Conor Orr: Inspire Change May Be In Order For Tampa Bay
December 22nd, 2025
Heat from national scribes now on.
It was not lost on Joe that the sweatshirt Bucs coach Todd Bowles wore on the sidelines yesterday was emblazoned with one of the NFL’s catchphrases, “Inspire Change.”
That’s what Bucs fans have been hollering for loudly the past month.
Bowles has never been a popular coach with fans — not since the Super Bowl when he was the team’s defensive coordinator, not when he became head coach, not when the Bucs were winning and regularly making postseason appearances and capturing divisions.
And he sure as hell is not popular now that the Bucs have lost seven of their last nine games, going from a chokehold on the NFC South to second place and looking like they are headed for third.
Much of what is wrong with the team is the defense. And guess who the defensive coordinator is? None other than the head coach, Bowles.
Fans are absolutely howling for Bowles’ head.
Joe maintains Bowles is easily the most reviled Bucs coach since this here website launched in August 2008. And the weekly Bowles’ confidence poll Joe runs weekly shows that 90 percent of voters either have little confidence or no confidence in Bowles.
No Bucs coach has had that many negative votes, not even Dirk Koetter or Lovie Smith in their final days.
And now it seems national scribes who focus solely on the NFL are picking up the whiff. Conor Orr of SI.com typed a piece last night saying “clear” changes are needed with the Bucs.
The most logical leap is to change … something. In this particular case, turning over the head coaching position and bringing in a replacement for Bowles will be the solution that everyone points to because, in the absence of a thorough postmortem, we tend to blame dropoff or a lack of big-game energy on the person sitting in that chair. Bowles is 34–32 in four seasons and 1–3 in the playoffs, with the lone victory being the game that put the collapsing Eagles out of their misery in 2023. But Bowles folds neatly into the modern debate about Mike Tomlin during the past half decade, where there is a standard other lost fan bases would crave, especially considering that this has been a team in transition for three years now.
Well, there is a reason why the head coach makes the big bucks. He is responsible for his team. Both sides of the ball.
Joe is still triggered that with 10 days to hatch a gameplan, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard (and his gameplan was really offensive yesterday) — a Yale man no less — thought ignoring his loaded and healthy receiver group and running repeatedly behind two awful backup guards was the wise way to go.
Either Baker Mayfield is so hurt he cannot function at near 100 percent or the team has lost trust in him. Which is it? How else to explain what the Bucs were trying to accomplish yesterday? Or was Bowles terrified to put his sour defense on the field more than absolutely necessary?
Emeka Egbuka’s 40-yard catch late in the game was the longest for a receiver next to Chris Godwin’s 13-yard catch.
All those talented receivers and only four passes completed for over 10 yards? That is so grossly irresponsible and a shameful waste of talent.
And the defense. Hoo, boy! It’s been sub-optimal for years now. This season, it is a full-blown disaster. Bowles often says he doesn’t care about an edge rush. Well, that’s what he got, little to no edge rush. Careful what you wish for — or don’t wish for.
(Joe fielded a Bucs fan Twitter yesterday during the game saying he trusted himself to pass gas while afflicted with diarrhea more than he trusted the Bucs defense to hold a lead.)
The Bucs were marred, maybe sunk, by dumb plays, especially penalties. Where was Luke Goedeke’s head? Goodness, in such an important game!
Backup linebacker John Bullock head-butting a guy on a critical game-on-the-line kick return? The guy should have had to pay for his flight back to Tampa — as an ex-Bucs player. Is he that gifted that he’s untouchable after he directly hurt the Bucs’ chances of winning and returning to the playoffs? If he really was that gifted, he would have easily replaced SirVocea Dennis by now.
Bucs players like to talk accountability in the locker room, especially last week. Bull! What would Warren Sapp do if this Bullock pulled that stunt in the same circumstances when Sapp played? Sapp would have probably punched him.
What would Tom Brady have done with Bullock? After he finished screaming at him for maybe 20 minutes, Brady would have stomped straight to Jason Licht’s office and ordered Licht to cut him. Brady basically did the same thing with receiver Justin Watson for the crime of allowing two pick-sixes. Buh-bye.
Everyone at One Buc Palace talks a good game about accountability. Where are the actions?
Until someone has to pay a price for his sins, why should anyone believe Bucs players will all of a sudden start going to Confession?
