Concentration And A Mismatch Led To Bucs Bombs
September 29th, 2025
Bucky Irving gets past Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell on his way to an 72-yard touchdown catch.
Liam Coen would never.
Yesterday, Joe isn’t sure if people noticed, but former Bucs offensive coordinator and current Jags coach Liam Coen and Mr. Clean got into a hassle after the Jags beat the 49ers.
Mr. Clean popped off at Coen last week, claiming Coen was legally stealing signs — which on the surface is an oxymoron. Stealing is not legal.
After the hassle, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan suggested Coen is too sensitive. Joe has experience with that.
Joe last year referred to Coen’s offense (which worked, by the way) as “dink and dunk.” Well, what else would you call an offense that rarely threw the ball farther than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage?
Coen, in a good-natured way, called out Joe in one of his press conferences for the “dink and dunk” reference.
So yesterday when Baker Mayfield threw two third-quarter touchdowns of 72 yards or more, Joe is pretty confident that never would have happened with Coen, certainly not two in the same quarter.
Mayfield said the result of the successful touchdown passes was that Emeka Egbuka had strong concentration and Bucky Irving’ simply exploited a mismatch. Advantage Bucky.
“Emeka did a hell of a job on a play action keeper – just his concentration through the catch,” Mayfield said. “[Reed] Blankenship was diving for it, so whatever you want to say – distraction drill – he focused through the catch and obviously extending it for the touchdown.
“And Bucky [Irving’s] touchdown – really unbelievable job in pass protection by those guys holding up for quite a while there, and [Bucky] turned it up field. [Bucky] knew he had an edge rusher – outside linebacker – on him, and he did a great job catching that ball and extending it for a touchdown as well.”
Joe hopes Mayfield throws the ball to Bucky every time he’s matched up with a linebacker. That’s a major mismatch in Joe’s eyes and that proved to be the case yesterday.
As far as Egbuka, does anything surprise Bucs fans at this point of his young career? He seems to do just about everything exceptionally well.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
We got out coached, I’m still hurting.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
It’s sad. Special teams has been horrible
September 29th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Crazy how on the Egbuka play two defenders were close enough to make a play on the ball. Todd Blows pass defense would never be that close to a receiver that far down the field
September 29th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Commenters here have PTSD from the lost decade.
Tough loss, and if special teams doesn’t turn it around, we’re not making the playoff run we want to. At the same time, I’m confident this team will improve as the year goes along.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Glad that Coen isn’t on this team anymore. His un professionalism is continuing to show
September 29th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Smarter than Joe – Todd’s D would also not allow a 70+ yard pass. That’s kinda the whole point of the bend dont break defense lol
September 29th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
1 of the 8 losses I have them pegged for.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Unprofessionalism??? Was his offense not professional enough for you???
September 29th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
So tired of Bowles he always has the answers and the fix but it never shows up in the game.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
I haven’t seen the Eagles play this bad in over a year. But they still managed to score 31 points and get a win. They definitely didn’t look like a Super Bowl team.
I guess a win is a win
September 29th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
El Serpiente was a great coach for us and it’s looking like a great coach for Jacksonville. Have you seen what they are doing with their running game? Complete turnaround just like he did for us. Seems professional to me.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
egbuka needs to call more plays. maybe a motivational speech before the game, instead of after which seems to be the approach some take. i’d also like EE’s take on punters, anyone available in his network?
September 29th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Both of those plays were unscripted, not designed.
Maybe Coen wouldn’t have called those plays but neither did Grizz. I don’t think either was designed to be a deep throw.
Having said that it is obvious Grizz schemes/calls more deep throws than Coen. I figured he would based on his time in Miami and I do agree that Bucky on a LB should be a mismatch to be exploited…… but that’s true of all of our backs.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
The Eagles had 200 yards of offense
112 passing yards
88 yards rushing
And a lot of the commenters are blaming the defense
That’s ridiculous
September 29th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
on joeeaglesfan.com there is a post with a picture of jihaad campbell getting the INT to snuff out the bucs comeback. wierd.
September 29th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
you clowns blame bowles for the bucky fumble and baker INT too?….
defense played great considering when they stepped on the field for the 1st time they were down 7pts…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
813bucboi,
Actually, the Bucs offense were killing the defense in the first half. That’s why the Eagles had the two long drives (Their only long drives). The offense came out flat, they couldn’t move the ball against the Eagles in the first half. They punted the ball 5 times in the first half. Then settled for two FGs after short drives. You can’t expect much from your defense in this Tampa heat, if they’re on the field too long
September 29th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
No one has made note of the fact that Philadelphia had dropped their edge rushers into coverage?
