The Sad Story Of The Defense
January 2nd, 2026
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
When a team has a former offensive coordinator as a head coach with years of coaching experience on the offensive side of the ball, you’d expect at a minimum, the offense would be, well, average, right?
What Joe is getting at is, if an offensive-minded coach ran a team, you’d expect him to have an offense, barring major injuries, to be ranked in the teens at the very least, right?
So why shouldn’t the same expectations be placed on a defensive guy with years of experience under his belt in the NFL? And that’s what Joe is getting at with Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
The Bucs have only once had a passing defense ranked in the top-10 since Bowles arrived in 2019. That was 2022. Every other year with Bowles as the defensive coordinator/head coach, the Bucs have had a pass defense ranked in the 20s. In a passing league.
(For example, one could conclude Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has been handcuffed by so many offensive linemen and his quarterback being hurt. That would screw up just about every offensive coach not named “Kyle Shanahan.”)
And Joe ran across another stat that is shameful for a defensive coach to have when his team hasn’t had major injuries.
In breaking down defenses by Sharp Football Analysis, when it comes to explosive plays allowed, only four teams give up a higher percentage of explosive plays than the Bucs.
Per Sharp Football Analysis, 6.9 percent of plays against the Bucs defense is an explosive play. Of those four teams worse than the Bucs, only two are potential playoff teams, the Bears and the Crows.
For those unaware, an explosive play in the NFL is a run of 12 yards or more and a pass of 16 yards or more.
Simply put, despite losing Calijah Kancey for most of the season, the Bucs defense has been relatively injury-free. Yes, starting corner Zyon McCollum went down recently, so that was almost addition by subtraction. And Haason Reddick missed a bunch of games, too. But compared to the Bucs’ offense, the defense has been relatively spared of injuries.
Grizzard could, in theory, hide behind injuries. Bowles cannot. Yet it is his defense that has folded like a cheap tent.
And it’s not like his defenses have been all that stingy aside from some seasons against the run. Props to FOX last week to finally dispel this wives’ tale that Bowles’ blitzes are somehow an unsolvable puzzle to opposing quarterbacks.
But, what do you expect from a defensive coordinator who regularly dismisses the importance of sacks from an edge rush?
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:02 am
Goodbye Bowles. Thanks for the low highs. But will never forgive you for Rams playoff game in 2022. Good Riddance!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:08 am
What’s even sadder is he got those rankings playing in the nfc south
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:12 am
I cannot for the life of me understand how some in the local and national media (not the Joes), think Bowles could survive if he makes major changes (ie blame his coaching staff and fire the lot of them). Todd stubbornly will not adjust his schemes even though they will not work. Sadly, in the past month, a wise betting man would make beaucoup coin if he simply bet on the opposing offenses and key individual prop as Bowles manages to make back ups and scrubs look like All Pros. Todd arrogantly never take the blame, he always blames others. Every year we see the same soft zone which gets exposed time after time and this season Bowles has allowed special teams to hit an all time low and he now has a green OC who is in way over his head with an injury plagued OL so he is not getting bailed out by the O like he was in 2024. Bowles is obviously well liked by many, else why would there even be discussion about this dude keeping his job???? This collapse is bigger than Chuckie in 2008 and right up there with Rah’s collapse from 4-2 to 4-12 in 2011. It might be similar to Wyche’s 5 dash 2 in 1995 which fizzled to 7-9 and we saw what happened to Sam I am……..
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:12 am
Fired as of Monday. If not, the Glazers don’t care about the fan base or the team. You can’t have a team tune out a leader this overtly and bring him back. We are lost.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 am
Larry Foote said something at his presser that caught my attention. He said he cut his teeth in a 4-3 defense with the Steelers. Bowles has him as a LB coach in a 3-4 defense. Have to wonder what our defense might’ve been under Foote had he been given complete control of the defense as DC? We’ll never know. Todd couldn’t give his asst a legit shot at being a coordinator. When Todd got his shot through the grace of Arians he couldn’t do the same for Foote, or Caldwell. That might be part of the problem. I’d resent Todd for not allowing me to earn my bag. The one game Foote coached in preseason the Bucs got three turnovers. The week Caidwell coached the defense they got three turnovers. When Todd called the last preseason game they got zero turnovers. Todd has no one to blame but himself.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:17 am
It’s SO depressing seeing his face!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:26 am
Bowles defense has been mediocre for sometime now and rather make bold moves on getting proven edge rush, they stand pat and draft players with guarantee of them panning out. Teams have figured out Bowles’s schemes and his blitzes.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:32 am
The DEFENSE is ranked 20th in the NFL
The OFFENSE is ranked 22nd in the NFL
It’s the SAD story of the OFFENSE and DEFENSE!!
And the PATHETIC story of Ownership and Front Office
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:39 am
@Hodad
I keep saying if someone else were to take over that D they’d probably start looking much better. The talent is there on that D & that team. Maybe that might be part of the reason McCollum is “getting bored?” Maybe because it’s the same old 💩 with that scheme all the time & nothing is changing? Yeah sure they make mistakes but maybe that could be part of the reason.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:43 am
Joe … ‘For those unaware, an explosive play in the NFL is a run of 12 yards or more and a pass of 16 yards or more.’
