Evidence The Bucs Have A Trash Defense
December 29th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Here is evidence the Bucs don’t have a good team.
As recently as a month ago, maybe sooner, Joe on Twitter after one Bucs loss typed, “The Bucs are not a good team.”
And Joe has been repeating that sentence after each loss. Frankly, Joe’s tired of it.
But you know who has the power to change that? The Bucs.
Over at CBS, John Breech had an interesting stat. It shows the Bucs are not a good enough team to overcome mistakes. Instead, it is as if they crumble when a mistake is made.
And unfortunately, Baker Mayfield is a culprit, per Breech.
The Buccaneers have some talent, but they’re simply not good enough to overcome Mayfield’s constant turnovers. They’re now 0-8 this season in games where Mayfield throws at least one pick.
You can’t even overcome one interception? That tells Joe not only do the Bucs not have focus or mental toughness, but they have a trash defense.
For example, Tom Brady threw three picks on the road in the NFC title game in January 2021. The Bucs won, sending the team to the Super Bowl.
Why could the Bucs overcome three turnovers then and never overcome one pick now? The Bucs back then had a defense that could bow up and stop an offense, and the Bucs back that were loaded on offense. So if there was a turnover, they’d get the ball back and score.
The Bucs, after the bye, basically cannot do either. #Sad.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:10 am
The evidence is in our eyes… for the last three seasons. Our awful secondary has now spilled over to all the defense. Todd can’t try and blame the offense as he always does. Man I hate this guy.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:13 am
In January 2021, the Bucs defense had 6 elite players in the front 7: Suh, Vea, JPP, Shaq, LVD, and White. And Gholston was awesome against the run. Now they have one player that would start on that team: Vea.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Opposing offensive and defensive coordinators are feasting on the Bucs like a Mercedes broken down on a road in Mogadishu
December 29th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Well, hopefully next year will be better. Such a bummer, hopefully we don’t end up consistently bottom five in the league again.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:15 am
This team overpaid and overdrafted safeties – probably the least important position on defense. And they have done very little to add game wreckers up front.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Coaching!
Our D has been terrible the past 3 years. Why would we expect anything less this year?
Our leadership sucks, Joe. Aside from Mayfield, show me one true leader on this team that wasn’t part of the Arians team. There are none.
What does that say, Joe? Every player is a product of their environment. This meltdown is exactly what happened to Bowels in NY. Put the pieces together.
Players are not being held accountable for their (in)actions. There is no fire in most of these guys. It’s the same thing week after week.
Time for a clean sweep of our coaching staff.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:19 am
Nicholas Carlson remember that “Ring of Honor” Jason picked these guys. The Bucs set the bar low because their only goal is to win the NFC south.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:21 am
My friends and I have had 4 Club Seats since 1998 when the stadium opened. We, and many other people we talked to in the Club Level, are NOT renewing our EXPENSIVE seats without MAJOR changes, regardless of how this disastrous season ends. This is NOT acceptable. And it’s going to be an ugly scene Saturday afternoon with a small, ANGRY home crowd ready boo.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Jason “ROH” Licht what a freaking overrated bum.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Other than Vea, nobody on Bucs DLine would start for another team.
The Bucs had 4 excellent receivers on the field yesterday and struggled to scheme them open.
Mayfield looks hesitant, hurried and confused.
They kept Tucker on the bench most of the game.
The Defense stinks, but the Offense is worse.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:27 am
The defense didn’t even really seem to care yesterday. Tackling and effort in general was terrible. Special teams is ‘special’, and our offense seems predictable and desperate.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Bye bye, Bowles
December 29th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Bye bye, Bowles and take Grizzard with you
December 29th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Licht’s Losers fill this roster, especially on defense. The other area infected is the backup Oline.
Keck: FA that sucked in SF, let’s pay him instead of paying a little more to keep Skule
Chipamunga: UDFA, “great potential”, let’s put a dude on the OL that is clearly not NFL ready.
Feeney: Dumpster diving on other practice squad rosters.
I can’t believe Licht is not on the hot seat. Outside of TB12, Jason’s record is sub .400
December 29th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Fire the cannons,the bucs lose to the Panthers on Sunday
December 29th, 2025 at 9:32 am
Did this site just compare Brady to Baker directly or indirectly? The team would run through a wall for Brady because he was a psycho. Baker is just a tool. He is hoppy, anxious, and prone to poor decisions.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Licht IS on the hot seat ( AGAIN)
Jason is ultimately responsible for this.