This team is a mess! Joe fears flights have already been booked for the DR two weeks from tomorrow after players clean out their lockers and give exit interviews.
(Conor: Joe is not trying to throw shade at you. Your name appears in headlines for clarity.)
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:06 am
Lol this thing is done what are you going to get rid of everyone but Mike Evans on accountability? Cya Todd.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:10 am
Comparing Bowles to Tomlin is ridiculous.
I’d take Tomlin 100 out of 100 times and I’m nowhere near as much of a Bowles hater as 80% of the Bucs ‘fans’ in here.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:14 am
Fire Bowles!
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:17 am
All you people hoping Bowles gets fired, you realize it means a tear down and reboot and probably another decade of losing and not making the playoffs.
It’s incredibly how many people have no idea what they’re rooting for. A new coach, which almost never works out, means cleaning house, and many many years of losing.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:18 am
Look at the Jags!! Dam they look good and well coached crazy!!! Wish we had a chance to get a head coach like Coen…..
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:20 am
Klint Kubiac Should be their top choice…
Todd Monken plan B if that doesn’t work out…
Anyone but Bowels at this point!
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:26 am
Don’t believe that at all.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:27 am
Tye Says:
Anyone but Bowels at this point!
============
Throw McKay in the BAY!
ANYONE BUT MCKAY!
Welcome to your new head coach, Leeman Bennett.
Lesson learned… never say “anyone but” …
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:27 am
Monken over Kubiak because you also need the no-nonsense attitude as well…
Remember Monken’s comment when he was interviewed at the Bucs presser after a loss when Koetter was head coach.
His comment was “We chose to suck”……
Monken is a great OC and knows what the hell he’s doing. Has great Tight Wns involvement and strong formations….
I’d like to see him here..
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:30 am
Joe Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:26 am
All you people hoping Bowles gets fired, you realize it means a tear down and reboot and probably another decade of losing and not making the playoffs.
Don’t believe that at all.
—–
That’s almost always what happens.
Arians in 2019 was handed a good young roster. Whoever comes in next is going to get an aging roster with a QB on a one-year deal (unless Baker gets hot and goes on a tear, still possible, but if that happens, Bowles isn’t getting fired).
I’m not even saying Bowles shouldn’t get fired, just that the people hoping for it need to realize it almost certainly comes with a full rebuild, which almost always means years of losing. Maybe they hit the lottery and turn it around quickly, but the Bucs history tell us we’re in for another 10-15 years of losing once this run is done. I hope I’m wrong.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:31 am
Joe, there is a reason why Grizzard didn’t throw the ball more, and it has nothing to do with confidence in Baker. As has been painfully obvious since both our starting guards went down… we cannot protect a QB for the 4-5 seconds they need to run longer developing patterns… Hence our QB took 5 sacks and scrambled for 49 yards… and threw an interception while running for his life.
Our two backup guards are turnstiles… and it’s near impossible to shore up the middle. If it was a tackle, we can at least move a TE over to help out. But that’s harder to do in the middle. R White was doing some to help out but shoring up the middle is really hard, especially against Brown and Anderson.
Until we solve that problem, we’re going nowhere.
Couple that with a defense that only forced 3 punts on the day…
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:33 am
Rod Munch… bologna.
This team has talent. This will be a super attractive job opening. Similar to Brady choosing to come here for the pieces.. some coach worth his salt will do the same and just like Brady he needs to chew ass and bring some of his own guys (Gronk/AB parable) to help set the tone.
Resign Evans and get a good C/G for depth. Entire OL returns with Chukwama at swing tackle. Top 5 WRs back. Resign Dean and it’s a solid secondary. Flood the front 7 with offseason resources. With a legit HC/OC/DC… Bucs are contenders.
I know I am right. Some of you don’t understand how much coaching matters.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:34 am
“All you people”
Yeah like 80% of the fan base Rod.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:35 am
Ive been calling for todd to be canned for two years because I knew what i saw…and it wasnt well received here, so i backed off some….well, now the 3rd year, its making more sense to quite a lot more peeps.
We need a new HC, who can get his DC and OC and the rest of the staff. It doesnt mean a complete rebuild of the players…theres quite a few we can keep, but quite a few we need to cut loose.
Personally, I think he’s going to retire to save face….just based on rumors and the ongoing situation. And thats fine. I think he’s a great person, just horrible for his position here.
