Protecting Against Themselves
October 21st, 2026
Unsettling explanation.
Boy, this is a sad statement. And it makes Joe wonder even more how Zac Robinson is still employed.
As Joe pointed out earlier this morning, the passing chart of Bucs quarterback Jalon Daniels against the Steelers is a pretty rough look. Hardly anything downfield. Virtually nothing down the middle.
Today, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked how much of that was to protect Daniels, given that he’s an undrafted rookie in his third start.
Bowles admitted that, yes, part of the lack of downfield passes and Daniels’ inexperience are tied together.
But it gets worse.
Bowles noted that too many times the Bucs were shooting themselves in the foot by throwing downfield because the result was either a penalty or a sack. So the Bucs decided to give up third of the field (over the middle) because they’re scared to get a penalty or a sack.
“Every time we were going downfield in the past couple weeks, [the Bucs] got a holding penalty or a sack,” Bowles said. “So it hasn’t been favorable for us.”
OK, a sack is one thing. Maybe have Daniels use a moving pocket since he is mobile. But that would take a little bit of thought and creativity so the Bucs cannot have that sort of noise infecting the huddle.
But to give up a third of the field because you are scared of a penalty is rich. That is the polar opposite of “killer instinct” and frankly tells Joe that the Bucs do not know or cannot coach up their players to stop penalties.
It’s not like the offensive line or the backs are a bunch of rookies. They are veterans! Why and how, all of a sudden, did they forget how to play without committing a penalty?
So is the offensive line being coached up to basically borderline commit a penalty on pass plays and whenever they throw downfield, they get exposed and caught?
Good grief, Joe would force Luke Goedeke and Graham Barton to wear boxing gloves as mittens before he would abandon a third of the field and label it a no-fly zone.
What sort of three-ring circus is being run over at One Buc Palace these days?
Bowles did say the offense posting “No Trespassing” signs in the middle of the field needs to change.
“We still got to be able to get the ball down the field,” Bowles said.
Maybe that changes with Mayfield returning to the lineup, possibly as early as this Sunday?
Killer instinct? Joe’s foot!
October 21st, 2026 at 2:49 pm
This team is so sad. BA ( politicing for Bowles) and the glazers (steping in with the Vea and Baker contracts) and whoever hired Robinson have destroyed this team and window is nailed shut. It’s a total rebuild now and the contracts for average players with big contract are going to make this a long and painful process.
October 21st, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Interesting is all you can say. Well the penalties were a lot less. I guess the O Line is really bad then. Yes think they really miss White.
Give Bowles credit for being honest. I wonder what Car thinks. With this in mind Is BM really going to make much difference if he does play. Total head scratcher. Like last year we can stop run backs so kick in the end zone. This year we will give the defense 1/3 of the field they don’t need to worry about! Yes definitely sad!!
October 21st, 2026 at 2:53 pm
huge indictment on the coaching staff….
with comments like this, how does bowles stay employed after another L
GO BUCS!!!!
October 21st, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Sad
October 21st, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Holding is the result of getting beat. Bowles has studied the trend. Credit to him recognizing the pattern, and attempting to scheme around it. Jd inability to connect on the sideline is not Bowles fault. It’s a pass that lends itself to a quick throw. It just has to be executed better. Dean doesn’t pick that ball, and a great chance we win. It also is a much more visible throw for a short qb like Daniels.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:03 pm
So Daniels can’t throw to the sideline well and we eliminated the middle of the field throws due to fear of a sack/penalty. Got it! Awesome – just awesome! 🤦♂️
October 21st, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Listening to Bowels make me want to vomit 🤢 this coaching staff is terrible.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:08 pm
TANKING!!!! LETS GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just imagine, top 5 or #1 overall, trade down….man, ive been running through mocks….its crazy how much we can improve. Leave it to me Jason!
October 21st, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Finally gonna get a REAL C, REAL RG, REAL TE, REAL RETURNER….REAL SAFETY HELP….QB in training to go along with Jalon (later round, Sellers), another CB….im just getting started.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:28 pm
This is what the Glazers wanted a lame duck HC and opposing fans filling up our home stadium we were never going to win with Bowles anyone with a working brain knew this…
October 21st, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Do your job!..Is it Bowles fault the line are getting beat off the ball??
October 21st, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Let em Bake!! Great post!
October 21st, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Per Greg auman…this lockerroom is a disaster…Godwin?
What the heck is going on at OBP?
Please flush Bowles and Licht. They are LOSERS.
Tom Brady is long gone. He was the ONLY reason we won.
Anyone saying anything otherwise is full of ish.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:41 pm
I really hope Baker can play on Sunday. I’m not sure if we can win with either, but Jalon’s inexperience and huge mistakes pretty much cost us in that game. His win in Dallas was a blast to watch, but I’m just not really sure he’s starting material yet. And to everyone that claims I’m a BakerBoi, like I actually even listen to those people, I will be pretty upset with Baker if he plays Sunday and doesn’t rise to the occasion. With a great possibility that both the Saints and Falcons lose Sunday, a win against Carolina could put us right back in the running in the south.
Of course, who knows if we can even win with either qb with all the problems on this offense right now.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Bowles has thrown in the towel. Fire him and Zac and bring in Gruden as interim HC/OC. At season’s end Licht needs to be escorted out of OBP. Pathetic.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:46 pm
I don’t see why we’d spend any more thought on figuring out what’s wrong or how to fix it… Guess what, fixes aren’t coming until Bowles is gone. Everything in between is just a waste of time. Winning doesn’t matter at this point. Let’s just get through the year without injury to any of our good young players, let’s trade off the dead weight, and let’s lose lose lose for draft position. There is no longer anything to gain by winning this year. i have given up completely on this team until Bowles is gone. Not investing any hope or expectation. I’d like to see Walker get 10 sacks, and Bain have good showing… that’s all.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Did someone in media ask Coach Bowles to “say you’re scared without actually saying you’re scared.”
October 21st, 2026 at 3:48 pm
He’ll Joe, Mayfield wasn’t playing much better so what’s the point? Again good coaches and coordinators put their players in situations to succeed. If players keep committing bad penalties there has to be some consequence bench um, you gonna lose anyway as we have already seen.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:50 pm
That’s like a guy who is afraid to talk to women because he’s afraid they might shoot him down.
October 21st, 2026 at 3:59 pm
I need to hear from the 12 wins crowd again. They have exited stage left.
Those of us with a common sense view of this season were shouted down as trolls.
All the hype and propaganda about the upgrade at OC and new direction from the HC\DC was just a not so clever ruse.
Todd is a circus clown and has turned us into a laugh stock. Thanks Licht and Glazers.
October 21st, 2026 at 4:12 pm
What a lost season with a really good team actually can’t wait until next season when we have a new Coach an Tampa better go get them a good one they have left so many good coaches on the board for other teams and they jus scoop them up I love Bowles as a DC but as a HC ive seen enough
October 21st, 2026 at 4:12 pm
it’s hard to read loser comments like this from the head coach and still want to watch the games.
October 21st, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Proffeser, yea! Where’s Marine and his buddy St.Pete? Maybe they went to work down at the Mons’ car wash. (Is it still there?)
October 21st, 2026 at 4:31 pm
The Yucs are back in full force.
Fans should start wearing bags over their heads at home games again.