Bucs Trying To Develop A Killer Instinct
August 19th, 2025
Do the Bucs now have a killer instinct on defense since they are 2-0 in worthless preseason games?
Bucs coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t go that far. But he sees good signs. The trick is, as Bowles noted, the guys closing out the games may not be around in 11 days.
Teams have to shave their rosters from 90 down to 53 on Aug. 30.
“I see us closing out games in preseason, and a lot of different people are playing, so that’s good to see,” Bowles said. “You want your main team, when you get to [the] 53[-man roster], to have that same killer instinct.
“It’s hard right now because they haven’t played the end of halves and end of games. But the younger guys have picked that up, finishing out games and closing them. Even if they make a mistake, they’re making it full speed, so that’s a start.”
Well, Joe sure hopes younger players and near-future truck drivers, short-order cooks and data entry specialists see their drive become contagious to the whole team.
Bowles is right. Just because Bucs camp meat is locking down opponents’ camp meat doesn’t mean that will be the case in the regular season.
Hopefully, the younger guys are inspiring the veterans.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Pump the brakes. It’s only been 2 preseason games, and it wasn’t the starters closing it out, nor were there starters on the other side. Let’s see if they can choke out some opponents early in the regular season.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:22 am
Bowles doesn’t pump sunshine. He sees something and he’s communicating it.
Really interesting article.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:28 am
They didn’t have the killer instinct last season, because the defense was passive and Bowles was not aggressive at the end of games, such as going for it on 4th down.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Here’s the thing though, Bowles–killer instinct can’t just be for the players. It has to be for the coaches too. It does no good for you to try to instill killer instinct if your playcalling and decision-making radiate fear. You have to go for it fourth and short in critical situations. You have to go for it when a two-point conversion wins the game outright, rather than wait for a coin toss. You don’t play for a field goal when a TD ices the game. THOSE are what make a team feel like killers, like their coach expects them to WIN.
Without showing killer instinct in how you call a game, telling the players to feel like killers is just blowing smoke. They’ll feel tentativeness in the playcalling in the moment, just like we can through the TV screen, and we’ve seen what happens.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:42 am
Joe: “Joe just hopes the younger guys are inspiring the veterans.” I guess Joe forgot LVD’s interview during the game where he said the energy of the young guys is inspiring him.
Joe didn’t forget anything. David is one player. There are many veterans. –Joe
August 19th, 2025 at 9:49 am
I don’t see any ( Killer Instinct ( in these mild mannerd defensive players. Where’s the Sapp, Suh etc ? I see more GMC in these players. Sack the QB, then help him up, enjoy some ice cream together after the game.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:51 am
Everyone is getting the same info, and if the less talented guys are an example of what everyone is learning than why would I believe our starters aren’t as capable as them to develop a killer instinct or close a game out.
Stuff like this is kind of overrated, I don’t care about a “killer instinct” it’s coffee table talk and it means nothing until we get on the field and into those moments to actual make a difference.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Yeah, the low hanging fruit is to lay everything on the defense when things don’t work out right for this team. This team hasn’t been very good at complimentary football. Not every game was bad for the defense, and yet when they had their moments, which there were few, it’s remarkable how the offense couldn’t get anything going.
I’ve been saying this for a while, Baker isn’t a killer and no opposing team’s defense fears him at the end of games. I can’t stress this enough, but that DOES NOT mean I don’t like Baker. Jesus, if you’re not all in on this guy, you’re a hater. I just see what my eyes tell me, and I just think that’s the difference between this team going to another Super Bowl or sizzling out of the first or second round of the playoffs. Baker has got to be the guy we can count on to close out games.
August 19th, 2025 at 9:53 am
There are different scenario’s to play to win outright and tying to then have a chance to win it. If you’re driving down the field and need a 3 to tie you push it to get the TD, if the time and time outs are available, you don’t waste time on those drives. And lest we forget that killer instinct should be drilled into the team from the first possession so they don’t put themselves in the position of having to need to make the tie or win choice at the end of regulation, Bowles has stressed getting out to a lead to avoid that very scenario.
