Marcus Spears Feels Todd Bowles’ Defense Will Drag Bucs Down
November 19th, 2025
Big plays will kill Bucs.
It pained Marcus Spears to say it, but unless Bucs coach Todd Bowles can repair his suddenly porous defense, it will be the defense and not the Bucs’ injury-riddled offense that will drag the Bucs down in the playoffs.
If they get to the playoffs.
The Bucs’ defense in the past two games has given up 849 yards. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen tied his Super Bowl-era record of being a part of six touchdowns (three touchdown passes, three touchdown runs) against the Bucs on Sunday.
The 10 touchdowns total the Bucs have coughed up against the Patriots and Bills, the Bucs’ last two opponents, have been for an average of 33-yards.
This has Spears nauseated. Spears is a Bowles guy. When he was a young defensive end breaking in with the Cowboys nearly 20 years ago, Bowles was the Cowboys’ secondary coach. So the two go back a ways.
Still, Spears has to call it like he sees it. He said yesterday on BSPN’s NFL Live that Bowles’ defense as it is currently designed, is just giving up way too many big plays and the Bucs won’t go far in the postseason with that defense, if the Bucs make the playoffs.
“For as much as I love Todd Bowles and how he calls defense, this team gives up too many, entirely too many, explosive plays,” Spears said. “And it’s not just coming off of the Josh Allen performance.
“Because, obviously, we saw those explosives, but this has been a recurring theme. And obviously Jamel Dean went out of that [Buffalo] game.”
Spears said the Bucs’ inability to get quarterbacks on the ground is very worrisome.
Not putting quarterbacks on their rear ends “it’s turning into touchdowns and explosive plays,” Spears said. “I’m worried about that.”
So should the Bucs and so should Bucs fans.
And it would help greatly if a certain someone on the sidelines grasps that his defense since the bye is not an asset, but a liability and currently cannot be trusted in a close game.
November 19th, 2025 at 5:29 am
Wait until Stafford destroys the defense. What will Todd’s excuse be this week?
November 19th, 2025 at 5:46 am
Did Spears see the last Bills games and Allen’s performance early on in our game against them? He hasn’t looked that great. McDermott was probably on the hot seat.
Spears is right about lack of sacking QBs. But when they do go after the QB, they get a face-mask call or other penalty that really wasn’t one, just because the QB whines about it. Yes, our turnovers should become a TD. It seemed as though by the 4th quarter, we had given up. And the Bucs shouldn’t get in the red zone multiple times with the same play, and producing nothing. It’s not all on Todd. There are other working parts not working.
November 19th, 2025 at 5:50 am
I started a new rumor. Cody Mauch slams backup QB Teddy Bridgewater for missing games due to teeth. Hope everyone has a great day. Go Bucs!
November 19th, 2025 at 5:51 am
same thing every year cousins was benched for poor performance but had a 500 yd 4 td game vs bucs
November 19th, 2025 at 5:56 am
The owners need to step up and force Bowles to hire a DC. That is all there is to it this defense has been doing this since he took over. Everyone can clearly tell it’s the scheme.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:06 am
After the Rams game in which they had a total of 570 offensive yards and blew out the Bucs, Bowles said, “Teah, I am very pleased with our Special Teams effort. They only gave up 2 scores and only gave up 4 returns in our territory. Great progress. Our defense showed real grit holding Stanford to 398 yards. We had several QB touches. I was really pleased that Vita showed skill in dropping out into coverage. It’s a shame he gave up a couple of long passes, but he showed that he can do coverage. I have to mention our offense. We ground and pound the Rams and got 68 running yards. Baker was only sacked 4 times. Great game. We showed we belong among the NFL elite with our performance.”
November 19th, 2025 at 6:37 am
Joe … ‘The 10 touchdowns total the Bucs have coughed up against the Patriots and Bills, the Bucs’ last two opponents, have been for an average of 33-yards.’
There it is, right there. And it’s been happening all season long.
Marcus Spears gets it. Bucs’ defense might be a Top-10 defense on 90% of their plays; hard to know. But on the other 10%, they wouldn’t even rank in the Top-32. This team is having HUGE breakdowns in Run Defense, Pass Defense, and yes, Special Teams (their breakdowns are costing our defense BIG TIME).
