Does The Bucs Front Office Need To Adjust?
November 25th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht
Interesting commentary from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford yesterday.
Stafford is a regular guest on that annoying Jim Gray podcast, Let’s Go, which used to be co-hosted by Tom Brady.
Of course, Stafford came off a Sunday night game hammering the Buccaneers. He talked about how philosophies have changed within the Rams organization since they traded for him in 2021, a season in which the Rams won the Super Bowl.
“When I first got here, it was ‘F them [draft] picks.’ And now it’s, ‘how about them picks!’, you know what I mean? We are doing a hell of a job,” Stafford said. “And [Rams GM] Les [Snead] is doing a hell of a job of bringing in guys that, you know, they’re really good football players and they’re about the right stuff. I mean, there’s not a guy in our locker room that I can sit there and go, ‘you know, he’s not about what the Rams are about.’ Everybody’s bought in. Everybody is like-minded and [about] what it takes to be good and to be successful in this league.”
Much like Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield have said about the Bucs, Stafford said the everyone in Los Angeles is in “lockstep” with the Rams GM on the type of player on the roster.
“You know, we didn’t have a first-round pick for a while after I got here,” Stafford continued. “And he’s made the most of of guys getting picked wherever. And it goes to show you, man, it really doesn’t matter where you get picked in this draft. You know, that’s just the beginning for a lot of these guys. And if those guys have the right mindset of ‘hey, it doesn’t matter where I get picked, I’m here to start my journey in the NFL.’ Great things can happen for them.”
Joe heard all this and started wondering about the Tampa Bay roster. (For those wondering, the Rams have had just two first-round draft picks in the last 10 drafts: Jared Goff and Jared Verse.)
A lot of fans think the Bus roster is a little soft and/or the coaching is a little soft.
Joe’s not sure. The Bucs have so many guys in the same “I Am That Man” mold, perhaps more variety or a slightly different blend is needed?
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has done a hell of a job with the roster. He doesn’t cover kickoffs, block for punters, play pillowy soft pass defense or decide who gets injured.
Still, after watching the Bucs borderline quit as a collective group on Sunday night, everything deserves scrutiny.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:06 am
injuries. and when you have serious injuries, you don’t try to trade/replace TALENT. that will cause a problem. and the injures cannot be understated.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Licht is losing it. Bucs need to realize that they need hardened veterans in key positions. Not rookies and not third level backups. The only 1st string D lineman the Bucs have is Vea. Everyone else on the Dline is a backup. For that matter the entire defense needs to be overhauled starting with the so called DC.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:13 am
Yea get a real qb backup. Teddy is stoned out there.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:13 am
Front seven. They are ALL substandard except Vita, and he’s only got a couple years left. Hall was a bust, JTS was a bust, Braswell was a bust (I’ll be surprised if they let him finish out his rookie)
November 25th, 2025 at 8:13 am
we are in the middle of a 6th possible division championship and some people want to fire Bowles? Do you not remember the lost decade? that was hell. and the idea that we fired Gruden after he had us on the CUSP of the playoffs was asinine to me!
November 25th, 2025 at 8:14 am
EGO. The team is crashing and leadership is not taking any responsibility? Of course there needs to be a change, leadership is always the main reason
November 25th, 2025 at 8:17 am
We need Robert Saleh, as Head Coach! Go Bucs!!!
November 25th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Todd Bowles said last week that all three phases are close to clicking. Maybe this week!
November 25th, 2025 at 8:18 am
We have several problems. First is the injuries like Bucsondeck said we cannot understate how much those impact your team.
Which leads to the second issue, that I brought up during the offseason, our depth especially on the lines is lacking. The championship caliber teams have guys as backups that bring just as much as their starters.
Third issue on defense is that we lack a couple of players with real fight and nastiness in them. I believe the kids call it being a dawg now. LD is a great leader but he is not Sapp, Suh or JPP.
Fourth issue is that we don’t have that one guy on defense really at any position who is a game wrecker. While we have a good defense we don’t have a guy who can impose his will and change the game.
Fifth issue is Bowels being both HC and DC. He thinks he is a defensive genius so he regularly makes bad HC decisions because he thinks as DC that his unit is the best in the team and will execute his vision. He does this even in games where his defense has been terrible.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:22 am
@BUCSONDECK24
We won’t win the Superbowl with Bowles, time and time again he has proven that when the pressure is on he makes the wrong decisions.
For the past two years we have won the worst division in football by the skin of our teeth in the last 2 minutes of game 17.
