Riddle Me This, Batman
January 6th, 2026
What happened to Emeka Egbuka?
It was the Bucs’ offense, not head coach Todd Bowles, that was a subject of discussion yesterday on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Heard on “The Blitz,” co-hosted by Bruce Murray and Kirk Morrison, Bowles’ job security was briefly mentioned but Murray was adamant that if Bowles stays, it isn’t just the defensive side of the ball that needs to be addressed, so too does the offense.
And what Murray would like to know is, what the hell happened to Emeka Egbuka?
Before the bye, Egbuka looked like he did in training camp, like a future star. He was the leading candidate for “Rookie of the Year”
Then, after the bye, Egbuka vanished and had little impact on the offense in the final two months.
Murray is flabbergasted how Egbuka went into the federal witness protection program.
“He basically disappeared,” Murray said. “I mean, early in the season, he was catching 100 yards, 160 yards a game. Since his 150-yard output against the New England Patriots back in November, only once did he get north of 43 yards.
“It’s almost inexplicable what little role he played. There were times when you wondered if he was even suited up for a football game, he’d have a target or two and a catch here, but he kind of disappeared from that offense. It was really bizarre to watch.”
Hell yes it was bizarre, and Joe hopes Team Glazer is provided a clear answer to this in their mysterious meeting with Bowles this week.
Out of curiosity, it seems Jalen McMillan and Egbuka were splitting reps. Here are the snap counts for both Egbuka and McMillan in the final four games of the season.
Game, Egbuka, McMillan
Atlanta 44 32
at Carolina 36 34
at Miami 36 35
Carolina 39 37
So Egbuka went from the leading candidate for “Offensive Rookie of the Year” to splitting time with a No. 4 receiver who missed 13 games with a fractured neck? Talk about a dropoff.
The first thing Joe thought is Egbuka hit the rookie wall. Joe does not minimize that at all. Or maybe Egbuka got messed up in the head being moved all over the place to compensate for injuries?
Joe hopes Egbuka’s dropoff wasn’t because he got little help from coaches when defenses adjusted to taking him out.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Todd is running a masterclass on how to suck and make millions.
Todd, Jason and the coaches are stealing Glazers money
January 6th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
I really would have liked to see Evans, Godwin, JMac, and Egbuka in 11 personal. Hard for me to imagine any team’s 4th-best DB covering JMac or Egbuka effectively. That’s a well you can draw from all game long. Grizzard wasn’t interested, I guess
January 6th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Alex van pelt would be the easier to get but i would make a run at iu coach curt cigneti
January 6th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Hire Daboll as OC
January 6th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
That was supposed to read 10 personnel … damn iPhone keyboard…
January 6th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
It the grizzatf wizard and his pink fuzzy dice nuts masterminds new agr schemes it only appears like Emeka dissapeares but really he was there the whole time. Catching passes in the phantom grizzly zone.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Grizz was/is in over his head!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 6th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
So strange so many coaching moves all across NFL with underachievers and Tampa is quiet. Pirate ship is sinking fast as other teams are asking permission to do interviews. What is the problem here?
January 6th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Baker kept throwing to Otton 3 yards short of the sticks, and we were lucky if he caught it or not fumble it?
January 6th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Uh… they were doubling him more?
January 6th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
You can’t catch the ball if the QB doesn’t throw you the ball.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
No accountability for the defense or the head coach, just the offense
January 6th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
A lot of the team disappeared after the bye.
Obviously Egbuka’s targets decreased as the other WRs got healthy and came back.
With everybody playing there are a lot of mouths to feed.
The kid is a stud and will be good here for a long time.
Now if the Bucs can get a good qualified offensive minded head coach these young receivers and backs can be used properly and reach their potential
January 6th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Thinking positively.
Top 5 pick in the 2027 draft. As long as Jason is not making the pick we should be goos
January 6th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Good
January 6th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
The coaching staff wanted to prove that a vet didnt lose a job due to injury. Todd is loyal to a core, unless the rook is FAR SUPERIOR, he gives the nod to the vet.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Was weird how he wasn’t getting targeted
January 6th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Whatevs tell me where I can get that job, I can even suck on purpose and make it look good. 10% finders fee….
