Jon Gruden Picks Bucs To Lose To Vikings; Questions Offensive Line
September 24th, 2026
The Bucs’ first Super Bowl coach had tough talk for his old team.
Jon Gruden, aka Chucky, joins his brother Jay on the Gruden Family Football Show every week to talk NFL. On today’s edition, Chucky expressed some sadness and disbelief at the state of his beloved Buccaneers.
“The offensive line is supposed to be this great strength. [Graham] Barton has two holding penalties; we give up [three] sacks [against the Browns,]” Chucky said. “It’s been very helter skelter. Mayfield does throw a perfect pass to Ted Hurst [in the end zone late]; I think the ball should have been caught.
“Where’s Emeka Egbuka? Where the hell is he? I mean where’s [Chris] Godwin? They gotta get these receviers in the game …
“But the Buccaneers, they’re going to have to pass protect [against the Vikings]. You know, these tight ends, Cade Otton, they’re going to have to pick up blitzes, Bucky Irving — because Chicago didn’t do it [against the Vikings]. That’s the key to the game. You gotta play better without the ball — sight adjusts, blitz pickups, run audibles. I don’t know where Tampa is but they better find themselves in a hurry because the Vikings are going to play better now with [quarterback] Kyler Murray. You will see; he will scramble around and make plays. And [Vikings RB] Aaron Jones had over 100 yards rushing. I like the Vikings, unfortunately.”
Jay Gruden, the former Bengals playcaller and Washington head coach, added that the Bucs offense looks like they don’t know what they’re doing. “They’re struggling in everything they do,” he said.
Ira Kaufman Talks Todd Bowles’ Future, A Questionable Personnel Decision, Two Bucs Strengths, And More
September 24th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
refreshing when a guy who knows what hes talking about validates my questions. the person im least concerned about on this offense is baker and bucky
September 24th, 2026 at 10:01 pm
I think even the bucs are picking the Vikings to win.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Swap Bowles for Gruden. That will bring excitement back and pack the stadium. Bowles is the leader of a rudderless ship. Everyone can see it – except a certain family.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:11 pm
“Where’s Emeka Egbuka? Where the hell is he?”
———
He was wide open in the end zone on the last play of the game for an easy touchdown. You know, the pass that Baker missed to lose the game.
Also e2 had a TD earlier in the game.
Also, watch the All22, Godwin, e2, Hurst, Tez, everyone was running wide open all day.
Also, for the offensive line criticism, this is the 2nd week in a row that Baker has held the ball for over 3 seconds. He’s had guys wide open, but instead of throwing the ball, he does what he always does when he loses confidence, he hesitates, starts bouncing up and down, pats the ball, then starts running in a circle.
Baker is the one costing the team games. Period.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
Barton to guard and Bredeson to center. What are waiting for?
September 24th, 2026 at 10:20 pm
Nice response Munch!!!
The offensive failures sure as hell aren’t on the O-line.
It’s a failure of our $165 million QB from simply going thru his reads AND THROWING TO THE OPEN RECEIVER!!!!!!
Dudes were running in-routes, and crossers against the Browns and they were wide ass open!!!!!!!
Baker is a total failure. What a waste of money by the Glazers!!!
September 24th, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Deep thoughts as I sip my second Corona while the Falcons go up 24-7……
Are we the worst team in the NFC South?
September 24th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
anyone paying attention to how stefanski has the falcons offense running with pennix in his first game back in a year , its only going to get better for them . #coaching matters
September 24th, 2026 at 10:25 pm
See you all Sunday night to talk about head coaches and draft. Get the articles ready Joe…
September 24th, 2026 at 10:28 pm
anyone notice cousins going 2-0 with the raiders ? #coachingmatters
September 24th, 2026 at 10:31 pm
We are going nowhere this season. So I am in favor of whatever is going to get us a new Head Coach. Bowles should have been replaced two years ago and all he has done is run this team deeper and deeper into the ground. Enough already.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
To be fair, (he still played like trash) he threw the game winning TD, it was dropped.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:50 pm
The Falcon team destroying the Packers tonight would roll the Yuccs no question. Gonna be a long, aggravating year. Thanks money grubbing Glazers.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:51 pm
Bucs are about to officially be at the bottom of what “Joe” refers to the NFC South dumpster fire when the Falcons finish their upset against the Pack here shortly.
Suddenly I hear Rob Schneider….”We suck again.”
