“They Reek Of A Poorly Coached Football Team”
September 25th, 2026
Another big Bucs-friendly media voice is down on Todd Bowles and down on the Bucs.
The popular Green Light with Chris Long podcast made a visit to One Buc Palace this summer and sat down with Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin and another player.
Co-host Beau Allen, the former Bucs defensive tackle (2018 & 2019), played for Todd Bowles. The podcast definitely trends Bucs-friendly.
However, Long thought the Bucs were poorly coached in 2024 and nearly called for Bowles to be fired following that 2024 season. But then he did a 180 before last season kicked off.
Now, the two-time Super Bowl champ sees a mess of a veteran team.
On a podcast this week, Long said while he knows a lot of Bucs fans are down on offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Long says he sees a lot of good things from the Bucs’ run game — along with a struggling quarterback.
“‘I kinda wonder if Zac Robinson … and we all love Baker, but I don’t know if [Robinson] trusts him yet,” Long said.
“I just don’t think Baker’s played well. He hasn’t played well in a year. And I know that Ted Hurst dropped that ball at the pylon [against the Browns], and if he catches that ball, maybe it’s a totally different conversation. But the [Mayfield] pick was abhorrent.
“They also had a bad [Kenny] Gainwell drop in the red zone, so everything’s not lost.”
Long said he’s done with the 2026 Bucs, in part because they have bad coaching.
“I’ve kind of written off the Bucs because as a team, they continue to make the same mind-boggling mistakes. They reek of a poorly coached football team and it sucks to see,” Long said. “And there’s a lot of good football players on the team, but I see evidence that it could turn around but the quarterback has to play well.
“And the interior offensive line can’t get bullied. And I looked at the other side of the ball and honestly, I know there’s a lot of bad play for the Bucs defensively, but that’s a game that you have to win on offense. You leave points on the board in the red zone. You have the ball last, you have two hours in the fuc*ing tunnel to figure out what you’re gonna do two minutes to go in the football game. You come out and you don’t get it done. And so as much I wanna put it on the defense, and I think they have problems that I did not anticipate them having, I came away more impressed with Deshaun Watson.”
Allen didn’t disagree on the podcast.
The duo talked a lot about the struggles of rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain (and fixes for him), but Joe is going to leave that alone because Bain obviously was hurt in Weeks 1 and 2. The time to dissect his game is after he gets more snaps when healthy.
Ira Kaufman Predicts The Bucs-Vikings Outcome, And More
September 25th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
The Glazers are suckers!!!!
September 25th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
To be fair, along with the poor coaching IS ALSO some poor individual play!
September 25th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
Poorly coached team is exactly the problem and has been the problem for since we hired a bad coach. We better hire a new up and coming never been a coach in the offseason. Who will coach for his life. It just seems like Todd is halfway retired and going through motions. Not wanting to change anything. He is going to live and die by his same tired defense. Will not change or make any adjustments. We look lost every game.
September 25th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
We have the makings of a pretty good 4-3 defense. The sooner we realize that, the better we will be. Bain is fingers in the dirt and using his lower power, close to the line to bust through…(Genius, i know, im mensa)…..and this Anzalone experiment is over for crying out loud! Dennis and Rozebloom please!
September 25th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
Gunnie Sgt. give your honest opinion. Sir, what we have here is a cluster f#@k!
September 25th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Joe … ‘The duo talked a lot about the struggles of rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain (and fixes for him), but Joe is going to leave that alone because Bain obviously was hurt in Weeks 1 and 2. The time to dissect his game is after he gets more snaps when healthy.’
That excuse (so-and-so has obviously been hurt) is beginning to drive me nuts. If a player is hurt so badly that he can’t satisfactorily perform his job, then he has ZERO business playing in the ballgame. Nelson, Muhammad and/or Walker could’ve done at least as well as Bain did in Weeks 1 & 2, and HOPEFULLY a LOT better.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
MadMax … ‘We have the makings of a pretty good 4-3 defense. The sooner we realize that, the better we will be.’
