I’m tired of the negative noise this time of year from people who don’t see the work and chemistry being built behind the scenes. We all know where the gaps are: the secondary needs a facelift, we need a fresh core of linebackers, and a high-impact Edge Rusher is a must.
But looking at the big picture, we are a solid team that just needs a few tweaks. Keeping our Offensive Front healthy is priority number one—we saw how much that impacted us last year.
I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong about Grizzard; I thought his history with Liam Coen would provide the continuity we needed, but it didn't quite click. That’s why I’m genuinely excited about Zac Robinson stepping in as OC.
The most underrated part of this hire? His history with Baker Mayfield. They have a shorthand and mutual respect that goes back to their Rams days. With Robinson bringing that McVay-style motion and creativity, we might finally see the offensive rhythm we’ve been waiting for.
If we can use that No. 15 pick on a real difference-maker like Sonny Styles at Linebacker to anchor the defense, or a shutdown corner like Brandon Cisse, we’re in a much better position than the critics think.
As for Mike Evans—he’s the heart of this franchise. Even with the injuries starting to show, I can’t see him leaving the place he calls home. This is a make-or-break year for the coaching staff, but if Todd Bowles gets the defense in shape, the pieces for a turnaround are right there
I always remind myself there are 32 teams and only one gets to claim the SB every year. The rest of the 30 teams get to sit in the stands or where ever and watch. Like us all.
Tired of the noise? That's like saying "I'm tired of all this panicking about the meteorite that's going to hit tomorrow." Look at the teams the Bucs kept company with for the last nine games:
- Arizona Cardinals: 0–9. The only team to go winless in the second half, finishing on a 9-game losing streak.
- Indianapolis Colts: 0–9. After a historic 8–2 start, they became the first team to finish with a losing record (8–9) after such a start, losing their final seven games of the season.
- New York Jets: 1–8. Finished with 5 straight losses to end at 3–14.
- Tennessee Titans: 1–8. Struggled late, finishing with a 3–14 record.
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2–7. Despite a Week 18 win over the Chiefs, they finished at 3–14.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2–7. Fell apart after a Week 9 bye to finish at 8–9.
- New York Giants: 2–7. Ended the season 4–13 after a poor mid-season stretch.
the Bucs kept company with for the last nine games:
that is the counterpart to "the Bucs had two of the two ten free agent since 2020." lol
I get the point. The Bucs are one of those teams FOR 2026 until they prove differently
the Bucs kept company with for the last nine games:
that is the counterpart to "the Bucs had two of the two ten free agent since 2020." lol
I get the point. The Bucs are one of those teams FOR 2026 until they prove differently
Look we're all going to be on board the bandwagon come preseason. The fans of 31 out of the 32 teams have reason to be hopeful in August (all except Jets fans). We'll all have plenty of positivity. We'll have some shiny new rookies and some scratch and dent free agents. Either you are going for the Superbowl, looking to improve upon last year, or just rebuilding. It's all good. Positivity is what the preseason is all about regardless of what stage your team is in.
We're still in February. We're still healing our emotional wounds, and that healing doesn't come by burying the truth. Teams and fans have to have the autopsy. Figure out what went wrong. Don't sugar coat or gloss over what happened. If you want to fix something you have to fully account for what happened and what state your team is in. And the Bucs went 2-7 and they barely won those two against bad teams. I take exception to the well meaning OP's idea that we need to just move on. Quite the contrary, I think the media including PR and consequently the fans haven't really gotten to the bottom of why the meltdown happened. And I don't think we should stop trying to analyze that.
Of course we're just fans and don't have any control, but for me I want to be knowledgeable and know what's going on with my team both the good and the bad. I don't want to just wave pom poms and be happy even though the team stinks. Of course Todd Bowles isn't going to go on Oprah and spill his guts about what happened in 2025, nor should he. We'll be left, as always, to try to read between the lines.
I’m tired of the negative noise this time of year from people who don’t see the work and chemistry being built behind the scenes.
Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!
Tired of the noise? That's like saying "I'm tired of all this panicking about the meteorite that's going to hit tomorrow." Look at the teams the Bucs kept company with for the last nine games:
- Arizona Cardinals: 0–9. The only team to go winless in the second half, finishing on a 9-game losing streak.
