Todd Bowles: It Is Not Just The Offensive Line
September 28th, 2026
What did you do to the offense?
About a little over a year-and-a-half ago, the Bucs had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Last year that same line was destroyed by injuries. Along comes this year and the Bucs’ line is back together. Healthy. At times, they look like they never played together.
What the hell has happened? Yeah, Joe expects the line to play better as the season grows old. That’s just natural. Problem is, the Bucs’ season is on the brink.
And now they have to block for a rookie undrafted free agent at quarterback who has a grand total of four snaps to his NFL career.
Fun times.
Today in his day-after presser, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said there is plenty of blame to go around.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” Bowles said of the line struggles on offense. “Whether we’re holding it too long, whether somebody’s not open, whether we’ve got to get rid of the football or whatever the case may be.
“We’ve got to shorten the passing game in some way, shape or form. We’ve got to block it better up front fundamentally and technically, and we’ve got to coach it better. So, it’s a combination of everything. It’s never just one thing that happens.”
Joe wishes he was at One Buc Palace today to find out what exactly Bowles meant by “shorter.” Shorter routes? Shorter windows? Shorter time to unload the ball?
Maybe all of the above?
Whatever it is, this offense is a trainwreck. Throwing to Payne Durham when Chris Godwin is open, using a mid tight end as the focal point of the offense, putting tight ends or backs into A-gaps to block, JOe could go on. This Bucs offense is a joke right now.
Maybe for Zac Robinson it is a good thing that Mayfield got hurt. If the Bucs didn’t need him to work with an undrafted rookie free agent of a quarterback, Robinson might have been fired this morning.
Yes, it is that bad.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
As usual.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
Most overrated unit on the whole team. Oline is simply not good and hasn’t been for a long time. This is pure wish casting.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Coen was a master at it with the “Big-Blue WALL” at UK, and it really helped Baker, the WR’s, and the O-Line, when getting out of Baker’s hands QUICKLY. This is what they have to do for the young kid set to come in and replace Baker for these next few games. It’s got to be CRISP. Timing. Everything.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Glad the Glazer family is losing 100 million on Baker. Bad QB but a great scammer.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
It only goes to show how special Liam Coen was and the Glazers let him walk out the door.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
The play calling at the end of the Vikings game was eerily similar to the Browns game. Why in the world do you call a run play when you are down with less than a few minutes left in the game? Why are you calling a pass behind the line of scrimmage when the defense is surely blitzing? Two years ago those plays would have not been called. There is no plan. Just panic.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Cant scheme open anything. Ridiculous. Go watch the 2024 tape. Call Liam. This guy cant be this stupid honestly. Its insanity
September 28th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
You mean MORE than Baker is broken? It’s obvious to most.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
It’s REAL BAD when your Undrafted ‘ROOKIE’ QB has to come-in, just to generate any type of ‘hope and excitement’ right now. Especially, after extending your 31-YEAR OLD QB to a LONGTERM “MAX-level” MONEY Contract, literally only just WEEKS AGO.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
There’s is nothing wrong with the Bucs Offensive Line
Everyone knows the problem is the wearing #6 jersey
September 28th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Robinson might have been fired this morning.
Well the person or persons who hired him, should have been fired!!!
Like I said
Jim Schwartz is available and so is Jon Gruden!!!
September 28th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
The attention Mike Evans drew to himself mmade everybody’s job easier.Our WR corps looks below avaerage and Godwin is showing he is JAG.
The oline has been piss poor as has the offensive coordinator.They didn’t attempt to spread the Vikings out at all .Without Evans most routes are inside the numbers
September 28th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Lakeland, tell us you and Rod are kidding?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
The Bucs DO have an identity. One earned from the start with Leroy Selmon, David Lewis, Dewey and the gang. Ferocious, front-loaded defense with an opportunistic secondary.
The Bucs also have a team identity on offense, since the days of Superier and MacCay. Not as interesting: run first, low scoring ball control, and nothing like as pretty as the glamour air attacks.
This disastrous season points us back to our roots. The D has got to carry us as the O cannot. That’s where we have to head.
And who else doubts that Bowles can pull it off? Or Licht???