Don’t be content with mediocrity, don’t be so scared of failure that you’re afraid to try.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:23 am
BUCSONDECK –
There is a huge difference between Bowles situation and Gruden’s
1) the NFC south during Gruden’s tenure was competitive. Bowles backs into the playoffs every year because the other three teams in the division are raging dumpster fires. Carolina may finally be rising above it, unless Tepper gets impatient again.
2) Bowles has far more talent at his disposal than Gruden did. Start at QB. WR. Defense. Gruden had an aging roster and his big mistake was adding more aging vets to extend the window Dungy and his stubbornness had squandered the same way Bowles is now.
Apples to oranges. If you want continued medocrity or worse if/when the rest of the division gets their act together, Bowles is your guy.
Time to move on.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:25 am
“HeavyE Says:
November 25th, 2025 at 8:17 am
We need Robert Saleh, as Head Coach! Go Bucs!!!”
Absolutely NOT. No more defensive head coaches.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Usfbucs is spot on with his 5th issue. Bowles calling the D plays is a big problem and since he is HC he also probably dictates strategy for the O because he is so certain he can dial up the right plays and hence he gets the Bucs to punt on 4th down when they go for it and basically not just pulls his D down but the rest of the team as well. Dude’s style of coaching has gotten old and stale. It is time for change.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Coaching!!!! I have never once seen Bowles get fired up and very rarely do we see him bench guys that mess up. If your coach has no fire the team will follow. And yes jason needs to make some trades and attack free agency. We have been in cap hell last few years thst have limited that ability. We keep saying he doesnt want to mortgage the future but unless he can start drafting pass rushers….there isnt gonna be a future for some of these guys.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Is it a lack of talent, poor development/coaching or a combination of both?
The amount of premium picks that aren’t working out is a huge problem.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Your telling me Micah isnt worth 2 firsts? Working good for green bay right now
November 25th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Everyone has injuries.
No pass rushers is inexcusable. Year after year it’s the same problem. It’s funny that Rice will be inducted into the ring of honor on a day where we will be in a dog fight with a bottom feeder, Arizona.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Joe … ‘A lot of fans think the Bucs roster is a little soft and/or the coaching is a little soft.’
That’s wonderfully politically correct Joe, but ‘litle soft’ is a huge understatement.
Bucs have lost 5 games, to 5 very good teams, all with winning records to date … by a COMBINED SCORE of 161 to 96. So our defense has surrendered an average of slightly over 32 PPG, while our offense has scored slightly over 19 PPG in those 5 losses.
‘A little soft’? Nah. Reality is that several of those teams could’ve doubled their points had they chose to. We weren’t a ‘little soft’ Joe, we were ‘marshmellow fluff’ soft. Our defense’s new nickname should be CHARMIN ULTRA.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:35 am
The lone playoff victory produced by the defensive guru was against a Philly team that was on a 1-5 streak going into the playoffs and without their top two WRs.
Does that sound familiar to anyone?????
Beyond that we have never shown any ability to make a SB under the Bowles regime.
After last year’s bed sh@tting versus the Redskins at home I would have thought Bowles was on a prove it last season in 2025.
Instead Bud Licht decided to double down and extend Toad Bowels. That alone proves he has lost his fast ball.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:39 am
Time to move on from Bowles. I would honestly rather have Gruden at this point. The guy will torch every player that doesn’t perform and will eventually burn down the house. He will piss off ownership, the fans, and the players, but he will get the Bucs to the SB, before he destroys everything. lol. Bowles accepts failure. I want a coach that doesn’t.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:40 am
I love licht but he needs to say F them picks and go get Myles Garrett or Max Crosby. Bring in Simeon Rice to coach the pass rush. We need a successful 4 man pass rush plain and simple.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:40 am
When your Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator is consistently coordinating the 26th ranked pass defense you can’t rely on him or his coaches to develop young players.
You need a mix of Vets and young players and as the young player grows you cut the vet loose.
Licht hangs onto to the Vets too long, remember bringing all the Super Bowl starters back? LOL
Fans get wrapped up in how many draft picks premium players are traded for but would you rather have a 2 or 3 high picks as bust or would you rather have an elite player?
Licht has gotta stop playing it safe. He really hasn’t built much here outside of a nice 2 year run with Brady. Licht has been here 12 years he’s had loads of time to fix it
November 25th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Adjustment? No, it needs to be flushed out onto MLK Blvd.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Rams defensive coordinator if you want a defensive coach. Grandson of don shula and part of the mcvay tree. No head coaching rehires.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Jason Licht and Todd Bowles have failed this team miserably. Those 2 are the cause of this debacle of a season. They both should be fired. Bowles should’ve been fired on Monday morning and Licht should be fired after the season.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:51 am
lol one of the better teams in the NfL share their strategy of saving picks and you losers still saying we need to give up picks for trades. Glad you girls are playing madden and not running this team.
