Five Things
September 28th, 2026
Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson tries to house his pick after a Vita Vea tip against the Vikings.
It is 3 a.m. and Joe is exhausted and fighting to stay awake, so let’s get this thing rolling to recap such a sad day of Bucs football. You’re going to need coffee.
Zac Robinson On Thin Ice?
There is no way to spin it. The Bucs’ offense right now is about as discombobulated and worthless as it gets.
The Joe typing here maintains Team Glazer will not deviate from its long-held belief in removing coaches after a season. Joe cannot see that changing.
But that doesn’t mean KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles can’t dismiss an underling.
Joe can easily see the Bucs using Robinson as a scapegoat and tossing him overboard. No one has told Joe this will happen, but damn, this team is playing so terribly; don’t they have to make a statement soon?
There likely will be a new coaching staff next year. So what’s the harm of moving on from a guy whose offense is crashing like the Hindenburg?
This Bucs team needs something drastic if not radical to jump-start the offense. Joe could see the Bucs moving Robinson and promoting Ken Zampese to offensive coordinator.
Zampese is the passing game coordinator for the Bucs. He was previously an offensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Cleveland.
The Bucs desperately need someone to drop a grenade in the bathroom to wake this team up.
Sack Artist Found?
Maybe the hype was real?
Joe had heard so much hype the past few months fo second-year edge rurhser David Walker, Joe almost didn’t want to hear about the guy any longer.
All Joe could keep thinking about is Chris Braswell when the Bucs hyped Walker. Another guy the Bucs hyped but the hype wasn’t close to reality.
Walker yesterday had his second sack in maybe two dozen snaps.
The way this Walker looks against quarterbacks, he needs to be on the field as much as possible. The Bucs finally, it seems, may have an edge rusher.
Joe swears if he hears KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles talk about “other things” for reasons Walker is not on the field, Bowles is then just begging Team Glazer to break with tradition and launch him midseason.
Baker Mayfield’s Injury
Whatever hope the Bucs have of making the playoffs — it is still a mathematical possibility — may be blown up if Mayfield misses more than one game.
Mayfield injured the thumb of his throwing hand and it was reported to be dislocated. If he needs surgery, he could be out for three months.
In his spot, here comes rookie undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels.
Joe wishes the kid well but there is a reason he was undrafted. And Joe was talking to a personnel guy about Daniels a few weeks ago and it was made clear to Joe that Daniels is considered a project with a very high ceiling.
But a project, nonetheless.
Last year the Vikings, due to injuries, had to turn to undrafted free agent quarterback Max Brosmer. He was 1-1 in two starts, with four picks and no touchdown passes. He had a 66 percent completion percentage.
So buckle up, Bucs fans. If the Bucs do not plunge into the abyss, it will mean Daniels was able to guide the Bucs through Mayfield’s absence.
Punt The Ball Out Of Bounds!
A very simple play may have cost the Bucs a win as they got a little too cute yesterday.
Joe got the following from his old man: barring inclement weather, always punt the ball out of bounds. There isn’t a return man on earth who can return a punt if it sails out of bounds.
Ignoring that philosophy cost the Bucs seven points and the game yesterday.
Joe’s old man constantly preached punting the ball out of bounds. Why? “Because it is impossible to return a punt that is out of bounds.”
And he was right. How often do you see teams give up six, just because they punted the ball right down the middle? Too many.
Joe spoke with a guy who lived in Pinellas and whose son was a punter at Florida State. Like Joe, this man believed the smart play is always punting out of bounds.
So why don’t coaches do this? Because, Joe was told, special teams coaches in college cannot go on to bigger and better jobs by being safe. So they hope to create takeaways in order to get noticed.
And the 86-yard punt return got the ball rolling for the Vikings as they rolled the Bucs.
Try punting out of bounds, please.
Free Chris Godwin!
Joe cannot understand why the Bucs thought it was so much better yesterday to throw twice as many targets at mid tight end Cade Otton and not save bullets in your holster to target folks with talent?
Otton is a nice player but he’s not on the same level as Emeka Egbuka or Godwin. The goal is to create mismatches and then break off an explosive play and score. Unless you run the Bucs offense.
Start targeting guys like Godwin and Egbuka and watch the offense start to round into form.
September 28th, 2026 at 4:02 am
Speaking of simple plays, after the 2 BS holding calls in the 2nd quarter, on 3rd and goal, Mayfield overthrew an open Gainwell for a would be TD.
Mayfield is the no 1 reason Bucs are 0-3.
