BSPN: Bucs Have A Bottom-Tier Coaching Staff
August 2nd, 2025
Slammed by BSPN analyst.
Harsh!
That’s what Joe would call analysis suggestng a team in the playoffs five straight years with a Super Bowl title and four NFC South crowns has the No. 26 coaching staff in the league.
But that’s just what Eagles fan Ben Solak typed for BSPN about the Bucs’ coaching staff.
In ranking all 32 NFL staffs, Solak seems to have an ax to grind with Todd Bowles. He even ranked the Bucs staff third-best in the NFC South!
Head coach: Todd Bowles
Offensive coordinator: Josh Grizzard
Defensive coordinator: Kefense Hynson
2024 ranking: 22Come with me to a magical land in which Liam Coen actually stayed as the Bucs’ OC this season (too soon, Bucs fans?) They’d probably be 12th or 13th on this list — maybe even higher. It’d be much easier to look beyond Bowles, a cautious game manager who regularly settles for field goals and extra points when he should hunt touchdowns and two-point conversions, if Coen’s rockstar offense were returning. But it isn’t, so those little margins from the head coach glare all the more.
Now that’s not right.
Joe usually likes what Solak types. He’s generally very thoughtful. But this just screams personal vendetta or that Solak lost his shirt in a New Jersey sportsbook on a Bucs game when they didn’t cover.
Yeah, Bowles is often way too conservative and it’s cost the Bucs wins. But damn, Bowles has done nothing but win the division. He’s won more games in each year after his first as head coach. And it was Bowles who pushed strongly for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to sign Baker Mayfield in 2023.
That is one of the smartest moves any NFL team has made in recent years.
Yeah, Joe gets that Josh Grizzard is a total unknown offensive coordinator. So too was Coen when he came to the Bucs last year and Solak had the Bucs then as a No. 22 coaching staff.
Joe gets the disdain some have for Bowles. His play-it-safe mentality and trivializing the importance of an edge rush drives Joe up a tree. But to brand Bowles and his staff as one of the worst in the NFL, and one of the worst in the NFC South, is downright dumb.
What the hell have Raheem Morris and Dave Canales ever done?
Joe thought Solak was better than this sort of drivel.
August 2nd, 2025 at 3:20 am
Not drivel, Solak for once is right. Bowles is a horrible HC and recently an even worse DC. He makes boneheaded mistakes in critical situations.
Griz has no history as an OC yet, so no way to judge. 26 may be too high?
August 2nd, 2025 at 3:24 am
What a stupid list. This is just like compilations of best movies or songs. Who cares what this guy says. He’s not some authority. He’s a keyboard clown.
It means nothing. When someone says some stuff like this, you just say, “yeah, right. Whatever, moron.”
August 2nd, 2025 at 3:42 am
Its in the cards, im feeling it. Todd is going to cost us with some boneheaded decisions.
It seems like his mental process “in game” is just a bit slow. Dont get me wrong, love love love him and his creativity that works sometimes….but something is just not there when it comes to snap snap time lets go, i mean i guess its just me and a few others, but its very noticeable. He’s signed now for a while so lets deal.
Like i said, not trying to hate on him, but hate on his decision making at times. He said he’s making adjustments, so we’ll see. You have to respect his calm demeanor though….but it drives me nuts at times lol.
August 2nd, 2025 at 5:21 am
Let me see what odds Vegas is giving on Todd Bowles winning NFL Coach of the Year award!! I think I will throw $100 bucks on Todd this season🚩🏴☠️🚩🏆🏆🏆
August 2nd, 2025 at 5:22 am
This is just the Personal opinion of a so-called analyst
Bowles is ranked from 14-16 on most coaching polls
And that’s where he should be ranked, accordingly
There’s nothing here
August 2nd, 2025 at 5:48 am
People give Todd Bowles a lot of crap but what he did with an injured, depleted, cooked defense was nothing short of a miracle but it still required Baker Mayfield to put some games on his shoulders.
August 2nd, 2025 at 5:51 am
Ahh yes BSPN at it’s finest…. OC change so Bowles and his staff are garbage. Can’t beat that kind of logic… Solak did not do his homework and/or was told by a BSPN boss to trash our guys. Maybe just plain delusional.
Never mind the guys who are still here and the NFC South champs who were within a couple of plays of being in the Super Bowl. Yay we got some bulletin board material! Although the waterboy coach is maybe on thin ice…
Go Bucs!
August 2nd, 2025 at 5:53 am
Wow some non Buc fans posing here today.
Go Bucs!