Rams should absolutely eat us alive if Bowles can’t fix that by this Sunday. But finding the CAUSES has been elusive. Is it our lack of sacks? Bucs now have 26 sacks in 10 games; projects to 44-45 sacks in 17 games … fairly standard for Bowles teams. We also have 59 QB hits in 10 games; projects to 100 QB hits in 17 games … fairly standard for Bowles team.
I think Spears nailed it with his ‘this team gives up too many, entirely too many, explosive plays’ analysis. But we’ve been seeing that game after game, even in our wins. This defense is acceptable 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time it’s totally out to lunch.
I still think it’s personnel (as in ‘lack of dogs’). Looking at our starters, I love Tykee Smith’s play this year. Love Jacob Parrish’s play. Impressed with YaYa Diaby’s play. Jamel Dean is having an excellent year IMO (hate that he got hurt). Vita Vea’s availability this year impresses me, but that’s all. Elijah Roberts is winning me over, but needs to keep improving.
The rest of our starters & key rotational guys? Not impressed.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:38 am
Bowles is finally being exposed for what he is. An outdated failed old school coach who doesn’t comprehend the game has changed dramatically from his era.
I don’t want him to be forced to get another DC. I want him replaced altogether.
He’s proven so many damn times that he’s not the guy. I don’t want to hear but he’s won the division 3 or 4 times. That’s because of our players overcoming a subpar HC. Thew Glazers are absolute morons for extending this guy. Like his door would be knocking by other teams wanting him as their HC. The entire organization has been exposed for what they are. A team with brittle pampered players and a coach who can’t coach worth a $hyt. I’m tired of it.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:40 am
Proudbucs fan: it will take the Glazers to make Todd give up play calling and that will not happen unless Bowles is invited back for next season. The Bucs last fired a coach/coordinator mid- season when the Glazers likely forced Licht and Dirk Koetter to part ways with Mike Smith after he coached the Bucs’ D in bad losses to Chicago and Atlanta which probably were not much worse than what Bowles crew put up in Buffalo this weekend. Koetter said that he would not do any changes and then the ATL scored like 35 first half point on Smitty and the next Monday Smitty was launched. It will take something like that to force Bowles to give up calling plays. Anyhow, if Bowles D continues to get boat-raced then the Bucs will miss the playoffs and then Bowles should get canned, not just lose his play calling ability on D.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:50 am
Trouble is Bowles Bowles tries to be so tricky that he outsmarts himself. The defense gets so confusing that it looks like a heap of monkeys trying to fork a football…with chopsticks.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:02 am
We were saying the same things about Bowles last year at this time. He got an extension in the off season, because he pulled the team together down the stretch, won the division, done at home in the first round. This year was to be different, but it’s not. We were supposed to not have a mid season swoon. We were going to compete with the Lions, Philly, Bills. Hasn’t happened. Glazers paid money believing it was. We’ll see if Bowles is lauded once again for winning the division, or if not? It’s up to the Glazers.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:17 am
If you score 32 points, you gotta win that game
November 19th, 2025 at 7:17 am
.The Buccaneers will not make the playoffs this year. Instead, the Carolina Panthers will.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:19 am
How about that. Marcus Spears reading my posts from two years ago. Ira was incredulous. Couldn’t believe how stupid some fans could be! I remember. There were a few of us. Wan’t just me. Where is Aqualung these days. Makes me sick the amount of talent wasted by Bowles.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:26 am
I’ve been saying this all along that it’s the scheme/system & everything.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:30 am
The OC’s are seeing something in TB’s schemes that TB has not been able to adjust to. It’s going to be ugly trying to fall asleep on Sunday
November 19th, 2025 at 7:42 am
it’s ground hog year
November 19th, 2025 at 7:43 am
This is where the Bucs clobber the Rams. Why? Because it makes no sense. The best NFL bets make no sense.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:49 am
Thanks Captain Obvious
November 19th, 2025 at 8:08 am
we will win this game on monday night…if todd bowles has to suit up himself to replace jamel dean…
win one for the gipper todd
November 19th, 2025 at 8:08 am
“The fact that a rookie defensive tackle has three passes defensed in four starts (Roberts has played in 10 games) is pretty impressive.”
It may be impressive for Roberts, not for the fool who is putting him into coverage.
