Todd Bowles Believes Danny Smith And Special Teams Could Have Major Impact On Record
September 3rd, 2026
Potential major impact.
If the Bucs’ special teams plays with half the intensity of new special teams coach Danny Smith, the unit could vault the Bucs into the playoffs.
That was the word from KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles yesterday at One Buc Palace.
Bowles was asked about the difference Smith has made in his short tenure. It appears, from Bowles’ words, Smith may have a significant impact on the team.
“He has so much football knowledge, not just special teams, all the way around,” Bowles gushed over the senior citizen Smith, 72. “He worked with Coach [Joe] Gibbs as well, and I played for Coach Gibbs, so we have a lot of stories to share that way.
“His knowledge of the game and how he sees players and how he can use players and just how he can help players has been outstanding. I think it’s been an uplift in the special teams room and [I am] very happy we got him.”
So how much of an impact could the Energizer Bunny Smith and a very good special teams unit mean? Bowles said it could add up to three or four wins.
Three or four wins? So that tells Joe that Bowles is certain the special teams of the Bucs last year cost the team the playoffs. Remember, the Bucs finished in a three-way tie for the NFC South landfill lead.
We all know Bucs’ special teams last year were horrid beyond words. Just a complete disgrace.
But Joe never consdiered bumbling special teams might have cost the Bucs as many as four wins. And that’s with an elite kicker, too. Wow.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:05 am
There is zero doubt that special teams were responsible for three loses last season. Maybe more! Give any NFL team the ball at the 50 yard line every time and there is a very good chance they’re winning.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:07 am
Gum chewing ST Coach Danny Smith is a massive upgrade. Old guys know a lot of things.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:18 am
Last year Bowles hired a bad STs coach who was unemployable, but was Todd’s friend. He also drafted Morrison with a ridiculous 2nd round pick who is the son of one of his former teammates. See a pattern here? After this season hopefully we get a coach who bases his choices on merit, not favor.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:32 am
Danny Smith will be the ST coach of all time for the Bucs. But that is a pretty low bar to clear.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:41 am
I dunno…if what I saw of ST’s in the preseason is a prelude of things to come, it’s not going to be good. Bring back Rich Basscia.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:44 am
Our punter sure as hell didn’t help either
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 am
you know what else would have a major impact on our record, a competent defense, but instead we are stuck with Bowels and his patented cover 0 scheme
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 am
I mean, special teams had a big role last year punting and kicking FGs at unhealthy rates of frequency.
Let’s hope the difference with Coach Smith leading the pack means better kick coverage and a couple of splash plays in our favor in any of those ST units.
Blow up a returner and jar the ball loose, maybe a scoop and score.
Motivate Kam to be less hasty with his first step in exchange for picking better running lanes as a returner, we need a kick return score.
Block some FGs, get the team hype.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 am
I mean, special teams had a big role last year punting and kicking FGs at unhealthy rates of frequency.
Let’s hope the difference with Coach Smith leading the pack means better kick coverage and a couple of splash plays in our favor in any of those ST units.
Blow up a returner and jar the ball loose, maybe a scoop and score.
Motivate Kam to be less hasty with his first step in exchange for picking better running lanes as a returner, we need a kick return score.
Block some FGs, get the team hype.
September 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 am
In an interview early this year, Danny talked about 4th down decisions. He has some great insights. I hope Danny and Jackie Davidson are in Bowles ear for real-time decisions. I’m guessing that Bowles will go for fewer 4th downs, especially if the defense is improved.
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:05 am
Special Teams, Offense, Defense
We need to be clicking on all 3 cylinders to get 12 wins
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:30 am
Did they cut enough of the bad ST performers? Looks like the PS is about the same as last year. I hope Smith is the answer. At least he is new blood.
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:31 am
I watched a recent interview of Bowels on WDAE radio on YouTube. Tried to at least.
It was the most boring and monotone responses I’ve ever heard.
Truly was hard not to fall asleep. Must be why the team goes to sleep during the season.
Even the guy asking questions looked sleepy and bored by Todd.
This nightmare needs to end this season. Enough of accepting the very least.
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:37 am
Special teams are important, but I’m sure I’ve never heard a coach utter, “This Super Bowl win was a great victory, but we wouldn’t have even been here without our stellar special teams play.” And three or four wins? Another reason to ask, WHY IS BOWLES OUR COACH?
Quarterback play and defense win most games.
For instance, Munch has gone on, ad nauseam, about Baker costing us three wins by his lonesome. Miami, Atlanta and Carolina were all games the Bucs should have won, especially Miami. So I agree.
Munch baits you “Baker Boi”s” into defending the indefensible and you swallow the bait every time. “Bad OL, bad receiver routes and a poor defense” are the standard retorts.
But Baker and Baker alone cost us those wins. Deep down, you must surely know your hero wasn’t very heroic on those days.
You Boi’s claim to be objective, but you never criticize your hero. Never!
So say it!
