CBS: Five-Alarm Fire For Todd Bowles
October 7th, 2024
Critical pass defense issue.
The Bucs suddenly have a major problem on their hands, based on how they collapsed Thursday night. And whether Todd Bowles can resolve the issue soon may determine the fate of the season.
That’s the word from Will Brinson of CBS. He watched, like Joe, in horror the final two minutes of Thursday’s Bucs choke to Atlanta.
While Joe is significantly more upset at the Bucs not using their best weapons to close out the game — true and proven weapons, clutch players — Brinson was appalled by the defense.
In short, Brinson said Bowles better come up with answers quickly or who knows how quickly the season will come crashing down.
The biggest concern for Todd Bowles is that his defense got gashed up for 509 yards by Kirk Cousins. Atlanta’s receivers were running open all game and Tampa couldn’t do anything to stop it. This was the fifth-highest yardage total (550) that the Buccaneers have given up in franchise history and if they continue to look like this, it could be a long season for a team that plays the Saints, Ravens, Falcons (again), Chiefs and 49ers over the next five weeks.
It would help if the Bucs had a friggin’ pass rush! But GD, Joe has been pounding the table about that for so long and so often Joe’s right hand is about the size of “Beast.”
Nothing helps a pass defense like a pass rush, specifically an edge rush. But that does not seem to worry Bowles. Yet all the good teams and good defenses seem to have one. Strange, right?
As much as folks want to whine about the defense, the Bucs had the lead Thursday until the bitter end of regulation. And, in two of the last three Dixie Chicks possessions of regulation, the Bucs defense got off the field unscathed.
The Bucs offense shockingly shifting late to Code Turtle disturbs Joe, and they had two field goals the entire second half.
Joe doesn’t care about the opponent, scoring only six in the second half won’t beat many teams.
October 7th, 2024 at 9:05 am
The best defense is a good offense. And we are getting close to having that kind of an offense. We get healthy and our defense is going to be just fine.
October 7th, 2024 at 9:09 am
The only running play in the second half that gain more than 2 or 3 yd was the one where Bucky fumbled. Nearly all the passes were short little 5-yard affairs, was horrible
October 7th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Something is clearly wrong. The inability to handle Cousins’ passes was incredible. No adjustment, in coverage type or personnel was tried at halftime. Inexplicable. Hope some of the coaches read this blog. There have been some good suggestions.
October 7th, 2024 at 9:13 am
We can all agree that Licht doesn’t value the pass rush at today’s prices. Only during Arians short tenure was he pushed to make an inorganic move. Otherwise, build through the draft cheaply, which has not played out well.
October 7th, 2024 at 9:17 am
Bubby:
Think you are onto something. It appears Licht does value *drafting* pass rushers (he’s drafted three somewhat high in the past four years). The development of these guys is what is starting to get Joe’s attention.
You miss on one or two, OK. It happens. The draft is a crap shoot. But go look at Todd Bowles’ history. Has he ever developed a feared edge rusher? He honestly seems more concerned with these guys in pass coverage than what they were drafted for.
Joe’s pretty confident Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, YaYa Diaby and Chris Braswell were not drafted high because of their pass coverage skills.
Not saying Licht is killing it in drafting edge rushers — to be fair, when is the last time the Bucs drafted a good edge rusher, Lee Roy Selmon? (Seriously.)
October 7th, 2024 at 9:18 am
Nothing drives me nuttier than watching our best pass rushers (such as they are, anyway) dropping back in coverage. Seriously, does that really work or fool anybody? Sure didn’t fool Kirk “The Cannon” Cousins and company. Of course we drop Britt in coverage, hard to tell if he’s any better then Nelson or Tryon-Shoyinka. Still can’t get over getting whooped by Cousins and his band of average WRs and overrated TE. That hurt.
October 7th, 2024 at 9:26 am
The defense has a lot of banged up guys, loaded with injuries. But our money players, weapons are on offense. We could have easily outscored the Falcons, they don’t have the weapons we have.
