, I’d make them the odds on favorite to get that #1 pick by the end of the year.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Lots of casuals in the comment section…..what a bunch of loser fans who don’t know jack about football
November 5th, 2023 at 8:34 pm
and give Rod Munch a job! Damn if he aint right again! he says: I’m so sick of baker played well he played like an average to below average qb he made a few plays but stop sugar coating it, he is not a good qb! NO DOUBT!!!!!!!!! baker is not good and tell the goddam truth we do not want him back sorry but true we want caleb, penix or bo nix
November 5th, 2023 at 8:34 pm
normal doom and gloom you come to expect it from this team
November 5th, 2023 at 8:34 pm
So the only reason I can think of why they would not fire Bowles is money – he’s on a 5 year deal. I have mentioned this before, but its my guess that the Glazers know its a cap reset year so they just let this season ride. I’ve seen Glazer representatives talk about how football is cyclical and how you need to have patience during the sinusoidal valleys in the cycle. This is the Glazers having patience reading the current tea leaves.
So that eroded confidence somewhat.
Then the signed Canales in what seemed like to me as a choice made far down the list because nobody of any real merit wanted to come to Tampa. Guaranteed bad mojo. If Bowles can’t entice an OC to come to Tampa – that’s a problem. Finally they get Canales who’s a QB coach that never called plays before.
Well that’s not good.
Then they go out and sign the worst QB in football from previous season. Yes Baker was the worst QB in football in 2022.
Mayfield has a reputation as a diva and a malcontent. He won’t play nice unless he’s got the starting gig. What the heck? What is going on I thought. Is this real? Are they serious about this?
Oh there’s going to be a QB competition (wink wink nod nod).
I was interested in that and I wanted to see how that played out and of course it evolved did pretty much exactly as I predicted. A fake competition gifted to Baker.
That’s when I jumped on the Trask mob because I thought that was BS.
Bad coach, uninspired players, rookie OC, overrated diva QB… A recipe for disaster.
The disaster is unfolding in front of our eyes.
We’re seeing a continuation of what we saw last year – except it’s worse and now accelerating downhill fast with no Tom Brady to apply the breaks on the runaway train.
I’m waiting for it to end quite frankly so we can move on from this comedy of errors.
If the Glazers don’t fire Bowles at the end of this season – I won’t be back. I’ll find something else to spend my money on and occupy my time. This is a burning trashfire. I can’t suffer it for multiple seasons.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:36 pm
This is pre Brady garbage Bucs all over again. We got used to 3 seasons where we expected to win. Now we’re back to being the Yucs and no one wants to go back to that. So the owners better figure out how to put a quality product on the damn field. Tired of watching Bowles play to lose every week. Tired of the penalties and players being out of position. Start holding people accountable or bench them.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:37 pm
Eh, even though they needed up putting up some points, the offense had too many 3 and outs, too many runs for no gain, and too many bad, scared, pathetic play calls.
The defense had maybe 2 good drives all game and otherwise was just pathetic. No heart, no pride, no intensity. No pass rush either. Carlton Davis had probably his worst game ever? And he’s been not very good all season, but today he made Ryan Neal look good.
Just a pathetic performance, led by a pathetic and cowardly coaching staff.
Bowles and Canales ain’t it.
No more excuses. Sucks for guys like Evans, David and Gholston.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:37 pm
*ended up putting up some points
November 5th, 2023 at 8:38 pm
Every time you looked up the Texan receivers were running wide open. This loss is not on the offense. This loss is on the coaching staff and the defensive secondary that played like they had no interest in covering any Texan receivers.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:43 pm
Todd Bowles should have been fired after last season. I knew it after the loss in Pittsburg last season when Trubitsky came off the bench to connect with Claypool of all players to beat a vastly superior Bucs team. It was a gutless performance by Tampa. It was one of those games where you realized this team just doesn’t have the pride enough to summon what is necessary in a contest of wills. The Steelers just wanted it more – Chase Claypool (who is a headcase) wanted it more.
After I got done being furious about it I realized under Bowles this wasn’t the team. They couldn’t summon it from within them to do it in Tom Brady’s last year. Completely unfathomable and unforgivable. What an embarrassment.
