Gerald McCoy Is Fed Up With Todd Bowles Hate
August 3rd, 2026
Irked by Todd Bowles haters.
Gerald McCoy has seen and heard enough. And he wagged his finger at many Bucs fans yesterday, saying they should look at the big picture.
Specifically, GMC is tired of reading and hearing fans trying to run KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles out of town.
Bowles may be the most unpopular Bucs coach since perhaps former Bucs commander Greg Schiano. Joe’s in-season weekly poll on Bowles last season was downright ugly.
Yesterday, GMC was at Bucs practice yesterday working for NFL Network. He mingled with several fans inside the Glazer Shed and he heard from many. GMC was so annoyed with the Bowles hate that he took to Twitter to tell fans they just don’t understand how good of a coach Bowles is.
If folks don’t think Bowles is the answer for the Bucs, they need a dose of “reality,” per GMC,
@Geraldini93: All yall Todd Bowles ain’t the guy and his defenses haven’t worked people need a reality check. Since taking over as DC in 2019 the defense has given up more points than we score TWICE!! In that span we have made the playoffs 5 out of 7 years. Only 6 teams league wide have done that. Since 2019 5 teams have won a Super Bowl. A lot of great defenses in that span. Only 5 winners. Since 2020 we rank 11th for total points given up. Only 2 of the top 10 in points given up have won it all. So clearly winning is very difficult. It ain’t all on TB. Yall just looking for somebody to blame. We’ve lost players, injuries, a lot takes place over a 7 yr span but each year we give ourselves a chance. It took us 27 yrs to win a SB and another 18 yrs to win another. But now yall somehow impatient. Just keep cheering and believing in the guys. They are gonna need it. But stop blaming TB for everything. Love yall!!
Well, Joe sort of sees GMC working. When Bowles had a defense loaded with established if not Pro Bowl veterans, he shined. With the exception of 2022, Bowles’ pass defense has never really been that good. It’s always been great or solid against the run.
Last year, even that wasn’t so good.
As the Super Bowl defense gradually lost guys to retirement and attrition, Bowles has struggled to raise the game of his defense. The way that defense quit on him last year annoys Joe each day.
So Bowles has said twice this offseason/training camp that he had to make changes the way last season shook out. We’ll find out in a few weeks if those changes bear fruit. And wins.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:12 am
Fans have a right to feel however they want to about Bowles. We know Bowles’ defense can work great when he has great players, but won’t every defense work with great players? When you’re a “defensive guru” and your defense stinks, people are going to call you out. Go play with your Batman toys, Gerald.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:15 am
It’s time for a change.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:16 am
Hopefully Bowles didn’t have another “epiphany,” like he did last offseason, we saw how that turned out. SMH
Gearld McCryBaby whining, something’s never change.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:18 am
Oh !
It’s nothing personal
Oh !
It’s ALL ABOUT his miserable ability to coach WINNING football
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:21 am
Why would I care what some goofy guy who wears a kimono like a 300 lb. Geisha thinks?
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:35 am
I have a very simple solution to all the Todd Bowles hate…
WIN MORE GAMES!!!!
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:47 am
Soft player loves soft coach, seems about right.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 am
Remember when we got Suh aka THE REAL #93. That was real change.
When Todd makes upgrades to the defense every summer to have the same results it makes you feel a little insane. Have you ever seen a dog chasing his tail?
Maybe we all need to get some ice cream to feel better.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:56 am
hmm .. Gerald McCoy – yeah I remember him – played for the Panthers, right ? played for the Bucs for a while too I guess when they went 52-92 – no playoffs though – always had a sour look on his face during locker room interviews – then he left and the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2020 – think he played for the Cowboys or Raiders or something that year – dunno
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:02 am
THANK YOU MARINE BUC !!! That’s the bottom line when it comes to NFL football … Just ‘win more games’.
Obviously in the minority, but I for one agree with GMC. Far too many ‘fans’ (and some in the media) are making Todd Bowles the scapegoat for everything bad that happens in Bucsville. Mediocre talent in some starting positions? Todd Bowles’ fault. Lack of defensive depth? Yup, that’s on Bowles. Injuries? It’s obvious Bowles is behnd those.
