Loaf Watch: Buccaneers-Cardinals
July 6th, 2026
Last month Todd Bowles broke from his in-season and postseason claims that effort was no issue with his Bucs last season.
Bowles caught a lot of fans’ attention referencing guys “just taking plays off,” so Joe launched operation Loaf Watch.
Joe’s been studying Tampa Bay’s post-bye-week games, the ones that sent the Bucs from a 6-2 record to a sad 7-9 finish.
Who was “just taking plays off?” This is Joe’s search.
The first installment of the Loaf Watch series (Bucs-Patriots) was followed by Part II (Bucs-Bills) and Part III (Bucs-Rams).
This exercise is about finding clarity following the Bowles comment, as well as after Lavonte David admitted to being called out for loafs and YaYa Diaby wagging a finger of shame at Bucs film.
Today, Joe shares Bucs-Cardinals, a Week 13 home win (20-17) by Tampa Bay. Now Joe further understands why Bowles gathered his defense and screamed at it late in this game.
Joe found loafs on the same play by Logan Hall, YaYa Diaby and Zyon McCollum, accentuated by Vita Vea busting his ass on the same snap. Joe also got a good head shake in after McCollum got stiff-armed to the turf, bounced back up and didn’t hustle to the guy who dropped him.
Joe caught loafs by C.J. Brewer and Lavonte David on a play. And then there was another loaf medley from Elijah Roberts, Chris Braswell and David.
David had another snap in this game that was just sad. Joe doesn’t want to go there on a Monday morning. Sad stuff. David did bounce back soon after by looking like a stud on a couple of plays, but David clearly was struggling with consistent energy or motivation.
Joggin’ Jamel Dean returned for encores. “This Joe” is glad to see Dean move on to Pittsburgh.
Joe also will award a pillow-soft gold star to Haason Reddick. It’s sad that Bowles didn’t think he had anyone better available.
Regarding that Hall-Diaby-McCollum loaf, Joe wrote about it the day after the Cardinals game and praised Hall for a special hustle play soon after, one that caused a forced fumble. So it’s only fair to re-share it.
Joe will add that Baker Mayfield sure looked 100 percent healthy against Arizona.
And Chris Godwin’s blocking makes such a difference in the run game. The Bucs will get a big lift in that area this season if Godwin can stay healthy.
July 6th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Hard work, Joe. Keep it coming.
July 6th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Yep, Chris is a huge asset in the run game helping spring explosive run plays that can demoralize a defense. I hope B-Mac shows the WR room a bunch of Chris’ plays.
This kind of loafing wouldn’t have happened when Monte was the DC; everyone was running to the ball. Now is the time to reinforce that gang tackling behavior – even when there’s no actual tackling. Everyone runs to the ball.
July 6th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Barely trying Zyon is an example of the danger of an early contract extension. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons the Bucs & Baker remain at a stalemate. The number being floated out there is Baker is seeking $65/mil per year. Bucs probably offered $45-50.
July 6th, 2026 at 10:19 am
I rewatched that game yesterday. McCullom was guilty multiple times. The guy just won’t wrap up. It’s bull! One play, he dives at the ball carriers legs, and his arms are nowhere in site. He just bounces off the guy. We need better, cuz he’s SOFT! GO BUCS!
July 6th, 2026 at 10:22 am
The fact that this many players weren’t enthusiastic and energetic on the field is a reflection of the coach. The low energy cloud over Bowles head affects the whole team. Theres no fire or passion on the sidelines from him. Bowles doesn’t seem excited to coach at all. Imagine showing up to work for a mild mannered coach while the other team is trying to run you over.
These are the players Bowles picked for a defense he designed and this is the level of effort and results we get. And yes, Baker was healthy down the stretch but couldn’t get it done. As bad as the defense was scoring 20.3 ppg against the bottom half ranked defenses is criminal.
The expectations seem very low with this GM and HC. As if a division title is their SB. The entire organization reeks of mediocrity.
What off-season moves have the Bucs made that make you think they’re seriously competing for a 🏆?
July 6th, 2026 at 10:24 am
I said during season and still believe David did not help Sirvocea. David was not as good a blitzrr or run defender and definitely was clocked out.not best mentor for 1st year starter
July 6th, 2026 at 10:38 am
You never know what kind of nagging injuries plague an athlete year to year. Tendinitis, sprains etc that aren’t reported to the team or disclosed to the public.
This is no excuse for loafing – but these guys aren’t given or have sufficient time to heal injuries like that through the season. Just food for thought
July 6th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Well, is it lousy player evaluation or lousy coaching or both?
July 6th, 2026 at 10:48 am
This is why Bowles should have had a DC. He’s obviously not spending enough time riding these guys.
But…I firmly believe last year was a fluke. Yes, there were guys that loafed. A lot of them, clearly. But a lot went wrong last year.
On a side note, if I owned this team I would make my presence felt by the players and coaches. I would be a constant observer (as time allowed) of meetings and practice. I would demand greatness…and reward it.