And then the Glazers kept Bowles for a second season – blamed it all on Leftwich which everyone collectively followed suit on – and pretended like that was all OK. Todd didn’t have a chance to hire his guys, shape it to the kind of team he wanted – that was the spin.
I had trouble wrapping my head around that.
I think we’re seeing the same result. Seems a lack of heart is a hallmark of a Todd Bowles coached team – outside a few players like Evans, LVD and Winfield Jr who are playing for contracts.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:46 pm
I realize that part of the fun of being a fan is having that hope every year – but this year I could not intellectually square the decisions made.
This is my first year as a Bucs fan that I did not have that hope and could not bring myself to become emotionally invested in this season like I have in every other season since I was 13 years old – and that is saying something considering this team’s history.
The head and the heart can’t square in 2023.
November 5th, 2023 at 8:51 pm
Jim Harbaugh available yet?
November 5th, 2023 at 8:52 pm
Harbaugh, welcome to tampa ,
November 5th, 2023 at 8:59 pm
Well put MikeS. Glazers and Licht went the “half measure” route this year and, predictably, no one is satisfied. They held onto Bowles, they spent as much as they could to stay competitive and refused to move any players for draft capital. So now we’re stuck with a middling team, lame duck staff, draft pick that won’t be high enough to land a top QB, and a wasted season.
November 5th, 2023 at 9:10 pm
Bowles was a very bad hire from the start.
Funny how the Bucs fans knew it but the Glazers and Jason Licht did not
November 5th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
This team sucks. From coaching to the players this is one big pack of LOSERS!
November 5th, 2023 at 9:23 pm
“250 yards and 2 TDs passing is not what you need from a QB in 2023 to win”
Translation- Baker didn’t set an NFL record and throw for 550 yards so he didn’t play well enough.
It’s literally not college football. Mahomes, Lamar and Hurts all won today and “only” threw for 2 TDs and 200 yards.
When Mayfield is capable of playing a shoot out game with someone who just set the rookie passing record against a pathetic Bucs defense, he’s not the problem.
Mayfield has that game won, the Bucs defense lost it.
November 5th, 2023 at 9:27 pm
Bowles = Dungy Lite.
But with less personality.
Now you know why he was despised by fans with the Jets.
November 5th, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Baker Mayfield is NOT the problem with this team.
November 5th, 2023 at 9:34 pm
bowles defense stabbed him in the back today…they really did…
especially guys in his main unit, the secondary…no names need mentioning…
he might be contemplating resignation on the plane ride home, because it’s become very clear he is hurting team culture after an arians and brady bail out…
i wish coach could snap his fingers and just fix it, but evidently it’s not in his makeup…
the only thing in his favor on sunday is it really was a pretty wacky game – with ogenbawale momentarily stealing the show
November 5th, 2023 at 9:40 pm
‘Now comes the hard part, rebounding from the most bitter Buc setback since the playoff loss to the Rams that ended their 2021 season.”
Wise words from the Sage! Watching the collapse today pattern?
November 5th, 2023 at 9:47 pm
This is what Bowles is as a HC! he is a sub .500 coach… period. O line stinks from C to RT, yet they try to run there and not left behind Wirfs. Mayfield becomes Checkdown Charlie after halftime and is going to get someone killed in the flat. Davis and Neal should be GONE. No way Tampa runs the NFC south table and backs into the playoffs again. Hope Drake Maye finds himself in Pewter next draft.
November 5th, 2023 at 9:53 pm
I thought Carlton Davis was going to wreck s#it up this year?
November 5th, 2023 at 9:55 pm
How do you figure 6-11? You expect the
M to win a game?