Do you need a first down to continue the drive when you get close to the end zone with little time on the clock? How much do you need? What is down, distance and time left if in the red zone? Is it a regular season game? Playoff game? Super Bowl? The Washington playoff game last year should have never come down to the end like that, I think that’s what we hear from players mad about it. They didn’t like how they, as players, ended it. I don’t believe the staff coachs for mediocrity or just enough to get by, but they have to weigh the risk vs reward. Would you have crucified Bowles if he had gone for the win and failed? In KC? IN the playofff game? In the end you have to live with the outcome. Solution: Win the dang game early, Jimminy Christmas…
August 19th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Total BS zoom. Baker did not lose the 49ers game. He didn’t lose the KC game. In both games he scored and left too much time on the clock and the defense couldn’t stop the opponent. Same thing in the first Atlanta game. Bucky fumbles and the Falcons score. They were in position to win 13 games last year only Denver in Baltimore beat us soundly.
August 19th, 2025 at 10:31 am
I’ve never understood the “coast” mentality. If you’re competitive and you want to win, you go balls to the wall until the game is over.
August 19th, 2025 at 10:40 am
D.a.m.n. Joe…
I “was” starting to give Bowles some flowers but I “feel” what your saying. I’ve got to admit this “cautionary tell” has taken the air out of my balloon….
Sad face man… Sad Face
Hummmmmmmmmm
There always seems to be a battle of the Joe’s. If there are two main. Joe’s (and that might not be the case at all (there could be three) ) then it’s a confounding message. A fair enough message but confounding…..
The ONLY thing I’m SURE about is that there is an “at the minimum” here and it lands on the positive side. Minimally Bowles has brought in “Coaching Talent” that knows what they are doing. Bowles WILL GET Flowers for that Even If it’s Not a Dozen Red Ones…
I push that narrative because CLEARLY SOMEONE IS INSPIRING HUSTLE! SOMEONE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE…. As Joe has made clear, it might not be Bowles himself… Fair enough. However, SOMEBODY IS or the third, forth, fifth stringers WOULDN’T BE playing THIS WELL!
IN FACT THE LACK OF EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW (COACHING/ TRAINING) IS WHY I’VE BEEN JUMPING UP AND DOWN ALL OVER BOWLES, ALL OFF SEASON! And Now that I’m seeing it I’m Inspired… So Much for my Rossey Colored Glasses!
At least Joe just drew a CLEAR LI NE to judge by come Actual Game Time..
Right now…. SOMEBODY IS COACHING THESE GUYS UP! THANK GOD!
August 19th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Zoocomics, I’ve really got to much to do today to even read my favorite reports much less respond to them. But I’m gonna make an exception here. Your post was reasonable until the period at the end of the first paragraph. And I can’t stress this enough Zoocomics. And that does not mean I don’t like you, Zoocomics. Jeez, since I’m not all in on you, Zoocomics, I would be labeled a hater. Of you, Zoocomics. And I just see what my senses tell me. You aren’t that guy and fortunately for us you don’t need to be.
August 19th, 2025 at 11:10 am
This is where I tend to agree with Joe about preseason. No way to tell anything about killer instinct until we get to Atlanta. We looked like we were tired and lazy in Pittsburgh. But it is preseason…
Go Bucs!
August 19th, 2025 at 11:20 am
Brady had a killer instinct; Mayfield does not. Remember when he lost an overtime coin toss? His face showed that he was giving up, with no faith in his defense. He hasn’t been the one at any coin toss since, either. That was the only time he has disappointed me, really, and I would like to see that change.
August 19th, 2025 at 11:23 am
23-0
2 down.
21 to go.
August 19th, 2025 at 11:29 am
pittsburgh with goofy qb scored on our first team defense
August 19th, 2025 at 11:41 am
“Total BS zoom. Baker did not lose the 49ers game. He didn’t lose the KC game. In both games he scored and left too much time on the clock and the defense couldn’t stop the opponent.”
Our offense was lackluster in those two games and it showed. 19 total drive led to 9 punts, 5 TDs, & 5 FGs in 2 games. 4 of those 9 punts came on 4-3 & outs never down by anyting more than a TD. We started the 4th quarter of SF game with a 17-10 lead, immediately after that TD SF misses a 50 FG, our offense gets back on the field for a 40 second 3 & out. We also finished those two games with a combined +2 in the turnover margin.
The SF game we had 215 yards of combined offense. 105 passing yards on 18 completions, aint it.
