Bowles as a HC I feel did no take the step forward needed as a head coach this season. I wonder if this is his max (eg ten wins) potential. I do give him credit for navigating tough parts of the schedule and injuries to rally toward the end of the season with a .500 ball club.
Coen has exceeded expectations and I hope the Bucs can keep him around because if year 1 was any indication then year 2 will be fun once Coen has more talent on offense to work with.
Rodgers being part of the run game coordination was a surprise to me because I am familiar with his work on defense. I say this man is the lynchpin of what the Bucs do in the trenches.
Foote did the best job he could with his crew but he clearly needs more talent to work with to really push his LB unit to the next level.
McGaughey helped the team win a few games with this approach to special teams. Definitely need to bring in a punter with power to help put McGaughey's coverage units.
Carberry as OL definitely deserves props because the OL looked like they were firing on all cylinders this season. Big improvement from previous seasons.
Edwards as an OLB coach I am not a fan of because I feel that none of the young players took a huge step forward under his tutelage. And he was a proponent for bringing in Randy Gregory. Two strikes against him so far.
Grizzard as a pass game coordinator. Two thumps up.
I am glad the Bucs kept Lewis as a QB coach as he is underrated.
Peele made a huge improvement in the TE room for run blocking but also seeing these TEs be active in space blocking for screens.
Tom Moore is a legend and really was involved with Coen to make the offense hum.
Skip Peete deserves praise for his work with RBs.
Rapone is a good coach but his safety unit this year was putrid. Not sure what happened beyond the injuries.
Here's are some questions for the group. The Lions had way more injuries to their defense this past season. The huge number of their defensive players sent to IR is well-documented. How is it that the Lions were able to patch together a capable defensive unit with most of their top players out? The Lions defense I saw in the showdown game for the #1 seed vs the Vikings looked damn good in stopping the high-powered Vikings offense. Why couldn't the Bucs have had the same results with their defense? Do the Lions have better defensive coaches. Do the Lions just have better personnel/depth?
I think the Lions have better scheme and coaching on defense. But that is my hot take.
Ross and Rapone are fine DB coaches but the scheme is too zone heavy and sending our best pass rushers in shallow zone defense like Kancey and Diaby means less capable pass rusher on the line.
Biggest reason why Schiano drove me nuts was his over reliance on zone with m2m CBs and sending our best edge rushers to play zone in space and stunting so much.
Stunts have to be coordinated to have a plan to create confusion against the OL in pass pro which is what Sapp and Culpepper did all the time.
By unit:
Offense: A
QB - A-
RB - A
Wr - A-
TE - B+
O-line - B+
Defense: D
Lb - D
S - F (given the talent of Winfield)
CB - D+
D-line: C-
Special teams: D+
Coverage: D
Punting: F
Kicking: A
Kickoff - C-
i think most of us thought 10-7 was best case scenario this year given the hard schedule - Lions, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, 49ers; then road games against LAC and Dallas ain't no picnics.
We actually performed better than expected against let's call it the 5 elite teams - going 2 -3. Think most would have pegged that at 1-4 at best.
in the division, we performed as expected 4-2. The disappointment was getting swepted by the Falcons where most would have had 4-2 with a split against them and Saints.
Losing to the Broncos and then a Dak-less Cowboys was disappointing but beating the Chargers was a nice surprise
would rate it like this
2022 - underachieved. BIGLY
2023 - overachieved. first non-Brady playoff season in 15 years
2024 - met expectations. Disappointing first round playoff exit.
for 2025, and available cap space, would assume we address defense.
Division - expectation would be 4-2
home games - Eagles, 49ers, Patriots, Jets, Cardinals. Expectation would be 4-1 splitting the Eagles/49ers match-ups
away games - Rams, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bills, Lions, Houston. Expectation would be 3-3 with losses against Rams, Bills, and Lions but winning toss up games in Houston, Seattle, and Miami.
so that has it set at another improvement, at 11-6. Then would need atleast 1 playoff win to have a shot at Bowles keeping his job.