I think Todd Bowels is on anti depressants, I say this from personal experience and the understanding that they can dull a person’s reaction and response to situations that they otherwise would not allow to happen. I once watched a stock position go upside down on margin to the tune of 130k and it didn’t phase me a bit when the house call came telling me that they were liquidating the position.
130K down the drain.
Just an observation and comment about the death spiral of everything under the roof at OBP …
December 29th, 2025 at 9:39 am
I don’t need stats.. I got two eyes.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:40 am
Good point FFF, I think Baker is support support support and no challenge whereas Brady was a good mix of both. Baker needs to read some books on leadership in the offseason.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:41 am
I’m still a Mayfield fan, but I don’t think he has the mental toughness to move past his own mistakes.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:41 am
I keep repeating this and I will continue until Joe picks up on it.
Licht has failed with top defensive draft picks & high priced FAs
These are 1st & 2nd round picks
Hall, JTS, Braswell, Kancey (injured) Morrison (injured) Reddick.
You can’t have a good defense made up of late round draft picks & UDFAs.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:41 am
Evidence that the BUCS have a bad defense??? Well gee, Sherlock, what makes you say that? Evidence is what you need to figure out who took the last cookie you were saving. Maybe you look for crumbs. You don’t need evidence to figure this “mystery” out. There kids didn’t just sneak the last cookie…they fell face first into the jar and couldn’t climb out if you sent in a tiny helicopter to save them.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:42 am
I kept repeating they didn’t have a good team coming into the season
Bowles and Licht tricked the gullible fanbase into believing they were good
I wasn’t comfortable with the Linebackers Inside and Outside
I wasn’t comfortable with the OLine
I wasn’t comfortable with the secondary
I wasn’t comfortable with the QB situation
I wasn’t comfortable with the injuries
Too much bragging was coming from Licht and Bowles
About how good the players look
And how comfortable they we’re with the roster
It all was a disaster in the making
And it all exploded in their face
And left a pissed off gullible fanbase
December 29th, 2025 at 9:42 am
Bucs are bad in all 3 phases.
Bucs need a new coaching staff and roster overhaul. You can’t win with some of these players.
Everyone raves about Bakers magical season in ’24 but fail to mention the turnovers. A 4th qtr turnover that helped lose the WC game. A 4th qtr, 2nd down int in Bucs territory ended the Lions playoff game.
Why are some of you refusing to accept the obvious?
This team can’t and won’t win with Baker. The Bucs took a division rivals backup QB and gave him $30 million. If you think a new HC is going to move his family and risk his career on Baker long-term, go to rehab immediately.
The coaches and players need a total change in energy and attitude. The answers aren’t on the team or in the organization or it would’ve been fixed by now.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Alanbucsfan Says:
December 29th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Other than Vea, nobody on Bucs DLine would start for another team.
The Bucs had 4 excellent receivers on the field yesterday and struggled to scheme them open.
Mayfield looks hesitant, hurried and confused.
They kept Tucker on the bench most of the game.
The Defense stinks, but the Offense is worse.
The offensive line is trash they put out there yesterday. No running game except Bakers scrambling speaks to the poor blocking. Chewy completely missed blocking the edge when Baker fumbled. The opposing defense can rush 4 and flood the zone with d backs on passing plays. If they have any chance of winning they need to run plays where Baker rolls out and passes on the run. At least he won’t get killed that way.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Defense has been bad, HOWEVER, offense has regressed tremendously. Below is a comparison to our rankings last year.
2024 Offense
Pts = 4
Yds = 3
2025 Offense
Pts = 18
Yds = 22
2024 Defense
Pts = 16
Yds = 18
2025 Defense
Pts = 23
Yds = 20
December 29th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Fire Todd
December 29th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Bucs are bad in all 3 phases.
Bucs need a new coaching staff and roster overhaul. You can’t win with some of these players.
Everyone raves about Bakers magical season in ’24 but fail to mention the turnovers. A 4th qtr turnover that helped lose the WC game.
A 4th qtr, 2nd down int in Bucs territory ended the Lions playoff game.
Why are some of you refusing to accept the obvious?
This team can’t and won’t win with Baker. The Bucs took a division rivals backup QB and gave him $30 million. If you think a new HC is going to move his family and risk his career on Baker long-term, go to rehab immediately.
The coaches and players need a total change in energy and attitude. The answers aren’t on the team or in the organization or it would’ve been fixed by now.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Prize for best metaphor to Fred McNeil. I can almost see the tiny helicopter. lol
December 29th, 2025 at 9:54 am
I’m moderated now?