Does he have flaws? Oh heavens yes. Dual-hatting as HC/DC? BAD decision. Coaching staff that’s average at best? That’s my feeling. But he’s not the one who ‘stocks the cupboard’; JL is. And TALENT (or lack thereof) has been our biggest weakness on defense.
Good news though: We’ve added some bonafide TALENT to this defensive roster, both as starters & as depth. HOPEFULLY they haven’t finished yet, because we still need a quality veteran outside CB who can compete for a starting slot (assuming of course that we retain Vea for 2026). I agree 100% with Cosell’s assessment in the earlier article on our DLine … that he’s very, very bullish on the Bucs’ defensive line.
Can our defense, led by Todd Bowles, make it back into the Top-10? I’m convinced they can, and will, but it’ll require probably surrendering no more than 20 PPG average (Rams ranked #10 last season giving up 346 total pts or 20.5 PPG average). For all the talk on JBF about the Bucs’ defense quitting on Bowles last season, they finished the season’s last 6 games only allowing 21 PPG average. HOPEFULLY our new additions can help us become more consistent this season.
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:08 am
GMC needs a reality check or to watch a game or two and see how Todd consistently mismanages games and usually makes the wrong choice of trusting the worst unit on the the team to make stops instead of being aggressive.
Todd’s defenses even in 2020 and 2021 when the team was humming would routinely get shredded through the air and he was unable to schematically adjust to limit the pass. He’s been here for 8 seasons now and the defense consistently is the worst unit in the stadium
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:08 am
WHAT? Hate for Coach Bowles?
The defensive genius who single-handedly invented the famous Tampa cover none/tackle none grand scheme of things…
Say it ain’t so….
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:21 am
As the Super Bowl Defense gradually lost guys to retirement and attrition…
you could add- AND the Bucs’ front office Failed to Draft or acquire quality Defensive Line and LB players since the Super Bowl year with the exception of injury prone Kancey and Diaby.
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:26 am
The SB defense was good because Arians was the HC. Bowles was kept from employing his cover receivers with edge rushers. It’s no coincidence the D has steadily gotten worse since Bowles has been in charge
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:36 am
Todd Bowles did not invent the Tampa 2. Look it up..
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:55 am
Here we go with the “we made the playoffs so keep Bowles around” argument.
The Bucs won the NFC Dumpster Fire Division, Gerald, with a sub-.500 record one of those times, at that. The NFC South has been *the* or “arguably the” worst division in pro football for at least 5 years. Pointing to playoff appearances after the Super Bowl is an especially weak argument.
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:58 am
Some fans will never get it, a Super Bowl winning team has a very short life span by design due to the Cap limitations by the NFL brass. The NFL wants parity which obviously affects the Bucs brasss and owners being tight fisted with Baker abd Vita. It’s a balancing act. The Bucs want both of these players, but the cap space rules the day. A championship team has a very life span. Key players can’t get their money demands. That’s life in the NFL.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 am
The Bucs seem to be getting worse since Bowles became head coach.
I am not sure of the significance of 5 Super Bowl winners in last 7 years? That seems like the expected amount. Arians won the Super Bowl, in any case.
I am sorry but letting two old crony assistants go, one who retired,” and replacing them with their top assistants doesn’t sound like much change.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 am
“haven’t” worked. First of all, learn to spell. All that money and you still can’t make English work….lol Crybaby McCoy.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:13 am
Im with McCoy and Defense Rules here. We have a great coach but the cupboard has been nearly bare on talent on the defense for a while. This off-season was a really nice jump in talent I think Todd can work with. We keep drafting like this past draft and wisely spending in free agency and we will have a very strong defense this year or next. Depends on how quickly the talent comes along and injuries too.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:14 am
I do agree with posters here that Bowles should trust his offense more than his defense to close out games until proven otherwise.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:17 am
@ DR
“We’ve added some bonafide TALENT to this defensive roster, both as starters & as depth.”
I agree.
My main concern on defense is our CB position.
I don’t trust ZM or Ben-Mo at this point – I hope I’m wrong and both turn out to be OK.