September 28th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Their opponent has made EVERY O-Line look like absolute GARBAGE this so far this season. They already have like 50-PRESSURES on the season… #1 in the entire League, by a MILE, and it’s not even close. But, the Bucs already knew this going in. And, Baker STILL did just whatever TF HE WANTED TO DO.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
If this staff and these players succeed it would the first time in history that a round hole and a square peg were successful. Zac Robinson does not have an elite running back, an athletic tight end and a quarterback tall enough to see over an offensive line. Everything about this mess is compounded by a questionable head coach and a general manager whose record is grossly under five hundred.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
So much is wrong with this team. If you think Baker is the only thing, answer this, how do you fix that now that he is here 3 more years? What’s your solution to the Bucs woes. And go on record, Lakeland and Rod, should Bowles go?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
I knew before the season that this offense would suck
But I thought a veteran QB like Mayfield could make it work
But l was wrong, he’s the main reason we’re 0-3
The defense has been playing good football
All we need is a little mistake free offense
September 28th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
How do you shorten a passing game that already throws most of their passes behind the LOS to begin with?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Robinson is an awful OC. He always has been. It’s comical how poor the scheme is
September 28th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
To say we let coen go is a stretch . He was offered highest oc pay . He accepted . Then khan moved the earth to sign him. Coen required khan fire gm… and he did! Liam was unproven as a head coach . Can’t fault glazers for this one.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
They gave Baker his bag
That don’t mean they have to play him
They have to pay him, not play him
Make him the NFL highest paid backup QB for a few years
September 28th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Saw a tik tok vid from fan T the game. He said recievers couldn’t separate . Yes, bake missed some. But watching the rams last night, I wondered how those recovers get so open … many easy pitch and catch routes.
September 28th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
So bench Baker but keep Bowles? All is well?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
The coaching staff has to do what’s best for the team
September 28th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
I didn’t say keep Bowles
I’m all for cleaning house
Bowles, Licht, Arians, Robinson
They all would be gone if it was up to me
September 28th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
Go on record Lakeland, do you think Bowles should? go?
September 28th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
All right, I can live with that analysis.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Todd Bowles and Jason Licht deserves to be fired
Look at this team, it’s a mess
September 28th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Baker is bad. Offensive Line is Bad. OC is bad.
What do I see here? People blaming OL — makes sense. People blaming OC — fine by me. Some People making excuses for Baker — just do not get it.
He is 8 years in the league. Good Quarterbacks check out of negative plays quickly especially in the first half of the game. My gosh Peyton Manning was doing presnap reads no matter who his OC was 20 years ago.
Someone brought up the Rams game last night and said Rams receivers were open. Not more open, Stafford called plays with confidence and threw guys open how many times. He adjusted on the fly. World of difference.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
If only there had been ‘someone’ around here, who could’ve TRIED warning everyone else, that they needed to be VERY ‘worried’ about THIS “OFFENSE.” Hmmmm… That, if you think a WR-room stocked full of a beaten up and aging Godwin, a ROOKIE from a ‘lower-tier’ program, a tiny 7th-ROUND PICK, a new #1 who hasn’t actually BEEN a true #1 before, at least since HIGH SCHOOL, and an often injured J-Mac… AND, a RB-room of friggin Bucky, Gainwell, & Tucker, as being this “LOADED” Offense, then you are ONLY fooling just YOURSELF. And, that I’ve got something to SELL YOU. LoL. I mean, get into REALITY. The TE-room is even WORSE. No ‘real’ WEAPONS or ELITE-level “Playmakers” to speak of whatsoever. Thennnn, you add the aging, beaten up and banged up, inconsistent and ‘undersized’ BAKER MAYFIELD, who’s a literal walking distraction, and only focused on being a tv-ad pitchman. I mean, Come-onnn, Mannnn.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Total rebuild, total house cleaning.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
They spent a 1st rd pick on Graham Barton
Why not just keep Robert Hainsey at Center
They didn’t give Hainsey a fair chance to succeed at Center
He was a tackle learning a new position
But it didn’t take Liam Coen long to snatch him up
They could’ve use that premium pick on another position of need
Why give Kenneth Gainwell $14 million for two seasons
Rachaad White would’ve been cheaper, and he had more value
These are just a few things that made this team bad
September 28th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
They have to keep Baker. But everything else has to be damn near perfect.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
The ‘veteran’ OC has not impressed so far.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
It isn’t, but at the same time, it is the main problem. I can’t be more thrilled to see Daniels start, and I hope I’m actually wrong, but I’m pretty sure he will struggle just as bad, if not worse than Baker with this terrible group of o-linemen, lifeless receivers, and atrocious playcalling. Then we can finally put to rest the idea that Baker is the only problem, according to a lot of the people on here.
Ironically, the only teams in history to make the playoffs after starting 0-3 are the Chargers, Texans, and you guessed it, the Bucs. But we all know the year the Bucs did has an asterik beside it since it was during a shortened season. Lol!
Historically, 0-3 teams are doomed, but I did find this funny.
