“Not Doing What They Were Supposed To Be Doing”
December 23rd, 2024
Called out.
Joe might have heard the most depressed tone Joe can remember in Todd Bowles’ voice this morning, and it wasn’t during the head coach’s official team news conference.
Bowles sounded like a guy who was just asked why he missed three free throws when he needed one to tie a basketball game.
Or Bowles sounded like a baseball player who forgot to touch third base on his way home.
Or Bowles spoke as if someone hacked his phone and deleted his prized Stevie Wonder tracks.
In reality, SiriusXM NFL Radio co-host and former Bucs/Bowles defensive back Logan Ryan asked Bowles why stud Cowboys receiver went off on the Bucs last night.
Bowles didn’t sugarcoat anything to his former player. He pointed at Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum.
“That was just fundamentals and technique out on the corner, looking in the backfield and not doing what they were supposed to be doing. That’s really all it was, Ryan,” Bowles said.
What a kick in the gut that has to be for Bowles. He waited weeks to get McCollum and Dean back on the field together healthy, and they let him down on a big stage against an elite receiver.
Dean is super close to Bowles personally and McCollum is one of Bowles’ prized development success as a third-year player drafted in Round 5.
Joe sure hopes those guys feel badly about their mistakes and tighten up Sunday for their head coach/defensive coordinator.
December 23rd, 2024 at 2:51 pm
and the finger pointing begins…
December 23rd, 2024 at 2:57 pm
My take on the Bucs is that they’re just a very inconsistent team, we can’t count on anything from them game to game. They can be super focused and mistake free and blow out anybody, they can also play down to some of the worst teams in football and barely win or even lose to them. They have beaten the best teams in the NFL and have lost to some of the most mediocre. It sucks when you can’t have any faith in your team whatsoever because you don’t know which team will show up. Jekyll and Hyde all the way. I think the Bucs will make the playoffs and win the division because I think Atlanta will lose to Washington, but they will have us biting our nails all the way till the end. This is just our current Buccaneers, only way it’ll change is when we get a little bit more seasoned/experienced with more depth and skill at the linebacker positions. The ability to pressure the QB is pretty much what we’re missing at this point. Joe is right harping on this frequently. Last night exposed it big time. Would love for the first three to four picks in the 2025 draft be pure Edge/LBs. LOL it’s a complete lack of pressure on the QB. It affects the whole defense when a quarterback has forever back there, they make the next two levels of the defense look worse than they really are.
Shockingly enough, it’s also important to not commit penalties, not fumble the ball, catch the ball when thrown to you and tackle well consistently. Things we had trouble with last night.
December 23rd, 2024 at 2:59 pm
Welcome to the club Todd. We’re disappointed too. Fans have zero idea which team they will get every damn weekend. All we know is it will be average and underwhelming at years end.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:02 pm
It’s the coaching!
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:03 pm
All you can ask of a team is to have a chance to win the game at the end. That last 1 1/2 minutes could very well have gone a different way! So close and so far!
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:03 pm
What if they are unable to do what they are supposed to do?
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:05 pm
At least they didn’t call a time out in the first half that cost the Bucs three points, and the game.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:06 pm
I don’t buy it. Where was Coach Kevin Ross ? Is that not his job to coach the corners ? Why didn’t Bowles tell him to do his job ?
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:08 pm
Well maybe Bowles D is outdated ,,, Whenever you see Nelson in coverage on CD Lamb you got to wonder WHY!!!!! What ever happened to Shaq,,, I don’t see him on Dolphins or Bucs?? We could use him for the stretch
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Its called accountability and all these guys needs to be held accountable and do their damn jobs. McCollum has made huge strides since he was drafted and I have (long term) hope he will turn into a good CB. Dean? His better days are long gone and quite frankly he needs to be unloaded just like CD, especially considering the money Bucs are paying him… flat out stealing $$$. Defense needs a complete overhaul with foundational pieces being Vea, Kancey, T. Smith, Dennis, and Winfield. Izien is a solid “utility” type of player. The rest are a bunch of JAGS and role players at best. Defense has FAILED the team this season and much of last. IT AINT WORKING Mr. Glazer. And the offense cant win close games at the end. Those are the two stories this year.
