Rondé Barber Piles On? Calls A Todd Bowles Defensive Approach “Ridiculous”
January 17th, 2026
Something is starting to smell a little funny.
Very early this week, legendary Buccaneers cornerback Rondé Barber hammered Bucs coaching and Todd Bowles’ defensive approach on The Rondé Barber Show, the WFLA-TV streaming production.
Barber went into great detail and Joe wrote all about it.
It attracted a lot of attention.
Today, aka four days later, the local twice-weekly community newspaper living behind a paywall wrote all about Barber blasting the Bucs defense. And it seems Barber spoke separately to TampaBay.com about what he considers a very flawed defensive approach.
“It’s almost as if (Bowles) expects every player to be able to do every position’s jobs, which in my opinion is ridiculous,” Barber told TampaBay.com.
But with every pressure, players have a new responsibility to fill in those gaps left in the defense, and some lack the skill-set to accomplish it.
“To really understand what I see as flawed, and what my buddies on the other teams confirm, you kind of have to know,” Barber said. “Almost every call is essentially a pressure — even if it’s just simulated pressure (four-man rush). So, they don’t really have a ‘base’ defense they can rely on, that they’ve done repeatedly and have full control over (such as Tampa 2, Seattle 3 etc.).”
Joe has no idea when the TampaBay.com interview happened, but if it was after Barber’s streaming show was recorded, then it really makes Joe wonder why Barber is so eager to pile on publicly on what Bowles is doing with his defense. Keep in mind Barber calls Bucs preseason games, works for the team website and is a close friend of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
It almost feels like, in Joe’s cynical mind, that someone is encouraging Barber to throw darts at the defense.
TampaBay.com beat writer/reporter Rick Stroud, who typically takes an objective approach in his occasional writing about the team, included the following scathing blast of Bowles, which sure seemed out of the ordinary.
But perhaps the biggest problem for the Bucs remains untouched: Bowles himself.
The blitz-happy head coach has refused to confront the flaws in his own defensive scheme, a system that creates more chaos for his players than for opposing quarterbacks. Missed assignments, bad run fits and blown coverages have become routine, directly costing the Bucs games. Bowles’ stock response to each new defensive collapse — including a 15-point meltdown in the final nine minutes against Atlanta on Dec. 11 — never changed.
Hmm, “refused to confront the flaws in his own defensive scheme.” That’s not something a beat writer/non-columnist publishes in a newspaper.
Interesting times at One Buc Palace.
Ira Kaufman Talks Mike McDaniel Being Deliberate, Mike Tomlin Dreams In Town, The Todd Bowles “Money” Line, Barber Comments, Early Free Agency Demands & More
January 17th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Fingers crossed it an attempt to push Bowles out.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
It is not going to get better. Ronde’s comments will just make Bowles double down on his scheme. Nothing will change.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
It’s not an attack defensive, it is a submit one. Without any resolution the same crap Cooper Kupp exposed several years ago has been dominated by most offensive teams we play. What the hell is going to change without a new signal caller, nothing. Absolutely nothing!
January 17th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
Have the Glazers made a statement about keeping coach Bowles yet?
January 17th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Bowles isn’t going anywhere. Barber and Licht aren’t paying Bowles. If the Glazer’s wanted him out, he already would be.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Hmm, “refused to confront the flaws in his own defensive scheme.” That’s not something a beat writer/non-columnist publishes in a newspaper.
Interesting times at One Buc Palace.
Hey Hey,….. Ho Ho,….. Todd Bowles has to go!!!
January 17th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Lol. I aint reading to much into this.. especially after all these untrue rumors over the last 2 weeks. With the biggest being harbaugh wanting his in GM lol. Then the guys goes to work with joe schoen. Guarantee the glazers never even called the guy
January 17th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Barber sees what we see and players on other teams confirm. The only one who’s blind to it all is the man responsible for these continuing failures.
What’s wrong with Barber’s honesty?
Could it be that Barber wants his former team to win?
January 17th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
I”m not so sure. Someone trying to push him out. Please leave. Everyone got fired but Todd.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
What? We all know that….What will they do to him for truth telling?
January 17th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of Todd Bowles and the Bucs.
🙏
January 17th, 2026 at 6:23 pm
THE Glazerhouse team is the problem….Manchester Buccaneers.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:27 pm
None of this matters, Glazers are satisfied and he stays, get used to it. Bucs will be 4th in the NFC south.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:27 pm
I’ve felt this for a while. Barber works for the Bucs and has been discrediting him for the last couple months. It’s pretty bold for him to do this on his own but I can’t imagine him being pushed from above to say these things. If he was doing this on his own, i would expect up above to ask him to stop????
January 17th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Helen Keller can all see this. I’ve been yelling this for three years. And adding to it, Todd only has half the time to devote to the defense because he has to spend the other half of his time pretending to be a horrible head coach. Keep it up. Megaphones.
3rd and 28.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Is that hope on the horizon? probably just need to clean my glasses.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
@Gipper,
Even if the Glazer’s wanted Bowles out, they wouldn’t have him walk the plank until they have an agreement in place to bring in an upgrade.