December 29th, 2025 at 9:55 am
If you aren’t a “homer” and you objectively watch all of the other pro games that are available you can observe what the Bucs lack. Most important is instinctive players on defense that can fill gaps vs the run and get there before the ball carriers has built up momentum. I’m no fan of the Eagles but watching them go into Buffalo yesterday in the most miserable game conditions, I watched players that were throwing their bodies all over the place. The speed that they attacked Bills players was vicious. They made Josh Allen look like a completely confused quarterback. The difference between watching that game and the Bucs game is massive. You can see for your own eyes on your TV set the tenacity and sheer will of players that love playing football and fighting every down. The Bucs under Todd Bowles are a team that shows up and doesn’t battle. As a team they look dejected and the enthusiasm to make plays isn’t there. Coaching and culture has made this a team of players without any kind of commitment to giving 100% every down.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:55 am
A 4th qtr turnover that helped lose the WC game.
A 4th qtr, 2nd down int in Bucs territory ended the Lions playoff game.
Why are some of you refusing to accept the obvious?
This team can’t and won’t win with Baker. The Bucs took a division rivals backup QB and gave him $30 million. If you think a new HC is going to move his family and risk his career on Baker long-term, go to rehab immediately.
The coaches and players need a total change in energy and attitude. The answers aren’t on the team or in the organization or it would’ve been fixed by now.
December 29th, 2025 at 9:59 am
So, where’s that Baker poll Joe?
December 29th, 2025 at 10:05 am
You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to find evidence the Bucs are a bad team. You just have to look at their record. Thanks for the detective work tho Joe.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Jason Licht and Todd Bowles,
Did a remarkable job of selling this team to the fanbase
They knew this team wasn’t good coming into the season
Now everything have exploded in their face
And we have one ticked off fanbase
December 29th, 2025 at 10:09 am
I remember when our corners: Carlton Davis, SMB and Dean were hitters!
I remember when our 2 corners were huge and hit hard on the edge.
I remember when our defensive linemen smashed offensive linemen and crushed players.
You guys remember Gholston and Suh?
They hit hard and they got into the backfield.
Diaby is our best OLB. He has 6 sacks.
Diaby should be our #3 OLB.
We need two OLB on par with Shaq and JPP in 2020.
We honestly need two new OLB and let Diaby compete with them.
Braswell is a #4 OLB.
But our OLB, as Joe says, our edge rush, is not good enough for a Super Bowl.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:11 am
When the Bucs game goes to commercial, I flip to the RedZone Channel. I watch QBs like Drake Maye and even Phillip Rivers take a three-step drop and fire the ball to their primary read. Mayfield did that on the Godwin touchdown but it seems like he is constantly looking for his 2nd, 3rd and 4th reads. He’s been indecisive. We’re always told that QBs need to throw their guys open…I’m not seeing that in the second half of this year.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:17 am
It was all BRADY. You don’t replace a Tom Brady. Injuries have clearly hurt the Bucs. Changes are needed and will start after Saturday’s game.
More key veteran players could help, but a hyestis from football will help injured players heal.
We will see important changes and it will start with coaches and some players. What makes the Philly defense 🤔 effective and the Bucs impotent? That’s a good starting point.
Look at successful teams and follow their blueprint. Building a contender isn’t easy. Build on what was working. Adding more good players through the draft is a winning strategy. Mistakes will happen but perseverance will bring good results. Unfortunately Injuries hurt the Bucs. Just move on from the negative. Focus on positive thinking players and proven coaches and good 👍 things will happen.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:17 am
Defense has been trash for 3 years and the pass defense has been trash since the day he got here so people need to stop blaming the players
December 29th, 2025 at 10:29 am
It’s obvious that Baker forgot how to win and our D doesn’t know how to cover. This has been an issue.
We need a new scheme and need to bring in competition for QB1. Baker is too comfortable doing all these commercials and BS, he needs to remeber he’s playing for his job
December 29th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Don’t need any additional evidence besides what we can see with our own eyes. Also, we barely won the first three games of the season, all against crappy teams. Could easily be 4-12 right now.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:34 am
COACHING MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 29th, 2025 at 10:34 am
The team has adapted Bowles’ personality: passive, playing not to lose unaccountable and indifferent with no heart or passion. Bowles may yell in the locker room not that his team has gone beyond the point of no return but he should have done that after the Jets game as well as firing his buddy the special teams coordinator. He should have benched his starting cornerback when he was “bored: and set a precedent. Ditto for the offensive players though the team has no backup for Baker, just Teddy, that is on Jason and no, Trask was not the answer, if he had any value he would be on a real roster not on the ATL scrub squad. Fire Bowles, fire him!.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:36 am
The good news is no one in the national media mentions the Bucs(or Carolina) ,,, If the season ends Sat night then Bowles is gone Mon,,, who will the replacement be Kubiak, Daibol, Kingsberry , trade for Stefanski or KOC,, it’s gonna be interesting to see where they go for a coach but it’s got be offense ,,, coaching matters ,, Johnson, Coen, Shanahan , all are doing a lot more with a lot less
December 29th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Dont need evidence just watch the games. We suck on defense. We suck on special teams. Offense is so screwed up with the injuries, Baker is not right.
