Will Gholston Says Two Things Went Wrong
February 15th, 2023
After an 8-10 season with Tom Brady and a talented roster, it’s appropriate to ask what went wrong.
Ten-year Bucs defensive lineman Will Gholston sort of answered that question during his recent visit to WDAE radio. Gholston was asked why things didn’t seem easy for the team in 2022.
“We didn’t capitalize on our opportunities as much as we did in the years prior,” he replied. “We had opportunities in our hands and we didn’t take it. We had games in our hands and we didn’t kill it with a sledgehammer — that type of mindset and mentality.
“Only two things because I know we worked hard; every time we had the chance to practice we worked as hard as we could. We studied as hard as we could. We did everything that we needed to do except for those little details: capitalize on your opportunity, have the mentality to kill it with a sledgehammer and just finish.”
So there you have it. The Bucs lost too many key moments on the field and didn’t have the proper mentality.
Joe gets not making plays. But a seasoned playoff team with Brady lacking the proper mentality to finish games? That’s a giant red flag.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:27 am
I expect all of that comes with the difference between BA and Bowles
February 15th, 2023 at 9:27 am
Teams get their mindset from mainly two people , Head Coach and Quarterback. You can draw your conclusions from there.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:31 am
That is a huge leadership problem, and Tom is just one guy. It starts from the top and Todd Bowles is no sledgehammer. He’s cautious. BA was a sledgehammer. On defense it has become apparent Bucs missed the voices of Whitehead, JPP and Suh big time.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Toad Blowes and the Bucs will be garbage until two or five years from now when hi is finally fired.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:33 am
Head coaching showing leadership and instilling the winning edge. Didn’t see it.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:38 am
It’s past time to weed the garden.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:41 am
We got no sacks and torched on the back end when we needed it most.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:42 am
Coaching failure
February 15th, 2023 at 9:42 am
That comes from the head coach. I think Bowles is a very good X’s and O’s guy, just like Dungy. But, he doesn’t have that killer mindset and instinct which is the difference maker in the NFL. Injuries played a part but just look at Ryan Jensen. It’s his attitude and mentality that lift his game. Hainsey has talent but not a killer nasty attitude.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:49 am
It mostly came down to the offense’s inability to even try to push the ball down the field early and keep defenses off balance. We never took our shots and when we did they were few and far between. Throwing deep opens up the short passing game and the running game… and we threw more one and three step drop passes than I’d ever seen a team run before. Those types of passes are fine but we relied almost solely on these and we ended up being predictable and easy to defend.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:50 am
It would have been just about the same result if BA had still been head Coach.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:50 am
Sure… Not finishing games was part of the problem.
Not having:
– Suh
– JPP
– Gronk
– AB
– Whithead
– Cappa
– Jenson
– Marpet
And Tom Brady looking like a 45 year old QB who didn’t ever want to take a hit -was also a BIG part of the problem.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:53 am
Yeah, it’s a huge red flag. Bowles will have another losing season and be gone this time next year. He just doesn’t have his teams mentally prepared and he doesn’t fire them up from the sideline. That, and he plays way too conservative for this day and age.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:53 am
I would also argue that BL was a horrible OC and Todd Bowles is a feckless leader…
When you have an uber talented team like we did in 2020/2021 it helps to hide poor coaching.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:58 am
Yes 2 things did go wrong; BA abandoned the team, and Leftwhich was allowed to run the offense.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:03 am
@Marine Bucs
We had a top-10 offense in 2019 as well, even with a QB that threw 30 INTs that led an offense that looked and statistically was more dangerous than the 2022 Tom Brady led Bucs offense. Also, all of that lateral throwing wasn’t a hallmark of BAs offense anywhere BA installed an offense, that was for sure a Brady inspired tact from his latter days in New England. No way 1 guys is to blame when 3 of the 4 seasons having a hand calling the offense were record breaking years.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:07 am
Right
Same result if BA was the HC
Ok either the Glaziers are ghost posting
Or this is the dumbest person ever
Bowles as a HC in 5 SEASONS has not turned a winning season
FIVE SEASONS
Run out of NY those Fans are Laughing at the Bucs
But the Bucs Fans get another year and another excuse we are use to it now
Gave you Fans a couple of winners so break time
Excuse one We lost players
Excuse two Several players hurt
Umm every team dealt with those
Blame who you want BOWLES IS THE PROBLEM
February 15th, 2023 at 10:11 am
No killer instinct, eh? No team identity, eh?
Wonder whose JOB it is to get a team ready to bite off kneecaps each week?
Hint: It’s NOT the waterboy.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:25 am
No enthusiasm. No fire. No intensity. Game after game after game after game.
Thats why we don’t want Bowles. This team developed Bowles’ personality on the field.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:25 am
What’s he saying this for. Out of all the loses, which ones could we have ‘killed it with a sledgehammer’. Maybe Green Bay was close and another but most were just ash kickins.
The Oline killed us. Not the players fault; I say coaching and Licht and just plain bad luck.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Beej nailed it!
While Jason was drooling in his nacho’s
February 15th, 2023 at 10:33 am
Everytime players see their check deposited is the ultimate inspiration to perform to the best of your abilities. They are no longer in college.
Coaches coach. Players perform.
Lack of creativity by BL killed us! When fans and opposing teams know your plays 3 and outs and lack of points will be the norm. Thank Licht for our rookie punter.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Roc, I hear what you’re saying but bowles did have a winning season in his first year as Jets head coach.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:55 am
But it was all Byron Leftwich’s fault though, right?
