Todd Bowles: Saturday’s Game Will Dictate How Long Starters Play
August 19th, 2026
How many snaps for starters?
All healthy starters, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, will play Saturday in the Bucs’ second worthless preseason game against the Chiefs.
But for how long? Essentially, it seems Todd Bowles wants the starters to break a good sweat. At least with the offensive starters, the flow of the game, Bowles said, will likely determine how long they play.
“Yeah, you typically want to get between 8 and 15 plays if you can get it,” Bowles said. “If it’s a long drive, then you’ve got to think about getting them out of there; if it’s a short one, if they go two three-and-outs, then that’s six plays, so you kind of get them out [of] there.
“You want to give them a feel for game play and game flow. It’s for the coaches as well as the players.”
The coaches, Bowles said, have to get a feel for using the starters, getting plays in, signals down, etc.
So if the Bucs’ offense has a good sustained drive to open the game, that may be it for the night.
August 19th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Sit them after the first drive of the second half!
August 19th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Different amounts of in-game reps for different starting players. I’d want to get Mauch out there and get him some reps. Wouldn’t mind seeing A’Shawn, but its’ not imperative he plays some reps, but I would like to see guys like Capehart not play as much as they did against the Jets. Especially considering the Vita Vea situation still hanging over this team.
August 19th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Is Vita going to play with all the defensive starters or is he still milking his fake bake injury / hold out lol
August 19th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Recently saw a post about a 2010 Brady playing in a preseason game with 5 minutes left into the 3rd quarter with Moss on the field. Brady said he didn’t care what type of game it was, he just wanted to play. Boy have times changed. Bowles and the Joes are so scared these men will break when their job is to play football. Oh well. Josh Allen played 2 drives last week, but they do have a new coach.
Let the men play. Why wait til week one to get reps against another team in a live game?
August 19th, 2026 at 9:41 am
@ Bee: Do you remember McMillan?
August 19th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Bowles is already in full turtle mode. The defensive guru in chief as it were.
Canât wait to see his HC\DC stylings on full display in week 1. Guaranteed loss.
Zero faith in an overhyped bum with nothing to back it up.
Failing upwards at a geometric rate.
August 19th, 2026 at 9:58 am
What is the benefit of taking the starters out after 2 series of 3 and out? How could that help the players get any kind of rhythm or help the coaches see anything? Todd just astounds with turtle logic.
August 19th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Arm chair coaching from some âfansâ I see. Bowles is our coach this year and has a job to do. If he stumbles, he will hopefully be gone next year. Until then, letâs see what he can do with an infusion of talent on the D.
August 19th, 2026 at 10:26 am
badbucs i’m not sure that (of) belongs there, was thinking same thing
August 19th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Bowles and the Bucs heading for a very good year barring major injuries. I certainly have my fingers crossed! And donât play anyone starting long enough to get injured.
August 19th, 2026 at 10:33 am
Geez Todd is damned if he does and damned if he dont lol….
folks mad because he has a pitch count on the starters in order to protect but if he allows them to “get any kind of rhythm” and they get injured, then folks would be bring out the pitch forks lol
let the man coach the way he wants to coach….after all, its a “worthless” preseason game according to Joe
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 19th, 2026 at 10:42 am
dumb dumb dumb somebodyâs gonna get hurt
August 19th, 2026 at 10:56 am
I guess “no risk it, no bisquit” has been replaced with play scared and stupid. He’s our coach you got to love him doesn’t quite cut it.
August 19th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Donât really agree with Bowles strategy in the preseason but one of his strengths has been great starts to the season. So with that, Iâll trust Todd on this one
August 19th, 2026 at 11:21 am
I think players get less injuries by playing now. I do believe not playing in preseason and then be thrust into high speed play at the beginning of the season causes more injuries. It is like going from zero to 100 . Football is a contact sport and your body can’t acclimate to that level of physical demand without buildup to the actual speed of the game. Have you ever seen fighters get ready for a match without sparing? . Imagine getting ready for a fight and no physical contact prior then being thrust into the match. What do you think would happen?.
August 19th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Football 1
I think thatâs exactly right. In the olden times, starters would play a quarter in the first game, two quarters in the second game, three quarters in the third game, and the fourth game was for the guys trying to make the team. Thatâs how you build up to opening day.
Doing nothing but walk-through is in the season doesnât help either
August 19th, 2026 at 11:48 am
Anyhony
Yes. I remember Todd signing a QB off the couch that threw him a hospital ball. It helps when you have a QB thats actually been playing in league so thats less like to happen.
Ironically the only way to avoid injury is on the couch. I understand why Todd is making the decision to be “cautious” but with a new OC I think it’d be better to get them game reps.
August 19th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
“Geez Todd is damned if he does and damned if he dont lolâŚ.”
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Most accurate comment you’ll find here đ
August 19th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
You added an edit that Bowles didn’t intend, and completely misconstrued his intended message: âYeah, you typically want to get between 8 and 15 plays if you can get it,â Bowles said. âIf itâs a long drive, then youâve got to think about getting them out of there; if itâs a short one, if they go two three-and-outs, then thatâs six plays, so you kind of get them out [of] there.
âYou want to give them a feel for game play and game flow. Itâs for the coaches as well as the players.â
By adding that 9of) you made it sound like Bowles was saying he would get them out of the game. He was saying, if they only have 6 snaps, “you get them out there” – meaning, back out there on the field and in the game.
August 19th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
He must get some starters hurt before the season. Blunderville.
August 19th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Most of you are fools and need to stop taking up space. Bowles is damned no matter what he does. Im a BUCS fan no matter what. GO BUCS!!!! LFG