Some things have been eating me up and I just have to get some things off my mind. First, I like Todd Bowles going back to his Jets days, and I love Jason Licht, I wish I could be one of his scouts! What are we doing with this team?? Every fan on this website can tell you, everything has to go right in order for Todd Bowles defense to work, but usually the middle of the field is wide open for QBs. The thing that's driving me mad, I've only seen this not to be true once in recent seasons, Bucs vs. Eagles (32-9) wild card playoff game 2024. In that game Jalen Hurts looked confused like he didn't know where to throw the ball because the middle of the field wasn't wide open as usual!! What stood out, injuries forced Todd Bowles to move CB Zyon McCollum to a hybrid free safety/nickel role that week, and although he only had three tackles he was flying all over the middle of the field and looked like the perfect compliment to Winfield's hybrid SS/LB role! The next week he moved Zyon back to cornerback and the middle of the defense went right back to being wide open!! You mean to tell me nobody in the building, Jason Licht and none of his staff, Todd Bowles and none of his coaches, nobody thought, "why don't we leave Zyon at safety one more week and see what happens?". McCollum and Winfield should be the starting safeties, with Tykee Smith coming off the bench. Next, before the draft when I would watch Rueben Bain at Miami, all I could think was, this is exactly the way Tampa should be utilizing Calijah Kancey! To me, they look like the same player, and Kancey has proven he isn't suited to be sandwiched in between two 320lb O-linemen. I'm losing faith in Kancey and his playing time should be reduced to DE on 3rd downs only. Jason Licht, A'Shawn Robinson was your best free agency signing this year, dude is FOR REAL, an we've known that about him, great job!!! Now if only Vita Vea can get healthy, knock off the rust, bro your playing with your best complimentary DT since Ndamukong Suh!! Robinson is wreaking havoc all by himself, when Todd goes to his four man front, Vita and A'Shawn should be the two starters getting most of the playing time! Let's get going Vita. Calijah should get most of the reps at DE on 3rd down with them. As for the other DE/OLB, you can rotate them all equally until somebody emerges as the best compliment opposite Calijah Kancey. The off-ball linebackers, nothing special but I think they can manage and get the job done. With Benjamin Morrison stepping up his play at CB, I think we can build on a surprisingly talented room with Parrish CB1, Morrison 2, Scott 3, and Garnes 4. And last, offensively, it's gonna be a LONG season!!! No true RB1, just a room full of 3rd down backs. No true TE1, in fact the way Tampa utilizes TEs, they may as well fill the position with offensive linemen. At least if you find some that can carry, catch, and run over everything whenever their not blocking that would add a unique dimension to the offense. No true WR1, however Tampa's most talented skilled players are all WR. I don't want to say, No true Franchise QB, but Baker is starting to feel like Jameis Winston 2.0. So basically what I'm saying is, that we do not have the offensive personnel to build a consistent offensive attack or identity around!!! As for the O-line, I think they have an identity, and solid personnel (that could possibly use some reshuffling as well). Tampa has some of the most athletic O-linemen in the league, and their at their very best when blocking smaller defenders on the second and third level, that's why we're calling so many screens! Between the O-line, WRs, and a good 3rd down back, we've got something to build on offensively, but unfortunately it won't be this year!! For Jason Licht and Todd Bowles to keep their jobs, I think they have to turn this into a top 5-10 defensive team. The talent is their, but what in the hell are we doing with it?!? All just my opinion, and I love reading the comments from fans who know more about football than me.
@firelichtbowles2026 Sorry..... It was buggin me, an I just needed to get it off my chest. Will do next time!
Bowles is stubborn as stubborn gets. Not shocked they wouldn't come to this realization but a fan does.
Bowles is more than stubborn. He's incompetent and stubborn.
McCollum and Winfield should be the starting safeties,
Great post and I’ve thought the same thing about Zyon, he definitely plays like a safety. I’d play him at nickel and strong. But I also like Tykee. The three of them should play when we’re in a nickel package.
You’re totally right about us not having Wr1 or TE1. Godwin is one of my fav Bucs of all time, but he’s lost a step. I think Egbuka is more of a WR2 than a 1. We’re very average across the board, aside from Wirfs.
McCollum and Winfield should be the starting safeties,
Great post and I’ve thought the same thing about Zyon, he definitely plays like a safety. I’d play him at nickel and strong. But I also like Tykee. The three of them should play when we’re in a nickel package.
You’re totally right about us not having Wr1 or TE1. Godwin is one of my fav Bucs of all time, but he’s lost a step. I think Egbuka is more of a WR2 than a 1. We’re very average across the board, aside from Wirfs.
Wirfs is a freak but he's playing below his standard. Ideally he goes back to RT but we already extended Goedeke.
McCollum at safety leaves us extremely thin at corner.
Tykee can't cover. He's an old school safety that plays well at the LOS
@firelichtbowles2026 Wirfs going back to RT isn't such a bad idea! I believe Jason Licht had the right idea about moving Luke Goedeke to Guard his rookie season however he was used to blocking smaller defenders (250-280lb DE/OLB) and wasn't ready to not only block bigger defenders (300-350lb DT/NT), but the best of the best the NFL has to offer. Now that he's regained his confidence, I'd give it another shot, because he brings the intensity you want on the interior (but is Ben Bredeson his ceiling?). I also think Graham Barton has a chance to be a better LT than C. I know Barton won some awards in college for being the best Center in the nation as a freshman, but he hasn't shown me anything other than he can be average blocking bigger men in the NFL. But I do think he has an elite pass protection skill set against smaller men, with a potential above average run/drive blocking skill against them.
