“You Can’t Camouflage Mediocrity”
February 19th, 2026
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
It’s been six weeks since the Buc season ended with a whimper. The next six weeks need to provide a few whoppers.
This franchise has reached a tipping point in its arc and the Glazers are scrutinizing every move in what shapes up to be a momentous offseason. The Bucs can go two different ways and the next six weeks will be critical in returning a bent arrow to an upright position.
The Indy combine is coming up next week and the heartland of America is where Buc scouts need to find the heartland of a crop of young, dynamic players to lead Tampa Bay through the rest of the decade.
Free agency begins March 9 and Jason Licht should take an aggressive approach, patching holes with veterans who can still play.
Make no mistake — lots of jobs are on the line at One Buc Place. If things go south, or even if they stay the same, Todd Bowles will likely be the first out the door. And if Bowles departs, a new head coach may not want to retain Zac Robinson.
Without an influx of talent through the draft, trades and free agency, Licht could also be in jeopardy. He’s already survived the dismissals of Lovie Smith and Dirk Koetter. Can he weather another change at the top?
Should the 2026 Bucs fail to make the playoffs, Baker Mayfield’s future under center would be tenuous — especially if he doesn’t sign a contract extension. Vita Vea, who just turned 31, would likely move on after his ninth season of drawing double teams in Tampa. Chris Godwin’s future would be uncertain.
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
That’s a lot of changes and ownership could decide to implement a full rebuild, similar to the 2009 overhaul following the firing of Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Suppose this offseason ushers in legitimate QB hunters and speedy linebackers who can tackle in space? That would reduce the burden on a young secondary scrambling to cover for four seconds instead of two.
And for those of you who suggest Bowles doesn’t know how to generate an elite pass rush, let’s not forget the sight of Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes running for their lives in the NFC title game and the Super Bowl. Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh led the charge as the 2020 Bucs registered eight sacks in their final two postseason games.
It’s been quite a while since the Bucs entered an offseason amid all this uncertainty. There are reasons for optimism, however.
The offensive line, when healthy, ranks as one of the best units in the league. Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson are talented young targets who have earned Mayfield’s trust. Chase McLaughlin is an elite kicker. Jacob Parrish always seems to be around the football. Calijah Kancey looks like a difference-maker if he can stay healthy.
Still, you can’t camouflage mediocrity.
This roster needs an immediate upgrade and this coaching staff needs to do better. Mike Evans and Lavonte David were foundational players, but they don’t represent the future. That future will be shaped in the next six weeks because in the NFL, the middle of the road usually leads to a dead end.
February 19th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
This is correct, and it’s why Todd was retained. He is certainly not mediocre.
Yet here we are citing ancient history about defensive prowess. Mike Ditka coached a great defense with the 1985 Super Bowl Bears. Maybe he deserves another shot.
But don’t blame Bowles for mediocrity. It was all the assistants he hired then fired who deserve the blame.
February 19th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Good article Ira. You’re right saying it doesn’t have to be a complete overhaul to start an upward trend again. Just please don’t say the coach’s have to coach it better, heard that enough. What they needed, and hopefully got, were better coachs.
February 19th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
BUCS need a sense of urgency and that starts at the top….
unfortunately, our leaders at the “top” are laid back nice guys
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Without solid replacements for Suh and JPP they were exposed.
February 19th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
“They’re sticking with Bowles!!!” Ira said with absolute glee in his voice.
For this he can never be forgiven. Just another yes man for the Glazer kids.
Stop citing the SB from 6 years ago. Bowles was not the HC.
And the Chiefs had a terrible O-Line in that game.
If Bowles is so great, please explain the defense since he took over as the HC.
Licht too has been less than mediocre since then. He outright sucks.
If this is the “culture” you love, then you love to lose.
February 19th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
Pass rush: Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh were all established players brought in by Licht. BTW, when was the last time Licht traded for a starter?
Ira: “Should the 2026 Bucs fail to make the playoffs, Baker Mayfield’s future under center would be tenuous” Baker/Coen teamed up for a great offense and the team went nowhere. Baker isn’t playing on defense so be careful holding him accountable for the Bucs record.
Since JBF will meet with Licht and Bowles at the combine, here are some questions they might be willing to answer:
Todd Bowles questions:
The last couple of years you have noted bad tackling in some games. It seems to be a recurring theme for a couple of years. What will you do differently in this year’s OTA’s and Camp to improve tackling?