Who next? And yeah, of course I’d take Tomlin in a heartbeat if they let him go.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:37 am
LANshark Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:31 am
Joe, there is a reason why Grizzard didn’t throw the ball more, and it has nothing to do with confidence in Baker. As has been painfully obvious since both our starting guards went down…
————-
That clearly came from Bowles, who saw Baker lose the last two games in the 4th quarter, and told Grizz to run the d-g ball.
We know that since on TV, after halftime, the sideline reporter told Bowles the offense ran the ball 19 times and only threw 10 times and if they thought they’d throw more, and Bowles said no, he liked the balance.
Also, despite all the whining, the Bucs were in absolute position to win that game. They were already in FG range to tie it, and they were moving the ball. Bakers INT is what lost the game, not running the ball, where the Bucs had 169 yards at 5.1 per carry. When you run like that, control the clock, you nearly never lose unless you turn it over, in particular on the last drive.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:38 am
Pats and Jags are case in point. Surely no one here thinks those 4 win rosters from last year are better than the Bucs!?
They are head and shoulders better at the coaching positions.
“Either Baker Mayfield is so hurt he cannot function at near 100 percent or the team has lost trust in him. Which is it? How else to explain what the Bucs were trying to accomplish yesterday?”
This is also bologna. This isn’t the first time we have seen game plans like this and haven’t played to our strengths vs the opposing teams weaknesses. I will forever bring up Bowles taking the ball from Tom fricking Brady and the gameplan in Pittsburgh a couple years ago vs all backups in the secondary.
Bowles is too stubborn in his old school, clock control, run game, my D will get a stop ways. He is quoted as saying he wanted to avoid an INT with Tom Brady as his QB. 12 seconds left, send the blitz and leave your CB on an Island vs a 6’4 230 WR. Genius strikes again!
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:43 am
Bowles going doesn’t mean a tear down.
Many coaches would jump at this opening.
Need Evans, Dean and a quality C/G. All draft picks and couple FAs to the front 7. It’s a contending team on paper just as it was this year, foiled by injuries and terrible coaching.
Where’s the glaring holes after that!? Wanna say QB .. ok but those guys aren’t growing on trees and let’s see what a competent coaching staff and mid level D do for Baker instead of his 8th OC in 8 years and the 29th ranked pass D. Wake up people.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:44 am
Baker isn’t hurt and I doubt they lost confidence.
Talking about Todd Bowles here. The guy who was scared Tom Brady would throw a pick so he didn’t let him throw.
Todd outsmarted himself again. Ball control and running 35 times will win the game!
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:44 am
Buc1987 Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:34 am
“All you people”
Yeah like 80% of the fan base Rod.
——–
Yeah, I know it’s like 80% of people. And I’m telling them as they whine and cry for everyone to get fired, to actually put a little thought into what happens next.
That will almost certainly be a new coach coming in and cleaning house – which almost certainly means many years of losing as you rebuild the roster.
So when the team goes 3-14 next year, are we going to then hear the new coach needs to be fired? Yes, of course we will, because no one puts any thought into anything they say.
With that said, we might need to do that – it has to be done sooner or later. But I’m just pointing out that years of losing is almost certainly what comes next. I hope not, but just saying, realize what you’re wishing for and if you’re OK with a teardown and reboot, then fine, but most people think changing the HC just means we’re going to get better next year. It almost certainly doesn’t.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:45 am
Rod Munch says:
“I’m not even saying Bowles shouldn’t get fired, just that the people hoping for it need to realize it almost certainly comes with a full rebuild, which almost always means years of losing.”
What a dumb, f’ing cowardly statement. Trying to stay squarely on the fence so you won’t look foolish either way. Pick a stance instead of playing this dorky, play-it-safe, know-it-all perspective. Should they fire Bowles or not? You can’t have it both ways you tool.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:45 am
Again, BAKER didn’t lose that game – piss poor guard play along with 5 penalties from our RT did… You cannot expect Baker to perform miracles every week. We are literally ALWAYS playing with fire, and the last 6-7 games we’ve gotten burned by it. To be fair, early in the season we succeeded, but we had Bredeson and Mauch for most of those games…
You cannot have a passing game or even a really decent running game with 2 guards who cannot block a paper bag. It’s time to bring back Haggard and maybe Klein… they cannot be worse than what we’ve got now.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:50 am
Rod … down 3 at your own 10 with 2 mins left is not position to win unless you are playing Bowles D.