The difference was the Falcons turned loose the dogs
And we kept the dogs on a short leash
October 7th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Lakeland:
Here is what Joe put out on Twitter last night answering a question from a Bucs fan about that final drive:
October 7th, 2024 at 9:30 am
I predict a fire sale in Cleveland. Do whatever it takes to get Miles Garrett
October 7th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Witch Coach will be fired first lol
October 7th, 2024 at 9:51 am
The Baltimore Ravens has a top 5 defense
Yesterday they were losing 17-14 at half to the Bengal
The 2nd half the Bengals come out throwing, lightning it up
The Ravens is a run first team, but they knew what they had to do
Lamar Jackson threw 29 passes in the 2nd half, after 13 1st half
The Ravens took the leash off Lamar, who is not a pocket passer
And they scored 27 second half points to bail out their defense
Jim Harbaugh is a smart HC
He’s know there’s a time to run and a time to pass
Great coaches makes adjustments as the game is played out
They don’t stick to the game plan, which isn’t working
October 7th, 2024 at 10:02 am
Todd will be an investor in a lawn and gardening franchise in 6 months after his football coaching career is over, no worries.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:14 am
Personally, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of this coaching staff. No risk no glory. Go turtle one more time and the whole bunch of them should be fired Licht included. Promote Greenberg or whoever. We again have a solid QB and should not waste him “Mayfield” on inept, scared, no risk it cuz I don’t like biscuits approach.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Ever since TB has been the DC and now the HC the Bucs have been inconsistent defending the pass. Too many miscommunication and he is slow to adjust. It seems he’ll rather die by a thousand paper cuts than rather challenge the wrs.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:24 am
We have a flat, and I’m beginning to think Todd has no idea where the spare tire is.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:27 am
This defense did the best it could with Kansey, Winfield, Whitehead, and Dennis out of the game. KJ Britt is a liability. McCollum got moved to the middle a few times but that is not the answer. We NEED our starters back.
On offense, it was bad playcalling, bad fumble and missed calls that killed us. End of the day, this is a good team and people are not realizing the changes that need to happen to account for injuries.
One caveat, Jamaal Dean is not the CB we thought he is and we need another CB to go across McCollum.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:27 am
Joh. Harbaugh is a pretty good coach too!!
October 7th, 2024 at 10:28 am
I agree with the guy who wrote about Cleveland I would be offering a lot to get someone like Myles Garrett on this team. It worked when we got JPP, and our pass rush is abysmal! If we are serious about winning we need a pass rusher or it’s going to be a long, 9-8 season
October 7th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Agreed on Miles Garrett. How much would you give up? I’d give up a first a third and a fifth if I could get Njoku or Bitonio as well…
October 7th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Reddick must be a locker room cancer, I’m reading up here he may sit out all year!! We can use him immediately!!!Please Jason call the Jets!! last time I’m mentioning it in my post. Go Bucs
October 7th, 2024 at 10:34 am
See, Joe cannot buy this. Factually, you are not wrong, BUT…
The Bucs defense got off the field twice in the fourth quarter without Whitehead. The Bucs didn’t have Kancey or Winfield when they shut down Detroit )and most of the second half without Vea). Detroit has a much more powerful offense than Atlanta.
If the Bucs offense would have only gotten a first down once on the final drive, it’s a win.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:38 am
Cousins 509 yards
Mayfield 180 yards
There’s our problem.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:49 am
” Atlanta’s receivers were running open all game and Tampa couldn’t do anything to stop it.”….Brinson (CBS)
It seems odd to me that this PAID guy said the same thing I have been bitching about since back when we had a winning record. This passing defense has been bad since the season started. Opposing receivers are running loose all over, no game time adjustments when things are not working, etc., etc.
If we don’t win the division this year, Todd needs to be set free.
Watch out this week guys. That storm looks like it’s coming right over my old house in Dunedin. Be smart!
October 7th, 2024 at 11:04 am
I have no idea why the coaches chose to stay conservative in the second half of that game, baker and the offense was rolling and on fire. Why not keep it going in the second half, it’s so irritating, but maybe even more so irritating is that Todd chose to make zero adjustments when it came to kirk throwing the ball, he chose to keep letting Kirk sit in a clean pocket and tear it up on underneath stuff in the middle of the field.
October 7th, 2024 at 11:36 am
Pass Defense rolled over in the middle of the field and the Offense let their foot off the gas. They are playing too conservative.
October 7th, 2024 at 11:55 am
I really don’t have any confidence in Bowles anymore
October 7th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
THE BUC’S DEFENCE IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE , AND THE YEAR BEFORE ,THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD IS ALWAYS OPEN , THE SECONDARY IS ALWAYS A MILE FROM THE RECIEVERS , NO ONES IN THE SECODARY IS IN PLACE TO MAKE A PLAY , LIKE TAKE A BALL FROM THE RECIEVER OR STEP IN FRONT OF A RECIEVER TO INTERCEPT A PASS OR A TACKLE , , LOOKS LIKE KNOW ONE HAS A CLUE WHATS GOING ON, AND ON TOP OF THAT WE ALWAYS GET BURNED BY BIG PLAYS , THEY JUST PLAN SUCK , AND TODD IS THE BLAME FOR IT , NEEDS TO BE FIRE AT THE END OF THE SEASON…….
