Has Todd Bowles Lost His Touch?
July 11th, 2026
Todd Bowles
Yes, Joe has been deep-sea diving into football stats for a read on what went wrong for the Bucs last year and how the Bucs could right the pirate ship?
Famed handicapper-turned-stathead Warren Sharp had a lot of interesting stats on Bucs coach Todd Bowles, few of them good. Sharp also had opposing stats on Bowles. One was good, the other, not so good.
In short, Sharp wonders in his Warren Sharp 2026 Football Preview if Bowles has lost his defensive touch?
Six of their eight total wins, a remarkable 75%, came by a single score, the #4 highest such rate in the NFL. Only two of their victories all year were decided by more than eight points: a blowout of a 1-7 Saints team and a comfortable home win over the [Mac] Jones-led 49ers.
For years, Bowles’ defenses were where rookie QBs went to die. Well, Bowles faced two rookie quarterbacks [in 2025], and he lost to both Quinn Ewers of the Dolphins and Tyler Shough of the Saints.
The loss to the tanking Dolphins and seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers was not just galling, but inexplicable. That loss cost the Bucs the playoffs.
Losing to the Stinking Panthers? Well, OK, they won the division. Losing to the Slimy Saints? Well, they are a division rival. Same with the Dixie Chicks.
But the trash Dolphins? How?
Just when you think the game may have passed Bowles by, Sharp included this nugget:
Down so many weapons, the largest deficit the Bucs overcame in any single victory all season was seven points, which ranked #27 in the league. They could protect a lead as well as almost anyone in football, and could not mount a comeback to save their season.
So if Bowles played with a lead last year, the Bucs were mostly safe? Not too many rotten defensive coaches can say that.
Has the game passed Bowles by if rookies are no longer fazed by his defenses? The fact Bowles can protect leads suggests he’s still dialed in.
Maybe if Bowles would ever embrace an edge rush instead of asking his outside linebackers to “do other things,” rookie signal-callers wouldn’t be able to slice up Bowles’ defenses?
July 11th, 2026 at 11:16 am
Talk about a “layup” of a topic. It is obvious to the majority of the Buc fans on this site think that Bowels has lost a whole bunch of “touches”. My question is did he have any “touch” once he left the BA umbrella.
July 11th, 2026 at 11:16 am
Did he ever have touch?
July 11th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Tyler Shough may be very good.
July 11th, 2026 at 11:39 am
The Buc’s had perhaps the worst ST in the NFL!! Game after game starting early in the season they gave up huge returns, had punts and kicks blocked. In general looked like a high school team ( except the field goal kicker). Most every other HCs would have regrouped STs by replacing the coach. Bowles? No! He waited until after the season to do that! This in action in such an obvious need, cost the Buc’s at least 2 Ws and a playoff birth!! It’s these kinds of moves or lack there of, there were others, makes most Buc fans wonder why he is still in Tampa. IMHO.
July 11th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Joe, I question whether Todd Bowles ever had the touch in the first place.
At least as a head coach.
I know his record as Jets HC wasn’t that great, (about the same as here) but know nothing about how good the players were, injuries, etc.
My take is that his W-L record here should be at least a little better than in is, given the talent on the team since he took over as HC. There’s a few duds, but there’s also a lot of talent that isn’t being coached right or used properly.
As DC, I think he’s regressed a bit. To be fair, it was a much different defense during our Super Bowl season.
But, I wonder sometimes how much of that was BA giving marching orders to Bowles on a few things… edge rush in particular. Funny how BA stepped down and all of a sudden the edge rush wasn’t that important.
July 11th, 2026 at 11:49 am
No, he hasn’t. He’s still a Super Bowl winning DC. He knows plenty about defense and is constantly updating and upgrading his. Seattle had a lot of success in nickel and dime last year which is a big reason behind why we drafted Keionte Scott. His intense speed will help our pass defense a LOT.
July 11th, 2026 at 11:52 am
“Down so many weapons, the largest deficit the Bucs overcame in any single victory all season was seven points, which ranked #27 in the league. They could protect a lead as well as almost anyone in football, and could not mount a comeback to save their season.”
This shows how bad the offense was. Outside of the Rams game, during the last 9 games of 2025 the Bucs lost 7 of them by an average of 4 pts. Other teams are really good so you’ve got to find a way to comeback from more than a score or two.
The only time Bowles had touch was when he solely focused on the defense and nothing more. Being a HC puts too much on his plate.
July 11th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
I think he’s lost the players at least the majority of them. He has certainly lost some fans he ain’t nothing special ask mike evans tom brady won that superbowl
July 11th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Ever since that all-out blitz against the Rams in the playoffs, Bowles has lost his playcalling mojo and he has been a TERRIBLE playcaller.
Hopefully he figures things out again.
July 11th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
FloorMatt again citing a game that happened more than half a decade ago when the Bucs had a real head coach and their opponent had two cocktail waitresses at OT and a QB on one leg. Stupid is as stupid does.
28-13 lead over Atlanta in the 4th quarter. Ya, Bolwes knows how to protect a lead.
