Ian Beckles Defends Todd Bowles
January 29th, 2024
Bucs alumnus defends.
In recent weeks, former Bucs guard and current local radio personality Ian Beckles has had a bug up his backside with a certain sect of Bucs fans.
That has been the crowd that just cannot quit hollering for Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ head on a platter.
Bowles is not popular, this despite being the first coach in Bucs history to win back-to-back division titles and bringing a team many thought to be in the Caleb Williams sweepstakes (#CollapseForCaleb) before the season kicked off within two wins of a Super Bowl.
Last week, Beckles again went to bat for Bowles. Beckles defended him. He lauded Bowles for having his players fight and scratch and claw each game.
“Forget about the fact that he shut down Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Forget that. Forget about that. That’s unimportant. Who has shut down Patrick Mahomes since? I’ll wait.
“You are so ready to get rid of Todd Bowles. Watch what you ask for. The grass isn’t always greener,” Beckles ranted.
Has Bowles turned the leaf from having a play-it-safe offense? Last offseason Bowles told Joe during a recording of the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” that he agreed with famed offensive rebel Mike Leach. Bowles said a balanced offense isn’t running half the time but spreading the rock around to your playmakers.
This shocked Joe. But you know what, when the Bucs offense played its best this past season, that’s just what they did.
The fact the Bucs are linked to so many Sean McVay disciples to fill the void left by Dave Canales’ departure seems to suggest Bowles has become more open-minded in his old age.
January 29th, 2024 at 7:44 am
He’s right the grass hasn’t been greener after Bruce Arians retired lol
January 29th, 2024 at 7:51 am
Brady rental syndrome
A coach or a Qb is suspposed to put you into super bowl contention right away or else he is a bust
Even Brady couldn’t live up to it so retired.
January 29th, 2024 at 7:51 am
Maybe it’s just Bowles realized his old school pound, pound the rock just didn’t work. He got a lot of beef from the media, sports talking heads Bucs fans and the main thing is his offense stunk and I think even the offensive plays got frustrated I do personally think he was on his way out the door. Maybe Licht told him crap or get off the pot. Either way it’s just a wait and see situation.
January 29th, 2024 at 7:55 am
Bowels gets a C- from me for his defense coaching. Anyone recall the Dallas playoff game last year? How about the dee against the Lions last week? NO adjustments to stop them in the 2nd half. Kudos to the 49ers staff for making 2nd half adjustments yesterday. How many losses this year were on the dee? Texans game come to mind? The Bucs need an offensive minded head coach to get the job done. If Bowels was let go how many teams would be pleading for his services?
January 29th, 2024 at 8:07 am
Adaptation is Key for a head coach, I will admit he did not appear to be that kind of coach at first but…… he is changing.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:09 am
I’m still not sold on Bowles as a championship head coach. However it is obvious that he is an outstanding DC under the right head coach.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:17 am
Bowles will be the HC of the Bucs next year. What’s is Ian’s point? Is he implying Bowles is beyond criticism?
January 29th, 2024 at 8:18 am
Want to Predict the Future
Listen to Beckles. Then in six months or less, expect the opposite to be true.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:20 am
He needs a time management guy on staff.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:21 am
If we could keep Bowles the DC and replace Bowles the HC things would be better. But we all know that can’t happen.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:27 am
It’s more important to find an OC and a QB that is consistent every game instead of 1 out of 3. Bowles defense is the reason we made the playoffs. His decision making in games is questionable. Focus on getting better on the offense. Sign Evans wirfs . Get a guard center. And find a replacement for Mr inconsistent.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Not the biggest Bowles fan, however I have to agree. He is the one who picked Canales, signed off on mayfield, and has shown steady improvement in his 2 years as bucs head coach. Let’s keep building….Go BUCS!!!!
January 29th, 2024 at 8:32 am
bowels has kept the locker room, I give him that…
but the only consisten t thing is bad game management. like very bad, like he will never got through a playoff stretch with consistent correct calls. he is consistently incorrect. it’s like somone who does not know football is making a lot of the time mgmt calls and adjustments.. and..and
we will never get a title with him. I predict we are dead last in nfx south next year
January 29th, 2024 at 8:34 am
Adapt, adjust, learn & grow. Sure hope his mind remains open. It’s an ever changing league and the best aren’t afraid to change.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:35 am
I guess I just don’t like his style of coaching….I like Dan Campbell’s style…..now Campbell lost the game last night with his style…..but I like it anyway.