I know there’s a lot of ‘variation’ when it comes to defining what an explosive play is Joe, but I’ve long thought that 10 yds or more for a run and 20 or more yds for a pass is kinda used by more analysts than any other combination. Mr Google seems to support that, although to my knowledge he’s not a sanctioned member of the NFL.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:43 am
In any other division, at any other time, with any other team, Bowles wouldn’t have made it fully through 2 seasons. He was fortunate to be in a terrible division and unfortunately for us his crowning achievement is winning that same putrid division multiple times with a .500 or less record.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:46 am
The master of a defense so brilliant that his own players can’t figure it out, but every offensive coordinator in the league can. Must be the players fault!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:46 am
This is why the Bucs need a defensive head coach instead of an offensive head coach
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:47 am
One way or another Todd is gone. If the TeeTots don’t outright fire him, but instead force him to hire a DC , no way his hubris allows that. He would retire.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:49 am
Jim Schwartz as DC would make our defense a top 10 unit year one if Cleveland cleans house
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:50 am
If was a Glazer. New coaching staff, Licht’s on notice. Re-signing draft picks should not be celebrated when the player gets paid, gets “Bored,” and then becomes the worst player in his position group. Hassan Reddick was a complete waste of 14 million. If this season was an example of “I am That Man,” it’s time to change the criteria for being the so called That Man.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:56 am
So is it a fair assumption that Joe is anti Bowles and wants him gone as well? Honest question.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:57 am
This is very telling. A pillowy soft defense that gives up explosive plays.
A pillowy soft defense is annoying to watch. Fans want to see hitting and big plays. But a LOT of NFL defenses run a bend-but-dont-break defense to “PREVENT” giving up explosive plays, to PREVENT the other team from scoring easily.
Yea, I am done with Todd. 3rd and 28, 4th and 14; taking the ball out of Brady’s hands when you D sucks, running the ball 30 times when you have the best 4 WRs in the game.
I will also say its scary who will take over. There do not seem to be any “no-brainer” HC candidates out there as offensive wizards. Definitely not Kubiak (bad track record), Tonkin (too old), Gruden (seriously?), etc.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:58 am
With some great coaches, especially as they get older and intransigence sets in, the game passes them by. Pete Carroll comes to mind. Yet others adapt. Bill Walsh comes to mind.
Todd Bowles was never more than serviceable. His record with the Jets and Bucs comes to mind.
This should be an easy decision for the Glazers.
Despite those who cling to the credo, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ thinking the next head coach could be worse, please explain how losing your last seven of eight games could get any worse?
As for Baker, his best year was under Coen, as Trevor Lawrence is displaying this year under Coen’s tutelage. Perhaps the right guy can get the best of Baker to return.
Just gotta find the right guy …
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:59 am
Been a die never Bucs fan since 83’, this D is baaaad, Man!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:59 am
Every year we hear the same old STUPID nonsense from this Front Office
Instead of signing quality free agents, we’re going to extend our Homegrown talent
Have it ever occurred to you….that your Homegrown talent stinks?
So they settle for signing a Weed head that don’t to play
Or a disgruntled Edge Rusher that QUIT on his previous team
Then go sign a washed up 40 year old Edge Rusher
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:04 am
If Kancey plays Saturday, there should be a big difference on the D Line which, other than Vea, is not very talented.
Part of the problem on Defense the last 8 games is the Offense struggles to make 1st downs .
Busted coverages and bad secondary coverage are a coaching issue.
Special teams on kickoffs have been abysmal
Injuries have been a factor, but the last 2 games the offensive schemes/game plans have not been effective and Mayfield has had disappointing performances in 4th quarter.
Overall, the injuries and lack of backup talent on OLine and DLine and lack of Edge Rush combined with poor coaching on all 3 phases have submarined this season.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:06 am
The genius behind taking man corners and forcing them to play off zone and drafting defensive linemen and making them cover the curl/flat. Then having the audacity to blame the players for being uninterested in the game.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, why does every defensive player that joins this team have a good first and maybe second year and then progressively get worse? When our best defensive players should be in their prime and at the top of their game, they stall out and regress. Its not a coincidence. Bowles is a career killer for defensive players. As soon as a guy gets good in a roll, he moves them around and plays them away from their strengths.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:14 am
Arians isn’t coaching, Brady isn’t here, Suh and Shaq aren’t here.
Maybe the front office can’t get the free agents that would make a difference.
And given the team collapse, I don’t know how Bowles stays without major changes to the defense and special teams.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:14 am
It is so bazaar to realize that bowels has so crushed and demoralized Bucs fans that some of us are even thinking about ‘adopting’ a new team next season until bowels is gone just to bare through another football season and try to enjoy it…..
Owners that care about winning doesn’t do this to their fanbase!