February 15th, 2023 at 11:03 am
IOW Bowles Prevent Game Plans….They will be back in spades this year.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Brian Bucs, a lot it was BL’s fault. I know you watched the games. He wasn’t the only problem, but he was author of some really bad play calling. Unfortunately, the Glazers are more concerned with keeping the social justice warriors off their backs than winning.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:24 am
You can’t get divorced and play championship football in the same year. Football is too emotional a game.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Way too many times players looked confused on D last season. Made me wonder what they do in practice all week. Was it a lack of preparation? one guy not on the right page? or the call getting in late? The other issue is the amount of leg injuries/especially hamstrings, our D backs seem to suffer. Really reminds me of how great Ronde was, he never missed a game it seemed.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:39 am
Really what were the “opportunities in our hands”.
Sounds really fake. They were not a team that made plays. Whether that was coaching or bad players.
It’s not like they caused a bunch of fumbles or had easy interceptions dropped.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:40 am
Toad Blows? or Toad Bowels?
It depends on which coach showed up on Sunday to un-inspire the team.
I’m confident the Bucs will get a top 5 pick next year under Toad’s tutelage.
Bring back Jameis to help Toad “crab-claw the way” to the bottom of the tank.
Is there no Offensive Coordinator more offensive than Lefty? How about it, Glazer Donuts? are you tanking with Toad this year?
February 15th, 2023 at 11:45 am
Coaching failure, and we get it again in 2023, with a walking-dead OC & HC.
Can’t wait!
/sarc
February 15th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
“After an 8-10 season with Tom Brady and a talented roster…”
Man, the season is 18 games now? Keeps getting longer and longer. Pretty soon the NFL will be like the MLB with 162 games.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Isn’t this fun!
Good thing I wasn’t planning on quitting drinking.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
I guess maybe Joe is adding the playoff loss to the total there. Fair enough.
February 15th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
the HC has to be THE leader–not an observer
February 15th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
NO RUN GAME, NO VET ADDITION TO THE OLINE, NO HC LEADERSHIP! Did anyone see Bowles conversing with Brady during a game? Or any player for that matter.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:42 pm
Fire Toad Blowes and save many of us from cirrhosis of the liver and enrollment in Shady Acres Loony Bin.
February 15th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
It went downhill in the off-season when they let Brady take the time off. No chemistry with WRs or offense. Losing the lineman really crushed us. And for BA to step away so late in the offseason was another crushing factor. I like Bowles but maybe not as a head coach he is too cautious. Licht has to get younger FA. We also have to hit on draft picks that can make an early impact. He has made questionable draft picks. They knew the day was coming for Brady to leave and we were not prepared. Why didn’t they try and pry Garrapolo away from the 49ers last season. I believe if they can LOCK IN Derek Carr we go right back to where we left off. However if we miss out on Carr we will be in top 5 in 2024 draft.
February 15th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
“We had games in our hands and we didn’t kill it with a sledgehammer — that type of mindset and mentality.”
Yeah, that’s called a loser mentality. The type of coaches who are happy being up by 3 at half-time, versus Arians, when up by like 21 vs Atlanta, is cursing and yelling going into halftime saying they should be up by 35.
That’s Leftwich and Bowles vs Arians mentality.
Even Dungy, with an all-word defense, and a Trent Dilfer lead offense, would talk about how they left points on the field and they got to get those points to win.
Meanwhile Bowles and Leftwich, they leave points on the field, and they were just grateful to have a lead of any type. It’s a loser mentality.
You step on their neck and put them away when you have a chance, that’s what Arians did, that’s how you win. You don’t win by punting from the Cleveland 37 yard line in the 4th quarter when you’re down by 7, or run out the clock and play for OT when you got the ball at midfield.
February 15th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Rod is right here at least…
Yeah, that’s called a loser mentality. The type of coaches who are happy being up by 3 at half-time, versus Arians, when up by like 21 vs Atlanta, is cursing and yelling going into halftime saying they should be up by 35.
February 15th, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Steven excuse me you are correct his first season was 10-6
Much like Raheem
Lost every other year
Also started with a Playoff team this year and Had a losing season
So I stand corrected
Bowles still sucks
February 15th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Hearing WG say this doesn’t surprise me at all, but makes me despise Low Energy No Fight No Killer Instinct Bowles even more. Bowles coaches passive and scared. He coaches like he’s trying not to lose rather than coaching with the intent to drive a stake through the heart of the other team when they are on the ropes.
We’ve been saying this all season. The players took on the no sense of urgency personality of their lackluster massively uninspiring and overmatched head coach. Bottom line – Todd Bowles is not a leader of men. Nothing personal here…he’s a fine DC…but he lacks the leadership skills, personal power, charisma, and killer instinct to be a HC.
I find it very telling that not a single Bucs player has come forward to say what an amazing leader and tactician Todd is and voiced their unwavering support and confidence in him after the tumultuous year we just had. Also the fact that we can’t seem to find an OC who is willing, eager, and most importantly excited to work for Low Energy Bowles speaks volumes for the current state of the ongoing uninspiring Todd Bowles era.
February 15th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
agree, that lack of opportunity taking is Todd Bowles fault
February 15th, 2023 at 5:35 pm
Big Will is wrong.
One thing went wrong, not two.
The Bucs hired a terrible HC with a pathetic track record.
February 15th, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Drafting Luke and Robert and thinking you have a left tackle in smith killed us
Then missing on our last two d lineman again crushed us
Missing on smb hurt
I can go on
February 15th, 2023 at 6:08 pm
Rod Munch – excellent take on the difference between BA and the Bowels of Toad. Even when he got a surprising lead, like against the Bengals, he was able to coach to lose. Even against the Seahawks, he squandered a commanding lead. The Toad is not comfortable scoring points and has no idea how,to,coach with a lead. And probably he can’t coach from behind either. Now that Brady took a look at his Toadness and said, “No mas,” we will find out what that’s like en route to 3 wins or fewer.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Gholston was invisible this year…he was part of the problem just being himself. Bowels suked too