Todd Bowles Not A Big Believer In Pulling Starters
November 25th, 2024
When should starters sit?
So yesterday when Baker Mayfield took a shot to the head and suffered a “stinger,” many Bucs fans were wondering why he was even in the game.
And of course, the Kyle Trask cultists were pounding keyboards wanting their guy in the game.
Todd Bowles confessed in his day-after presser that he’s not a huge believer in pulling starters unless a game is a total blowout. Leading 30-7 apparently doesn’t qualify.
On Mayfield still playing in a lopsided game, Bowles said Mayfield “wanted to play.” When asked if maybe he should make more of an effort to preserve Mayfield for the long and haul and have him sit, Bowles didn’t fully agree.
“Maybe if it was 50-0 in the third quarter,” Bowles said. Bowles also added he thinks team leaders should be on the field. Of course, he considers Mayfield a leader.
When asked about the chance Mayfield could get hurt as evidenced by the “stinger” he suffered, Bowles waved off the question, saying any starter can get hurt.
As for Mayfield’s “stinger,” Bowles said Mayfield is “good.” No issues for next Sunday at the suddenly respectable Stinking Panthers.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Panthers almost beat the Chiefs. And you know Canales wants to beat the Bucs.
I’m guessing we’ll see a close game and quite possibly another brain fart from El Bozo.
Only a loser is happy at 5-6.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
This is a bad decision. You don’t have to look any further than Mike Evans to see that coaches need to take an active role in keeping players healthy. Baker is a gamer – but his work was done for the day.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Bowles’ attitude might change if Mayfield tears an ACL in garbage time.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
Mark the tape-those are ignorant comments and if Baker gets hurt in a garbage time situation Bowles is fired for his lack of vision.
November 25th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Idiot.
November 25th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
This season is OVER if the Panthers beat us next Sunday. You think the uproar over Bowles 4 game losing streak is bad we ain’t seen nothing yet. He loses this game the shyt is gonna hit the fan. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if we do lose the game. It’s a Todd Bowles specialty. Losing to teams we have no business losing to.
November 25th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
That attitude is why Chris Godwin is out for season. Chris Godwin suffered a season ending injury with around 20 secs left in a game against a team we had no chance of coming back and beating while we were down by what 2 scores. That is flat out malicious. This may be Todds last chance as a HC in the NFL. Snd he is playing with fire. I flat out disagree with Bowles. Should have pulled the starters when the game hit around 3-4 minutes. Todd is going to get another major player for the Bucs with a season ending injury again with these decisions. Hey Bryan and Joel Glazer do you agree with this and are you watching this stuff coming from your HC??
November 25th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Crucified.
Coach Swiss Cheese would have been crucified for “going turtle” if he pulled the starters in garbage time yesterday.
Many of us here on jbf.com, including me, have crucified him for some of his previous “turtle” decisions such as not going for it on 4th and 1 or 2, relying on the defense then having to go to overtime (KC), etc.
I agree. Baker should have come out for at least a series after the stinger. We have no idea how 4th year backup Kyle Trask would actually do in a real game, because he’s never been in one. If Kyle started getting lit up and Baker felt ok after a series or few plays, then fine, put him back in.
I also agree that playing starters during garbage time seems foolish because why would you risk an injury to a starter when the outcome of the game is pretty much set.
Maybe Coach Swiss Cheese is finally learning and changing some of his ways.
We won’t make the playoffs by playing not to lose. Maybe he’s finally learning that playing to win is going to get him, and the team, a lot further.
November 25th, 2024 at 1:10 pm
There is a time when a head coach has to protect players from THEMSELVES!! Sure they do not want to come out but they need to be available to play the next game. Another reason to pull Baker is I believe he has played EVERY DOWN this season. Coaches also must develop other players. Getting NO live action is not the way to develop players. Trask needs some playing time. What score will it take for Todd to rest Baker? 100 to 7?
November 25th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
Considering that they wanted to just run the ball for to run down the remaining time and keep the Giants from having any chance at a miracle comeback, it was very dumb to let Mayfield go back out there. To be honest, the way he plays, he’s lucky he hasn’t had a major injury yet, but he could have easily aggravated the injury further and actually been forced to miss a game. What’s worse is garbage time, when the other team is still at least trying, is a great time to get players in there that don’t get a lot of time on the field to help insulate you from injuries at critical times in the season. But Bowles will be Bowles.