You know why we werent in position to win? A moronic blitz call with 12 seconds left in the half, running the ball on every 1st down, 3 straight runs up the gut from the 5 when we were gifted a new set of downs and about 8 penalties in the 4th quarter.
Keep running Evans on 5 yard hook routes though that will do it next time.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:52 am
Where did they find this offensive coordinator LOL (huge step down from cohen)
Under 200 yards passing
All jokes aside, my Bucs were the only loss today on a 10-1 parlay
I don’t play about my money, this is the 4th time being a believer of this team has burned me this season.
Bowles has to go
Jason Light you are on the hot seat … according to Light who cares about this years pass rush when there’s always NEXT YEARS DRAFT … let’s sign JPP off the couch … yea that’ll do it
SMFH
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:53 am
HeartyDickerson Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:45 am
Rod Munch says:
“I’m not even saying Bowles shouldn’t get fired, just that the people hoping for it need to realize it almost certainly comes with a full rebuild, which almost always means years of losing.”
What a dumb, f’ing cowardly statement. Trying to stay squarely on the fence so you won’t look foolish either way.
——-
Hey retard, I don’t pick if the Bucs keep or fire Bowles.
I’m just sick of all the overly emotional dumb f-s with their stupid whiny takes where they say fire everyone every single time you lose. Can be 6-2 and lose a game, and it’s FIRE BOWLES. Realize when you say to fire everyone, what comes with that, and it’s almost certainly losing.
Last year I did pick a side, I said I would go through the entire BS saga of having to fire everyone, go through BS interviews, and then hire Coen. But I also know why the Bucs didn’t do it, since they could have ended up firing Bowles and not having any HC if Coen signed somewhere else, since the Bucs didn’t have the ability to simply promote him.
For next year, pick a side. Are you OK with picking 3rd in the 2027 draft or not? Because that’s almost certainly what happens when you “fire everyone” and say “anyone but Bowles” since it means a roster reboot and rebuild.
For me, no, keep the window open another year. Baker has one year left. Bring back Evans for one more year. Force Bowles to give up play calling duties on defense, bring in someone from the outside, not on staff, to call plays. Play it out one more year, because after that, it’s likely the abyss and many years of losing. If you’re an actual Bucs fan, you’ve been here before, you know how this goes.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:56 am
feels weird joe and local media are finally on the fire bowles band wagon. are they this bad at knowing football or are they being told what narrative to write about from the organization?
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:56 am
Baker – Bucky – Tucker – Wirfs – Brederson – Barton – Mauch – Goedeke – Chukwama – Evans – Godwin – Egbuka – McMillan – Tez – Culp
Vita – Kancey – Diaby – AWJ – Dean – Parrish – Tykee – BMo – Zyon – Dennis
Need a C/G, a TE, RB and 6 new guys for the front 7. Resign Evans and Dean… then 9 players. That’s it. The resources are there. The plan is simple.
Find 2-3 good coaches. That’s more of a challenge but it can hardly get worse than it is right now.
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:59 am
Saskbucs Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:50 am
Rod … down 3 at your own 10 with 2 mins left is not position to win
———
In 2025, that is a certain FG.
And the Bucs did move it right down the field with no issue. There was plenty of time, plus a timeout, and the Bucs were already in FG range when Baker throws the INT.
So in three weeks, Baker, vs a terrible Saints team, has the ball, 2 mins left, all his timeouts, on 4th and 4, throws a bad pass at Otton’s feet when he was at the sticks, so he has to go down to get the ball and lose the 1st down. 100% bad pass on Baker. But somehow on a day when Baker throws for 122 yards and an INT, the defense is blamed.
Last week, one of the worst INT’s you’ll ever see in the 4th quarter, then after that, Baker still has a chance to close out the game, everyone in the world knows if the Bucs punt, they lose the game… and Baker misses a wide open e2, if it’s caught game is basically over and Bucs win. But despite multiple chances to end the game and failing… of course it’s not Baker’s fault once again.
This week, 2 mins left, need at least a FG to tie it, Baker fails again, another INT, and you’ll be shocked to learn, it’s once again not his fault.
It’s never MVP’s fault, always someone else to blame.
Except early this year when the Bucs were winning, in that case it was Baker doing it single handed.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:00 am
Forgot why I wanted to post in the first place.