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:06 am
it is all about the Putrid Pass Defense getting off the field. And that part of the team is on Bowles. It has been punishing to watch this pass Defense the last couple of years. The soft defense the CB’s play is maddening -leaving cushions past the first down marker pre-snap. Please Todd come up with something this year and the sky is the limit! Go Bucs!!
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:08 am
The Bucs offense were already magical with rock stars. Coen was only with the Bucs one year. Canales one year. They got HC jobs because of our offense and no drama locker room. Thank yous also go to Licht and Bowles.
Grizz will now be with the Bucs two years, one year as pass game coordinator. Not worried, the team is behind him and will show us again how great they are.
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:11 am
Question??? Are you a non fan if you criticize or don’t like Bowles???
Love the Bucs even through some rough years
However not a Bowles fan think he is maybe average at best
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:15 am
LFG….Bucs have a shot at winning the division again. A good shot at it. 1st things 1st.
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:23 am
JBF … ‘In ranking all 32 NFL staffs, Solak seems to have an ax to grind with Todd Bowles. He even ranked the Bucs staff third-best in the NFC South!’
I like your description Joe of Solak as someone who ‘seems to have an ax to grind’. Solak’s ranking of Todd Bowles & his Bucs’ coaching staff at #22 in the NFL makes absolutely no sense. He’s favoring big names, and not valuing production as a high enough criteria in his rankings. Personally tend to think that winning is the best milestone of a coaching staff.
For instance, Kyle Shanahan (49ers) ranked #3 in his list. Whooppee … they ended 2024 with a 6-11 record. BTW, the 49ers only attempted 16 4th-down conversions, and only made 8 of those (50%) … obviously he’s far too conservative to rank #3. Their defense ranked #29, and gave up 436 points. Their offense ranked #13, and scored more than 100 points LESS than ours did … how is that a great coaching staff? And yet they ranked #3 on Slovak’s list. Horsepuckey
As you go down his list, the 14-3 Super Bowl winners (Philly) ranked #8, and the 4-13 Las Vegas Raiders ranked #9 … with a new coach for 2025 (Pete Carroll). So it sure sounds like Solak is valuing Carroll’s past experience a LOT more than he is the Raiders past performance.
BTW the ONLY team to have a winning record last season that ranked BELOW #17 on Solak’s list is the Bucs. Yes it sure does sound like Solak is on a personal vendetta here.
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:29 am
Solak who?
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:38 am
“Bowles has done nothing but win the division.” yes exactly
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:40 am
RBUC, that’s a great bet. Bowles is at +4000. For a little perspective here I found Liam Coen at +1200. And Vrabel at +700. Bucs win 14 games I’d bet Bowles might just be coach of the year. Hmm. Decisions,decisions!
August 2nd, 2025 at 7:18 am
I was just reading Ben Solak coaching staff ranking
And it makes absolutely no sense at all, none whatsoever
He has Minnesota as his top ranked coaching staff
And the defending champions Eagles, the 8th best staff
He even has Las Vegas his 9th best coaching staff
Because they have Pete Carroll as HC, Chip Kelly OC
And as far as the Bucs losing Liam Coen
The Bucs actually were actually much better offensively with BA and Leftwich. Canales and Coen was offered Head Coaching jobs, because of their success with Baker Mayfield. Not because they were great offensive coordinators.
Leftwich was offered a few Head Coaching positions
But he refused them, he thought he could get better offers
This team is offensively built to score points
Regardless of who is the Offensive Coordinator
August 2nd, 2025 at 7:26 am
Even if Solak does not like Bowels. Joe hit the nail on the head with what has Canales or Morris done in this league and Kellen Moore has done zip as a head coach.
August 2nd, 2025 at 7:30 am
Just curious as to which teams offered Leftwich a HC position. I missed that news.
August 2nd, 2025 at 7:57 am
bowles is getting better as a head coach imho…he leveled up a little bit last year and it’s obvious in his demeanor he’s feeling more comfortable and settled in…
let’s see him level up a little more this year, be a little more gutsy, and get a biscuit…i’m excited for what the team bring to the table in 2025…
forget about the debbie downer dude
August 2nd, 2025 at 7:59 am
coach might not realize this…
but when coach wears a lot of pewter on his sideline outfit, we win…
when coach wears tons of ugly red, we lose…
we win when coachy coach is sporting the pewter gear…facts
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:04 am
“Bowles, a cautious game manager who regularly settles for field goals and extra points when he should hunt touchdowns and two-point conversions”
Exactly. This has long been my gripe with Coach Bowles. Now I don’t think as a staff they should rank as low as 26 but…Bowles.