January 6th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Rookie wall happens late in the season. I think he wasn’t in the game plan for some stupid reason. Ask Grizzard.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Imagine this WR group and the RB room for that matter with a competent HC. A Shanahan, Mcvay, Ben Johnson type play caller could have Baker in MVP talks every year. With atleast 2 WRs going over 1k…What a waste to go through another year thinking Bowels is going to change his ways. SMH.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
EE was playing great ball, better than Evans before everybody that wasn’t down went down. Lotsa missed targets, etc. Rookie wall could be it Joe, that’s a real thing. But after the bye everything went south. Hey we’re in that division too, how appropriate. If Baker was hurt this team messed up by leaving Trask go and hiring Teddy. If he was that hurt ya gotta sit him cause he sure wasn’t the same player after the Rams game. Will we ever fully know what happened? From all I have read sounds like guys just weren’t playing or putting in the time like they should have to be excellent. Hire Brady as the HC.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Hell, Lynch is a GM, why not?
January 6th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
If Bowzo stays don’t care.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
Oh and LOVE the original Riddler Frank Gorshin Joe, tip o the cap
January 6th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Egubuka’s drop off coincided with Baker’s horrible play
January 6th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
Kliff Kingzbury available now
January 6th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
as OC
January 6th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
EE shined when he was defended as a number three or four wide receiver. As Evans, Godwin, and Otton coped with injuries — and there was more film for opponents to scheme to disrupt EE’s routes, his performance dropped off. He probably also was worn down later in the season.
If the Bucs hadn’t drafted EE, fair to say they wouldn’t have won but a handful of games in the first half of the season.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
“Egubuka’s drop off coincided with Baker’s horrible play”
The short and easy answer.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
It was MUCH MORE than just the Egbuka-McMillan quandry Joe. Rarely is there such a stark disparity between the 1st half of a team’s season and the 2nd half. But this year was beyond stark: 6-2 in the first 8 games, but then sinking into oblivion at 2-7 in the next 9 games (with the 2 wins coming against the 3-14 Cardinals and 8-9 Panthers).
The most bizarre part is that all 3 phases sucked mightily: offense, defense AND S/Ts. All 3 did significantly worse than last year. And when that happens, new leadership is desperately needed … the current staff has lost this team. Players may not say it to the media, but let there be no doubt what they’re thinking. You can’t maintain confidence in any leadership that takes the road that this group has taken. Time for change.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Are they going to talk about special teams next yup the whole team collapsed hence fire him he lost the team he picked the staff that failed so the answer is to let him do it again? In game decisions were awful you keep him because he is a nice guy? Ok
January 6th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
This was the criticism of the Egbuka pick
There’s only 1 ball and to have all those dudes is tough – look at the 49ers who we all thought would be crap – they had McCaffrey, Kittle, and the immortal Juan Jennings and were fine
SEA had JSN and Barner/Charbonnet?! And dominated
Not about the weapons you got it’s how you use them (same thing I told my wife on our honeymoon)
Meanwhile Jason builds a team of highly paid WRs for a HC that wants to run and play ball control – either they’re not on the same page or this franchise is just bad
January 6th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
JASON LICHT IS A LOSER
45% loser %
Why are we keeping losers at GM, HC and Arians
SMDH – the Joe’s are afraid to talk about Jason Licht’s career record.
Brady swooped in and saved Arians, Licht and Bowles…otherwise these guys would be history. Brady.
they are all passengers…Joe’s…you are chickens…say it. What am I saying is a LIE?
January 6th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Honestly if the Glazers keep Bowles, for the fist time ever we are going to see a massive fan revolt! This is really going to set back the team another lost year. The writing is on the wall we just need to pull the band aid off, i think alot of fans will check out if he’s back!
January 6th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
As Bobby Fenton said in his podcast, the first reads on a pass play were never open. And yes, I agree he might’ve hit a rookie wall, but Grizzard didn’t do well after the bye anymore than Todd Bowles and his putrid defense. Did you see Liam Coen on the Rich Eisen show yesterday. No appreciation mentioned for anyone Buccaneers. I’m sure Liam learned a lot about what NOT to do in coaching while he was here and wish he would’ve at least acknowledged THAT, LOL!