Yes, I laughed when I turned on the tv and saw Todd’s sweater. He’s inspiring change alright.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:01 am
Well Rod, just ignore the Jags getting a new head coach and turning things around in their first year, and other teams have done it too….see, you’re not always right dufus!
You just like to keep things stirred up here, and i know why, lol (saw your “admin” log in earlier before it magically change) all good.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:03 am
Rod – In 2025, that is a certain FG.
From your own 10? How did they get to FG range from there? Is that position to win or position to tie?
You think the coaches were dialing up end zone shots to win the game or they were hoping a screen pass would go the distance? Ultimately settling for FG and overtime… I know where I would put my money.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:04 am
Rod Munch says:
For me, no, keep the window open another year. Baker has one year left.
Ok, dipsh!t, then stick to that statement. Don’t come back next season saying how you told everyone so. You’re on record saying you want to keep Baker and Bowles another year.
I am firmly in the other camp, get rid of them both (even though I know we’re stuck with Baker since genius Licht unnecessarily guaranteed his contact another year.)
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:04 am
@RodMunch – on this we agree…
By all accounts, Bowles is a guy that players want to play for, and that’s not a bad thing. But doing both HC and DC seems too much for him. I’m not gonna ding Grizzard much because it’s damned hard to call plays when your line sucks and you are down your top 3 WRs from the year before and your main RB. We’ve actually done fairly well on offense considering. I think it was pretty clear early in the season that he is/was able to call plays effectively when he has at least SOME weapons and line.
But the defense is struggling, and seems to either be not able to understand the complexity of TB’s schemes or just doesn’t have the talent to execute. I think the MLB situation is also not optimal, much as I love LVD, he’s not an every down player anymore, and Dennis is not either. Draft Sonny Styles if he’s available. And we have GOT to find a pass rush. I notice that Carolina was able to scheme their way into several sacks, but TB never seems to be able to do it… maybe TB’s blitz schemes have become predictable…
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:10 am
Rod is tripping. Many first year coaches take their teams to the playoff and this team has enough talent to be a playoff team. What reason is there to overhaul the team? Do you mean get rid of our star players? Why/ because the coach is getting fired? Are the Jags going through 10-15 years of losing since changing their coach last year? What about the Patriots? The Bears? or even the Panthers? Where are you getting your information, sir? The Lions? All of these teams started winning almost immediately after changing coaches.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:10 am
Just a friendly reminder for those saying players love to play for Bowles…last year when they did they annual players’ poll, when asked about playing for their HC, players ranked Bowles 24th.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:11 am
Change is urgently needed. There’s zero accountability on this team. None. Zilch. You can be bored and still play. You can loaf and still play. You can run poor routes and still play. You can miss tackles, blow assignments, and go through the motions—and still play. You can consistently field lousy special teams and still keep your job. Only here.
Winning organizations own their mistakes. They make tough decisions. We don’t. We make excuses. We pat ourselves on the back. We extend players, coaches, and the GM—and look foolish doing it. Only here. Roll that into the 50-year video.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:13 am
Saskbucs Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 12:56 am
Baker – Bucky – Tucker – Wirfs – Brederson – Barton – Mauch – Goedeke – Chukwama – Evans – Godwin – Egbuka – McMillan – Tez – Culp
Vita – Kancey – Diaby – AWJ – Dean – Parrish – Tykee – BMo – Zyon – Dennis
Need a C/G, a TE, RB and 6 new guys for the front 7. Resign Evans and Dean… then 9 players. That’s it. The resources are there. The plan is simple.
Find 2-3 good coaches. That’s more of a challenge but it can hardly get worse than it is right now.
——
There go, now we’re talking, some actual ideas.
First off I’d bring back White, he shouldn’t cost much – RB’s done make a ton. Also I’d bring back Otton since I also don’t think he’d cost much – but also draft someone high. Young TE’s generally take a while to develop, but in any case, I’d like Otton a lot more as #2.
Agree on a some real depth at center/guard. Still stinks we lost Hainsey, I wanted the Bucs to pay to keep him, but I’m not sure if he wanted to stay as a backup so hard to say it was a bad move, maybe the Jags just matched any offer the Bucs made – don’t know. But I agree at paying up to get some real depth, but no idea who is out there.
On defense, I’d draft at least two ILB’s, Licht has done well to find guys in the middle rounds. EDGE is the obvious issue, it’s hit or miss even in the 1st round, but likely you’d want someone there. Also DL depth is huge, and again, those are high picks.