Bowles expiration date is long overdue. I mean it expired last season. Should have elevated him to BAs personal assistant in front office and promoted Liam C. Bucs need to clean house which means JL and TB and his entire staff go bye-bye The ENTIRE defense needs a rebuild.
Can we please trade for Kevin O’Connell?
December 29th, 2025 at 10:40 am
Let’s hurry and end this awful season on Saturday and get a head start on the coaching search! Joe Brady, Klint Kubiak, or insert another fresh offensive mind that has some NFL experience. With this roster and location – who wouldn’t want the job????
December 29th, 2025 at 10:41 am
I don’t have any guts left for the Bucs to rip out. This clown show must be stopped.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Remember when the media asked Bowles at the beginning of the season where the Bucs greatest area of depth was and he said Inside Linebackers? That’s when I realized Bowles really, really, really didn’t know what he was talking about.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Its Not Baker, it is Todd Bowles! We need a new coach and Jason needs to start getting a premier pass rushers.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Hard to judge Licht’s defense draft picks and FA signings on a defense coached ane schemed up by Todd Bowles. Funny how JL offensive draft picks seem to have worked our much better with Canales and Coen coaching them up.
Fire Bowles and let the new coachung staff decide who to keep and give JL their wish list of new players, and watch how things change..quickly. Coaching in the NFL is HUGE..look at the last place Pats, Bears, Jags and just how quickly things change with true leaders and coaches who can scheme up defenses and turn average, even “busts” into good players.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Bucsfan2023:
The Bucs will likely keep Mayfield next year and although the OLine injuries have been a factor in the Offense’s ineptitude, the biggest problem is the league has figured out Grizzard and Grizzard is ineffective at in-game adjustments.
I enjoy watching Mayfield play and want him to do well, but the reality is the last 8 games he stinks.
So a new OC and possibly, a new overall coaching staff is likely next year.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:54 am
The defense AND Baker/Grizzard have been trash for 9 weeks.
December 29th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Someone posted earlier that all you need to do is watch other NFL games to see what the Bucs are lacking. I sat and watched the entire Bills/Eagles game and what they are lacking is heart. Those two teams knocked the crap out of each other and the Bucs game I didn’t see that from either side. Both playing not to get hurt. Looked like neither team wanted to be on that field.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Teacher, I noticed you stopped suggesting Chuck as full-time LT, haha. Was dreadful yesterday. As for Baker, we can win with him but he can’t put the team on his back obviously. Like most non-elite QBs, he needs a solid team around him. O-line is in shambles. Running backs have regressed, largely due to the scheme. OC is learning on the job. Defense is just flat out bad. That’s not a recipe for success.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Bowles has never been able to get his teams ready to play in big games (see nationally televised games record), and the past three have been BIG games. Ownership has to be intelligent enough to see that…right!?
December 29th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Based on this thread, Buc fans want new HC(DC), OC STC and possibly Licht. I agree with the coaches part. Licht I’ve always liked since he was jumping into his swimming pool!
December 29th, 2025 at 11:12 am
Imagine what Phillip “Gramps” Rivers would do against our D!
December 29th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Oh, it could be worse…….we could be 1 and 17.
IF we win on Sunday, we win the division.
Baker had an incredible first 6 games. He is injured. Off balance. May be on Pain meds that affect his play.
Sure, we need to revamp so much, but let’s look forward to Sunday and DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO WIN.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:19 am
I must say that after 50 years of being a Bucs fan, this is the most disgusted I have ever been with their performance.
Their first two years get a pass because of the way they had to fill their roster with other teams rejects.
This team has the talent to go 5-2 without their top three receivers and all pro left tackle and then crash and burn AS they get healthier?
That “talent” didn’t go away.
The fire and competitiveness did.
Could it be that they, subconsciously,(because they reportedly ‘like’ Bowles) are tired of being thrown under the bus by a coach that is stubborn enough to NEVER change his gameplan?