- Indianapolis Colts: 0–9. After a historic 8–2 start, they became the first team to finish with a losing record (8–9) after such a start, losing their final seven games of the season.
- New York Jets: 1–8. Finished with 5 straight losses to end at 3–14.
- Tennessee Titans: 1–8. Struggled late, finishing with a 3–14 record.
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2–7. Despite a Week 18 win over the Chiefs, they finished at 3–14.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2–7. Fell apart after a Week 9 bye to finish at 8–9.
- New York Giants: 2–7. Ended the season 4–13 after a poor mid-season stretch.
We're a fantastic team with just a little run of bad luck! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Apparently that's what you want to hear so there you go. Some positivity! Hope you feel better. Even though the truth is we suck! We are firmly planted among the dregs of the league and so far we haven't done anything much to make us think we don't belong there.Hopefully we'll see big things this offseason and then I'll get excited, but until we do I'm going to call a spade a spade. We're among the worst teams in the league. The proof is in the pudding. See above. That 2-7 is no fluke. It happened. It's real...... But oh crap I forgot - positivity! Power of positive thinking! I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!.......
Titans, Raiders, Cardinals, and Giants all with new coaches
Jets had first year coach. Interesting that Colts and Bucs kept their coaches.
We're still in February. We're still healing our emotional wounds, and that healing doesn't come by burying the truth. Teams and fans have to have the autopsy. Figure out what went wrong. Don't sugar coat or gloss over what happened. If you want to fix something you have to fully account for what happened and what state your team is in. And the Bucs went 2-7 and they barely won those two against bad teams. I take exception to the well meaning OP's idea that we need to just move on. Quite the contrary, I think the media including PR and consequently the fans haven't really gotten to the bottom of why the meltdown happened. And I don't think we should stop trying to analyze that.
Most of us know what happened. The boneheaded owners made the ill-advised decision to extend Todd Bowles prematurely. They painted themselves into the corner of their own making. The finish to the 2025 season was not what they had in mind when they extended Bowles. Then they compounded their stupidity by not firing Bowles. Additionally, they displayed their further ineptness by allowing Bowles to continue as his own DC. This ownership group is not serious about moving forward out of the pool of mediocrity over the past four seasons. Just more of the same is okay with them. I for one will continue to shout out from the mountaintop about what is wrong with the Bucs until real change occurs.
Quite the contrary, I think the media including PR and consequently the fans haven't really gotten to the bottom of why the meltdown happened. And I don't think we should stop trying to analyze that.
I dont think its very complicated. Players like fans buy into the early hype, but then lose a series of games they think they should win (or at least compete). As the losing starts the pressure builds and guys start to stray from the system. Tykee Smith starts freelancing. Mayfield start trying to do too much. Egbuka hits the wall. The offense is not the cavalry. Then because of pressure they cant make key plays down the stretch when they need to. Mayfield missies a pass. Vildor cant play simple T2.
The pressure even impacts the coaching. The 30+ run game stands out.
You don't explain it at all. You don't explain the tale of two seasons. Why did the team go from being 6-2 to 2-7 barely even winning those two? They went from being Superbowl contenders to being among the worst in the league. Just saying it's bad coaching doesn't explain anything. The same coaches were there for both halves of the year.We're still in February. We're still healing our emotional wounds, and that healing doesn't come by burying the truth. Teams and fans have to have the autopsy. Figure out what went wrong. Don't sugar coat or gloss over what happened. If you want to fix something you have to fully account for what happened and what state your team is in. And the Bucs went 2-7 and they barely won those two against bad teams. I take exception to the well meaning OP's idea that we need to just move on. Quite the contrary, I think the media including PR and consequently the fans haven't really gotten to the bottom of why the meltdown happened. And I don't think we should stop trying to analyze that.
