Loaf Watch: Buccaneers-Rams
July 3rd, 2026
Head coach Todd Bowles talked about Bucs “just taking plays off,” so Joe wants to look deeper into Tampa Bay’s post-bye-week games, the ones that sent the Bucs from a 6-2 record to a sad 7-9 finish.
Joe’s calling the series “loaf watch” — a search for players “just taking plays off.” During last season and immediately following it, Bowles consistently said effort was not an issue with his team.
Joe brought the first installment of the Loaf Watch series (Bucs-Patriots) followed by Part II (Bucs-Bills). Now it’s time for Bucs-Rams, a game Tampa Bay was blown out 34-7.
This isn’t about playing gotcha. It’s about finding clarity after the comments from Bowles and Lavonte David admitting to being called out for loafs and YaYa Diaby wagging a finger of shame at Bucs film.
Bucs effort was actually strong in this game, stronger than Joe expected in a what was a shameful blowout. Props to the Bucs defense for playing very hard when the Rams got the ball late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach. The get-off was there and Tykee Smith made a hell of an effort play to shoot a game and get a tackle for loss.
Still, there was some questionable play.
Smith had a loaf near the goal line in the first quarter. A major pet peeve for Joe is defensive players not playing to the whistle in the red zone. That’s not how they’re coached and instincts should never allow it.
Joe also will tag Graham Barton with one blocking loaf. He pulled from his center position and then gave up on the play after his first block, and then he did the maybe-I-should-keep-balling move. Two speeds is never a good look.
Joe is not awarding any more loafs for this game, but Joe will wag a finger at Chris Braswell and Zyon McCollum for soft play. And for McCollum, that has nothing to do with him getting beaten twice for touchdowns. Puca Nacua breaking a McCollum tackle in the second half was one example.
Also detected by Joe was one very weak blocking effort by Cade Otton.
In all, better than expected in a game that was out of reach in a hurry.
July 3rd, 2026 at 9:28 pm
McCollum got used and abused in this game!!
July 3rd, 2026 at 10:21 pm
I just don’t want to rewatch this game at all. After that failed 4th down in own territory Bucs were so pathetic Rams just took the foot off the gas pedal to be respectful. Once Carolina beat them you could just tell Bucs were heading in the wrong direction. There hasn’t been any meaningful win since then to convince me anything has changed. Last ugly loss like that was against Denver the previous year. Bucs got one back against the Chargers that made Todd scream YEAH! In the locker room.
July 3rd, 2026 at 11:10 pm
Better than expected??? Bucs effort was strong in a blowout???
Lay off the sauce Joe, you’re not making any sense.
Can you do an article about Bowles loading during the 2-7 stretch run???
July 3rd, 2026 at 11:33 pm
The record shows 2-7 to close out the season. A glance at the games shows an 0-9 stretch. Beating the Cardinals by three points at home is an embarrassment by itself. And a close last game with everything on the line at home was not much of a success.
Top teams manhandle inferior opponents. The Bucs though are superior to no one.
July 3rd, 2026 at 11:52 pm
This is why the players won’t give 1 on 1 interviews with Joe. Only info he gets is mandatory media sessions where all media are in the room and from his “sources” . Joe loafed for 2 months writing ad nauseam about Mike Evans leaving.
July 4th, 2026 at 12:05 am
Much prefer the Joe’s keeping it real & objective, instead of writing puff pieces to pander to the team in order to get those 1 on 1 sessions you’re craving.
July 4th, 2026 at 12:05 am
Great, ya, they got blown out but…..but what. Made a stop when the Rams were trying to avoid injury? Not to mention, McVay dominates Bowles. Every. Time.
This loser is your 2026 Twocoach. Woohoo.
July 4th, 2026 at 1:03 am
@flBoy84⬆️ I guess you prefer to get second hand news from media who the players won’t talk to? And are Joe(s) really qualified to say who is loafing and who isn’t? Based on what? Remember when they wanted to cut McLaughlin after he missed a few early kicks? lol. 🤡. They aren’t talent scouts for a reason.
July 4th, 2026 at 4:38 am
Very surprised to hear a possible weak blocking effort from Otton! and a loaf from Barton.
July 4th, 2026 at 5:34 am
No one can possibly give 100 percent effort 100 percent of the time.