Letting Aqib Talib walk while trading for an inferior cover corner in Revis was a top 5 all-time bone headed move by this franchise. Revis leveraged his time in Tampa to rehab and then left. He was never in the same category as Talib.
Talib was a PR nightmare. He battered a taxi driver and resisted arrest. He was suspended for performance enhancing drugs. That wasn't the last of his problems. He eventually started a fight that his brother finished with a gun and earned his brother 37 years in prison. Not somebody Greg Schiano was going to tolerate for long.Letting Aqib Talib walk while trading for an inferior cover corner in Revis was a top 5 all-time bone headed move by this franchise. Revis leveraged his time in Tampa to rehab and then left. He was never in the same category as Talib.
@catherder Talib was certainly a PR nightmare, but that kind of sums up the Heemy/Dominic era...a few talented players here and there sure, but we got away from prioritizing character in the scouting process....I mean they had to send a car with a wake up call to make sure Blount made it to practice and meetings... And while I thoroughly enjoyed watching Blount run, especially since he was one of if not the first to add hurdling players to his repertoire, but between him, Talib, Mike Williams(more interested in rapping than catching a football) Soulja Kellen Winslow, and Albert Haynesworth that playing football and more specifically winning football wasn't really a priority for any of them...I feel like during that time we had a sprinkling of talent among a vast ocean of no-bodies, with Ronde being the only holdover from the Super Bowl team and GMac being young and neither really being vocal leaders at that point in time....Throw in losing both OC and DC before we even got half way though Raheem's first season and the disfunction was strong....then on top of that you had Rah being a young first time head coach that was out partying at night and more concerned with getting along with the players than demanding that they do their job....Saying all of that out loud really make you appreciate what Licht has built here even more.
@catherder Talib was certainly a PR nightmare, but that kind of sums up the Heemy/Dominic era...a few talented players here and there sure, but we got away from prioritizing character in the scouting process....I mean they had to send a car with a wake up call to make sure Blount made it to practice and meetings... And while I thoroughly enjoyed watching Blount run, especially since he was one of if not the first to add hurdling players to his repertoire, but between him, Talib, Mike Williams(more interested in rapping than catching a football) Soulja Kellen Winslow, and Albert Haynesworth that playing football and more specifically winning football wasn't really a priority for any of them...I feel like during that time we had a sprinkling of talent among a vast ocean of no-bodies, with Ronde being the only holdover from the Super Bowl team and GMac being young and neither really being vocal leaders at that point in time....Throw in losing both OC and DC before we even got half way though Raheem's first season and the disfunction was strong....then on top of that you had Rah being a young first time head coach that was out partying at night and more concerned with getting along with the players than demanding that they do their job....Saying all of that out loud really make you appreciate what Licht has built here even more.
What a great summary of those days! Perfect!
…While some of that is due to a lack of defensive talent at key positions, and therefore he’s not playing with a full deck - it may be time for a change.
Just wanted to focus on this part, since we’ve already debated the “change” aspect of this topic; and it’s apples and oranges vs. past scenarios.
Yes, Todd has had to deal with numerous injuries to multiple players. But, so has Liam. And, two of those were caused by the ineptitude of his HC.
One guy has excelled despite the multiple injuries, while the other not so much.
But, my main point has always been Bowles as the HC, not the DC.
So, let’s say he did have a “full deck” to play with.
Does that change him being one of, if not the, worst head coaches in the NFL when it comes to clock management?
Does that change his atrocious situational awareness?
Does that change his laughable passive approaches to pressure and game defining situations?
Does it change his overall stubbornness regarding his approach to critical game situations?
IMO…it doesn’t. He is who he is.
A good DC. A mediocre-at-best HC.
Scott Reynolds has been leading this passive aggressive campaign for the Bucs to get rid of Bowles and make Coen HC.
Last year the Bucs finished 5-1 and won a playoff game. This year they're going to finish 6-1 and make the playoffs. Give the man his respect. Bucs will be in trouble if they play the Lions or Packers in round 1 and I'm sure SR will use that as ammo to fire him.
Scott Reynolds has been leading this passive aggressive campaign for the Bucs to get rid of Bowles and make Coen HC.
Last year the Bucs finished 5-1 and won a playoff game. This year they're going to finish 6-1 and make the playoffs. Give the man his respect. Bucs will be in trouble if they play the Lions or Packers in round 1 and I'm sure SR will use that as ammo to fire him.
Don't get too far ahead of yourself JC...I get being confident and optimistic, but this is no gimme....We're playing arguably our mutually most hated rival in the division, that would love nothing more than to cost us the division crown and send us home to watch the playoffs. Make no mistake they will be looking for cheap shots and any opportunity to injure our best players....I'm not super concerned with Spencer Rattler, but if Derek Carr somehow comes back and is able to play this game will have just got much more difficult....I think the offense if given a chance to grab the lead and play from ahead will score plenty of points, but if N.O comes out and punches our defense in the mouth and scores first it could look more like Dallas and less like last week.
Yes, Todd has had to deal with numerous injuries to multiple players. But, so has Liam
COME ON man . . .
