“We Hadn’t Put In Everything To Access His Talents”
September 30th, 2026
Odd comment from One Buc Palace this afternoon.
Seventh-year Bucs safety Antoine Winfield is a former All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. Bucs head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has worked with Winfield since his strong rookie season in 2020.
Bowles adores Winfield and believes he’s the stud player Team Glazer is paying him top dollar to be.
Today, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman asked Bowles how he will go about putting Winfield in position to make more splash plays.
“We just gotta use him more,” Bowles replied. “We hadn’t put in everything to access his talents. And we’re working on that right now.”
Huh? This is a cornerstone player, a captain, a guy who has made big-time plays in years past. Why was he not maximized for that playmaking ability in Weeks 1 through 3?
Joe’s not sure why.
But the numbers say Winfield has gone 17 games without a forced fumble and 8 games without an interception. Once a feared blitzer; Winfield’s got 2 quarterback hits in his last 17 games and no sacks. Also in the past 17 games, Winfield has just 2 tackles for loss.
Strange.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
bowls
stupid is as stupid does
September 30th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Bowles is lost
September 30th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Well duh, Winfield dropped back 20-30 yards on almost every play. So much for tight man coverage that sometimes yields an interception
September 30th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Bowles is terrible
September 30th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Its a work in progress
September 30th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
I know the answer. Todd Bowles is in over his head as HC. Either that, or he has dementia. I prefer to believe the former.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
They just need to coach him up better. He just needs to play it better. Everything is in place. Very close!
September 30th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Damn does he have the Glazers fooled. I would think billionaires don’t fool easily. LMFAO
September 30th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
Todd “The Lame Duck” Bowles.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
“Huh? This is a cornerstone player, a captain, a guy who has made big-time plays in years past. Why was he not maximized for that playmaking ability in Weeks 1 through 3?
Joe’s not sure why.”
Got a bunch of new faces who are all new to the scheme, can’t let Winfield freelance when he’s covering a boundary CB, or making sure our ILBs are on their game and anything else. Get the basics down first, then you can start doing the sexy stuff. Winfield is Lavonte now in terms of leadership and I’ve seen him with the palms up “wtf is this guy doing” pose after plays all 3 games we’ve played so far.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
“Gotta coach it better”.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
We just gotta “more” and “better”….
I seriously think he has reeled it in….dont really give a flying F!
Im guessing the bye week, he gone.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
We need practice notes, how’s Daniels doing?
September 30th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Just playing possum. Bowles is luring the league into a trap! I wonder if he’s just chilling in his office all day and letting the other coaches do whatever.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
“The pros and cons of replacing Bowles mid season or end of season”
End of season def gets us a higher draft pick, whereas mid season gets whoever a chance to evaluate and calibrate what they would do, along with trying their own scheme fits. No pressure on the guy, seasons over already, just get in there and see what you can work with Tomlin!
Jason will fix the Oline, your weakness, just handle everything else….
September 30th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
Every time Todd Bowles is asked a question his response is we haven’t implemented certain plays to max his skills, followed by a bunch of meaningless juburlish. The way the Bucs are playing could mean another disappointing season.
Jason Light needs to address (force Bowles) to right the ship or else…
September 30th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Todd “DCW” Bowles…
DEAD COACH WALKING
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
September 30th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Lots and LOTS of strange comments and decisions made throughout this franchise’s ‘leadership’ (and this includes our QB), over the past several seasons. Especially, by this Head Coach. None of it ever making any SENSE. All just very strange, nonsensical, off-the-wall stuff, that comes completely, out of nowhere. Real mind-boggling stuff, like SO BAD that you would almost believe, that it had to be intentional. And, Winfield Junior literally SAVED Todd’s JOB in 2023.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Def mailing it in.
We can call him stupid all we want, which I don’t think is the case. He’s not a motivator or a manger. Attention to detail is not his thing.
He knows it and is cashing the check like many of the players.
But as another poster mentioned, shame on the glazers.
September 30th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Flush it, Todd! Flush it! The silver handle on the Bowles!