Agree 100% MadMax. Unfortunately, I’m convinced that Bowles couldn’t coach the 4-3. He’s so committed to his ‘hybrid’ 3-4 that he’d screw with the 4-3 to the point that it’d become unrecognizable.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
Do we need to keep wondering what forced Evans out of town? I imagine it came down to a matter of pride and dignity for him. Which is quite different than why Brady left New England.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Agree completely DR , but poor play should get you the hook as well-Not naming names , but he is a Captain and a LB and played for the Lions last year. No way in heck that guy should be starting.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:12 pm
First I applaud Ira, calling for a Buc win because the consequences are so dire. His points were on target and convincing. I agree the Bucs have a chance if they play with their backs to the wall. With that said I don’t know if this team has that in them. I do believe what Ida said should they lose the season is over , yes at 0-3. Presently everyone one fans and media are calling for Bowles’s head and rightfully so. The defense still has the same problems. Poor tackling, continued busted coverages, tight ends running free everywhere. Then worst of all still no pass rush even while Licht and Bowles said theyfelt the d line was in great shape. Yes that is just the defense. The offense whom we thought was going to carry the defense was really pathetic last week.Baker ‘s play continues downward. It appears presently the Bucs are going to finish last in the division. With this much negativity around the coach the Glazers will have to make a serious decision should the Bucs lose Sunday.The question will be fire him now or after the season. I guess that will depend on how they view the draft and is their anyone who could come in now. However I am not sure the team can play any worse.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Bowles needs to go and we need to go back to a 4-3 defense.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
First I applaud Ira, calling for a Buc win because the consequences are so dire. His points were on target and convincing. I agree the Bucs have a chance if they play with their backs to the wall. With that said I don’t know if this team has that in them. I do believe what Ida said should they lose the season is over , yes at 0-3. Presently everyone one fans and media are calling for Bowles’s head and rightfully so. The defense still has the same problems. Poor tackling, continued busted coverages, tight ends running free everywhere. Then worst of all still no pass rush even while Licht and Bowles said theyfelt the d line was in great shape. Yes that is just the defense. The offense whom we thought was going to carry the defense was really pathetic last week. In short the players appear totally unmotivated and that is the Coach. It appears presently the Bucs are going With this much negativity around the coach the Glazers will have to make a serious decision should the Bucs lose Sunday.The question will be fire him now or after the season. I guess that will depend on how they view the draft .
September 25th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Why do we play injured players when they are too injured to be effective?
We make alot of terrible personnel decisions, along with bad playcalling on both sides of the ball.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:17 pm
I felt like McNabb when he was puking during the Superbowl. It was kinda like watching some kids playing on defense missfense I might say. We are in the garbage can at this point.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
First I applaud Ira, calling for a Buc win because the consequences are so dire. His points were on target and convincing. I agree the Bucs have a chance if they play with their backs to the wall. With that said I don’t know if this team has that in them. I do believe what Ida said should they lose the season is over , yes at 0-3. Presently everyone one fans and media are calling for Bowles’s head and rightfully so. The defense still has the same problems. Poor tackling, continued busted coverages, tight ends running free everywhere. Then worst of all still no pass rush even while Licht and Bowles said theyfelt the d line was in great shape. Yes that is just the defense. The offense whom we thought was going to carry the defense was really pathetic last week. In short the players appear totally unmotivated and that is the Coach. It appears presently the Bucs are going With this much negativity around the coach the Glazers may terminate him next week.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
This organizations seems to never learn from their past mistakes. Lo
September 25th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Ain’t much else to say.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
In this context, the word is “reeks”, not “wreaks”.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
The headline REEKS of illiteracy.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
I completely agree with Joe re Bain: edge rushing bend and a groin injury just don’t go together.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
If we look back over every season since 2022, the common denominator in underachieving losses has been the coaching from inexplicable losses in Pittsburgh (That one was on Leftwich) and Cleveland (Bowles handcuffing Brady and allowing Cleveland to win in OT) in 2022, the loss in KC in 2024 when Bowles chose to go for OT rather than the win (repeated by the Colts this past week) to the defensive meltdown and loss of the team during this 3-10 tailspin the team has been in since last season.
Sure Baker has lost a lot of games since last season and Bowles can also blame Josh Grizzard and throw defensive players under the bus for not playing his scheme properly but in the end he has to be held accountable. Amazingly, the Glazers have refused to hold Bowles accountable and now they have lost 95% of the fan base as most of us are disgusted with their idiotic decision making concerning Bowles and extending Baker as well.
Many fans are just going to tune out the Bucs and focus on the Rays and Bolts or their college team of choice. At least those teams play with passion and heart. The Bucs are like their head coach, no heart, no intensity, they got paid and they are mailing it in. Pathetic.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Right on, Davenport. People who correct others should try to be correct themselves. Otherwise, they wreak havoc with and on the language.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Reek. Who the hell does the proofreading?
September 25th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
Football 1….the Glazers never fire a coach mid season. Take Raheem for example Or Schiano going 0-8 and still not getting fired.