September 24th, 2026 at 10:52 pm
Losing to a Kyler Murray quarterbacked team at home is almost as bad as losing to a Browns team anywhere.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Que Mrs. Godwin going off on Tik tok…..that’ll shake things up😊
September 24th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Chunky making his move to be Bucs next coach ( NFL & Roger would never allow it ).
September 24th, 2026 at 11:02 pm
Chucky only won because he was handed Dungy’s team.
Once that dope got Rich McKay fired, and inserted his stooge Bruce Allen as GM, the Bucs didn’t win anything. Monte is the only reason they ever had a chance – the offense was trash, year in, year out.
Anyone wanting Gruden is just remembering things through rose tinted glasses and forgot how he destroyed what should have been a dynasty. He cut Lynch, let Sapp walk, so he could sign a washed up Charlie Garner to a big deal, so he could sign a washed up Tim Brown, so he could sign every injured 35+ year old offensive lineman sitting on their couch.
I like Gruden on TV, I like his YouTube stuff, I do not want him anywhere near the Bucs HC or GM job.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Mike C Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
To be fair, (he still played like trash) he threw the game winning TD, it was dropped.
———
No, he literally missed the game winning TD pass.
Also, again, saying that Hurst is supposed to be Mike Evans, and make heavily contested catches on a wet field when the defender is right on top of him is ridiculous. It’s a play very few people make – and it’s why Evans is a 1st ballot HOFer.
Regardless, the next pass, the 4th down pass, e2 was wide open, it was a very easy pass, and Baker flat out missed it. A franchise QB should be able to make 2 good throws in a row, and the 2nd wasn’t even a good throw, it was a basic throw.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Agreed Munch. He destroyed what would have been a dynasty.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:08 pm
Of course, HE’s blaming the “Offensive-Line.” Since, HE was the one shouting from the rooftops, for the Bucs to EXTEND BAKER for GAZILLIONS of dollars. Just SO empty, stupidly and recklessly, without a care in the world. An IDIOT.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:09 pm
mccardell , Pittman and jurevicius joined the bucs due do gruden.the bucs couldnt score enough points with dungys team when dungy was coach.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:09 pm
No to Gruden and he’ll no to Tomlin.
Here’s a fun one to think about. Glazers love being relevant, having the Bucs on the national media scene. There’s a coach out there with a very impressive resume. Knows our GM. Currently coaching in college but probably wants a shot at an NFL team.
I mean, it worked for his old qb. And North Carlonia isn’t a great program……
Scared yet? LOL
September 24th, 2026 at 11:16 pm
@ 74 Bucs Fan Says: “Swap Bowles for Gruden. That will bring excitement back and pack the stadium.”
Lmao. You do!? You think people are going to “Pack the Stadium,” because of GRUDEN!? LoL. Delusional. Pure FANTASY. You are stuck in a freaking FANTASYLAND.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Yes, Baker obviously missed his second shot at the TD. But he did make the first one. We’re not asking Hurst to be Evans, just a wide receiver catching a ball that hits you in the hands. Listen we all know where you stand regarding the quarterback, I’m not happy with him either, but no one player single-handedly loses any game where he has 21 teammates. Literally. You can repeat it a thousand more times to go with the thousand times you already mentioned it, it won’t make it any more true.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Pro Football Network’s OL Impact Score, which covers each team’s whole offensive line through Week 2, ranks Tampa Bay 32nd out of 32…and the IOL has been the +worse+ piece of that stat. Seems like Gruden might be on to something, no?
September 24th, 2026 at 11:20 pm
Leaning towards a 0-17 season…
No im serious
September 24th, 2026 at 11:20 pm
@ Rod Munch Says: “Where’s Emeka Egbuka? Where the hell is he?”
Yeah, Gruden is fulluvit and these people STILL haven’t figure that out yet! It’s a real “slow to the party” bunch. Lmao.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:23 pm
Now that the Falcons won, we are in sole possession of last place!!
September 24th, 2026 at 11:25 pm
Steven007 Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Yes, Baker obviously missed his second shot at the TD. But he did make the first one.
——-
So the pro-Baker argument is that he shouldn’t be expected to be able to make two good passes in a row?
This is literally what the anti-Baker crowd has said for years, he’s inconsistent, chokes in the biggest moments, and because of that he’s not a franchise QB.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:25 pm
Until I came across JBF, I don’t think I had ever in my life heard anyone argue that an underperforming OL was irrelevant to a QB’s performance. It just seems like such a transparently wacky position to take. Oh, well.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:27 pm
Rod Munch Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 11:02 pm
Chucky only won because he was handed Dungy’s team.