November 5th, 2023 at 9:56 pm
If I remember correctly, Bowles was hired only because the NFL made a big stink about “certain” people not getting a fair shot, even though when I looked at head coaches in the league in comparison to the actual breakdown of our population, it was more than adequate. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but it makes no sense. If Arians was so bad, why was he given a front office gig instead of being fired? You could tell in his interviews that he was being pushed out, so don’t tell me he really wanted to move on to a different role. This was done a year after missing a second straight Super Bowl by 2 games. It just didn’t add up, which led me to this opinion, but yet, I still welcomed Bowles with open arms even though something smelled fishy. But now, it’s time to move on. Bowles is a terrible leader that ran an awesome Arian’s team into the ground. Today was pretty much the last straw. I will be signing up and working OT on Sundays from here on out. This Texans game knocked the wind out of my sails. I haven’t been this mad since the Jameis Winston Era. We are a bad team again…exactly where we belong. Thank you to TB and BA for at least giving me a Super Bowl. Hadn’t had that kind of pride in my team since 2002, which was short-lived as well. This is just a bad franchise, cursed to be bad and unwatchable for years to come. I’m tired of wasting my Sundays. Bye, Bucs. See you again in another 20 years.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:05 pm
Nope. Joe is pretty confident this was set up when Bruce Arians was hired. That whenever Arians retired Bowles would take his place. Getting Bowles a job was very important to Arians. Am very confident it was a package deal when the Bucs hired Arians.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:08 pm
Licht committed football malpractice when he failed to move Evans, White, Davis, etc. Cowardice or incompetence. You choose.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:16 pm
The Dallas Cowboys are the ultimate paper tigers – beetchmade. Soft.
They came into Tampa during the playoffs and whalloped the Bucs for 425 yards and 31 points – and that’s with Tom Brady throwing for 350 yards.
What more do you need to know? This is who Tampa is – except now they give up 500 yards and 39 points to an injury riddled team with a rookie QB.
We can’t be in denial about it any longer.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:17 pm
Joe/admin…
Another indication of why nepotism sucks.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:27 pm
OMG I can’t read this site anymore its bakersbfault it’s ba ers fault u people r pathetic they lost baker got them 37 points 1 way or another with a qb rating of 119 but he sucks no u so called fans suck this website sucks because of u crappy fans
November 5th, 2023 at 10:34 pm
Bucdaddy says I say good bye to u broncos packers even Cleveland fans don’t act like u people with bad teams u r not really fans u r like father millennial today u need coloring books & crayons when things don’t go u r way so long bucdaddy or shud I say good riddance
November 5th, 2023 at 10:37 pm
BUCDADDY that is a hell of an accusation – Bowles being a diversity hire. Dude has been around long enough to be at least a valid candidate. He earned consideration.
What I find a little eyebrow raising is when they signed him Licht made a remark to say (paraphrasing) “we gave him a 5 year deal to make sure the franchise stays committed to him” which to me came off like they gave him 5 years to make sure they keep him around even if the Bucs suck out loud. What is that?
Is taking care of guys more important than winning? What they won a SB with Brady so that brings in enough social capital for a while they can make it about something other than winning?
How is that fair to everyone in that building whose careers depend on winning and losing? The fans that pay good money to see this product?
Maybe that’s why there is lackluster effort and a diminished sense of urgency? Because it doesn’t matter anyway – there’s no accountability.
If they bring Bowles back in 2024 after going 6-11 or 5-12 (or worse) in this ugly fashion how are they going to rationalize that?
“It was a cap reset year”
“We’re bringing Baker back with this unearned ridiculous contract”
“We believe coaching continuity is the answer”
Will Joe repeat the company line? I’m thinking yeah Joe will sell us another year of Bowles Canales and Baker like we just stepped on the used car lot.
I mean… Good luck with that. You’ll see a lot of backs super quick.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:50 pm
BAKERSBucs Baker is inconsistent. 119 rating with 266 passing yards – it was a good offensive performance, but next week that won’t be repeated against the Titans.
Tom Brady would have savaged that team and hung 45 on them while keeping the Bucs defense off the field in the 3rd quarter, which is what gassed the defense.
Baker is fools gold.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
Boltsfan17 they’re bringing Bowles back in 2024 – they want to keep their pieces.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:54 pm
Now that the Bucs are back to being the Bucs, several observations:
1. Licht was and is a terrible GM. The best GM we ever had was Brady and his ability to bring in real players and elevate the play of the duds that remain.
2. Arians sabotaged this franchise with his succession plan.
3. This franchise needs to realize that it’s goal should not be to win a horrible division and get embarrassed in the playoffs.
