“It’s Always Our Fault”
November 2nd, 2025
Does head coach Todd Bowles keep things fair and balanced at One Buc Palace?
Bowles is the Bucs’ defensive coordinator. He calls the defensive plays and has since arriving in Tampa with Bucco Bruce Arians in 2019.
Yes, Bowles said all winter and spring he was spending lots of time with rookie offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard — to acclimate Grizzard to the role and accelerate his development.
But does Bowles lean on offensive players with a heavy hand? Apparently not.
Speaking on The Arena — Gridiron YouTube show, Bucs linebacker legend Lavonte David took a Bowles question from former teammate Aqib Talib, who never played for Bowles but played for many defense-first head coaches.
Aqib Talib: Do he ever got on the offense’s ass, though?
Lavonte David: Do he? Not really, bro, to be honest with you. I didn’t think about it, but I haven’t really seen get on the offense as much. It is always our fault. You feel me? It’s always our fault.
Joe thought that was a telling response from David, considering the Bucs offense was downright dreadful in 2022 with Tom Brady and Byron Leftwich calling plays. They averaged a sad 18.4 points per game but it seems Bowles wasn’t barking loudly at that side of the ball. The head coach did his loudest talking when he fired Leftwich after that season.
And it seems Bowles is still chill when it comes to his offensive players. That might have to change if the offense can’t snap out of its two-game funk.
November 2nd, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Tom Brady was doing more than enough barking in 22 and if you look at Donovan Smith’s face during the a$$ chewings it will show you how effective that strategy was. Brady seen barking on the sideline (with Smith looking tuned out) is a microscopic snapshot, not a window into what was really going on. Leftwich, Brady and the rest of the offensive coaches couldn’t scheme a run game if their life depended on it. And in Brady’s case, it kind of did. –Joe
November 2nd, 2025 at 1:05 pm
It seems most defensive coaches do get on the defense more
To Bowles credit he did jump on the O C after the last 2 games. He has also mentioned things the offense must do. It has suddenly been a 360 change. The defense is playing lights out, while the offense has tanked the last 2 games.
It will be interesting to see after the bye if the offense is able to turn around. Something apparently is really now off with the O line. If that doesn’t get better I don’t think we will see much improvement in the offense.
November 2nd, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Joe … ‘And it seems Bowles is still chill when it comes to his offensive players. That might have to change if the offense can’t snap out of its two-game funk.’
Sorry Joe, but our offense isn’t in a ‘two-game funk’. They are however badly beaten up & our #14 ranked offense won’t do very much better against the Patriots (#4 defense), Bills (#9 defense) & Rams (#3 defense).
You gotta have the horses to win, and right now we don’t, especially on our OLine. Bucs have scored 32 points TOTAL in our last 2 games (1 win, 1 loss), amassing 251 TOTAL yards in 1 game then 212 TOTAL yards in the 2nd game. Face facts: we’re missing our lead RB, missing 2 starting OLinemen, missing 2 starting WRs, and we’ve got an excellent QB who’s getting pummeled (7 sacks in the last 2 games).
Two days to go until the trade deadline passes. Without some new blood, we MIGHT still win the NFC South, but it’d be hard to visualize us going anywhere in the playoffs.
November 2nd, 2025 at 1:13 pm
Man, those Green Bay throwback uni’s are sweet
November 2nd, 2025 at 1:15 pm
I saw the interview. Just to clarify, he was talking with Aquib Talib and there was a lot of laughter. Lavonte & Talib were talking about a Bowles as a head coach from Defensive background. Remember when Dungy expected D dense to get a turnover and give up 10 points or less?
November 2nd, 2025 at 1:31 pm
PS – Minnesota is having no problem shredding the Lions man to man defense, running and passing. Glad we were able to do that.
Oh, wait.
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Look at Joey, breaking bad with a fact check on bye week!!!
Love it!
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Bucs hav a chance to be #1 by the day end 🤞🏾🤞🏾
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Joe Says ; “not a window into what was really going on”
I’ll consider that another minor point of confirmation.
I am the 0.001% that cares what really happened.
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:16 pm
@DR
Well that’s spot on. We’re in Super Serious Trouble! I said it in a different post today and others for at least a week, and your saying it for just as long, if Licht doesn’t pick us up some talent QUICK then the reality is likely UGLY for our chances at Any progress through the play offs , IF we make it that far.
It’s making me SICK to my stomach but if the GM won’t engage and keep us in this thing within the next two days SOMEHOW, then we’re done for. WE JUST DON’T HAVE THE WEAPONS TO COMPETE. We have Actually Lost Too Many to expect any different than disappointment going forward. It’s a Lousy Reality, but IT’S THE TRUTH!