September 30th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Oldbucsfan…why? The season’s over.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
I read that statement as: the other players don’t get my scheme and he is playing as the literal safety as the CBs and LBs aren’t doing their jobs. Maybe the defense gets to the point he is more an active defender vs passive last line of defense. Overall defense hasn’t been our weakness so we could see that sooner than offense scoring 30+ points.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
The few times the defense does well is in spite of Bowles not because of him. The sooner Bowles leaves the sooner this nightmare will be over.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Isn’t this a “say whaattt?” moment….. 7 years and we haven’t put everything in to access his talents?
Ira, how do you keep a straight face when Bowles comes out with this stuff?
September 30th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Bowles just grasping at straws now. Any excuse and tagline to try and save face. I have a feeling this is going to really ugly really fast this season. Not that it isn’t already but we could see this season get worse.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
“Just gotta coach it better”
September 30th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Get Flores in here immediately after the season!! can u imagine what he can do with this D!!
September 30th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
I about spit my coffee out hearing Bowles say this. Bowles has to go asap. This is crazy.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
At least Bowles is now admitting that he’s a terrible coach.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Winfield looked good in the SB vs Mahomes
how did he look against the Rams in 2021
how did he look against Dallas in 2022
whose fault is that ?
September 30th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
@ Obvious – YES. VERY shameful. Especially, being in the same CITY as such model franchises as both, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Rays! I would FIGHT my ass OFF, while going to bat for BOTH of those franchise’s getting a brand new stadium, ANY DAY. But, NOT THIS ONE. And, that is the EXACT same ‘feelings’ of ALL THREE of these franchises’ PLAYERS. Just look at the MANY differences, and with how it all shows up directly ON the fields, and ON the rink. It is just SO obvious, and easy to see. And, has been for an awfully long time, now. 💯
September 30th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
This coach of ours is CLUELESS!!! Every time his team takes the field, and he talks to the media…it shows!!!! We deserve better! These players deserve better!
September 30th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Does Rod Munch see this and blame Baker? Does he still think this TERRIBLE coach would’ve gone 8-0 or 7-1 in the last 8 games? Bowles shouldn’t have a job.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
“ Winfield has gone 17 games without a forced fumble and 8 games without an interception. Once a feared blitzer; Winfield’s got 2 quarterback hits in his last 17 games and no sacks. Also in the past 17 games, Winfield has just 2 tackles for loss.”
WOWWWWW. ABSOLUTELY. MIND-BLOWING. UNBELIEVABLE.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Just gotta coach him better! Problem solved baby!
September 30th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Antoine “work in progress” winfield this team is full of busts all over the place from the top down
September 30th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Don’t quite understand Bowles, for the past few years, Bowles complains about this or that player not getting enough snaps or sloppiness or they are not running the ball enough. Isn’t that’s what a head coach do?, Get his position coaches to use the players where they are most successful. As for sloppiness, isn’t he over the entire team? Seems like he wants to throw others under the bus rather than looking at the man in the mirror. I’ve never been a head coach nowhere but Iam just saying.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Newbie Says:
Damn does he have the Glazers fooled. I would think billionaires don’t fool easily. LMFAO
Please allow me to explain. The current Glazer siblings are not of the earlier generation(s) that built the billions of dollars in wealth. They are the spoiled children that had everything handed to them. There is no reason to believe they have any savvier than your average Joe. In fact, their sheltered life has likely been a detriment to their development.
Now anyone wanting to know more about the Glazers, might want to do a little AI research on Manchester United.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Joe, it’s Baker’s fault, right?
September 30th, 2026 at 2:37 pm
Soooo there was a theory I heard on this site, I don’t remember a comment, rumor, from the Joe’s, Sean. I don’t remember the source, but! The theory was that Todd moved AWJr away from action to preserve him/extend his career. Injuries were mounting and he’s talented enough to affect the game in other ways. Stupid? Yes, understandable? Yes. I am partial to that theory based on what happened in New Orleans last year, he has had some issues before and Todd loves the guy. I think Todd hamstrung both himself and AWJr.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Absurd.
Ownership needs to take a long look in the mirror. The Glazer kids are 1 for 6 on coaching hires since they took over for their Dad.
They need to take a hard look at themselves and their role in consistently building teams that fail. Fans repeatedly see teams where the players are misused, under- motivated, or where they flat out quit (happened to Morris, Schiano, Smith, and now to Bowles. The Glazer hive-mind Bucs have are almost always out-coached and out-muscled.