September 28th, 2026 at 4:26 am
dear joe,
bleaker tryfield was egregiously missing throws all season…
i don’t even think JOBU could fix the issue…
sincerely, tom thumb
September 28th, 2026 at 4:27 am
Joe,I Don’t need coffee,I need wiskey.
September 28th, 2026 at 4:38 am
a dislocated thumb usually also means torn ligaments in the thumb and hand…
baker is kinda done…probably…for quite a while
September 28th, 2026 at 4:42 am
Those Baker & Vea deals aged well. The time to clean house is upon us.
September 28th, 2026 at 4:49 am
Laughing to the bank with glazer money
September 28th, 2026 at 4:52 am
joe i just looked over all the remaining available quarterbacks out there on the free agent market….
the garoppolos..the wilsons…etc…
the only qb that made sense to bring in here……and i can’t even believe i’m saying it…
the one qb to bring in to save the new culture that tom brady had built here is………
the one and only 50+ year old tom brady…
brady is the only guy who can save us joe š š š
otherwise there is no one o
September 28th, 2026 at 4:52 am
joe i just looked over all the remaining available quarterbacks out there on the free agent market….
the garoppolos..the wilsons…etc…
the only qb that made sense to bring in here……and i can’t even believe i’m saying it…
the one qb to bring in to save the new culture that tom brady had built here is………
the one and only 50+ year old tom brady…
brady is the only guy who can save us joe š š š
otherwise there is no one out there
September 28th, 2026 at 4:53 am
Bowles needs to go. NOW. I get why he was kept on. Last year was his first not making the playoffs. But given how the team collapsed, he should’ve been on short leash. Meaning if the team falls out of the gate, then Bowles goes. Period. The loss last week was shameful. I can stomach this week’s loss easier…which sucks. I remember the mid to late 80’s. This start to the season has me reliving it. It’s unacceptable. Todd thinks they are still in because rest of division is struggling. He’s right. They still are in it. But, not with Bowles at the helm. He’s lost this team. Get rid of Bowles. Put Zampese in as head coach for the rest of the season. Worst that can happen is we get the 1st overall pick in the draft for a new QB. Or maybe the worst that happens is we end up winning the division and we don’t get the #1 pick. Either way, TODD MUST GO.
September 28th, 2026 at 4:54 am
meanwhile the raiders are 3-0….with spytek and tommy b
September 28th, 2026 at 5:05 am
Whatever Ira is paid DOUBLE IT.
Because he’s been the only professional analysis on this site for the last 24 hours. Rookie sports coverage looks for singular scapegoats because in your emotions you want singular targets at a time
Yesterday’s game SCREAMED the problem with the offense so much an unemotional 9 year old could tell you.
the oline was not just injured last year – IT SUCKS. There two people who can’t do their job if a o lien sucks. The OC and the QB. Holding calls are not just holding calls. they are an indication that your line is getting beat. You end up holding because you are losing at the line
Likely winning TD erased because of an oline. Another likely TD off the map because of another penatly ( getting beat). We win the game by two scores with a decent line
THE OC cannot scheme guys open on the regular when The QB can’t expect the time it takes to get open. You have to go to dink and dunks. The whole gameplan screams Zac knows his oline is spit. Baker is no Mahomes but I’ve seen Mahomes struggle behind a bad line. Theres a reason and it was on display yesterday why the saying goes -“You win or lose in the trenches”
Of course the reason why you cant see that clearly even though yesterday screams it is because its the whole line and you can’t get the emotional fix by saying ah its that guy or hey lets switch to this guy – You simply can’t replace an entire line now.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:09 am
So, bowles and robinson were both fired from their previous HC jobs. I guess that means that no one truly understands their greatness. Harken back to the coen season where Baker put up incredible numbers. So yeah, haters; it’s all Baker’s fault. Geesh!
September 28th, 2026 at 5:14 am
And bowle’s answer? We gotta play better, and coach better. OMG! What an insight!
September 28th, 2026 at 5:17 am
i thought robinson was not a great OC just from what the preseason looked like but wanted to give it a chance. now it’s confirmed, he’s useless.
coen offense for jags has scored avg 27+ 19 games straight
remember 2024? what was the bucs offense averaging? 29.5
let that sink in glazers.
stupidest thing i’ve ever read on this site is the phrase “todd bowles coaching tree”.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:19 am
^^^
yes our studly offensive line became a dudly offensive line almost over night…
it’s freakin’ crazy…no one saw this coming…and no one wants to really talk about it…
#LetsTalkAboutIt
as if you will see them in an ybor city bar, and they will drag you out back and whoop your azz, and crack a tequila bottle over your head, and shove the worm where the sun don’t shine…
the oline sucks…there i said it…okay now i better leave town…
like what is carberry doing…he and the line used to be so damn good
#FromLegitStudsToSimpletonDuds
September 28th, 2026 at 5:25 am
Why did BM throw to Otton?
