Why The Defense Stinks
December 8th, 2025
Zyon McCollum (27) returns a pick while Antoine Winfield looks to block Sunday. One of the very few defensive highlights from the loss to the slimy Saints.
So after yesterday’s groin-kick of a loss that may very well signal the end of the Bucs’ Super Bowl window that first opened in 2020, Joe spoke with a Bucs defender.
Joe asked the player what is the deal with the defense and if he could explain why slop teams like the Cardinals and slimy Saints have little problem moving the ball.
The Bucs player basically told Joe a version of what Todd Bowles has said often: It isn’t just one or two guys.
The issues aren’t one or two things, Joe was told. It’s a misread, a decision to go inside when a run is outside, one guy not setting the edge, another guy not filling a gap.
Joe was told it is all kinds of issues and it isn’t one or two guys but damn near everyone on the defense takes a turn every other play to make a small mistake.
And that small mistake ends up blowing up on them.
Joe thinks Bowles has a very complex defense, Rondé Barber and Logan Ryan have spoken about this publicly. Why else would veteran players make mistakes over and over, week after week? By Week 13, players ought to have a complex defense down.
They don’t.
How you fix that in December, Joe doesn’t have an answer to that.
December 8th, 2025 at 3:58 am
So the defense is too complicated for even players who have played for Bowles for several seasons to make mistake after mistake? Okay, then why hasn’t Bowles made an attempt to simplify the scheme? This is a plausible explanation that places the blame firmly on Bowles but not the only one; the other is that the players are not NFL starter material and lack the talent. This means that Licht would be as accountable as Bowles as they both chose the defensive players on the roster…. Also, defense is rotten but what about special teams. They also have been rotten all season and Todd and his special team coach have not done anything to fix the situation. Again is it scheme, ineptitude or lack of talent. Change is needed and it seems like all issues stem from Bowles in some way, shape or form. Hopefully the Glazers can read through the BS and make the tough decisions after this lost season is finally finished.
December 8th, 2025 at 4:01 am
It’s funny that you use the picture of the McCollum int as “one of the very few defensive highlights” when it was much more of an offensive lowlight (on the saints) than one of our highlights.
Bowles has had far too many years as HC at this point to try and blame players for not understanding his system, he has an awful system that confuses players and leads to wide open receivers every single play. He has shown time and time again that he is not suited for the HC position.
December 8th, 2025 at 4:18 am
Even with NO getting hit on the second half, we only gave up 260 yards and 24 points is not 44 obviously. Bakers pick (while leading) at midfield did no favors because that turned into 7 quick. Just like the Buffalo game, leading late in the 3 Rd quarter and Sir choke AlOT threw a pick in our territory, next okay they score and and we never get the lead back . That game 200+ on the ground, this game 180…….but that’s ” no help” lol
December 8th, 2025 at 5:17 am
It’s not a complex defense if rookie and backup QBs can shred it weekly, that’s called a bad defense, personnel and scheme, bad coaching is the reason, it’s not complicated
December 8th, 2025 at 5:19 am
Players are barely average, coaching is below average. That adds up to about a .500 season. At this point it’s time to break up the Bucs. Bowles can’t coach them, Licht thinks he’s a drafting genius. Need a new set of eyes on this roster. Licht is to close to the players he drafted. Need proof, look no further than Zyons extension. Time to clean house.
December 8th, 2025 at 5:29 am
The defense is not complex to opposing offenses. They know exactly where our defenders are going to be on every play. That’s why receivers are wide open and guys are easy to block.
Offense was the bigger problem yesterday though.
December 8th, 2025 at 5:38 am
same excuse when cooper kupp sealed the game when brady almost had a back to back
December 8th, 2025 at 5:52 am
Fire over confident mistake prone clueless Bowles!
December 8th, 2025 at 6:11 am
Mathematically, at least, the Bucs are far from being eliminated from the playoffs. But it sure feels like it.
We have a head coach with a losing career record, so our “knowledgeable” owners decide to extend him when they had a better option in the building. Preferring mediocrity to a more creative, intelligent brand of football, the better option was allowed to walk.
BIG MISTAKE!
The Glazers have made two big moves since they bought the team. They traded for Gruden and they signed an aging Tom Brady who immediately became GM and brought in his friend Gronk and Crazy Antonio Brown. Both moves resulted in Super Bowl victories.