Here's are some questions for the group. The Lions had way more injuries to their defense this past season. The huge number of their defensive players sent to IR is well-documented. How is it that the Lions were able to patch together a capable defensive unit with most of their top players out? The Lions defense I saw in the showdown game for the #1 seed vs the Vikings looked damn good in stopping the high-powered Vikings offense. Why couldn't the Bucs have had the same results with their defense? Do the Lions have better defensive coaches. Do the Lions just have better personnel/depth?
Because even with all their injuries they still have better personnel than us on defense.
The NFL in their wisdom will no doubt lump all the tough games together in the middle of the season. That's a tough road schedule with four of them in the division round. Home schedule not so tough except for the Eagles.i think most of us thought 10-7 was best case scenario this year given the hard schedule - Lions, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, 49ers; then road games against LAC and Dallas ain't no picnics.
We actually performed better than expected against let's call it the 5 elite teams - going 2 -3. Think most would have pegged that at 1-4 at best.
in the division, we performed as expected 4-2. The disappointment was getting swepted by the Falcons where most would have had 4-2 with a split against them and Saints.
Losing to the Broncos and then a Dak-less Cowboys was disappointing but beating the Chargers was a nice surprise
would rate it like this
2022 - underachieved. BIGLY
2023 - overachieved. first non-Brady playoff season in 15 years
2024 - met expectations. Disappointing first round playoff exit.
for 2025, and available cap space, would assume we address defense.
Division - expectation would be 4-2
home games - Eagles, 49ers, Patriots, Jets, Cardinals. Expectation would be 4-1 splitting the Eagles/49ers match-ups
away games - Rams, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bills, Lions, Houston. Expectation would be 3-3 with losses against Rams, Bills, and Lions but winning toss up games in Houston, Seattle, and Miami.
so that has it set at another improvement, at 11-6. Then would need atleast 1 playoff win to have a shot at Bowles keeping his job.
The Lions defense I saw in the showdown game for the #1 seed vs the Vikings looked damn good in stopping the high-powered Vikings offense.
I think the Lions are a better team overall and better coached and also on a mission, but just to your point
1. Their offense is 4 PPG better, the best in the league
2. Like the Bucs at their best they win by offense scoring and POSSESSING the ball (#2 in the league)
3. In that Vikings game, their starting lineup is not that much different than game 1 and also different than the Bucs their injuries are basically one across each unit (Bucs are basically depleted DBs and LBs) And, they did something the Bucs did not, which is go out and get someone in a trade (Edge). So
Game 1 interior DL
- DT Alim McNeill
- NT DJ Reader
- DT Levi Onwuzurike
Vikings
- NT DJ Reader
- DL Levi Onwuzurike
- Platooning several guys and Allim McNeil is a big run stopper (easier position to fill)
Game 1 Edge
- EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
- EDGE Marcus Davenport
Viking Edge
- EDGE Za’Darius Smith -- former all pro and pro bowler acquired in a in-season trade, I think? Provided 5 sacks so far
- DL Josh Paschal
Game 1 LB
- MIKE Jack Campbell
- WILL Alex Anzalone
- SAM/MIKE Derrick Barnes
Viking LB -- same
- MIKE Jack Campbell
- WILL Alex Anzalone
- SAM Trevor Nowaske
Saftey and CB the same except Vildor in for Davis
So, not trying to discount what they have accomplished and definitely handled it BETTER than the Bucs, but the Bucs got sheet play from BOTH starting safeties when they were healthy too, so thats player or Bowles or both
Here's are some questions for the group. The Lions had way more injuries to their defense this past season. The huge number of their defensive players sent to IR is well-documented. How is it that the Lions were able to patch together a capable defensive unit with most of their top players out? The Lions defense I saw in the showdown game for the #1 seed vs the Vikings looked damn good in stopping the high-powered Vikings offense. Why couldn't the Bucs have had the same results with their defense? Do the Lions have better defensive coaches. Do the Lions just have better personnel/depth?
Because even with all their injuries they still have better personnel than us on defense.