September 29th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
“Smarter than Joe – Todd’s D would also not allow a 70+ yard pass. That’s kinda the whole point of the bend dont break defense lol“
A lot on here complains about cushion and have made up their own coverage concept called “soft coverage”(lol) but cannnot point to the last 40-50 yard bomb thrown on our guys. Not the 7 yarder Bijan ran the rest out, but a true bombs away air yardage pass down the middle or boundary, because the scrum is built to discourage those, Those same fans put no value in rendering run games useless, either. All they want is sacks and INTs.
September 29th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
There’s no question that the Bucs have been out coached every game with Todd as head coach. Can anyone name a game when the schemes, execution and general team effort out did any other team in a game. Most teams play to the personality of their head coach. Todd is well-known for his absolutely quiet demeanor during games. Grumbling under his breath being the operating system. I don’t think his head set is turned on. Did anyone notice the Eagles coaching staff yesterday? They seemed very close, having fun and on top of their game. Even with their terrible second half. No panic, no anxiety. Lot’s on communications between themselves. I didn’t not see anyone talk to Todd. Proof me wrong, any one.
September 29th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
I stealing wasn’t legal, the British wouldn’t have anything but notes in their history museums.
September 29th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Yes Joe, EE surprised me, he had 2 drops yesterday that normally would of been catches
September 29th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Smarter than joe… did you know the bucs have the 5th ranked defense in total yards, a 10th ranked pass defense, and a 5th ranked rush defense. Hey they are also 3rd in 3rd down conversions allowed. And they are 8th in Time of possession.
Whining about the defense is not warranted at this moment.. The bucs are 3-1 right now. And if it wasnt for special teams in week 1, week 2 and week 3. None of the games wouldve been as close
September 29th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
I liked Cohen and based on his past this is exactly what we should’ve expected. He bounced once he got a true shot with a decent team. I thought Canales was insane for leaving TB for the Carolina’s and that psycho owner with a terrible team. Cohen bounced to and from Kentucky for years and showed very little loyalty so I’m not butthurt that he bounced. I’m happy for him and as far as Mr. Clean goes I think it’s all just professional envy from the bald man. Cohen is just smarter so go cry a River ya muscle bound monkey
September 29th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Anyone named smarter than Joe is immediately scrolled over simply based on the egotistical & incongruous nature of the name. From my experience anyone who thinks they are smarter than anyone immediately shows the lack of wisdom. A wise man knows enough to know that he knows nothing at all.
September 29th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
I think Grizz is performing admirably, better than Canales even. But it’s obvious Coen is special.
September 29th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
– 1 yard in the second half.
And for those who want to say we should start the game the way we did the 2nd half, that Todd shouldn’t wait to make adjustments…… Todd said their were NO adjustments = same scheme and defensive calls, just better execution. I know, he always says that but guess what, it’s always true.
I’m actually less discouraged today than yesterday…. Our defense has a chance to be special and our offense has tons of untapped potential.
September 29th, 2025 at 7:29 pm
Beeej
“No one has made note of the fact that Philadelphia had dropped their edge rushers into coverage?”
Well done troublemaker! As man once said though…GOOD trouble.
Sadly many here suffer from Cognitive dissonance. They simply do not wish to acknowledge what their eyes see when it comes to Bowles.
One moron posted here that Todd never changes his defense. WTF happened the 2nd half. The D actually put the O in a position to possibly win the game and if Baker’s pass on the run had reached his target open in the end zone…but there are plenty of IFs…starting with IF Dixon didn’t take two years to get a punt off with an OL that plays matador with their blocks on ST’s.
September 29th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
I could care less. This is a BIG part of having still another rookie OC. Doofus focused on one player: Bucky. You bet the Eagles jumped on it. Meanwhile, we’ve got White, Shep, Otton, and CG14 as a decoy. Grizzard was braindead, or mebbe the heat got to him. I better hear a marked improvement in his OC gameplan. Go Bucs!!
September 29th, 2025 at 7:38 pm
The Bucky play was a great pass by Baker, and a play they practiced in camp that they kept hitting.
The pass to Emeka was just a hail mary that magically got between the two defenders, I’ll certainly take it, but it wasn’t a good pass – but I’ll take lucky over good any day of the week.
September 29th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
orlbucfan Says:
September 29th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
I could care less.
———-
Could NOT care less.
My God people.
September 29th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
@OrlBucFan
The pride of Lizard Lick is literally in his probationary phase, I don’t expect much to change until after the bye. I would love to hear BA speak candidly about this offense, and what he thinks of the job Grizzards doing.
September 29th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
This crap about Bowles not changing his defense…bull spit. He switched to a lot more man and tight coverage concepts and stopped blitzing most of the time (he threw a couple more in there). He basically used the tight coverage to force Hurts to hold onto the ball longer until his pass rush could get to him. We’ve been getting a lot of pressure this year, but the soft coverage was letting QB’s get the ball out right before getting sacked and hitting wide open guys. We shut them down in the second half.
September 29th, 2025 at 9:25 pm
cmon STs, get your act together. Now it cost us a game. I’m not too worried, but we better get it straightened out before the playoffs…