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:05 am
And, yes (but not really), too soon.
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:05 am
I don’t disagree with what he wrote.
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:10 am
thankfully for bowles licht and baker has taken over with the offensive coordinator search past fee years avoiding a disaster. dont nestle me up with charlie strong surprise licht allowed that. sometimes you have to make the head coach feel good i guess
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:10 am
A lot of this is on the GM , GM just don’t deal with player talent . Jason has to be willing to say you better change this or you better change that …….. Ask Tom Moore about that when Dungy was about to Get Run from Indy for the same reasons he had to leave Tampa . Ole Tony had about 3 games to quit getting in the way of Mannings Growth and he did . ……. that being said Bowles doesn’t have that Tony stubborn offense problem. He has a personnel stubbornness and a lack stubborn person allegiance problem and he has absolutely zero last two minutes of the game ability…………. I think the Bucs have done some things to improve it, but some of his comments over the past couple days , shows that he stubbornly doesn’t learn lessons and will put the team in a bad position by not being able to evaluate things properly……….. Overall, not the worst, but could be so much better very easily 👍 Go Bucs !!
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:15 am
You notice this list is “New coaches, and then everyone says the NFC South sucks so they’re next”.
Talking heads gonna sqwak. I bet if you go back a few years you might find this guy with a Rise of Kenny Pickett after his excellent preseason performance.
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:16 am
And oh yeah, ain’t saying TB is great. He’s just not the worst non-first year out there.
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:19 am
A team and it’s coaching staff should be ranked according to its results , By that standard winning the NFC South four years in a row should bump us up quite a bit even if the Division itself isn’t that competitive so the teams and coaching staffs that won their Divisions should be top tier , the teams that pushed them should come next and the also rans should be the lower level, then how the Winners of those Divisions do in the playoffs should add or subtract further from those teams rankings, results matter , and cannot be argued , we have a good team and coaching staff , but We can and hopefully will do better , We have the coaches and players to do it, results do matter so there is no way Our coaching staff should be ranked that low.
August 2nd, 2025 at 8:33 am
I’m usually one of the first people to criticise Bowles but 22nd? I’d argue at worst we should be middle of the pack.
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:02 am
He’s mostly right…but Bowles should at least rank in the middle of the pack
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:13 am
This team never wins when the national media is hyping them up. Keep talking, it drives this team to win!
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:13 am
I’ve been critical of Bowes in the past but his strength lies in building a cohesive “coaching staff” . The article is complete opinionated rubbish not supported by any solid facts. The Lions might be the most comparable organization to the Bucs in the last few years. Quinn lost both his OC & DC coordinators and in my opinion complete unknowns and he has them ranked TENTH. Where is his logic? He is a buffoon and blowhard.
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:28 am
Fire Bowles lol
Seriously we lost to a rookie Qb last year in the playoffs
Ouch! That really hurt.
I can’t believe everyone got extensions after that
He couldn’t even win with Brady after Bruce Arians left
Not sure why he’s still our head coach . It is what it is
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:33 am
Can’t wait to see how the snakes new team does .
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:39 am
Maybe if he wore lycra clam diggers and flipped his hair up in the front the soy boys at ESPN would like Bowles more.
He’s a defensive guy who plays the odds and doesn’t take many chances. Those guys win a lot of games, especially when they have the right personnel. He also has nurtured a great team culture with no prima donna crap, no domestic assault crap, etc etc. I don’t have to make excuses for the team for my teen boys—the Bucs are the good guys.
I will take it!
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:41 am
Truth hurts…….
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:45 am
What a bunch of subjective crap! More like a HS popularity list than an objective look at coaching resumes.
Look, I was complaining about Bowles before it was trendy, when he was still just our DC. Hate the night record, and lack of player development (edge), and dated sceme, but I am giving the man the benefit of doubt this yr. I like how he holds this team together thru adversity, division titles, and improved record each yr. I really like what he’s been saying this offseason.
– Points win games
– Defensive scheme is due an update
– recognized the need to hire a situational cloc
Tbh, regardless of all the accolades Rogers got on this site as a DL coach, I’m glad to see a change there considering our edge. Now, if TB could recognize the need for a DC
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:46 am
Is Solak on of the anti- Bowles trolls on this site?
I like how he puts a number of coaches on here that had pretty mediocre records last season above Bowles.
That’s fair. ???
He seems to be locked in on game management and not really looking at drafting and culture building at all.
Licht doesn’t choose these guys all by himself.