Firing Bowles is a necessary, but not final step. The organization needs to be rebuilt from the top down. There needs to be a commitment at every level to build teams that are tough, accountable, and that dominate their opponents. It’s doable…the Lions were a laughing stock, but they turned it around, same with the Bears. The Seahawks certainly did it. The Bucs can too, but they have to change.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
@ MadMax – So, you want a slightly better version of Bowles 2.0 then… GOTCHA. Because, that would be exactly what we’d get from TOMLIN. And, when the rest of the teams who are most successful in the modern day NFL, all have these HOT YOUNG super aggressive, high-energy HC’s who are all in their 30’s and 40’s… Outside of McCarthy, Reid, and Payton, ALL whom are GENIUS ‘offensive’ play-callers, AND fricken QB-whisperers. Tomlin canNOT CALL HIS OWN PLAYS. Cannot develop a QB. Is a ‘defensive’ coach, who is ‘offensive’ illiterate. Would be a HORRIBLE fit for a complete rebuild. Ran an extremely LOOSE and at times, totally outta control LOCKER ROOM. Like Bowles, he wants to be their friends. 80% of the entire Steeler Fanbase all wanted HIM GONE FOR YEARS. The new-age game has looong passed HIM BY. So, HAIL NO to another freaking RETREAD. And, y’all just keep regurgitating HIS NAME over and over again. First of all, HE AIN’T TAKING IT. Definitely, NOT NOW. The ONLY job that someone like HIM would even consider to begin with, would be a job that was already all-set up for him… A Contender with a STACKED ROSTER and an ELITE QB. He’s no dummy! And, he knows his own ‘limitations’ at this point. HE’s not taking on some REBUILD with a mediocre QB that is being paid TOP $$$$ for the next 3-fricken YEARS. So, JUST STOP ALREADY. I’d say that he’s doing just fine right now, right where he’s at.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Bowles is the only coach where players actually regress the longer they are with him.
September 30th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
What a cluster fffff
September 30th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
We need a New HC and New QB
September 30th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Joe, the last word in your column is absolutely without a doubt right. The only thing wrong is the question should be “why is Todd Bowles still head coach?”
September 30th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
@Leopold Stotch,
I absolutely agree about AWJR injury theory! You can add several more players on this current team to that list. They are scared they will get hurt so they play safe by staying away from the scrum. Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin (backed off from a fumble), SVD come to mind.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Sometimes coach Bowles, saying nothing is better.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Coach it better, play it better smdh
September 30th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
This team has needed to clean house since Brady left. Get rid of the unproductive players with bloated contracts. Quit hanging on and resigning guys who are clearly declining. Then sticking with the same stagnant defense. Everyone needs to go including Bowles and Licht.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
I’m convinced Todd’s primary goal is looking out for his players health. Football not so much.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
I can’t believe this is the comment from our head coach. That’s unbelievable, it’s actually malfeasance, nice, job glazers.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
We’ve heard some zingers from Bowles over the years, but this one is so bad, so head scratchingly absurd, that he should be fired this afternoon.
Sad thing about all this is that this team should be sitting at 3-0 with good QB play.
I would just go with Daniels the rest of the season. Fire Bowles ASAP. The last thing we need is Bowles “coaching up” any more of our young talented players on defense. All he does is confuse them, ruin their confidence and turn talented play makers into guys over thinking his scheme.
Bring in a Jim Schwartz type to take over the defense and go with a intern HC.
It won’t happen because the Glazers and front office lack vision. I’m convinced the Glazers pushed JL to get the deal done with Baker.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
he’s too busy doing podcasts.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Hey Bryan Glazer,
Todd Bowles is a bottom tier head coach as he has proven with us and the Jets as his track record shows. He is at best, a mediocre defensive coordinator who only excels if he gets input from a decent head coach. Get us someone else asap, at least an interim coach.
Until then, Bowles is going to do nothing except cause a profit loss for the organization. Ticket sales will drop, merchandise sales will fall off. These won’t improve until he is gone and a new coach proves himself or the organization shows they are at least serious about trying to have a winning team. So it’s better to get an early start on what is the inevitable. Bruce Arians sold you a bill of goods on Bowles!