Games are decided at the line of scrimmage. Our DL and OL have sucked this year. It’s obvious when QBs tear up our D because they have 10 seconds to throw. It’s obvious on offense when Baker gets 2 seconds to throw and the run game also can’t develop.
Fix that, and we have great players on both sides of the ball
November 25th, 2025 at 8:55 am
As to what DR said, our defense is the equivalent of a drunk chick at a frat party (AFTER her friend leaves with the quarterback)
November 25th, 2025 at 8:56 am
“A lot of fans think the Bus roster is a little soft and/or the coaching is a little soft“
Spot on.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:01 am
It is not the roster, it is the coaching staff!
The only roster error was not trading for a WR, while knowing McMillan had a serious injury Godwin was back down and ME13 was lost for the year.
Anyone serious about winning makes a move.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:05 am
Toilet Bowls Buccaneers’ defense is so soft, it couldn’t stop a sneeze, let alone a running back. Linebackers don’t hit—they politely **hand out directions to the end zone**. The defensive line? Less “wall of steel,” more **human piñata**—hit it once and the offense collects 70 yards of candy.
Quarterbacks don’t even bother reading coverages—they just **throw into wide-open territory and hope someone remembers this is supposed to be football**. Opposing offenses don’t drive down the field—they **hover, coast, and occasionally wave at the defense for fun**.
Calling this a defense is like calling **air a solid**. They don’t tackle. They don’t pressure. They don’t even exist when it counts. Watching them play is like watching a nature documentary about a species that forgot how to fight.
By the time the Bucs notice an offensive player, he’s already **posting a selfie from the end zone**. The only thing more invisible than this defense is their chance of making a stop.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Did anyone care to look at the injury report for the Rams?
November 25th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Outside of Baker , Vea , Ebuka and David, this team lacks fire.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:09 am
If this team is going to be a serious playoff team Licht is going to have to change the way he is doing things now. Stop coveting draft picks. It is okay to trade some late round picks. It is better to get a proven asset than a shot in the dark. It’s okay to trade a second round pick, heck you have drafted the liked of JTS, Trask, and Braswell just to name a few. Get a proven commodity for crying out loud. Hey also don’t be an afraid to bring in a free agent that’s worth a flip either, proven commodity! Yes I know Licht loves his picks, but sometimes you need to put your ego aside. If just being ho-hum is good enough, keep doing what you’re doing. If you want another playoff win, things must change because this team isn’t good enough and it sure isn’t coached appropriately for the type of talent it has.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Still waiting patiently for the Jason Licht Confidence Poll?
November 25th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Licht sucks!!! Licht is not a GM he’s a scout plain and simple. He built a great 8-8 roster and he’s so fascinated with his draft picks that he won’t improve the roster. There’s no reason markees watts should still be on this roster. There’s no reason Dennis and Logan hall shouldn’t have had competition. I’ve seen Logan hall on skates and pushed up field with his back turned because he’s a lightweight and took him two years to get up to weight. What does he do draft a replacement with the same problem.
Everybody should not be playing out their contract or continually getting resigned if you can’t get out of the first round of the playoffs. NFC south sucks and we’re barely winning it ONCE AGAIN but Licht thinks himself something special
November 25th, 2025 at 9:14 am
They need to adjust Bud Lichts behind out the building.
BA and Brady gave him a reprieve from getting canned, then he blew the second opportunity.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Licht has done a really good job, he deserves all the credit he’s got. Also, he deserves some of blame, cause he’s had misses as well. I love having draft picks as much as anyone but I know a window when I see one. I don’t care to burn a pick on a proven commodity unlike a 2nd rounder for a Braswell, Tryon, Hall. All 3 were reaches, Braswell doesn’t have the explosion, Hall is a tweener, Tryon skipped his senior year and never developed any skills other than pure athleticism. Licht needs to better his skillset at the edge rush and ILB position. Bowels needs to learn to adapt and develop. We are not far off but this team needs a dog, other than Tykee we don’t have a mean SOB on this team. I’m all about the good guy image but this game isn’t made 22 nice people on a field together.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Stormy
Strange take. Most of Dungy’s second string would have started on other teams.
Gruden was the big proponent of bringing in aged washed up vets. Tom Brown, Charlie Garner, etc etc etc
The roster was a hot garbage nursing home by the time he and Allen were finished.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:18 am
@Joe “Does The Bucs Front Office Need To Adjust?”
