After over 40 years of following the Bucs, I’ve never witnessed a season quite like this one. A team once hailed as a Super Bowl contender by many in the media fell so hard that they missed the playoffs entirely, resembling a bottom 10 team in the second half of the season. This final rant of the year comes from a very low place.
Bowles as Head Coach
Todd Bowles brings many positive qualities to the table: he’s a great mentor, a leader, and a players’ coach. However, success is ultimately measured by wins and losses. Despite having a talented roster, Bowles has struggled to translate that talent into results.
I’ve pointed out previously that Bowles’ teams have not recorded a record good enough to qualify for a wild card during his four years. If he hadn’t been in the NFC South, he wouldn’t have made the playoffs at all.
Overall NFL Record Rankings:
– 2025: 16th
– 2024: 12th
– 2023: 14th
– 2022: 16th
Bowles as Defensive Coordinator
While Bowles’ system can still generate a surprise pressure from time to time, with its high blitz scheme, it lacks the consistency required for a reliable defense. With the variety of offensive sets, screen plays, and RPO looks that teams employ today, this defense feels outdated. Bowles continues to rely heavily on pressure and a run-heavy defense, failing to adapt.
He often uses 3-4 personnel on first and many second downs, mismatching against opposing offenses (like deploying five down linemen against 11 personnel). Moreover, his defense often resembles a 5-2 scheme, which offensive minds like McVay, Reid, Payton, Shanahan, and even Coen relish facing. And no, it doesn’t catch them off guard when you drop Yaya or Reddick or Nelson in the flats.
This pattern isn’t changing. Bowles still retains defensive assistants, such as his safeties coach who actually coached Bowles at Temple. And his cornerbacks coach who played with Bowles at Temple (how long ago with this?!?!). Football has evolved significantly since then—both in techniques and schemes.
Bowles’ Defensive Rankings:
Total Defense and Pass Def
– 2025: 19th and 27th
– 2024: 18th and 29th
– 2023: 23rd and 29th
Grizzard’s Offense Doesn’t Fit the Personnel
Josh Grizzard isn’t a bad coach and is better than some, but his scheme doesn’t align with our players’ strengths. At the beginning of the season, I was concerned when he said he’d incorporate more vertical concepts into the offense, which isn’t Baker Mayfield’s forte.
Baker thrives when he can quickly release the ball to establish a rhythm. The longer he stays in the pocket, the more he feels pressured to escape. Last year, Liam Coen helped Baker get the ball out quickly, utilizing quick-read passes as an extension of the running game. When they went vertical, it was set up for a one-time shot. Similar to the touchdown pass to Chris Godwin against the Lions last year, when they gave a receiver screen look, in which Godwin ended up wheeling past the corner, who sat for the screen, and Baker hit him up the sidelines for a touchdown. It was a beautiful set up.
This season, we often saw play-action plays with three receivers running vertical routes while everyone else blocked, leaving Baker with limited options if those routes were covered. This frequently forced him to scramble or make risky throws.
In addition to Grizzard’s vertical approach, he struggled to create space in the running game, reminiscent of the Byron Leftwich era with compact formations. We saw fewer misdirections, jet sweeps, and plays designed to get the defense moving sideline to sideline. Of all Grizzard’s issues, his inability to scheme or call an effective run game against different defensive fronts was most disappointing. And Coen could do it with less run plays.
Bowles’ Future
I remain hopeful that the longer the Glazer family takes to confirm Bowles as head coach, the less likely it is to happen.
This is a positive sign. For all the reasons mentioned and many more, it’s time for a change to give this team a chance to move in a new direction. Next season’s schedule looks even tougher than this year’s, and I can foresee Bowles’ defense being out-schemed in many matchups. Our only hope would be another season of Coen-like offensive production, which isn’t a valid reason to keep a defensive-minded head coach.
I’ve heard that former coach, Bruce Arians, has been loud about his support for Bowles. I appreciate what Arians did for this franchise and understand his desire to support his friend. However, as a football man, he must recognize that Bowles hasn’t delivered. With a record of losing seven of the last nine games and no solutions for the issues that led to those losses, it’s time for these players to hear a new voice. This one has grown stale for everyone.
IMO I don't care about Bowles' overall resume and I don't think it's at the top of the list for the Glazers either. They have to put the losing streak in the past. Just answer one question: What does 2026 look like for the Buccaneers? If he lost twenty in a row and you thought he had this team on the edge of success you'd still keep him. Of course that situation is not realistic. All I'm saying is that you don't make the decision on Bowles past resume. You make the decision based on what you think the future holds in 2026.