Other than that the Glazers have stood mostly on the sidelines and watched their teams struggle to attain winning records.
If they knew football they sure as hell wouldn’t have let Coen walk. If they were too blind to see how last year’s offense sparked, perhaps it’s time they either sold the team to a football minded owner, or at the very least brought in a knowledgeable advisor to make decisions for them.
Today the NFL is considered an entertainment business. Each NFL city puts on a show for 17 weeks a year and us fans pay to be entertained by players and their ringleader.
This current show has run its course, and we are tired of the same old reruns.
December 8th, 2025 at 6:20 am
Nothing complex about calling the same garbage every week. In fact it should be easier for the players to know what to do. Give up the middle and get burnt on the corners. The defensive mastermind doesn’t call anything different
December 8th, 2025 at 6:22 am
It’s all so predictable–I remember a 3rd and 13 (thereabouts), the guy gets open and snags the ball down the seam…BOTH Buc defenders were behind him, so we couldn’t even contest the catch
December 8th, 2025 at 6:23 am
This isn’t rocket science people. The Panthers and the Jags have greatly improved this season after hiring former BUCS coaches. The BUCS have greatly regressed. That=? COACHING. The team looks poorly coached because it is. Team needs have been ignored for 4 drafts. Grizzard is in over his head and not up to the job. Baker tried to tell us weeks ago what the problem is. There is no killer instinct because none is behind instilled in this team. Players know they will face no consequence no matter how bad they play. Baker gets a pass for this game because he has pulled everybody’s else’s weight all season. Now everybody is saying this is a bad team. Nope. It’s the same team we had in the first half is the season. It’s not a bad team it’s a badly coached team that has not addressed what is necessary to improve this team.
December 8th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Too complicated that it confuses Buccaneers defenders but not the opposing offenses that beat us.
December 8th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Buc kings –
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Blueprint:
(From my personal and humble point of view of what I’d like to see moving forwar)
Starting with why the offense looks putrid-
Wide Receiver Room Evaluation:
Evan Godwin (EG)
EG fits the mold of a Chris Godwin–type receiver rather than a Mike Evans. He has real potential, but as a true WR1 it’s still questionable. Right now he projects as a strong WR2.
Mike Evans
Mike Evans is a top-ten wide receiver of all time and easily the best in Buccaneers history. No one on our current roster comes close to what he brings. If he continues playing, the team still needs to begin preparing for life after him by finding a player with a similar, rare skill set.
Future WR Need
EG looks like the natural successor once Godwin eventually hangs it up. The problem is that we still need someone who can take on the Mike Evans role when needed — a big-body receiver who wins in the red zone and can high-point the ball.
McMillan and Johnson are good developmental pieces, but they’re not Evans-style players.
Target for next year
Big, fast outside receiver
True red-zone threat
Someone who can eventually develop into a WR1 with Mike’s guidance
Impact on the Offense –
Losing Mike Evans has taken the life out of our offense. Baker Mayfield’s success was tied to Evans, and without him the passing game struggles. We don’t have a receiver who draws double teams.
The good news is the offense is only a few pieces away from being top-three in the league.
Offensive Priorities for Next Season:
Tier 1: Elite Tight End
Baker needs a tight end who can do everything. Someone who’s physical, reliable, and can consistently win mismatches.
Tier 2: Mike Evans’ Protégé
Either draft or sign a big outside receiver who Mike can mentor. This player must have true WR1 potential.
Tier 3: Left Guard
We need a run-game mauler at left guard. He can be average as a pass protector, but he has to dominate in the run game and pair well with Wirfs.
Tier 4: Backup Quarterback
Bridgewater isn’t the guy. The team needs a tall, athletic, hungry quarterback who wants to compete for the job.
Most importantly, Baker should not get a massive contract. Keep his price reasonable.
3. Coaching Blueprint (Again my Personal Preference)
Offensive Coordinator: Jon Gruden
Give him total control of the offense. A co-head coach/OC role. Let him turn the offense into a machine.
Head Coach and Defensive Architect: Bill Belichick
Belichick should be the target for head coach. His discipline, structure, and leadership would shift the culture immediately. Players would respect him from day one.
Give him complete control of the defense. With his system, he could build a top unit within two years and do it with less talent than most coaches need.
