Rondé Barber Says “Mood Is Not Great” At Bucs Headquarters
September 23rd, 2026
Harsh review.
Buccaneers legend Rondé Barber works weekly inside the walls of One Buc Palace as part of his duties on the official team website.
So Barber was asked on his latest WFLA streaming show to share the mood at team headquarters in the hours since the Bucs’ miserable loss to the bumbling Browns.
Barber doesn’t like the vibe.
“Look, the mood is not great,” Barber said. ” There’s too many mistakes. There’s a lack of urgency, if you will, in my mind when I look at them going onto the field. There’s got to be a little bit of a sense of a defining characteristic of your team through Week 2. I don’t know what that is. It’s mistakes. It’s busts. It’s lack of execution.”
Timeout. Todd Bowles said additions like A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem “Nacho” Nuñez-Roches delivered a new attitude. And now Barber doesn’t like the urgency when players are taking the field?
Barber went to further describe how the Bucs haven’t looked ready for the season.
“Week 2 can’t be the fifth preseason game,” Barber continued.
“At some point you have to start hitting your stride. And it doesn’t feel like they’re in their stride right now on either side of the ball.”
“I feel like for much of the secondary, especially the coverage unit, they’re so focused on what they’re trying to do, that they don’t know how to do it now.”
Barber seems baffled as to why veteran newcomer linebacker Alex Anzalone has become the kind of player he wasn’t in Detroit last season, missing tackles and struggling in coverage.
“There’s some dynamic going on, whether it’s not understanding what his role is in the defense, not understanding angles, maybe not having enough tackles in the preseason, I don’t know what it is,” Barber said. ” … Something is hamstringing this defense in critical moments.”
An ardent Bucs optimist most of the time, Barber has stopped throwing around lollipops and candy corn.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:06 pm
This team is dead in the water.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:11 pm
Ronde it’s all good! Just gotta coach it better, and gotta play it better!
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:12 pm
And don’t worry Ronde. Baker says they are close!
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:13 pm
Ronde, we all know what is hamstringing this defense, and it’s Todd Bowles.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:16 pm
no worries – the Vikes and Packers are favored over the Bucs so the real urgency won’t manifest until after the Dallas game – the Bucs can start 0-5 and then do something literally unprecedented : make the playoffs after a 0-5 start – the Bucs can giddyap at home and beat up Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers then on to glory !!
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:16 pm
It’s really pretty simple
Football starts with leadership. You have to have a HC that is a leader.. Then it’s about team leaders. Those should be Baker, AW Jr, Vita, Wirfs, Anzalone. None are leading by example or otherwise.
Then you have to have a QB that can overcome things. Baker needs everything around him to be high level to be great. When the oline is average, the WRs are just OK and the play calling is suspect, Baker becomes below average.
Right now, this team lacks leadership and a top flight QB.
Bowles ain’t it and Baker is trending in the wrong direction.
Sunday is really a turning point for them to right the ship or sink it. We shall see
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:20 pm
They will be ready for the playoffs
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:25 pm
The defense lost its swagger when they blew the coverage against the Rams in the NFCCG. It’s been in a downhill spiral since then.
Someone else on here recently mentioned that when Licht is canned, the Bucs should turn to Ronde Barber as GM and at this point, maybe that’s not as far fetched an idea as I thought. He’s already in the building.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:26 pm
Understatement to say the least!
Fraud Bowels lost the locker room in 2024
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Almost seems like the Defensive Coordinator is the problem. Maybe the defense knows the scheme sucks? Didn’t Winfield SR. say something about Todd Bowles at the end of last season?
Didn’t Rachaad White say Todd Bowles shouldn’t be calling the defense anymore?