Like every other season, the front office will evaluate the players, coaches, and its own staff. But they will do it AFTER the season is over. They can’t do it during the season. At the beginning of the season, the Bucs looked like a team that could go deep into the playoffs, beating Seattle and San Francisco. But after this past weekend, they look like a team that might not make the playoffs. Neither the front office nor the fans know what they’re going to look like by the end of the season. If we can get Evans back, Kancey back, Bucky back, Dean back, Bredeson back, and Godwin can get back to 80% of how he was before his injury, the Bucs might be dangerous again. It seems like a long shot right now. But it’s a real possibility.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:19 am
I dont want to hear about injures. The 9ers was missing almost 3 all pros and they were able to still play solid defense. It’s a combination of coaching and players. Good coaching can get the best out of even backup players, that is something this coaching staff can not do
November 25th, 2025 at 9:28 am
If you have 12 Drafts you are going to get some picks right espec when picking in the top 13 year after year ..Licht needs to get it together this next season and get some fresh DL and LBs or he can go. He has yet to draft a Top DL other than Vea
November 25th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Licht has done a great job! Every good GM has a weakness though. If you’re only drafting NFL players with excellent character, then you’re missing out on the real hardcore alpha’s. The Ray Lewis types aren’t going to be high on Licht’s draft board, but they set the tone on the offensive and defensive fronts. For those fans that think this D is a little soft, well maybe it is!
November 25th, 2025 at 9:35 am
Injuries obviously caught up and put a damper on the offense. Hard to do anything when your guards are barely serviceable.
Lot of talent on defense, but they MUST get an edge rusher. Should have traded a first round pick and get Burns from the Giants or someone similar. They obviously can’t draft and develop an edge rusher so that first round pick is not more valuable than a proven commodity that can immediately change the defense.
Second issue on defense is the scheme. I would like to believe a solid, consistent edge rusher would decrease the blitzing, have more man coverage and people in coverage, but I don’t know if Todd Bowles is willing or able to change at this point.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:35 am
I have no respect for quitters.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:36 am
“If you’re only drafting NFL players with excellent character, then you’re missing out on the real hardcore alpha’s”
If they’re avoiding locker room cancers and guys with off the field red flags, I’m ok with this philosophy.
If they’re taking guys off the board because they’re aholes and nothing more, that’s different.
They have to draft guys that love football. Not selfish guys that are simply chasing the bag (Devin White) or morons who can’t lay off the hippie lettuce and stay on the right side of johnny law.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:46 am
What I find funny is how anyone can say Licht has done a damn good job assembling this roster?? Are you effen kidding me?? 80% of the players on defense wouldnt start for most NFL TEAMS.
Licht is NOT the “draft whisperer” like soooo many believe he is. How many 1st/2nd rd picks have hit?? I dont want to hear about the SB run, Brady was running the team during that stretch.
Winning the worst division in football is not the standard we should be looking for, its time for new leadership, we have seen what our potential is and no one should be happy with the results.
November 25th, 2025 at 9:49 am
They also have a hell of an outside pass rush. Just ask Wirfs.
November 25th, 2025 at 10:09 am
I’ll continue to give Licht credit for begging big brother Bruce Arians outta retirement. Arians forced Winston to sink or swim and when he sunk BA basically recruited Tom Brady through the media and again behind the scenes to seal the deal. Brady basically orchestrated the free agents ( Gronk, Brown and Fournette ) who Arians forced to sink or swim as well…and Fournette swam like never before the back half of the Super Bowl season. Those three were responsible for every non-kicking point in the Super Bowl win…now think about that for a moment.
Licht has the equivalent of tenure at Buc University…so he ain’t going anywhere. But he can no longer live off that fortuitous Super Bowl win…especially if this season continues to swirl the bowl(es).
November 25th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Bucs need to get rid of mediocre coach Bowles who tanked the Buffalo game, start with that. Stop resigning players who are on the verge of being too old and have career ending injuries. Licht needs to stop the bargain mindset that led to haaason Reddick and keeping Braswell and JTS on the roster years after they were drafted with no return for it.
November 25th, 2025 at 10:23 am
oh and use Tez Johnson more often, how many times is that gonna have to prove himself?
November 25th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Licht has proven to be a strong evaluator of Oline, DB, and WR talent.
Licht has also proven to be a terrible evaluator of OLB/edge, ILB, and DT talent. His last good pick in the front 7 was Vita Vea in 2018.
November 25th, 2025 at 10:53 am
I truly hate the name calling on here, it’s just tasteless. Fine, you’re frustrated, I am too, and yeah, I’m second guessing everything from the HC, coaching staff, to GM Licht, Greenburg, and the Buc’s scouting department on whether this team has a legit future to serious contend for another SB.