Most of us know what happened. The boneheaded owners made the ill-advised decision to extend Todd Bowles prematurely. They painted themselves into the corner of their own making. The finish to the 2025 season was not what they had in mind when they extended Bowles. Then they compounded their stupidity by not firing Bowles. Additionally, they displayed their further ineptness by allowing Bowles to continue as his own DC. This ownership group is not serious about moving forward out of the pool of mediocrity over the past four seasons. Just more of the same is okay with them. I for one will continue to shout out from the mountaintop about what is wrong with the Bucs until real change occurs.
The same coaches were there for both halves of the year.
To your point the sane coaches were a combined 10-2 in the two prior Decembers. That success is what kept them in place.
coaching is definitely part of it though
They also didn't fix the talent gap in the front 7. If anything it arguably got worse with no Kancey Reddick bust, older LVD etc
Just saying it's bad coaching doesn't explain anything. The same coaches were there for both halves of the year.
Wrong
I am not excited about the Robinson hire because all he is going to do is run the ball more which didn't work out for the 2025 Bucs. If you take out Mayfield's rushing totals from the Bucs total team rushing yards and compare to the Falcons it shouldn't be that close when the Falcons had Bijan. With Mayfield's rushing totals it is nearly identical.
The only way this team hits double digit wins next year is if they draft a stud elite double digit edge rusher with a MIKE LB that is Nickerson reincarnated. Anything else isn't realistic. The Bucs don't have an OC that can take advantage of all these weapons in the passing game and Bowles want to play ball control run the ball anyways which is not the strength of this team.
I'm not saying the coaches are not to blame. But this team is built by drafting high character players and letting them be leaders When they started to get healthy down the stretch they still couldn't get the engine started. What happened to the players in the locker room? We hear rumblings about too many walkthroughs and not enough full speed practices, but thats a a minor detail. We hear rumblings that all was not pleasant in the locker room, but not many details. Usually the Bucs don't air their dirty laundry in public, and thats' fine. They shouldn't. But why were they so uninspired at the end of the year? Sure the coach is to blame, but that doesn't explain what happened.Just saying it's bad coaching doesn't explain anything. The same coaches were there for both halves of the year.
Wrong
You don't explain it at all. You don't explain the tale of two seasons. Why did the team go from being 6-2 to 2-7 barely even winning those two? They went from being Superbowl contenders to being among the worst in the league. Just saying it's bad coaching doesn't explain anything. The same coaches were there for both halves of the year.We're still in February. We're still healing our emotional wounds, and that healing doesn't come by burying the truth. Teams and fans have to have the autopsy. Figure out what went wrong. Don't sugar coat or gloss over what happened. If you want to fix something you have to fully account for what happened and what state your team is in. And the Bucs went 2-7 and they barely won those two against bad teams. I take exception to the well meaning OP's idea that we need to just move on. Quite the contrary, I think the media including PR and consequently the fans haven't really gotten to the bottom of why the meltdown happened. And I don't think we should stop trying to analyze that.
Most of us know what happened. The boneheaded owners made the ill-advised decision to extend Todd Bowles prematurely. They painted themselves into the corner of their own making. The finish to the 2025 season was not what they had in mind when they extended Bowles. Then they compounded their stupidity by not firing Bowles. Additionally, they displayed their further ineptness by allowing Bowles to continue as his own DC. This ownership group is not serious about moving forward out of the pool of mediocrity over the past four seasons. Just more of the same is okay with them. I for one will continue to shout out from the mountaintop about what is wrong with the Bucs until real change occurs.
Thanks for your response. My post was more focused on the overall four year performance of the team with Bowles as HC and DC, not the Jekyll and Hyde 2025 season. Sure, there have been four different OCs during that timeframe with varying results. but the w-l record is what it is...36-36. The owners have settled for mediocrity IMO. I guess we will all see how good Bowles and the team will be this coming season.
I’m tired of the negative noise this time of year from people who don’t see the work and chemistry being built behind the scenes. We all know where the gaps are: the secondary needs a facelift, we need a fresh core of linebackers, and a high-impact Edge Rusher is a must.
Yes the noise is also from how the injuries destroyed us along with all the gaps. So if parsing words without reflection of those injuries which allowed other backups to perform in those positions when the starters weren't there.....yeah, chemistry was being built. I stand by my statement because the little box gets noticed as well as the big box also.