National Shots At Zac Robinson, Todd Bowles
September 24th, 2026
Bucs playcaller Zac Robinson,
It’s not just Playoff Lenny who thinks Todd Bowles has earned a bus ticket out of Tampa.
The two big NFL reporters at Sports Illustrated, league insider Albert Breer and Conor Orr, were very down on Tampa Bay after Sunday’s loss to the Browns.
Orr, who has a history with Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht, thinks Bowles’ 2027 fate already is determined.
“I don’t think it’s overstating that when we look back at this season as it is, and we are talking about the new Bucs coaching staff, this is going to be the game that we’re talking about,” Orr said on The MMQB podcast. “It’s frustrating for so many reasons that this team had no aggression on offense.”
Interestingly, co-host Breer, who often shares news directly from Licht, didn’t offer words of disagreement to Orr.
Breer said he didn’t like how the Bucs attacked the Browns after the two-hour lightning delay — on the game’s final drive.
The Bucs opened with two successful Bucky Irving runs to achieve a first down at the 19 yard line, Breer noted, and didn’t call another run. He called the Bucs offense “scattershot at the end.”
Joe would agree with the “scattershot” line because the Bucs offense hasn’t had a rhythm to it all season. However, Orr seems to have not watched the game. The Bucs were very aggressive to a degree with five deep shots (one complete to Tez Johnson) and receiver Ted Hurst dropped the likely winning touchdown pass on the final drive. (No need to make things up, Connor.)
One can’t be debated is that Todd Bowles has lost his support across the republic. SiriusXM NFL Radio host Pat Kirwan may be the lone Bowles holdout.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Zach Robinson is a punta
September 24th, 2026 at 10:08 am
@Joe, if the criteria for being considered eligible for the ROH is mediocrity and piss poor management of players and coaches, then Licht is the standard bearer. If it’s not, then give up the ROH moniker for him, because at this point, he sucks.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:15 am
just wait till they lose the next game as well
September 24th, 2026 at 10:21 am
Did we really expect anything different from the Bowles camp these season. Dude has no clue neither does ownership for keeping him this long.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:26 am
OK, here’s my best and last (admittedly amateur) shot at creating a fair offense vs. defense comparison, using ranks by (1) offensive points scored adjusted for field position from defensive turnovers, and (2) defensive points allowed adjusted for field position from offensive turnovers. Using this approach, the Bucs D is ranked 21st this year and the O is ranked 17th; last year, the D was ranked 19th and the O was ranked 21st. So, pretty balanced performance, overall. Go Bucs!
September 24th, 2026 at 10:27 am
Teams that begin 0-3 make the playoffs 2.4% of the time
Teams that start 0-4 make the playoffs less than 1% of the time.
So you are telling me there is still a chance?
Same chance as a snowball in hades.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:34 am
5-1 last year where did that get us…let’s not do math this morning and just admit we stink for the right now…long season and a lot of new pieces we have operating right now. Let’s see what happens this weekend before we go in full blown panic mode
September 24th, 2026 at 10:35 am
A few deep shots dont equal aggression. The total was 5 deep shots. –Joe
Overall the playcalling was dink and dunk, mainly behind the line of scrimmage. The deep shots mostly came in succession, not spread throughout the game. The feel was very passive throughout the game.
Robinson appears to run a very simple system, get the ball to the playmaker quick. Problem is, our top receivers all excellent at the mid range game.
The only thing I liked about the offensive plan was the final drive. Had 2 TD opportunities that they couldn’t execute.
The problem with the team is Bowles. Yes there are lots of other issues, but when the head coach is a problem you cannot evaluate everything else appropriately. Is the OC conservative because that is the direction of the HC? Is Baker tired of a passive head coach and trying to do it all on his own? Are the defensive players just confused and unable to grasp the D scheme?
September 24th, 2026 at 10:35 am
I’ll preface this that I don’t not think this is a playoff caliber team atm. But, maybe more of a chance than you think.
Texans started 0-3 last year with a dismal offense. Their D carried them the way, and by week 15 most ppl had the Texans as the AFC representative in the Super Bowl. It’s a long season, but need to se at least 2 of 3 phases start clicking
September 24th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Bowles ability to read the room is either non-existent or he is lying to himself and (everyone else) in relation to the fact that the players have checked-out. The media knows this as well, but they don’t want to be truthful about it because it could have a negative impact on ticket sales.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Over the last 4 years, Todd Bowles D has ranked outside the top 10 in PPG 3 times. As a head coach, his specialty is supposed to be the D. I understand that not everything is his fault, but can anyone point to something within the structure of the team that he has impacted for good? What confidence do you have in him to change this thing?