Over Bowles tenure, we have become THEEE MOST predictable team, offense and defense, in the entire league.
Sometimes, the ‘talent’ on the team is enough to overcome this predictability predicament, but mostly not.
Bowles should have been fired after quitting in the playoff game with the Lions three years ago. We would have been in the running to get Harbaugh(what’s the Chargers record?).
We’ve let two offensive coordinators walk who are now coaching lessor talent to better records.
I have no bleeding idea who we might replace Bowles with, but he truly needs to go.
I think it’s our turn to ‘poach’ an OC from a solid offensive team.
I vote a solid NO on Bellicheat, Nagy, and Mister Clean.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Ownership was brainwashed by Licht into believing:
Bowles was a good coach.
Baker was a top tier quarterback.
And the Glazers responded accordingly.
If they knew football, Coen would be our head coach and they’d be looking for another QB.
Baker is serviceable, but far from the guy who can take a team to the promised land.
And he is currently regressing.
And Bowles was unqualified from the start.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Bucs4Ever Says:
December 29th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Oh, it could be worse…….we could be 1 and 17.
**************************************************************
Actually…. I’m pretty sure “that’s” an impossibility.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:25 am
JA Says:
December 29th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Ownership was brainwashed by Licht into believing:
Bowles was a good coach.
************************************************************
I think ‘that’ one is on Arians.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Fans here are blaming the wrong person. Compared to the dogfight last night with 49rs and Bears the most obvious difference is the intensity both teams shown last night. The only players that can show this intensity are Baker and Mike Evans. When your receivers are totally covered and the rushers are pouring through the Bucs OL what do you think happens when the clock is running out, Baker has to throw or time runs out. Result= desperation passes and an int.
If he eats the ball we lose. He has to throw. Look at the best QB in the league, Josh Allen on crucial play. He threw it in the dirt. No QB is perfect, we are lucky to have Baker. At least he shows intensity and guts.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Man I should have my own show or website. I said this before that our defense isn’t good enough to overcome a mistake.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:33 am
fubar
December 29th, 2025 at 11:34 am
In other news…water is wet. Did AI write this?
December 29th, 2025 at 11:36 am
Bowles is a defensive garbage man not a genius. The one positive from yesterday was the last drive. it has been true since college that Baker is best in the hurry up offense. So Saturday pick one unexpected time per half to do hurry.up.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be getting the 4.30pm game on Saturday with the whole country watching……………………..
December 29th, 2025 at 11:38 am
I do not think it’s the players. The Head Coach must be fired. His defensive scheme is terrible. Pass Rushers DE, pass rushing OLB, NT, penetrating DT, all dropping into pass coverage at the wrong time. Drafting press and man CB; we have them play off 10 yards and in zone coverage. I am so tired of Bowels saying it is complicated and that there is missed communication. Just get rid of him already. We are wasting time/talent/money because of an incompetent coach.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:40 am
We lost 20-17 and Joe act like the defense gave up 40 points . Our defense has to get better but Baker is the main problem with this team rather y’all want to admit it or not it’s funny because if this was Jamies he would be the only reason why we lost especially after 3 turnovers. Y’all need to keep that same energy with Baker like y’all had with Jamies especially when we all know Baker has a better team and playing in a much weaker division.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:40 am
BucsfaninOregon Says:
December 29th, 2025 at 11:26 am
We are lucky to have Baker. At least he shows intensity and guts.
^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree. His turnovers have been horrible lately, he needs to get that under control.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:45 am
“We are lucky to have Baker. At least he shows intensity and guts.” Seriously? He’s all show and no go. Talks a big game and acts like a child, but when it’s time to man up he folds like a beach chair.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:45 am
Toad Bowels will lead us to a championship!
He has been laying low so he doesn’t let the cat out of the bag!
Wiley like a fox!
December 29th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Injuries to the receivers, O-line and pass rushers tanked the team.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:48 am
It all started when stupid Bowles gave the team an entire week off for the buy, they forgot how to play football after that!
December 29th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Put us die-hard fans out of our misery. FIRE BOWLWS NOW. We don’t care about Carolina next week. We want peace of mind. You owe us that Glazers.
December 29th, 2025 at 11:55 am
The defense plays with no effort or urgency. They tuned out Todd Bowles a treat ago!! Everyone is doing what they want, it’s why there are so many blown coverages and huge running lanes.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Bee, you must be one of the few Trask idiots out here. The reason Baker isn’t catching as much flack as you want is because fans pretty much see white i see.