November 25th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
What’s the difference? If a guy is going to be showboating 50 yards down field blocking then somewhere along the line the dumb a$$ will do something stupid to get himself hurt. Why bother looking out for him? Let Baker Bake and eventually he will Cook Himself.
November 25th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
One more proof point that this clown needs to be with Barnum and Bailey and not the head coach of a football team.
November 25th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
D Cone doesn’t that make you feel like a real man calling Baker a dumb ass. I bet you are one tough S.O.B. In your dreams you scrawny little dou..bag!
November 25th, 2024 at 2:04 pm
I wanted Baker and ME13 out.
But, when you start pulling players, who gets pulled and who stays in? Do you pull Bucky too? How about Otton?
November 25th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
Bowles is an idiot.
November 25th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
One infamous coach once said, “you don’t gamble with plays. You only gamble with players since you have more than one. “ – Bowles
Smh
November 25th, 2024 at 2:19 pm
I don’t understand how any sane person can argue that Bowles should continue as the head coach of our beloved bucs. He doesn’t have it…never did and never will
November 25th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
Pops Malone Says:
November 25th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
Bowles is an idiot
No truer words ever spoken
November 25th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Maybe it’s Jason Licht’s fault. Perhaps a lack of communication. Maybe it would have looked like he was taking his foot of the gas. I mean the Bowles apology brigade has a million excuses why Bowles should not be held responsible. They have so many excuses they can just close their eyes and pick one out. Of course they could always blame Tom Moore. Have not seen that one used yet. But, at some point you just know it’s going to happen.
November 25th, 2024 at 2:29 pm
Yes any starter can get hurt, but why risk the chance of a season ending injury like the one Godwin suffered on a blatant illegal play. That’s just stupid and is a good reason why Bowles should be given the home version of the NFL board game on his way out the door at the end of the season. Just stupid.
November 25th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
D Cone, I have read a lot of moronic comments out here but congratulations sir, the one you just made captured first place of stupid without a doubt.
November 25th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Anyone notice the uninspiring speech Bowles gave after the win? Almost no emotion, no sparks and zero energy. Just imagine Baker making the after game speech. Bucs deserve thrilling and joyful words from the heart.
November 25th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
Todd is in a damned if I do do damned if I don’t situation with you haters.
You guys truly seem like you’d rather be right about Todd sucking than have a winning/successful season.
Dave Pear, ballsack75, bucben61 and others…. Can you clowns even try to claim you are rooting (hoping, pulling) for us to win every week? To improve? To dominate? Fug NO you cant. 🙄. You want us to fail so you can bitch and whine some more.
Nothing says loser more than incessant complaining and criticizing. 😡😭
Todd had his team ready to play. They dominated. Only one game, against the giants, but it’s a positive step. ALL we can do is try to improve on Sunday and get ready for the next game.
Good job Todd 👍🏼
November 25th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Agreed GoneGator
November 25th, 2024 at 5:32 pm
Yes!! GoneGator is absolutely right. Add Dcone and Munch to your list.
Football is for entertainment and that’s exactly what we got yesterday.
On to Carolina. Let’s make Canales regret his decision to desert.
GO BUCS!!!
November 25th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Up by 20 late in the 4th quarter, pull your studs off the field! Just my view..
November 25th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
Fire Turd Bowels
November 26th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Bowles has zero confidence in our defense, and rightly so. Look where they are ranked. That’s why he wants a 50 point cushion before he will pull the starters. He doesn’t trust them. He depends on the OC to save the day. Last season we couldn’t score a TD against arguably the worst team in the NFL, because Mayfield played hurt. We won the game with three FGs. We have backup QBs with no actual game experience, so we live and die on the arm and legs of Baker Mayfield. If he goes down, we’re toast. Great coaches have the whole team prepared to play. Bowles doesn’t. Is there anyone left saying White is the starting RB? Our third string RB put up 192 yards of offense a few weeks ago, and then goes into the witness protection program until Sunday where he scored a TD and had a couple of hiccups. Tucker obviously has skills, but he’s not going to get any better watching games from the bleachers. Our backup QBs can’t prove their worth purely as spectators, and eventually Mayfield will get hurt. It’s a long season. The Giants just cut a guy with experience at the position……..