My guess is Bucs stand pat and we will see much of the same in 2025.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Elite wrs make plays, even against elite corners. That ine bug okay didn’t win the game..Dallas eating clock and completing 3rd downs at will with wide open uncontested catches lost the game. Like every other bad qb, rush had a fantastic night against us. Mike smith, lovie smith, tod bowles is it in the dc contact in Tampa that they have to play soft zone more than anything else? I don’t get it
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:14 pm
The GREATEST injustice the Glazer’s could do to their fan base is to keep Bowels another season….
He is barely mediocre….
one of the worst HC in the NFL….
Several years, 2 teams and he STILL keeps making the same numb skull mistakes as if he just don’t have the football I.Q. one needs to be a quality HC!
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Once again, let’s not forget;
That 52 yard catch by CD Lamb in which Zyon got called for defensive holding, there was an OBVIOUS offensive pass interference on CD Lamb that was NOT called…
Zyon beat Lamb to the spot and was in great shape to contest the ball and wound up front of CD Lamb on the route. CD gave Zyon a nice shove in the back to create the space so Zyon was pushed forward and couldn’t respond to the pass….
It was a BLATENT NO-BRAINER OPI …
If Mike Evans would’ve done that, he would’ve gotten called on it every single time.
But this jack-off officiating crew turns a blind eye since it’s America’s team, the great Dallas Cowboys, and Wonderful Jerry Jones……
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Hey, KABucs. You nailed that one, I’ve said that to everyone that I converse with about this inconsistent team. I’m fed up, I have been for year’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if Carolina beats us. They have a lot to play for and they almost beat us the first time. No pass rush falls on deaf ears. If we do have a home playoff game I wouldn’t be shocked at all if we loose. Why, because the Buc’s are coached by the same mentality, I am physically exhausted with not knowing what team is going to show up week in and week out.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:32 pm
This is my first ever post and I can’t stand how bad we are as a football team and the sad part is we have a couple guys who could be getting good jackets on offense and defense.I do not know how you can play in the the NFL and coach in the NFL and still not know how to craft a defense to stop a backup quarterback or Kirk Cousins.We also have zero pass rush there are so many things wrong I am not sure why he is calling the defense when he is a head coach to call a timeout with 54 seconds left.Anyone who thought When Bruce left sTodoBowels was the guy was dead he ruined Tom Brady’s last two years.The first time was when he called in all out blitz against the Rams in the NFC championship game.The second one is when you have Tom Brady and you can’t score on an opening drive because you think the Jag from the Jaguars was any good at calling plays.Now we have a new team a better team and we are hoping ever year we have to win out to make the playoffs and get blown out in the second round maybe even the 1st and get a high 20 daft pick.I do not want a losing season but it seems like we are stuck in the same old routine.I ask would you let go Liam and Todd who had three years to prove he was the man for the job.I wouldn’t care if we lost games when you are called out Dungy on national tv that’s a good look for the Bucs and the Glazers but.Thst is are head coach
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:33 pm
My personal patience with Coach Bowles ran out last night with that sickening defeat. I’ve seen too many of his games where he needs to make adjustments and he doesn’t adjust, or adjusts too late. He’s often too rigid and just keeps doing the same things that aren’t working.
Someone in another post last night had it right when they said that we’re a .500 team because we have a .500 coach.
I’m certainly no expert, but I think that the principle accountability a H.C. has to his players, owners and fan base is to utilize his knowledge, experience and all available resources to put his team in a position to win.
When the Bowles game plan is working, great. But when it’s not working, he just keeps doing the same thing, hoping for a different outcome. When we end up with a loss, he puts it on the players and never himself. Fighting to get to the playoffs in week 16 is not the time for a H.C. to be talking about “fundamentals”.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:33 pm
I blame Bowles for all this mess, he is never going to get this team any farther than this but CD Lamb is a challenge for any corner every game. Bowles has his coaches and his players and now he has this result. If we lose either of the next 2 game lets join together and sign a recall on this man.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:35 pm
That call against zyon was fing ridiculous. That ref needs to be investigated
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Bucfan1988 – EXACTLY how do you get called for holding when your back is to the player you supposedly held. And don’t tell me it happened before that – I watched the whole play – Zyon TRIED to jam him, but MISSED at the line of scrimmage and otherwise had no contact with Lamb at all.