4. A total rebuild is necessary with a new GM and coaching staff.
5. After the Bucs lose next week at home against another rookie QB, Glazers need to make a statement and fire Bowles immediately.
6. Apathy has once again set in for the fans. Most of us have seen enough this season and have tuned out.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:56 pm
BUCDADDY – Bowles is complete trash as a head coach, however, as Joe pointed out, this was pretty much set up to work this way, once Arians retired, Bowles would take over. Also his defense did as much as anything to win the SB. Also with Brady here last year, the last thing you wanted to do was reset everything – all Todd was supposed to do was keep the team on autopilot, and he screwed that up.
To say, however, he’s just a token hire is stupid. The guy trashed the media when they tried to place the race card with him and Tomlin being two black head coaches in the same game last year, and asked those woke warrior sports reporters what universe they live in where they still think that’s a big deal.
Trash Bowles for all the football reasons you want, but don’t make him into a huckster playing the race card. There are plenty of real race hustlers out there getting rich off that garbage, but Bowles isn’t one of them, and it’s a real discredit to group him into that batch when he’s literally spoke out against it.
November 5th, 2023 at 10:58 pm
BAKERSBucs Says:
November 5th, 2023 at 10:27 pm
OMG I can’t read this site anymore its bakersbfault it’s ba ers fault u people r pathetic they lost baker got them 37 points 1 way or another with a qb rating of 119 but he sucks no u so called fans suck this website sucks because of u crappy fans
———
That’s the rules kiddo. Winston would get his team into a position to win the game all the time only to have the defense collapse, and who was blamed for the loss? That’s right, the QB.
So this is all on Mayfield.
Also 250 yards and 2 TDs is not impressive unless its 1973. He was fine today, outside of missing guys all game, and settling for three FGs. But outside of that, he was pretty fine.
November 5th, 2023 at 11:02 pm
Pels hard to argue against the points you make.
November 5th, 2023 at 11:18 pm
Coaching and players were abysmal in this game. Ultimately the Defense gets the loss for the monumental second half collapse but that 3rd quarter was something. I don’t have a dog in the Mayfield vs Trask debate, but Mayfield couldn’t throw past 10 yards to save his life. One series, it is 3rd and 3 and he throws to a covered RB behind the line of scrimmage. All the plays were going to the RBs. The only balls he could throw accurately were to running backs. Don’t know if that was coaching or his inability to find receivers but he was awful. At the end of the day, this has all the ear marks of a failed Todd Bowles team vision. But the main problem is that anyone who has ever had to actually evaluate a resume and make a hiring decision knows that Bowles was never a fit to be given another head coaching job. It makes no since at all and this is 100% on Licht and the Glazers. You don’t hire a person who was a demonstrated failure on their last attempt at doing the job you’re hiring for. As I have said in multiple posts since early last year, these results should not be a surprise to anyone.
November 5th, 2023 at 11:37 pm
Well said Rod.
November 5th, 2023 at 11:37 pm
“admin Says:
November 5th, 2023 at 10:05 pm
If I remember correctly, Bowles was hired only because
Nope. Joe is pretty confident this was set up when Bruce Arians was hired. That whenever Arians retired Bowles would take his place. Getting Bowles a job was very important to Arians. Am very confident it was a package deal when the Bucs hired Arians.”
So the official cost of that Superbowl is Tom Brady, some cap hell and having to hire a guy who was never going to be hired as a head coach any other way…. I hope they also didn’t guarantee this schmuck more time.
November 5th, 2023 at 11:40 pm
The Stankaneers. Stank.
November 5th, 2023 at 11:53 pm
HC Grover, dod you just comment the Stankaneers. If you feel that way then maybe a Bucs fanatic website isn’t the place you should spend your time commenting on. I don’t know you. But I’m sure I speak for many on this platform. Regardless of how successfully or not successful the Bucs do year end and year out. We are all still passionate and supportive fans. And most on here know there is line not to cross when commenting on this platform. But sir, you just crossed that line calling the Bucs the Sucaneers. Please go be a fan of another team. Get off this platform with that attitude and derogatory
. Yes Bucs are not playing well by far right now. But don’t you dare bring back 1980s and 90s references to the team. The Bucs aren’t even close to being deserving of being called that name. Hell, Bucs just won a SB in Tampa 3 years ago. So quit lying sir. Let’s Go Bucs!!