“It was Baker’s fault we didn’t win the division.”
Come on, you can do it, just one of you …
BAKER COST US THE DIVISION
BAKER COST US THE DIVISION
Say it! Say it! Utter the truth for a change.
Or don’t. I love showing my friends some your comments. And literally, LOL finally comes into play as these guys buckle over laughing. I like it when I get, “This guy even calls himself Baker in his moniker. Too funny. Some crazy worship there!”
Despite this, I’m a Bucs fan first and foremost. I’d be as thrilled as anyone if Baker led us to a Lombardi Trophy. I truly hope Baker proves me wrong and shows a consistency I’ve yet to see.
BTW—according to AI, the best NFL special teams can create a win total of 1.0 to 1.5 games. The worst does the same in the opposite direction.
But we all know Todd Bowles to be smarter than any computer mind, so guess we should defer to his genius mind. “Help! Should I call a time out here?”
And Joe, I’m trying to get you more readers (see above).
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:46 am
I know it was just preseason, but they haven’t looked particularly special yet this year.
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:53 am
Still shocked he chose to keep the ST coach ALL season long when it was painfully obvious right away that unit was poorly coached and costing them huge yardage deficits each game. I’ll be paying close attention to our net yardages +/- on KO & punts. Nice move hiring Smith, but the proof will be in the pudding.
September 3rd, 2026 at 8:57 am
Hopefully with all the years, and in depth knowledge of football, one of these two geniuses will make the decision to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone if we can’t cover kickoffs.
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:06 am
Lt Dan…you can’t judge ST in the preseason at all. Most of those guys who played on ST are no longer in the NFL or are on practice squads.
The Bucs won 8 games last year with:
1) An online that never started a single game with it’s starting 5. Completely banged up all year.
2) Horrible STs. Danny Smith is a huge upgrade.
3) A defense that had no pass rush. Kancey was out. Reddick sucked. Braswell sucked
In comes Bain, Walker, Mohammed and a healthy Kancey.
This team is much better than last year.
It all comes down to staying relatively healthy and Baker playing solid, consistent football.
If those 2 things happen, I see 10 wins or more.
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:11 am
JA: You’re so right! If only all the Baker supporters would finally acknowledge that football is really an individual sport. Kind of like luge, but with male cheerleaders who wear the same uniform as the one player, also know as the “QB”. /s
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:23 am
Seeing is believing!!! He has to be better than the last ST coach!
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:35 am
So why was there no mid-season adjustment to special teams coach last year? Or before the final 3 games? Or before the final 2 games? Or before the last game?
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:43 am
Watching Danny Smith coaching reminds me of Monty Kiffin. I just wish he were ten years younger, because he’ll be retiring before too long.
Those mentioning Preseason results…I would caution on judging them through that. Most of those players were trying out and failed to make the team.
Danny Smith seems like a creative coach. I expect to see some great stuff, and maybe some surprise plays too.
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:52 am
JA. Baker cost us the division. Ok, I said it. Even though I know that isn’t true in any way.
Even though that isn’t true, JA, I can tell you what is true. The head coach and the QB are responsible for us to not let seasons conclude like ours did last year.
That’s fair, it’s always been that way. So you can cross your fingers and hope that the season falls apart like it did last year.
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:52 am
JA,
Sure you can look at his picks and believe they were the sole cause of losing the division…and that belief can certainly be backed up by playoff appearance results.
But, you also should consider that if we had a better defense and better ST, Baker would hot have needed to try those risky throws.
You can claim and blame all you like, but the reality is the truth. All things lead to a result, not single things.
And, so far as last year, aside from dealing with his own injuries, he had a team around him that had given up. There were penalties often moving the team backward, 3rd stringers everywhere and the OL was what led to him getting multiple injuries.
September 3rd, 2026 at 9:57 am
Not so fast Bonzai. The turtle doesn’t believe in surprise plays. Don’t hold your breath.
September 3rd, 2026 at 10:03 am
“But, you also should consider that if we had a better defense and better ST, Baker would hot have needed to try those risky throws”
The problem with this statement is you think he’s making risky throws intentionally to make up for special teams or defensive play, when it’s literally just apart of his game and the byproduct of some of what limits his ability as a player.
Sounds crazy, defense just gave up a score, so let’s force this pass into double/triple coverage?
With all due respect, that is absolutely ridiculous
September 3rd, 2026 at 10:18 am
The horrid team that Joe and other commentators commented on – should have said that the Bucs backup players were horrid and was the reason for Bucs calapes. We’ll find out soon if the 2026 backups are an overall improvement over last year’s backups.
September 3rd, 2026 at 10:24 am
@WBL,
“making risky throws intentionally to make up for special teams or defensive play, when it’s literally just apart of his game and the byproduct of some of what limits his ability as a player.”
Astute analysis of Baker in a nutshell.
