Kickoff Team Awful But Correctable
November 16th, 2025
Change strategy?
Joe heard Gene Deckeroff say on the Buccaneers Radio Network in the immediate aftermath of the Bucs’ 44-32 loss to Buffalo today that the Bills averaged 39 yards a kickoff return.
If that was a high school team, the special teams coach would be cussed out on the sidelines or told to find his own ride home if it was a road game.
After the third or fourth kickoff return, Joe thought “At what point does Todd Bowles order his special teams coach — or at least order Chase McLaughlin directly — to kick the ball out of the end zone?”
With the new kickoff rules, a ball kicked out of the end zone is placed on the 35 to start the ensuing drive. Well, the opposing-35 is worlds better than the ball coming out to your own-45!
Of course it was yet another special teams shat-in-your-pants game. Worse than they were doing early in the season (and it was bad early in the season).
But where was the head coach taking the bull by the horns and ordering his special teams coach to try a new method? This was when the game was still in doubt.
On the Buccaneers Radio Network, analysts seem to blame the kick return team for the loss. Bucs coach Todd Bowles said you can’t give an opponent that kind of field position to start drives.
Bowles might be right, but where was his defense to make a stop? Just because the special teams bends over and gives it up like a bargain-priced businesswoman in Las Vegas doesn’t mean the defense has to turn into 11 matadors.
Joe hates to use the word “quit” but man, it sure looked like the defense packed it in late in the third quarter.
Was the kickoff team garbage today? Yes, but not fresh horse manure like the defense was in the fourth quarter.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Correct it by firing whoever is in charge
November 16th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
One word.
Suck.
Everything. No corrections are possible because no one knows what to do or how to do it to fix the suck. Now even Baker has gone full suck
Pathetic. Adios.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Yes, fire the coordinator. Today.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Grade Your Confidence In Todd Bowles (Poll Closed)
Confident
42.01% (318 votes)
Little Confidence
25.63% (194 votes)
Very Confident
15.72% (119 votes)
Totally Confident
10.17% (77 votes)
No Confidence
6.47% (49 votes)
You people are LOSERS!!!!!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Correctable by kicking touchbacks giving th ‘em the 35.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Why in the heck did they not just kick it through the end zone, like the old days, when we realized we weren’t able to tackle anyone on the return team?!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Bowle bloviating from the bunghole
November 16th, 2025 at 5:06 pm
No pass rush. No blitz. Receivers wide open. It looked like the defense gave up in the second half. Zion McCollum going backwards. Dean was a big loss. This team is going nowhere. We need a defensive coordinator.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
How do u not fing correct this in the game
November 16th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Tired of hearing this BS. If it was correctable by this coordinator 10 weeks into the season it would have been corrected. 3/4 of this team can’t even tackle.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Once again the fans know more than the Head Coach. If the Bills are constantly running the ball past the 50 then just kick the ball out of the end zone, Isn’t the ball at the 35 a lot better than at the Bills 40 yard line. IQ Bowles and his staff of geniuses!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Todd plays the blame game without the benefit of a mirror. He’s fifteen games under 500. How much more are the owners willing to lose?
November 16th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Bowles gotta go. You can send Licht packing too. His draft picks ain’t all that.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Honestly, I’ve never felt this dejected. I’ve never been more convinced that I just don’t want to waste my sundays anymore brainrotting watching disgusting and embarrassing losses. Todd is what Todd is. Todd is a fraud. Yearly has a stockpile of losses in a row. The only thing we’re privileged with this year for the 50th anniversary. Is a $h^t division. The offense is injury plagued. Emeka forgot how to win in coverage. What more can the rbs do?! Baker is a great qb. But we do not have the horses to compete in the playoffs. We’ll be one and done. Carolina will win it this year. Mark my words. I think I’ll start going for walks, or find new hobbies that will help me find happiness, not ruin my day off. The Bucs suck! Defense looks great, only gave up 44 today. Nice work Todd.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Todd should be ashamed but he laughs all the way to the bank. What a worthless leader of men.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Big kickoff returns are massive momentum and energy plays too. Has any other team been this bad on kickoff coverage this season? Anyone even close?
November 16th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
The deer in headlights stare says it all. He’s in over his head.
Yes Joe, the defense did pack it in because the coach accepts it.
Letting the backup QB take a knee with a minute left is unacceptable.
Perhaps he had money on the Bills and didn’t want the point spread to get overtaken.
If you’re still a Bowles fan, please pass that thing this way. I need a toke.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Can everyone on the team other than some players be fired including the trainer.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Special Teams sucked at beginning of year and sucks now. Nothing has been corrected.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Who cares if the backup takes a knee. What is unacceptable is 2 games in a ro not rinning it on 3rd and 2 and then not going for it on 4th down. When you play not to lose, you lose. No More DEI Coaches
November 16th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
No one should take anything this loser says seriously. Honestly I would love to see what a young, high energy coach could do with this roster.
Barring that, I would even be up for a second round with Gruden to light a fire under them.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
“Bucs coach Todd Bowles said you can’t give an opponent that kind of field position to start drives.”