3rd and 28
Mike Evans
July 11th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Bowles blitzes….thats it. The formula for success for the opposing offense is get the ball out quickly. Not rocket science for an OC like McDaniels. Let’s not act like we’re shocked….Bowles defense has been making rookies and backups look like Pro Bowlers since Brady was here. Bowles defense has only been effective when it was loaded during the SB year and following year. Anyone could have won with that lineup
July 11th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
Teams have figured out Bowles’s scheme and he doesn’t know how to counter. Look at what Zac Robinson did to him as OC for the Falcons.
July 11th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
At least the offense will look like a juggernaut during training camp.
July 11th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Baker everything!!!! Its all his fault….couldnt tackle couldnt cover!!! THIRD AND 28!!! ALL ON BAKER!!!
July 11th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Bottom line, let your “Main” pass rushers rush! Believe me, i know….. to the idiots who think i dont…yes OLB’s drop in coverage at times…smdh!
July 11th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
His touch is being an HC who can lose games with his ‘touch’.
July 11th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
3rd and 28!!!!!
July 11th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
the only hope for this season is that it is todd bowles last as hc of the bucs.
July 11th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Bowles never had a touch.
Go Bucs! (to where I have no idea)
July 11th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Please tell me what year he had this touch you speak of?
July 11th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
How’s that compared to “citing” something last season ?? 328 that’s your whole gig! Citing sh!? from last season???
July 11th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
5 years ago isn’t a lot when you are talking about a Super Bowl victory. And our DC now was our DC then. Apparently it’s a thankless job for some people. I know I appreciate Bowles effort back then and he quite simply hasn’t had the personnel since to begin to compete with that defense.
Maybe this year they will be a lot closer to what they need to be.
With the return of the whole Offensive Line I think the offense will be explosive. Add in a playmaking defense and this could be an awesome season. Im looking forward to it, that’s for sure!
July 11th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Toad Bowels:
When asked about the lack of an edge rush
“We ask our outside linebackers to do other things”
“We don’t ask them to drop back in coverage very far”
Yep, that’s the defensive linemen’s job LOL
During the epic collapse last year
“We’ve done all we can do as it coaches, it’s now up to the players”
As an owner, I would have canned him right after that remark
Bowles was asked by a reporter why a specific losing streak “wasn’t going to snowball.”
His exact reply: “I don’t think it’s snowballing. I think we’re making mistakes at the wrong time.”
So there is a right time for mistakes?
He is so far over his head in the modern day NFL it’s ridiculous!
July 11th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Got to love all of these gloom and doom articles. One of the Joe’s absolutely loves to feed the trolls.
July 11th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Linebackers have been dropping back since the dawn of time ,every team! It actually works if you can get the push from the down linemen! If you dont have the talent/people it won’t work.copycat league .You guys bring the Capt.Obvious UGH
July 11th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Read about what outside linebackers do in 3-4 defenses. Then realize the Bucs missed tackles, failed to run to the football, failed to take proper angles they’ve already been taught ad nauseum and played too soft last year on defense. That’s why half the defense has been replaced.
I’m willing to bet Bowles was disgusted by the play and a few locker room cancers caused it- especially Reddick and Dean. Look no further than the players that are gone. Also, these are ADULTS being coached, not children. If they are not doing their job, they should get called out and lose it. Bowles was nice enough not to ruin a few careers over a season where the team cratered over injuries and instead got rid of the offenders. Now we move on and should see much better performance going forward.
Man, Reddick is bad news. I don’t think Shady Gangsta-wanna-be LeSean McCoy did this team any favors either.
July 11th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
The Big Fella you sure seem to be right about that one. Some days it feels like this site *likes* the trolls.
July 11th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
“Down so many weapons, the largest deficit the Bucs overcame in any single victory all season was seven points, which ranked #27 in the league. They could protect a lead as well as almost anyone in football, and could not mount a comeback to save their season.”
———–
Seems to indicate our offense was inconsistent as hell, or consistently impotent. And on the rare occasions our offense got us a lead we kept it. Unless you’re trying to blame Todd for hiring Grizz (which fits I guess) I’m not sure how this is a put down of the HC/DC
“Maybe if Bowles would ever embrace an edge rush instead of asking his outside linebackers to “do other things,” rookie signal-callers wouldn’t be able to slice up Bowles’ defenses?”
————
Do you really think having a 3-4 linebacker drop into occasional coverage means we don’t “embrace” edge rushers ? So I guess that means 3/4 of the league doesn’t since I imagine that’s how many Ds run 3-4 and that’s what 3-4 OLBs are expected to do.
July 11th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Lost?
July 11th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
I don’t know if there is anything left to say about Bowles. He needs to go but he is still here. That is an ownership failure.
July 11th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
Joe … “They could protect a lead as well as almost anyone in football, and could not mount a comeback to save their season.”
Bee … ‘This shows how bad the offense was.’
Simple T … ‘Seems to indicate our offense was inconsistent as hell, or consistently impotent.’
