Injuries Killed The Bucs
December 10th, 2025
Injuries killed the Bucs.
A lot of folks — Joe included — like to holler the Bucs defense has sunk the 2025 team. But a seasoned analyst working for the four-letter believes the other side of the ball sank the pirate ship.
Appearing on Mina Kimes’ podcast, Ben Solak — while he admitted the Bucs have “19” problems that imploded the team — is of the belief the Bucs offense never has and might not ever get into a steady rhythm this season because of the “carousel” of injuries to receivers and the offensive line.
Throw Bucky Irving missed a bunch of time and it’s no wonder, Solak said, why the Bucs have imploded.
“I think the defense is, kind of, is what it is,” Solak said. “We were all hoping it was going to be better. … They’re a much better pass defense with [Jamel Dean] on the field.
“This offense could have been a lot better, and could be a lot better going to the postseason, but they just lost Ben Bredeson again, so now they’re going to have two backup guards.”
Solak noted interior pass rush has disrupted the Bucs’ passing attack all season and he attributes that to backup guards playing in every game.
The Bucs offense looks like a far cry from last year, even though Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard vowed to keep Liam Coen’s offense.
“The Bucs last year were just like a super diverse running game and an excellent screen team with Liam Cohen,” Solak said. “They just lost that aspect of the game with Bucky Irving being clearly limited, and with the offensive line not nearly as effective, right.
“And so you just end up with a lot of Baker Mayfield on third-and-sixes, and third-and-sevens. For as fun of a quarterback as he is, even at his peak with Tampa Bay , he is just too volatile to be given that many long passing downs.”
Mayfield’s numbers trying to throw long have suffered greatly. Solak said the injuries at receiver have lassoed Mayfield.
“[Injuries] all compound,” Solak said. “And so the Bucs don’t have a reliable mode on offense right now. They don’t have a reliable ‘that’s how we get our first downs’ because of the carousel at wide receiver, the carousel at running back. But specifically, in my opinion, the carousel on the offensive line, has just led to scheme upheaval and unreliability.”
Solak said he was lighting candles for the Bucs to address the injuries at the November trade deadline. When that didn’t happen, Solak held out hope the Bucs could get Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back in time.
Now?
“It’s a little bit too late,” he said.
Evans and McMillan have been practicing for about a week. Are they in game shape yet?
December 10th, 2025 at 5:15 am
So the plan for the season was to accept our defensive HC’s defense was gonna be terrible, but hope the offense would outscore everyone with a first time OC with no play calling experience? Make it make sense. bowles brings nothing of value to this team and I will NEVER be convinced otherwise.
FIRE bowles
NO confidence
December 10th, 2025 at 5:49 am
Bowles is a disaster.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:04 am
Something to keep in mind, to @ I Remember 21 and all the other fans that will ignore this article because there are still seething at Bowles and his defense is the give and take of football. The offense is the strength of this team; Licht has built it as such and has invested quite a bit of early draft capital in it rebuilding the Oline and/or acquiring and/or re-signing weapons for Baker to throw to and it’s injured. Throw in a rookie coordinator who we now know is not a prodigy play caller.
Now, I’m not letting Bowles defense completely off the hook, I’m not delusional, his defense was going to allow points, but most of the games we’ve seen could’ve gone very differently if the Offense was scoring 30 pts per game, where in most cases they would be up 2 scores to the opposition…that’s not really hyperbole, that’s fact. Teams don’t always stick to their gameplans down by 2 scores, momentum dictates play, etc. Bowles tendencies are to open up his defense when he’s got cushion to work with. Instead, this team has been horrible at complementary football. Offense will have a nice drive, score, defense makes a stop gets the ball back or holds to a field goal, our offense in the next possession is messy with no rhythm and doesn’t score, games stay close throughout, even against bad football teams. We haven’t been great scoring points off of turnovers either. As bad as our defense is, we’ve been really good in that department, and yet it’s the offense that doesn’t capitalize. Last season we had 21 forced turnovers, this season with 4 games to play we have 19. It just doesn’t add up.
I think Bowles is playing with inferior talent, with players that would not be starters on other teams 53-man rosters. 5th round oft-injured draft pick Denis would not start at ILB for any other team’s 3-4 def. Diaby would not be a starter on your better defenses, he’d be a killer in a rotation in Philly. Don’t even get me started on Reddick. Our lone star on the line, Vita Vea is on the field 60% of the snaps. Zyon is an embarrassment of re-signing.
