Todd Bowles: Players Cannot Rest On The Past
January 17th, 2025
No true offseason.
Joe reads this a fair amount from commenters on this here corner of the interwebs.
And Joe is in the very same boat.
Joe looks at the Bucs young roster and thinks, if the powers that be can only fix the pass defense, this team could be very dangerous next season. So many current players should improve.
On Monday, head Todd Bowles said there is a very large speed bump in that line of thinking.
“It helps only if they help themselves get better,” Bowles said. “The concentration part – them working out in the offseason, coming back in shape and being prepared will help us a great deal next year.”
Now that’s a great point. Players often make a jump — sometimes a big jump — from their rookie seasons to their second year. As Joe likes to say, a full offseason in an NFL weightroom can do wonders (right guard Cody Mauch is a really good example).
So imagine Graham Barton getting better this offseason, Bucky Irving, Jalen McMillan, Tykee Smith, Devin Culp. Their progression could improve the team a lot.
But, as Bowles noted, if they don’t work at it from now until July, it won’t happen.
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January 17th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Is it July yet? Go Bowles!
January 17th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Yes the young players can get better, just like YaYa this year. Can old position coaches get better?
January 17th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Does this guy ever say anything meaningful?
January 17th, 2025 at 10:06 am
We gotta figure out why people keep getting injured. Are they not prepared? We need a study on that and correct it. Lots of people get hurt under Bowles it seems. I could be wrong though
January 17th, 2025 at 10:07 am
“Now that’s a great point.”
—-
This must the part where we as have fans should take heart and pretend real change is on the horizon under the sage wisdom of a veteran ball coach that knows when and how to make the changes that will result in greater success in the future.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Injuries happen to every team! The problem with the Bucs is the cupboard is empty behind the starters. We were lucky McMillin was able to step up after Godwin got hurt. The LBs and secondary were thin before the season started. Everyone could see this. We weren’t great on D before the injuries started to mount so we can’t blame everything on that. Several players were disappointments on that side of the ball.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:46 am
Rest on what past?
8-9
9-8
10-7 just barely?
The players may love him, but must employees would take a boss who never pushes or takes a hard line.
Everyday is camp cupcake at one Buc
January 17th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Never know what some of these young guys will do. They basically didn’t have time off through the draft cycle into the season if they were rookies, now they got some pocket change… just hope they don’t vacation too long!
It seems that Licht and staff in recent years have tried to mitigate these potential problems with character guys that love football. For that reason I think most of our young guys will be hitting it hard and we should expect to see leaps. Barton should be most significant jump.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:56 am
LEWI said what I’ve been thinking.
Is Bowels asking players to do cover, drop back, stunt (or whatever) way outside of their physical abilities to do so?
Defensive Coaching and conditioning has to improve.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:57 am
As I recall, Bowles was impressed with the condition of players that came into camp last spring. I wouldn’t expect a drop off from any of the veterans, and I assume those same veterans will be emphasizing the importance of staying in shape to the rookies as they depart for the off season.
January 17th, 2025 at 11:20 am
I really don’t understand why the league pays out millions to athletes that last 3 to 10 years but don’t make it a year round job. March 1st every player should be at team facilities. Maybe more two weeks off before camp. Seems like a reasonable ask for employees paid king’s ransoms.
January 17th, 2025 at 11:30 am
I am I missing something here? Isn’t it the HC job to make sure his players come to camp in shape and ready to improve and get better? See B Arians with the RB touch down Lenny. He wasn’t in shape and was complaining. He didn’t see the field until those issues were clean up and he was ready to go, he helped us win a Super Bowl
January 17th, 2025 at 11:43 am
Speaking is getting better that includes the coach and gm. If funderburke a udfa was originally the first backup of the bench over Josh Hayes of a team with a bad pass defense why would you not make any kind of move even someone to the practice squad soon enough that they could see the field. Hayes played like a rookie udfa.
January 17th, 2025 at 11:45 am
Dude would you say something worth while its the same o same out ur mouth geeeeeeeeeez
January 17th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Chris Braswell – looking at you to make the year 2 jump!
January 17th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
JMark
If you boss called you in and said Jmark we’re going to give you a ten % raise this year and then give you another 10% next year and BTW we’ll also add another 10% the following years. JMARK we’re going to improve your earning 10% a year for 3 years in a row and again you still can bump it even more next year!
