Accountability Train Picks Up Steam At One Buc
December 7th, 2022
Jaelon Darden got fired yesterday and the offensive line was targeted by Todd Bowles in two separate interviews, plus guys getting praised are being nitpicked at the same time.
Joe has noticed a sharpening of knives, so to speak, at One Buc Palace.
The Bucs have won three out of four games and have a commanding lead in the NFC South with their 6-6 record, but it seems the head coach is ramping up the pressure.
Maybe, just maybe, Bowles will call out Tom Brady or the Bucs’ playcalling soon. That would be entertaining.
Bowles sat down with WFLA-TV sports chief Dan Lucas this week and Lucas asked Bowles why the offense is struggling to move the chains consistently and score in games early.
“Penalties and missed assignments and missed blocks,” Bowles began. “We gotta keep a hat on a hat longer, for us to get through, for Tom to have time to throw, for us to be able to run the football.”
On the Buccaneers Radio Network, Bowles further called out the blocking when asked about the Tampa Bay running game. Bowles made it clear it’s not the running backs holding back the rush attack.
How about starting rookie left guard Luke Goedeke being healthy and ready, Coach? Bowles told local media that Goedeke will ride the bench until further notice.
As for the Monday heroics of backup right tackle Josh Wells stepping in to start without allowing a sack in 54 pass attempts, Bowles tempered his praise.
“Josh played tough, not fundamentally, sound but he played tough and he played scrappy and that’s what you needed in that type of ballgame,” Bowles said.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka? Your snaps have been slashed.
Joe doesn’t think various changes and tougher talk from Bowles is a coincidence.
December 7th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Kind of what I thought. The Darden firing was a message that just good enough to stay on the field isn’t good enough anymore. Step up, hit the bricks or hit the bench.
December 7th, 2022 at 3:59 pm
Missed blocking assignments… hmmm…. maybe because the defense already knew what’s coming and they wisely adjust to it.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Maybe he is learning after all?
I have a small glimmer of hope. Very small.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Darden had twice as many yards running horizontal than he did vertically.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Hard to blame the o line or offense much if a defense knows what’s coming on almost every play
December 7th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
When the coaching improves then he can drill down to player performance. As previously stated, the man is delusional.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
12 games in, you want to start holding people accountable, so you cut the kick returner? Im sure that decision rocked the foundation at One Buc Place. The pirate ship is taking on water and Bowles is going to bail it out with a spoon.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Accountability for thee, but not for me. You see that so many places these days. The buck stops somewhere else.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:33 pm
Spent the past day watching last year’s tape. Really not much different AT ALL in the play-calling. What is different? Our O-Line can literally push teams’ defense backwards. Try it. If you watch the playoff games from last year, we do the same 1st down runs up the middle, and the same short screens.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
accountability ? ! come on man…. if bowles and lefty has accountability, they should have fired themselves already.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Darden was a wuss. He let punts drop and roll. Fair caught others that could have been run back. Always headed for the sidelines asap. Speed is nothing without a set of balls.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Feeling the pressure. I keep hearing how good this D is when scoring is down around the league. The highest average is 29.2 points a gm and that’s KC and Bucs help that out giving up 41 points. #10 is Cleveland at 22.4. Other than Dallas the D is letting up the average if not more to the opponent. This HC needs to look in the mirror.
December 7th, 2022 at 5:07 pm
Will someone please share with me what value has Joe Tryon-Shoyinka brought to the team? He plays like a confused lost kid.
December 7th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Bowles needs to find a mirror to point at.
December 7th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
the coach has mastered deflection
December 7th, 2022 at 5:47 pm
He was taught by the best, Mr. Invisible himself BA.
December 7th, 2022 at 6:00 pm
To me Brady & the team are not the issue – coaching has failed the team… changes should have happen by week 4 !
December 7th, 2022 at 6:25 pm
It’s about time he stop sugar coating. Call it like it is, and the players will respect you more for it.
December 7th, 2022 at 6:53 pm
He’s no dummy and knows he’s on the hot seat. Figures he should at least play the part of a competent head coach…even if he has to fake it. Too late for me Todd…
December 7th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Darden’s gone. When is specials teams coach Keith Arsmstrong going to be held accountable? ST has been atrocious for years.
December 7th, 2022 at 7:20 pm
Just because one is a good defensive or offensive coordinator, does not one a good head coach, it’s a completely different skill set.
December 7th, 2022 at 7:20 pm
Well, they can’t be The Trio of IneptitudeTM if Armstrong is canned.
Then it would just be a duo.
December 7th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
He started addressing that last game @dmatt he’s no longer the started, just rotational
December 7th, 2022 at 8:16 pm
*starter… Imagine a world with an edit button
December 7th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Todd Bowles … “Penalties and missed assignments and missed blocks. We gotta keep a hat on a hat longer, for us to get through, for Tom to have time to throw, for us to be able to run the football.”
Sounds to me like Bowles believes that the OLine needs to man up. After focusing on their blocking these past couple of games, can’t say I disagree with him (they’re getting pushed around all too often). But is it something that can be fixed with these same players? Are they not disciplined enough? Big enough? Tough enough? Mean enough? Would changing play designs help? These are the guys who we’ve got, so we’ve gotta find a way to make it work, or it will be ‘One and Done’ IF we make the playoffs.
December 7th, 2022 at 8:44 pm
TB12FAN … I agree with you that a good DC doesn’t necessarily make a good HC. I chuckle when fans talk about firing Bowles right now though, in the middle of the season. Obviously you couldn’t fire Bowles without also firing Leftwich. And needless to say, folks want Armstrong gone quickly too.