And let’s not forget the Dallas D SLAM DUNKING Baker head first into the ground to cause a fumble. Everywhere else, that’s a roughing the passer call.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Players putting the ball on the ground or having it taken away like lunch money in the first two and last two minutes of the second half cost the Bucs the game.
On the first drive a QB throws the ball 6 feet short on a screen pass on 3rd down and then a receiver drops a ball the next play and turns it over on downs. Coaches trust in his players stepping up drops.
Time out with 1st down at the 11 was to make made sure everyone was on the same page and multiple plays were set up to make sure 7 got on the board.
Dumbfounded look on Mayfield’s face the final play proves that he did not have a clue that the right throw was to the ground at White’s feet to kill the clock and regroup for 2nd and 10.
Pressed to be a hero and wound up zero. Mayfield made the wrong decision and white ended up looking like the idiot.
Make another mistake next week pressing to get Evans his 1000 and it could be the end of the road.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:37 pm
I have to agree that the refs were in the tank for Dallas, but overall…the Boys wanted that game more than we did.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:39 pm
Gambling is going to be the ruin of the NFL.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Constantly inconsistent mismanagement of the game even in the wins
Bucs have injuries sure so does every other team in the league so many fundamental mistakes this late in the season is frustrating to watch.go bucs
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:40 pm
and dont forget Uncle Rico tackling Lavonte when he blitzed. That was more obvious than the CeeDe push off on Zyon. Bottom line is I wont make the refs the excuse as to why we lost. TEAM was not ready and the defense failed us once again.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:41 pm
Bucsfsn4life:
Don’t be a stranger.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:47 pm
Nobody praising Bowles for dropping via back and making that critical last stop . This page rips the bad, ignores the good. The fumble costs the game. Simple. Give defense credit. Great second half . Allowed 3 points. Perspective , people.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Just another disappointment in an ocean of disappointment with this team.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:49 pm
@Bucsfan1988 – We agree on that play! Definitely OPI.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:50 pm
They played poorly on so many plays. Dropped passes. Dropped pick. WR turned around. Fumbles.
So the officiating is not to blame.
Dean and McCollum are not good players. Neither is JTS. Or Logan Hall. Or the Russell guy at LB. White made a critical error at a critical moment. They had chances to make plays. But these are below average guys.
Simple as that.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:53 pm
Let em Bake – it’s a 60 min game. Defense failed them because they gave up 23 in the first half. IMO – this team was not ready, Dallas wanted it more and was certainly the more physical team for four quarters. Dallas made plays. Bucs did not. I dont blame Bowles for the crucial dropped pass on 4th down by Sheperd on first drive or the dropped INT by Russell. Or McMillian not making the play on the goal line. We didnt make the plays when the plays were there to be had. Dallas did. I blame Bowles for not having this team ready, scheme, lack of pass rush, and once again letting a mediocre QB light up our secondary. It’s quite pathetic.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:55 pm
and that’s what I would call a TEAM LOSS from the head coach all the way down to our sorry secondary and (lack of) pass rush.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:57 pm
These are grown men, professionals, You have to ask yourself why is this happening? Why so many mental mistakes? The blame definitely starts with the coaches. Why Mr Bowles is your team not ready ? To many questions . It’s definitely time for a new voice to lead this team. Todd you are nice I would actually be your friend. You are definitely a mediocre head coach.
December 23rd, 2024 at 4:11 pm
Very true TheMightyVH. This lost was on the entire team from the HC to the defense and so. To me even Mayfield is starting to worry me also. He has the second most interceptions in the league. Remind me of Jamis, 30 tds but also 30 interceptions 🙄🙄. It’s getting very frustrating with this team
December 23rd, 2024 at 4:15 pm
During the 1str half, Dallas kept dinking and dunking all over the place. I thought, where are the Defensive adjustments on the fly? We have an offense that can score. We just don’t have the D to stop anybody else from scoring. Not even the worst NFL teams like Dallas. But there is always next year guys. The problem is we will probably still win 10 games thus securing Todd Bowles another year.