I want a coach with some fire…..like our two SB winners, Gruden & Ariens.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Good to hear from a former player when it comes to evaluating coaching. I am sure he hears from the players and their positions on Coach Bowles. Players are the ones who must have confidence in their coach. You always read about how the players appreciate Coach Bowles for playing to their strengths. A few upgrades on both the offensive and defensive lines will go a long way to helping the team win more consistently.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:41 am
Bucfan, that was one of my issues with that Lions game, 2nd half adjustments. I mean everyone was talking about the time out situation, well just look at the points scored. The Lions score 21 points in the 2nd half, the game was 10 10 at half. The defense is still pretty good but you can’t give 21 points in the second half of a playoff game. I think Bowles need to tweak his defense just a little this season. I am just saying
January 29th, 2024 at 8:44 am
Bowles’ words, not Joe’s — “prolonging the obvious.” so I quit. If this doesn’t stick in your craw then you have NEVER snapped on a chin strap.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:44 am
Van Pelt interviewing today for OC. Will be interesting to see who emerges from the lengthy list of candidates. Hopefully Coach Bowles will get it right two years in a row.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:57 am
After the lions 9ers game last night Todd looks like a genius by comparison.
January 29th, 2024 at 8:57 am
In a rigged league with paid actors, Bowles only pushes the needle so far.
His story is that of a loser as a HC. It will remain that way.
The NFL keeps their story lines intact.
Detroit still has never been to a Superbowl.
Taylor Swift is in the Superbowl with Mr Pfizer.
California is in the Superbowl. A reward for being the top state in money spent in Vegas.
Just a soap opera for fat guys.
January 29th, 2024 at 9:01 am
A lot of teams could have shut down Mahomes when he was playing hurt and had so many offensive lineman hurt too. Not to diminish the Bucs’ Super Bowl win, but saying Bowles masterfully outwitted the Chiefs and Mahomes is a stretch.
January 29th, 2024 at 9:05 am
People tend to forget the KC Offensive line was in shambles for the Super Bowl Game. Injuries and people playing out of position on the line. Remember communication is key for the OL and Continuity. Also, Shaq was in his prime playing against back ups. Any Super bowl quality defense would have been all over Mahomes in that game.
Where was the 2nd half adjustments against the Lions last week? Middle of the field was so open it was ridiculous. In fairness to Bowles the pass rush was inferior but a Great DC makes adjustments…
January 29th, 2024 at 9:05 am
And the gunman in bushes has been confirmed in Dallas.
Calm down @Rigged
January 29th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Heard this so many times but then if the Chiefs were so crippled offensively, how did they put up 38 against Buffalo in the AFC title game?
January 29th, 2024 at 9:18 am
“Heard this so many times but then if the Chiefs were so crippled offensively, how did they put up 38 against Buffalo in the AFC title game?”
Key injury to one of their best OL happened in that that game. OL make up was completly different in Super Bowl vs. AFC Title. Also says alot about the Buffaloe defense that year. Reason they went and got Von Miller hoping he was still elite.
January 29th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Bottom line Joe: The KC OL was very different, even from the AFC OL lineup. KC was scrambling during the lead up to the big game to work something out. Imagine if Tom Brady was KC in that Game…. He would have been out of the game by halftime on a stretcher or would have been 4 for 20 with 10 throws in the dirt!
Don’t get me me wrong. I was extremely happy after the Super Bowl and the NFC title game (All Pro OT Bakhtiari was injured the week before). BUT I’m a realist and OL play and DL play is everything in the Playoffs.
January 29th, 2024 at 9:38 am
Amazing how people downplay a Super Bowl victory. Sad.
January 29th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Bucs defeated three Hall of Fame quarterbacks to win the championship. I guess you can make excuses to downplay those victories as well.
January 29th, 2024 at 10:05 am
I’m not denying the NFL could be rigged, but this line “The NFL keeps their story lines intact” is ridiculous. We’re on a site discussing the original 0-14 team. A team that was perpetual garbage for decades. Also, a team that has won two Super Bowls. That storyline sure did change.
January 29th, 2024 at 10:14 am
The 49rs have a coaching staff that is willing to make 2nd half adjustments when something is not working. They could not move the ball against the Lions or stop them in the 1st half. Adjustments were made and look what happened. They are going to the SB. How many games did the Bucs lose because Bowels would not or could not make adjustments? Won’t reach 500 next year!