Of course, I’m still waiting for those calling for that approach to answer the question ‘What Next?’ We would’ve just lost our HC, DC, OC & S/Ts coach … with us sitting in the division lead. Anyone who believes that the Three Musketeers Plus One will ride in to save the day is smoking the funny stuff again. And anyone who believes that Sean Payton would want any part of this goat-rope is smoking even funnier stuff.
We’re sitting at 6-6 with 5 games left. Two games are against good teams with winning records (49ers & Bengals) leading their divisions; I’m not holding my breath on winning those games. Three games are against teams with losing records, a combined 13-24. It’s very conceivable IMO that we could go into the last game … in Atlanta … with an 8-8 record. Even conceivable we might lose that game & end up 8-9 on the season … and win the NFC South. It’s even conceivable that we could win the Super Bowl this season. Oops, wait a second, my wine just ran out. Time for a refill.
December 7th, 2022 at 9:02 pm
Was in section 108 for the game. Litch looked pissed after every return by Darden. I think he had his fill of watching him tripping over his own feet and running to the sideline.
December 7th, 2022 at 9:41 pm
Let me tell you something. Please go back and look at the last game. One thing stuck out the most. On special teams, kickoff and punt. Why is Anthony Nelson and Tinner on the feild at once. Okay, tinner I get because he is the long snapper, but man. He and Nelson have to be the slowest and stiffest players on the team. Lol. Watch the returns by the Saint, I mean they run past them both so quickly that they look like dad’s playing football again they D1 kids. I bet Leftovers and Bowles would look faster. Do yourself a favor and look for 97 and 98 on the tape during special teams. Lol. It is hilarious!
December 7th, 2022 at 9:49 pm
DR
People do need to stop crying. They need to recognize he will be back next year. Byron hopefully and highly unlikely, will not.
Ownership and FO map these situations out and don’t fire the first year head coach of the team winning their division.
December 7th, 2022 at 9:49 pm
It’s like when you get a yearly review at work. You get a good one but they have to pick on something.
December 7th, 2022 at 11:21 pm
DR, I am still shocked you defend this guy. Darden is the scapegoat and that’s fine but Bowles conservative game style is killing this team. The players are done with him. The fans are done with him. The fact you cannot see the difference and it’s not due to personel, it’s him. He was bad as the Jets HC, a leopard doesn’t change is spots. I have one thing to say to you everytime you blame the oline, 2021 Bengals!!!
December 7th, 2022 at 11:29 pm
Come on Todd. You talk as if the inexperienced and undisciplined offensive line (left side primarily) can improve simply by wanting it more – when the fact is they never had the talent in the first place – and I’m including Donovan Smith in this group.
Failure to understand that fact at the start of the season when something could have been done about it is why Todd Bowles is, and always will be, a failure as a head coach.
Good defensive coach, no idea how to evaluate offensive talent and field a good offensive team even with the smartest QB in the history of football at the helm.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:22 am
Every game it’s the same story and all of the other NFL Teams have our # !!! 1st down CAN’T always be a handoff!!!!! Need to surprise the other teams with a deep pass- get down the field quicker. Always throwing sideways- by the time it’s caught the receiver gets hammered! Giving us maybe a 2 yard gain or even a loss of downs! Our Receivers need to be across the 1st down marker when Brady throws the ball that way it’s definitely a 1st down even if the receiver is stopped on contact. We’re always struggling for a 1st down and have to try & convert on 3rd downs all of the time….because of a lousy 2- 4 yards short! Think about it… this last game Brady started to throw the Ball more & deeper passes too! Can’t run the ball 80% of the game- it’s not working- that’s why we’re 6-6 Have to change our strategy….49ers & Bengals are coming up!!!
December 8th, 2022 at 2:35 am
If anyone watches Kansas City games you will notice that 90% of the time when Mahomes throws the ball and the Receiver makes the catch it’s Already a 1st Down!!! This is what we need to start doing instead of getting 3-5 yard running plays!!! PS. I’m not a KC fan….NOT AT ALL!!! But l do like Football and watch most of the other games as well. Please stop with all of the Handoffs always on 1st downs coming out of the gate!!! We’re not fooling anyone and it’s NOT getting us any yardage. Actually, a loss of yardage most of the time that’s why we can’t seem to get across the 50 yard line!!!! Stop it Lefty- LEFTNUT!!! It’s time to go Right- GET IT RIGHT and get the ball moving.
December 8th, 2022 at 9:56 am
The league is doing all it can to help the bucs, but the. Message is clear tgat we gotta do our part.
It’s not just Brady. Boeles and lefty are needed to do well, until a better person is ready
December 8th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
A broken record here, but Darden had two passes thrown his way and caught one for 25 yards and one never had a chance. He had zero fumbles and was ranked 7th in NFL tor punt returners. I guess cutting him was the ONE thing the BUCS needed to get back on track to win another Super Bowl! Whew. That was close. Who cares about the #6 receiver and punt returner. I swear.
December 8th, 2022 at 11:56 pm
Well Bowles did do better on this game than he did on clock management in the Brown’s game. If I’m being honest we shoulda lost the Saints game too. That looked like the opposite off the Cleveland game. We got lucky n only cuz 1 Brady n some offensive n defensive players stepped up, but they should of done that out the gate
December 9th, 2022 at 11:53 pm
Get rid of all the coaches, they all need to be gone.bucs has the players to be great, but offense coordinator with his vanilla offense is not working, let Tom call his own plays run the 2 minute drill and watch us take off to another level. 2 minute drill will kill the 49ers defense trust me.