The front 4 or 5 guys on the defensive line haven’t been able to generate a consistent pass rush that is making it easier for QB’s to attack the secondary. What will you do differently this year, compared to other years, in this offseason to create a consistent pass rush?
Jason Licht questions:
In combine week there are player drills, interviews, and medical exams. Fans can learn the results of drills, but not interviews and medicals. Can you share with the fans, which of these three areas do you learn the most about players?
Since this is the combine, the outward focus is on player evaluation for the draft. However, it’s easy to meet with other teams about possible trades. You haven’t executed any trades recently, but do you see any better chance this year of a trade or two?
February 19th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
Sign F/A Nakobe Dean and trade McCullom to the Bengals and a 2nd rounder for Hendrickson!! Draft a stud Cornerback we will be fine!!! Go Bucs
February 19th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Ira, anyone ever tell you, you’re an excellent writer?
February 19th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
I love how folks who are apologist for Bowles, point out the Superbowl against a KC oline that was playing 3nd and 3rd stringers multiple spots. Nothing to with Bowles scheme
February 19th, 2026 at 3:52 pm
Shaq Barrett had 19.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles in 2019 while JPP was nursimg a car crash neck injury, and in Todd Bowles wise move, moved Barrett to left end the next season to play second fiddle to JPP and his half hand. Savvy move.
Let’s not pretend like Bowles has ever developed a pass rusher. He’s mostly managed to undevelop them the more time they spend with him.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
I guess I’m confused when Ira talks about signing multiple free agents and hitting on multiple draft picks to move the needle in a big way.
1) as far as I can tell we don’t have the cash to sign two or more big free agents. And if Mike decides to come back at 20m it’d even less. Even if you restructure luke, wirfs and others I still don’t think it would be enough. I don’t think they’ll extend mayfield because he likely wants to bet on himself to have a ‘24 like year so he try and cash in year from now.
2) we have 7 picks this year. I think it’s safe to say that EE and parish played well. But Jason has constantly missed on second picks the last few years. Roberts played well for a rookie. Outside of your first round pick can you really count on several others to make an impact this season? Not impossible but probably not likely.
So where is this flux of talent going to come from?
Best case – we get better health, the offense and defense gets better. The offense is not likely to repeat ‘24. Let’s say they get to #10 and the defense gets into the top #16.You still very likely top out at 9-10 wins in this division.
Then what? We have to endure another year of this mediocrity? No thanks. I’d rather win a few less games, get Bowles out of here (and Licht if it absolutely must be a package deal) and start to reload. The core would still consist of wirfs, Luke, mauch, EE, Bucky, Parrish, smith and Diaby.
That’s amazing but certainly not a rebuild. Especially if mayfield can get back to 85% of what he was in ‘24.
February 19th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Jimbob – standing O brother. Somehow get yourself into Todd’s next presser. No one has had the courage to ask those perfect questions. The answer has basically always been “we just need to do the same things harder.” What a
Sham.
But don’t blame Todd, nothing about this is his fault.
February 19th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
gotbbucs … ‘and in Todd Bowles wise move, moved Barrett to left end the next season to play second fiddle to JPP and his half hand. Savvy move’.
Don’t understand where you got that info. Shaq played 822 def snaps at ROLB in 15 games in 2020, getting 8 sacks. JPP played 943 def snaps at LOLB in 16 games in 2020, getting 9.5 sacks.
And from what I remember at the time, both Shaq AND Suh stated they came here in 2019 BECAUSE OF Todd Bowles. Yes Licht signed them, but they came because they liked the way Bowles ran the defense. Apparently it worked out pretty well for both of them … we won 1 Super Bowl.
Of course, it’s much easier to run a defense I’d bet when you have a veteran front that features Suh, Vea, RNR and Gholston, plus 2 veteran OLBs named JPP & Shaq. And oh ya, 2 ILBs to clean up anything that gets through named LVD and White. Oops, almost forgot a pretty decent Secondary that featured Dean, Davis, SMB, Winfield & Whitehead. Vea missed 11 games that year (2020); the REST of those 12 others (starters) missed a TOTAL of only 6 games. Quite a difference from 2025.