Disagree. They have PS players in for 50% of their starters. They lost their best edge, best DT, 2 of 3 LBs, 2 corners, and their star safety for some of the season.
They traded for ZaDarius which was a good move but other than that they're simply doing more with equal or less
So, not trying to discount what they have accomplished and definitely handled it BETTER than the Bucs, but the Bucs got sheet play from BOTH starting safeties when they were healthy too, so thats player or Bowles or both
Winfield regression was massive. Part of that was the injury he didn't need to sustain in week 1 but Bowles kept him out there.
Part of that was contract year.
Part of that is scheme/coaching.
Part of it was a natural regression but it was a STEEP regression.
In the end, Bowles scheme made nobody better. Unless you think Hayes on an island vs McLaurin is brilliant.
Unless you think Hayes on an island vs McLaurin is brilliant.
Should have played more zone!
(kidding)
So, not trying to discount what they have accomplished and definitely handled it BETTER than the Bucs, but the Bucs got sheet play from BOTH starting safeties when they were healthy too, so thats player or Bowles or both
Winfield regression was massive. Part of that was the injury he didn't need to sustain in week 1 but Bowles kept him out there.
Part of that was contract year.
Part of that is scheme/coaching.
Part of it was a natural regression but it was a STEEP regression.
In the end, Bowles scheme made nobody better. Unless you think Hayes on an island vs McLaurin is brilliant.
Winfield rookie contract 4 years, $7M
Winfield this year - $45M guaranteed at signing - $24M this year.
kid is just 26 years old, sometimes that money can go to ones head. He played half the year, head likely wasn't in it. Not one INT and career low in sacks.
others may handle it better, i.e. Tristian Wirfs
i think Winfield has the pedigree to turn it around and im sure his dad will have a talking with him to work hard this offseason. Otherwise, he wont see the end of the contract ala Jamal Adams like. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.
let's see who else did we have on defense
Jamel Dean taking up space, managed to miss career high 5 games...if thought he couldn't be any more of a waste of space, he manages to have a career high in something.
Joe Tryon - what a joke? good bye
Braswell? useless
Logan Hall - maybe he is salvagble?
good years by Kancey, minus the towel incident, and Vea.
Heading into the offseason, assuming a Dean cut, we basically have 3 above average starters - Winfield, Vea, and Kancey. Would list David, McCollum, and Hall as acceptable.
Whitehead, Tykee Smith, Izien, Diaby, and Dennis all decent but should not be handed starting jobs without competition.
that leaves 5 potential openings - S, CB, Edge x2, and ILB.
would think at the very least our first 3 picks go there.
if we want to contend for a Superbowl, we have the top 5 offense to do it, but need to bulk up the defensive talent. Worry about luxuries such as WR/TE/RB in 2026 draft. Also need Baker to cut down on turnovers.
We lost this game thanks to Todd Jigabutt Bowles' defense which failed to force a punt or a turnover all night. I hope the Glazers fire his black ass!!!
I think the team did well under the circumstances. The injuries and for the most part coaching didn't help. It's a pity because the coaches can blame a lot of this year down time on the injuries but a lot of fans know the coaching had a ton of impact on the teams success and then also it's flaws as well. Put teams in tough positions time and time again this year including the playoffs. I think they can look back at themselves and make adjustments. Bowles has been making similar mistakes year in and out tho and I'm not sure he has the desire inside to look there and fix some things. He's got a lot of work to do. I'll say Coen had his ups and downs too. That play with the fumble was baffling but either way he helped the team with a pretty memorable season. They needed more in a playoff game tho. Not sure about that gameplan. Mayfield was good but also inconsistent as he made mistakes in timely sense too. I think the positive is that I think a lot of these things can be fixed. They need another strong draft and smart fa period. If so they can position themselves at a nice shot at it next year. Fix a lot from this year and carry on the positives from this year they can make a lot of damage and win the division again.
N
We lost this game thanks to Todd Jigabutt Bowles' defense which failed to force a punt or a turnover all night. I hope the Glazers fire his black ass!!!
Always good to know who's a POS. Thanks for making it easy.