We shall see.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:25 am
Todd keeping and playing loafing lazy quitters like Hassan Reddick and others on the field cost him the locker room,football games, and eliminated the ” I will run through a wall attitude” that frankly a majority of our players had for Todd.
Jason Licht is not without blame as he should have and could have added Jordyn Brooks at the trade deadline last season(when it really mattered) to plug up the defense enough to get into the playoffs Had our Bucs made the playoffs I believe Evans stays and Glazers make millions more loot.
Letting loafers and quitters play on your team creates dissension and a loss of faith in coaching. Todd and Jason each have one more chance to get it right or both shoulkd be escorted out of One Buc at the same time.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:27 am
A Team with a Defensive Minded HC that has steadily gotten worse on Defense over the past 3 seasons Hmmm. 2023(344.2YPG23rd) 2024 (385 26th) 2025 (395 29th) . No we’re irked with you defending Bowles Gerald the Defensive product he puts on the field is disgusting the fan base . We couldn’t stop a team on 3& long all last season. What games is Gerald watching
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:29 am
“It took us 27 yrs to win a SB and another 18 yrs to win another. But now yall somehow impatient.”
This is a loser mentality! I think I have defending Gerald up to this point but I just can’t anymore. People are right about him. Dude is soft and weak.
I am seriously disgusted after reading that line.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:32 am
I (generally) support whoever the Bucs coach is – up to a limit. Can see both sides of the coin here for sure. My personal position is to allow this year to play out. If the last half of recent season continues into this one – then it is time for a change. If defense plays decent and our offense gets back on track like it should before OL fell apart – then stay the course. When/if time for change is near, then the approach should be intentional, researched, and planned so as to avoid coaching carousel of mediocrity. See Lost Decade as textbook example. Tolerate until ability to replace. In the meantime, going full blown Rainman about the current head coach is not fun or productive for anyone.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:37 am
no one is taking advice from Mccoy who is a nice guy but soft which is why he was replaced by SUH. Bowles is a problem just follow his track record going back with the Jets. How many times we have to watch teams convert 3rd and 22 or see DL run down the field with running backs.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:37 am
What it should be: Gerald McCoy Is Fed Up With Todd Bowles
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:49 am
” He gradually lost guys” that says it all.
PERSONEL is part of the equation..obviously
The bashing is very old i agree!!
.
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:52 am
Marine Buc … ‘My main concern on defense is our CB position. I don’t trust ZM or Ben-Mo at this point – I hope I’m wrong and both turn out to be OK.’
That’ll probably turn out to be ‘the weak link’ on this year’s defense IMO too. In Zion’s case, I’m convinced that he’s got 1st or 2nd Rnd skills, but a 5th or 6th Rnd ‘head’ (I get the feeling that his confidence gets shaken too easily). I like Ben too, but he just can’t seem to get (and stay) healthy. They’d both make quality depth, but I’m not sold on them as starters either.
I’m frustrated that Licht hasn’t picked up a quality starting-caliber outside CB yet, but I’m also HOPEFUL that he’ll do that before the season starts (might be waiting for cuts). Between Parrish & Scott, I’m convinced that one of them could end up being a quality outside CB (no idea which one though).
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:54 am
According to DVOA, the premier stat site in NFL football, there were 15 teams with worse defenses last year. Not good, but nowhere near the worst. If the the offense had been able to perform better and control the clock we would have made the playoffs despite a weak defense.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:00 am
@ DR
“I’m frustrated that Licht hasn’t picked up a quality starting-caliber outside CB yet, but I’m also HOPEFUL that he’ll do that before the season starts”
This is what has frustrated me the most re: this off-season.
I just DON’T get it at all.
I’m not asking for a $10M guy… But there were plenty of mid-level FA CBs available that we didn’t even sniff.
Gee-wiz – at least we signed Vildor last season (who stunk) but at least it was a lame attempt at adding some depth…
What is our plan here in 2026?
Let Dean go and hope for Ben-Mo?
