“Great Football Team, But You Just Do Dumb Things”
May 30th, 2026
Luke Goedeke
What would Bucco Bruce Arians have said to the Bucs roster if he took over the team a few months ago?
Perhaps Arians would have called them mentally weak for their collapse. Maybe he would have called them dumb for their late-season mistakes and poor tackling.
Joe brings this up because Lavonte David recently shared on Maxx Crosby’s podcast how Arians addresed the Bucs when he took over the club after the 2018 season.
“In our first team meeting, [Arians] was like, ‘By watching this film or watching, you guys are a great football team but you just do dumb things,” David said. “And for the most part, that’s a lot of what was going on early in my career. We just can’t find ways to pull stuff out, pull the games out and things like that.”
Hmm, “can’t find ways to pull stuff out,” says David. That’s exactly what the problem was after the bye last season. The Bucs couldn’t find a way to pull out one more game despite playing three consecutive close games against sad NFC South opponents.
And yes, a lot of “dumb” stuff was happening. One example would be Luke Goedeke’s four penalties against the Panthers in Week 16.
Joe hopes and thinks the Bucs got a little smarter with their offseason acquistions — from the offensive coordinator to the special teams coach to the many defensive roster changes.
May 30th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
I, TOO, ANTICIPATE and cogitate. AT LEAST OUR OUTLOOK IS POSITIVE. Sorry caps
May 30th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
OC and ST coaches were upgrades. But there is no way the rookies make significant contributions. A lot of the guys they brought in may be slightly better than who left.
I see it as lateral moves.
The problem is the approach. No tackling practice for a team of lazy and bored players. Scheme where DL drop into coverage. Blitzing and getting nothing out of it. 10-15 yard cushions on WR.
People have figured it out.
On Offense, it just comes down to health.
May 30th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
ModHairKen Says:
“there is no way the rookies make significant contributions. A lot of the guys they brought in may be slightly better than who left.”
Oh really?
Bain, Trotter and Scott will all be starting on defense….. Hurst will be playing a fairly big role in the offense as well….
Bain> Reddick
Muhammed > Braswell
Robinson > Hall
Anzalone > 36 y.o. Lavonte David
Trotter > Dennis
Skule > Heck
Gainwell > White
Nunez-Roches > Gaines
Schrauth > Feeney/Jordan/Klein
May 30th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Agreed Pickgrin, but the problem is still going to be in the secondary. Our CBs are not very good. On top of that the defense is run by a guy that will not change. Good QBs can stand in the pocket and shred this defense, because no matter what blitz package Bowles puts in, the secondary is full of holes and soft coverage.
May 30th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
Still think they should consider Kancey at DE. You’re gonna have Vita Robinson Rakeem & probably Roberts at DT. So why not consider moving him to DE. Put him with Yaya & Bain.
May 30th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
Its not just the players, its D scheme (points to Todd). I think some of them just had enough and got lazy. Build the scheme around player strengths! I dont get what the problem is as to why Todd cant figure this out! Square peg dont go into round hole!!
May 30th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Lack of pressure up front made the back half look worse then they are with the revamp of the dline this defense is going to be a lot better looking.
May 30th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
So if BA aka Kangol Hat could coach the dumb out of the team and TB aka Kit-Kat was his understudy why can’t he do the same ?
Is his ego so big that he is convinced his way can’t be improved upon ?
Complacency seems to be an issue throughout the organization.
Maybe ME13 didn’t like that.
May 30th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Amazing throwing shade just like the media
Players were doing dumb things
WHY???
They forgot how to play after bye week????
Always something else than the Coach
Every other team including this one until NOW THE Buck stops with HC
This team has fired the Coaching staff twice except for Bowles in his tenure
JO OTHER NFL TEAM has every done this
But it’s the players
Yea that way Evans left the team for LESS MONEY AND HIGHER TAXES because the players
Say it enough STILL WONT BE TRUE but maybe we can sell the Fans Magic beans
May 30th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
ME left to go to San Fran because he saw a better team/organization. I believe he was honest about weighing his chances for another Superbowl
May 30th, 2026 at 9:29 pm
ME left to go to San Fran because he saw a better team/organization. I believe he was honest about seeing his chances for another Superbowl ring.
May 30th, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Bowles = DUMB
May 30th, 2026 at 10:52 pm
Didn’t BA hold a job title last year? He needed to jump back on his soap box
May 31st, 2026 at 2:46 am
They didn’t do “dumb stuff” when they had a TRUE “LEADER” who was just focused on playing ‘winning’ FOOTBALL. Can’t say that about Brady’s 3rd-season here, though. He was already, almost completely ‘checked-out’ by then.