Yesterday it was McMillan not adjusting his route even a yard or two to come back to the ball and then making a very limp effort to try and catch it or even touch or tackle the DB who he allowed to return the ball. I have never seen such a soft player. There have also been 2WR’s quitting on routes and a TE who bobbled a pass right into the hands of a DB. As Tom Brady’s wife said, he can’t both throw and catch the ball, idiot.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
You can’t even overcome one interception?
——–
I think it was more about the 10 non-garbage time points the offense scored, to go along with the three turnovers.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Stpetematt Says:
December 29th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Injuries to the receivers, O-line and pass rushers tanked the team.
*************************************************************
Hmmmmm.
Can you explain why most of our losses have occurred since those injured players returned?
December 29th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Drdneast
Wtf are you talking about?
This has absolutely nothing to do with Trask, who obviously lives rent free in your head since I didn’t mention him.
This is about Baker and his horrible decision making skills and horrific accuracy.
JMac wasn’t supposed to come back to the ball because he wide open for a TD. If Baker was accurate he would’ve put more air under the ball and JMac would’ve ran underneath it.
But as always Baker severely underthrows the ball right into the DBs hands, just like he did in against ATL.
But don’t worry Bucs fans, Baker won’t play this way next year. He’ll be much worse.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
I expect bowels to be fired on purple monday
December 29th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Bucs defense can not stop anybody. Bowles defense scheme is the worst in the NFL. Oppose offenses already figure out Bowles high school scheme. Bowles can learn something about defense by watching the Seahawks games. This Bucs team is not going anywhere and might not make it to the playoff. Panthers might whip the Bucs and win the division. This team is a laughing stock of the NFL. Baker is playing scare and has no fighting spirit. He is playing worse than Jameis Winston right now. Bowles need to go if Bucs wants to move to another level.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
One thing for sure. Bowles has Inspired Change!
December 29th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Just not yet….
December 29th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
KnuteR Says:
December 29th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Bucs defense can not stop anybody.
———
The Bucs defense yesterday gave up 20 points, despite three turnovers by the offense. That’s actually a very solid day.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
On second thought, the Bucs defense did only give up 20 points to what many considered an inferior team (Bucs -6) with a rookie QB making his second NFL start. And now we have an identical season record with this “inferior team.”
We’ve become so accustomed to rookie QB’s and over the hill journeymen ripping us apart, yesterday was a solid effort!
Got that tidbit from Comedy Central.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Our defense is never on the attack, always on our heels. Every snap is an opportunity to be disruptive and create havoc/force turnovers.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Weak coaching + inferior players = dreadful team. Licht, the “AC/DC loving yaddy, vaddy, yaddy” and the ” ‘Wrong of Honor’ blah, blah, blah” is every bit as culpable as Bowles. Time to send them both packing, but at the very least the coaches need to go … can’t dump all of the players.
December 29th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Glazers need to tell Licht he has two years to clean this up and produce a team that can compete for the NFC title in 2027.
December 29th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
I’m tired of hearing people say this team lacks talent. This is a talented team and while I’ll admit we are lacking in quality starters at linebacker, the rest of the team is solid. The problem is and has been Todd Bowles! How many blowouts? How many rookie QBs, 2nd string QBs and 3rd string QBs do we have to watch have record days against us? How many home losses? How many uncontested catches? How many wide open receivers? How many “Came out flat games”? How many “Communication” games? How many dropping D-linemen into coverage games? How many poorly schemed game plans? How many games with little to no adjustments being made. It boils down to this, Todd Bowles stated the following: “I don’t care what the other team is trying to do, I’m only concerned with what I’m trying to do!” This is the problem! If you don’t care what the other team is trying to do, how do you attack them or exploit a weakness? It’s coaching malpractice!
December 29th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Evidence? See film
December 29th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
Bowzo Zone….Fans are on the run.
December 29th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Pewter Power … ‘Defense has been trash for 3 years and the pass defense has been trash since the day he got here so people need to stop blaming the players’.
Sorry Pewter, but the players are at least half the problem. And yup, coaching is the other half.
THREE years ago (2023), our Bucs’ defense only allowed 325 pts in 17 games, and ranked #7 on the season in Points Allowed. THAT doesn’t qualify as TRASH to me. In fact, any defense in the Top-10 is fine in my book.