With limited cap space, it would take a killer draft, but it’s possible to restock and not rebuild.
But this is if we kept the course. If we’re “firing everyone” then almost certainly any new coach is going to make a lot of moves and a bunch of guys above wouldn’t be here next year.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:14 am
ATLBuc Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:10 am
Rod is tripping. Many first year coaches take their teams to the playoff and this team has enough talent to be a playoff team
Ironically, this Munch plays it just like Bowles…the cowardly, conservative “new coach might be worse than mediocre current coach! Let’s keep everything the same!”
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:19 am
“ On defense, I’d draft at least two ILB’s, Licht has done well to find guys in the middle rounds.”
Great call. Licht has crushed it on middle round LBs like SVD, Beckwith, Grant Stuard. Keep up the good work, you clearly know what you’re taking about.
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:29 am
Looking for hard numbers, I found this data…
For teams that won 8+ games and changes coaches, they more often than not, decline in wins the first year with a new coach.
For teams that won 7 or less and changes coaches, they more often than not, increase in wins for the first year with a new coach.
But you have to look at when you hand someone an old team, or a young one. It all depends on how you value the current Bucs talent, and home team fans always overvalue their own talent. Someone coming in from the outside isn’t going to be nearly as high on a lot of guys I don’t think.
Also if you’re “firing everyone” that means the entire staff and front office, so you’re starting over.
All depends on what people mean. Is it fire Bowles and make a move like trading for Tomlin, where you hand him the roster and say win with it? Or is it firing everyone and starting over?
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:34 am
HeartyDickerson Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:19 am
“ On defense, I’d draft at least two ILB’s, Licht has done well to find guys in the middle rounds.”
Great call. Licht has crushed it on middle round LBs like SVD, Beckwith, Grant Stuard. Keep up the good work, you clearly know what you’re taking about.
———–
Beckwith had a great rookie year, got injured.
Kwon Alexander was a literal all-pro, looked fantastic.
Dennis has actually played well a lot of this year.
KJ Britt, for a 5th rounder, was a solid player.
You have any idea what you’re talking about you idiot?
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:36 am
HeartyDickerson Says:
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:04 am
Rod Munch says:
For me, no, keep the window open another year. Baker has one year left.
Ok, dipsh!t, then stick to that statement. Don’t come back next season saying how you told everyone so. You’re on record saying you want to keep Baker and Bowles another year.
I am firmly in the other camp, get rid of them both (even though I know we’re stuck with Baker since genius Licht unnecessarily guaranteed his contact another year.)
———–
See that Baker Boi(s) – now I’m a Baker lover.
LOL!
Also stupid, you’re world where you fire everyone, rebuild, you’re saying you’re OK going 3-14, correct? OR do we magically rebuild in one offseason and win the SB in your moronic mind?
December 22nd, 2025 at 1:57 am
How about them Jags? Man, the difference that a head coach can make…
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:02 am
Im getting closer….just bare with me
according to whose available
1st – LB Sonny Styles / CJ Allen
2nd – Edge Kenyatta Jackson Jr
3rd – TE Michael Trigg
4th – QB Sawyer Robertson (for a real bu and one waiting in the wings)
5th – OG Keylan Rutledge (in a trade back into the 4th)
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:06 am
Need to fire Bowles before doing anything else.
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:08 am
the grizz situation hit rock bottom today…
with a fully stacked gang of offensive weapons at hand, the dude literally bottomed out…
worst bucs play calling of a game i can recall this side of the new millennium
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:16 am
as of exactly this moment in time…not an hour ago, and not tomorrow morning…or next friday…………
this is like the worst season in a really really long time for the bucs…….
it’s like you know when a rollercoaster in a movie or video is climbing, and you hear the ticking sound as it slowly ramps up…
well now we are in the free fall afterwards – and it’s like we are dropping to china…it never ends…the drop is nonstop…
and all after baker was #1 for mvp, we were #1 in the power rankings, we were 5-1, went into the bye at 6-2…all this top dog type sh!t – to only collapse out and flop so hard in the 2nd half of the season…
we are comparable at this point to the likes of the jets, giants, titans, browns and raiders…
i will say no more – except – “how did we get to this”
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:16 am
Regardless of what the Glazers decide to do about the coaching staff, this team … and especially the defense … needs to be rebuilt. And there’s no way to successfully rebuild a team in just 1 year.