Smith and Winfield's game and skill set are nearly identical, they both play better closer to the LOS and they don't compliment each other. I think Winfield can get back to his playmaking self in the right situation, but we need a true center-fielder.
McCollum isn't good at taking the right angle or tackles so he isn't a long term fit at safety.
The problem with this team starts with Licht and extends to Bowles.
McCollum isn't good at taking the right angle or tackles so he isn't a long term fit at safety.
The problem with this team starts with Licht and extends to Bowles.
I think Licht is one of the best Offensive talent evaluators, not so much Defensively. If he had a partner in crime as good on the Defensive side, we'd be in business!!
McCollum isn't good at taking the right angle or tackles so he isn't a long term fit at safety.
The problem with this team starts with Licht and extends to Bowles.
I think Licht is one of the best Offensive talent evaluators, not so much Defensively. If he had a partner in crime as good on the Defensive side, we'd be in business!!
I am not sure I would pin this all on Bowles. Bowles has shifted to more off/quarters zone coverage three years ago, and took forever for Licht to start to draft DBs that can do this with Morrison, Parrish and Scott within the last two seasons.
Bowles wants players that can play the run but also play in space and right now the Bucs are not doing their homework on this. Bowles should tweak the scheme to fit in the players but Bowles needs to accept that isn't happening. Where are the OLBs that can play in space but also rush the passer?
Licht dragged his feet regarding drafting a successor to LVD and getting them in the building. And even then Trotter Jr. is not a Move/Rover LB as he is a downhill Mike LB. Anzalone is just a stop gap as the Move/Rover LB.
McCollum isn't good at taking the right angle or tackles so he isn't a long term fit at safety.
The problem with this team starts with Licht and extends to Bowles.
I think Licht is one of the best Offensive talent evaluators, not so much Defensively. If he had a partner in crime as good on the Defensive side, we'd be in business!!
I am not sure I would pin this all on Bowles. Bowles has shifted to more off/quarters zone coverage three years ago, and took forever for Licht to start to draft DBs that can do this with Morrison, Parrish and Scott within the last two seasons.
Bowles wants players that can play the run but also play in space and right now the Bucs are not doing their homework on this. Bowles should tweak the scheme to fit in the players but Bowles needs to accept that isn't happening. Where are the OLBs that can play in space but also rush the passer?
Licht dragged his feet regarding drafting a successor to LVD and getting them in the building. And even then Trotter Jr. is not a Move/Rover LB as he is a downhill Mike LB. Anzalone is just a stop gap as the Move/Rover LB.
Sorry, I can’t swallow the notion that Licht is shoving defensive players down Bowles throat as HC/DC. Licht is getting the defensive guys that the defensive playcaller who is in year eight wants.
How long does Bowles have to be here as both the HC and DC until he gets the guys he wants?
McCollum isn't good at taking the right angle or tackles so he isn't a long term fit at safety.
The problem with this team starts with Licht and extends to Bowles.
I think Licht is one of the best Offensive talent evaluators, not so much Defensively. If he had a partner in crime as good on the Defensive side, we'd be in business!!
I am not sure I would pin this all on Bowles. Bowles has shifted to more off/quarters zone coverage three years ago, and took forever for Licht to start to draft DBs that can do this with Morrison, Parrish and Scott within the last two seasons.
Bowles wants players that can play the run but also play in space and right now the Bucs are not doing their homework on this. Bowles should tweak the scheme to fit in the players but Bowles needs to accept that isn't happening. Where are the OLBs that can play in space but also rush the passer?
Licht dragged his feet regarding drafting a successor to LVD and getting them in the building. And even then Trotter Jr. is not a Move/Rover LB as he is a downhill Mike LB. Anzalone is just a stop gap as the Move/Rover LB.
I'm not pinning this all on Bowles, I took the GM Jr. course at SportsManagementWorldWide.com an got my NFL Scouting certificate, this message was just as much for Jason Licht. If Todd is talking about moving Zyon back to CB after we just beat the breaks off of the Eagles to advance in the playoffs, and I'm the GM, I'm in his ear like, "Coach, I been looking at some draft eligible Safeties to compliment Winfield, but after last week I think he may be on the roster already. Can you leave Zyon at Safety a few weeks, I need to make sure I'm not seeing things, he's only been average at CB and if he emerges as a better Safety than I can change my gameplan."
In my opinion, these guys are the best of the best and don't make it to this level without having elite ability. It's on the talent evaluators to see where that potential fits best. Before you write these guys off at least give them the opportunity to try other positions. You guys might laugh, but I would of tried Joe Tryon at off-ball linebacker. If that didn't get you this sure will, but I honestly think Rueben Bain can be RB1 on this team right now! The 2026 version of Mike Alstott, running over everybody on the second with his angry/violent demeanor!! Lmao, yeah I know, but somebody's gotta build this team, give it an identity, and figure out where we're gonna get the most out of these players. Again, just my opinion.
Sorry, I can’t swallow the notion that Licht is shoving defensive players down Bowles throat as HC/DC. Licht is getting the defensive guys that the defensive playcaller who is in year eight wants.
How long does Bowles have to be here as both the HC and DC until he gets the guys he wants?
Bowles is responsible for literally nothing as far as I can tell... The staple of a great head coach