The KC game we had 284 yards of combined offense. 189 yards on 23 completions aint it.
Zoocomics is onto something
August 19th, 2025 at 11:48 am
I always thought that the killer instinct started on the D line. Not sure the Bucs have the players on the D line with a killer instinct? Guess we will see, but no one like Selmon, Sapp, Suh, Rice, or JPP is on the D line. Hope the D line has more of a killer instinct this year.
August 19th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch. San Fran and KC were Bakers fault? What about Evans? Or Godwin? Or JMac? All sitting on the sidelines or at home or somewhere. They certainly weren’t battling their a$$es off like Baker was doing with practice squad receivers. And almost won them anyway. But that would have required a defensive stop. Is that how you remember it WBL?
August 19th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Call the salt truck is right again. Dan Quinn came into our home and had that killer instinct going for 4th down 5 times in order to keep the ball from the offense and it paid off. I like Todd but he seems to lack in some critical areas. But in all fairness I guess most of us do.
August 19th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
This is how delusional Warren Brooks is, we are playing a Super Bowl bound Kansas City team, at home, in the rain, without our number one receivers and Baker drives and scores with 20 seconds left on the clock to win or tie the game, that was a coaching decision. Baker just put them in the position to decide. But Baker had a bad game. When Baker does have a late drive to win the game they say he had a bad game. When Baker has an undeniable good game he didn’t drive late. Can’t win for loosin with you people.Wow, simply amazing.
August 19th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Kenton,
we scored a total of 10 first half points in a combined 60 minutes of football in those 2 games, is that winning football?
How long did we expect our mash-unit of a defense to nullify the opposing teams offense waiting for our offense to get its’ head out of its’ arse?
19 total possessions, we punted almost on half of those possessions in 2 games.
We lost by a combined 9 points. Thats means if we convert on a third of the drives we punted on we likely win those games.
It’s not how I remember the game, it’s how the game played out in reality
Mind you, defensively we held the Niners to their ppg average and scored below ours on offense.
.
KC finished the year averaging 22.6 points a ga
August 19th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
We will have a chance to get a killer instinct when we get a full time head coach who has a killer instinct, and a full time defensive coordinator who reports to him, also having a killer instinct. It’s not certain the current guy even knows he’s the head coach, ie, “Sean Tucker needs more touches.” Make it happen, then.
August 19th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
SF averaged 22.9 ppg. we allowed 23.
Our offense the other hand averaged 29.5 ppg and defensively we averaged 22.6 ppg.
Just find it tiring to throw the defense under the bus in clear situations where our offense also played like crap in back to back games. Which got us to limp into the bye week last year
August 19th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Exactly WBL. It’s how the game played out in reality. In the clutch at KC. Offense went length of field to tie with 27 seconds left. In the clutch at KC. Defense let KC go length of field for a TD. In the clutch SanFran. Offense, with Baker holding off Bosa on 4th down, tied it up late in the fourth. In the clutch SanFran. Defense let SanFran drive and end the game with a field goal. Both games the offense gave us chances and the defense took over and didn’t even give us a chance. Is that how you remember it, WBL?
August 19th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
I agree with Joe on hoping the camp meat attitude at the end of games holds true to the 53 man final product. I disagree with some Bucs fans doubting Bakers killer instinct & I don’t think he had doubts in the Defense last season. I think it was more a lack of faith in the NFLs OT rules that we saw not doubt in his TEAM. The old rules definitely favored the TEAM the won the toss.
August 19th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
That’s the way sane fans remember those games, Kenton Smith. Thank you for pointing that reality out. There are more examples but why beat the dead horse’s corpse any more.
August 19th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
“There are more examples but why beat the dead horse’s corpse any more.”
This is rich coming from you of all commenters. I see the name and know what the comment is already, no matter the theme of the article.
August 19th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Really it’s not hard to put on your positive hats!!!
The Bucs camp meat was better than the Titans or Steelers camp meat. The games may be meaningless but in everything that actually counted the Bucs came out looking great and perhaps having even discovered some depth.
For a team that now believes it’s a TRUE SB contender depth could make the difference.
August 19th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
“Both games the offense gave us chances and the defense took over and didn’t even give us a chance.”
