What phase is Mike Evans in? Vita Vea? Chris Godwin? Tristan Wirfs? Hassan Reddick, Baker Mayfield, Rachaad White, Jamel Dean, Lavonte David. These are cornerstones and they're not in Phase 1 or 2. This team had high expectations of being a contender now - this year. To rewrite this thing as being in the early phases of a rebuild is not accurate.Both Licht and Bowles signed multi year extensions which indicates that if the organization thinks this team is still in phase 1 of team building they see a future with both in phase 2. Problem is if you have a losing season how does Licht justify keeping Bowles? This is going to be an interesting finish to the season for sure.
I disagree.
Those players are leftover players from the SB run in 2020. We are already half a decade removed from that SB run and right now those players are going to be phased out in the next 3 years. Most of the core players on the roster moving forward are from the 2023 draft and onwards with some of the 2020 drafted players remaining (Wirfs, Winfield).
There is no rewrite because the transition the team started with cap cleaning in 2023 and they last three drafts since 2023 (2024 and 2025) have been establishing the new foundation. Mayfield makes this move into the new phase of the team easier.
At this point I'm not sure I want us to win anything.
If it was a guarantee that missing the playoffs would get him fired I'd be all for it but I'm not sure it is...
Licht better get his head out of his ass... He fucked up letting Coen go. Grizz is not an NFL coach.
And, Licht deserves criticism for this egregious error.
At the end of the day, we'll still end up winning a dog shit division, backdoor into the playoffs, get bounced in the WC, and have to muster up excitement to watch YET ANOTHER season of ineptitude of Todd Bowles.
Good times.
Licht also failed to address LB both in the draft, FA, and via trade.
He has no depth on either side of the line.
Overall I like Licht but going with Bowles/Grizz was such a bad move.
And I'm not so sure we win the division. I don't think we beat Miami
We are what we are... an inconsistent team. But yea we do need new blood, We need a bit of Arians magic and roster management. He would always pair a couple of vets in the positions groups to keep the young guys accountable, and then add some "alpha" personalities like Suh, JPP, Brady they may come off a bit rough around the edges in the lockerroom but they mean well by keeping us accountable.
Arians always had a good pulse on what the team needed personality wise, and what buttons to push either "calling a guy out" but it comes off ok cause hes gonna say it to your face as guy and you respect that. He also called the shots I miss the all out blitz, the mid field shots all well timed up things of when to go for the haymaker
Like we wanna have the team run the team, but you need the right mix of guys can't have too many young guys can't have too many old guys.
"we're only gonna be good as you wanna be"
The Bucs have been up/down since Bowles took over so I wouldn't say this season is some new development. But it is true that Arians understood as a HC you must micro manage at time the team so it functions properly. And, sometimes you step back and delegate to give room for your coaches to coach and grow.
Bowles seems too hands off with the team's function from what I am seeing and I think he needs to take a more hands on approach because all three phases of offense, defense and special teams are way off.
Bowles needs to investigate what is going on with each unit because right now I can not say one unit is shining over another which is something a HC must prevent from happening as the season progresses.
It seems the cumulative neglect of the team has reached a critical mass and there needs to be more care and attention to detail right now. Arians had accountability board and vets to enforce accountability. What does Bowles have?
Bowles needs to channel some of his inner Arians and realize HE is the HC and not a DC with HC side duties.
Completely agree, the players let themselves down. But the coaches need to push the motivation button and everyone needs to get better, or else theyre getting worse. They took the Saints easy and got OUTWILLED by a PRESEASON roster.
"everything is gonna be ok"
EVERYTHING IS NOT OK, we lost to good teams, you can't take moral victories to the next game, every game is 0-0 at the start. The teams definitely needs to have a bit of self loathing after losing to a PRESEASON ROSTER. And spend the next 64 hours thinking about Atlanta. If they care about this staff cause theyre gonna them fired
the team started with cap cleaning in 2023 and they last three drafts since 2023 (2024 and 2025) have been establishing the new foundation.
yep
Probably half the healthy starting/key players from those drafts
This is the last season where the Bucs have major dead cap space and that dead cap space comes off the books heading into next year. People don't want to accept that this team is transition from phase 1 of post SB/cap jail into phase 2. If Bowles is part of phase 2 or not is a different discussion entirely.
The Bucs have 40 players under contract next season and some decisions with UFAs. But with more cap space heading into next off season and an increase in cap means the Bucs will have more flex to do what they need to do for phase 2.
This is the last season where the Bucs have major dead cap space and that dead cap space comes off the books heading into next year. People don't want to accept that this team is transition from phase 1 of post SB/cap jail into phase 2. If Bowles is part of phase 2 or not is a different discussion entirely.
The Bucs have 40 players under contract next season and some decisions with UFAs. But with more cap space heading into next off season and an increase in cap means the Bucs will have more flex to do what they need to do for phase 2.
cap space or not, actual roster construction had the Bucs as the clear favorites to win this division
a loss Thursday night and its likely we are missing the playoffs
no excuse and yes injuries are not an excuse for losing to the Saints or god forbid Falcons
Bowles is coaching for his job tomorrow night
"Yeah, I think the Bucs are getting healthier but that was a bad, bad loss,” Arians said. “I did not like the energy that they showed up with, starting with the opening kickoff and [the Saints] running it back 60 yards, whatever it was.
“The Bucs were just not there. You know, they’ve got the Panthers twice, and I think that will be the telltale sign. They’ve got Thursday Night Football with the Falcons this week. Must win.”
Bowles is coaching for his job tomorrow night
so is Morris
looking forward to it!
what’s telling is that if guys like harbaugh, Tomlin, or McDermott were fired in January for staleness; they’d get another job
what about Bowles? Not sure he even gets a DC job to be honest