January 29th, 2024 at 10:41 am
The Lions left at least 10, possibly 13 points off the board in the 2nd half due to poor judgement on behalf of a coach and wide/receiver. Adjustments were made but they were not the whole story.
January 29th, 2024 at 10:42 am
@Bucfan… I just don’t understand you and some of this damn fan base, as if all teams are created equal it simply comes down to coaching and second half adjustments.
Context is important, all adjustments are predicated on our defensive lines ability to pressure a QB. Do you know what San Fran does very well? Pressure with 4 up front. That changes the entire def capability to make adjustments. Our team lacks talent at the edge position, do you agree? Point is, if you don’t have the talent that can execute the adjustments that you want so badly, then what are we even talking about other than another reason to hate Bowles.
January 29th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Coach Bowles had displayed a damaging stubborn streak in the past.
He has grown as a coach, which is what all successful people do.
Ill never forget the masterpiece Coach did in the SuperBowl against The chiefs.
I absolutely support Coach Bowles, and look forward to next season.
Just gotta Resign Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans.
And get a pass rusher, Guard, Center, and safety to upgrade what we have.
Also need another backup QB, to go with Woolford
January 29th, 2024 at 10:54 am
“They fought hard til they end” seems to be the only reasoning as to why we should keep a very bad HC. I rather have some competency along with some fight. But I guess thats just me.
January 29th, 2024 at 11:39 am
“Collapse for Caleb” was clickbait fodder initiated by JBF. Most Bucs fans would prefer wins. I think Bowles has learned and improved. He and Licht make a good team. Now if we could find a decent OC and improve in a few areas we’ll be all set for next season. Or it could all fall apart. Should be an exciting off-season.
January 29th, 2024 at 11:51 am
Bowles is awful. I hope the Glazers are reading this and get him a job at Chamberlain High. Cuz that’s where he belongs. It’s an embarrassing having tha windbag who cant manage a clock as a head coach.
January 29th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Bowles is the unflappable steady and confident leader this organization needs. The way he handles the Richter scale media and his own players has shown his quality. The choice of Dave Canales as his OC obviously was a great choice and we should all give Bowles credit for his decision. Bowles took a team who was slated by our own Sage to win only 6 games to the division title game. Bowles has won back to back division championships, a feat no other buccaneer head coach has ever done. I for one am grateful for a good defense year in and year out and very thankful that the POS Cam Jordan is on his last leg and full of crow.
January 29th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
I think most of it stems from the defensive debacle at the end of the playoff game with Rams the year following the Bucs Super Bowl. Two of the stupidest play calls allowed the Rams Cooper Kupp to single handed win the games for the Rams. The first was zero coverage which gave us zero chance to stop the Kupp. Has Licht gotten better? I think he has somewhat but we were either bailed out by our offense opening up or for the fact we have this eraser at safety Antoine Winfield. I think he single handedly changed two games this year from L’s to W’s.
January 29th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
The Beatles wrote a song for Todd.
“I’m a Loser.”
January 29th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
@StickinUp4Centers
The NFL picks and chooses when the story lines change.
We won a Superbowl with Gruden vs his old team. It was scripted.
Several players including Jerry Rice have come out and said they knew the outcome before the game.
The Tom Brady Superbowl was certainly rigged and the NFL wanted it that way.
It’s a QB driven league with narrative control in place.
Even Adam Schefter stated on air that the NFL likes to script the games.
It’s a soap opera for fat guys. Accept it and move on.
January 29th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Fans give Bowles no credit for knowing the game 20 times better than any of them. As a coordinator, you get very familiar with what is harder to defend… so if you’re hiring an offensive coordinator, you want someone who can provide that. I doubt Bowles has changed. People just assumed he was a conservative ground-and-pound guy because he spoke often enough about needing to run the ball better. Where was he wrong?
January 29th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
I am carful what I wish for. And thoughtful. Can’t have a coach make grade school clock management mistakes at this level. Ever. Period. He’s been doing it his whole career. Gota go bo
January 29th, 2024 at 11:17 pm
>> Is [Beckles] implying Bowles is beyond criticism?
No, that’s just you inferring that. Read his quote again. There is a big difference between criticism and simply calling for someone to get fired. The latter is just keyboard warriorism.
January 30th, 2024 at 7:31 am
Don’t forget about all of KC’s WR drops, in the SB. Their O-line was wrecked Joe, Ian.