For whatever reason everyone can see the problem but the Glazers
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:35 pm
THATS WHAT LOSING DOES…. NOW FUC#!NG STOP!!!! PLEASE…
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:35 pm
So….nothing has changed from last year? Buh bye Todd
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:39 pm
It’s speculation, but the players may be taking the chance on their own futures to turn their backs on Bowles and see him get his walking papers. The level of play they are in now is like the Raiders and Browns of years past, bilge water + a hot mess.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:45 pm
When the new administration comes to Tampa
Most of these players will be ghost
They will miss Mr Passive
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Todd Bowles is the reason. He doesn’t know how to coach. All great coaches are coaching, communicating, shouting, yelling, doing something on the sidelines when things aren’t going well. This Kit Kat eating coach has his arms crossed and observing like that’s going to change anything. Not sure what the glazers like about that.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Sad part is these guys played well other places and look lost here. Common denominator is Todd. They have to fire him.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:49 pm
so let me get this straight…
what i’m gathering from this read is, mike evan left his bad hamstring in tampa, and now the whole team is fighting for that hamstring, and in the process has become hamstrung…
or ham-hocked…
am i right…?
#MoonsOverMyHammy
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:49 pm
I think Barber knows what is an underlying issue. He has said several times before that the Bucs D of old played a fairly simple scheme, where they didn’t have to think too much, just react and play ball. When he says everyone is thinking, trying not to mess up, it seems he is suggesting the scheme is too complex, without calling out Todd directly.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:49 pm
I would LOVE for them to have someone else call the defense and see if that helps. I think our HC/DC isn’t capable of handling both duties. Time has shown that already.
The Captains that were picked are all quiet guys with the exception of Baker who at the moment needs someone to get on his A$$ and get him straightened out. There seems to be no one on the team that’s gonna get on folks for slacking or missing assignments. Granted this could all be speculation BUT that’s my theory.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:50 pm
The WHOLE FREAKING NFL
Knows What The Glazers REFUSE to ADMIT!
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Ronde at a minimum should have a VP role à la Matt Ryan in Atlanta.
This current team won’t rally around Bowles. It’s time for Licht’s out as well.
His last handful on contracts are radioactive ( Baker, VV, Winfield, Anzalone, Godwin, Bredeson ).
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Whack Todd Licht, and Zac with one fell swoop.
Hire Gruden back who you should have never fired.
Jon will cut Anzalone and send a message.
Jay Gruden can take over GM duties.
Get some damm passion back on this foundering ship.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:57 pm
1-8 at the bye…we lost to the brownies in our home opener with an uninspired effort loaded with mistakes
Bye Todd
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Got a terrible HC that won’t take any responsibility for his awful defense I bet the mood is bad.
I mean WTF!!! How did this bum keep his job we gotta watch this trash again this year
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:58 pm
here’s a prediction : 1) the Bucs will lose one, two, or three of the next few games
2) sometime before the bye it becomes clear that the Bucs are not a playoff team 3) crucial players such as Baker, Godwin, Bain, Trotter, Parrish go on IR or miss substantial time 4) Bowles and Licht point to injuries as the reason for the Bucs lack of success 5) Bowles Licht and Arians get together and snicker over their bourbon about how they snowed the fans and the Glazers into keeping them around another year 5) rinse and repeat next year
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Also Bain n AA played in 4-3 defense you would think
The defense guru could see this n figure it out
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:12 pm
…..ummm wouldn’t that mean the players don’t comprehend the scheme, and the DC/HC should make adjustments so the players he has can excel at what they’re good at? Just saying.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:14 pm
“Mood Is Not Great”
But Of course because they are finally realizing that we the fans have been RIGHT the whole time!…. IBS is a very horrible HC!
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Todd and Jason are done.
The records don’t lie.
And how many players have left the Bucs to succeed?
Talent acquisition, evaluation and coaching has been terrible.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:21 pm
Something is hamstringing this defense in critical moments.”
Gee, whatever might that thing be??? Is it the OC like last year????
Certainly can’t be the HC\DC guru. 31 other teams are clamoring for his services.
Oh well. Just sit back, relax, enjoy a KitKat and watch as we go 0-3 on Sunday.
Kyler Murray will look like Warren Moon against the Swiss cheese scheme.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:33 pm
Hasn’t looked good in sometime… tell me has there been a coach that has fired his staff and somehow turned things around I’ll wait
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:33 pm
I think the season is gonna come down to the offensive line. I don’t thinknits true that Baker needs “everything perfect” to play well, but he may beed really good pass protection. He had an elite OL theough most of college, when he also performed at an elite level. And he had a top OL in 2024, when he also performed at a high level.
