Todd Bowles Explains How He Impacts Offensive Playcalling
September 16th, 2026
Is Todd Bowles hands off on the Buccaneers’ offense?
Sort of.
Bowles isn’t hovering over Zac Robinson and telling him what plays to call, though Bowles makes decisions on fourth down. But Bowles is using his influence leading up to a game.
Bowles explained yesterday on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“Well, my approach to the offense is to make sure they see everything on defense. So in the game it doesn’t surprise them as far as the pressures are concerned, as far as situations are concerned of what they’re gonna see,” Bowles said.
“All the blitzes they see should be pretty simple compared to what we give [the offense] in practice. You have call it periods for them so [Robinson] can go over situations and say, ‘I would call this if this was that; I would call that if that was this.’ And you have end of the game situations, you have backed-up situations, different third-down situations, always 2-minute, from needing two points to needing six points, obviously, to needing a two-point conversion backed up — whether it’s 2-minute, whether they get it on the 20 yard line or whether it’s 1st-and-goal and you got two or three plays left. You can go through all these scenarios so the coordinator can think the game. So those are my ways of helping impact how the coordinator calls plays.”
Simply summarized: Bowles makes sure his offensive coordinator has time in practice to see everything he will see on gameday. And, Joe strongly suspects, that gives Bowles opportunities to let the OC know where he sees weaknesses in a defense and suggest an attack plan.
September 16th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Bowles should have gone for two on the last td. He is just not an offensive minded person and really shouldn’t be affecting the offensive calls in any way.
September 16th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Me personally,
I believe Zac Robinson is an excellent offensive coordinator
He was handcuffed in Atlanta with Kirk Cousins turnovers
Then, after benching Cousins, Penix wasn’t any better
Now, his first game in Tampa, Baker turnovers ruined his debut
Zac has the right schemes, he call great plays
He just need a QB that can execute, and run his offense
September 16th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Zac abandons the run early and often…nothing about Zac screams great OC…if that was the case, he’d be an HC right now….much like Dave and Liam
GO BUCS!!!!
September 16th, 2026 at 10:32 am
I’m okay with Coach Bowles running Mayfield through the gauntlet of our defense trying to punch the ball out of Baker’s hands every day in practice. Other than that, he oughta stay as far away from the offense as possible.
Maybe he could be practicing with the defense, and discussing with them about when your QB fumbles in the red zone giving full effort resulting in a turnover and a touchback that letting the opponent go 80 yards for a touchdown is actually alot weaker than the fumble that was just committed.
Weak as baby shlt! Tell them, coach. Tell them that NFL statistics showed Burrow had more time than any QB in the league untouched!
September 16th, 2026 at 10:37 am
813..
That’s a pretty ridiculous take.
So in you’re opinion there are no good OCs in the NFL, because if they were any good, they would be HCs.
Come on man
September 16th, 2026 at 10:39 am
I would love to have been a fly on the wall for the first meeting between these two when his hiring was official.
“So Zac, WTF did you and Kirk Cousins see the last two years?”
September 16th, 2026 at 10:45 am
3 fumbles for turnovers had never happened in Baker’s career. He did have 3 turnovers against Miami last year.
Robinson and Baker are first in the NFL after one game in completion percentage. 83%. Lawrence and Jackson Dart were in the high 70’s and Purdy is fifth at 73%.
I watched Purdy throw the ugliest pick opening night, no, Mahomes threw an uglier pick – no, Stafford threw uglier picks- Mayfield making supreme effort and getting stripped of the ball and Cincinnati going 80 yards like they were facing the weakest defense in the league.
Leave Robinson and Baker alone, coach. And please, for Gods sake, put some pressure on the opposing QB. Please!
September 16th, 2026 at 10:53 am
Everything Todd touches turns to a steaming pile of cow dung.
Notice he can’t have the same conversation with his DC.
It’s obvious he has no clue how to scheme a defense against any team.
Now, if you need some KitKats polished off or a 5-1 start turned into 8-9, he’s your guy.
Two hats and zero brain cells.
September 16th, 2026 at 11:16 am
“Robinson and Baker are first in the NFL after one game in completion percentage. 83%.”
Grasping at air
September 16th, 2026 at 11:18 am
“All the blitzes they see should be pretty simple compared to what we give [the offense] in practice.”
If thats the case, then there is some major explaining to do for why our blitzes never sniff a QB and everyone else’s blitzes send our QB to the ground.
I know the answer, but I want to hear Bowles try to explain it with his apparently over-inflated head.
September 16th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Both sides of the ball had problems that need dealing with, to be sure. That said, absent maybe two of the fumbles we STILL win going away
September 16th, 2026 at 11:23 am
Probably explains why Liam Coen’s offense is even better in Jacksonville. He just needed to get Bowles out of his meeting room.
September 16th, 2026 at 11:57 am
No one else hardly ever mentions it but does Bowles and his OC’s know you can go to the hurry up offense before it’s the only option. When they were down 14-3 and even more they were taking their sweet a$$ time and using all the clock. They could of had at least another drive with all the time they wasted once down over a touchdown. Also, you can’t just assume that if you score that the Bengals are not gonna score as well and you will need even another drive. This repeated itself over and over and over last year. Also was a clear opportunity to go for 2 points on that last Buc touchdown. The TE’s ran free in the middle of the field just like always.
Everyone’s trying to say that Bowles didn’t lose this game, but he did us no favors with his game management. It sucks as always. Color me disgusted! He never changes.
Try something different!!! If Anzalone or other LBs are struggling in coverage, pull them out in obvious passing downs and put in extra safety or CB and have them cover the tight end.
September 16th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Just please ask him Joe why do you wait so long to go no huddle or hurry up! This has been consistent with all the OCs he has had so I’m pretty sure he’s the one making the decision on this. Feels like he’s afraid if the offense doesn’t get points, they’ll be out quicker and his defense will be back on the field sooner, given up even more yards and points.
September 16th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
You play to win the game not to protect your defense so that after you get fired, you can get a DC job. Just face facts Todd, you’re never getting another DC position. Maybe, you could get a defensive back coach job.
Play to win the game!!!
September 16th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
Fanofdabucs SAYS:So in you’re opinion there are no good OCs in the NFL, because if they were any good, they would be HCs.
NO clown thats not what i said…..
there are plenty of “good” OCs in the league….but they dont stay OCs for long..they become HCs
Dave was a good OC and he’s currently a HC
Liam was a good OC and he’s currently a HC
Klint Kubiak was a good OC and he’s currently an HC
if Zac was as good as you seem to think he is, he’d be the HC of the falcons or another NFL team…..he’s average at best…
obviously you dont know the difference between a good OC vs average OC….SMH!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 16th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
813bucboi
Zac Robinson need a decent QB
Instead of these turnover machines ruining his game plan
September 16th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Whatever looks you gave the O line, they weren’t paying attention.
September 16th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Lol can someone respond to DMbucs 2 pt conversion talk from sunday lol I swear Ive seen him comment that on 3 different stories. Who cares… hell bowles shouldve kicked a FG on 2nd down instead of letting mayfield fumble.
September 16th, 2026 at 2:37 pm
Should be simple from what we give. 🤦🏻♂️
Man he’s so delusional radio really thinks his defense is something huh?
That’s the problem!! He don’t see his defense is not good so he just leaves it. 👍