I’m afraid we all have to wait until the end of the season.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:01 pm
What Long said is that Baker hasn’t played well in a year. I believe there were a few extenuating circumstances, regarding last year, but he’s right. When Baker is comfortable our defense- and our coaching- is plenty good enough to win 12 games. Baker is almost there, and so is the team. I think if this team doesn’t win 12 games, we paid Baker too much. Minnesota. Green Bay. Dallas, Thursday night on 4 days rest? 18 days from now we could be 3-2, 3 NFC wins, and just becoming the team we want to be. Alot of ex players chirping about our coaching and QB. I’ve watched Mayfield along time and he really thinks this team is going to be the best he’s been on. Trust your 55 million dollar QB. The show is starting Sunday at 4.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:01 pm
Screw that. Watson threw for a 92%ish completion percentage that game. I’ll bet anyone $1000.00 that never happens again in his career…ever!
The biggest problem is the head coach and the defense. Fix that and then worry about Baker who by the way looked great with Canalas and Coen. Its coaching. Its all coaching
September 25th, 2026 at 9:03 pm
Todd did a masterful job of keeping competent coaches and potential replacements as far from OBP as possible. Liam was breathing down his neck. I suspect there were folks inside the building discussing the possibility of a coup. Todd is shrewd enough to not have anyone capable of running this team anywhere near him.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Buc fans have been saying bowles is bad coach for over 5 years.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:17 pm
It all boils down to 2 things. These things are the reason Mike left town. One of these things is the reason is why a 3rd and 28 and a 4th and 14 were converted. Both are the reason the reason why we are 2-9 over our last 11 games. The defense play lackluster because they don’t believe in the coach and his scheme. The other reason is because Baker is just an average to below averaage QB and lately, he’s below average.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:34 pm
Been obvious for 2 years and many fans have noticed it for many years…
Get beyond the politics and the social temperature of the day, boil it all done to just resume and IBS is one of the leagues worst HC and has been since day one..
Sean McDermitt turned a struggling Bills team into winner in RECENT years so his resume should be among the top candidates…
September 25th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
Frank Pillow
I think you’re right. Why hire someone competent when you can hire sycophants and relatives.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
Kenton
Where can I get some of that good good you be smoking?
September 25th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
Tank for Manning
Looking to go 0-3 here
September 25th, 2026 at 9:42 pm
I been saying it all the time
Zac Robinson don’t trust Baker Mayfield.at all, not even a little
He know Mayfield is a walking ATM, … America Turnover Machine
This is a huge mess in Tampa
September 25th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
I think that a case could be made that Todd Bowles is the worst HC that the NFL has ever seen (comparatively speaking – 9 year tenure).
Congrats Glazer Family you’ve got bragging rights you FOOLS!!
September 25th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
The Ronde Barber show from the other day was very interesting as well. As a Bucs employee you could tell he was being very careful what he said and how he said it. He made a point about saying that this is a very complicated defense. He also casually mentioned that the Monte Kiffin defense he played in was actually very simple. He also mentioned that the defensive players need to be smarter. Vita Vea and Winfield are serious veterans. Smarter? What are you talking about? If they are having trouble understanding it that’s a problem with the scheme and the coaching not the players.
It sounded to me like some people behind the scenes have realized they made a very bad mistake letting Bowles handle the D. Or frankly, not firing him. Too late now. The Glazers aren’t going to can him mid season.
I would also bet that Licht’s job is forfeit as well because of the extension.
September 25th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
For those blaming Baker for everything – Liam Cohen surely got some good out of him didn’t he?
September 25th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Now the media and everyone can see what’s been blatantly obvious all along. What a wasted 2 years of talent and it chased Evans away as well. This team along with Baker would be completely different if Coen was put in as HC. Now Bucs fans have to suffer and watch Evans, the 49ers and Jags with Coen make deep playoff runs this year. This season is over before it started.
September 25th, 2026 at 10:21 pm
@87, yeah true. But doing it early (the firing), especially if you have a Tomlin (or someone) lined up….it gives them a chance to work through the kinks.
No expectations for playoffs or anything, just get in there and start making something, ANYTHING work…..you have a little bit of a pass as long as theres progress.
September 25th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
I’m all for Mike T. But NBC isn’t gonna let him walk, and he wouldn’t want to anyway, not this season.
September 25th, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Hello Captain Obvious!!
September 25th, 2026 at 11:01 pm
Bowles simply doesn’t value winning football games.
He’s one foot out the door with zero consequences for his actions.
That’s why we get “just gotta coach it better scheme it better play it better” after every putrid performance.
Groundhogs day on repeat. And the Glazers love it.
Smells like fresh steaming piles of cow dung.
September 25th, 2026 at 11:18 pm
Wow, what a revelation! The Bucs are poorly coached!! Who knew? I mean except for any Bucs fan with a working set of eyes.
September 25th, 2026 at 11:27 pm
I am disappointed the Bucs brain trust decided to sign Mayfield to that huge contract which will saddle this organization for at least another two years after this season. If the Bowles regime can’t figure it out, I recommend a wholesale dump of underachieving salaries at the trade deadline. Maybe a team would be desperate enough to take Mayfield and his ridiculous salary.