And yet I get that some of you don’t like Bowles, but do we have to make it so damn personal? Somehow, this roster and all it’s problems, are on him. Players show zero accountability and from what it looks like, Licht has built a nice, highly paid mediocre of a roster. It’s hard to really point out who our super stars are right now. I mean is there a perception Bowles doesn’t put in the hours to do his job and “try” to produce the best product on the field that he and staff can produce? No one is more frustrate or humiliated than Bowles and his staff after a loss, especially losses like the ones to the Rams.
Lets try a be better fanbase, we don’t have to like everything this guy does or says, and we can call for him to be fired, but cut the crap with the name calling. This fanbase is a spoiled f-ing disaster sometimes. Relax just a little bit and try to be decent.
November 25th, 2025 at 10:56 am
ALL ABOUT THE COACHING ! BUT REMEMBER THIS IS A TODD BOWLES AND JASON LIGHT BUILT DEFENCE !! THERE PLAYERS. THERE DRAFT CHOICES , THEIR SCHEME ! THEY OWN IT. THE SECONDARY CANT COVER ! THERE IS NO PASS RUSH ,WE HAVE NO EDGE RUSHERS ! NOTHING HAS GOTTON BETTER ON DEFENCE . THE SECONDAY HAS BEEN DISMAL OVER THE YEARS . WE NEED CHANGE NOW ! JASON LIGHT BLEW IT BY NOT MAKING COEN HEAD COACH ! COEN TURNED THE JAGS AROUND AND IS FULL OF ENERGY ! FIRES UP HIS PLAYERS AND IS SMARTER THAN BOWLES ! TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE GLAZER BOYS OR NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE SAME .
November 25th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Well said zoonomics. Whining mid season isn’t going to change anything. Maybe if we were 3-8, but we’re not we’re 1st in our crappy division which means something. Maybe not a lot but something.
Let’s evaluate at the end of the season, anything done now will ruin all work done from last offseason to now. If they want to blow it up it March, fine, but not when we’re in 1st place….
November 25th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Agree 100%, for two reasons. 1. If everyone is “That man”, and one guy is soft, then they’re all soft. 2. I remember the Raiders and Steelers of the 70s and early 80s.
For the record, I would rather lose out and blow it all up than be stuck in mediocrity. This could go on for years with nothing to show for it except division titles and 1st round playoff losses.
November 25th, 2025 at 11:41 am
I say, Clean Shop. Fire everybody after the season and start Fresh. This is and never will be a super bowl team. Sure we win the divison championship and are one and done. We need a Winner in ths Town!!! I’m pissed and I am done.
November 25th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Bowles’ scheme is incredibly frustrating because he refuses to adjust to his players’ strengths—period. If anyone wants to argue, please explain how using Vita Vea as a spy on 3rd down against Josh Allen makes any sense. Forget the outside linebackers dropping 20 yards into coverage; Vita Vea simply cannot function as an effective spy. I’ve watched non-running quarterbacks outrun him in the past. Yes, he’s big and strong, but he’s not fast, quick or explosive sure. You can argue that he accelerates reasonably well, but even at top speed—reached in about two seconds—he’s still not fast enough for that role.
EVER!!! LOVE VEA AMONG MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BUCS BUT HES NOT A SPY!!!
November 25th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Jason Licht’s overall record is sub .500
Todd Bowles record is also sub .500
BOTH CAREER LOSERS
Bad combo. Dump both and get some new blood in here.
These guys SUCK
November 25th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Yeah, that sounds all great and all, BUT you have to have the ‘right’ COACHing and development, and the ‘right’ GM with the ‘right” instincts on talent evaluation, and not only with the draft, but on other teams, for potential future trades and in free-agency! NOT a GM who is totally fine and content with just sitting back and then taking the NEXT ‘best available’ player. But, one who KNOWS the exact player and talent that HE WANTS, and is not going to risk missing out on him. I mean, all you have to do is just take an unbiased, serious and ‘real’ look at this defense and overall depth-level of the team… We’ve been sold a bill of goods and we were actually drinking some of the kool-aid. A few on here, have been SLURPING-IT UP and not missing a single DROP. For years, now!
November 25th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Ira was 💯 CORRECT for calling for Lickt’s Job. I did too, even before that! It was all BRADY, who TOLD Lickt what he wanted and to go and get. PERIOD. He has now had 4-YEARS, just like Bowles. And it’s been very mediocre and lackluster, at BEST. While, we have sat here and completely WASTED being in this DIVISION. It’s sad. SORRY AF. Wasted.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
“Ira” in 2018, I meant to add… as Joe so nicely reminded us yesterday!
November 25th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
@ HeavyE Says: “We need Robert Saleh, as Head Coach! Go Bucs!!!”