September 30th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
No production since he got paid
September 30th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
The main thing in Tampa now is, for Bowles to go and I wouldn’t be disappointed if Mayfield left or was traded either. I mean this team has been the same for the past 3 or 4 years MEDIOCRE. Bowles says he has won the division several times but he never mentions this was one of the worst divisions in football. When you’re winning a division in the NFL with 9 wins out of 17 games something wrong
September 30th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Im really surprised that the idiots on this sight,hasn’t said Bowles has him playing on the offense!
September 30th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Winfield > gets paid > regression
Dean > gets paid > regression
Wirfs > gets paid > regression
Vea > gets paid > regression
Mayfield > gets paid > regression
September 30th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Joes!
It seems to me that Winfield has been covering for other position fails.
Just bad coaching, just like not maximizing Godwin. I saw many plays where Baker had many openings over the center of the field on crossing routes and seemed scared to hit them.
This all seems like McCoy said in the podcast. They’re being coached to play this way and it’s sad. I miss Monte!!!
September 30th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
“We hadn’t put in……” Oh, were you just biding your time??
September 30th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Its not that he’sblitzing and missing. He’s not blitzing. I can’t remember thelast time I saw AWJ blitz.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
I’ve never been a Bowles worshiper nor a hater, but at this point there is no question he needs to go. His comments are inane. You don’t hear other coaches saying that players on the 53-man squad aren’t ready to execute the complete playbook or need more time to get in game shape or on and on and on. I mean, really. It’s just downright embarrassing.
September 30th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
Bowels answers to all questions consistently make no sense. There eenlies the proof of his incompetence.
September 30th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
ATLBuc Says:
September 30th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Its not that he’sblitzing and missing. He’s not blitzing. I can’t remember thelast time I saw AWJ blitz.
Correct ATL! How can Joe expect Winfield to get to the QB if the HC never send him on a blitz? Quit shilling for the Glazers Joe!!!
September 30th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Mickey Mouse stuff. How blind can one be we’ve all grown tired of the same slogans over and over, I’d probably puke if I had to be in the building to long with him at this point.
September 30th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
The stuff Bowels says reminds me of the crap Lovie Smith used to say. None of it makes sense and you sometimes wonder if they are doing it purposely because it sounds so bad. Why can’t we just cut this guy now? It’s beyond ridiculous and embarrassing for Bucs fans on having to constantly hear horse shat!
September 30th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
And this guy calls himself a DC!! Lol!!!!! 🤣
September 30th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Todd’s great at out-thinking the other teams the least twelve past games. Making sure whatever talents and strengths his own players have is not utilized and making all-pros of his opponents. Its a wonderful kind generous gesture a man who get’s paid to win he does for visiting teams. He also zaps the passion out of his own players much to the delight of his opponents. What a guy!
September 30th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
If I was the coach:
“AW, see that ball? If someone on the other team is running at you with the ball, tackle that person. Try to knock ball loose if possible.
If you see the ball in the air and nobody has claimed it yet on either team, go right ahead and claim it as yours. Then run fast and try to get yourself and your newly-claimed ball, and cross the goal-line.”
There – just did the new install.
YW Coach Bowles.
September 30th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Just gotta coach it better and safety it better. Fixed!!!
Todd is an absolute genius. I just wish we had him as the HC a decade ago.
Imagine the amount of Lombardi trophies we’d have with him at the helm!
2-10 might as well be 14-0. We are supremely blessed to have the rock solid leadership and play calling skills of Mr Championship.
Better than Andy Reid on his worst day. We better resign Todd now!
September 30th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
Several years back AWjr. had several concussions this was during the time of his blitz fest! Since then Bowles has not used him like that. I don’t expect Bowles to any more. There just might be something to Bowles looking out for his health!
September 30th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Just when you think Toad can’t say anything more stupid……he somehow does! Genius, pure genius!
September 30th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
This team can use a better Free Safety
September 30th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
I don’t think there’s another team in the NFL with more bad contracts
We’re definitely not getting production from these overpaid players
It will take years for the next GM to fix this mess
September 30th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Please Stop.
September 30th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
What a joke? How in the world have the Glazers not fired Bowles? He has gone from bad to worse to unimaginably awful.
September 30th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
Bowles’ comments make less and less sense as time goes on.
One of the things that the comments reveal is how much his defense relies on scheming defenders to make plays instead of just playing sound basic defense. Not that exotic blitzes and disguises for coverages don’t matter, but with Bowles it seems like the scheming is an excuse for just having guys play specific roles and mastering anything.
