Emeka Egbuka Was Playing With “Half A Deck”
October 22nd, 2025
Todd Bowles made it clear today that he and the Bucs do not rush back injured players to the field. If they’re healthy enough to play, then expect them to play, Bowles said.
However …
That doesn’t mean players are necessarily putting their best foot forward in games.
Yesterday on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Bowles explained one reason Baker Mayfield had an off night in Detroit: a primary target wasn’t in top shape.
“The connection between him and [Emeka Egbuka], Mecca didn’t practice all week as well, and then he was not all the way 100 percent there. So we were going with half a deck there,” Bowles said. “But at the same time, we gotta make plays. We gotta find different ways to make plays. We gotta coach it better and we definitely gotta play it better.”
Joe was pleased to hear Bowles characterize Egbuka as “half a deck” while the rookie receiver returned from a tweaked hamstring Oct. 12.
That bodes very well for Egbuka being 100 percent on Sunday, and it explains away some of Egbuka’s challenges Monday against second-tier defensive backs.
October 22nd, 2025 at 4:34 pm
EE2 not being 100% was obvious lol…
seemed like Tez was running EE2 routes which caused baker to be high on several throws….bakers mechanics, timing and rhythm are used to bigger WRs, ME13, CG14, EE2, CO88….
i noticed when baker was targeting Tez, shep and johnson his passes were being batted down because they are shorter WRs…
im sure they’ll allget back in the lab and work out the kinks…
GRIZZ, we should have 40rushes vs the aints lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 22nd, 2025 at 4:36 pm
It hurt the offense that we’ve not had continuity on the offensive line, in the receiver corps, or even in the backfield. But what really hurt was Baker couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn throwing the ball. Their defense playing a more physical brand of football than our offense was playing didn’t help things.
October 22nd, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Thank you for the excuses. They made that clown on the Lions look like a pro DB. Not good enough.
October 22nd, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Are we adding receivers?.
October 22nd, 2025 at 5:41 pm
No excuses, crap happens but the health of a player is a very real thing. And a under 100% dude will make the worst of opposing players look like all stars. They are back ups for a reason and if they are shutting down a starter, especially a player like Buka there’s a reason. But even healthy players get bet/have bad games, it happens. Detroit played like their hair was on fire and we didn’t.
October 22nd, 2025 at 6:12 pm
EE got open, looked fine. Baker couldn’t hit him. Simple as that.
October 22nd, 2025 at 6:34 pm
I dont understand why they stopped running the ball. 10 carries for 39 yards is not nearly enough. It was also the first time we’ve seen the young OC get rattled. Now, let’s see the adjustments
October 22nd, 2025 at 6:36 pm
Todd coaches with half a deck.
October 22nd, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Always the same garbage from Bowles…gotta coach it better, gotta play it better…..this was a bad game all around for the Bucs….coaching, offense, defense came around to play better but receivers running wide open all night and special teams were below average as usual. Hopefully they will clean it up vs NO. OH, DID I MENTION THE POOR TACKLING? No, probably because it’s way too common with this team….
October 22nd, 2025 at 7:44 pm
The lions D line was pressuring on some of the throws but not all of them, so a bit baffling. Hope Baker wasn’t eating the MVP rat poison that was sprinkled all over last week’s media.
October 22nd, 2025 at 7:56 pm
Egbuka and Tez were open yet Baker was not hitting either one of them. The O-line and pressure package from the Lions may of had an effect and Baker playing hero ball. Running the ball better may help.
October 22nd, 2025 at 9:06 pm
Hero ball?
October 22nd, 2025 at 9:28 pm
I don’t understand why some people don’t get this. A player comes back from missing a few weeks. They’re healthy, not going to get injured again, not jeopardizing anything, but it does not mean they’re 100% ready to pick up where they left off.
Anyway, Detroit was clearly rookie play calling, blocking needed
to be better, run game needing to be better, route running, throws, etc., etc. etc. Basically it was the first game that injuries caught up.
The O line had a new right guard again and there was no cohesiveness and it showed.
The young receivers have been great but they couldn’t get separation except TEZ and half the time it seemed he was running the wrong routes.
I fully expect Tez, Kam, & Egbuka to all be better. Same with the blocking with another week of the same guys playing together.
The BYE can’t come quick enough. Hopefully Bucky and Godwin are back afterwards.
October 22nd, 2025 at 10:08 pm
Seriously, how many posters are OG Bucs fans on here? BTW, I’m doing a shout-out to stpetebucs cos haven’t seen him lately. We’ve got so much crap on here, I’m ready to call it quits. Gene D is getting ready to do so. I met the man here backstage at the old Arena back when Arena Football was for real, and not corrupted. He broadcasted their home games. Hubster ran the tech room. Gene was a very nice person and loved the FL teams. NOLA will be broadcasted on Bucs Radio. Pregame may start earlier than the usual 60 minutes. I’ll be plugged in. Go Bucs, 6-2!!
October 22nd, 2025 at 10:14 pm
I don’t know, e2 looked pretty good to me, was getting open quite a bit.
Going to need him at 100% on Sunday – Saints games are rarely easy, and they got a new coach and aren’t going to quit this time and let Tucker rack up 200 yards running through empty air.
October 22nd, 2025 at 10:53 pm
they didnt rush goedeke or godwin back?