This is what is wrong with this team. Was it Parcells who said, ‘don’t tell me what a player cannot do, tell me what he can do’. What does this mean exactly? To put the player in the best situation to make him shine, and that makes the team WIN!!
Is having our best pass rusher who is 250+lbs defending a WR 40 yards away from his NATURAL POSITION going to make him shine? is it putting the team in the best position to win?
Is having Vita Vea dropping into coverage the best thing for the team?
Is having the most complex defense known in the NFL going to help the team “play fast” (as they like to say about simplifying systems) or is it going to cause “communication problems” as has been the excuse for YEARS.
You made a good point the other day Joe. 3rd and 2, then 4th and 2 and calling for a punt was not just a dumb call, it was pure ego. MY (Todd’s) defense can stop Josh Allen bc I will confuse Allen with my genius play calling.
Week before vs Dolphins, Bills scored 13 points. vs Todd the Bills tripled that with 44. The Bucs got 3 TOs. The Bucs offense scored 32 points. Allen tied his Super Bowl-era record of being a part of six touchdowns. Who is the genius Bowles?
Maybe it was a communication issue.
As your predecessor Lovie used to say, ‘simple like that’.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:18 am
“And it would help greatly if a certain someone on the sidelines…” don’t be afraid to say it Joe. His name is Todd Bowles.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:24 am
The injuries on offense could impact more than just this season. It will give this blind ownership an excuse to keep Bowels for another season.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:44 am
What will Todd’s excuse be this week?…..The same broken record we’ve heard for 4 yrs. Players not communicating, missed assignments, poor tackling, mental errors, blah blah blah. It’s never ever going to be him taking responsibility that his play calling/scheme is the problem. Honestly I think he bails on the pass rush no different than young OCs bail on the running game. It’s like if we aren’t getting to the QB early, he’s immediately just going to blitz. We got guys who have shown ability….Yaya, Reddick, Nelson, etc….they can’t create pressure or even get ito a rhythm when they’re dropping back in coverage. Frankly I imagine it’s deflating to those guys when obvious passing downs come and they hear the play calling to then cover a RB or act as a disguise.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Remember last off season when MOST of us wanted Bowles fired and Liam hired as HC.
Bowles always blames everyone else but himself. He has ZERO accountability for HIS actions. 2 Bill’s TDs had Anthony Nelson covering and YaYa covering the other 1. Bowles can say whatever he wants to the media. We know damn well Yaya was in coverage.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:53 am
So, you’re saying we need edge rushers?
November 19th, 2025 at 9:10 am
BucsBeast – I am in the minority and didn’t really want Coen as a HC. And the way he moved on left a lot to be desired. I thought Grizz would be better since he was involved with the team. However last season Coen had Bucky, Mike, and Chris in there for most of the season. Grizz hasn’t. It is still fluid.
Off subject – Haven’t seen Vanessa Anne on here for awhile. Hope all is well with her. And is Aqualung someone else now?
November 19th, 2025 at 9:33 am
we’re running the table!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
November 19th, 2025 at 9:39 am
7 YEARS!!!
7 years, countless DB combinations, high draft picks, free agents, ALL Pros in the secondary and it does not matter. RECEIVERS are ALWAYS OPEN against this scheme. Todd either is too dumb to fix it or just doesn’t know how.
6-5 is inevitable just like this defense leaving receivers WIDE OPEN
November 19th, 2025 at 9:41 am
Funny thing about the big plays–our ‘bend but don’t break’ soft zone is designed specifically to NOT allow those, at the expense of endless 8-10 yard underneath passes
November 19th, 2025 at 9:50 am
I think 813BUCBOI is actually Jason Licht.
And I’m worried about Aqualung. Did Bowles defense push him over the edge into a catatonic state?
I’ll be betting the house on the Rams Sunday night. Stafford and McVey will absolutely carve up the Swiss cheese defense of Turtle Todd.
Won’t be shocked if we see a 50-10 final score. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
November 19th, 2025 at 10:03 am
He is correct. Our Bucs are going nowhere this year, one and done in the playoffs. And that’s if..Carolina does not beat us.
November 19th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Puka and Adams going to have a field day in this secondary. Bet the over on there WR total yards along with Stafford passing yards. I mean if I am going to be miserable watching this defense I should go ahead and make money off how bad it is.