JASON LICHT HAS TO ACT NOW TO KEEP US “IN THE GAME”!
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:22 pm
If Jason Licht doesn’t provide players fast, I’m starting to feel that it’s grounds to call for his job.
Sure after Arians taught him how to actually find talent it’s hard to ask for it, BUT THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN A SHORT SHOT IN THE SPRING!
HE HAS TO BE A “GM” ALL SEASON LONG!
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Canales upping the gut as usual at Green bay.
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Council Rudolph is right, David said this and it was kind of tongue & cheek. 100% the most casual David interview I’ve seen thus far and even a got a personal message from Talib to David on behalf of GMC. They talk about a bunch of topics in a short span, from changes in the game throughout Davids’ career.
You’d expect the defense to be the pride of a former DC, now HC-DC being the identity/pride of the team, at least to him.
They also did a pick’em type segment and David fawned over hypothetically playing with Lamar Jackson because they’re from the same area, doesn’t mean he hates playing with Baker.
November 2nd, 2025 at 3:43 pm
Holy crap is Drake London have an insane game, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him live up to all the hype, looks like Mike Evans today. Damn, I hope it’s a one-off.
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:03 pm
Not sure how I feel about this Panthers-Packers game.
Panthers move to 5-4, but they give GB a loss that knocks them out of first, and along with the Lions losing, the Bucs move back into the #1 seed.
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Gonna be close. Panters will be a factor.
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Well, wait, no the Eagles are the #1 seed, but Bucs move to #2.
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Those week 16 and 18 games are looking to be competitive!
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Panthers be 5-4 sucks, really want them to suck, but they’re winning and not even getting good QB play, if Young actually catches fire like he did at the end of last year, they’re going to be really tough. On a positive note, they’re winning by running the ball and the Bucs are still very good vs the run.
At least the stupid Falcons lost.
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:12 pm
With all of the injuries, particularly on the offensive side, I no longer have Super Bowl expectations for this season. The odds are long now. I do wonder whether Mike Evans and Lavonte David will come back for a chance in the 2026 season.
Go Bucs!!
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:12 pm
With the Bengals getting blown out, they should move Trey Hendrickson – lets see if the Bucs do anything. Rumors are the Eagles are going to try to get him. For an expiring contract, you’d think a 3rd rounder would be more than enough, maybe a 4th.
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Subject change… Green Bay lost, Detroit lost, Atlanta lost, not a bad day for the Bucs!!
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Nevermind what I said about the Bengals….
November 2nd, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Nevermind what I just said about neverminding my original statement on the Bengals.
November 2nd, 2025 at 5:30 pm
LOL Rod
November 2nd, 2025 at 5:51 pm
I hate to say it but Tuesday will come and go and that’s that. JL hopes injuries will go away and we will all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, hope has never won a Division or a Conference or a Super Bowl. Not doing trades in the past is admirable, but these are unprecedented circumstances. Trades ARE necessary now. But, I’m sure nothing will happen. Other teams will feast on available talent. The Bucs FO will just watch and hope it all turns out.
November 2nd, 2025 at 6:06 pm
Kancy and Walker come back next year = 3rd and 4th pick. Why not use one or both picks to improve this team. Next year is another year for Falcons and Carolina to improve. 2026 is not as good a chance for the SB as is 2025. GO FOR IT, JASON!
( Gopher Hole for me to yell down into provided by Bill Currie.)
November 2nd, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Bowles is a defensive coach who leaves the defense to his OC and AST HC. We’ll know where he stands if our OC is sent packing later.
November 2nd, 2025 at 7:31 pm
He do be bein’ da head coach doe. Lavonte and Aqib do be tellin’ it how it is doe, ya feel me?
November 2nd, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Trying this again. Until the last two and a half games it was indeed the defense’s fault, along with really special teams.
Now the OL can’t block a stuffed dog on roller skates. Head coaches do things with their under performing units to get them to perform better.
Let’s go Todd. Help your wise eyed rookie OC out with some head coaching.
November 2nd, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Offence not the same with all the injuries. Miss are evens ,Godwin..,hook up with j mac sprinkled in . Shepard and tez cam . Bucky out ! Went from high octane down to regular with all the injuries . Detroit was a measuring stick. . Will see tough going now ! Hope to get some guys back .
November 2nd, 2025 at 10:36 pm
gotta love LVD verifying the question was ‘do he’
November 2nd, 2025 at 10:47 pm
Our ’22 Offense was terrible mainly because Ryan Jensen was lost for the season. That’s at least 95% of it.
November 2nd, 2025 at 11:32 pm
Don’t have an issue with a defensive coach coaching. No one asked, does the OC get on the offense?