All I see is that our D is the most consistent thing we over the last 4 years. Bad tackling, confusion, unable to create pressure and cover TE every year without fail.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:49 am
Yes, unless a lot changes I think the Clevland game may be pivotal. However, it is a young season and teams go through ups and downs. However, yes Bolwes fate may be sealed as his defense, well, looks unchanged. This has ben going on to long now. All one has to do is look at Cinn. It appears that is a defense that has changed. On a prior post I indicated all the things that have not changed over the last few years. We all know them. It also may be that teams have just caught up to Bowles and his defensive schemes. Teams are using the same formula including Clevland with regular success. Bowles is not changing the defense. My only real question does he remain the whole season now?. A few more losses from here and the owners may just seek to get the inevitable started. I think that is where we are at today. A loss this weekend , which appears likely, may seal the deal. I think that is where we are at, not if but when.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:53 am
two “easy”-er games coming up with Murray and Love – will be interesting to see what not-ROH-worthy Fred-Flintstone-lookalike Tom-Brady-hand-puppet Jameis-selecting Bernie-Madoff-principled Jason Licht says if the team goes 0-4
September 24th, 2026 at 10:55 am
We delayed the inevitable for three seasons. This is NOT surprising to the fan base.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:57 am
I’m not sure what to make of the offense so far. (To be fair, 2 games IS a small sample size). The bubble screens with zero blocking set up seem pointless, I’m seeing no slants, and Bredeson gets blown up a LOT. AND we had 4 holds in that game, 2 by Barton, the last of which wrecked our final drive.
Defense: 6 years in, we’re STILL sitting in the soft zone, perfectly content to allow any pass completion under 7-8 yards, making the worst QB in the league look like Montana in his prime. THAT’S the thing that hacks me off the most
September 24th, 2026 at 10:58 am
It’s not Robinson fault that baker has gone Dilfer accurate. I was at the Cincy game. First drive and Baker missed a wide open Egbuka for a TD. That can’t happen. Big plays have been there but not hit. That changes the defense if they think you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. God I miss Brady’s deep ball. Go Bucs!!
September 24th, 2026 at 10:59 am
• No Confidence
September 24th, 2026 at 11:03 am
“Breer said he didn’t like how the Bucs attacked the Browns after the two-hour lightning delay — on the game’s final drive.”
2 HR break in action to regroup and come out with a plan to gain 28 yards for a score.
Incomplete, penalty on another incompletion, 3 yard run, and another incompletion. Whatever the plan was, that didn’t work out and the fact we didn’t even try to run the ball with timeouts left was dumb.
That first 2nd & 3 coming out should’ve been a run, before we went into the break Bucky on the same drive had 3 runs for 14 yards, not great but I’m convinced the first play being a pass coming out of the delay was misguided.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:35 am
If you call yourself a sports news reporter then if you watched the game you know Hurst was interfered on that pass that was never called but don’t say anything about Mayfield over throw off the final play that should’ve went for a touch down.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:40 am
“If you call yourself a sports news reporter then if you watched the game you know Hurst was interfered on that pass that was never called but don’t say anything about Mayfield over throw off the final play that should’ve went for a touch down.”
Orlovosky saying we missed on 1 or 2 deep passes, loooooooool
September 24th, 2026 at 11:43 am
I said it after the game
The Bucs had over 2 hours to game plan for 28 yards
They needed 28 yards to win it, and over 2 hours to plan it
But the Browns defense was more prepared to stop them
I’ve never seen anything like it in my life
It was basically a 2 hour huddle
September 24th, 2026 at 11:47 am
“The Bucs had over 2 hours to game plan for 28 yards
They needed 28 yards to win it, and over 2 hours to plan it
But the Browns defense was more prepared to stop them”
2 hours and 28 yards is the new 3rd & 28
September 24th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Yup when you lose against the doo doo browns you are doo doo as well and people all around are going to state the obvious.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Another problem with keeping Bowles, no competent OC wanted to work with him so they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel and got Robinson. Couldn’t get anything better than atlantas sloppy seconds.
September 24th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Would John or Jim Harbaugh win a SB with Baker and this roster?
Would any coach in the league?
Jason Licht you there??
September 24th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Remember todd defense is old and outdated and never has been upgraded..every team knows how to attack it with absolute ease
I said before the draft mini camp etc…its a 4-6 win team ONLY BECAUSE OF COACHING..
We saw what bake does with great coaching
Mike tomlin 2027
Tbh 4 wins will be extremely hard…i kind of want us to lose , if it gets rid of todd
September 24th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Y’all need to wake the hell up!!!
It’s not Zak!! ITS FREAKEN BAKER MAYFIELD that’s the issue.
He’s failing to go thru his reads this year and he’s acting like David Carr after after he got sacked so much.
Crossing routes and in-breaking routes were open several times in the Cleveland game. Video replays prove it!!!!!!!
I dogged Robinson initially until I saw the videos.
This is all Mayfield’s issues on the offense!!!!!