4. Defensive Needs and Current Issues
The defense lacks a true identity, which is concerning with a defensive-minded head coach.
Tier 1: Defensive Tackle to Pair With Vea
A dominant, powerful interior lineman who can destroy the run game and draw double teams.
Tier 2: Physical CB1
A corner who can handle opposing WR1s. Move McCollum to CB2 or trade him for a third or fourth-round pick. Parrish looks solid, and Morrison is still coming along.
Tier 3: Edge Rusher
We need a top-tier edge who can win consistently. Reddick isn’t JPP, and I’m not sold on him. Diaby must get stronger, faster, and improve his hand technique.
Tier 4: Middle Linebacker
We need an enforcer in the middle. Lavonte David is a legend, but it looks like he may finally be slowing down.
Tier 5: Big Slot Corner
A hybrid corner-linebacker with size and speed, which is essential in modern nickel defenses.
Defensive Notes:
Kancey is talented but too injury-prone. Availability is the biggest ability in the NFL, so right now he looks like depth.
Diaby gets held constantly but also needs to clean up his technique.
The 3-4 scheme doesn’t fit our personnel, especially against the run.
In today’s NFL, nickel defense is more important than ever.
The defense needs a clear identity and a unified plan.
Final Thoughts: Buccaneers Master Blueprint
Can all of this be fixed in one offseason? Maybe not. But this should be the foundation.
If the team follows this approach, the Bucs could –
Restore championship-level discipline
Build a top defense
Reload the offense with elite talent
Bring back accountability and identity
Become a yearly Super Bowl contender, similar to the Chiefs
In my humble opinion, this would be the blueprint that could cement Jason Licht as the greatest Buccaneers general manager of all time.
We need players who look at the bucs as a attractive place to place and they feel like their a missing peace like how Brady saw us like fournette like gronk like ab like suh..they all saw moves happening and wanted in.
We need Jason to recapture that fire again..Bruce gruden Tom Moore Bill bilacheck all together would be amazing..I also think it’s time Ronde barber becomes the Db coach pay him handsomely he breaks tape down on an elite level and speaks honestly.
I feel like that will help players immediately.
I would pay rice a fat check to work with diaby daily.
I would look for a mobile qb that has extreme speed and decent arm to run some wild cat offense our run fane could be elite with some minor tooling to the oline.
Also maybe people would disagree I move Barton to Left gaurd draft the best center they typically go around 3rd or 4th rounds.
Wirf Barton rookie(or cheap vet) Cody and cushy helmet – I know his name but that cushion on his helmet kills me 😆.
O-line will be much better and healthy next year a few cheap depth players it can get better.
I let white walk and draft a more physical short yardage back that runs people over or free agent one if one on the market.
I don’t hate white to be clear I just can’t justify paying him anything significant especially how good rb typically been going in late 2nd to 4th rd and it be a cheaper solution with fresh wheels. We’re missing the Rb who pounds the rock and protects the qb.
So let’s simulate a draft with only needs being the key factor not at all projecting who will be available in the draft.
Rd 1: Wr or Cb
Rd 2: Dt or Cb
Rd 3: MLB or edge
Rd 4: Te or Rb or oline
Rd 5: Qb or Te or rb
Rest is depth camp fodder typically
Free agency or trade future picks to secure wte weakness I highlighted.
This team is closer them we may think.
Offense is 2 or 3 pieces..
Defense well it needs leadership and a vision.
December 8th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Did you see how sticky the DB’s were last night in the KC-Houston game?
Both teams and they were hitting with multiple hats on the ball… both teams.
December 8th, 2025 at 7:10 am
#1 The defensive schemes aren’t complex, they’re stupid! Dropping D- linemen into coverage is just dumb & offenses dream of these type of mismatches. This team is so confused they are literally regressing every week, right before our eyes. They went from being dangerous to predictable. Maybe I should change that to Predict-a- Bowles. I can predict exactly what will happen every week. We will play that soft a$$ zone coverage where wide receivers are always wide a$$ open. We will be gouged over and over again by huge plays. Missed tackles out the wazoo. Multiple special team blunders. Losing at home. No contested passes. Our receivers running routes short of the first down marker. I could go on and on. It’s overall just terrible coaching.