Look at the players that year who got 40% or more defensive snaps:
1 – Winfield: 1100 def snaps – 97.7%
2 – LVD: 957 def snaps – 85.0%
3 – D White: 894 def snaps – 79.4%
4 – McCollum: 785 def snaps – 69.7%
5 – Izien: 719 def snaps – 63.9%
6 – C Davis: 715 def snaps – 63.5%
7 – Dean: 712 def snaps – 63.2%
8 – Shaq: 652 def snaps – 57.9%
9 – Vea: 607 def snaps – 53.9%
10 – R Neal: 581 def snaps – 51.6%
11 – JTS: 579 def snaps – 51.4%
12 – Kancey: 577 def snaps – 51.2%
13 – L Hall: 543 def snaps – 48.2%
14 – Diaby: 515 def snaps – 45.7%
15 – Gaines: 473 def snaps – 42.0%
16 – Delaney: 449 def snaps – 40.0%
Those top-16 players on that team who had over 40% availability each provided 10,146 total defensive snaps in 2023 … 81.9% of our total of 12,386 that season. IOW, the preponderance of the def snaps that year.
And of those 16 players, 6 are gone (D White, C Davis, Shaq, R Neal, JTS & Delaney). We also lost Kancey this year (only played in 2 games) and Izien has played very little this year (135 def snaps).
However, 8 of those 16 are still getting LOTS of def snaps: Winfield, LVD, McCollum, Dean, Vea, Hall, Diaby, Gaines.
So those guys did quite well 2 years ago (2023) when our defense only surrendered 325 pts & ranked #7, but they’re also part of our 2025 defense that’s getting humiliated game after game.
MAYBE it’s the OTHER replacements who aren’t performing to the same standards? Let’s see, who took Devin White’s spot? Oh ya, SVD. Who replaced Carlton Davis? That’s right, Benjamin Morrison. Who replaced Shaq? Hassan Reddick. Or replaced JTS? Chris Braswell.
For some real fun, go back 1 year earlier and look at who replaced RNR? Gaines. Or 2 years earlier at who replaced Suh? Or JPP? IMO … nobody, not really. Tough to replace 2 future HOFers.
Then look at THIS YEAR’S STATS for those 8 guys left over from 2023. Some of those players have just gotten older I guess. Like LVD, who’s given up 6 TDs, 2 more already than any other year in his career. Or McCollum, who’s also given up 6 TDs this year, 2 more already than any other year in his career. No, it’s more than coaching. Much of this is on the players too.
December 29th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
I have been saying it over and over. We can’t tackle anyone. We can’t pressure anyone. We can’t cover anyone, and we can’t protect our QB. We have a pathetic 24 sacks for the entire season.Our secondary is in bottom 3 in the league. Baker had a tough day yesterday, but he has put enough points on the board in most games to win, but we can never stop our opponent. We made Ewers and every other mediocre rookie QB we played in the league this year look like Joe Montana. Our playcalling has destroyed Baker’s Mayfield’s passing game. He barely gets to throw until we are behind and running out of time and then they expect him to be perfect on every throw and save the game for them.The unimaginative playcalling slowly but surely destroyed has our offense as the season went on, along with Todd’s horrible defense, and in my opinion the main reason is Jason Licht ignoring the positions this team needed to address most in the draft. We needed pass rushers, O-line, and secondary, and we got receivers, even though receivers is not what cost us last season or this one. It is no pressure on opposing QB’s and allowing them to pick our awful secondary apart at will. Ewers had all day to throw and half the time there wasn’t a BUC with in 15 yards of him. Baker drives us down the field to score at the beginning of nearly every game and then the offense is completely demoralized when our defense hands our momentum right over to our opponent. Coaching changes are necessary!!! And we need someone who will address what this team needs to improve in the draft, who can motivate a team, and who can admit his own inadequacies as a coach.
December 29th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Buccaneers Defense — What’s Wrong Schematically
Core Problems
1. Over-reliance on blitzing. Bucs send extra rushers too often. This weakens underneath coverage and forces linebackers into man-like roles they aren’t built for. Modern offenses attack spacing, not pressure — so blitzing hurts coverage more than it helps.
2. Spot-drop zones instead of pattern-match. Defensive drops are static zones, not reactive to route concepts. Crossers, option routes, and layered route structures consistently create open windows.
3. Linebackers are in poor leverage. They’re asked to cover space that modern offenses stretch horizontally and vertically. This shows up especially on intermediate and third downs.
4. Safeties underutilized. Safeties serve deep or blitz but aren’t consistently used as post-snap traffic managers. Modern defenses use safeties as pattern readers and funnel force multipliers.
What Needs to Be Done — Defense – Tactical/Scheme Fixes
1. Reduce true blitz rate. Rely on simulated pressure (show pressure, then drop into coverage). Rush 4 with delayed rotations rather than 6–7 players.