I may be in the minority, but I don’t have a problem with Bowles staying as HC. But I’d like to see him relieved of his DC duties, with a great DC brought in, with full autonomy.
Bowles might choose to resign though if he is removed as the DC.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:43 pm
Well no word still on any Assistance signings…are the Glazies maybe waiting if they are in the end going to can Bowels?
January 17th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
What I find a bit strange is we hear about the interviews for OC and ST coaches yet nothing on the defensive side of the ball. Is it possible they’re waiting to see if a guy like Morris is going to get picked up as a head coach and if not maybe try and entice someone like him to come here as the DC and then allow him to pick his own crew. Far as I’m aware there’s been no word from the GM or owners as to the conditions in which Bowles is able to retain his head coaching job meaning he keeps his job if he brings in a DC and he agrees to keep his hands away from the defense. Like most folks around here I’m throwing wet noodles against the wall and seeing what sticks.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
Kinda hard for the pass rushers to get sacks when they spend so much time in pass coverage
January 17th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
This is a Glazer issue they are to cheap to make the difficult decisions. Sell the team
January 17th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
Instead of having your players to do everything badly, why not have them do one thing well?
January 17th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Watch Denver’s defense. They have a real full time head coach and a real full time head coach. Then watch the Bucs.
Hope the Glazers are watching.
January 17th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
*real full time defensive coordinator.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Because everyone but the owners get it. Bowles sucks and so does his defense. Yet here we are with him still leading the ship. I guess the owners are going to find out the hard way when clueless Toilet Bowles only wins 5 games next season
January 17th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Ronde should be given the latitude to be a consultant, and then the changes he recommends must be implemented or Todd is no longer a Buccaneer eater.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
What Ronde and Stroud said are spot on. The gloves deserve to be off, and I wish the local media was more willing to voice their true opinions without worrying about the repercussions of our lughead GM Fred Flinstone.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:24 pm
TOO LATE!!!!!
The local media are chicken bleeps including this site.
Afraid to get their passes revoked or their dinner invites revoked.
Tampa Bay media are a problem. Softball questions and too much support for losing and bad coaching. AGain, this site is part of the problem.
Look how much you protect Jason Licht…a 45% career loser over 12 years.
Joes…get your ish together brothers…stop sucking up and start being journalists. You too Ira. IRA is another weak link. Good for Ronde.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Joey Bosa balling out for the Bills. Think he would play like that for the Bucs? No. He would have been dropping deep and confused. Hassan Reddick II.
Boelws could ruin any great player.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
It certainly feels like a tank job.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
If Joe thought Licht was the problem, Joe would say so. Joe isn’t exactly eager to run off a guy who has proven to be able to build a Super Bowl winner. Does Joe have issues with Licht? Yeah, sitting on his hands at the trade deadline when he could have gotten competent guards — which Joe has written about several times — is/was a big issue. But that’s minor compared to the big picture.
Please point out where Joe has not been critical of Bowles? Joe’s information from trusted sources was that Bowles was safe. What’s Joe supposed to do, type up stories that he knew would be inaccurate to placate the angry mob?
Don’t know of too many credible journalists who would pull unethical stunts like that.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:44 pm
Glad Barber is speaking truth. From his mouth to the owners ears.
January 17th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
almost seems like a previous coach of his just became available who emphasizes a defensive scheme that allows its players to play fast.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
The Bucs recorded a 38.9% blitz rate, second-highest in the NFL.
———
The Bucs play a base 5-2 defense, thus they allegedly ‘blitz’ on most plays out of the base set. Also, however how many times do you see players ‘rush’ only to then drop into coverage?
January 17th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Thought Barber had the ear of Licht, and the Glazers? If so, they ain’t listening.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
“Joe isn’t exactly eager to run off a guy who has proven to be able to build a Super Bowl winner.”
I give Licht all the credit he deserves for collecting enough talent to lure in Brady. But the further away we get from the SB, the more I question whether that was a once-in-a-lifetime flash of the pan moment for Licht.
Licht wasn’t great before Brady and this team is getting worse after Brady. With 12 years of evidence, a terrible run of bad HCs, and a ton of 1st and 2nd round misses, I think it’s fair to question Licht’s acumen.
The ‘RoH’ and ‘Licht House’ monikers for a GM with a losing record seem to be setting a low bar for excellence.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
BucsFanSince1996 Says:
January 17th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
@Gipper,
Even if the Glazer’s wanted Bowles out, they wouldn’t have him walk the plank until they have an agreement in place to bring in an upgrade.
I may be in the minority, but I don’t have a problem with Bowles staying as HC. But I’d like to see him relieved of his DC duties, with a great DC brought in, with full autonomy.
Bowles might choose to resign though if he is removed as the DC.
________
Yeah, you just might be in that 4% minority according to the last Bowles confidence poll.
😂
January 17th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
That 2002 Bucs defense is literally, without a single doubt, the best pass defense in the history of the game – and it’s not even close – and they played primarily a zone. Barber is clearly sick of seeing Bowles poorly coached and stupid zone that is literally retarded.