Lot of context to consider, but I get the fan sentiment, lord knows I’m frustrated too, and losing to an even more injured Saints team at home is the tipping point. Something isn’t working, it’s either coincidence the holes this teams always seems to find itself over the last few seasons or our coaches’ messages just aren’t getting through. We should not be this bad.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:09 am
Maybe spending time practicing with receivers during the Bye week would’ve been a better idea than making commercials with Bradley Cooper
December 10th, 2025 at 6:11 am
No, Todd killed this team.
I think his ultimate plan is to stock his freezer with all the injured meat so he can maintain his massive hunger/gut.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:16 am
Solak is spot on but then again I’m sure it’s all Bakers fault that the team is not winning. Let’s start Teddy. That should fix everything.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:16 am
@ zoo, shouldn’t Bowles with Licht be blamed for the lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball? There are multiple players picked from rd 3 or higher on the defensive side of the ball. I find it hard to believe that Bowles had zero say in which defensive players were drafted. It just doesn’t seem like Licht would go behind his coaches back and just draft random players Bowles didn’t want.
Additionally, if the plan of the defensive Head coach was to count on a new OC to put up 30 a game to win, well he should be fired for that alone.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:22 am
Listen, if you blame injuries. All 32 teams deal with that issue. You’re not unique in this instance. Sounds like we may have to stomach Todd another year. Funny when Liam had that issue last season on offense. He adjusted, he schemed to put players in the best position to succeed. Thats a mind blowing concept for this organization. If Todd stays, grizzard needs to be canned. You hire someone that can work around baker and the offense strengths, and by god hire someone new for strength and conditioning. I’ve seen tougher Wet paper bags.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:26 am
How could Joe have watched the drop off in offensive output since the Lions game and not realise that’s been the issue that’s sunk the team? Too busy crying about the edge rush and storming off podcasts to notice the real problem…
December 10th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Solak mentioned the Bucs not making a move at the trade deadline. I think that many in the Bucs’ organization knew that the injuries were an issue on offense and the defense had many needs. Yet, Licht did nothing, not even go after any players like Lockett who ended up on the waiver wire. Did he and his staff know that trading away draft capital was futile? It seems like Bowles job is on the line now because of the collapse or is it???? The Bucs acted like a team that did not think there would be consequences for a 7-10 finish after a 5-1 start. If the Glazers bring Bowles back if and when that happens they will destroy any credibility they have. Look, they do not have to fire him, he can “retire”. I do realize that about 30 coaching jobs could be affected but the coaches dug the hole they are in with their ineptitude, time to pay the piper if a miracle does not happen. Many of the player too, will face consequences, a new HC with his own people will root out all this garbage Bowles has been tolerating on defense and special teams. On offense, guys will have worn out their welcome too. The ride is over, time to blow up the disaster Bowels made and rebuild.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:39 am
Zoocomics is right. The Bucs are scoring 6.5 points per game less this year than last year. Those extra 6.5 points would have the Bucs at 10-3 right now.
The defense is allowing an extra 2.5 points per game vs. 2024.
A total of 9 points per game in the minus column and yet, their record is pretty much the same due to those close game comebacks at the beginning of the season.
December 10th, 2025 at 6:46 am
And there it is. All problems would have been avoided and the Bucs would be Superbowl bound if Baker didn’t spend 2 hours in front of a camera during the bye.
Just say you think Baker sucks and move on.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:00 am
News flash! This Bowles led defense has been terrible for years. Outside of the JPP/ Barrett/ Suh years, we’re bottom of the league. How many blowouts? How many curb stompings by rookie, 2nd string or even 3rd string QBs do we need to witness? It will not get better! “Those who fail to learn from History are destined to repeat it” Ask yourself this, does this years defense look any better than the year before or the year before that or the year before that? The answer is a resounding NO, IT DOES NOT! The only truth to this article is that yes, the injuries to the Oline, and receivers have kneecaped our offense and exposed this defense for what it is, poorly coached & poorly schemed.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:03 am
This analysis is spot on. An area we thought at the beginning of the year was our strength, turned out to be our biggest weakness. The back up talent wasn’t/isn’t there. Lack of talent and lack of consistency in the oline will doom an offense. A bad offense requires a great defense to compete. Our defense has been far from great the last 2 years.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:19 am
Always enjoy Mina and (Lenny).