No thanks.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:03 am
@ DR
I also agree about ZM’s possible mental shortcomings…
He has the physical tools.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:05 am
Bowles last year as Bucs HC, you’ll see.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:29 am
Zyon is the most athletic CB to ever come out of the draft. Now, can he get his “mental” right? I don’t know for sure. He definitely needs to stop being bored and realize that if the receiver he is covering is not being targeted that means he is doing an excellent job and to maintain that same level of focus throughout. Maybe if he’s getting bored he can look for ways to generate turnovers? The more film study he is doing can help with that…
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
Bowles idea of change was to promote the assistants of the sorry coaches he fired.. oh and hire his son for a payday before they all get canned.
McCoy can shove it.. fans aren’t stupid.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:34 am
Who exactly is to blame for the D quitting on Bowles and the team last year? I’ll wait!
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:37 am
Great coaches don’t have long sustained losing streaks every season.
And they don’t go 2-7 after the bye week and miss the playoffs.
Most certainly they don’t claim guru status and have the 32nd ranked red zone defense.
Todd Bowles does all of the above.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:40 am
PFF has the Bucs defense ranked 24th last year. Nuff said Gerald.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:43 am
Honestly when you pick a guy in round 5 who has a 10.0 RAS you have to wonder:
– Why wasn’t this guy playing D1?
– What are the other deficiencies?
I guess “boredom” is one of those deficiencies.
Did our Head Coach really say that?
OK…
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:49 am
Hodad … ‘The SB defense was good because Arians was the HC. Bowles was kept from employing his cover receivers with edge rushers. It’s no coincidence the D has steadily gotten worse since Bowles has been in charge’.
To my recollection Hodad, Arians stayed almost totally out of Bowles’ defense. Oh riding around in his cart at practice he’d pick on defensive players, but no-more-so than he picked on offensive players or S/Ts players. The 2019 defense ranked poorly because of Jameis’ turnovers (in some ways the 2019 defense was actually better than the 2020 & 2021 defenses). The 2020 & 2021 defenses BOTH ranked in the Top-10. I give BA lots of credit for overseeing a team that scored a LOT of points … over 1,000 pts in 2020 & 2021 … and minimized turnovers (36 total over 33 games those same years). But that was Bowles’ defense, not BA’s.
And in terms of using OLBs in coverage, you might want to go back & relook at the Advanced Defensive Stats for 2019-2021 because our OLBs were used in coverage A BUNCH.
Example: Shaq. Look at his stats each of those years …
o 2019: 16 games (889 snaps) – 11 targets – 9 completions – 81.8% – 1 INT – 2 PDs – 19.5 sacks – 37 QB hits – 6 FF – 19 TFLs – 58 tackles (45 solo) – 174 blitzes
o 2020: 15 games (822 snaps) – 23 targets – 19 completions – 82.6% – 0 INT – 3 PDs – 8 sacks – 16 QB hits – 2 FF – 11 TFLs – 57 tackles (43 solo) – 121 blitzes
o 2021: 15 games (767 snaps) – 11 targets – 9 completions – 81.8% – 1 INT – 4 PDs – 10 sacks -22 QB hits – 3 FF – 9 TFLs – 51 tackles (37 solo) – 63 blitzes
Looks to me like Shaq blitzed a TON, but also was used in coverage quite a bit. From what I’ve read & seen, all 3-4 defenses end up using their OLBs in coverage at certain times. Even with 2 excellent ILBs who can operate sideline-to-sideline, there’ll be times when it’s essential to have a 3rd defender in that ‘close zone’ (forced by the offensive formation?).
These last 2 years have been very frustrating for all of us who love great defense. Much of that falls on Bowles as the DC, but a whole bunch of it also falls on a woeful lack of talent in certain starting positions, and on guys flat not doing their jobs.
As an aside, Bucs played 6 teams last season that had Top-10 offenses. We beat the first 2 of them (Seahawks & 49ers), but lost to the last 4 of them (Lions, Pats, Bills, Rams). And also BTW, we played those last 4 teams in a 5-game stretch (2 games prior to the BYE, and 3 games after) … and we got the living crap beat out of us (physically AND score-wise). Those 4 Top-10 offenses laid 130 points on us in those 4 games … 32.5 PPG. And injury-wise, we took some major hits in those 5 games.
