can't imagine they'd allow Bowles, the DC, to choose offensive guy without collaboration so a fumble by Licht as well; just like they are allowing Bowles to go into the 2026 season without a DC.
They'd fire Bowles (or he would quit) before they hired a DC. Thats just the way it is, sort of an (understandable) fan pipe dream. In fact, he's back in part because they likely believe his defense just needed talent upgrades to succeed.
They'd fire Bowles (or he would quit) before they hired a DC. Thats just the way it is, sort of an (understandable) fan pipe dream. In fact, he's back in part because they likely believe his defense just needed talent upgrades to succeed.
why? Even Robert Saleh and Mike Vrabel and Mike MacDonald had DCs
They'd fire Bowles (or he would quit) before they hired a DC. Thats just the way it is, sort of an (understandable) fan pipe dream. In fact, he's back in part because they likely believe his defense just needed talent upgrades to succeed.
why? Even Robert Saleh and Mike Vrabel and Mike MacDonald had DCs
They'd fire Bowles (or he would quit) before they hired a DC. Thats just the way it is, sort of an (understandable) fan pipe dream. In fact, he's back in part because they likely believe his defense just needed talent upgrades to succeed.
why? Even Robert Saleh and Mike Vrabel and Mike MacDonald had DCs
sorry not sure that posted without my reply
Here we go:
Most of the post here are people posting about that they think the Bucs should do. So, your post Bowles should be like . .. .Saleh, Vrabel etc. . .
Most of my posts are about what is actually happening, in my estimation. I could be wrong, but that is a more interesting topic to me because its real.
Anyway conceding that I could be reading it all wrong, the Glazers (with the obvious help from Arians and even Licht and even team legends like Quarles and Barber) seem to see Bowles as a good coach that kept them relevant while they went through their post-Super Bowl financial realignment, transitioned out older players etc. Recall they drafted Trask for this period, so internally they were clearly thinking they'd most likely have a few lean years. They did not. Bad division, sure, but playoffs and they most likely credit Bowles with that because they won with a QB that Bowles wanted and the only OC they could basically hire (Canales) then followed by Coen. . .. all with no outside big $ contracts needed, even while moving on from some defensive players who played a big part in the SB.
As Licht said directly last offseason, inside OBP Bowles was doing an exceptional job with what he had to work with. (not saying that is true, just that he said that publicly)
That all caught up with the team last year, but inside OBP they might have even seen that as a real possibility because they extended Bowles and Licht, presumably to make it easier for them to hire good coaches GOING FORWARD and they did that right after Coen left and Grizz stepped in. Rightly or wrongly, they probably see 2025 as being less about Bowles and more about the state of the team, so if they have that core belief they are not going to make him hire a DC. They would just fire him.
FWIW this is Bill simmons
“I would have [Bowles] circled in the first-coach-fired rankings, because I thought he should have been fired after the season,” Simmons said.
why? Even Robert Saleh and Mike Vrabel and Mike MacDonald had DCs
I understand you overall point, but does it really matter? MacDonald calls the plays in Seattle and Saleh has said he will call the plays in Tennessee, even though they have someone on staff with the DC title. Bowles would likely still be calling the plays, even if he had a guy with the DC title.
FYI, Vrabel does not call the defensive plays in New England.
FWIW this is Bill simmons
“I would have [Bowles] circled in the first-coach-fired rankings, because I thought he should have been fired after the season,” Simmons said.
I mean no doubt. the wheels would have had to fall off for the Bucs to fire in season but with Robinson waiting in the wings i feel it's more likely this season than others
Probably the bye week which we will have 9 games under the belt. If we are 2-7, likely spells the end of Bowles
the one caveat is our division is so weak and schedule hard for all that at 3-6, 4-5, we are likely only 1 game out of division lead.
why? Even Robert Saleh and Mike Vrabel and Mike MacDonald had DCs
I understand you overall point, but does it really matter? MacDonald calls the plays in Seattle and Saleh has said he will call the plays in Tennessee, even though they have someone on staff with the DC title. Bowles would likely still be calling the plays, even if he had a guy with the DC title.
FYI, Vrabel does not call the defensive plays in New England.
i hear ya, but having somebody in the club box for that Carolina game would have signaled down to Todd that there was no safety back. Would have prevented a TD before half.
maybe we already have that guy, but potentially we was scrolling through tiktok during that play.
