Lack Of Physicality Haunting Bucs
January 2nd, 2026
Let’s get physical.
Joe watched the Dixie Chicks upset the Rams on Monday and the hitting jumped out in that game.
The Rams hit. The Dixie Chicks hit. Dang, Atlanta safety Xavier Watts alone almost changed the game with his vicious hitting.
When is the last time you saw a Bucs defender blast a ballcarrier so hard it changed the game? Got the crowd pumped. Got Bucs teammates energized.
Joe swears the last time Joe saw that, it was Baker Mayfield laying the wood on a linebacker and not a Bucs defender drilling a quarterback (heaven forbid).
On Tuesday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked about his defense’s alleged lack of physicality. Bowles disputed that his defense isn’t physical.
“We’re physical, we just miss tackles at times, and we give up big plays at times, which is inexcusable when you’re playing defense because everything can cost you, no matter how good you do everything else,” Bowles said. “You’re definitely not happy with the tackling and the busted assignments – you’re not happy with that at all. But they play hard – they play very hard, but that’s not good enough. We’ve got to play smarter.”
Well, Bowles has a point: It’s hard to blow someone up when you can’t tackle. One leads to the other. But that, ultimately, is on Bowles.
Other teams tackle. Joe watched the Los Angeles Chargers a couple of weeks ago and damn, they tackle. They wrap up.
And Joe is going to take a wild stab here and guess the Chargers practice and play under the very same NFL rules and guidelines as do the Bucs.
So Joe doesn’t want to hear any whining about how NFL strongman Roger Goodell won’t let teams practice tackling in his don’t-hit-too-hard league and that’s why the Bucs can’t tackle.
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:09 am
Agree with everything you say here. I also think it has something to do with Bowles style of defense in general. Seems we are always just trying to out scheme people instead of just beating them physically. How many sacks do the bucs have that are strictly from someone winning a one on one matchup? Most of the sacks are from blitzes unblocked. The team has taken on the identity of what Bowles tries to accomplish. His defense isn’t about just beating the man in front of you.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:25 am
I’ve had harder hugs that what the Bucs tackle
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:44 am
Agree, Joe. And I wonder if Todd being on the NFL Influential Competition committee is having some impact on how he is coaching. McVay, McDermott, Tomlin, and others are also on it.
After Steven #55 funny comment, which is true. I got to thinking about all the hard tasks we all do every day. And thought about all the workers that are sweating it out daily in construction, fire-fighters, and so many more jobs. Got to have heart too. Seems like we saw some of our players giving up. Have to go all in and get it done.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:56 am
A frequent refrain from me when I watch other teams tackle …or make catches…is “why can’t we do that’?”. Why can’t we? I also notice that good teams pursue vigorously. Aside from Winfield, nobody on this team pursues. Tykee Smith just sorta jogs. He is the laziest of all. I’m kinda shocked that I’m the only one whe ever brings this up. I don’t even have any paid subscriptions or even a DVR. Strictly highlights and tv instant replay. I’ve caught him loafing many times this year. Nobody calls him out.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:59 am
“We’re physical, we just miss tackles.” That statement officially broke my brain.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:02 am
This lack of physicality goes all the way back to Bowles’ “Camp Cupcake”. Heck lack of physicality could have led to an uptick in injuries as well.. Anyhow, the way that Bowles prepped his team in 2025 certainly failed. The team has lost its edge, it is mimicking its head coach and playing it safe, conservative and soft. Fire Bowles is the first step towards returning to respectability. Licht might have to answer to the Glazers as well for his “all character, no @@@-hole” approach to picking players as the team could use a few nasty glass eaters like Suh, Hardy Nickerson, Ryan Jensen and Sapp. I suspect gentleman like these would hold loafers and cupcakes accountable…..