Talent-wise, our 2025 defense didn’t have the size or nastiness to hang with The Big Dogs. And you don’t win Super Bowls unless you do battle with the Big Dogs, and chase their a$$es back onto the porch as you prance around with the Lombardi in front of them. Here’s HOPING for a much better 2026.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:08 am
Critmark … ‘Who exactly is to blame for the D quitting on Bowles and the team last year? I’ll wait!’
Don’t wait too long Critmark, but rather do some ANALYSIS of YOUR OWN instead of following the sheep. You’ll end up with a different conclusion (IF you keep an open mind that is), and you’ll realize that sheep aren’t the brightest animals in the world.
Analyze the first 3 games AFTER the BYE (where we played 3 Top-10 offenses and gave up a whopping 106 pts … 35.3 PPG … and got the crap beat out of us physically). Then analyze the following 6 games after that (all of who ranked from #24 – #28 offensively, and we held them to a much better 127 total pts … 21.2 PPG … while our much more talented offense only scored 121 pts in that stretch … 20.2 PPG average). The 2 games that we did win in that stretch were only because the defense held the Cards to 17 pts and the Panthers to 14 pts. THAT’S NOT THE MARK OF A QUITTING TEAM Critmark.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:20 am
DR and Marine Buc. If Vea stays and plays , this defensive line has a chance to be special. And the more special it is, the better our secondary and inside linebackers are going to look. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. At least, I think, we’ve got the right idea.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:25 am
I’m still ticked we didn’t get ARod, he’s already turned that Dolphins defense around. He has the chance to not only be defensive rookie of the year but also defensive player of the year.
If that happens they should draw and quarter every member of the front office staff.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:28 am
Well Defense Rules, would you like links to where Bowles admitted players were taking plays off. I can provide many. So he knew about it and did nothing or could do nothing.
And what your narrative clearly illustrates is that the Bucs D can’t beat good teams, only average to poor teams. Is that the mark of a good coach???.
AND, how is it that all of the coaches Bowles hired are not any good and got fired at the end of the season, but he is a good coach? At a minimum, isn’t part of a good coaches job to hire good people around him?
I am not saying he has not ha moments in the past where we performed well as a HC. But there is no evidence he still is or still can.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:37 am
Iron sharpens iron. Mediocrity (Gerald) dulls Mediocrity (Todd).
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:39 am
What? No Mr. Softee post yet. You guys are slackers.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:44 am
I love GMC but this is a terrible take. This is a what have you done for me lately league, and TB has woefully underperformed with the talent he has. His HC decisions continue to be middling at best. At the beginning of every season I’m optimistic that TB will have learned from his mistakes, but he somehow finds ways to repeat them. I pray this is the year he finally figured it out both defensively and as HC, but I’m not holding my breath.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:50 am
DR Says: “The 2 games that we did win in that stretch were only because the defense held the Cards to 17 pts and the Panthers to 14 pts. THAT’S NOT THE MARK OF A QUITTING TEAM.”
I’ll tell you “WHO” did quit tho… Baker Mayfield, and the Bucs OFFENSE. It was very easy to see. At least, for those of us who were not fooled by the fake little spurts of BS. Like, when Baker was nowhere to be FOUND for ‘3-Full Quarters’ of a Ballgame (you could literally ‘see-it’ all on HIS FACE, if you were lookin’). But, then he decides to ‘run around and dive on the ground’ for a couple of plays LATE in ballgames (or maybe, he jumps up into the face of an opponent, or two). It’s just part of the SHOW… It’s all an ACT. He was totally unprepared, disconnected, disinterested, distracted, aloof, and was focused on all the WRONG things (which now in hindsight, looks-like it was HIS PAYCHECK). He was totally, checked-out. Now that’s some “LEADER” there, RIGHT!? But, all the “Bois” will say… You would too, if you couldn’t trust your DEFENSE, bla, bla, blah… HE WAS HURT. Lmao. And, HE really thought HE deserved and was going to get a LONGTERM, tip-tip of the market DEAL… REALLY!? It was easy to see.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:58 am
That Defense never stood a chance just from the TALENT aspect alone. Especially depth wise, and in the middle.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:01 pm
OH PLEASE GMC. It was a dumpster fire last season. I know you are a company guy but save the BS for somewhere else. It will be much of the same this season. Bucs will hover in the 6, 7, 8 win range… Can’t wait to see the (opposing) fan takeover at Ray Jay. Way to go Glazers.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Arians was a good coach because he got good players for the team. JL didn’t lead him by the nose. Bowles is completely involved in the players being selected. Both JL and Bowles are responsible for the many draft mistakes and the poor acquisition of FA talent. Bowles on field decisions have led directly to many loses, but worse than that is the selection of the coaching staff. ST coordinator should have been fired before last season. The current promotion of the assistants of the failed coordinators is just an abomination. Letting Bowles being both HC and DC is another failure by the FO. He fails at both rather than performing one adequately. Having good stats for the end of last year against pitiful offenses is no defense for his poor performance. HC is in charge of the offense too last I checked.