Because this offense is based on taking what defense gives you…
Otton was open – the other receivers were covered and shut down on most plays.
The Vikes were not afraid of Otton so he was fed the rock.
It’s really pretty simple.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:34 am
I think it was Harry Truman that said “the buck stops here”. Can someone relay that sentiment to our kit-kat eating coach?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:40 am
The team needs a no nonsense head coach that will tell it as it is. Fire Bowles and bring back Schiano!
September 28th, 2026 at 5:40 am
2013 all over again boys and girls. At least Schiano made me laugh in his press conferences.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:42 am
ENOUGH! Enough of the juvenile AC/DC loving this, and the Kit Kat eating that, and whatever other silly repetitive fun fact sassy catch phrase you continue using for Licht and Bowles.
So it sounds like Mayfield is going to miss some time playing because of the thumb injury. The backup is Daniels. Who backs up Daniels god forbid he goes down?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:48 am
Not one mention of the 4th and 13 with all three timeouts??? That play wreaked off a desperate coach. We were 0 for third down but magically we were going to get this one? Were we saving that one special play. The offense has looked like they all needed a couple pre-season games. None of them were ready or in sync! Donāt be fooled by the ādefenseā they havenāt turned a corner, they played Kyler Murray WITHOUT Justin Jefferson! If Jefferson plays this game the Vikes score 30. Stick a fork in the team, letās talk the draft!
September 28th, 2026 at 5:57 am
Yeah- we do need either a second or third string qb right nowā¦
September 28th, 2026 at 6:05 am
Well, Daniels can run. I would imagine he will need that skill in spades if he wants to stay alive.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:11 am
The best thing that could happen to the Bucs would be for Daniels to light up the Bucs offense and lead the Bucs to some victories.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:19 am
Jalon Winnings, I hope!
September 28th, 2026 at 6:21 am
lol this franchise is a joke. Pathetic. Even my kids ask me dad why do watch this team play when they are soo bad?
September 28th, 2026 at 6:42 am
mayfield looked like a thumb job the whole game did not come close to receivers start repping the dart board damn give me 100$ i might be abble to do the same no wait wait i want 55 mil
September 28th, 2026 at 6:43 am
If you can’t protect your QB, you can’t win. That’s just reality.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:53 am
Trade Godwin to SF. They need a WR and the Bucs will suck for the next 3 years because of the Baker contract and Godwin’s career would be over by then.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:53 am
Joe … ‘Whatever hope the Bucs have of making the playoffs ā it is still a mathematical possibility ā those may be blown up if Mayfield misses more than one game. If he needs surgery, he could be out for three months.’
Au contraire Joe. Watching Baker yesterday, he looked to be the farthest thing from the leader of this offense. The only place he’ll lead us is to a Top-5 pick in the next draft. While that might be the best option of all (given what we’re seeing happening on the field thus far), I really don’t want to even contemplate watching 14 more games like the first 3 we’ve played this year.
Let’s start Daniels & see what he’s got. I admittedly doubt that an undrafted rookie QB is THE ANSWER, but it’d be fun to see if the rest of the ‘parts’ on offense come to life to try to support him. And yes, the OLine in particular, followed by the WRs.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:59 am
simsini … ‘The team needs a no nonsense head coach that will tell it as it is. Fire Bowles and bring back Schiano!’