TIME TO PUT IN THE KID, JALON DANIELS!!!!!
September 24th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Prepping for Mike Tomlin to be next HC….discipline and fundamentals would return to Tampa Bay..
September 24th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
3-10 in the last 13 games. We have only beat the Saints, Cardinals, and Panthers in that span.
Any team with a pulse easily rolls over the Swiss cheese scheme.
This is year five of the lobotomy patient regression regime.
I’m just going to assume there’s some pics and vids of Glazer kids in compromised situations.
September 24th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
TB cost us a second straight trip to the SB when he blitz Stafford at the end of the NFC championship game. KUPP got the ball in FG range, game over. He should have never been given the HC job. The game has passed him by. Do it nicely, but let him go already
September 24th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
I agree a lot of it is Mayfield. My most disliked player as of last game. Mr no accountability. I blame him and Boweles. But the main players are Lichtenstein and the owners for letting this charade go on. Only fans that you will get spending money are those from opposing teams waiting for the Bucs and Mayfield to get spanked.
September 24th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
If anyone doesn’t realize it’s over for ‘26 and for Todd, it’s over.
It’s possible a Todd firing might provide a small bump but it’ll be temporary.
Not only will schemes and coaches change, but entire approaches and processes will be revamped: meetings, when we do something, why we do something, communication strategies and so on. Attention to detail and accountability will be at the top if the list.
All the players need to be reprogrammed on how to go about their jobs, not just on the field, in film review, training, etc.
September 24th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
lets trade godwin for jsn, bowles for macdonald and robinson for kubiak lets see how baker and darnold would do . throw in kenneth walker for bucky although bucky is cool
September 24th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
I’m not a fan of the play calling I’ve seen from Zac overall, but the fact is he called a perfect play on 4th down, Baker wasn’t under pressure, and had a wide open e2 for a touchdown that wins the game.
Isn’t that what coaches are supposed to do? What else should he have done there?
The fact that all the pressure isn’t on our very expensive franchise quarterback, for missing an easy throw to win the game, is complete nonsense.
The coaches, the offensive line, the receivers, everyone did their job on that play except one guy – Baker Mayfield.
Just like Baker Mayfield also lost the opener as well.
September 24th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
How long will it be before the Bucs realize that the contract Mayfield signed is going to cripple the team. What can we do?
We can work a deal with the New York Giants. They lost starting QB,Dart, for the season. They might be interested in Mayfield. How about Mayfield for Winston. This could save the Bucs big money as Winston’s pay is around 5 million. That’s 45 million saved. Suddenly, Winston doesn’t look so bad.
September 24th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
How do you defend a coach who loses 54% of the time over many seasons?
September 24th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
56%*
September 24th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
3 more years Rod.
September 24th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Not impressed with Zac yet.
September 24th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
I didn’t watch the second half of the game. After watching the over throws and the offense just looking bad, I just flipped over to a baseball game. Nevertheless, as I’ve said and I am sure others have said many times, if he had caught that td pass or not gotten that bad penalty, they would’ve won the close, could’ve or should’ve don’t win playoff game or the Superbowls
September 24th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
It feels like our worst offensive games are when they decide “The other team is bad at defending this, so we’ll ONLY run this.” Why not just try to do what your offense is good at?
September 24th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
It was a given, no hot shot OC would come to Tampa with Bowles already on the hotseat. The Bucs had to pick from the leftovers.
September 24th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Bucfan1988
Lmao.
So, you think Mayfield suddenly forgot how to play QB? Just slipped his mind?
The QB that has the top two seasons in Buc history?
The MVP of the ProBowl 3 years ago suddenly doesn’t know how to play football.
The QB that won division titles, and took us to the playoffs, now doesn’t know how to what a football is.
It’s not the leagues worst offensive line? An OC that has only coached bad offenses. A miserable HC? Terrible WR room? Weak TEs?
No. You think it’s the only really good offensive player we have, since Wirfs has decided to stop trying.
Mayfield, Irving, and Goedeke are playing good.the rest of the offense is playing like garbage. I almost think they’ve quit on Bowles.
Despite that, Mayfield had given us a 4 point lead, very late in the 4th quarter.
You know, I shouldn’t feel this way. But when a Buc fan post absolute stupid, clueless post- I feel like it reflects on all of us.
September 24th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
What ownership must be thinking about at this point is how extensive the turnover is going to be at the end of this lost season. Coaches, players, team management – does anybody stay or do they all go. Trying to keep the winning window open has obviously failed.
September 24th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
The Glazers don’t typically fire coaches during the season, but after the season, Bowles, Robinson and the rest of the Bucs coaches will be looking for jobs.
September 24th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
I heard today that there is dissent among the Glazers clan about what to do about TB. Interesting…. It would be nice if the owners showed a little passion for their investment.