Once that dope got Rich McKay fired, and inserted his stooge Bruce Allen as GM, the Bucs didn’t win anything. Monte is the only reason they ever had a chance – the offense was trash, year in, year out.
Anyone wanting Gruden is just remembering things through rose tinted glasses and forgot how he destroyed what should have been a dynasty. He cut Lynch, let Sapp walk, so he could sign a washed up Charlie Garner to a big deal, so he could sign a washed up Tim Brown, so he could sign every injured 35+ year old offensive lineman sitting on their couch.
I like Gruden on TV, I like his YouTube stuff, I do not want him anywhere near the Bucs HC or GM job.
Lets keep it real Rod
Gruden won with his offense and Tonys defense
Gruden added a RB Pittman, , 2WR McCardell ,Joe Jurevicius and 3 Tight ends Ken Dilger, Dudley, Battaglia. If Tony was not so thick headed, he could have done what Gruden did.
Brooks and Sapp have talked different Times, how they would give up diddley, and yet Tony would hold the D so accountable, but Tony never did that to the offense.
Gruden won with Tonys Defense but Grudens offense, that is exactly what happened. BTW, I am not a Gruden fan, I am thankful for the Championship he helped win, but not a chucky fan.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
Vikings 20 Bucs 10.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
JustVisiting Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Pro Football Network’s OL Impact Score, which covers each team’s whole offensive line through Week 2, ranks Tampa Bay 32nd out of 32…and the IOL has been the +worse+ piece of that stat. Seems like Gruden might be on to something, no?
———–
Question.. how long has Baker been holding the ball for, and what is the NFL average.
When your QB is holding the ball for over 3 seconds, has guys who are wide open and refuses to throw the ball, instead starts bouncing up and down, patting the ball, then running in circles, yes, the offensive line is going to look bad when it comes to pressures. If Baker was doing his job, getting the ball out in under 2.7 seconds, suddenly the line would look better – and no, Baker isn’t holding it because guys aren’t open, the tape clearly shows guys open all over the place, and it shows Baker hesitating to throw it, and instead tucking the ball or holding it and dumping it to a RB.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:30 pm
August 1976 Buc Says:
Gruden added a RB Pittman, , 2WR McCardell ,Joe Jurevicius and 3 Tight ends Ken Dilger, Dudley, Battaglia. If Tony was not so thick headed, he could have done what Gruden did.
=========
During the Bucs SB run, the defense gave up a net of 3 points – for all 3 games.
When you add in their defensive scores, and don’t count garbage like Tom Tupa giving up a TD on special teams, the Bucs literally gave up 1 point per game.
That’s why they won the SB. Not because Gruden’s 24th ranked offense.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:31 pm
August 1976 Buc… I’ve gone over all of this with Rod and his Dungy’s team nonsense.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:32 pm
@ Drunk Bucs Fan Says: “Deep thoughts as I sip my second Corona while the Falcons go up 24-7……
Are we the worst team in the NFC South?”
ABSOLUTELY 💯, if they had Jalon Walker, and James Pearce Junior. That’s quite the Draft-Class there, when you also add Watts… INSANE. If Penix and the rest of them are all ‘healthy’ on Offense, they are an ‘ELITE-group’ on that side of the ball… Bijan, Drake, & Pitts are all FREAKS (and are still only 25-years old). The Packers Defense is in total turmoil without Micah Parsons… He can’t get back soon enough. They’re digging themselves a huge hole, and LaFleur might not make-it until the end of the season.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:33 pm
And there he goes…
September 24th, 2026 at 11:35 pm
Rod…. Dungy tried many times and failed that’s why he was replaced with an offensive minded coach in Gruden.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:36 pm
Buc1987 Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 11:33 pm
And there he goes…
———
The defense was simply ready to win that year, period. Doesn’t matter if it was Dungy, Gruden, Spurrier, Parcells – whoever was coaching that team, so long as they left Monte in place and let him do his job, that team was winning a SB.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:38 pm
Not with that offensive roster.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:39 pm
@ Let em bake Says: “Que Mrs. Godwin going off on Tik tok…..that’ll shake things up😊”
She should be just fine. He got HIS MONEY for nothing, last season. So, she’d be REAL SMART to keep her mouth SHUT. Cause, HE ain’t got SPIT to say. Definitely not for HER to be yappin.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:40 pm
Unfortunately, I’m sure we won’t make anyone’s desired personnel changes until it’s too late to salvage the season.
