The Bucs And A “Killer Instinct”
October 22nd, 2026
Hardly any spark from leadership.
When it rains, it pours.
It’s been such a long time since the Bucs were horrible that Joe doesn’t quite remember the intricate details of the losing — Joe has fully attempted over the years, with the aid of quality bourbon, to have those memories purged from his hard drive.
But just in the last few days, it all seems to be coming together.
Earlier this week, once again, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles lamented the absence of a “killer instinct” on his team.
This commentary from Bowles is interesting to Joe because the focus for the Bucs this past offseason was to bring in dawgs, tough guys, guys that loved football. Guys that you had to drag off the field. Guys who opponents lost sleep over the night before a game.
And it seems the Bucs hit some home runs, too. A’Shawn Robinson has been a godsend. He’s kept his teammates in line and in focus. He’s busted his ass. He’s made plays.
If Joe was signing checks for Team Glazer, he’d make sure Robinson is back next year with a hefty raise no matter who the new coach may be.
Josiah Trotter sure seems like a winning lottery pick. He’s been everything the Bucs hoped and more. Same with Keionte Scott. And Joe believes when a new coach comes in, the Miami Mauler, Rueben Bain, will be that type of guy too.
Everything else about this team is a far cry from “killer instinct.” One might argue it is more “cower and hide.”
Always striving for field goals. Always scratching and clawing for “manageable” third downs when a good, aggressive offense never wants to reach third down at any point.
Coughing up leads. Coughing up footballs. Giving up on attacking a third of the field on offense because the Bucs are scared of a penalty or maybe a sack — wait, Joe was told sacks don’t win games? Yeah, this would surprise Jalen Ramsey, too.
Then there is the personnel usage. David Walker may be the hottest defensive player in the game. Everyone can see it, even network analysts who once upon a time played the game.
Every friggin’ person can see it but his defensive coordinator. Does that sound like a killer instinct to you? Maybe the hottest player on defense in the league can’t get on the field? Doesn’t even have 100 snaps through six games?
Some believe Bain is in the same boat, though Bain does get on the field.
On one hand, the head coach pines for a “killer instinct,” and then on the other hand the team is run like the shot-callers are scared of their own shadows.
Look at this passing chart. Does this look like a “killer instinct” to you? Looks to Joe more like a dog that just licked an electric fence.
There is hardly anything about this team that suggests it’s run with a “killer instinct,” specifically with the coaching staff. Wet noodle, maybe. Tail between the legs, sure.
As the great Moe Howard once said, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Yeah, go get a bag of bats, killer!”
“Killer instinct.” pic.twitter.com/wHANAxTgPp
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) October 21, 2026
October 22nd, 2026 at 5:24 am
It’s hard to have a killer instinct when your head coach is Kit Kat eating Capt Chips Ahoy!
October 22nd, 2026 at 5:49 am
Our WRs certainly do have a killer instinct, but unfortunately it’s for their own offense. Hurst dropped a critical 3rd down ball with a few minutes left in the game. Bucs could have run out the clock and won. he didn’t seem too upset by it. EE is a real killer, he drops balls a critical times and can’t ever seem to get open. I rather play Johnson and Tez more than these two bums. Offense has been destroyed by a clueless OC with no instinct at all. Bowles just talks garbage and doesn’t do anything. Real killer coaching. This season has been killed by horrendous coaching.
October 22nd, 2026 at 5:55 am
Robinson and Walker and Bain and Trotter seem to have some of that stuff you’re pining for, Joe. And Tykee and Keonte and Jacob Parish seem to have some of that stuff. Heck, Kancey is about to start strutting his stuff. And before it’s all said and done, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this defense strutting around like Rod Munchesonstuff with his trombone on a halftime field oh so many Friday nights ago.
October 22nd, 2026 at 6:27 am
The Offence is boring and predictable – Robinson was never the answer. Our next HC needs to be from the offensive side of the ball so we stop needing a new OC every year if they are any good!
October 22nd, 2026 at 6:33 am
Killer instinct , to paraphrase John Mackay, Bowles should have some. His love of field goals is one of the reasons we have lost so many one score games. Hard to believe it is not as deflating to the team as it is to the fans.
October 22nd, 2026 at 6:40 am
there is nothing about the bucs right now as a team that says killer anything. except maybe chase. chase is a killer.
the defense folded last week against the steelers when it counted, stopped them all day then couldnt stop them when it counted. the cowboys went what 99 yards like the defense wasnt even there, when it counted.
there are flashes of killer instinct, certain players for sure. we all know who plays and who doesnt.
as a group they are soft, supple, and ripe to be killed on any weekend. mentally polluted and weak. like the coach. its a team sport so any one player or even a group of players isnt going to stem the tide of mental lapses and p1ss poor play of even the basics like blocking and tackling.
there are some individual bright spots though.
October 22nd, 2026 at 6:58 am
Bowles going into his prevent zone defense at the end of the last two games is the problem. No lead is safe when he forces players to play zone.