January 6th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
“Meanwhile Jason builds a team of highly paid WRs for a HC that wants to run and play ball control“
Context is important, we didn’t see the ball control method until the pass game went into the crapper, especially after the Bye.
9 games in the NFL of 2025 and we had only 3 games with passing over 250 yards. We had 11 turnovers in 7 of those 9 games and 9 of those giveaways were INTs
What’s the definition of insanity? Somebody, anybody?
January 6th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Redzone & Defense Rules, both great posts! Even in the business world, desperation never passes the eye test. Trying everything to stay afloat doesn’t work wherever you go. Running the ball 40 times vs. the Panthers, the first game screamed of desperation. Meanwhile, most teams starting field position was the 50-yard line. It’s just my opinion, but the special teams cost the Bucs more then any position except maybe offensive line.
January 6th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
For reasons unknown to man, Baker suddenly couldn’t throw an accurate pass to Egbuka. Crazy stuff. How many times did Baker miss EE? Once the interior Oline starting leaking Baker was all happy feet and sailing throws.
January 6th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
WBL
Louder for the people in the back please.
January 6th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Nah he’s got Mike and Chris to help him adjust when defenses made him the primary focus. Everyone that called themselves a coach on the Bucs sideline should be arrested for stealing from the Glazers
January 6th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Hire Harbaugh and bring Monken along!!!
January 6th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
My goodness. How many more times can I restate the obvious? Egbuka fell apart as Baker’s time to throw dropped to nearly 0 with our backup of a backup of a backup guards. There were DT’s all over Baker on virtually every snap. He no longer could step into a pass. Late in the season a lot of our successful offensive plays were rollouts.
January 6th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
Grizzzzz is not an NFL OC
January 6th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
It wasn’t just E2. It was all of them. The only exception was ME had one game of 132 yards, then he too disappeared. Are you telling me that with the best WR group in all of the NFL, that every week at least one of them makes you say WOW?
And don’t blame it on injuries. E2 was shining when we first had all the O-line injuries and position changes.
What else could it be but putrid coaching?
January 6th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
I’m sorry….did ANY of our receivers show up the last 9 games? Clearly the issue is not the receivers. They were getting open the first 6-7 games but the last 9 Baker is trying to fit that ball into tight holes with defenders draped. Receivers don’t just lose speed in the middle of the season or forget how to run routes.
When your team starts out six and two with a great offense, a perspective, MVP quarterback and offensive rookie of the year receiver and then turns around and goes two and seven that is coaching. That or that is defensive coordinators, figuring out what you’re doing adjusting and you being unable to adjust to that.
Not to mention the defense – particularly the secondary that went from plain reasonably well to giving a big play after big play. I can’t count the number of times the other team‘s quarterback drop back delivered a 3030 yard pass down the middle of the field to a receiver who didn’t have a defender within 15 yards. That is not talent that is coaching and scheme where players are way out of position
January 6th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
I really don’t believe it was Griz. That offense appeared to have Bowles all over it. As the losing streak kept getting worse he became more conservative. Honestly by the end of the season they had baker afraid to throw the ball. Another year with Bowles (IMO) will take us more backwards.
I was thinking when Bowles was saying Griz sure learned a lot, Griz is probably thinking I don’t ever want to work under Todd Bowles again. He killed my resume.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
Yes, Hire Harbaugh. He goes for it on 4th too much, but is a much better HC than Todd.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Gee what are the odds that Mel or any player got little help from the coiches?
January 6th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Were you people watching the games? Baker was under constant siege.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
As the guards played worse he became more conservative. Not getting Baker killed is a priority.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
St Pete Matt. Bingo. You win the big door prize on that analysis. Thats exactly what happened this year. A quarterback never completed a pass laying on his back!
January 6th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
J-Mac deserved his snaps…. He’s been excellent since mid way thru last year.
EE, like Bucky before, was compared to HOF’ers before he was 1/2 way thru his 1st year by a lot of y’all 🤣🤣. EE is going to be good and so will J-Mac – they’ll be 1a and 1b, possibly as soon as next year.