Just went thru the Bucs’ roster (and IR), and I’ve probably get rid of 18-20 players on offense & defense in 2026, and then several more in 2027 to improve depth more. Can Licht successfully do that with only 7 draft picks and a limited amount if salary CAP space? Dubious to say the least.
Put a new coaching staff in charge of that and Rod’s most likely right: odds of producing a winning team under those conditions is not very good. Same may apply in Year 2 of such a rebuilding, since our NFC South competition seems to be getting better. But by Year 3 … assuming good personnel decisions have been made … we should be able to be competitive.
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:23 am
for whatever reason today, griz and bowles threw the game…it’s obvious…
our defense held them to 275 yards…i will take that every darn week of the season…
digest that ^^^
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:32 am
I remember a ton of people complaining about Grizzard pushing for more explosives and taking shots downfield, asking why he wouldn’t stick to the shorter, higher-completion stuff Coen ran last year. He didn’t just ditch that approach overnight for no reason.
This run-heavy, overly conservative game plan feels way more like Todd Bowles than anything else. When the pressure ramps up, Bowles goes full turtle and forgets what actually worked—what got them to 6–2 and what made the offense so dangerous last year. Why move away from staying out of the offense’s way and letting your playmakers cook? Curious how much of this is really Grizzard vs Bowles calling for the handcuffs.
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:32 am
Good point Adam, it seemed that way….theres just no way they are that stupid, but here we are, lol
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:37 am
Ah, I get it now….we’re faking until the absolute last friggin chance that we can go full out….make them all guess we’re just a bunch of crashed out losers until we absolutely have to win a must win game…..ALRIGHTY THEN….lol, that would be hilarious if so….but it does seem some stuff is just done on purpose…and why? i dont know.
December 22nd, 2025 at 2:59 am
We don’t need a rebuild. We need a new head coach. We have enough talent on this team to win. Except at the quarterback position.
December 22nd, 2025 at 3:07 am
I used to think that Bowles-Baker was a poor man’s Marvin Lewis-Andy Dalton. But, neither one is even CLOSE. Not Even. Marv was a MUCH BETTER Head Coach, AND defensive coordinator. Andy Dalton (horrible in prime time), was a MUCH MORE ‘consistent’ (and better) QB, and for over a MUCH LONGER period of time. It’s just not even close.
December 22nd, 2025 at 3:16 am
They competed in a very BRUTAL Division too, and made the Playoffs every year! Could just never get over the hump. Old Marv was a good coach. That AFC during that time, was just freaking IMPOSSIBLE. Brady, Manning, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, LaDainian, Phillip Rivers, & some of those Chargers Defenses. Just SOOOOO BRUTAL.
December 22nd, 2025 at 3:43 am
If they get the ‘right’ coach and GM they can still win THIS Division, even going through a roster overhaul. There’s enough talent left on offense to still win THIS pathetic freaking division. They’re basically STUCK with a lot of the same players they already have now, since most are virtually un-trade-able. And, who cares if they don’t win it next season, or the next, as long as they get the ‘right’ guys in-charge!? Cause, THIS (status quo) definitely ain’t gonna work. You are only delaying the inevitable. I mean, THIS bunch is going NOWHERE, and FAST. They can have this roster mostly rebuilt in 2-YEARS, through free-agency and the draft. With the ‘RIGHT’ HC and GM. Happens all the time in the NFL with well run franchises (or with a lotta luck). Holding onto deadweight, just outta fear of doing worse, is a total LOSER argument. 💯 Sounds just like Kentucky and Coach STOOPID. When the ‘reality’ is you couldn’t have done much WORSE than what you have RIGHT NOW. Start with the ROSTER FIRST. It has to be done. THIS ROSTER is not getting it done. NOT next year, OR the year after. Especially, with a ‘rookie’ QB (which I haven’t seen ANY ‘generational’ types for this year’s draft or the next one… None right away, anyway)” Worry about the QB next. Roll with Good Ole Bake next year, and then see what happens. This roster is a looong ways off. Stacking IT will be the only way to guarantee long sustained success for the future, and our future QB (whoever that may be). First, the Glazers has got to make the right hires at GM and HC. Be BOLD. Just take a look around the league (in business and in life)… BOLDNESS is rewarded.