Now, that is just completely NUTS. HOW in the hell do YOU figure!? That would be a HORRIBLE move for this team. Just a Terrible Idea.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
C’mon friends, this team is softer than Mr. Stay Puft. When was the last time you saw players flying around, imposing their will on their opponents, and outmatching teams physically? Sure, we get glimpses on a play-by-play basis sometimes, but no one on this roster scares anyone.
I feel like the front office has forgotten that Hardy Nickerson, JPP, Suh and Warren Sapp were ‘Buccaneer Men’ too. Zero SB wins without those guys (Hardy set the standard for the success that followed). Where’s the killer instinct? The Alpha?
Are they here, but buried under an incomprehensible defensive system and an offensive playbook that resembles Tecmo Bowl?
We lack conviction from top to bottom. We’re too comfortable with meaningless division titles and just can’t seem to find any killer instinct.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Bucs were w/o 9 starters for LAR game. Ten with Baker. Nobody can beat a top NFL team when missing almost half your starters. So yes injuries have caused some of this.
The Bucs need to address some serious needs in the off-season. Starting at FA, the Bucs should spend the $ and get a top DE. The team doesn’t draft well here. Who is the last very good/great DE or OLB the Bucs drafted? I can’t name a very good one. Nelson, Nassib and others were just good. Also get a good LB in FA. Sirvocea Denis is a good backup.
So many needs in the draft and it begins with Mike Evans. Do you need to draft his replacement or can this wait one more year? After that DT, ILB, G, pass catching TE, CB.
– Need a stud DT and ILB, G depth
– Otton seems more like a #2 TE
– Are McCullum and Izien long-term players?
The other big questions are White, Dean and McMillan.
Will White stay or chase #1 RB dreams? IMO he should come back.
Will Dean want to return? Will the Bucs want him back? IMO this depends on money
Will McMillan be able to play next year or will this end up as an injury settlement? I don’t know
November 25th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
They need to fire the DC (keep the HC maybe) and find players that suit the new DC’s scheme and philosophy. Todd has an INSANE theory about the modern NFL and edge rushers that no one else follows…for a reason. Remember when he said the days of 17 sack DEs are over? There are 5 guys with 10 already, including Micah Parsons, who was available for trade.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
@USFbucs says: “ Third issue on defense is that we lack a couple of players with real fight and nastiness in them. I believe the kids call it being a dawg now.”
Hahahah yeah, those “kids” are like 30-40 years old LoL… They’ve been saying that for prob 20-YEARS NOW LoL. You’re getting soooo OLD hahahah
November 25th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
This last weeks game reminds me of Raheem’s last season here. The players no longer believed in the scheme and the coach. They mailed it in those last few games. Saw a bit of this in the Rams game. The GM isn’t the problem. It’s the coaching staff that is supposed to develop these picks etc into NFL Players. It’s not happening on the defensive side. Pass rushers? Nope. Strong side ILB, not looking good this year, and the previous one regressed, Corners? Would you want to play in this system as a cover corner? 10 yards off the WR, when you’re obviously built as a press/man corner, and pray for a pass rush that isn’t coming? Nope. The OLB/Pass rusher issue is well documented. They want to, and are built for, rushing the passer. Would you want to look like a complete fool trying to cover an RB or god forbid a WR in space? Nope.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Unfortunately, the Bucs need to get rid of Bowles. He has the same problem as Dungy had in that he can’t win in the playoffs. That’s why the Glazers released him. Yes, he won once against a poor Eagles team.
If I had to pick someone to be the new HC today, I would get Chris Shula DC from the Rams. Young and aggressive. Keep Grizzard? Maybe. He isn’t ready to be a HC and I doubt he’ll even get one HC interview in the off season.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Joe says Jason Licht has done a helluva job with this roster. Really? Joe, stop being a homer and slobbering all over Licht. The defense picks along the front 7 have been poor – with the exception of Vea. It seems clear by now that the Bucs scouting dept (including Licht) lacks a core competency in this area and it has badly hurt the team over the last 4 years. (a slew of poor second round pics seem to be ignored). And the poor judgment with respect to adding players at the trade deadline has played out over the last several weeks. It is also clear that the contract for McCollum was premature – and giving Dean the persona non grata treatment has hurt them as well (despite the fact that Dean is often hurt). Bowles has obviously not adapted with his defensive design and playing and this is killing the team, but man, stop kissing up to Licht and start holding him accountable.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
IMHO, replace Licht, and Todd. Blow up the the whole staff. Let’s be real, this team has so many holes to fill. I love Baker but is he honestly gonna get you a Super bowl ring? This team had it’s window of opportunity slammed shut.