November 6th, 2023 at 12:52 am
Rod that’s good stuff about Bowles. I don’t believe his hire was specifically about the NFL being able to cite racial demographic wins in head coaching.
Of course they are drawn to that narrative like a moth to a flame at times, undoubtedly. The unfortunate side effect of that is it becomes a part of the discussion in unintended (and unwanted) ways.
Lets clear something up – Bucs won a Super Bowl with Bowles as a coordinator and his defense very much was a big part of that run. That’s no small achievement for any man – black, white, purple, pink with green polka dots or otherwise. Lets not diminish the man’s accomplishments.
He’s a wiley and extremely successful defensive coordinator.
Head coach? Not so much. Perhaps the broader set of coaching responsibilities has served to dilute the attention to detail he formerly able to focus on exclusively as DC? Maybe the pressure is different and bearing the full load is not as enjoyable for him? Maybe he’s now in his 60s and is starting to think of other things in life in his 2nd go round as HC and its not everything he built it up to be when he was aspiring to reclimb the coaching mountain?
Maybe he just isn’t as good of a HC as he is as a DC?
All of these things would be perfectly reasonable and OK.
Extremely few men in this world possess head coaching acumen in abundance and just reaching the opportunity to ply one’s skills at that role is an achievement in itself.
Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and even if he gets fired at the end of the season (or possibly before) it shouldn’t diminish the man’s achievements. Nor should it stop him from enjoying the financial boon of that contract with his family.
The old saying is the NFL stands for Not For Long. Either you trend up and stay employed or you trend down and get fired. That’s how it is. Everyone is trying to catch that tiger by its tail and hold on for as long as they can.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:56 am
Bobby. Its because we are fans of this team we express our criticisms.
Its a result of our passions.
If we didn’t care we wouldn’t say anything at all.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:04 am
The Bucs is the most predictable team on both sides of the ball. Yes, the offense played well enough to win Sunday. However, Baker plays indecisive, not with poise & confidence. You have arguably the best WR tandem and he can’t get them the ball like a Burrows, or a CJ Stroud. Bowles defense is the same since the NFC Championship against the Rams. He always gives up the big plays in crucial situations and Sunday proved it again. Light has egg on his face too. Hall, Tron, Neal, has not worked. Al Davis knew he had to make a big decision and he did. The Glazer family (Ariians) must save the season and FIRE 🔥 BOWLES period.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:25 am
I think the Bucs can safely say they have the best punter in the NFL.
Not exactly the first position Id like to be the best in the NFL at….
But its the one thing we got right….
November 6th, 2023 at 6:15 am
Todd once again failed in clock management as the bucs should have kept their timeout and lose the 10 seconds on the td drive. I told my wife when we scored and left 45 seconds the game was over…for tampa
November 6th, 2023 at 6:57 am
@Don’tBmad Says:
What team have you been watching?- a spade is a spade and a turd is a turd. Fans are tired of seeing the same BS week in and week out as am I. If you disagree with statements about this teams regression not just this year but since Bowles has taken the HC duties, then I don’t know what to tell you.
November 6th, 2023 at 7:13 am
This organization is a natural disaster. That’s their rightful place in the NFL.
Fuk them.
November 6th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Jason Licht needs to go, and Bowles. They broke the bank for cornerbacks, not a quarterback or an edge rusher, and look where that got them.
November 6th, 2023 at 7:36 pm
There’s a lot of junk posting on here that I don’t recognize. They sure aren’t Bucs fans. Ira, I am disappointed in you. Why nothing about the preponderance of bad ref calls? Sure, ownership makes sure the bought off refs are sacrosanct, but it doesn’t change the fact that people are turning off slowly to this sport. A big reason why is lousy refs. Why no comment on them? Bucs got robbed again.
November 6th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
One question… Of the 400 something yds Stroud threw for how many were YAC (yards after the catch)? I think that’s a very important stat to look at.