injuries are no excuse for the last 2 losses
Thats just not right. Its like a blind mantra that people say because they hear coaches say that at the podium. And usually advocating a position, in this case Bowles should be fired. Thats why the word "excuse" is used instead of IMPACTED.
It is undeniable that the injuries IMPACTED this season and last DIFFERENTLY, whether that is an EXCUSE is a subjective opinion.
Heres are TWO simple ways to see the IMPACT of Bucs injuries in 2025, both an external and internal comparison of the offense
Objectively speaking, we have a better offensive line than the Rams who crushed us in 2025. I say objectively speaking because our average draft position is round 2.0 and the Rams are 2.6. So our O-LINE starting line up versus their starting line up, we win in terms of average draft position.
BUT, the RAMS offensive line starters are on the field an average of 82% of the 2025 snaps.
By comparison, the Bucs BETTER offensive line is ONLY on the field this season for 60% of the snaps AND that is with Barton being 100% on the field, so 50 plus snaps or more at LT (I forget if he played LT more than 1 game).
Think about that. AND IT GETS MORE STARK than that.
Beside shuffling guys all over the line, our # back up 0line player (by snaps) is Michael Jordan. He is a 4th rounder who I think most say sucks. And he was out a lot of the season. So we had Dan Feney and others in, while for example Heck is playing LT.
BUT TO JUST SIMPLIFY IT, in 2024 our starting offensive line unit is on the field 92% of the snaps
If you take O-line on for 60% of the snaps in 2025 compared to 92% of the snaps in 2024 . .. and then throw in the skill player drop off too:
Godwin 30% availability (35% in 2024 and record setting early)
Bucky Irving 30% availability (45% in 2024 but because he's splitting time)
Evans 22% availability (59% in 2024 and setting records).
McMillan 3% availability. (55% in 2024 but because he's a roiokie)
Most of 2025 those skill players are ALL OUT together. Compare that to 2024 Evans and McMillan picking up for Godwin out and Irving coming on strong.Egbuka olffsets that some, so credit to Licht for a pick that puzzled many people here.
INJURIES MATTER.
Someone else can decide if they are an "excuse." The Bucs saus si last year wiht LESS injuries (argubaly). I dont know they say that again this year and one reason for that would be a relative healthy defense being the problem.
Every team has injuries. The Bucs were relatively healthy for the Falcons Thursday night collapse - they were without their guards and Kancey basically. Falcons were without their #1 WR and starting QB.
Just 72 hours prior, we rested Evans and Wirfs against the Saints because we thought they'd be a cake walk. Even so, we were the more talented roster and still lost
Injuries were not an excuse for the Saints and Falcons losses? what do you mean it's not true lol. We were the better team in both cases, no?
The talent this year has been below average. Our strengths last year have been destroyed by injury and Licht didn’t upgrade the weaknesses.
injuries are no excuse for the last 2 losses
I’d argue our Defense roster is more talented this year but a worse product. Do you agree? Tell me why not.
Licht could not have developed a more talented offensive roster. Injuries did hurt our output but honestly I still had this team at 10-4 (2 gimme wins that we somehow lost to Atlanta and New Orleans at home, plus add another win, maybe New England that results in a win with healthy team)
at 7-5, there was an excuse for injuries albeit my view is that our record wasn’t much different
At 7-7, what the heck happened?
at 7-8, locker room must be lost
at 8-7, depends how we look, but we love to fight another day
Yeah injuries this late in the season is just an out for Bowles which doesn't seem right to me.
Bucs since the bye have become healthier and healthier and were more competitive earlier in the year with MORE injured players and more rookies seeing playing time like Egbuka, Johnson, Parrish, Roberts.
Also, the Bucs injuries along the OL earlier in the year were forced to start 4th/5th string players. NO GM in the NFL can plan and draft enough depth to have for 4th/5th string. Again this isn''t Madden.
If the Bucs drafted 2 OL in the 2025 draft it would mean the Bucs would be short a DB and WR or even Roberts isn't on the roster. That would be just as bad. The NFL draft only allows a finite amount of draft picks which is why teams that build through the draft like the Bucs take multiple drafts to address needs, development and also depth.
Opinions like this show there are different standards for Bowles than there are for Licht. The disrespect Bowles gets from fans and media is sad honestly. And the slurping Licht gets is pathetic.
Lovie under Licht, fired.
Dirk under Licht, fired.
Arians under Licht without Brady, 7-9.
Bowles under Licht, everyone wants him fired.
At what point is it Licht?
Licht built a great starting offense, sure. But there was no depth on the offensive line.
Give me the list of teams with great depth along the OL.
When Kieft broke his leg he needed to replace him with another fullback type. We can’t run in short yardage now.
Considering how often you shit on Kieft's usage in the past, this is hypocritically hilarious.
We have no edge presence. That’s on Licht. ILBs are terrible. That’s on Licht. He’s put himself into a corner where the only option is to trade for Crosby. Diaby is limited. Braswell has nothing.
It's on Licht, and Bowles. Something you've never had the nads to admit, as you're too busy leghumping the bejesus out of Bowles.
The talent this year has been below average. Our strengths last year have been destroyed by injury and Licht didn’t upgrade the weaknesses.
injuries are no excuse for the last 2 losses
I’d argue our Defense roster is more talented this year but a worse product. Do you agree? Tell me why not.
Licht could not have developed a more talented offensive roster. Injuries did hurt our output but honestly I still had this team at 10-4 (2 gimme wins that we somehow lost to Atlanta and New Orleans at home, plus add another win, maybe New England that results in a win with healthy team)
at 7-5, there was an excuse for injuries albeit my view is that our record wasn’t much different
At 7-7, what the heck happened?
at 7-8, locker room must be lost
at 8-7, depends how we look, but we love to fight another day
Yeah injuries this late in the season is just an out for Bowles which doesn't seem right to me.
Bucs since the bye have become healthier and healthier and were more competitive earlier in the year with MORE injured players and more rookies seeing playing time like Egbuka, Johnson, Parrish, Roberts.
Also, the Bucs injuries along the OL earlier in the year were forced to start 4th/5th string players. NO GM in the NFL can plan and draft enough depth to have for 4th/5th string. Again this isn''t Madden.
If the Bucs drafted 2 OL in the 2025 draft it would mean the Bucs would be short a DB and WR or even Roberts isn't on the roster. That would be just as bad. The NFL draft only allows a finite amount of draft picks which is why teams that build through the draft like the Bucs take multiple drafts to address needs, development and also depth.
Opinions like this show there are different standards for Bowles than there are for Licht. The disrespect Bowles gets from fans and media is sad honestly. And the slurping Licht gets is pathetic.
Lovie under Licht, fired.
Dirk under Licht, fired.
Arians under Licht without Brady, 7-9.Bowles under Licht, everyone wants him fired.
At what point is it Licht?
the point you are missing is that the offense and Mayfield has been a bright spot in the grand scheme of things post Brady; the defense has not
If not for the flier on Baker, Bowles would have been fired likely after 2023 season.
Licht was on the hot seat prior to Brady no doubt.
The expectations were higher now and the defense regressed with more talent; that's on Bowles man.
Bucs make playoffs, Bowles has a shot to retain job; i'd argue a better than 50% chance to keep it
Bucs win a playoff game and he's got nothing to worry about.
The expectations are clear and there's no reason he can't do it. However, we miss playoffs with a healthy team with 3 games to go; or go 8-9 and get in that way and get trounced by Rams; yeah man, time to move in a different direction. This team should at the very least have finished with a winning record after a 5-1 start