If Bowles is going to insist on running zone, then he needs to bring in guys like Barber and Brooks to teach the COACHES who to run a zone.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
Maybe their offering McDaniel the hc position after all ….
January 17th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Why not during post game interviews it was never asked by so called journalists especially during the big slide of losses to Licht or Bowles if the DC was in jeopardy of losing his job. Don’t believe any one ever asked.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Sucks Denver won ..cant stand Sean Payton…
January 17th, 2026 at 8:25 pm
Joe chewing on Bowles jock strap again
“How dare Ronde talk bad about Bowles defense…..”
Come on Joe!!!!!
January 17th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Mike M new HC? Only person saying Tb is 2026 HC is Tb. No endorsement from Jason L, no Glazers? No interviews for Defensive coaches? No info on McDaniel interview? I’m hoping TB is being replaced
January 17th, 2026 at 8:31 pm
With Ronde’s relationship with BA and BA’s relationship with Bowels I am surprised he went on record saying this. He is spot on and I am glad he is being open and candid, just seems like an inside push. I love it! Either light a fire under Bowels and adapt or get the hell out of here. We still have a championship window if we are healthy and have a competent coaching staff.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
Joe
At some point Licht has to be held accountable. Letting BA dictate from inside his rocks glass is unacceptable.
If not, he will ultimately be let go too. I’m good with that.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:46 pm
“Mike M new HC? Only person saying Tb is 2026 HC is Tb. No endorsement from Jason L, no Glazers?”
Given the unusually high level of fan vehemence, you’d think Licht or a Glazer would’ve said something by now.
I’ll ask again: what’s the difference between last year and now? Glazers, you have the unique opportunity to land a young offensive mastermind to lead this team for years. Redeem yourselves.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Watching Seattle’s defense will make you wanna throw up in your mouth about ours.
Bowles has gotta go. Bud Licht too.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:55 pm
Maybe, just maybe, Barber sees what all the fans have seen while Bowles has been HC. Receiver running wide ass open all over the field,horrible tackling, dumb penalties, lifeless play and oh let’s not forget, lots of miscommunication.
January 17th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
@HeartyDickerson,
You agree something is fishy with silence on MCDaniel interview? I think Glazers are stalling in hopes of landing a bigger better fish. McDaniel surely did the interview with eyes on a HC job. Will the Glazers do the right thing this time???
Let’s hope so!
January 17th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Ronde has never gone this rogue before, so I’m guessing he has support from Licht and/or The Glazers. My best guess is that Licht and/or Glazers, probably the Glazers want to state their reason for firing Bowles out in the open. The Glazers could be waiting for a play-off coach to hit the market, so Bowles then retires.
January 17th, 2026 at 9:00 pm
Shocked to hear Munch’s sarcastic comments about Bucs defense. Before we know it, he will also agree that the O line failed to protect Baker most of the season. None of the Bucs problems as per Munch can be blamed on 1)poor coaching;2) poor pass coverage; 3) injuries to O line and wide recievers.
January 17th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
“You agree something is fishy with silence on MCDaniel interview?”
I do. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but given the ‘tight knit loyalist’ culture this front office preaches, you’d think someone would have pronounced official support for Todd.
None of the moves made are dealbreakers for a potential new HC. Glazers could spin this as ‘they never thought a talent like McDaniel would become available.’ The argument that this year’s HC crop is underwhelming is BS
January 17th, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Spot on Joe I love it and as a side note if the hall of famer and best corner in Bucs history is saying this scheme is too complicated for guys to play fast AND Bowles needs elite coaches to make it work well considering what barber has done for the Glazers and how bad this defense has been since he became head coach who’s has more sway
January 17th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
I trust Barber’s observations far more than I trust Lovie Bowels defense.
January 17th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
Wow, just saw Bo Nix broke his ankle and is out for the season.
January 17th, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I find it strange that there hasnt been a peep from Licht or the Glazer conglomerate since the season ended. Nobody wants to face the music on this one.
Im sure once the dust settles from the coaching carousel and the Bucs try to hire the best of whats left in the scrap bin, then we’ll get the obligatory “these are the coaches we wanted to hire all along” BS talking point.
January 17th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
Im just curious, there are several potential head coaches who cannot be approached yet because their teams are still playing could this hopefully be why noone has been hired and no official announcement has been made by management regarding blows being safe?
January 17th, 2026 at 9:55 pm
Alternate Article Title “Ronde Barber keeps saying mean things about Joe’s boyfriend”
January 17th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
Hearty, Joe is a company man. We have no front seven on defense. Licht thought Braswell was going to shock the world. Thought Zyon deserved an early extension. Thought Dennis was the answer at MLB. Bottom line, Licht is average at best, and if not for Brady would be back to scouting.
January 17th, 2026 at 10:00 pm
ya. rick strouds encouragement of dungy being fired still annoys me and i like gruden.
ronde is right ff you have simeon, sapp, lynch, brooks and ronde on your defense; last time i looked we didnt
January 17th, 2026 at 10:22 pm
Maybe they have a handshake with a coach still in the playoffs/CFB and are just waiting