October 7th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Todd only has 1 truck up his sleeve: disguise which front 7 are rushing and which are dropping into coverage. Other teams have found a way to beat it. Simply don’t worry about who’s rushing, just get the ball out quickly into that massive 20 yard cushion in between the line of scrimmage and DBs. Todd seemingly has no answer for this.
October 7th, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Next year I think the bucs need to get the OC from the Lions to be our next head coach.
October 7th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Mick
Don’t know if your post made sense or not but a little tip. Posting in CAPS on an internet blog is considered SCREAMING at us and hurts our eyes.
I apologize for my own habit of capitilaztion of individual words for emphasis…but all caps will lose you readers.
Dave Pear
“Todd will be an investor in a lawn and gardening franchise in 6 months after his football coaching career is over, no worries.”
Don’t worry about Todd’s post football career Dave. Despite being a “pathetic” coach the league either disagrees with you or they simply throw money away.
A quick check reveals Todd Bowles current worth at 25 MILLION $$$$.
Damn I wish I had gone to work for the NFL if they was 25 MILLION on “pathetic” performers!
October 7th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
was – waste
October 7th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Joe … ‘If the Bucs offense would have only gotten a first down once on the final drive, it’s a win.’
One second you’re pissed at the defense; next second the offense is to blame Joe. Maybe they BOTH stunk it up? Getting past the defensive screwups for a little while, look at the last TWO drives by the Bucs:
o Next-to-last drive: 7 plays (5 runs – 2 passes) starting with 6:29 left in the game on the Tampa 44 and ending on the Atlanta 25 with a fumble by Irving on the 1st down. We were moving the ball, ate up 3:39 on the clock, and were within FG territory as a minimum. Sucks but fumbles happen.
o Last drive: 3 plays (1 pass – 2 runs PLUS the 10-yard penalty play on Barton for Offensive Holding) then a punt, starting at 1:44 left in the game on the Atlanta 28 and ending on the Atlanta 42 (before the punt). We went BACKWARDS 14 yards, ate up only 30 seconds on the clock, and managed to work ourselves out of FG range. And to top it off, our punter kicks the ball into the end zone & the Falcons take over with 1:14 at their own 20 yard line. THAT non-drive was gift-wrapping the game right there.
So in those 2 drives Baker threw the ball 3 times, completed 2 of them for exactly ONE yard (1 pass was for Minus 2 yards to Bucky for 3 yards, and the other was to Rachaad for Minus 2 yards. The 7 runs gained a TOTAL of 26 yards… 3.7 YPC. And of those 10 plays on those 2 drives, Baker passed 3 times (Evans incomplete, Rachaad Minus 2 yds, Bucky 3 yds), Baker scrambled once for 5 yards, Rachaad ran 3 times for 8 yards, Bucky ran 3 times for 12 yds, plus the fumble. Two critical drives, and Evans, Godwin, Shepard & Otton were pretty much Missing in Action. Yes Joe, something was bad wrong there.
October 7th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Pass rush won’t help if Jamel Dean plays 10 yards off because he’s scared to get burned.
I find it funny that Jake Camarda a guy who has won NFC Special Teams Player of the Month before can be benched for being inconsistent but the head coach won’t send that same message to Dean! Izien played better than him at corner.
October 7th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
What is with all the end of the world screeching and hysteria on here including Joes?? Hey, you all remember 1989, 1990, etc.? Those were BAD teams and coaches. This one sure ain’t by a country mile. So, Bucs don’t win the Division, but still make the playoffs. That sure ain’t a badly coached, putrid team.
October 8th, 2024 at 8:16 am
I think a lot of people are commenting on how our offense didn’t play a strong second half, which is fair. Some of that is play-calling (especially late), but a bigger part is that Atlanta MADE ADJUSTMENTS at halftime. Something that Todd Bowles is either unwilling or incapable of doing (I’m not sure which is worse and after seeing it so many times, I don’t think it matters).
He had a decent 1st-hallf game plan for every team except the Broncos so far this season, but both Detroit and Atlanta made adjustments and we are fortunate to be 1-1 in those games because Bowles did not make adjuatments. Of the 5 games this year, here are our 2nd half scores (in chronological order): 21, 7, 0, 9, and 6. We have lost three 2nd halves, tied one (PHI), and won one (WAS). This is not a winning formula and is on the coaching staff.
October 8th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
article writer sucks as an armchair coach per usual. Cassandra. never satisfied