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:17 am
Bring in Mike McCarthy
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:18 am
Todd has been here SEVEN seasons and the consistency of how bad the defense is yearly with him is on HIM. He calls the defense, he determines who plays and how they attack and his defense is usually the worst part of the team
It’s time to move on, if he’s back the fans need to stay away from this team as much as possible
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:19 am
Hodad Says:
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 am
Larry Foote said something at his presser that caught my attention. He said he cut his teeth in a 4-3 defense with the Steelers. Bowles has him as a LB coach in a 3-4 defense.
This is odd, I believe the Steelers have run a 3-4 since the early 80’s. I’m sure they’ve used some 4-3 fronts, but Steelers have been a 3-4 base for most my life.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Years? no decades of experience probably close to two decades of calling plays. He has No choice but to retire now, he’s a dinosaur and he wouldn’t even get hired as a defensive assistant now.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:41 am
Step 1 – Get rid of Todd Bowles and hire a competent DC
Step 2 – Find a decent OLB via free agency
Step 3 – Re-sign Y. Diaby
Step 4 – Re-sign A. Nelson
Step 5 – Draft either ILB or CB in round 1
Step 6 – Draft either ILB or CB in round 2
Step 7 – Find a decent ILB via free agency
Step 8 – Find a decent DT via free agency or draft one in round 3 to replace Hall
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:46 am
3rd-28, 4th-14.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:56 am
We can all see the defense is bad.
If Bowles was just the DC instead of the HC he would have been fired or replaced.
The defense looks soft and sometimes, and all the time lately looks uninterested.
I think some of the players have mentally checked out.
Either the scheme is bad and needs replaced or Licht has failed to give Bowles the horses he needs.
Either way something needs to drastically change
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:56 am
Colonel Angus Says:
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:19 am
Hodad Says:
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 am
This is odd, I believe the Steelers have run a 3-4 since the early 80’s. I’m sure they’ve used some 4-3 fronts, but Steelers have been a 3-4 base for most my life.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Steelers ran a 4-3 back in the 70’s with the famed “Steel Curtain” defense with Mean Joe Greene.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:07 am
Time for me to pack it up and call it done. Tired of typing the same thing for last 2-3 years. At least for now, the only thing more complacent than this football team is my fandom. They have worn me out.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
There’s a reason why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the only team in a 32-team league whose head coach is also a coordinator. The only one! Sure coaches have input into their team’s offense or defense depending on their backgrounds, but they have too many responsibilities as HC to serve as OC or DC. Bowles thinks he knows how to handle both. He doesn’t. The defense sucks! Even when we were winning games, mostly close ones, it was because our offense was putting up a lot of points. Our defense was perhaps responsible for us winning 1 or 2 games at most. No I take that back, it was 0. Sad!
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
3rd and 28 was his death knell. The bell tolls for he.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:30 am
By 7:30pm tomorrow (Saturday), we will know how the fan base feels about Todd Bowles. And maybe Baker Mayfield too. As the clock ticks down to 0:00 in the 4th Quarter against the Panthers, we will (partially) know our fate. (Go Tyler Shough!) A Bucs loss? If the defense once again dooms us will the fans chant “Fire Todd!!!”? If Baker has another rough outing, I really don’t believe the final-minute boos will all be directed at him. But the closing minutes of the last regular season home game almost always produce cheers or boos. What will tomorrow’s reaction be?!? Go Bucs!!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:41 am
What are the special teams ranked? 32nd?
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:42 am
I can’t even play Madden anymore….. I’m so disgusted with this team!!! LMAO!!! Let’s go Bucs!!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:43 am
srbbucsfan
I think after all of this time most Bucs fans have already formed their opinions about Bowles.
The game just determines what the Glazers will do
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:50 am
It’s not just the lack of performance of the defense but the many other questionable or obviously wrong actions and inactions.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:50 am
Joe – how can you have a proper defense if the GM doesn’t give you proper players??? The reason the defense sucks is because Licht doesn’t pick the proper players. Bowles doesn’t control drafting Licht makes those calls, Joe you know that! Everybody knows you have a super soft spot for Licht but place blame accordingly.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:58 am
This is Amazing,
It’s 2026 and these people are still going on about Todd Bowles defense
The man has been a Defensive Coordinator for the Bucs for 7 seasons
7 seasons of crappy defenses
And you all are still harping about Bowles
Why don’t you vent your frustration and anger towards the people who hired him? Are you afraid to speak out about Jason Licht and the Glazers.
They hired Bowles and have kept him around for 7 long seasons
This has got to be the most Pathetic fanbase in all sports
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:02 am
Things that’ve been the norm for parts of the last few years:
1) Poor tackling
2) Lack of pass rush
3) Coverage busts
4) Bowles being outcoached by any decent OC
What am I missing? I’ve seen enough.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:07 am
I’m not expecting the Bucs to beat Carolina and even if they did I can’t see the Saints beating the Falcons. Very sad season.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:12 am
Joe, it’s failure. It’s time to move out of the old ways into the new ways. Plus this has to be costly for the Glazers.
Money is the motivator of the NFL. Change is coming and hopefully good for the Bucs.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:24 am
BrianBucs…
You are 100% correct. And I completely agree. What I should have added (as you did) is that the target for the boos and/or the “Fire Todd” chant is the Glazer family. They will be at the game. I hope the windows on their private suite are wide open!