Gee, did this one ever surprise me. Yet another article about how bad Todd Bowles is as a HC & DC. Go figure. The amazing thing is that the premise of this piece has much more to do with the lack of our Bucs’ OFFENSE than it does with the negligence of our DEFENSE. We were 6-2 at the BYE, but went 2-7 after that. There were actually TWO different seasons rolled up into one.
The first 3 games after the BYE provided a lesson in humility. We lost all 3 games by a combined 106-62 score to 3 teams with offenses all ranked in the Top-5 last season. Tells me that our defense had their hands full with top offenses. The defenses of those 3 teams weren’t nearly as highly ranked as their offenses, but realistically our defense gave up so many points that the only game we had a real chance to win was the Bills game (we led in the 4th qtr but then gave up 2 TDs without scoring any). Bummer.
It was THAT 3-game spurt that broke our back. Our defense stiffened after that however, and only surrendered 127 points in the last 6 games (21.1 PPG average). Our offense however mostly fizzles, scoring only 121 points in those last 6 games (20.1 PPG average). Amazingly we won 2 of those 6, but only because our defense gave up only 17 pts against Arizona and only 14 pts against Carolina.
Was Bowles at fault? To the degree that the HC ultimately owns the 8-9 record, then yes he’s at fault. But most fans see beyond simplistic scape-goating like that, and recognize that there are always multiple factors involved in every analysis, be it seasonal or game-by-game. Player talent, injuries, play-calls (good or bad), great plays by our opponents, bad ref calls, and yes even LUCK to name but a few of those factors.
July 11th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
You can’t have JV players hang with the varsity squad I don’t care if you’re Lombardi, Shula, or anyone, it just won’t happen and that is what this team was last year especially on defense. You add in all the other crap and we get what we got last year. Even with all that they should have won the division last year, it looked at times like the whole team was on the take with the way they played. They have added some talent this year with some attitude and pride or so it seems, I sure hope so. Last year may have been the amalgamation of all the stuff going on over the past 4 years, changing coordinators every year, most of the best players on the offensive side of the ball creating an imbalance, injuries, guys getting old, players quitting/loafing and yes bad coaching. Let’s see if Bowles AND the rest of the coach’s can get this team steady for the year without the mid year swoon. Let’s see if the players have a set and flush it out at the end of the year cause that’s all we got.
July 11th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Before the 2025 season Joe wrote an article about Bowles. Seems he had been watching college games and had come up with new defensive ideas. Joe actually wrote he was skeptical that an NFL coach could learn much from college tape. ?? Joe is confident a coach could learn from any organized game. –Joe
Last season was marred by injuries (Kancey) and incompetence (ILB; Reddick; etc.). We didn’t get to see what those big ideas could be.
Hopefully we’ll get to see something new in action this upcoming season.
July 11th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Toad Bowels has more touch than any HC in NFL history. Just ask that gross of KitKat bars at your local Sam’s Club or Costco.
The Pom Pom squad is out in full force today! Funny how they call out all opposing opinions as cherry picking stats.
But they cling to the SB victory as 1000% proof Bowles is worthy of being the HC\DC.
He wasn’t the HC and that matters the most. He’s completely over his skies without a competent HC to reign in his idiotic decisions.
Todd is the Sultan of Suck!!!
July 11th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
Lynch50 with the truth. Spot on.
July 11th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Not so fast my friend.
Injuries and reversion to the mean doesnt mean you have lost your touch.
Plus he may have bolstered some areas of his game while we were digesting what went wrong.
Hes close – 2 or 3 years – to the end but not there yet imo
July 11th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Simple T: Are you a Bucs fan? Do you watch the Bucs games? If so, do you think last year’s defense was acceptable?
July 11th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
How many more games until he loses the players support!
Evans leaving has to be in many of their minds….
July 11th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
@Smoke Porterhouse
Yes and multiple times.
And No, I don’t think last years defense was acceptable. I also don’t think the offense was acceptable and I think many people, including Joe’s have been more than willing to ignore and/or minimize that for some reason. Maybe because it’s harder to dunk on Todd when we’re talking about the offense?
We could have won more games if the defense played better…..without doubt we could have also won more games with better play by the offense. And from where I’m sitting the offense probably cost us more games.
I also know that a coach has to work with what he’s been given and our D-line and ILBs have been lacking in talent for years with a few exceptions.
Why would you question whether I’m a fan – just because I don’t sheepishly let trolls tell me what to think?
Are you a fan? Did you think last year’s offense was acceptable? Do you think we had the talent for an effective 4 man rush last year? Do you watch the friggin games? 🙄
July 11th, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Like I said. SimpleJack wouldn’t know the difference between a defense and a picketfence.
July 11th, 2026 at 9:44 pm
Mystery question:
What person is responsible and accountable for all three phases of the Bucs football team? (Hint – each phase sucked out loud in 2025.)
July 11th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Simple T: Sorry dude, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You’re right, the offense wasn’t acceptable, especially when Bowles started “helping” that side of the ball late in the year.
July 11th, 2026 at 10:48 pm
Toilet bowles
July 12th, 2026 at 12:02 am
The head coach is responsible for all three units of a football team
.
All three units sucked so hard, outer space flowed into them.
The one man responsible for all three units sucking that hard was retained. Case closed.