Loaf Mode; Hero Mode
December 1st, 2025
Logan Hall fought his way off the turf yesterday on this play to force a fumble from No. 20, Cardinals running back Bam Knight, as he entered Hall’s gap.
Joe would love the amateur and professional film gurus reading to turn on the All-22 and tell Joe two Bucs defensive players were not loafing on the first play from scrimmage in the second half yesterday.
It was Arizona ball at their 42 yard line.
Again, first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Everybody is rested. Everybody is seemingly pumped up on sidelines after a coach or player speech, or just the energy that comes following the refreshment of halftime.
Cardinals running back Bam Knight took a handoff and escaped Tykee Smith, who was in the backfield on run blitz. Knight stiff-armed cornerback Zyon McCollum at the line of scrimmage and broke the run outside.
McCollum got up and, rather than sprint after the guy who broke his tackle, McCollum jogged in the direction of Knight to feign chasing him down. This was not a young and hungry defender playing with his hair on fire. Frankly, it should embarrass any fan watching.
Vita Vea was hustling on the play. YaYa Diaby was not.
Joe challenges anyone to watch the film detail how Diaby and McCollum were giving acceptable effort. This was not the fourth quarter with players gassed.
The Bucs need to figure out how this happens and pull the plug on it.
Ironically, on the very next play, defensive tackle Logan Hall personified heart and want-to.
He was double-teamed on run play and lost his footing, and was then pinned to the ground by Cardinals guard Isaiah Adams. Hall kept fighting, found his way off the ground and knocked the ball out of Knight’s hands has he ran into hole created in Hall’s gap. Smith recovered for a Bucs turnover.
It was the most underrated defensive play of the game.
The Bucs defense, Joe believes, would benefit from a much hungrier workforce.
December 1st, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Coaches who allow loafing will get loafing. Simple as that.
December 1st, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Agree wholeheartedly, Joe. Bowles does not do an adequate job of holding players accountable. Only on a Bowles defense can players get paid and disappear in big games while players who get big pay cuts play out of their minds! Not sure if this is happening elsewhere but I know it’s happening here. Bowles has had plenty of time to develop and coach these defensive players into pros and some should be stars during primetimes but they’re not! But go easy on the pro analysts vs amateur analysts, Joe. Professionals built the Titanic. Noah, an amateur, built the ark. I’m definitely an amateur but I’ve watched enough Buccaneer football to know what I’m talking about.
December 1st, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Players really like bowels though you can really tell by the inspired play and the fans get the pleasure of watching the inspired play week to week. Yay us.
December 1st, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Owners will drag this mediocre subpar coaching out just to pacify media or whatever…
Hopefully by 2027 the Bucs have a better Hc/coaching staff and a championship team ..
December 1st, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Is that a case of coach it better or play it better oh well either way say the whole thing and we got both sides covered gotta play it better gotta coach it better problem solved.
December 1st, 2025 at 4:01 pm
This team does not swarm to the ball
December 1st, 2025 at 4:05 pm
Zyon has 48 million reasons to lallygag. Perhaps he was bored with the show after intermission. Where’s Warren Sapp and/or Hardy Nickerson when you need them? Bowles is a players coach and some players simply don’t fear being replaced…it seems at least.
December 1st, 2025 at 4:10 pm
Are you sure you are not confused with loafing going on on the Cards first drive (or any teams’ initial first drive against us in the first quarter (minus the INT)?
December 1st, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Next time Todd meets the press, ask him why he tolerates this. You are what you practice. They must loaf in practice. Pitiful.
McCollum needs his contract torn up for breech.
December 1st, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Zion has been a surprise. He worked his tail off since being drafted.
He got the bag and shut it down.
December 1st, 2025 at 4:15 pm
McFollowum is bored
December 1st, 2025 at 4:25 pm
I want John gruden back coaching this team..I said it..I love his energy and love for this team and the game of football.
I think.all tampa buc fans need to start the chants for gruden..dude was at the game turning the f up and had more fire in him then most the team did.
That fire is contagious
December 1st, 2025 at 4:46 pm
It was obvious, to the naked eye, that some defenders were loafing, so I started looking for it. Our veteran leader, Vea, loafed more than once. It was disgusting!
December 1st, 2025 at 5:02 pm
On the better teams when a player is loafing he gets pulled out of the game and has to stand on the sidelines and watch. That’s called accountability. Todd prefers to leave him in the game and make excuses for him if he’s asked about during the post game presser. A true players coach.
December 1st, 2025 at 5:04 pm
Where are all the McCollum fans? This was the guy who was going to save the defensive backfield. He was great. He was so ready. An up-and-coming.
That’s what everybody was saying. Not me. I said he sucked then.
December 1st, 2025 at 5:04 pm
McCollum also had that egregious missed tackle on 3rd and 3. Can’t cover anyone. He needs to ride the pine.
December 1st, 2025 at 5:25 pm
The whole defense seemed to be loafing on the Cardinals first drive of the game. They got bailed out with the interception.
December 1st, 2025 at 5:25 pm
I remember thinking the exact same thing on that play. Winfield ended up making the tackle. That play exemplified the reason why our defense is playing so poorly, they have checked out on Bowles. They don’t believe in his game plan or scheme
December 1st, 2025 at 5:26 pm
I’ve noticed the defense not swarming to the ball several times during the season. Bowles needs to tell his players to play with 100% intensity until after the whistle and at full speed or be benched. Also to wrap and tackle of be benched. Simple.
December 1st, 2025 at 5:29 pm
John Gruden’s offense is 30 years out of date. He’s entertaining and knowledgeable, but not a particularly good offensive coach. He’s better off where he is.
December 1st, 2025 at 5:31 pm
Someone needs to ask the coach straight out if he thinks his defensive scheme is a little too exotic for their players to figure out or is it pure cluelessness!!! Please!!! Go Bucs!!!
December 1st, 2025 at 5:32 pm
If they are swarming to the ball lots more gang tackling and sometimes fumbles occur. There’s lots of good reasons to do it and none not to.