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:27 am
Did you watch the Bama Indiana game? The Bucs D could learn a lot from Indiana’s defense.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:27 am
It’s want to. They don’t want to. Watch Dennis. Once in awhile he’ll get in a good lick, but most of the time he’s tippy toeing around out there. He’s the softest MLB I’ve ever watched. A tone setter he is not. Our OLBs aren’t physical enough to win one, on ones with OTs. To small, to weak. I would run a 4-3 putting Hall, and Roberts at end, Vea, and a true three tech inside. We have the players, they’re just not being used right. Roberts, and Hall are not NFL DTs, they just aren’t. Part of the reason we’re getting bullied on defense. We’re playing like panzies out of position. Fire this clown already, and ring master Licht.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:03 am
But but but the Bucs want high character ‘choir boys’ as players. Choir boys are not known to be physical, hard hitting players. So where is the happy medium? The whole entire paradigm of the NFL has changed. It is all about offense, offense, offense! Rules and penalties are all favoring that mentality. I miss the days of hard hits, non bubble wrapped QB sacks, and nasty defensive teams. Just sayin’.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:22 am
ATL and Carolina had atrocious defenses in 2024
In one offseason both of their units are better than the Bucs
This sad mindset of you can’t fix all the problems in one offseason is PATHETIC
After SEVEN seasons, you need to fix this sad, passive, weak scheme
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:23 am
And here I thought all would be well when the Bucs finally sprung for the 160# dumbbells. . .
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:39 am
Soft Todd.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:41 am
I don’t think this is the 50th anniversary celebration that the Glazers had in mind.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:48 am
Glazers should tell Todd one thing when he is fired
3rd & 28
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:13 am
Bring in the coach at Indiana i love that guy. Hes a winner. You can tell that guys got more in him than Todd ever would
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:20 am
There’s a video out there showing PP, #52, OT, Miami, physically dominating various Bucs. Much like we’ve seen Wirfs do at times, but it’s a long embarrassing video for a Bucs fan. Effort and inspiration.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:24 am
Gofortheface30 Says:
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:59 am
“We’re physical, we just miss tackles.” That statement officially broke my brain.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve read all week!
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:35 am
We are as Soft, as drug store cotton……I blame all of the coaches, offensively and defensively, and we won’t even talk about special teams! This is a total embarrassment of football, that is being played…..
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:52 am
After watching the Rams vs. the Seahawks & the Bills vs the Eagles I get a little sick to my stomach. There is a big difference between losing a competitive game and the entire team giving up. There are very few players left on the Bucs that actually want to be out on the field. Even the Saints & Falcons are out there fighting their a$$’s off especially on Defense.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:57 am
We ARE NOT a physical team. The offensive line every once in a while is physical. But that’s it, at best. College kids for Georgia and Ole Miss were much more physical than our defense
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:23 am
Joe, every week busted assignments. sounds like Bowles confuses his own players.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:41 am
The defensive guys on Bucs believe their primary responsibility is to collect a paycheck. The fans aren’t part of that equation.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:50 am
not physical at all lol…
ray charles could see that!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:09 am
Bowles is so full of it. All someone needs to do is watch the Bucs play. Soft as Charmin. Bowles response is insulting. Does he think Bucs fans are stupid or maybe blind?
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:40 am
I watched MY Ducks strangling the #3 ranked team and could see about 4-5 players that could start tomorrow for the Bucs. Lack of talent or lack of effort on the Bucs is stunning.
January 2nd, 2026 at 1:06 pm
We are an OFFENSIVE team period
January 2nd, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Hey, JW once said he was balling! Just check the stats…..
This team has taken on the personality of their coach, too soft and mediocre
January 2nd, 2026 at 1:21 pm
This has been discussed over and over and over
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Hopefully, the sad season full of loser coaches and players will end on Saturday. Bunch of pansies disguised as overpaid football players. Hope the glazers clean house, including “be that man” Licht, but I doubt it.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:49 pm
This team knows the word physical very well. PHYSICAL THERAPY.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
JOE i will beat this dead horse. This is the NFL coaches shouldn’t have to teach tackling. Technique maybe but tackling is taught from pee wee to college. Tackling is on the players. LVD has missed some tackles and not because he’s lost a step. You think Bowles and OC should have to teach him ? Negative