July 6th, 2026 at 10:52 am
Joe may have to spend some time digging it up. Bowles (and others) *did* ride their arses.
The Cardinals game was one of the games Bowles unloaded on his defense. As seen in the link provided when the post above was published. Bowles clearly went off on the defense on the sidelines.
As Joe has stated many times, this was one of many pieces of evidence that the defense quit on Bowles. Not Bowles and Lavonte David (multiple times each) and not Baker Mayfield screaming at them could get through enough.
July 6th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Permanently Moderated Says
“Well, is it lousy player evaluation or lousy coaching or both?”
First, I so envy that username right now. I think I’ve had 5 posts out of about 100+ go thru without being moderated the past few months. It’s been extremely frustrating…to the point where I’ve considered taking a break.
Second, you ask a good question. I think it boils down to lack of coaching. Balancing head coaching responsibilities and defensive coordinator responsibilities means less time dedicated to the players. I think Bowles is an okay head coach. I think he is a reasonably good DC. But I think he is absolutely horrible at doing both.
But…I also recognize that the defense didn’t get much attention in the early draft until this year, and it’s always a gamble with bringing in veterans who say the right things but might really just playing for the money as their career winds down.
The draft is always a gamble too…but the players can be molded by good coaching.
I think both John Lynch and Ronde Barber both have said they weren’t sure they would make the final roster in each of their first few years…so they played to earn it. They were hungry…and they became great.
Warren Sapp was just mean, lol. He faced everything like a challenge. He played oike he was starving for the QB.
I loved Monte Kiffin. He demanded greatness and was fun to watch.
The new ST Coordinator reminds me of him.
July 6th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Good stuff, Joe.
July 6th, 2026 at 11:39 am
I’m glad Dean is gone. He was the softest Bucs player since Dexter Jackson(Receiver). It wasn’t only the games that he missed, for most of his career he came out of half the games he did suit up for. Softer than cotton candy. Why he’s being replaced with another kitty cat like Morrison that can’t even finish practices is beyond me. I think he and Dean shared a saucer last year to lap up their milk.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Glad that at least one Joe sees Jamel Dean as a poor excuse for a corner. He won’t last long in defense minded Pittsburgh. Glad he is gone and wish he had taken McCollum with him.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Great insight Joe! Someone needs to ask Ya Ya why he is wagging his finger at others when he himself is apparently guilty of a loaf there and there.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Good grief.
No good coach, heck no mediocre coach, tolerates loafing. Joe exposes a pandemic of loafing. Every. Game. Thank you, Joe.
What causes loafing? Better question his, who causes it? You are what you practice. In 2025, the Bucs perfected The Loaf over the last 9 games. Who runs practice? Who oversees all three phases of the football team, all of which sucked?
Fortunately the one big huge ginormous reason for that is still employed, so we should expect even better precision loafing throughout all of 2026.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
The fact that you even have a series of articles titled “Loaf Watch” says everything you need to know about the sorry state of the Bucs defense and their coaches. SMH!!!
July 6th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Bonzai … ‘I so envy that username right now. I think I’ve had 5 posts out of about 100+ go thru without being moderated the past few months. It’s been extremely frustrating…to the point where I’ve considered taking a break.’
July 6th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Hey Joe,
Maybe you could put all the loafs (loaves?😏) on a loop and project them on the side of RayJay.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Bonzai … Like so many, the rest of my comment response to your statement above simply disappeared into NeverNeverLand. Yup, ‘extremely frustrating’.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
BA’s Red Pen. “Dean’s Soft”. Your quote for years and always made me smile. “I think he and Dean shared a saucer last year to lap up their milk”. That one made me laugh.
July 6th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
I blame the late, great Meat Loaf for all this loafing.
July 6th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
And here you are supporting Joe.
Lies about Joe’s business are not tolerated in the comments. You can take those to social media. Thank you. –Joe
July 6th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
During long stretches of my Bucs watching and bickering career the question of the off-season was not “Will the Bucs win 10 games?”. It was “Will this team make it 10 games deep into the season before they quit on this coach?”
I can’t watch last season’s lowlights. I see poop coming- I move. Joe sees poop coming- he stays. A tip of the hat to you, sir. Joe should get hazard pay and/or a commendation for bravery for this series.
July 6th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
the only reason we won that game was the scrub playing qb for the cards
July 6th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Gipper Says:
July 6th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Glad that at least one Joe sees Jamel Dean as a poor excuse for a corner. He won’t last long in defense minded Pittsburgh. Glad he is gone and wish he had taken McCollum with him.
_________
💯
July 6th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
It’s not the coaches fault. He’s a genius and a defensive guru. Ask Kirk Cousins.
The players were selected by Bud Licht. But he’s not to blame when they go bust.
The owners can’t be blamed due to their own inept decisions to continue down a path of failure.
Must be the paying customers that allow them all to be multimillionaire’s.
Just gotta fan it better!!!
July 6th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Lynch50 – you re right. It’s our faults. Yours and mine. The only hope for us is if the Pom Pom Squad and their irrational blind optimism flood the universe with love and hugs.
That will fix the Bucs.