January 6th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
I think it may be a combination of things. Teams started doubling him, Baker got hurt and didn’t appear to be able or want to throw more than a 10 yard pass. He may have hit the rookie wall, he had a couple of drops and he and Baker may not have been on the same page after the bye. Also, there was something going on with the team, probably in the locker room as it appears guys weren’t giving there all. Also we apparently did nothing but walk-throughs after the bye. A lot of guys have to practice at full speed to really be sharp.
January 6th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
ee stopped getting open for some reason, in the last game against the panthers baker hit ee in the hands in the end zone and ee couldn’t make the catch, meanwhile other teams receivers are making spectacular grabs, ee can’t catch a cold, he can’t get open and when he does he drops the ball. right now tmac of the panthers looks like a better pick not that he was available… Jmac somehow gets wide a** open and right now looks better than ee…. they’ll play next year without the benefits of the best cb covering evans as i expect him to bolt to a contender rather than stay with todds mediocrity
January 6th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
It appears the Glazers are content on being mediocre. They wont fire Bowles bc of the cost. Just like they didnt open the cheque book for elite FA players.
January 6th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
If you want to know what happened to e2, all you have to do is look at Baker and how awful he was for most of the last 2 months of season.
Just go watch that first drive of the Rams game where e2 is wide open for a TD on the opening drive and Baker misses him by a mile. That is basically Baker every week for the last 2+ months of the season.
January 6th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
And the new head coach of the Buccaneers is…John Harbaugh!
January 6th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Three things happenes in my opinion:
1) Egbuka became the #1 for awhile there and got double teamed, leading to very few wide open passes.
2) Egbuka hit the rookie wall and I have no doubt about that.
3) Both Evans and Godwin came back, relegating Egbuka to the roll I always thought he’s have at the beginning of the season – a rotational piece along with McMillan.
The Bucs aren’t always in three or even four wide sets, meaning neither McMillan nor Egbuka are on the field unless it’s during one of Mike Evans’ many breaks between plays and to a somewhat lesser extent Godwin’s.
McMillan looked like the better receiver down the stretch, getting open for big, important plays. Kudos to McMillan for picking up where he left off. Egbuka had a stellar season for a rookie considering the competition for receptions he had on a team loaded with quality receivers when all are healthy.
Emeka learned a lot and should continue to improve his game (and NFL season long endurance) as time goes on and the eventuality of Evans’ and Godwins’ retirement closes in. He’ll never replace Evans but should be an instant Godwin replacement when that time comes.
The Bucs need to find another big body target in the next year or so to replace Evans. Personally, I think that guy may already be on the team but is playing the wrong position. Devon Culp has almost identical size and speed numbers as Mike Evans. I’d have him shadowing Evans and learning everything he could from Mike.
January 6th, 2026 at 9:35 pm
Seven teams contacted John Harbaugh within 45 minuted after he was fired. There are only 7 openings, and one is the team that fired him.
That means a team that hasn’t fired their coach contacted him.
Gotta be Tampa.
January 6th, 2026 at 9:44 pm
lmao y’all want Harbaugh and Ravens fans wanted him gone.
Got handed the keys to a sports car, yes he won an SB but that 2013 and only won 3 playoff games since! Never been a talent issue in Baltimore, and Harbaugh has had 17, SEVENTEEN double-digit lead blown in the 4th qtr.
Imagine going from Lamar Jackson, to Baker Mayfield 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
January 6th, 2026 at 9:45 pm
“That means a team that hasn’t fired their coach contacted him.
Gotta be Tampa.”
Probably the Colts, ya never know that’s how speculation works lol
January 6th, 2026 at 10:11 pm
Rookie wall , bad OC , also there’s only one football to go around. Also why wasn’t Mikey targeted more when he came back. Offense just thru up on itself after the bye. No excuse to have that much fire power and not have a top offense. Grizz might have bin running the same offense but let’s be real he’s no coen. What really is hilarious about this fan base is is when coen left everyone for butt hurt and was throwing shade at him those same fans now want him back 😂😂 their also the same fans calling for Jason to be fired 😂😂. The 🤡 show
January 6th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Rather get chris shula over John harbough!
January 6th, 2026 at 10:41 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
January 6th, 2026 at 9:35 pm
Seven teams contacted John Harbaugh within 45 minuted after he was fired. There are only 7 openings, and one is the team that fired him.