November 19th, 2025 at 10:32 am
IMO, whether we need or get a new DC or not, one thing is glaringly and blatantly crystal clear:
This system does NOT match the talent.
Something MUST change.
What’s that new-fangled word all the kids are saying nowadays? Oh yeah, “cringey.” This defense is cringey.
November 19th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Ah yeah! We have been in need for a pass rush since the Superbowl. I don’t care how easy the schedule gets. We will back into the playoffs, if we get there.
November 19th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
For the love of God! Please write an article about the reasoning why Licht didn’t trade for Parsons. Joe already wrote said article weeks ago. –Joe
Licht blows at picking DEs and LBs in the draft and has been more miss than hit in the first round. I really want to know why Licht screwed the pooch on this.
Go after Licht for once instead of being in fear of being locked out of the locker room. Joe has no such fears or concerns. This site was built with no locker room access and thrived. Frankly, it probably would thrive more without it. If you’re making that comment, you’re not really a regular reader here. Just because Joe doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean there are sinister forces at work. Joe doesn’t tell fans how to be fans and what to think.–Joe
November 19th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
I have a feeling things are about to get spectacular to watch here in Tampa. Enough is too much. The fans are awakening to the scam.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
What I don’t get is how we went from a man coverage scheme to zone predominantly now. Over the years it’s slowly gone from man to zone and we draft our CBs that are good at man. The excuses were guys weren’t healthy, so they had to adjust. I also don’t get the whole dropping linemen into coverage. Or having linebackers cover receivers. I mean you would think after Yaya missed Ekeler we would stop that nonsense.
And finally the other thing that drives me nuts is the fact that we don’t value an edge rush. I mean how stupid is it to draft these guys who rush and play the run, very rarely drop into coverage and then have them do all this nonsense? I mean we needed a pass rush and apparently, per Joe, our beloved Jose Ramirez giving Tristan Wirfs fits in practice gets cut. I was excited for Walker, but how badly is he going to be messed up by Bowles in this scheme? What happened to letting Shaq and JPP rush to now we have this crap? It’s clearly not working, but here we are.
Winning really does cure all, because these are the same arguments we all have made and criticisms pointed out year after year. It’s not as loud with the Ws, but we get these slumps (AGAIN!) and it all comes out. It’s like groundhog day.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:48 pm
OneAndThree Says:
November 19th, 2025 at 9:50 am
I think 813BUCBOI is actually Jason Licht.
😂😂
we wouldve had crosby or jeffrey simmons if that were true!!!!
i wouldnt have touched reddick with a 10ft pole!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 19th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
This defense has been very disappointing to me. I actually felt that they were almost there, and close enough ‘talent-wise’ to be able to win with ‘em. It looks like we are a lot further away from that being a reality, than what I had initially thought. I think a HUGE part of it unfortunately, is Coach Todd Bowles. It’s pretty damn bad.
November 19th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
It gives me no pleasure to say this but the fan is just beginning to fling the guano headed in it’s direction. I now think the Glazers are so boxed in that they will have to keep Bowles and suffer the consequences. My cynical side tells me they are OK with that. I don’t think they want to pay Baker fair market price anyway. I don’t think they really care anymore about about the fans. I think they would rather hide in their luxury bunkers and dump it in Jason’s lap. I think Baker can solve their problem. If I were Baker I would negotiate a buyout with the Bucs and cut a mutually favorable deal with the Rams. The Glazers will start dumping salaries (into the failing economy) blaming it all on Baker and start feeding the next line of s… to the gullible Bucs fans. After all the QB of the future is already on the roster…Teddy !
November 19th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Happy 50th anniversary Bucs fans. Nothing has changed in 50 years. The ghost of Hugh Culverhouse still roams the halls of 1 Buc Place.
I am now taking a new vantage point and reassessing my views and criticisms of Bruce Arians. I still believe the betrayal took place but I sure would like to know what really took place behind the scene.
There is a very simple explanation for everything : $$$$$$$$$
November 19th, 2025 at 7:20 pm
849 yards given up by the defense…
Another 300+ yards given up by special teams…
It’s week 10, not week 2. No excuses. Bowles is not the answer.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
The Rams offense has to be kicking their chops.
November 22nd, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Let’s go LadyBoi! Let’s have some sweet porridge and crumpets! Yay!!!
Bucs 6-11
Yay!!!