Vrabel does not call the defensive plays in New England.
Not that it matters much for this discussion. but Vrabel turned play calling over to Williams who then got ill so the LB coach took over play calling.
"Williams returned for training camp and the first week of the regular season, before leaving when diagnosed with prostate cancer. That once again thrust Kuhr, 37, into the playcalling role, and the defense ultimately became the backbone of the Patriots' run to Super Bowl LX."
100% Vrabel is in charge and surely helps, but he took a little grief in the press for making the move. He actually responded later in the season by downplaying the significance of defensive play calling:
"Coming off a massive win in Buffalo, Kuhr deserves credit for winning the chess match against Bills QB Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Allen tied a season low by generating +0.16 expected points added per drop-back vs. the Patriots, and the Pats also shut down the Bills top-ranked rushing attack by holding RB James Cook to 3.3 yards per rush.
"Everybody over there has done a really good job as far as just organizationally. The communication to put the plan together, the efficiency to put a plan together, practice preparation and everything else," Vrabel said this week. "Again, there's no perfect call. I've said this millions of times. As long as our personnel is in the game, the call gets in there, it's decisive and one that the players understand, then it's a good call."
but potentially we was scrolling through tiktok during that play.
tykee smith was scrolling through tik tok lol
BTW, that was Jamel Dean . . the CB we cannot do without!
I took your comment about a DC to mean a different defense so thats what I meant would never happen. The Bucs have defensive coaches in the box every game. That play is baffling though, I agree.
Anyway conceding that I could be reading it all wrong, the Glazers (with the obvious help from Arians and even Licht and even team legends like Quarles and Barber) seem to see Bowles as a good coach that kept them relevant while they went through their post-Super Bowl financial realignment, transitioned out older players etc.
FWIW you can hear Bucs beat writer Stroud make this exact point today. Its at the 3:00 mark
FWIW this is Bill simmons
“I would have [Bowles] circled in the first-coach-fired rankings, because I thought he should have been fired after the season,” Simmons said.
I mean no doubt. the wheels would have had to fall off for the Bucs to fire in season but with Robinson waiting in the wings i feel it's more likely this season than others
Probably the bye week which we will have 9 games under the belt. If we are 2-7, likely spells the end of Bowles
the one caveat is our division is so weak and schedule hard for all that at 3-6, 4-5, we are likely only 1 game out of division lead.
I have the schedule up on a kitchen cabinet with my game-by-game picks. I have the Bucs going into the bye week at 4-5. Bowles will no doubt survive a 4-5 start to the season. I have them finishing at 7-10. I wouldn't be surprised if they eke out one more win to finish 8-9, and a good chance to be division winners.
Anyway conceding that I could be reading it all wrong, the Glazers (with the obvious help from Arians and even Licht and even team legends like Quarles and Barber) seem to see Bowles as a good coach that kept them relevant while they went through their post-Super Bowl financial realignment, transitioned out older players etc.
FWIW you can hear Bucs beat writer Stroud make this exact point today. Its at the 3:00 mark
right on cue ... Vea requests a trade
To say the mistake was choosing Bowles over Coen doesn't tell the whole story. I'm a Licht fan, but frankly the mistake is Licht's value of loyalty over talent. It would have been out of the box to fire Bowles to promote Coen, especially for a guy like Licht who's calling card is trust and relationship building and that trickles down through the organization. How can building trust and relationships be a fault? Well, in this case that character trait caused him to stick with Bowles and that started the domino effect - contract extensions of Bowles and Licht, hiring of Grizzard, Grizzard falling flat, and then Glazers sticking with Bowles because of that extension. It all stems from Licht's philosophy.
Ultimately, the Glazers decide on hiring or firing the HC. There is nothing wrong with Licht's philosophy, in general. It’s a problem now because they are in a collective delusion about Todd’s head coaching capabilities. They may be partly afraid of going back to the ugly times of revolving door head coaches. At least they’re now regarded as a well-run organization and not an annual joke like the Browns or Jets or Cardinals. There’s no point in changing head coaches unless you're hiring the right guy. That said, it was obviously a mistake to let Coen walk out the door.
Without Brady and Mayfield we're on the same level as the browns jets and Cardinals. It's not because of bowles.
