im still very worried how high expectations are....
Always much harder to play with high expectations.
We should probably get used to it. Seems like we are drafting for a nice long run. Tampa is too talented to have weak expectations. If we underperform, we get a new coach.
Im not so sure about the new coach thing
one would suggest we underperformed last year at 10-7, top 5 offense and first round playoff exit. Bucs turn around and extend the head coach before this year
we somehow go 6-11, Bowles is here next year anyway
This isn’t true
what isn't true? they certainly didnt outperform expectations. At best, you can say they matched last years with improved regular season win total, but worse in playoffs. Our offense was so much better last year and we didnt do anything with it
or are you saying they would fire Bowles in January if Bucs sucked this year? I think your going to be severely disappointed if you think the Bucs would extend Bowles and not give him a mulligan year
the wheels would have to really fall off, talking like 2-15 or 0-17 type showing for them to move on from Bowles. 5-12 or 6-11 and clearly something went wrong but Bowles is our coach next year....a guarantee
the extension changed everything
the extension changed everything
I agree with most you have posted but this might be too far.
I recognize the scenarios are different but Gruden was fired after an extension and I think a pretty big part of that was a 4 game losing streak at the end. I mention that because I could see Bowles getting fired if the team collapsed at the end when there were playoff dreams (the Gruden Bucs were 9-3 before the slide)
so, unlikely perhaps but there are scenarios where it could happen even without something catastrophic like a 1 win season.
the extension changed everything
I agree with most you have posted but this might be too far.
I recognize the scenarios are different but Gruden was fired after an extension and I think a pretty big part of that was a 4 game losing streak at the end. I mention that because I could see Bowles getting fired if the team collapsed at the end when there were playoff dreams (the Gruden Bucs were 9-3 before the slide)
so, unlikely perhaps but there are scenarios where it could happen even without something catastrophic like a 1 win season.
that's a good point. I didn't remember that
here's my guess
Bucs go 10-7, win division, lose in 1st round OR BETTER - Bowles keeps job
Bucs win 8-9 games or better and miss playoffs-Bowles keeps job
Bucs win 6 or 7 games, highly disappointing, wtf happened- Bowles keeps job
Bucs win 5 games or less - interesting....would think something went wrong - it is an excuse?
so maybe Bowles can still get shit cannned...but it would take probably a 4 game lose streak to end the season against weak competition with needing just 1 game to win haha
i guess it's all in the context of how the season plays out but i would think his seat is not hot.
so maybe Bowles can still get shit cannned...but it would take probably a 4 game lose streak to end the season against weak competition with needing just 1 game to win haha
or, letting Mike Evans play with a sore hamstring!
lol
Kidding, yes I agree with your post.
Bowles should be in a fairly strong position, but no NFL coach is ever truly safe
It's about who's going to take us to the next level. Dungy got fired for that reason, and Bowles doesn't have any more rope than Dungy had. Going through a total rebuild is too painful for both fans and the organization. But I could see a Dungy-type move if you can hire someone who will keep a lot of things in place and build on what's here.
It's about who's going to take us to the next level. Dungy got fired for that reason, and Bowles doesn't have any more rope than Dungy had. Going through a total rebuild is too painful for both fans and the organization. But I could see a Dungy-type move if you can hire someone who will keep a lot of things in place and build on what's here.
i think the problem is that the Bucs avoided a rebuild post Brady, one that everyone was expecting. Most of us are crediting Baker Mayfield for that but Ownership is def giving Bowles a little rope for that.
Let me ask you, if Bucs do their typical streakiness, end the season on hot note but only win 9,10 games and win division with first round playoff exit, do you think Bowles stays or goes?
it would be the 4th year in a row under him of barely over .500 ball, division title, and essentially no playoff success. I think Ownership has spoken at least for 2026 and that he returns. what say you?
The Glazers are owners that heavily take into consideration of player feedback. I think Bowles is respected enough from his players that he has more leeway than we think. Until Bowles hits a stumbling block and the players fail to buy in only then I would say Bowles would be on thin ice.
The continued development of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 draft classes is what Bowles and his staff must navigate. If these young players can buy in and improve that is what ownership wants to see.
Kancey, Diaby, Mauch, Dennis, Hayes, and Durham need to take that next step up. Year 3 is when drafted players really need to break out. If they do this helps Bowles a lot along with the coaching staff despite not being active in free agency.
Most of us are crediting Baker Mayfield for that but Ownership is def giving Bowles a little rope for that.
The Glazers seem to give him more than a little rope and maybe thats because within OBP he . . . brought in Mayfield and successfully navigated 2 different OCs who went on to head coach roles and a rebuild and, as I think Alldaway mentions, the feedback from the players themselves has to be top notch. Not to mention Licht.
If we are being HONEST, the disconnect between much of the Red Board critique of Bowles and how the Bucs seem to see him is substantial and that has to be, at least in part, because most people on the Red Board see the Bowles story as beginning with him . . um , cough cough . . "inheriting" . . .a Super Bowl team when in reality it was far from that.
It was far from that and a rebuild was actually underway, but on the Red Board most posters seem to defend their initial take rather than modify it when the circumstances are different. So, to some in that group the CIRCUMSTANCES are that Bowles . . . the "DEI hire" . . . must be incompetent . . right down to Mike Evans hamstring lol . . .rather than, as LICHT CLEARLY sees him, A VERY GOOD COACH FOR THIS SITUATION.
To that last point (circumstances), Tony Dungy is revered by many because he comes in after almost a decade of losing seasons and turns the Bucs around. If the Raiders would have taken Brady (thanks, Gruden) and there was no Arians, only Bowles, and he comes in and navigates the cut of Winston, brings in Mayfield and the team was performing as it is now some of the biggest Bowles trolls here would look that much more silly and some here would even see Bowels as some see Dungy. In fact, some of that group would probably be questioning now if Bowles was capable of taking them all the way. . . just like Dungy.
Its not coincidence that the biggest Bowles trolls here say NO WAY to that last part lol. HUMAN NATURE
Dungy went 8-8 in maybe his 3rd or 4th season and there were tons of people calling for his head. The next season the team went 11-5 and should have gone to the Super Bowl, but we had a pitiful offense . . .
parallels
The anti-Bowles crowd is a funny one. The players love him, the players play for him. He has a top tier staff. We need to stay healthy and we win this thing.
The anti-Bowles crowd is a funny one.
Theres plenty of legitimate criticisms of Bowles.
And then there is DH and Biggs. :-)