Uhhh, you apparently don’t keep up with college football. Schiano is under intense scrutiny after Rutgers has started the 2026 season at 0-3. Fans & boosters are in an uproar, but it’d apparently cost over $17 mil just to buy him out. But at least they’re investigating where they might get the money, so that’s a good sign.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:01 am
Hey Joe-Maybe you could at least get the new QB’s name right?? Kid is named Jalon not Jason.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:04 am
Jalon Danielās not Jason. I find it hard to believe one doesnāt proof read these lol and the notion that the playoff chances would be minced if JD10 started more than 1 game is nonsense. Baker next to the interior OLine & ZRob has been the biggest net negative to this football team. Game falls slap on the offenses feet 3 games now. To not want to see SOMETHING different at that position after the last 10 games of Baker is ridiculous. Even when he does get a clean pocket does he look any bit poised or composed?? HELL NO
September 28th, 2026 at 7:15 am
Robinson will enjoy a nice expansion of the play book with a bunch more RPO’s with Jalon Daniels at QB as well as vastly increased escapability against the rush , which is very necessary considering the woes of this Offensive line.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:21 am
The offense and it’s scheme are not working. So the first 2 weeks we threw screens like it was all we knew how to do, but this week, vs the #1 blitzing team in the league, we forgot all about screens. Isn’t screens what you do to slow down a blitz? Also, if Bucky isn’t getting it done, can someone else try running the ball? I dunno, Sean Tucker maybe? I watched UF on Saturday, and their O-coordinator was calling an awesome game. It was refreshing to see. Robinson was a mistake. On the flipside the D played a good game. They can’t get blamed for this one. Vikes didn’t even get in the red zone in the second half.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:28 am
āFree Chris Godwin.ā – I guess? Heās also a decade in, that has dealt with a lot of injuries. Heās not a 4.48 guy anymore and heās never been. Davante Adams kind of guy to begin with as far as being a true x receiver. He looks good, heās a effective, all the things – but I think we (Bucs fans)have this vision of some of the players on this team either being better than what they are or simply oblivious to the fact that itās not 2020 anymore. We are not near as talented at quarterback, receiver, offensive line, anywhere really – as we think we are. I am so ready for a new identity from the top down.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:28 am
You can draw up the perfect play, but when your QB can’t hit open receivers what good is it? Don’t get me wrong, Robinson sucks, but so does everything Bucs.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:46 am
Godwin always seems to be able to find the open area when the pocket breaks down and has a history of making big splash plays catching long balls from a flushed QB. Jalon Daniels will find Chris when he breaks containment and we will see some exciting big plays plus Daniels will have more ability to move the chains by using his legs. I am pretty excited to see what new wrinkles Robinson will bring now that Daniels is the QB.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:49 am
What a joke of a franchise. Can we hire Mike Evans after he retires to the front office? He knew. Mike knew!
September 28th, 2026 at 8:02 am
“Uhhh, you apparently donāt keep up with college football. Schiano is under intense scrutiny after Rutgers has started the 2026 season at 0-3. Fans & boosters are in an uproar, but itād apparently cost over $17 mil just to buy him out. But at least theyāre investigating where they might get the money, so thatās a good sign.”
Highest paid state employee in all of New Jersey.
Gotta get KJ Duff outta there
September 28th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Todd, my man, youāre going to get diabetes from drinking all that Kool aid. You are way more excited above and beyond what is considered rational over an undrafted project quarterback. Iām saying you arenāt allowed to be a hopeful fan with dreams and crap. I could say that Jalon Daniels has 0% chance of being the future, and while I do not know that for sure – what I AM sure about is that I am likely going to be correct 99 times out of 100.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Mike upstream is correct. The glaring problem is the o-line. Not even close. Yes, Baker sucks right now. Largely because of that o-line and his inability to adjust to being chased constantly. He can’t step up because there’s nowhere to step. So you get the Happy Feet and the constant run around. Again, Baker is obviously part of the problem. But the bigger problem is the line in front of him. Even the defense looked decent last night. Certainly good enough to win. And we got absolutely no favors from the refs. But until that o-line plays quality ball, we’re going to see what we’ve been seeing.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:09 am
The offense will be more exciting to watch is all I am saying and I am correct as I am 99 out of 100.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Itās time to cut the drift wood. Bowels and all his coaches need to go.
Licht has been proven to be a complete failure. He needs to go away.
Baker sucks out loud and isnāt an NFL caliber QB, despite the obscene contract.
The Glazers should sell the team and move out of Tampa.
Time for a complete overhaul of everything.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:16 am
So Barton. Gone. Brendon Gone.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:20 am
Who goes in when Daniels goes down? With this offensive line, that’s a very high probability.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:24 am
I just hope Walker is the real deal and isnāt like Yaya. When Yaya was a rookie he was killing it with few snaps because teams werenāt game planning on him or had tape on him. Once he started playing more he pretty much leveled right out. Letās hope Walker takes a huge step and itās not just that teams have no tape on him. With all the Bucs money now tied to Baker, letās hope Walker can take over for Yaya and we can let him go get paid by someone else.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:36 am
I still have a compilation vision of Baker scrabbling and scrambling and scrambling.
Please!
Someone break every single play down and was Baker having happy feet or were those plays completely Fād
Oh
Bowling pin Barton has been EXPOSED as too weak to play NFL center!