Agree with Solak on almost everything. Although it is tiring hearing about Coen being dynamic. Coen came in after Canales. Kudos go to the players, less injuries, and Mike/Bucky and others playing more than this season. They are the ones that got Coen and Canales head coaching positions. Grizz came out of Coen. He just got stuck with many more injuries and more bad ref calls too.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:20 am
Stop making excuses for Bowles! He’s a terrible coach! But, but… he doesn’t have the players. But, but…injuries. But, but..nobody thought that no-name QB would have the game of his life, never to be repeated again. Just STOP! Accept the truth and Move on!
December 10th, 2025 at 7:21 am
So because the team had a few injuries, let’s give Bowles an easy excuse and another year. Same with Jason.
Completely ignore that outside of Coen and a weak division, this team has been mediocre under Bowles. Lack of talents and depth, blame Jason. Lack of game management, blame the in game coordinator, lack of passion blame team captains, lack of pass coverage blame rookies.. etc….
So tired of the people covering this team and organization making excuses for Todd. People gave him credit for Baker, Coen, Canales, but can’t give him the blame for anything.
Stop with the “Grizz is a rookie excuse” he is an NFL OC. You don’t get an entire rookie season to learn. He is getting paid, and he sucks too.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:35 am
No doubt injuries really set them back. I do believe that something internal to the organization happened during the bye. They haven’t been the same since and can and might lose out on the remaining games. Local scribes don’t write about what they know for fear they lose favor with the FO. The team remains lackluster with a don’t care attitude. We see it weekly. It’s obvious a housecleaning is in order.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:35 am
The Saints hadn’t scored 24 points or more but one time this year. Who was that against?
We only have 2 Defensive linemen Vea and Diaby. Until you can get to the QB with just 4 down linemen the defense is going to struggle in All areas. Yes our offense has injuries but these are separate matters.
All signs point to Bowles and the DLine. He needs to hire a solid proven DC to help him
December 10th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Why is everyone suddenly talking about injuries. Heard on the podcast about injuries, now multiple articles about injuries. I wonder if this is a save Bowles campaign?
My issue is defense. Only one or two significant injuries on the defensive side of the ball, and yet game after game we loose primarily because of defense.
Todd Bowles might be a good head coach or a good defensive coordinator, but not both. I think the fan base would be ok if just remains as a head coach, and give the defensive reins to a true d co-ordinator and remains hands off of defense.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:41 am
@Zoocomics
Reasonable, and refreshingly realistic take. 100% agree with everything you said. Football it’s never just ONE thing, it’s almost always alot of little things that separate the contenders from pretenders. Some things can be controlled/improved, some things cannot.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Todd Bowles sucked as the Jets head coach and he sucks as the Bucs coach. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Jason Licht is responsible for drafting capable back ups.
The Glazers are getting soft in their old age. Years past, they’d both be gone. If changers aren’t made after the season, it’s proof ownership only care about the money.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Quit trying to play the average BS. You only count what the final scores are. Not what only if or maybe could have been. They were winning in the last seconds. They got exposed and teams had the formula. Even the Saints figured it out in the storms.
Bowles has to go. If he doesn’t nothing will change.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Ultimately it’s the HC who’s responsible for all three phases of the team, STs, offense, and defense. Fire Bowles, all three phases suck, and he’s the one responsible. Getting a new OC, and keeping Bowles is not the answer. Bowles DB coaches who’ve been with him since his college days should’ve been let go a long time ago. His STs coach should’ve never been hired in the first place. Foote was a horrible ILB coach, now he’s a horrible OLB coach, you see inprovement in the edge rush? He’s a joke, and his staff is a joke. Licht thinking Braswell was going to shock the world this season, and Reddick was the answer to our edge rush is a joke. Finally the clueless Glazers who let a hot 40 year old OC walk in favor of Bowles is the biggest joke. After 50 years all three have turned the Bucs back into the Yucs. And yes, the den of depression is back open for business.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:52 am
I have no issue with the take. I’m a big believer in investing in offense to push the envelope and the other teams. If you do it effectively the complimentary nature of football should help your defense. So it stands to reason that if your offense implodes your defense would follow suit. Perfectly reasonable.
Here’s where I won’t let Bowles off the hook tho:
The offense kicked ass last year and the defense sucked. A rookie qb beat us
The defense follows the same pattern each week. Good on first and second down and then a wide open third down completion over the middle.