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:51 am
Lots of games come down to the last two minutes and some clock management………… You simply can’t ignore that !! Bowles is def about the worst in this area , no one can even attempt to say otherwise!! Can’t ignore it !!
The Bucs have addressed it , we will see if it works !! Let Todd be good at what he is good at but help him with what he isn’t .
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:02 am
LOL, as an occasional Todd critic myself (chuckle), a few positives need to be pointed out for balance.
— He’s the best HR director in the league. His players love playing for him, and love playing for and with each other.
— He has evolved his philosophy about offense, and selected OCs who performed well, and both got HC gigs because of it. Everyone knows Bymron wasn’t Todd’s fault.
— He has stated (finally) that he knows teams pass on him twice as often as they run on him, and that being more aggressive against the pass is necessary. But talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand. Let’s see the change and enjoy the improved performance before pouring the anointing oil.
My biggest beef with Todd is that he’s too smart for the team’s own good, and occupies two full time jobs that two people have a hard time doing. As wise poster DR once said about a player , “If you’re thinking too much, maybe you have too much to think about.” Bingo.
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:09 am
Somebody ANYBODY name one Head Coach who has found more UDFAs, evaluated them in camp, gave them a list of things to work on and they responded so well they become important players on the team! Jason Licht is great but whenever he is interviewed about the making of this roster he quickly explains how closely he works with Bowles to narrow down who they want in their process. We had a decent kicker but Bowles thought we needed a kicker with a stronger leg HE WAS RIGHT!! It would take forever for me to list all the changes for the better Todd has made on this team from what BA envisioned and it’s all been for the better!! NOBODY can deny the culture Todd has in Tampa is 2nd to none! Then I come to this site, over the years, to read how some so called fans belly ache how much suffering they have endured in recent years but I recall winning a SB in 2020, old team but ran it back in 2021 but fell short in playoffs, 2022 was Brady’s last season leaving the Bucs with worse cap situation in the league, 2023 rebuilding on the fly so what the hell take Mayfield off the strap pile and give him a shot proving the WORLD wrong, but not good enough for many regulars who come to this site KEEP IN MIND STILL REBUILDING ON THE FLY and fools belly ache cause Bucs didn’t DOMINATE and go deep in the playoffs, 2024 win division again while again rebuilding,so here we are a bonified Super Bowl contender to start the 2025 season and people make comments like the Bucs have under achieved with Bowles as Head Coach cause they should have been to the Superbowl again by now!! UNBELIEVABLE what a fanbase🚩🏴☠️🚩🏆🏆‼️
I’m calling it here now by the time Todd Bowles retires he will be recognized as the BEST COACH EVER IN BUCS HISTORY!!! Go Bucs💥💣💥
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:12 am
LMAO…
Wheres the lie? I will keep saying it. If not for this horrid division, Super Todd would of already been gone. I know it, you know it, the fan boys know it, we all know it.
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:18 am
I don’t disagree with his ranking at all. I’d love for Bowles to prove me wrong and stop making dumb decisions late in games and half’s and put a barely below average defense on the field. Sadly past performance is usually a good indicator of future results so I expect our offense to rack up points and yards and lose 2-3 close games because of Bowles’ decisions and have a bottom feeder pass defense again.
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:20 am
Bowles has had his last 2 OC get Head Coaching jobs after one season so he must be doing something right
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:25 am
Mathematically speaking, any team 4th and 4 or less and outside their own 30 yard line should go for it. I certainly think when in opponent’s territory you should *always* go for it and not punt it or kick a FG. A punt is a turnover. 3 points is a lot less than 7 or 8. If Bowles followed this religiously, the defense would get more rest and we’d score a lot more touchdowns. Some coaches are catching on to this and we should too. It’s all in the math- embrace it. We also have a very strong offensive line.
August 2nd, 2025 at 10:31 am
I forgot to mention how young this team is and I am SOOOO glad the Glazer family live in reality and FACTS!! They tore up Todd’s old contract and gave this man a raise cause they know it was WELL DESERVED!!!
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:00 am
Make minced meat out of Solar, Joe! Just like that boob Conor Orr. They will grovel.
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:01 am
*Solak
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:17 am
I have high hopes as a fan but low expectations as a realist. This offense with a new oc and all of the pressure on them NEED bowles to get this defense performing. This season is all onnthe defense to do their part. Get off the filed and get the ball back to baker.
I fully expect a Todd bowles coached team to sht the bed on a big stage like usual though….hate to say it.
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:19 am
Defensive coordinator: Kefense Hynson
Our DC’s name is Kefense. Defense by Kefense.
I LOVE IT!
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:28 am
DR — he ranked him 22 last year and 26 this year.
