FINAL Monday Rant: A Win Too Late / Now We Wait

ehinote · 2026-01-06T02:57:40Z

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 With the variety of offensive sets, screen plays, and RPO looks that teams employ today, this defense feels outdated.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.

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BadabingBucs

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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

yeah i enjoy messaging here but if they retain Bowles, maybe i just find something else to do during work hours.....work? nah...ill figure it out.

Posted : Jan. 7, 2026 12:19 pm

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FINAL Monday Rant: A Win Too Late / Now We Wait

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