December 8th, 2025 at 7:10 am
It’s not a competent scheme, and the Bucs don’t have the front seven to make up for mistakes.
December 8th, 2025 at 7:31 am
That soft zone we played for most of the game seemed simple enough…for the Saints. 31, 27, 25, 54, 8, 5…it’s a lot more than one or two guys.
December 8th, 2025 at 7:33 am
I agree with all that was said. Especially the one on it’s time to clean house, for Bowles and his entire coaching staff to be fired! Bowles doesn’t do anything on the sideline during a game, just stands there with a dumb look on his face like he doesn’t know what is going on. He doesn’t interact with the players or talk to his coaches, nothing, just stands there! Bowles has never had a winning season ever! Look at his record at Jets, 24 wins and 40 losses over four seasons! The Buc’s are headed in the same direction! I’m a Buccaneers fan forever, but it’s time for a change!
December 8th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Not many one this site view TB as a competent DC. We’ve had concerns since the gut wrenching Cooper Kupp catch. Few of us saw the wisdom in elevating TB to HC/DC; and our hesitation has grown and been confirmed the last couple of yrs (or more). Everyone sees how players regress (Todd broke D. White, AWJ, the edge, and a slew of secondary….good players whose confidence has been undermined by bad coaching), scheme failing, ST inconsistent for years, lack of effort/heart, poor clock mgmt, and since day 1- NO in game adjustments. Not many of us would have extended his contract, much less before the previous one expired. We all (mostly) whine about Todd, but are impotent to act on our ire.
And somehow, the 1 man with the power to act appears oblivious to everything that seems so obvious to most of us. Jason Licht, the coaches hand puppet, takes no action. So, unless an established force, BA, comes in to pull the proper strings, that puppet will remain as flaccid as the product you see taking the field each week.
I don’t really know whose record is worse, but remove the BA teams, and Id suspect JL has a worse winning record than Bowles
December 8th, 2025 at 7:40 am
I know his rep has taken a hit lately, and I am NOT saying I want him to be the next HC. But Bill Belichick specialized in 11 players doing the right thing every time. This is the type of mentality that is missing
December 8th, 2025 at 8:11 am
is it that hard rush 4 barely get to the QB-rush 5 and they have to scramble-why have so called pass rushers who never rush the QB all they do is step back into coverage.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:20 am
IMO Bellicek has done nothing in his entire career without Brady. I used to think it was the other way around but watching life after Brady, I don’t want him.
After watching last years offense, I said a million times I don’t care what it takes you keep Liam Coen. Huge mistake!!! I don’t know who you replace Bowles with.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Defense is 80% hustle and scheme. Even a unit with limited talent can succeed with those.
There is zero hustle in the run game and the pass rush/coverage scheme is a joke.
Entirely on the coaching staff
December 8th, 2025 at 8:33 am
There’s no such thing as fixing a defense in December. Bowles just needs to go back to the days of calling out on film reviews like BA did
December 8th, 2025 at 8:39 am
that’s my feeling is that the defense isn’t intuitive for players… they have to think about what they are supposed to do in the scheme, rather than just playing defense.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Bowles hasent been able to fix it his entire HCing tenure here in Tampa, he’s not going to magically fix it within the next month.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Buc king – NO to Belichick. So many including me are sick of him. So much drama there that we don’t need. He also is not good at developing new QBs. When Tom left, they lost and they didn’t work with Mac Jones well enough. In which Mac has gone to the 49ers and is doing well as Purdy’s backup.
Chris Shula would be great as a HC possibly. It is time to get a young QB out of college from the next draft. Let Baker mentor him and guide him through. Many good QBs started that way.
December 8th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Fire Todd
December 8th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Buc King,
Bill is a dinosaur and his controlling puppet master has destroyed any semblance of competence he had. His college team is dysfunctional and he has lost his ability to reign in a team with an iron fist. His aura is completely gone.
As for Gruden, his last foray in the coaching realm didn’t go very well and his team was hot garbage.
Not sure why you would want any of that currently
December 8th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Time to face the facts, the defensive scheme doesn’t work…When the QB for the Saints looks like the second coming of Steve Young against you, it’s not good…When the Saints, who I think were averaging about 14 points a game before the Bucs, score 17 points in the second half, your defense is terrible.
December 8th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Gotta coach it better gotta play it better