Special teams are atrocious
We heard all year about the great culture. That’s no where to be found.
As others have mentioned injuries have been awful all year around the league. I will of course admit it’s been worse for us.
If they give Todd this excuse after a collapse, it says more about the glazers.
December 10th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Are the bucs the only team dealing with injuries nope but they like other bad teams don’t adjust to who they have just make excuses about what they don’t have.
December 10th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Having mediocre talent in the front 7 killed the Bucs
December 10th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Non sense, The coaching stuff killed the bucs
December 10th, 2025 at 8:31 am
yes zoocomics nailed it, Spot ON!!.
Great understanding of this team.
December 10th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Bucnbeers – It was daddy Glazer who fired Dungy and Gruden for less. Not the sons. However, the Glazers do have the money to spend; they give a lot to other projects. And they did give Todd and Jason an extension. We don’t know the amount and we don’t know the fine print of those contracts. If they don’t make the playoffs, we will probably learn a lot more.
December 10th, 2025 at 8:49 am
An article trying to divert the blame away from Todd… That’s different…. Lol… So predictable
December 10th, 2025 at 8:49 am
LIES no one can forget what we had at receiver last year the defense has sank this team ever since Bowles took over
December 10th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Not true.
December 10th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Stop with this lame excuse that happens to every team, Todd Bowles is what killed the Bucs.
December 10th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Thank you for the clarification, Joe. Appreciate it. For some reason I thought the Glazer sons were much younger at that time, lol. I should know better since I went to college in that region in NY.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:08 am
What does that mean Mr Solak that Baker is too volatile to handle 3rd and six or 3rd and 7’s ? That’s BS and such a lazy take. If the Bucs struggle on 3rd and long, there are lots of reasons. Last season they were exceptional in those situations and they weren’t bad in 2023 either. The Bucs were number one on third downs in 2024. Look it up! As I recall, that included a lot of 3rd and longs as well. Solak really didn’t know what reason to put forth to explain the 3rd down failures so he blamed it on Bakers volatility, whatever that means.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Liam coen didn’t deal with injuries to offense only defense was hit besides Godwin
December 10th, 2025 at 11:26 am
“What does that mean Mr Solak that Baker is too volatile to handle 3rd and six or 3rd and 7’s ? That’s BS and such a lazy take.”
It means he’s not consistent as a passer sir, and the proof is kind of in the puddin.
No it’s not ONLY because of the OL.
No it’s not ONLY because of the WR talent on hand.
No it’s not ONLY because of the Year-1 rookie play caller.
It also includes some of the starting QBs inability to consistently make plays from the pocket.
It’s alot of little things that makes our offense stink.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:54 am
No body needs to give Todd Anything except for maybe help loading his car so he can leave ASAP!
A DC isn’t Todd’s choice. Get it? He’s a Lame Duck. He’ll Never regain the trust or respect of the players again. The ENTIRE TEAM is checked out. The FRUITLESS calls over and over again (offense) that Todd called on 4th downs, THAT FAILED over and over again, DRAINED the heart of the team, AGAIN. It wasn’t even as desperate as it seemed, No. It was more akin to “I don’t care really”, childish, SLOPPINESS! No real thought process. Just SLOP! And that call went through the man in charge. That was Bowles call! The players aren’t blind! Todd was foolishly gambling away the game and THEY KNOW IT better than you or I. They’re Also Aware that Grizzturd DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING “OR” HE…. He would have made adjustments FOR WHAT AND WITH HE HAD TO WORK WITH! I can’t even imagine the Hopeless feelings running through that locker room on BOTH SIDES of the ball…
The players have checked BECAUSE OF what the “players have to work with for coaches”. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!
Why are the players acting like they don’t care? Just look at what THEY have to work with…
Forcing a Defensive Coach unto Bowles? THAT WAS LAST YEARS BRAIN CHILD AND THE YEAR BEFORE! Too little, too late….. The ONLY HELP Bowles needs to be given going forward is helping him pack his things into his car, on his way out to retirement.
December 10th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
Football is a game of morale and momentum. Nobody is afraid of us without Mike Evans and both sides of the ball sense it and play accordingly. It’s just night and day when he takes his hamstring breaks for years now and that’s just simply the difference. This is the same team, same coaches that played in the win streak otherwise. Actually think they win a shootout tomorrow against an opponent with nothing to play for.