November 25th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
I doubt the Glazers fire Bowles if they win division,, so we probably need to work within those parameters ,, move Todd to full time Head Coach overseaing the entire team,,, Bring in a hungry you DC who has energy and desire to win,,, OC,, will they get rid of grizzz ,, if so miamis HC should be available , he may be goofy but he is an experienced creative play caller ,, new Special Teams coach as well,,,, I think letting Foote play out the year as DC would do wonders also
November 25th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
all you have to do is compare this year‘s roster to 2020 and 2002, this year is not where it needs to be to compete with the best, there are no brooks sapp lynch barber or suh jpp even brady was a hard a** when he needed to be. this team is old and soft at certain positions when it counts
November 25th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Fire Todd
November 25th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Bowles is far too hard headed and stubborn to turn over defensive play calling.
I like Bowles as a former player and understudy to Bruce Arians. That said…this season is on life support even with a very weak division. Baker can’t save him yet again…3rd time won’t be a charm. Of course as a fan I want the Bucs to win the South. If they somehow back in, however, Bowles & Licht belly bump to a “job well done…we’re close”. This squad ain’t close. Licht’s silver lining will be getting Reddick off the books in 2026. And he may want to pump the brakes on making Baker the highest paid player in the NFL as was reported about a month ago when the smoke and mirror show was working.
November 25th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Need to re think their coaching
November 25th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
IF I had the one ‘opportunity” to hire ANY Head Coach right now, it would be DAN LANNING 💯. I think he prob seems to be a better fit for college, but I don’t care… You never know until you try!! HE is worth finding-out. I’ve had my ‘eye’ on HIM for awhile, now! And, I like him more and more every time I see and hear him. He is the modern day equivalent of a YOUNG Pete Carroll, and with some Jon Gruden mixed-in. He is a FUN, ULTRA High-Energy, “Players-Coach,” just like Carroll. He is a VERY methodical and psychological HC with his motivation to his players, and is extremely emotional. He is SUPER positive and HAPPY. ALWAYS, Excited. He makes all those weird faces and facial expressions, like Gruden. Especially, during post-game interviews AFTER WINS… He’s just SO DAMN HAPPY and EXCITED. Very gracious and still positive in defeat. He’s all about going to WORK… Putting the actual real WORK ‘IN’ and is all about CONSTANT improvement. On the football field, in life, and off the field. He is A VERY emotional guy! He’s got “IT.” Go check-out his locker room pep talks on YouTube (pre-game and postgame)… I never have before, but I’m sure they ate there!!!! I’ve heard about them, and I have ‘witnessed them’ LIVE several-times. He is very SPECIAL. Bucs Fans would not know WHAT to do with themselves, if HE were our head coach… They would all be JACKED (especially after this BS we’ve been forced fed over the past several years). Cause, that is just what HE DOES. Message to BUCS FO… “MAKE THE CALL.” NOW. You have to AT LEAST at a bare MINIMUM, gauge his interest… And, then make hm an offer that HE CANNOT refuse. 💯
November 25th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
They are in desperate NEED of a Homerun-hire like HIM. Especially, after inexcusably LOSING Cohen. It would 💯 make up for it!!!!
November 25th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
If it’s not the BUCS, then it will eventually be the CHEIFS who will make the call, when Andy is ready to retire!!!! Seriously, you will want to RUN THROUGH A WALL for him, after watching YouTube videos of his pregame locker-room pep-talks!!!! 💯
November 25th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Please do not give the lack of a pass rush excuse for Todd Blows scheme either
In 2019 Todd has Shaq rack up 19.5 sacks and the pass defense was ranked near the bottom of the league
The league knows his soft scheme like the back of their hand
November 25th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
I agree with much of the above. I think Bowles is a mediocre coach. We are in a very weak division, which allows us to make the playoffs each year since he has been the head coach. Licht has definitely gotten better over the years with the draft. However, he has never drafted a pro bowl level edge rusher. Yaya is solid, but not great. He definitely needs to try to get someone like Garrett if it all possible. We are also weak at the cornerback position. They could not cover anybody Monday night. This is not a team that can go anywhere in the playoffs, especially with this defense. Something has to change or we are going to continue to be the team that gets into the playoffs but cannot really compete for a Super Bowl.
November 25th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
As the founder and President of #NOCONFIDENCE, I would like to raise a new point. In todays NFL, I’m not sure a defensive minded HC makes sense anymore. Just being a defensive minded coach puts you at odds with the direction of the NFL. They want high scores and look for ways to make it harder on the defense every year.
