Queipo's article states the Bucs youth movement is likely to bust. It's hard to argue about that. If you look at each individual player there's nothing to complain about. But taken as a whole group that's a lot of rookies. 12 rookies remain on the roster.
Bowles is the one who decides who to keep and who to cut. He could have kept more veterans. But Licht is also part of it. I was very surprised that they didn't poach any players off the waiver wire from other teams to try to get a little more experience.
Also, 9 of the 16 practice squad members are rookies. A couple members of the practice squad were signed during camp, LeCount and Cephus Johnson for example, but correct me if I'm wrong none of the practice squad was signed from other teams' castoffs. I thought that was very unusual. It seems to me that usually a good handful of the practice squad guys are brought in from other teams.
So what should we make out of all those rookies? Is Bowles participating in a transition movement as best he can given the contracts of the main players and the salary cap issues? Has Licht promised Bowles he'll be back for his third year? A year and a half ago he got a five year contract, and Licht and Bowles knew Brady likely had one more year. What kind of guarantees did Bowles get from Licht? Would Licht fire a coach after only two years of a five year deal? A lot of questions I don't know the answer to, but I'm starting to wonder if Bowles seat is really as hot as the press and fans think it is. His choice to add so many rookies doesn't seem to indicate he's coaching for his job this year.
Most coaches get 3 year stints but the Bucs have shown to cut the cord loose after 2 if brutally bad ie lovie smith and Greg Shiano
Todd’s first year was an absolute disaster and not the third year of Brady any of us could have imagined
so he’s got that bad taste going against him. Feel like he’s gotta win 7 to even be in the discussion for his job to be safe
0-5 wins likely spells the end of him and a top pick to attract a offensive minded coach
Hes toast if this team is picking in the top 5. Licht might too at that point.
Brady came back, Arians retired, and Bowles sat down with Licht and talked about the head coaching job. What did they see? They saw one more year of Brady and a cap situation looming after that. The situation the Bucs are in this year is not a surprise. Licht knew what was coming and would obviously be planning for the future when he hired Bowles. Bowles was part of the organization already, so he has been a party to the Bucs plan all along.
Licht knew they would have a tough transition to the post-Brady era. Did he want a coach who would be scrambling to keep his job, or one who would work to transition the team in an orderly manner. Bowles wants to win, I'm not saying he doesn't. But if he was worried about his job would he keep 12 rookies?
It would make sense that Licht would want to take a methodical approach to the transition, and avoid a chaotic situation where a head coach is scrambling for his job, and have a head coach who would want to plan for the future. It would make sense if Licht made a promise to Bowles that he would be coaching at least three years out of his five year deal.
If Licht did make a promise to Bowles he's not going to go back on his word, not if Bowles is following the path that he and Licht talked about in the beginning. Bowles wants to win, but it's winning while following the plan, not winning at all cost because he's on the hot seat. Could Bowles be fired? Sure it's possible, but not because of the W-L record. Licht is going to look at the big picture. Is the team staying the course? At the end of the year, is the team ready to move forward with the next steps, or is it in chaos and in need of an overhaul? If Bowles keeps his word and follows the plan, Licht will keep his word and give Bowles another year.
This is a bit of a shift in my thinking, and it's because of the 12 rookies and 9 more on the practice squad. It's because there hasn't been a movement to bring in stopgap journeyman veterans to fill depth positions. Why? Seemingly minor personnel moves, but it may be an indicator of the overall strategy. It may upset some Bucs fans to think that Bowles will most likely be the Bucs coach in 2024, but there it is. Red boarders and fans can wail and moan all they want. It's not a democracy. Licht will do what he thinks is best for the team.
There are so many rookies on the roster because it's the only way they can field a 53 man roster under the cap.
1. Bucs have the lowest cash payroll in the NFL.
2. Bucs are borrowing $1.7M of 2024 cap room.
3. There is already $22M of dead money in 2024 because of void years.
4. Jensen and Gage count $31M against the 2024 cap and their contracts are now extremely complicated. If released Jensen leaves behind $16.6M in dead cap and Gage is $5.7M.
And no, this wasn't the price for the Super Bowl. This was the price for 8-9.
Can’t fault litch for signing Jensen.
we were coming off a 13-4 season following a Super Bowl win. To sign Brady’s center only made sense
signing Russell Gage was a loser move but most of us knew that at the time
Bowles isn’t guaranteed next year by any stretch. Defensive minded coaches aren’t the way to go and how bad 2022 went didn’t buy him anytime
Coaching was garbage last year and if it’s a repeat this year Todd is gone.
Of course Bowles is on the hot seat but not in a way people think. The Bucs have to play stronger in December and not fade so if the team shows improvement he may stick around.
The younger players are not going to be hitting on all cylinders in the first half of the season. It is the tail end when it should really click for the youngsters.
Unless we win the division, Bowles should be shown the door.
If they make the playoffs he will keep his job. Last season the team stunk and still won the division. The division isn't great so winning the division will probably be the easiest way to get back to the playoffs. The division maybe got better and we arguably got worse with loss of Brady down to baker. However our offense was awful under Leftwich. With the change there it could be a better offense. Bowles I still don't think is a great hc but at least he knows defense and they could be ok this year. It's a toss up I think and maybe depending on our injuries cause we aren't that deep. Also again how we do against our division which are again easier than other divisions. They have a shot but I think they will need to bring it and they might be able to with some luck and Bowles has learned some things from last year. He was too lovie like for me last year and he will definitely need to be better than he was last year or I wouldn't be upset with a change even if we somehow luck our way there but look bad doing it.
Every coach is on the hot seat but Bowles was appointed to his position so there had to be thoughts on BOTH SIDES about what was laying ahead for the Bucs.
Not sure Licht could promise him anything but its just reality that many things about the Bucs are outside of Bowles control, a function of the past.
Hot? Not yet, but there is firewood neatly stacked under the chair.
Well put.Every coach is on the hot seat but Bowles was appointed to his position so there had to be thoughts on BOTH SIDES about what was laying ahead for the Bucs.
Not sure Licht could promise him anything but its just reality that many things about the Bucs are outside of Bowles control, a function of the past.
Every coach is on the hot seat but Bowles was appointed to his position so there had to be thoughts on BOTH SIDES about what was laying ahead for the Bucs.
Not sure Licht could promise him anything but its just reality that many things about the Bucs are outside of Bowles control, a function of the past.
he was appointed which I think works against him.
Bucs were in a bind. Brady decides he’s willing to come back. Arian “decides” to retire and we are in mid March.
it was either Bowles or leftwich. And given how leftwich preformed calling plays without Arians there for adjustments/critiques, Bucs certainly had no choice but to go with Bowles.
they win 6,7 games, he’s got a shot. They win 8 or more, he’s back.
they win 5 or less, I think he’s gone
Hot? Not yet, but there is firewood neatly stacked under the chair.
It should already be slowly burning...
This isn't the guy you want leading a full rebuild next season (assuming we're a 3-5 win team).