August 2nd, 2025 at 12:32 pm
LOL. Ya our staff has been terrible. We can’t seem to keep an offensive coordinator because they keep getting promoted
August 2nd, 2025 at 1:13 pm
bill parcels says you are your record. and todd is 4th or 5th best buc coach ever
to be ranked behind guys you keep beating is more about the one doing the ranking.
god and nature like winners, not wannabes. look around you.
August 2nd, 2025 at 1:59 pm
We have a tier 1-2 GM, a tier 2-3 QB, and a tier 3-4 HC.
August 2nd, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Being an NFL coach for more than two years is a significant accomplishment in itself.
Go Bucs!
August 2nd, 2025 at 2:27 pm
feel like the defensive coaches are all older. they need a guy like coen or grizzard thats motivated with game planning and not the we do what we do mentality.
August 2nd, 2025 at 3:33 pm
If he had realized the def coor was bowels and not Kefense, he would have ranked this staff even lower. And deservedly so.
August 2nd, 2025 at 4:41 pm
What a joke this “ranking” is…..
And its not just Todd – its the whole staff he’s talking about.
Coaching up players is like the #1 job of a coaching staff.
Jason Licht and his team have done a great job of bringing in talented young players – but a BIG part of that success that Licht is given full credit for involves molding rookies and younger players into NFL quality players. Talent alone does not even come close to cutting it in the NFL! The Buccaneers history is littered with great examples of that fact:
Here’s a list of former Bucs busts who fit the bill and their draft slot # – all from the 1st round….
Ron Holmes (8)
Rod “toast” Jones (25)
Vinny Testaverde (1)
Broderick Thomas (6)
Keith McCants (4)
Charles McRae (7)
Eric Curry (6)
Trent Dilfer (6)
Regan Upshaw (12)
Marcus Jones (22)
Reidel Anthony (16)
Kenyatta Walker (14)
Michael Clayton (15)
Gaines Adams (4)
Josh Freeman (17)
Adrian Clayborn (20)
Mark Barron (7)
Jameis Winston (1)
Vernon Hargreaves (11)
OJ Howard (19)
Devin White (5)
Joe Tryon Shoyinka (32)
Yes – game planning and in game calls and decisions are a big part of coaching as well – but taking young players and teaching them ALL they must know in order to play well at the NFL level – and helping older players (really ALL players) refine and improve their game is the most defining element that goes into being a “good coach”.
Bowles and his staff are easily in the upper half of the league at “coaching up” their players – more like top 10 in that respect IMO.
But whatever dude…. You’ve got your list to make and I’m sure you did the best you could in the 23 minutes you spent compiling it….
August 2nd, 2025 at 4:56 pm
100% accurate. Bowles is a clown. His staff is even worse. Bucs will never win a SB with Bowles.
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:21 pm
Wikipedia says Kefense Hynson is the Passing Game Coordinator. Shows just how much Solak knows or cares about accurate content in his stupid article and Joe still knows how to rally up the Bowles Haters, keep em foamin at the mouth so us REAL Buc fans can laugh at their nonsense this season when our team gets the #1 seed in the NFC😝😝😝😝 U GO JOE!!!
August 2nd, 2025 at 7:49 pm
Given the turnover in coaching staffs between seasons, it seems fatuous to be ranking the new ones. Plus, the staffs are not one or three people these days; you’re talking about a dozen or more. And someone says he’s studied them for thirty-two teams. At the end of the season you can rank the coaching staffs, and the ones in the playoffs are the top tier.
August 3rd, 2025 at 8:52 am
Look like he was trying to write comedy with the ‘too soon’ bit.
Also looks like he was pretty focused on just the head coach, rather than the coaching staff.
But if any of us are honest, there’s some truth in what he wrote. Todd is overly cautious and a game manager. He coaches not to lose.
If we have a SB roster, then he’s going to have to overcome that.
August 3rd, 2025 at 11:08 am
Would be good bulletin board material if it wasn’t so ridiculous, really how could any of nfc South coaching staff rank higher. Evan as a prediction list it’s absurd. Given the yearly changes which is also is yearly challenges I’ll have to put them easily in the top 20 to top 15
August 3rd, 2025 at 2:00 pm
How many times did Washington punt in a road playoff game last year? Bowles is what his record says it is.
August 3rd, 2025 at 4:29 pm
Dumb take, coen is over rated. Our offense simply creates coordinators into head coaches. Canales, Coen, Grizzard?. Hope Coens jags blow up after how he left but still like Canales wouldn’t mind if his panthers finish 2nd behind us.