They attempted to bolster the quality of the defense this off-season. No more excuses accepted. We’re told Todd is the man for the job. Better be.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Dont hate Bowles. Hate his Blunders.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:40 pm
I always liked gmc he was one of the few bright spots on some pretty terrible bucs teams. My big issue with Bowles is the high draft picks we are spending on defense keep not panning out devin white joe Tryon Logan hall. If you’re a defensive coach the defense needs to be the back bone of your team. The truth is we are better on offense right now than we are on d. The opportunity cost we have of keeping Bowles is we keep having good coordinators on offense come in and then leave for hc jobs. Constant changes on offense when that is our stronger side of the ball has become a problem.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Is he also fed up with the Gerald McCoy hate? I can’t wait for the Gerald McCoy into the Bucs Ring of Honor debate to get cranked up again….lol. The comments (and there will be MANY) will be classic and “Not ready for Prime Time”…lol.
August 3rd, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Critmark … Nah, don’t need the links. We all know that select players were ‘absent without leave’ last season. And several just flat didn’t have the talent to be starters. The lack of depth in virtually all position groups certainly didn’t help.
But to paint the entire Bucs’ defense as being quitters demeans those who didn’t quit, and who played their butts off to season’s end. Guys like Ya Ya, and Tykee, and Vita. Parrish had an excellent rookie season, as did Elijah Roberts. Winfield did much better in 2025 than he did in 2024, but he’s still not back to being his old self yet. And actually Jamel Dean had a good year, except for the fact that he kept getting dinged up.
Unfortunately the 2025 defense had too many guys who really didn’t fit Bowles’ defense. For instance, his defense must have ILBs who can play sideline-to-sideline like Brooks & LVD always could (well, although not LVD last year). It has to have a MLB especially who’s a thumper & can fill the gaps quickly, but who can still cover (that’s not SVD). And 280-lbers in the DLine interior (like Kancey & Hall?) just don’t hack it in his defense (Hall will do better as a DE with Houston & Kancey needs to moved further outside). And other than Ya Ya (who I love), we had no OLBs to speak of. Kiss your pass rush goodbye.
Yes my previous comments showed that the 2025 Bucs D couldn’t beat teams with TOP-10 offenses, only teams with average to poor offenses. Well guess what, that’s the sign of an average to mediocre defense … and that’s exactly what the 2025 defense was.
But my point was (tada) … move past the scapegoating of Bowles. He was ONE FACTOR only, but there were many other factors driving last year’s mediocrity. The owners pick the coaches, not the fans. I personally expected Bowles to be fired, but for whatever reason, he wasn’t. My gut feel is that there’s a LOT more going on being the scenes than any of us (or the media) knows about. Billionaire team owners don’t just make haphazard decisions about who to hire (or retain) as their CEO or COO or whoever to run their business for them. Let’s see what we’ve got as the year upfolds.
August 3rd, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Wait…. So 5th against the run “wasn’t that good” ?
GMC is right. People just looking for a easy villain for a complex situation.