2. Adopt pattern-matching coverages. Match concept instead of fixed zones. Let players pass routes off rather than leave grass open.
3. Safeties as defensive anchors. Safeties read routes post-snap and adjust coverage shells. Use one safety in deep help, one in hook/robber roles.
4. Situation-specific defenses. 3rd-and-long packages should prioritize coverage integrity over pressure.
Defensive Coordinator Needs: Someone with modern coverage philosophy (zone-match, pattern recognition, simulator pressure). Clear communication emphasis. Trustworthy situational play calls.
Potential Fits
Lou Anarumo — modern match coverage focuses
Anthony Campanile — Jacksonville’s evolving scheme
Other names with pattern-match and coverage success
If Tampa retains Bowles, he must add a modern co-architect (DC assistant or senior advisor) to evolve coverage principles. If not, a DC hire with modern instincts and system knowledge is required.
December 29th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
I’ve said for awhile that the coaching staff the front office & the Glazers are the main problem.
December 29th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
The Bucs have the talent to be good. Need LB, lockdown corner, pass rush (draft and FA) and good backup OL to be great.
But even with more resources, their current schemes and staff haven’t adapted to modern NFL norms.
They need:
Strategic hires at OC and DC
Schemes that emphasize pace, spacing, and coverage discipline
A focus on situational football would be great!!!
December 29th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
The depths some people will go to to blame one and absolve the other.
Defense has played BETTER than the offense all year. 😬
The OFFENSE has been complete crap week after week but it’s a constant parade of defense sucks articles.
It wouldn’t be so bad if there were more than a token 1 or 2 articles on the offenses suckage but it would appear the Joes view our offensive struggles as minor or temporary instead of equally or more responsible for our struggles 🙈
December 29th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
TomPetty,
Try the truth when you make comments here. Bucs points scored in 2025 thru 16 games 364. Bucs points allowed thru16 games 397. In the South Division Bucs have scored more points than any team in South but have allowed more points than any team in the South. There is no way to spin it other than defense has been abysmal.
December 29th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
I have been saying it all season. We can’t tackle anyone. We can’t pressure anyone. We can’t cover anyone, and we can’t protect our QB. We have a pathetic 24 sacks for the entire season and our secondary ranks in the bottom 3 in the league. Our defense has made every QB we have played against this year look like Joe Montana. Baker had a tough day yesterday. Despite the mistakes his arm and legs kept us in the game, and he has put enough points on the board in most games to win. but we can’t stop our opponent. Baker drives the team down the field to score at the start of nearly every game and then the offense is completely demoralized because we can’t stop our opponents and they take all of our momentum. The bad playcalling has destroyed Baker’s passing game and it has slowly killed the offense as the season has gone on. Bakery is barely given the chance to throw until we are behind and time is running out and then we expect him to put every throw on the money and save us every game. Todd’s bad defense, and Jason Licht not addressing the positions of need in the draft are equally responsible. for the problems. There is no attention to detail. We need coaches that put the needs of the team first, who can motivate the players and who can admit his own coaching shortcomings and adjust, and we don’t have that right now.
.
December 29th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
@Gipper
Never said the defense wasn’t abysmal but…..it’s my opinion that the offense is at least equally pathetic. The TEAM sucks atm and it’s not just the D.
Truth
Bucs offense has a averaged 20.875 points per game since the bye. And that’s including the 32 we hung on buffalo.
December 29th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Tom Petty,
You’re right, the offense is pretty bad as well. However, I think we were doing well in the first 7-8 games. Then, something happened. I believe an opposing DC saw a pattern / weakness and devised a game plan to attack us. It worked and the rest of the teams on our schedule just copied what worked and we have not been able to adjust. Seems like our run blocking is not working and defenses are attacking an offensive scheme that is not as diverse as in the past. I can’t make excuses, but we have a tone of injuries but so have other teams. This leads me to look at our offensive system and our game planning. It might have similarities as offensive systems in our recent past, but how the scheme is applied weekly in our gameplan and how predictable is representative of plays that may look OK on paper, but in game situations can be identified and defended. Maybe an OC with more experience could be more successful, but that is not what we have. In my opinion we are not moving towards success. Our coaches and systems need to be upgraded to account for the new strategies that other teams are implementing. I feel it’s time to do the right thing for the team and the fans. There are some really good coaches available. I really hope Bucs management sees the real problem and understands that it’s time to move on to new strategies, and new coaches. I watch the Bucs each week and have for a long time. I just want them to be respected and competitive.