Draft a QB in a rich pool of QB prospects to compete with Daniels for the starting job and start over with an entirely new coaching staff.
September 25th, 2026 at 11:41 pm
The thing you have to understand about Chris is 1) he’s a straight shooter and 2) he’s been in love with us for two years.
He understands
September 25th, 2026 at 11:56 pm
There aren’t really any 3-4 or 4-3 teams anymore. Most teams play 5 DB’s and fronts are more varied and hybrid.
September 26th, 2026 at 12:09 am
In the 21st century, the debate between a 4-3 and a 3-4 defense is no longer about counting linebackers versus linemen. Modern NFL and college offenses run three-receiver sets on nearly 70% of snaps, forcing defenses to play Nickel as their base package anyway. Today, the real distinction lies in **how down linemen attack their gaps** and **how defensive coordinators mentally approach controlling space**.
Down linemen dictate the physical identity of each system. Traditional 3-4 fronts rely on massive linemen aligned directly over offensive blockers to “two-gap”—engaging the blocker, holding ground, reading the play, and shedding to either side. Conversely, 4-3 fronts align linemen in the spaces between blockers, assigning each defender to “one-gap” penetration.
Mentally, the two systems represent opposing philosophies. The 4-3 mindset is proactive and direct: it prioritizes speed, quick get-offs, and clear, single-gap assignments so defenders can process fast and disrupt plays in the backfield. The 3-4 mindset relies on pre-snap ambiguity and space control. By keeping four linebackers upright, a 3-4 defense creates mental friction for quarterbacks and offensive lines, who must constantly guess which defenders are rushing, which are dropping into coverage, and where the extra pressure is coming from.
September 26th, 2026 at 1:41 am
The definition of “wreaks” is something that reeks and is weak at the same time.
September 26th, 2026 at 5:14 am
@ Tye Says: “Sean McDermitt turned a struggling Bills team into winner in RECENT years so his resume should be among the top candidates…”
Ridiculous. TOP Candidate!? ABSURD. A 53-YEAR OLD “Defensive Coordinator!?” When, all of the DOMINANT Head Coaches in this new-age, modern-day NFL and College Game right now, are ALL in their 30’s and 40’s… All young and super ‘aggressive’ (minus a couple of HOF’ers like Andy Reid and Shawn Payton, and both of them can call their own plays, and are QB whisperers). Also, the overwhelming ‘majority’ are mostly all “Offensive” Geniuses, who can all call their OWN PLAYS!? You can go on down the list… McVay, Shanahan, COEN, O’Connell, Ben Johnson, Shane Steichen, Mike McDonald, Stefanski, Sirianni, Zac Taylor, Joe Brady, DeMeco Ryans, Kellen Moore, & Canales. Then, there are ANOTHER dozen or so Coordinators and HOT College Coaches out there, as well… And, ALL with GrrrEAT ‘offensive’ minds.
Annnnnd, do YOU SEE “Josh Allen” walking around, anywhere NEAR HERE!? I don’t freaking think so. But, with that said… Unfortunately, someone like a “McDermott” might just be the very best that the BUCS can get NOW, due to the Baker Mayfield Extension. But, “TOP Candidate!?” HAIL NO. That’s just the REALITY where we currently, ARE. It’s PATHETIC. No, it’s a “Bucs Life.” Also, just STOP with Tomlin. Unless, you would prefer another ‘slightly’ better version of Todd Bowles 2.0. Because, that is exactly what it would be.
September 26th, 2026 at 6:52 am
Players still got to play it wasn’t Bowles fault that 34 is missing tackles and the d line can’t get to the quarterback. It wasn’t Bowles fault that Baker fumble 3 times in the Bengals game and even though the defensive line could barely get a sack they still held Cleveland offense to 6 points the first half of the game in fact they were up by 10 . But your 165 million dollar quarterback got to close out those games. You can’t keep blaming coaches because the players ain’t doing their jobs. Now me personally the bucs should have never brought Bowles back or give Baker that contract after what happened the second half of the season last year. Right now today we have the worse quarterback in the division and we have the oldest quarterback in the division and he’s not going to get better next year he’s going to decline if anything. Now the big question is what upcoming or good HC is going to want Baker as their quarterback ?
September 26th, 2026 at 7:28 am
@MadMax
They’ve probably given up on him already & if the coach just doesn’t care then why should the players. They probably don’t wanna deal with it anymore. That’s probably why Evans left is because he didn’t want to deal with all of it anymore, too!
September 26th, 2026 at 7:29 am
“They Reek Of A Poorly Coached Football Team”
This is not exactly breaking news, unless you are a Glazer!