Not only has the defensive coordinator failed at getting the team ready, he’s also failing at adjusting his defense to new offenses. Dropping DL into coverage is wild when most WRs are running 4.4 now.
Talking about the offensive coordinators love for the WR screen is giving me flashbacks of the Benn around. PLEASE STOP!!!
K. Love you, byeee
#NOCONFIDENCE
November 25th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
lack of frothy dudes and mentality is an issue…you kinda do need a dude who’s ready to go to jail on gameday…
and when the top 3 receivers go down for the entire year, you must add in a receiver…
middle of the defense sucks…yeah i said it…we needed to sign one more solid ILB…and you can’t have that when the defensive front gets swiss cheesy at times…
schedule is softening, so issues might once again be camoflauged
November 25th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
I think in general Licht is being doing solid work.
You hit some draft picks and you miss some, I understand that.
But I think he gets more praise than the results suggest.
People seem to dismiss easily the Brady effect.
Just like Belichick got a lot of praise for winning with Brady so does Licht.
We have seen the results when Brady left. And they are not very good. Just look at the records with Brady and without him.
He also gets praise for a pointless thing that circulates that the Bucs are the team with the higher percentage of players in the roster drafted. Just because you have a lot of players that you drafted in the roster that does not mean they are good.
November 25th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
I don’t have any issues with the whole “Buccaneer Men” thing, great team guys and great in the community. But show some attitude on game day, not enough heart, desire and toughness displayed by too many.
November 25th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
See this is the football season. So in times of confusion the players need a leader. AIf only the team had a person that is in charge of team leadership. That would be a good place to start
November 25th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
I see people pointing the finger at Jason Licht. Well, I didn’t see too may people complaining about Jason Licht when the team got off to a good start this season. Many were lauding Todd Bowles. Fine. Now that the team has hit the skids I would suggest looking back at Todd Bowles. When they win he gets credit so when the team hits the skids then he’s the guy that has to answer. That’s way things work in life. The Licht blame really only got revved up when the team started to lose. Winning and losing relates to players and coaches. I would recommend starting there. Any issues relating to Licht are off season matters.
November 25th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Looking at Rams roster….. Verse taken before Barton in Round 1 last year; Fiske ahead of Braswell. However, in 2023 Kancey and Mauch were taken ahead of Byron Young and Kobie Turner.
So…..in 2023, perhaps we question the scouting dept. Byron Young seems to be a helluva Edge right now, but Mauch was/is a solid RG. However, Edge is valued over RGs????
Licht is the victim of some unfortunate injuries and some underperformers.
November 25th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
You know there is nothing more that can be said or done from the fans. It all lies in the hands of the players and coaches, After that is Licht and the Glazers they are all responsible for this mess. It is so very obvious what needs to happen. I’ve been saying for two years and sure enough what I have been saying has come to pass.
Sadly it is in such a terrible state that at this point only the Glazers can initiate the fix. Yes. It is that bad. The horrific state that this team is in cannot be overstated..
Too many people (in the organization and in the media) have been convincing themselves for too long that things are rosy. It has now putrified. There is no salvaging this.
November 25th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
I feel the leaders on defense are disenfranchised and no longer believe in Bowles scheme. If Im Vita Vea Im absolutely pissed. This dude has been taking double teams his whole career. So theoretically someone else is one on one and has a chance to beat thier man. Yet for some reason Bowles drops pass rushers into coverage on obvious passing downs. This entire defensive scheme is based on ferocious pass rush. Then why drop pass rushers into coverage? Make it make sense.
November 25th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Yucks are back
November 25th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Maybe we need to start looking for guys who don’t have an injury history. It may be a lot to ask but we could start looking for guys who really love football and have not missed a lot of time with injuries during high school and college.
November 25th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
BUCSONDECK24 – I remember the lost decade and that’s a really bad excuse to hang onto mediocrity lol… we are lucky we are in the NFC South that’s it. 9-8 isn’t acceptable. It’s fine sometimes but this is who Todd Bowles is his best season ever as HC was with the jets and he had 11 wins. The rest of his time with jets was 5-11. With use he’s 8-9, 10-7, 9-8, 6-5… at what point do you say you have seen enough? He’s never been a good coach he’s below average at best and proof is in the pudding. He’s all time 59-69
If we can’t get a coach that can get us an average defense & over 10-7 maybe we should completely clean house lol but I think Jason Licht can get this fixed.
November 26th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Need to play Kancey at outside linebacker Soley rushing the passer- he would stay healthy and has the chops to excel one on ones…
starting front should be Kancey and Diaby outside, Vea and Simmons inside. No more running on the Bucs..
November 26th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
bring chucky back he will fire up everybody or fire them young OC DC that he can work with