September 28th, 2026 at 8:47 am
Todd Todd Todd – hereās the difference. You have no data, nothing that can actually be measured that would suggest a project run around guy will be anywhere near successful. You have nothing that would suggest Jalon will be in the same GALAXY that Baker was able to accomplish the first 2 years here. A few extra stupid rollouts will not change the fact that he will dirt half his throws and end up 11-24 for 136 yards, and a much higher probability that the offense will look even more inept than it has been. Classic football fan, always thinking the backup will be better or more exciting than the starter when that is rarely, if ever the case
September 28th, 2026 at 8:50 am
SB~LV … ‘Bowling pin Barton has been EXPOSED as too weak to play NFL center!’
So many said the exact same thing about Robert Hainsey playing Center. Yet here he is, the starting Center on the 3-0 Jags. Only missed 2 games since going with Coen to Jacksonville. Watched them yesterday, and Hainsey looked quite beastly in moving defenders off the LOS.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Joe can easily see the Bucs using Robinson as a scapegoat and tossing him overboard.
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Robinson isn’t the problem. Its hard to run an offense with an ineffective, scared QB. Baker has been seeing ghosts and abandoning plays since last year. Seems worse this season. He has a 45.7 qb rating. Is that Robinson’s fault, too?
September 28th, 2026 at 8:56 am
BTW Joe, on that interception by A’Shawn Robinson midway thru the 3rd qtr, I’m still convinced that no one touched him AFTER he caught the ball, and thus his score SHOULD have counted as a TD. They showed the play from a couple different angles, and one seemed pretty conclusive that he was touched BEFORE he caught the ball, but not AFTER. That 7 pts MIGHT have been the difference in the ballgame.
September 28th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Whatever hope the Bucs have of making the playoffs ā it is still a mathematical possibility ā may be blown up if Mayfield misses more than one game.
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I beg to differ. The more games he misses the better our chances of making the playoffs are.
September 28th, 2026 at 9:00 am
“So many said the exact same thing about Robert Hainsey playing Center. Yet here he is, the starting Center on the 3-0 Jags. Only missed 2 games since going with Coen to Jacksonville. Watched them yesterday, and Hainsey looked quite beastly in moving defenders off the LOS.”
AQ Shipley has been kicking his butt for like the last 3-4 summers, so there’s that which is amazing how players can improve themselves by working on their craft in their own time.
We don’t hear any of that from any of our players being paid big money, especially our limited QB
September 28th, 2026 at 9:01 am
So buckle up, Bucs fans. If the Bucs do not plunge into the abyss, it will mean Daniels was able to guide the Bucs through Mayfieldās absence.
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UHHHHH! In case you havn’t noticed, we’re there already. Thanks to Baker, there’s no where to fall and on one direction we can go. UP!!
September 28th, 2026 at 9:06 am
gotta flip Barton and Bredenson….put Barton at LG and Bredenson at C….Bredenson isnt as “strong” at the point of attack but he can communicate where the “twist” are coming from and provide help….Barton struggles in that area
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 28th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Joe cannot understand why the Bucs thought it was so much better yesterday to throw twice as many targets at mid tight end Cade Otton
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The fact that Baker threw to Cade that many times doesn’t mean the play was drawn up with that intention. From everything I have seen this season, it seems as if Baker abondons the play as soon as the ball is snapped. He’s obviously traumatized from the horrendous offensive line play from last year. He’s still see ghosts. So many times yesterday he caused the sack himself, running out of a sound pocket right ito the arms of waiting defenders. I could’ve gotten 2 sacks yesterday. And when he retreats from the pocket, the play is over because there’s no keeping his eyes downfield. He’s freaking ducking his head and cowering. Thank goodness for the calmand steadiness JD will bring back to the position. In the meantime Baker can try to recover from his PTSD from last season.
September 28th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Jalon Daniels is much more game ready than the average rookie , because he played 6 seasons at Kansas. Daniels put up his best numbers in his final year completing over 61% of his passes and throwing for 22 TD’s. Why do you think Tampa Bay kept Daniels instead of Browning?
September 28th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Gofortheface30 Says:
September 28th, 2026 at 8:47 am
…You have no data, nothing that can actually be measured that would suggest a project run around guy will be anywhere near successful. You have nothing that would suggest Jalon will be in the same GALAXY that Baker was able to accomplish the first 2 years here…
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There’s plenty of data to suggest that he can’t do much worse than Baker’s last 12 games, during which his TD to Turnover rate is 16 TD’s and 19 Turnovers. And he definitely can’t be much worse than Baker’s last three games.
September 28th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Am I the only one who thinks that Baker is Trent Dilfer 2.0?
September 28th, 2026 at 10:46 am
I love all these people out here to fire the head coach because the offensive coordinator the qb picked ahould be calling high school games. Did Bowles allow the punt return too? The ONLY bright spot was the Bowles defense so for one week yall need to take a pill and chill