Ridiculous, but it’s a Bucs Life.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:40 pm
Buc1987 Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 11:31 pm
August 1976 Buc… I’ve gone over all of this with Rod and his Dungy’s team nonsense.
Buc1987 Says:
September 24th, 2026 at 11:33 pm
And there he goes… lol lol
I guess Rod forgot that the Bucs could not get past Philly, their defense would shut down the Bucs, and it spelled doom for Dungy. I lived through this crap.
It was the offense that was the difference. At the time when the Bucs won that year, it was the 5th most dominant Super Bowl and playoff run. The Defense was its dominant self, but they had the missing link, they had an offense. The play to Jurevicius totally flipped the game against the Eagles when they shut down the Vet. Oh that was offense huh, what do you know.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:41 pm
That happens a lot in football. A coach loses his job and has done a good job of building a team then a new coach is hired to win a championship and does.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tony Dungy but the “fans” were demanding a new coach who could take them to the Super Bowl. And that’s exactly what the Glazers and Jon Gruden did. And that’s exactly why he’s in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.
Jon Gruden knows football inside and out and if he says the oline is the problem he’s right.
I hope our Bucs can make the correction before the Minnesota game !!
Go Bucs !!
September 24th, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Vikings 24
Bucs 17
Tonight the Falcons looked like they are better than the Bucs….
September 24th, 2026 at 11:48 pm
I am amazed that the line is only Vikes by 1.5 and a -124 moneyline. You’s think it would be Vikes by 3.5 or more. The Bucs just lost to Cleveland. The Vikes are getting their starting QB back and the Flores blitzing D is going to give Baker the happy feet. Hard to think the Bucs even keep it close on Sunday. It seems like Vegas thinks it will be a 23-20 game. I am puzzled. One thing, being how Todd makes opposing TEs looks like Gronk in his prime every Sunday, I may make a small wager on Heckenson to score a TD on the props line, it opened at +330 and has dropped to +290 as people figure out he is up against Anzalone and Bowles. Mi
September 24th, 2026 at 11:51 pm
Rod: It looked to me like the IOL collapsed quickly with some frequency during the Browns game. It seemed to me like when Baker held the ball it was often because he was dodging pressure. If he was actually dodging pressure because he was holding the ball, then obviously your analysis is correct, and mine is mistaken. But the only way I know to resolve the question calls for time-to-pressure data that only seems to exist behind a pay wall.
I like Baker, but he’s not a personal friend or family member, and I don’t get a cut of his earnings. I’ll be mildly disappointed if he crashes and burns, professionally, but that’s as far as it goes. I don’t feel any need to prove he’s a good QB.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:00 am
I believe that SumerSports has Baker’s time to throw this season at 2.77 seconds and the league avg for QBs with 40+ plays is 2.71.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:05 am
I also think it’s more likely that swings in performance in a team sport have external drivers than that they’re solely about the individual. I would be looking for situatioonal explanations whether I loved or hated the player in question.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:08 am
If you go and watch the offense the last 2 games, there many times Baker is holding the ball too long. Reminds me of Jameis. There is times Baker had the ball over 4 seconds. When Coen was here, Baker would get the ball out a lot quicker. When QBs in the NFL hold the ball, they get beat. Baker needs to learn how to win, if the play is not there, get rid of the ball, on to the next play. Baker has plenty of arm, get the ball out, if he holds it like he has been, then a losing season is assured.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:11 am
@ Bartow Buc – You do know Gruden has not been ‘right’ on ANYTHING in a real long time, if ever!? He’s a HUGE CLOWN. I actually WATCH HIM quite a bit, and his takes are always HORRIBLE, and soooo farrrr ‘out of touch’ with the modern-game. Seriously, he’s soooo terribly, just WRONG about everything he says, that NO ONE even takes him seriously, anymore. He has ZERO instincts. Especially, when it comes to players an evaluating TALENT. I mean, EVERY move he made for the Raiders, was AWFUL. He’s just way off on everything, and it’s just not even CLOSE. It’s really embarrassing for HIM. Literally, NO ONE takes him seriously. I mean, it’s SO BAD that it makes you think that he’s really NOT watching any of these games. Cause, he doesn’t have the FRST CLUE what he’s talking about. He’s a HUGE JOKE. And, I hate that… Because, I LOVED HIM. I’ve always been told that I look just like him now, for over 25-YEARS. Though, I’ve always been in MUCH BETTER shape… He does have a lot more hair LoL. But, he just rambles on about stuff, and again… It’s just REAL BAD. It’s like, he’s a relic at this point. NOT a clue. With that said, I believe that he is still entertaining, and could still possibly be a good “color-guy” in the booth. He’s likable. Just DUMB. And, the game has just waaayyy passed him by, a very looong time ago.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:13 am
Sometimes Jon lets his passion overload his brain but I have to agree with him on this one. He nailed it.