August 3rd, 2026 at 2:05 pm
OK Defense Rules, we can agree. Bowles was clearly part of the problem, but not the only reason. I will ask a question I don’t know the answer to. Is Bowles even capable of getting players ‘absent without leave’ to actually play hard? For all the reasons you cited about the D, I am convinced Bowles was part of the problem. In all likelihood, I may be being too critical and you may be being too forgiving.
But to your comments on the roster, I agree. Bowles deserves some of the blame, but so does Licht. I have pointed this out before but it bears repeating. In the 4 years that Baker has been with the Bucs including 2026, the Seahawks have committed more cap space to the QB position than the Bucs. However, the Seahawks put together the number 1 defense in the NFL and the Bucs defense has all the shortcomings you pointed out. That sits squarely at Licht’s feet.
August 3rd, 2026 at 2:12 pm
McCoy is correct on a couple counts. Bowles does, on occasion, get blamed for things that are not fully his fault. And the defensive talent is not what it once was. Bowles and Licht share the blame for that. Licht drafts poorly on the defensive side of the ball and Bowles cannot develop even the most promising draftees. Licht also does something mind boggling stupid about 2 or 3 years (eg drafting a kicker). BUT, he is very good at drafting offensive talent. He balances out to be a middle of the pack GM, but not R of H material (I think the Joe that constantly attaches the R of H label to him, tends to compare him to prior Bucs GMs and sadly, he may well be the best among that group).
Where Bowles is concerned the list of poor traits goes on. His inability to develop players extends to his assistants as evidenced by two rounds of dismissals in four seasons. He tends to call a defense that gives the match up edge to the opponent. He does not make changes to things that are not working because he cannot admit he was wrong. He never accepts blame but is quick to blame others. He is as uninspiring as they come and his poor leadership was punctuated by players quitting on him last season.
ALL of these liabilities are apparent to fans and fans tend to express themselves freely. Fans do not have the filter that a colleague or someone who knows him personally would have when it comes to expressing criticism.
So, there you have it Gerald. This is why Bowles is so unpopular with fans and he has truly earned it. Get over it!
August 3rd, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Who cares what McCoy thinks??? He’s a paper tiger has been. FIRE TOILET BOWLES
August 3rd, 2026 at 3:49 pm
We have had a DOSE of reality Gerald ! And it sucks !!
August 3rd, 2026 at 4:19 pm
I don’t know what team GMC is watching? There was no phase of football that were anywhere close to being well coached during that 2-7 collapse post bye.
August 3rd, 2026 at 4:42 pm
Critmark … ‘Is Bowles even capable of getting players ‘absent without leave’ to actually play hard?’
Good question, but I’m not sure it needs to be answered. IF a player ‘tunes out’ and becomes ‘absent without leave’, why keep him? These guys are professionals … the creme de la creme … making millions of dollars a year in their 20’s. IF they need a coach to hold their hand & motivate them, they need to find a new profession.
A lot of the ‘quitting’ thing was spawned on this website, and especially after LVD came out with his comments at the end of the season about being hurt all thru the season & him not giving 100% on every play. And of course we also saw McCollum get chewed out publicly for not paying attention (and subsequently get benches). Plus Joe’s assessments afterwards of guys lallygagging during plays seemed to do a good job of ‘chumming the water’ when it came to folks identifying Bowles as THE culprit.
To me the bigger problems defensively were two-fold. First, the explosive plays; we had 19 touchdowns scored last year from OUTSIDE our 20-yard-line thanks to explosive plays. Those can break the back of a defense pretty quickly. And second, the horrendous Red Zone performance last year (allowing opponents to score 30 TDs in 43 visits in the Red Zone). Those 2 things together clearly told me that we weren’t a playoff contender.
Thankfully the Bucs’ hierarchy looks like they identified the same general issues & have tried to fix it by getting rid of several players who weren’t cutting it (for whatever reasons) & replacing them with bigger & nastier beasts. Now it’s up to this coaching staff to pull all this together & create a competitive TEAM. I do my best to keep an open mind until it becomes obvious those changes simply didn’t work or weren’t enough. That’s REALLY hard sometimes, but I’m a ‘dyed in the wool Bucs’ fan’ through-and-through, and premature negativity really turns me off. Especially when it comes from me.