BSPN: Todd Bowles Is Not A Fun Coach
August 23rd, 2025
No fun?
When Joe read this excerpt, Joe immediately had a comeback for the slightly faulty premise.
Noted Todd Bowles hater Ben Solak of BSPN, who does have some valid reasons why he’s no Bowles fan, gets carried away when he knocks the fourth-year Bucs coach.
Solak earlier this summer ranked the Bucs’ coaching staff No. 22 in the NFL. That’s awfully harsh for a head coach who has done nothing but lead the Bucs to the playoffs every season and guides the team to more wins each season after his 8-9 start.
Doesn’t that count for something?
Solak recently decided to rank each NFL team by watchability. Meaning, is the team fun to watch?
Solak may have had the Bucs in the top two or three but Solak made the case that Bowles drags down the team down and his presence makes the Bucs more boring.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is one of the few players in the league so watchable that he transcends fandom. You cannot help but root for him when he’s jawing with defensive linemen after scampering for a key first down. The collective excellence of the Buccaneers’ offense around him — Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin — spells a highly watchable experience. The addition of Emeka Egbuka might even make this offense a Bengals-like experience in 2025.However, the Buccaneers are hard-capped on this ranking by the caution of their coach, Todd Bowles. He does not go for enough fourth-down attempts or 2-point conversions. The Bucs’ defense is eminently watchable, though — high effort with sacks and takeaways, all at the expense of big plays. Only three teams gave up more 30-plus-yard completions than the Buccaneers did last season.
Now that’s not an entirely unfair take by Solak. It still sticks in Joe’s craw — not craw, craw! — that Bowles didn’t go for two to steal a win in Kansas City last year.
As for Bowles making a team less fun, well, recent history is not on Solak’s side. Does a coach with a stick up his backside let his offensive coordinator call a first-down pass play for Mike Evans very late in the final seconds of the regular season — in his own real estate — in a one-score game?
August 23rd, 2025 at 6:47 am
These goofs are getting on my last freaking nerve! Was the immortal Vince Lombardi a “fun” coach? I think most would answer no. Did he win? Did his players respect him? I think the answer is yes. So my thinking is… Does “fun” really matter?
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:21 am
I am glad he is not fun. We already had one fun head coach before and that was raheem morris. Look how that turned out for the franchise total disaster
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:21 am
Guarantee you that almost every single player that makes this team is very glad and grateful to be here – and would rather play in Tampa Bay – for this coach and within this culture – than for any other team in the league….
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:34 am
Joe pulling out the Get Smart clip! Made my morning!!
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:46 am
If Bowles didn’t let Evans get his 1000 he’d have been run out of town. Bad example there Joe. He is to conservative, relying last year on an unreliable defense too many times. If Solvaks point is Bowles is no Dan Campbell, he’s spot on.
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:52 am
Enough with “the culture” stuff. That can be maintained by almost any coach with the GM, staff & players now in Tampa. Bowles, please field only your 2nd top 15 pass defense in the 7 years since you’ve been here!
“The Bucs’ defense is eminently watchable”, was not meant as a compliment!
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:52 am
Agreed garro. In the words of one Vince Lombardi, “What the hell’s going on out there?!”
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:58 am
I’m not a Coach Bowles “hater” But I want to make a few points as to why I’m not a fan of his.
To Joe’s point, “guides the team to more wins each season after his 8-9 start.” Bowles doesn’t get points for this. The NFC South has been arguably the NFL’s weakest division for years.
Horrible clock management year after year. Awful to conservative play calling..exhibits 1, 2 and 3: Cooper Kupp, @Detroit and at home v. Washington in the playoffs.
3rd and 8: DB’s 12-15 yard cushion on the receivers.
Vita Vea dropping into coverage. etc.
August 23rd, 2025 at 8:08 am
Fair point. Bowles D has been toothless for too long. And all too often he coaches not to lose, especially with a lead. He’s like the hoops coach who employs the prevent up 10 with 5 min left. They milk the shot clock and launch a predictably bad shot with 2 seconds left. All that does is prevent winning. Todd, you have the line & horses to pummel your opponents. Let Grizz go for the jugular.
August 23rd, 2025 at 8:15 am
He does keep it close. Sometimes too close;
August 23rd, 2025 at 8:41 am
Everyone knows what I’m gonna say. I’m too fatigued to type it.
August 23rd, 2025 at 8:48 am
I don’t need to be entertained by the HC himself, I prefer being entertained by the product he presides over on the field.
Defensively, what I’m looking to see most is how Bowles reworks the scheme now having more talent at-hand to open our defense back up.
I’ll be entertained if we can pick and choose spots where we throw 5-man pressure packages at offenses, instead of having to rely on it like last season to help our injury plagues secondary. Equally entertained if we can start winning the numbers game and start forcing more 1 on 1’s on our defensive front.
I’ll be entertained if the move to safety for Tykee, drafting Parrish, and getting Voss back shores up the middle of the field and chips away at the frequency of open passes across the formation. More PBUs, tips, takeaways, that how Bowles can entertain me.
August 23rd, 2025 at 8:54 am
The longest lasting dynasty in the history of NFL, New England Patriots under Bill Belichick weren’t exactly fun to watch in general. They had their moments and come back games (28-3), but in general the style play wasn’t always super watchable. I’d trade watchability for double digit trips to the super bowl and a stack of Lombardi trophies.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:09 am
Hodad hit the nail on the head.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:10 am
Get some good cheese to go with that continual whine about the Kupp krap and Detroit, Washington laid at Bowles feet. You’re just looking to see which crap sticks on the wall to blame the guy for. In case you forgot:
Rams built a built a lead based on turn overs and field position but the DEFENSE had to hold them so that Brady and the offense could come back in the first place. People act like it’s only 1 play that sunk the game.