December 23rd, 2024 at 5:34 pm
There is no such thing as “time off” in the regular season! Winning big against a top team the week before does not earn a soft effort the next game. There is a pattern here with the Bucs,
December 23rd, 2024 at 5:47 pm
The D is a mess and sometimes the schemes do not make sense like having Diaby or Anthony Nelson go into coverage. Also this soft zone does not work, a backup in Rush had a career night at Bowles expense, if Lamb was not off of the field in much of the second half, it could have been boat race time. Do I blame Bowles, yes but to be fair, what if this team had a JPP or Shaq Barrett in their prime this year, would that have helped? This goes back to what Joe has been demanding the past year, an edge rush! Now is that the fault of Licht or is it Bowles and his coaches not getting the job done? Good articles today Joes.
December 23rd, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Sounds like excuses to me.
Bowles never takes the blame for his Defense.
December 23rd, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Mike Johnson, it will be the Glazers who decide if Bowles gets one more year. Now the season is not over but the Glazers did mention in the offseason that progress needed to continue. What is progress? Well I would guess that is getting more than 10 wins and getting deep into the playoffs. So even if Bowles wins out and gets in the playoffs, progress will be winning a playoff game to get to 11 wins and actually could be winning 2. I do not see this D helping the O win 3 or 4 games in a row but yeah they could squeak by Carolina and the Saints. This reminds me of Dungy 2001 with his stubborness on offense, except not it is Bowles and his D. 2000 and 2001, the Bucs got run by Philly and the Glazers launched Dungy. Now Bowles could go to the injury card too. Simply put, it is up to the brains at OBP to make the call if Bowles goes 10-8 or so. If no playoffs tthe decision is easy to fire the defensive coaches but if the Bucs get a home playoff it gets dicey and if they win one playoff he could get a pass. The Glazers hold all tge answers and they have been quiet but I am certain they want a home playoff game. Last night might have killed that dream.
December 23rd, 2024 at 8:29 pm
Here’s my Bowles prediction:
1) Bucs win out & finish 10-7, he’s back even if they don’t make the playoffs… everybody needs to remember, we had an obscene amount of injuries on this team this year. Every week, we were losing 2 to 3 players for several weeks in a row.
2) Bucs win 1 of 2 & finish 9-8… I still think Todd Bowles comes back due to the injuries we had this year. It would be smart of team Glazer or Licht to force Bowles Into making some coaching staff changes and hiring a formal defensive coordinator to call plays next year as a requirement.
3) Bucs lose out & finish 8-9…. If it’s a letdown on defense with still good offensive performance, then they will let Todd Bowles go, and promote Liam Coen. If it’s a crap show all the way around, then they may entirely clean house of all coaches.
These are my thoughts…
December 23rd, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Did Braswell play last night?
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:18 pm
Bowles not my favorite, but he did not fumble the balls, miss tackles, or have the Oline meltdown.
I just cannot stand seeing opposing receivers wide open with not a man within 10 ft of them. No one on one coverage. I don’t get it.
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:25 pm
As if fans wanna excuse Bowles for injuries! Our offense averages 28 a game and we have played without Evans Godwin Wirfs and Goedeke for stretches.
We were injured and won in Detroit. We just lost to a team missing its #1 QB, CB, RG and a top DL in Overshown. I’m sure they have others on the shelf as well.
With another good offseason this is a SB contending team. We can have the same offense next season, top 5. Need more pieces on D obviously but do we really think that will erase the flat starts every other week, or being asleep for night games, or getting shredded by backup QBs or the mismanagement of timeouts or the conservative, play not to lose, play calling in crunch time? Wake up folks, it cost us games last season, it has cost us games this season. Bowles can’t do it! If he is back next season, I will have to check out. Too frustrating watching a talented roster be wasted. Anyone think the Vikings have a better roster than us? That’s what a good coach looks like, in KOC.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
If they’re that close to Coach and still don’t get it, either two of them suck, one of them sucks, or all three suck.
I’d lean towards assuming one sucks, change him out and see if the other two don’t start playing a lot better.
Whatever Coach is saying, and how he is saying it — ain’t working. Hasn’t been. Won’t.
See ya.