“The players may love him, but must employees would take a boss who never pushes or takes a hard line.”
Hard line is your OPINION…results are facts. Do you believe in facts or only if the facts measure up to YOUR OPINION?
January 17th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Is the Toilet Bowl a rookie?
He sure coaches defense like one.
Oh that’s right, he’s a guru.
All time great.
Bust in Canton Ohio already.
We’re so lucky to have him.
January 17th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Hard but serious questions, asking your young players to improve is fair ,but, How can you improve a sub.500 career win quarterback who has led the entire NFL in turnovers for both years he has started here, following being released from three other teams the preceding three years? For that matter how can you improve the performance of a career sub .500 win head coach? The Peter principle states everyone rises to their own level of competence,( or incompetence), and there they stay, to expect more would be delusional.
January 17th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
This is where it’s so important to have great captains on your team. People like Evans and Godwin and Vea and David and those guys need to take all of this young talent we have under their wings and teach them to be pros. Teach them the details of how to be great. How to act both on and off the field to be the best they can be.
January 17th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
The talk of a soft training camp was out there but I don’t think that’s the cause of all the injuries, todd has always ran light camps I think that is because of Florida heat. This year it was fluke injuries and for the most part the team has always been healthy. Todd Bowles is here and we have to deal sooo it is what it is, if he doesn’t make serious changes I won’t expect any changes.
January 17th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
SPBF
You’re on quite a tear lately, trying to project your opinion on whether or not other people have opinions.
As an employer of 40 years or so, I know a few things about motivating, and having my employees on point and successful. Simply put, it’s better to be respected than liked, and businesses are run to make money .. not friends.
This coaching staff has been bloated and underachieving for years. I bet someone driven for greatness like TB12 would say the same.
Players were too stressed around here with him though, right?
Greatness is hard.
January 17th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
SPBF
Also pretty amusing that you rant about opinions vs. results. The mediocre results are the whole point. Facts.. not opinions
Fact. Our defense has been subpar for years. Pass defense particularly.
Fact . After we start 3-1 or 4-1, we go on 4 games skids
Fact. We’ve barely won a terrible division , see original post.
Fact. We were not ready to play Denver, Dallas, or New Orleans.
Fact . Couldn’t run out the clock in Atlanta game 1.
Fact. Vita Vea in coverage. Come on man.
And these are just the appetizers, and not opinions.
January 17th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
With all due respect, I think stpete has been trying, like a few others have, to explain the difference between opinion and facts to some who OBVIOUSLY don’t understand that MAJOR difference.
For instance – your latest comment. Not 1 fact present. Just several opinions and one cliche, that like all cliches, is very much debatable.
January 17th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Interesting cause this guy dead ass when asked about improving his staff said this is the staff that has gotten to the playoffs 5 seasons in a row, sounds like someone whom is putting investment in the past. Bowles is a hypocrite and he never holds himself accountable. Never do you hear Bowles say it’s my fault and MY fault only.
January 17th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Gone gator
Not one fact ? Seriously?
January 17th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
I think JMarkbuc has pointed out the elephant in the room when he posted his list of facts and he only scratched the surface as he did not touch on clock management.
Bowles sqys players cannot rest on the past, well Todd and his crew of defensive coaches need to lead by example. Change and adapt for 2025. Teams have figured out a Bowles D, Payton and the Broncos gave opponents a blueprint to expose his schemes this year. Now, the D was decimated and several players simply were overmatched.
Could better talent yield better results? Of course but so could some younger and more innovative coaches and as Todd is loyal to his coaches, that is an option that might take an ultimatum from the Glazers to put into action. The soft zone D, coupled with poor time management, was the weak link in the chain for 2024.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
In the post I referenced? My bad…. MAYBE the part about being an employer could be accepted as factual – assuming you’re an honest man. I’ll admit I overlooked that possibilty.
What else could be remotely considered factual by anyone who understands what FACTS are?
January 17th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
Jmarkbuc
On 2nd look…. Your new post wasn’t posted when i made mine.
Opinions stated as facts again and a couple that could be considered, loosely, as facts 🤣
January 17th, 2025 at 9:52 pm
Gone Gator
Whatever Dude..
You’ve got two eyes.. and I’m crystal clear on my professional life.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:31 pm
JD Still: the Peter Principle only applies before you reach the top job. Every starting quarterback in the NFL already has the top job in their field. Some may lose and some may win, but nobody gets promoted.