Zac and the entire offense need to sit down and get it figured out. What I saw Sunday was not an NFL offense. Bucky can run the ball but can he or anyone else pick up a blitz? Godwin did not forget how to get open. 3 targets? Doubling WR? Find the open man. Otten should have had a career day Sunday. 38 yards? Screens are not working Zac! O line is a mystery to me. They don’t look like the same dudes…Wow! Baker needs to settle down and play ball. That was rookie stuff.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:19 am
And, I do “Thank Him” for bringing us BOTH of our Super Bowl Titles. Cause, if not FOR HIM… Brady would’ve been a RAIDER, instead. He told Mark Davis, HAIL NO. So, I appreciate him for that! BUT, it goes to show once more, that he didn’t know what the hell he was doing again. He CANNOT DRAFT, or put a team together… He. Has. NO. INSTINCTS.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:22 am
August: If Baker is holding the ball for four seconds while he has open targets and space to throw, then that’s clearly on him, and a huge problem.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:43 am
Yes its a big problem with Baker, needs to learn how to win. Holding the ball gets you beat in the NFL.
September 25th, 2026 at 12:50 am
You can flat-out SEE receivers running wide-open, while Baker’s eyes and head are constantly looking deep down the field, tapping the ball, double clutching, & etc. while watching them run straight lines. You have to know WHO’s going to be open, where you’re going with the ball, and to take what the DEFENSE is giving him. You’d think by now, he’d been in the league long enough, to be able to ADAPT. But, it appears that he still obviously, only knows just ONE-WAY. Or, he’s just wanting to do it “HIS WAY,” by playing HIS best version of “LAMAR BAKER” – His teammates and everyone else, be damned. He keeps chasing that HIGH. It’s no different than any other ADDICT. He was REALLY lovin’ himself’s some of that “Baker” who was standing up there at that podium, and basking in ALL of the ‘attention’ during that little ‘winning-streak’ last season, while getting to hear those MVP chants. Cause, you have to REMEMBER… It’s always, just all about BAKER 24/7/365.
September 25th, 2026 at 1:30 am
There’s zero reason to think the Bucs are going to suddenly learn their assignments they each player had problems at different points of the Browns game within a span of a week.
I stopped gambling out of boredom a few years ago, but some of the trends with the Bucs are impossible to ignore.
Vegas has the Bucs *favored* in this game by -1.5. The Bucs are 0-11 against the spread since last season. I’d be crazy not to bet against them.
September 25th, 2026 at 1:40 am
Now, talk about not having any ‘instincts’ or even the first clue, about the modern day trend of the ENTIRE LEAGUE. Or, about what was best moving forward, for the future of your OWN TEAM. It was just SO PATHETIC. And, then cue the whole FREAK-OUT!? Embarrassing, STUPID. Just SO WEAK. And, again… LAZY and INCOMPETENT. It’s a Bucs Life.
September 25th, 2026 at 2:03 am
August 1976 Buc Says:
It was the offense that was the difference. At the time when the Bucs won that year, it was the 5th most dominant Super Bowl and playoff run.
———-
LOL! What?!?
WOW, I don’t even have a clue where you’re pulling that nonsense from, but it’s completely fake news.
Just look at the expected points stats, which gives a generic overview of how the offense / defense and special teams performed…
vs 49ers… Off: 6.46 Def: 22.73 Sp Tms: -5.49
@ Eagles… Off: -2.90 Def: 24.00 Sp Tms: -8.10
vs Raiders… Off: 4.38 Def: 36.42 Sp Tms: -9.42
Zero means they did nothing special – just are average. Getting around a 10 means they had a very good game. Getting around a 20 is exceptional, getting anything over 30 is pretty much unheard of.
The offense was not the 5th best of all time by any metric, ever.
Meanwhile the defense was literally the best playoff defense in NFL history.
Those are facts.
September 25th, 2026 at 2:42 am
Get lost fake fans.
Bowles knows what he’s doing. This is all part of the plan. The 8 game win streak starts Sunday!