I’m not saying the Bucs OL is “to blame” for anything, nor that Baker “should” (or “shouldn’t”) need a really strong OL. If he does, he does.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:36 pm
Maybe Jason Light kept Bowles so that we could tank for Manning lol, and he knew not paying Baker he’d probably play too well to Tank? So he paid Baker knowing he wouldn’t perform well with the new contract
Which would allow us to tank for manning lol
Seriously man this team ain’t winning a superbowl
Tank for manning
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Yeah the o line needs to stop overthrowing receivers.
Makes so much sense…..
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:43 pm
Too late to tank for Manning, Mensah etc.
Baker’s poison pill contract thru 2029 pretty much ends that hope.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:56 pm
This circus was over last year for some reason the owners wanted the clown show to continue. I am to the point where both Licht and Bowles need to go. I wonder if Barber would take a GM role like Lynch. I say Tomlin for head coach and Barber for GM.
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:00 pm
i think i pointed that out in a previous thread as well…
anzalone his whole career played in a 4-3 defense…
in detroit and new orleans…
now he’s adjusting to a 3-4 and adjusting very poorly…
or richly, if looking at his pay stubs…
coach needs to figure that part out with thor asap….otherwise thor looks completely washed out with old pale legs
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Anyone who thinks Baker is guaranteed to be here through his contract needs to look at the Broncos/Wilson situation. Yes it would be expensive but manageable if you have QB on a rookie contract.
If the season continues as is there’s no way the next GM/HC doesn’t draft one of the top QBs
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:03 pm
I’ve been a big JL supporter he built the team that got us our second Super Bowl but keeping Bowles has been the worst decision I’ve seen in a long time if not the worst. Bowles has show us absolutely nothing in his entire career as a HC that he can be anything but average. We are wasting a very good roster on this guy. We are at least a 10 win divisional winning team on paper and he’s wasting it.
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:12 pm
I know this isn’t Joes fault, but year after year since Bowles has taken over the stories are always trying to figure out what’s going on in Tampa. The Joe’s are just writing what interests them and what the Bucs leave on the field, but the answer to them all is the same thing….. Bowles is a horrible head coach. I get he’s good people and is probably really good, like Dungy, building good men out of the young guys, but…… nothing ever gets fixed and it either stays the same or gets worse. The last podcast Ira was talking about tackling and said he’s gonna ask Bowles about it again, and hopes to get a better answer or changes??? When has any of it got any better since Bowles has been the HC??? I feel bad for the Joe’s and Ira having to ask the same questions and write the same stories over and over because they want to have hope just like the rest of us fans. No matter what Bowles says or does the same problems last week are the same problems this team has had since day 1 of Bowles taking over and the Glazers should have seen this years ago and made the change!!! Nothing ever changes and I’m sure will make the walking disaster, the brain dead and the guy who never studies film so they made a clause in his contract Kyler Murray look like he’s turned the corner on his career and a hall of famer this week after playing a Bowles coached team!!! Dude will probably throw for 400 yards and run for another 75. NOTHING EVER CHANGES WITH A TODD BOWLES LEAD TEAM
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:13 pm
inversely the rays are on fire when i thought they would be last place. i cant figure sports out as much
i thought fixing the special teams and replacing hassan would get us back, not make us worse
its on the offensive coordinator to me.
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:16 pm
Sad that the narrative is that it will have to get worse before it can get better. So how bad will it have to get before it can start to get better. This team is still struggling to learn checkers no chance of being any good at chess. I wonder if Bowles knows how to play chess. Joe’s that would be a good question to ask and really tell is a lot. And if he actually does what is his elo rating. I’m damg curious.. it’s a losing hope 0-3 Bucs life
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:23 pm
Something….. someone is hamstringing the team.
It’s the HC
3rd and 28
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:28 pm
JustOneGame. Russell Wilson was pretty much washed when he got to Denver- and he and Sean Payton got along like oil and water.
I heard that Russell Wilson had some associates (posse) in the locker room with him at practice one day. Payton kicked out the rifraf and embarrassed Wilson. Payton doesn’t work well with prima Donna’s.