Yes Washington didn’t punt but the Buc’s offense, again, didn’t hold up their part of the deal. They just score their average for the year and the Bucs win that game.
I see far more with Bowles holding the team together and putting them in the playoffs consistantly, key word there, than some other things that may or may not pan out. What happens if in KC we win the toss and score the TD? Who cries then.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:13 am
Solak is a ham sandwich with fumunda cheese on rye.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:14 am
Lol sorry Todd Bowles isnt running a summer church camp.
The NFL is not supposed to be “fun” for the players.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:21 am
A few days ago Joe posted an article with anecdotal evidence of Bowles’s prankster-jokester side—the side few of us fans have had the opportunity to put eyes on.
So, which Bowles is the real Bowles—a little both of both, perhaps?
Solak brings up a meaningless issue. Although I prefer a coach with a flame under his rear end, if he was a sideline, statuesque mute, I could care less about a Bowles “fun side” if we won with higher regularity.
I agree with Gump’s pal, Lt. Dan, on this one. I’m fine with Bowles, the man, but his in-game coaching leaves a lot to be desired. His historical blunders were too important to be swept under the rug. I wanted to keep Coen and make him H.C. Instead, Licht let Coen walk and extended the funny, not so funny, serious guy.
And for the thousandth time, dunderheads, criticism and hate are not one and the same!
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:23 am
How is it fun having Todd Bowles as your head coach for players or fans? No gusto, bad instincts, no presence of mind concerning Crucial clock management, and is likely to lose a shootout due to the fact that he Does Not know when to hold them and when to fold them.. and Bowles has this knack for Keeping the Opponent in the game! How is that a good idea or fun for us? What’s FUN IS OUR TEAM DOMINATING ALL OTHER TEAMS! KNOW THAT’S FUN! That’s an Arians style…
BOWLES DOES NOT HAVE THAT KILLER INSTINCT! Bowles has No Feel for that… And THAT’S NOT FUN!
That’s NOT the aspects of fun for a football team… infact it’s opposite.
Bowles is more of the steady on, BORING type whom goes to sleep at the wheel at critical moments rather than get Clear headed and sharp when desperately needed. For the “desperately needed” moments, the team has hired a “human alarm clock”, And behind the scenes “decision maker”. Someone to “Shake him Awake” when he falls asleep or gets STUCK when his mind is malfunctioning and he stands there like a deer lost in head lights…
That is Not Fun…
Going For It IS FUN! Especially when THAT GUSTO PUTS THE GAME AWAY INTO THE WIN COLUMN! Never Going For It? YAWN… BORING and leaves everybody with a “Desperate If Only” bad taste in Everybody’s mouth! Not satisfying and Especially NOT FUN!
Behind the scenes? Who knows… In football moments? Not Fun…
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:25 am
Another brainless article from a brainless reporter i don’t know where they come up with this crap
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:42 am
I don’t listen to these clowns that never played in the NFL
There’s some things l don’t like about Todd Bowles, and there’s some things I do like about him. This team never quit on him, l like that.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:45 am
Good comeback, Joe!
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:48 am
“KAOS: The international organization of evil.” 🙂
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:51 am
I surprises me that these fools have jobs. Does anybody really read or watch this content anymore? Independent media is the future and Joe is the tip of the spear in this subject matter.
August 23rd, 2025 at 11:01 am
Between Buc Luck and 4 OCs in 5 seasons, Bowles has managed to keep the locker room cohesive and together. Plus winning the Division. Now, how about NO Buc Luck and Grizzard turning out to be a competent OC who hangs around longer than one year. Let’s see what goes down then, hmmmmmm.
August 23rd, 2025 at 11:02 am
At least this years punting will have a punter that can not only catch the ball but can punt the ball,,, so Bowles has that going for him,,, Now if Bowels lets Riley throw a few passes this year,, now we are talking excitement (and risk)
August 23rd, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Strange , but I don’t see anywhere in what he wrote that Bowles is boring.. Risk averse maybe. He calls the offense a “highly watchable experience “and that the defense is ”eminently watchable”
I don’t see an incorrect statement anywhere.
Baker Mayfield is one of the few players in the league so watchable that he transcends fandom. You cannot help but root for him when he’s jawing with defensive linemen after scampering for a key first down. The collective excellence of the Buccaneers’ offense around him — Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin — spells a highly watchable experience. The addition of Emeka Egbuka might even make this offense a Bengals-like experience in 2025.
“However, the Buccaneers are hard-capped on this ranking by the caution of their coach, Todd Bowles. He does not go for enough fourth-down attempts or 2-point conversions. The Bucs’ defense is eminently watchable, though — high effort with sacks and takeaways, all at the expense of big plays. Only three teams gave up more 30-plus-yard completions than the Buccaneers did last season
August 23rd, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Aqualung Says:
August 23rd, 2025 at 8:41 am
Everyone knows what I’m gonna say. I’m too fatigued to type it.
—————————-
You were going to talk about how Dan Campbell is a real head coach who showed us how it should be done? Right? 🤣
August 23rd, 2025 at 2:49 pm
At first, I was annoyed by the headline. I the re read it in NFL.com, and realized Ben ranked the Bucs 7th out of all 32 teams for watchability.
Honestly I’d take that. I figured from the headline we would be bottom 10 of the league
August 23rd, 2025 at 3:01 pm
C’mon- what is more fun than always blitzing on 3rd and long?
August 23rd, 2025 at 3:38 pm
The players love Todd Bowles.
That’s good enough for me.