That means a team that hasn’t fired their coach contacted him.
———-
I legit would not doubt Tampa is checking in. If they could hand Harbaugh, then Bowles is as good as gone. However, I don’t think he’s going to be interested in Tampa. I think Harbaugh is going to the Giants. Seems like way too good of a fit for him to pass up – a young team with tons of talent that vastly underperformed and will immediately improve dramatically with better coaching.
BUT, I’d love to see Harbaugh come here, even if I would be very concerned about what he’d do on offense. But if the Glazers convince him to keep the same STYLE of offense, the Coen version of the Rams offense, then yeah, that’s a fantastic fit.
January 6th, 2026 at 10:48 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
January 6th, 2026 at 9:44 pm
lmao y’all want Harbaugh and Ravens fans wanted him gone.
Got handed the keys to a sports car, yes he won an SB but that 2013 and only won 3 playoff games since! Never been a talent issue in Baltimore, and Harbaugh has had 17, SEVENTEEN double-digit lead blown in the 4th qtr.
Imagine going from Lamar Jackson, to Baker Mayfield 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
———–
Yeah, but he’s still a huge upgrade from Bowles.
Also, as you know, I’m no Baker Boi … but I actually think he’d love Baker after dealing with Lamar. Clearly Jackson is worlds better as a QB, but man, he’s basically retarded. I listened to his post game the other night, with Lamar, and he sounds like his IQ is in the low 70s – he did not present himself well. When he was asked if he wanted Harbaugh back he said something like, “you is axing me bout that, I’m still in shock, man, man, you axing me, man, I’m just be thinking about we just lose, and I still in shock, you know.” So basically, he hates Harbaugh for whatever reason – I don’t know the behinds the scenes gossip there. But as for Baker, I think Harbaugh would love dealing with him after listening to 8 mins of Lamar’s post game.
January 6th, 2026 at 11:08 pm
Okay bucs I begged you to not let Coen out of the building. Now you have two good options to improve the team.
1. Go get stefanski as your offensive coordinator.
2. Run don’t walk RUN and get John Harbaugh.
Mediocrity or elite . Your choice!!
As always Go Bucs.
January 6th, 2026 at 11:11 pm
What happened to Egbuka? The same thing that happened to the entire offense. Terrible O’Line play. Gotta have a left guard. Bredeson sucks. Compare time to throw the first 8 games compared to the last 8.
January 6th, 2026 at 11:16 pm
Make Frank Gorshin the Offensive Coordinator. The Bucs offense was so predictable last year that Grizzard must have discovered Byron Leftwich’s old playbook. Right about week 8, I’d say
January 6th, 2026 at 11:29 pm
“I don’t know the behinds the scenes gossip there. But as for Baker, I think Harbaugh would love dealing with him after listening to 8 mins of Lamar’s post game”
Eh, idk about that one, everybody is into this likeability factor about Baker but nobody says much of anything about what he brings as a player. It’d be a downgrade in athleticism and capability, but then again we’re comparing Jackson to a guy who was drafted the same year and had you have to re-draft that class Allen & Jackson are going a day before Baker.
Don’t need my qb to be a Nobel laureate, and the way Jackson speaks should be endearing to Floridians. GMC rags on LVD jokingly saying “skrong” with that Miami-Dade twang. 2 things I know Jackson can do, sling the rock and put numbers up on the board. Also a poster child for cleaning up mechanics and tuning all that raw athleticism into being one of the more dangerous QBs in the league.
Harbaugh would love Temu Sam Bradford, and that’s why I say NO
January 7th, 2026 at 12:59 am
It took a brilliant offensive coach last year to get this team to the playoffs. That coach’s name was Liam Coen… so the Bucs didn’t go to the playoffs because of Bowles, they went in spite of him. That’s how good Coen was.
January 7th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Everybody has sucked since the bye week. This article could virtually plug in any player on the roster in Ekbuka’s place and have the same story. This was a total and complete collapse from top to bottom. Fire every coach and get rid of ANY players that quit on this team. Fire Bowles/Grizzard T O D A Y Glazers!!!!!!!
January 7th, 2026 at 7:04 am
Put Bowels on I.R. permanently!