Todd Bowles Stands Up For Emeka Egbuka
December 8th, 2025
Coach has his back.
Bucs fans, just a few weeks ago who were doing backflips over Emeka Egbuka, are now collecting rocks, just in case.
Like the rest of the Bucs’ offense, Egbuka has had an awful November which has carried into December. Just the opposite of how you want players and a team to be playing.
Joe has even seen social media posts and comments on this here corner of the interwebs referring to Egbuka as “Michael Clayton II.”
Clayton was a star rookie for the Bucs who never improved. In fact, after his rookie season, he regressed terribly.
(It is still laughable to Joe on the same level as it being a highlight of a Chris Rock or Sam Kinison routine that former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik gifted Clayton a massive contract extension specifically because he could block! Not a guard, not a tackle, not a center, but a receiver! What a country!)
Yesterday, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, perhaps sensing a lot of hate was going to come Egbuka’s way, stood up for his rookie receiver.
Today, it was Todd Bowles’ turn.
Bowles waved off the question about Egbuka. While admitting Egbuka’s going to a tough patch, he will be fine, Bowles said.
“Just getting some quick throws early, get him some easy catches and try to get him in the groove and get him in the rhythm,” Bowles said of the best way to guide Egbuka through the yips. “He’s got to get himself in a rhythm as well.
“We trust him completely. He’s a great player for us. So when you’re great players drop the ball, you just got to live with it.”
Bowles said no one is angrier about the dropped passes more than Egbuka.
“But you know, he’s hard on himself,” Bowles said. “He’ll come back from that, and he’ll play better.”
Joe just knows that even the great Jerry Rice had trouble catching a cold as a rookie. He got over it.
(No, Joe is not comparing Egbuka to Rice. Joe is only referencing that even the very best have a case of the dropsies, too.)
Emeka Egbuka with an amazing route to get wide open.
You can see him running towards the EZ alongside the numbers, but the throw takes him in the direction of the back pylon.
So Emeka, at full speed, has to flip his hips and square up to the ball in mid-air.
Should have been… pic.twitter.com/edpPPqa4YM
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) December 8, 2025
December 8th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Again, e2 has to catch the ball – he got 2 hands on it, he needs to come down with it… And again, if Baker throws a better ball, on a wet and rainy day, then it’s a much easier catch.
I am surprised that Baker didn’t say the last part about if he throws a better ball it’s an easy catch. Regardless of if QBs mean it or not, that’s what they always say. Baker instead giving the ‘you’ll do better next time’ message is surprising. And no, I’m not criticizing Baker. I wonder if it’s not as much of a show as support as you’d think and more of a kick in the pants by what he didn’t say? Maybe it’s the correct message. I hope so.
Anyways, time is running out for Baker to heat up. Got 4 games left, the Bucs HAVE to beat the Panthers twice, then win vs the Falcons or Dolphins, and they are in with no help. For that to happen, Baker has to play better. Lets hope he catches fire.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Whether he catches it or not our offense sucks. So there’s that.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
EE, Godwin, Otten can’t catch a pass in clutch time if their lives depended on it. And the defense!!! What a pathetic team in all phases. Clean house including the hapless GM.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Hes a rookie. Wait a couple years to decide if hes good or not.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Just what the rookie needs is the dead man walking HC/DC vouching for him.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Bro’s got feet for hands.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
OK that is an excuse for EE, what is Bowles excuse for his Defense.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
lol…even if he catches the ball, the defense wouldve gave up the booty anyways!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
December 8th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Is he so fragile that he can’t handle the tiny bit of criticism he has gotten?
I remember when Brady stopped throwing the ball to Mike Evans for a few games because he had dropped a few balls!
The softness is reflected in the W-L this year.
I watched 2 teams last night KC-Houston play GREAT FOOTBALL in every aspect and they basically the same record as the Bucs.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
The o-line has to give Baker time to throw. Mixing up the play calling also helps.
December 8th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
He’ll be fine. He’s to talented it happens. Sucks obviously but EE still a baller and super young
December 8th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
We need to draft another explosive offensive weapon maybe in the first round and then load up on defensive players
December 8th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
EE has gone from snagging them 1-handed to less than 50/50 when they got him in the hands. His head is messed up
December 8th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Joe,
In regard to rookie seasons, Michael Clayton was actually way better than Egbuka is right now. Light years better, in fact.
December 8th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
It isn’t Ebuka it’s Bowel’s responsibility to keep this team prepared. They haven’t been the same since Seattle!!
December 8th, 2025 at 5:06 pm
What in the F…..has happened to our passing game……3 & 4 yard passes……surely we can do better than that….