Coen deserves MASSIVE credit and Bowles definitely deserves blame BUT if you look at it from an ACTUAL TALENT perspective or even a resources perspective thats just NOT the case
That does NOT absolve Bowles but man it should be obvious just by looking on the field itself
OFFENSE
The offense begins a HOFer in his prime at LT and a top 5 to 10 QB and a HOF WR and the best rookie RB in the league
So that is FOUR TOP PERFORMERS AT EACH OF THE MOST CRITICAL POSITIONS (that is the difference)
On top of that they spent their #1 overall on maybe the best C in football. In terms of actual performance on the field both Goedke and Mauch are near the top of their positions, so the offensive LINE (most important unit) as a unit is totally healthy (Wirfs still dinged) and DOMINANT.
That one factor is a complete game changer. Best in the trenches on the offensive side
They have had INJURIES they had to have someone step in for Wirfs briefly (big drop, no doubt) and somenone take over for Godwin, which has been Otton (4th) and a McMillan (3rd), both great so far. BUT, they have/had the best RUNNING GAME so some of our losses and lowest offensive production come with Godwin and Evans out and we basically run the ball.
DEFENSE
The defensive does not begin with that level of talent. The defense has Winfield and LVD. LVD is NOT a HOF level LB anymore and Winfield has been off the filed more than ON
Even with that the DEFENSIVE LINE is actually a DOMINANT run defense and pretty healthy NOW, but they have struggled with pressure. But their top player Kancey was out for a big stretch
Its everything behind that where it falls apart though because the injuries are substantial and the are thin to begin with
In the game they just played they gave up 14 points to the Panthers including one terrible long pass.
In that play it is Jordan Whithead - a "value" FA who has played like do shit - gets beat because he is a SLOW playing the deep safety role HE IS NOT MEANT TO PLAY THAT ROLE (watch him on the TD).
The other player is Tykee Smith, bright future but rookie playing safety when hes really a Nickel.
The other DBs are
McCollum - great young player
Josh Hayes -6th round special teamer (in for an INJURED Dean)
keveon marriweather - UFA
T Thomas - UFA
and the LBs (other than LVD) are the PLATOON of Britt (slow 5th rounder) and JJ Russell UFA
NOT SURPRISINGLY THAT BACK END HAS GIVEN UP A.LOT OF YARDS . . SO MUCH SO THAT BOWLES "DUMBED DOWN" THE DEFENSE IN THE BYE . . . and they improved
Yeah anyone with football acumen can see the Bucs basically got 4 guys on defense - Vea, Kancey, David and Winfield. Compare this defense talent to that in 2020, 2021 and we quickly realize the issue l
due to dead cap, they had to prioritize keeping the offense together and it paid off
Don’t get me wrong, if the Bucs lose on Sunday in a win and in game against the saints at home where we are 13 point favorites - Bowles job is in jeopardy.
compare them to 2002 and you would need a sedative 😀Yeah anyone with football acumen can see the Bucs basically got 4 guys on defense - Vea, Kancey, David and Winfield. Compare this defense talent to that in 2020, 2021 and we quickly realize the issue l
due to dead cap, they had to prioritize keeping the offense together and it paid off
Don’t get me wrong, if the Bucs lose on Sunday in a win and in game against the saints at home where we are 13 point favorites - Bowles job is in jeopardy.
every year has it own laws, the only common thing for all todd bowles defenses is awful pass defense
@seapa - ha! Now there’s a long time Bucs fan. Jack Thompson. I met him when I was a kid competing in the punt, pass, and kick competition.
those were years of darkness. do not forget who followed him, and even he couldn’t do anything. all he did was running for his life
my dad had season ticket in row 89 and he used to say last row would have been much better ..you couldn’t see the whole pain from up there 🙃
Has he been leading the campaign or riding on the bandwagon? Everybody including myself has been calling for Bowles to be fired and I'm still not crazy about Bowles, but he may be the best option at this point.Scott Reynolds has been leading this passive aggressive campaign for the Bucs to get rid of Bowles and make Coen HC.
Last year the Bucs finished 5-1 and won a playoff game. This year they're going to finish 6-1 and make the playoffs. Give the man his respect. Bucs will be in trouble if they play the Lions or Packers in round 1 and I'm sure SR will use that as ammo to fire him.
2025 is a year where the Bucs are going all in. And breaking in Coen as head coach and bringing in a new defensive coach and system is not what you want for a team trying to go to the Superbowl. That's why I thought if we can bring in an experienced defensive minded head coach like Belichick or Pete Carroll or Mike McCarthy or Ron Rivera, somebody like that, and keep Coen as OC that would be ideal. But bottom line is Coen isn't going to stick around for that without a guarantee to become HC in a short period of time. So that's not going to happen.
We have to keep the status quo at this point, like it or not it's the best option. Keep Bowles for one more year, Coen gets a guarantee, and upgrade the defensive coaching staff. If Bowles has a finite window then good defensive coaches will be lining up to build a resume on a playoff team with a possible promotion to DC after one year. And that's another huge reason to work with Bowles on the one year plan- if he's willing to shake up the defensives staff.
If Bowles will not accept a one year window and will not be willing to shake up the defensive staff - then you have to fire him even with 10 wins. But I don't think he's that stubborn.
COME ON man . . .
Cool.
Now, address THE REST of my post.
Sure, right after you address this, kiddo?
Lmao, you cant help but post about other people being inferior, but just putting that aside and trying to stick to just football . .
there is an OBVIOUS alternative to "mediocrity for stability" and IT COMES FROM YOUR OWN POSTS
***
YOU said on this board repeatedly (when it served your trolling) that last year's defense was "7th in scoring" and that that was "the ONLY stat that mattered."
That was TRUE, RIGHT? STICK WITH YOUR OWN WORDS THEN.