Gotta hand it to him. He’s got superhuman powers of observation…
November 16th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Bowles doesnt do change. That much is obvious by now and the few times he does try to change he immediately reverts back to what wasnt working to begin with. “Guru”…
November 16th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
How many time have we heard the word correctable this season? Has the lack of pass rush been corrected? Bowels has a bottom third defense every year and they extend his contract. Special teams goes from poor to corrected to even worse than before. Bowels gives the players the full bye week off and they respond with a bye effort. Has it ever occurred to owners, management and coaches that their expectations are set too low. You so called leaders are not champions. You’re chumps!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
I knew this game may come down to the QBs and it did. Down 5 points. 3rd and 2. Shep missed one and we punted on 4 th and 2. The Mistake of the Year. Hands down. When we get the ball back we’re down 12 and not enough time for a chance. We had a chance on 4th and 2. We didn’t take it and we never got another chance. Don’t blame the offense or the defense. Blame Coach for that one. And Allen outplayed Baker. But Allen has a coach that would have let him go on 4th and 2.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
they almost
cut dixon, lol
November 16th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
I honestly think Todd Bowles is just not a very intelligent human being. Sure, after 40 years in football he naturally has a lot of knowledge, but he just comes across as dumb.
In-game decisions are terrible. Adjusts too slowly. Can’t multitask. All his defensive assistants seem very low IQ as well.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
I think the final nail has been hammered.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
All he had to do was kick the ball out of the end zone.
But he didn’t.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
After this devastating loss, I’m sure Todd will reward his team with 3 days off.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
I just don’t understand why our special teams cannot at least be league average? We don’t have any super-stud gunners but we do have an outstanding kicker.
How hard is it to improve from TURRRRRIBLE to average? Show us some improvement, please.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Tough to root for, or much less watch a rudderless and undisciplined team.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
Carolina is next and their year so let it go. Even if Bucs win division it’s one and done so no worries. Need new offensive guru that knows how to adjust when things aren’t right,better special teams, coverage and receiving and get rid of older players. Keep drafting the way we’ve been. Evans is done and Godwin can’t stay on field.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
Dam straight Joe. Do something different. Defense was torched today. That 1st drive of the bills was a fluke. It got my hopes up 😂😂😂😂
November 16th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
Fish rots from the head down. It’s time for Todd to be fired. Stubborn, soft zinger, lacks heart, passion for the game, losing record as a head coach, full of redundant excuses.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Toad Bowels: “We gotta coach em better and they gotta play better.” Yawn, rinse, repeat. This sh&t is getting old!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Yawnnnnnnnn, Todd and his STC should be packing their office tonight after the plane lands
Change the locks and deactivate the FOB’s
This season is toast and so is Todd
November 16th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
I have been Todd’s biggest supporter,I just can’t do it anymore. He sounds like a broken record after every loss.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
How the heck does the Bucs brain trust not run the ball against the 3 man front on that 3 and 2—with the idea that they’re going for it in 4th down, if necessary? No coach worth his salt is trusting his D there (after they way they played in the 2nd half). If you lose, at least you went down swinging.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Fire Bowels tonight, give this team a chance with a new intern voice the rest of the way.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
I don’t think it was possible to kick it out of the end zone today. The winds were swirling and cold. I thought the best kickoff idea was just kick it out of bounds and let them start at the forty. That was embarrassing play by special teams. AGAIN!!
November 16th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
Who supports this idiot and why?
Those of you that voted confident or totally confident or VERY confident – get your butts in here and defend your IDIOCY. Yeah…goobers…why keep this loser?
Back upon your BS votes
November 16th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
They are both absolutely garbage.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
I am sick and tired of Bowles and his mindless blather. We can correct the mistakes or we can do this or do that….enough excuses year in and year out. Make these players practice in pads all week and treat them as football players and not high priced babies. This crap of not practicing in pads show a total non commital to winning.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Bowles and this coaching staff suck ass.
November 16th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
We’re still looking for answers after 10 games as to how to cover a kickoff?
Maybe if you can’t figure out one of the reasons you keep losing games, then bring in someone else who can.
November 16th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Are we the worst ST in leauge?
November 16th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Bowles.
November 16th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
BOWLES SUCKS ,FACE IT ! HIS DEFENCE NEVER GETS BETTER. GOT PASSED ON ALL DAY ! MISSED TACKLES . ZERO PASS RUSH . WHAT A SHAME AFTER TUCKER KILLED IT YODAY ! BOWLES DEFENCE ANOTHER LET DOWNN. RAMS WILL BEAT THEM . PANTHERS WILL MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE IF THEY WIN AFTER THERE BYE . OFFENCE IS BEAT UP YET THEY SCORED ENOUGH POINTS TO WIN . DEFENCE IS MORE HEALTHY BUT LOOKED AWFUL . WAKE UP BUCS FANS THE DAMN BEARS HAVE A BETTER RECORD ! STOP PAYING FOR CRAPPY FOOTBALL . SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GLAZER BOYS ! WE WANT CHANGE !!!
November 16th, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Special teams has been bad for a few years now if they haven’t corrected it by now they don’t know how.
November 16th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
What OLB/edge wants to come to the Bucs. When payroll is based on sacks- who wants to spend 1/2 the plays running 20 yards downfield covering a RB when his bag of cash is back at the line of scrimmage or more precisely- in the QB’s backfield. Bucs OLBs, if they’re dawgs, have got to get pissed that they don’t get to consistently hammer away at those OTs.
November 16th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Why wasn’t it corrected after the first long return then?
November 16th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
After the second long return we should have started kicking it into the endzone. It’s inexcusable by Bowles to not make some in game changes on our kickoffs. I don’t understand his thinking but apparently the Glazers are absolutely fine with this s#/! show for a head coach. Enough is enough.
November 16th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
this is debatably the worst special teams i have seen the buc’s field ever…
and i’ve been a fan…hardcore fan, since 1979
November 16th, 2025 at 11:09 pm
If it is “correctable,” then why wasn’t it corrected?