Baker’s hero complex inspires him to take unnecessary risks which inevitably lead to his downfall. All QBs have to take some risks. The smart ones limit it to when there is an advantage. Baker takes the risks on a too frequent basis believing too much in his own perception of his talent level. He has to tame that impulse if he expects to get his 50mil.
September 3rd, 2026 at 10:32 am
Badbucs: I would say that Baker takes too many risks when the team is under pressure, trying to single-handedly push them over the hill. He seems to have reasonably good judgment in other circumstances.
September 3rd, 2026 at 11:03 am
The Buc’s ST unit couldn’t get any worse…
LOL!
Nowhere to go but up.
YEA!
September 3rd, 2026 at 11:47 am
Everything this guy displays shows that he’s a hard charger, high energy guy who is a younger version of Tom Moore.
Who knows if special teams is going to add wins, but they’re definitely looking better than they did last year, even in preseason.
September 3rd, 2026 at 11:51 am
Maybe we can get some 3rd down stops this year to get some practice for our special teams
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:05 pm
It shocked me when Bowles threw out that 4 game number. It seems high but he’s probably right. Kick off coverage alone cost them a few games. Allowing the other team to start at the 50 happened so often they gave up and started kicking deep into the endzone. That and punt blocks probably get you to 4 games.
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:16 pm
I don’t have a ton of confidence after the last preseason game where a lot of those guys are going to be playing punt coverage.
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:27 pm
@MarineBuc
Our special teams last year were historically bad, complete garbage.
Concur nowhere to go but up.
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Hahahaha
3 or 4 wins!
Another fireable offense for Todd that he just puts out there for everyone!
So after special teams cost, not 1 but 2 games during last season, Todd retains the STC and lets it turn into 3 or 4 games ultimately costing the team the playoffs? Incredible stuff.
Hey guys, we were an 11 win team last year but we lacked talent, and there were too many injuries, oh and the OC I hired wasn’t ready , also don’t let me forget that ST cost us 3-4 games but the ST coach and myself did all we could!
This team is going nowhere with Bowles.
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:34 pm
@JustVisiting,
Agree. But when isn’t this team under pressure. Offensive play calling keeps us in close games and the give up the lead defense always leaves us scrambling to keep our head above water. Untimely penalties and foolish mistakes contribute to the inconsistent play displayed regularly. As usual, it comes down to the coaching. Accountability left with Arians along with a good amount of talent that has not been adequately restored. Seems like Baker is always in 3rd and long. Under pressure – constantly.
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
“Offensive play calling keeps us in close games and the give up the lead defense always leaves us scrambling to keep our head above water”
Kind of hard to build/maintain a lead when the offense is averaging 21.4 PPG, and that’s actual offensive point production with the 16 points excluded from 2 defensive scores and a safety. Btw our true offensive scoring output placed us at 20th in the NFL, not 16th which even then still looks pretty bad.
Hard to build a lead, like the Eagles game where your offense gets the ball first, goes 3 & out and then punt gets blocked and returned for a score.
Also hard to keep a lead, when that offense against stalls out in the redzone, elects to kick an FG and then gets the kick blocked and returned for a TD.
Here’s what was wrong with the offenses ability to generate points. We scored 43 points directly after our defense took the ball away on 12 takeaways pre-bye week. Offense only scored 29 off those points, Nelly & Dean combined for the other 14.
After the bye, our defense forced 11 takeaways and our offense only scored 20 points off those 11 extra possessions. Talking as if our offense was potent to the point that they actually built leads for the defense to blow is misleading. It also contradicts us going from averaging 3.5 points per takeaway before the bye and almost halved that output post-bye to 1.8 points per takeaway with just 1 less takeaway with 1 more game played compared to our pre-bye output.
Blaming the defense for the offenses inability to score points is over-emphasized on here to the point nobody believes the truth in that, the offense struggled mightly to score point in comparison to it’s 2024 iteration and the rest of the NFL in 2025.
September 3rd, 2026 at 1:35 pm
WBL… talking about the offense would hold a lot more weight if the HC wasn’t also the DC who time after time won’t put the onus on the O to win the game.
He is much too quick to punt or go for a FG or go for 1 point. That in and of itself is not a terrible thing but he was doing it with the 4th ranked O in the league! He overestimates his D and underestimates the urgency with which the Bucs need to put up points and protect his D.
An offense needs reps and confidence. Bowles doesn’t give them preseason reps to hone their execution, he punts. He constantly takes the ball from them, he took it from Tom freaking Brady and that instills confidence in what is supposed to be your best unit how?
Blaming 1 side of the ball or the other is foolish with this team under Bowles because he has never understood which levers to pull and when within the context of individual games. He only defaults to offense = risk and defense = stop or takeaway. It’s losing football.
How, many people here don’t understand this after all this time with Todd is beyond me.
September 3rd, 2026 at 1:37 pm
On offense there is always hope.
On D… when it gets to 3rd and long, how many of us shield our eyes? That’s the problem! We are conditioned from years of giving it up!
September 3rd, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Does closing eyes help? If so, will try this year.