But Bowles has to own the Grizzard choice, as I've said multiple times. He chose Grizzard for whatever reason - because he was comfortable. Because Baker liked him. Whatever. He could have gotten a more experienced guy from outside, but he didn't. So now what? A lost year on the offense because he picked the wrong guy and now he has to find another one or stick with his mistake.
the longer the Glazer family takes to confirm Bowles as head coach, the less likely it is to happen
Exactly
All I'm saying is that you don't make the decision on Bowles past resume. You make the decision based on what you think the future holds in 2026.
You absolutely take into account the past, as well as the present and future.
All 3 of these show he's simply not a good head coach.
Great guy. But, bad coach.
You take into account the past only as an indicator for what you think will happen. Obviously, if he's been coaching badly, he's very likely going to coach badly in the future. All I'm trying to point out is that it's not about what Bowles has earned or not earned. It's about what he can do for us in 2026. Personally I think the past five games were all we need to look at. We were relatively healthy, we needed those games. They were division games against teams with losing records, against teams not even in the playoff hunt except for the Panthers. Bowles didn't have the answers. His coaches didn't have the answers. Bowles's team failed. It's not about whether he should be punished for it. It's about whether you think he'll be able to turn it around in 2026. I don't see any reason to think that. I don't see any reason to think Bowles will suddenly get some wind back into the sails of this team. If you keep Bowles in 2026 I only foresee more losing whereas another coach could bring in some fresh ideas and a new start.All I'm saying is that you don't make the decision on Bowles past resume. You make the decision based on what you think the future holds in 2026.
You absolutely take into account the past, as well as the present and future.
All 3 of these show he's simply not a good head coach.
Great guy. But, bad coach.
He's 5-1 each of the prior Decembers so he's good at getting the team to play its best when it matters.
this year 1-5 in December
I hope I'm wrong about Bowles staying. I was confident we'd lose Coen last year... That didn't work out in our favor.
But again I hope I'm wrong and we let him go... I just keep waiting to hear we are retaining him.
I just keep waiting to hear we are retaining him.
I am not sure why? Because he wasn't fired Day 1?
I guess anything is possible. I can see a path where he stays but there are also so many things that say they move on.
in the press conference that no one watched lol he specifically says that he has not met with the Glazers yet but that he will this week or next.
he defends himself but he also criticizes himself. Exactly what you'd expect from a HC
I was confident we'd lose Coen last year...
There was an almost 0% chance that we were going to elevate a one year offensive coordinator over a multiple year division winning head coach. all the more so true when you consider that the GM lauded that Head coach for winning "with what he had to work with"
and yet there are people posting here that Licht should be fired for choosing Bowles over Cohen lmao. There really was no choice to be made if you look at it in real time. Plenty of people now with the hindsight that Cohen has done well, but the Glazer experience was Koetter failing and Bowles succeeding
almost no one here will agree with that take because everybody is 100% convicted in their beliefs so much so that the past gets bent to comport with the present.
human nature
@bucsbits - the problem is you can’t take one situation, “Koetter failing” and put that on any similar issue in the future. Each situation is different. You’re dealing with different people. If this were the case, you’d never try anything a second time.
@bucsbits - the problem is you can’t take one situation, “Koetter failing” and put that on any similar issue in the future. Each situation is different. You’re dealing with different people. If this were the case, you’d never try anything a second time.
I agree but simple human nature says that AT THAT MOMENT (as opposed to now) that is their specific experience with that move. If you add in their GM saying that Bowles dud great "with what he had," it's not difficult to understand the decision THEN even if it's turned out now to be wrong
I hope I'm wrong about Bowles staying. I was confident we'd lose Coen last year... That didn't work out in our favor.
But again I hope I'm wrong and we let him go... I just keep waiting to hear we are retaining him.
thank god for social media, twitter, etc.
i think if this was 30 years ago, Bowles likely stays
given the public outcry, it would be business malpractice for them to retain Bowles. I just couldn't even imagine it and his seat would be so hot, he could lose his job by Halloween next year if brought back
so at a certain point, just rip off the band aid and start a new this year.
but, like make the decision this week. If he is still head coach by Friday, i am going to start to get concerned.
my guess is he is let go Wednesday or Thursday
like make the decision this week. If he is still head coach by Friday, i am going to start to get concerned.
my guess is he is let go Wednesday or Thursday
Yep.
if they font pull the rip chord this week we are gong to need wellness checks on multiple posters
like make the decision this week. If he is still head coach by Friday, i am going to start to get concerned.
my guess is he is let go Wednesday or Thursday
Yep.
if they font pull the rip chord this week we are gong to need wellness checks on multiple posters
Love your confidence
