Edge Rush Blues Return
November 9th, 2025
The Bucs found one sack today against the Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye, who entered the game having eaten the second-most sacks in the NFL.
This was no surprise.
Why? Because the Bucs have no dangerous edge rush.
Chris Braswell is a myth. Anthony Nelson is a quality backup. YaYa Diaby is trying his best. Haason Reddick is an injured 31-year-old coming off a terrible year with the Jets. That fearsome foursome has combined for 8 1/2 sacks in 9 games.
The Bucs didn’t blitz as much as usual today. It seemed Todd Bowles had more faith in his edge players, but they let him down. Or maybe they didn’t; perhaps they’re just playing to their talent level.
Obviously, the Bucs have dialed up pressure to rack up a strong sacks total this season. But, in the words of Bucco Bruce Arians, special advisor to Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht, you need “a closer” to win in the playoffs.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
This team needs a legit double digit sack player. The Bucs did it with Rice and Shaq and that helped win a chip. The sacks by committee is a terrible approach. Either give up the picks or overpay to get an impact player. Relying on the draft isn’t working.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
Missing Kancey big time. Bucs should have traded for Parsons as well.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Maye has the Second most sacks in NFL and Toilet Bowl chooses this is the game not to blitz ?
McDaniels owned Bowles today !!!! Pathetic ! Bowles must have felt like a Cub Scout spending the night in prison after McDaneil’s slapped the B around all day.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Duh. Zero rush outside of a blitz. You live and die by the blitz. However, the blueprint that wins is a rush with four, then drop the rest in coverage. But, the HC loves to blitz.. Thus, a true de or olb that can rush is not in their plans. I suspect that philosophy won’t change until the hc changes.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
Pats have allowed 2nd most sacks, and we couldn’t even get one.. Braswell is a bust, it is what it is.. no improvement at all. Nelson, is a quality back up.. yaya is great but tends to disappear, vita is older.. you can see why teams didn’t want to pay Reddick.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Fire todd or we are the steelers of the nfc
November 9th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Nelly gave up a big reception in coverage! Can’t sack the QB covering receivers! Varbel has his defense playing better than Bowles after a half season. Bowles has been here for years, and we have more busts then Dolly Parton! Bowles has taken this team as far as he’s capable. Malcolm Glazer rest his soul would pull a Dungy if he was still alive. For God’s sake, stop playing Morrison, and bench Dennis, he’s not an NFL MLB!
November 9th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
I agree…no pressure with the edge rushers
Grizz got owned once again….abandoned the run and that was it…
GO BUCS
November 9th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
Joes, do me a favor, please. I rarely get to vote in the Todd Bowles confidence poll, so from now on can you start the vote with 1 vote for 0 confidence from now on?
November 9th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
I know Ira always says Bowles gets his sacks every year. If you want to be dominate the front 4 really needs to be the group that gets those sacks. Yeah you can blitz to get sacks, but when they don’t get home it leaves the backside pretty open to get beat. This is the same D the Bucs have had for the last 3-4 years, average maybe a little less than average. I will give the D a huge atta boy today!! They stopped the pats and got a TO when they needed to!
November 9th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
big disappointment on the sack count. torched for 435 yards. pretty sloppy. watching winfield chase and not catch someone is starting to be a thing.
November 9th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
I saw Nelson in coverage on many plays… The “exotic” defense so many people like to talk about (just today Romo must have said it 20 times) is about this. Todd Bowles must have invented the most effective Defensive Eye Candy… pity that only works on commentators and some casual fans….
November 9th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Just glad we didn’t have to part with any draft picks at the deadline…. Looks like we’re headed for the 19th-ish pick again next year. Glad we’re happy being the Division Champs each year…
November 9th, 2025 at 5:59 pm
Wonder if a motivated Trey Hendrickson would have made a difference? Both long bombs Maye had ample time to set up and throw. Probably no matter…Rams are head & shoulders above the Bucs right now.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:06 pm
What an embarrassing performance. Once again Todd Bowles loses another post bye week game. 1-6. Thats disgraceful. Get ready for the Todd Bowles annual mid season losing streak.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
Grizz confidence poll!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS
November 9th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
I blame Jason Licht and Bowles Licht could have picked up a decent edge rusher & Bowles put this mediocre defense together.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
Jason Licht failed this team. It’s going to cost them down the road. Mainly these next 3 games. Unbelievable
November 9th, 2025 at 6:21 pm
Well I’ve been saying the front office arrogance is going to cost a legitimate deep playoff run this seasons. I stated it will come back to haunt us not getting and Edge and LB and truss to form its happened again. More worrying is that everyone we get some national attention on a big game this team is never ready to play!!! Thats on coaching. We all know licht cannot draft edge so no point saving picks to draft another should have done a trade!! Why focus on the future when we shoud be aiming to win now..
November 9th, 2025 at 6:21 pm
@Buc u this is on the GM not adding players – defense and offense
November 9th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
This team is done.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Hey at least we still have those picks!
And Braswell and Dennis will “shock” us!
Lol. Do they honestly believe this BS?
November 9th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
I know I was completely bought in on Nelson suddenly being a first ballot HOFer after that Saints game vs Spencer’s Gifts. Not sure what happened.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
Licht and Bowles will never be able to blitz their way to a super bowl. Defense wins championships. Always has always will, and no defense is a legit contender without a legit 4 man pass rush. But hey, Licht got to hoard his hope picks instead of dealing some on proven players.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Mike Evans height and length and experience is greatly missed.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
D Line is an embarrassment when it comes to sacks.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Oh yeah, I almost forgot that this was going to be the year Braswell come on strong. That poor sap is officially worse than JTS! I guess he is strongly on target to take up a roster spot until we have to pay him- -then out the door. Just like JTS. Glad we kept that #2 pick.
November 9th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Did;t even hear Brasswell name today. Did he play? Hell, at least Joe-tryon made a tackle or 2. I hope I am wrong. But both Brasswell and Kancey might be bust.
November 9th, 2025 at 8:58 pm
Itll always return when they dont have a legit rusher. Everyone on a high after sacking the saints, who now have 2 wins on the year. Crazy!!!! Need pass rusher asap.
November 9th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
I’m not worthy to even have an opinion. But If Jason Licht and Todd Bowles believe we have the right people on defense, I question their intellect. And from what I know, they made no attempt to improve by going out and buying someone at the trade deadline. So this is what we are going to see for the foreseeable future. We can’t get pressure with 4 guys…at least not from the edge. So Bowles will just dial up blitzes in order to get pressure…and good teams have game plans to win against the blitz.
November 9th, 2025 at 11:28 pm
Not even sure we get our 1 and done playoff appearance this year. What if the Panthers beat us twice? It could very well happen to this outcoached and unmotivated group.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:16 am
I said all along I didn’t think Braswell was gonna turn into much & I wasn’t a fan of that pick. They should consider moving Kancey to DE & have it be him & Yaya & then keep Roberts with Vita.