September 30th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
But the numbers say Winfield has gone 17 games without a forced fumble and 8 games without an interception. Once a feared blitzer; Winfield’s got 2 quarterback hits in his last 17 games and no sacks. Also in the past 17 games, Winfield has just 2 tackles for loss.
——————————————————–
Joe, I wonder if we had sent Winfield on the blitz against the Rams in the 2021 playoffs we’d be talking about three championships instead of two?
September 30th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
Once these guys get that “Bag” their production fall off
They play lights out in their contract year
And they go back to loafing, before the ink get dry on their contract
Maybe they are protecting themselves from serious injuries
September 30th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
DRok
Our guys are taught to stand and wait for the ball carrier. 0 aggression.
September 30th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Ask Boweles in fact every defensive play that is a non factor should be questioned and Boweles needs to have a truthful answer.
September 30th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
The glaciers have failed to create a consistent culture of winning other than a few years in the late 90’s. Both Super Bowl wins were obtained through “saviors” (Gruden, Brady) to the franchise. There has been no true organic growth and culture and consistency of winning. They are a farce.
September 30th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
My take on this comment from the hedge coach is probably he didn’t have enough Faith or trust in his defense up till now and was having Winfield play as sort of a goaltender playing rather deep on every play to prevent anything getting by the defense for a big score.
I think Winfield does his best when he plays a little closer to the line of scrimmage where he can either blitz stop the run for a loss force a fumble.. that is not how he has been used this season.
Maybe now that Todd is starting to have a little more confidence in his defensive backs he might allow Winfield to play to his strengths..
September 30th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
TB has a new defensive staff. One might think that would bring new sets of eyes and positive change…until you realize these were all assistants who never led anything. What accomplished coach would come to the Bucs knowing TB will be gone. Facts seem to point to ALL of his coaches are second and third tier coaches. We are seeing a failed ideology on display. It’s not that hard to recognize. I shake my head at the radio talking heads that allude to poor coaching but don’t give specifics. They value the relationship with Bucs FO more than they do their job. Media is as bad as the Bucs.
September 30th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
We need a new coaching stafff. How do you not maximize your players talents??? Know what you have and Use it. Godwin is great over the middle, Barton is not a good center, put him at guard. This coaching staff needs to go.
September 30th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Two things are very obvious at this point:
1 – Todd Bowles needs to stop talking to the media. ANYTHING he says WILL be used against him. He’s just digging himself a deeper hole.
2 – None of us KNOW what’s going on with Winfield (and several other players for that matter), thus SPECULATION runs amok. What we DO KNOW is that his best year was 2023 (not 2020 or 2021), when he had 122 tackles (76 solo), 6 sacks, 8 QB hits, 3 INTs, 12 PDs, 6 forced fumbles with 4 fumble recoveries, plus 6 TFLs. He was a beast that year, and as a reward won the AP-1 All-Pro designation.
In the 2+ years since then, Antoine has gotten a TOTAL of 171 tackles (97 solo), 3 sacks, 9 QB hits, 2 INTs, 11 PDs, 1 FF, 2 FR, plus 6 TFLs in 29 games. In all fairness though, injuries derailed his 2024 season (only 9 games). Still, he hasn’t performed like anywhere close to the same player he was in 2023 (when our defense ranked #7 in Points Allowed with 325 pts).
September 30th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
Because Bowles has zero faith in his own scheme. Bowles entire philosophy is build around “not losing” vs “playing to win”. He’s obsessed with clock management as that’s how he keeps his defensive stats respectable. On defense the philosophy is keep everything in front, force the offense to consistently execute down the field with the goal of tightening up in the red zone and limiting the offense to FGs. On offense we must run the ball or connect on screens for at least two plays per set of downs. I think this is why you see some of the bizarre play calls we see. The more the clock runs the less time his defense is exposed.
Bowles defense is only effective when you’ve got a high powered offense, where the offense forces the other team to keep up. In tight low scoring matches what routinely happens is the opponent marches down the field and ultimately scores because the defense simply isn’t designed to stop anyone. If executed correctly, the offense then has a chance to win on last possession and if they don’t as we saw repeatedly….the failure is on the offense, QB and OC. It’s 100% self preservation for Bowles.
September 30th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
We are in the twilight zone. lol