Punting on 2/3 possessions in the 4th quarter after the game was tied at 17 to start the 4th quarter is not “clutch”. That’s how you lose 1 score games and apparently you cannot see that because, Baker Mayfield. More glaze than Krispy Kreme
August 19th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
WBL, we tied up the Commanders game with over 5 minutes to play to give our team a chance to win. Then Washington toyed with our defense for over 5 minutes and didn’t even give us a chance. So you and Zoocomics, 2 peas in a pod, say Baker chokes late and all I can see is him keeping us right in all of them and our undermanned defense not making a play in any of them. The team, from the top down, knows what we need. Ballhawks! Playmakers! I love our team from the coach to the defense and have pure confidence they will continue their development but you guys questioning Baker in clutch time are not even remotely close to being fair.
August 19th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Warren, oh I forgot, I thought we were playing a team that had won the previous 2 superbowls and would in a couple of weeks play in ANOTHER. Their 3rd in a row superbowl. When i guess “in reality” we were playing the 2017 Cleveland Browns, werent we Warren? We should have just marched up and down that field at will with our second string receivers and our tightend. My bad🤤
August 19th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Warren, who were the 2 quaterbacks that tied or beat Mahomes last year? That’s right, yours truly, Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen. Yeah that’s right, but poor little Bakie didn’t play good.
August 19th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and no other NFL quarterback could do what Bakie did but all you can “see” is Bakie didn’t live up to your ill conceived notion of acceptable play.
August 19th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Basically it was the MVP quaterback and our very own scrubby middling quaterback that tied or beat KC. And in my book we beat KC. Just because a coach doesn’t employee the killer instinct the players can’t help it. We had them beat and everyone including KC knows it. I was in the stands that Monday night in the rain and their fans knew they had lost when Bakie drove that ball down their throats with 20 seconds left. They breathed a huge sigh of relief when they saw we were going to kick it for the tie, so….
August 19th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
I’ll wait till I get to that bridge before deciding to cross it. Too many times, I’ve gotten hyped up about what appeared to be an aggressive and killer instinct type defense in preseason games year in and year out then come regular season the defense play passive n lost in space. The Falcons game will determine who has the killer instinct defense.
August 19th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Kenton,
You mean the same game where you and Davyboi’s lord and savior T-rex armed a handoff while we were up 7 and gave the Commanders the ball 15 yards off our GL? After the defense
“you guys questioning Baker in clutch time are not even remotely close to being fair.”
Here’s what I’ll do for you, I’ll type “trigger warning” next time I scrutinize our offense or Baker Mayfield so you guys can come better prepared to actually sound like reasonable football fans, and not just Baker Mayfield fans.
August 19th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Been a reasonable football fan alot longer than Mayfield has been alive and expect to be one long after he’s retired WBL. And we weren’t up seven when that occurred WBL. And kudos to the defense for giving us the ball finally even though it was at our 2 yard line. I’m not going to quit correcting you WBL. Because you don’t know your butt from a hole in the ground. And you’re trolling our QB. And why let a nonsensical fool try to set the narrative for our QB? Our fans deserve better.
August 19th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
dmatt- stay away from that bridge! I know I am. The way Todd has the Bucs
playing pass defense, bridgewalkers will be likely to jump off.
August 19th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
You go Kenton Smith!
August 19th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
“Your butt from a hole in the ground” nuff said
August 19th, 2025 at 6:58 pm
Just heard a report that ranked JBF commenting community top 5 in entertainment value
August 19th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
🤣🤣WBL, you just proved my point concerning that fumble in the divisional loss to Washington. 🤣🤣 This is great. I’ve been saying McMillan was about 1/2 yard too deep and thats why Baker hit him in his obliques instead of his stomach. In the jet sweep, that is enough. And by you saying Baker “T-rex armed a handoff”, you said his arm was too short to reach McMillan. And by Baker reaching straight back, which he did, proves he was on time to the party. If he would have been late he would have handed it to his right and if too early he would have reached to his left. By reaching straight back and coming up short, T-rex style, proves McMillan the rookie, who made several other rookie mistakes last year, was just a hair deeper than they practiced. Thank you for clearing this long debated incident up for us WBL. Now we can sleep good at night knowing our favorite, soon to be superbowl quarterback, didn’t choke.😅🤣