Go Bucs.
September 25th, 2026 at 3:18 am
Rod you know Tony was fired because he could not get past Philly, because they could not score enough to win 2 years in a row, the season ended in Philly. Then Gruden installs an offense that Tony could have done. Tony was fired because he would not change. If Gruden was not hired, the offense would have been the same neandrethal crap Tony loved to run. Gruden installed an offense to complement the Defense and won a Super Bowl period. Figured someone like you would know it takes an offense too. If not, then 1999, 2001 the Bucs would have won also. BTW 1976 Steelers and the 85 Bears were better defense. I wish the Bucs were the best ever, but that is not real either, like oh, the Bucs won the Super Bowl with only Defense, what a joke. You know thats exactly why Gruden was hired, to build an offense. And he accomplished that. Then destroyed the team in the following just like you said. Thats why I am not a fan of Chucky
September 25th, 2026 at 3:31 am
ROD….I said the 5th most dominant run, playoffs and Super, PLAYOFFS AND SUPER BOWL, I read that standing in Winn Dixie in Thonotosassa right after they won the Super. BOWL YES 5TH most Dominant run through the PLAYOFFS AND SUPER BOWL. AT THE TIME THEY DID IT.
That takes Offense and Defense, not a just defense. I GUESS YOU NEED GLASSES, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN READ IT. THE 5th MOST DOMINANT RUN DURING PLAYOFFS AND SUPER BOWL. AGAIN I READ THAT SOON AFTER THEY STOMPED THE RAIDERS.
September 25th, 2026 at 5:50 am
There wasn’t much talk about it, but I recall that OC Robinson said shortly after being hired he was going to install a zone blocking scheme to open up the running and short passing game. My eyebrows raised at the time. Recall that when Liam Coen was hired as OC, he tried the same thing. It failed, and during the bye week he switched back to using man blocking. That was when the Bucs running game really took off. It seems that Bucs OL personell simply don’t adapt well to zone blocking, for whatever reason. IDK why Bucs coaches continue to pound square pegs into round holes, repeating the same mistake doesn’t get a different result.
September 25th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Rod Munch…
Hey bud if dungy was so good and it was dungys team why did we have to fire him to a win a Super Bowl? Dungy was pretty average with us he was a slight upgrade over Bowles routinely going 10-6 like Bowles goes 9-8… we were stuck in 3rd gear and we likely would of never won the Super Bowl if the move wasn’t made. No one says gruden brought a top 5 offense but the offense he brought was at least competent and played complimentary football to the D.
The only thing you got right is it was MONTE’s defense. The defense was strong long after Dungy left remaining top tier until 2005 or so. The dynasty talk is cute but the reality is we were in cap hell from McKay moves prior to gruden even getting here it was inevitable that we’d lose pieces. We also had no first round draft picks from the trade to get gruden here…
That being said I’m grateful to both but I think we need a more modern offensive mind to bring to us and leave gruden in the past as one of our greats along with Dungy.
September 25th, 2026 at 7:38 am
Gruden understands the game on both sides of the ball. Bowles? No. I would love to see Gruden hired as out next coach regardless of what RM has to say. Gruden is a proven winner who will bring much need discipline along with some meaningful game plans. After we’re 3-0 there should be no visitation.
September 25th, 2026 at 7:38 am
hesitation.
September 25th, 2026 at 7:42 am
ROD; you can’t keep glossing over the fact Baker threw a dime, in the rain to Hurst and if he catches it Baker looks like a stud and we win the game….If its pass interference, like it seemed and u eluded to, its first and goal and we win the game…and the narrative is completely different for this team
September 25th, 2026 at 8:37 am
We are 2 and 9 out of our last 11. We just lost to Cleveland at home….You pick against the Bucs every week until we prove otherwise.
I’m a Baker fan when he’s making $30m or so, he needs help to win…when you are making $55m you have to win that game on Sunday. Plus, you don’t fumble 3x in the first game.
My fear for signing Baker prior to the season was just what we are seeing – if this season goes sideways…will Baker’s contract impact who we can hire as our next head coach?
Go Bucs!!!
September 25th, 2026 at 9:19 am
dungy won a super bowl with mannings team
September 25th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Some stones from Chucky rather than the normal fluff about the team. Good for him.
September 25th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
I agree with John Gruden
September 25th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Joe, can Rod be muted after three comments on each post? It’s all the same thing. Baker is the only problem on this team and Rod is obviously smarter than every analyst dissing ALL parts of this team.