Don’t worry. I will be back on here Sunday putting Daniels on blast whenever he makes even the slightest mistake, and possibly blaming him even when the protection breaks down on nearly every play. Then, some of the people on here might get a different perspective when I blame the other guy for everything that goes wrong on this team.
As a fan, I want him to succeed, but I think we all know that even Josh Allen couldn’t turn this team around. So, we’ll see. And I will admit that I’m wrong if I have to.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
Correction. 3 of those teams made the playoffs on a very short list of teams.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
My expectations of a UDFA rookie QB isn’t that high
But my expectations of a 8 year veteran QB is a lot higher
Especially when he’s the NFL 3rd highest paid QB
But l think Daniels can be a Plus
September 28th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
And, SMART FO’s and owners, do NOT double down on STUPID, by allowing THEIR EGO’s to get into the way, and then EXTENDING Todd Bowles for 3-MORE YEARS, while only trying to SAVE FACE. They play-out the season and then THEY MOVE-ON ASAP and cut their losses. But, THEN they literally go and do the exact SAME THING with BAKER. They even added to it all, and making it EVEN WORSE, by allowing Bowles (and LICKT) to return once more for ANOTHER SEASON. While, thinking things would be different. It’s really SO mind-blowing. ALL OF IT. The whole damn thing. And, NOW LOOK. Just pure INCOMPETENCE. Ignorant.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Maybe between making babies and commercials, Bake doesn’t have time for beers with o-line bros anymore – no natural togetherness.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
No doubt the OL isn’t the only problem, but they were without question the most critical problem last game. And I have no clue what you do to fix a broken offensive line. You can’t “scheme them open,” or whatever. And I dont think they’re just lazy or checked out. Hopefully, people who know the game better also know the answer to this one.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
@ BUCDADDY – Huuuuge difference there BIG-GUY, and it only says a lot more about YOU and your weak little emotions and feelings, as an “ADULT.” A literal Undrafted ROOKIE Quarterback, in his very FIRST START… REALLY!? Compared to a #1-OVERALL PICK, “Heisman Trophy” WINNER (who has been a total BUST by the way), and 9-YEAR VET… And, oh yeah, who is now being PAID as if HE is a TOP-3 ‘Franchise’ QUARTERBACK!? Seriously!? So, THAT’s who “YOU” are going to base “YOUR” comparisons from!? Well, I would not expect ANYTHING LESS, from such an absolute total CLOWN, in the first place. What an EMBARRASSMENT YOU ARE. Guaranteed. We already know that YOU are rooting against HIM. It doesn’t get anymore PATHETIC that that… Thinking that you’re going to prove some kind of point. Hahahahhhh Good-Luck, CLOWN. Cause, it won’t work. Man, what a WEAK insecure little EGO.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
FWIW, a shortened season should make it +harder+ to reach the playoffs after going 0-3. Yeah, I’m reaching, but there it is.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
Lakeland: Hindsight is supposedly 20/20, but it’s not terribly productive. What would you do to fix the OL now, in the present?
September 28th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
All Bowles has to do is go 12-2 and the Pom Pom squad can say they told us so!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
September 28th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
The Bucs has the best chance of any 0-3 team in NFL history of making the playoffs
Because they play in the Worst Division in NFL history
Right now at 0-3, they’re only one game back
September 28th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
6 sacks, 12 pressures on Sunday. Baker was under immense pressure. Blame him all you want but the O line is pathetic. The WRs and Otten did nothing to help him. The only guys that helped him were Gainwell and Irvin. Think having a moron for OC helped him. Worst called game ever. Just pure stupidity, ATL fans warned us and they were right. I’d fire this guy today and hire Gruden as OC.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Lakeland … ‘The defense has been playing good football. All we need is a little mistake free offense’.
I agree with you Lakeland. Our defense though is currently ranked #23 in POINTS ALLOWED (Bucs have surrendered 79 pts in 3 games … 26.3 PPG average). As we all know though, Baker fumbled in Game 1 & it was returned for a TD, plus the S/Ts gave up an 86-yd punt return for another TD. Subtract that 14 pts and our defense (when it was actually on the field) has given up 65 pts … 21.7 PPG average. Without those 2 faux-pas, the Bucs defense would rank #16 in the NFL right now. Not great, but significantly better than our current #23 ranking.
All-in-all, the defense is doing decent in other stats too after 3 games. We’re #2 in Rushing Yards Allowed (only 228 yds total allowed for a 3.1 YPC average). We’re #12 in Passing Yards Allowed (only 620 yds total allowed, with 4 TDs allowed). We’re also doing very well on limiting 3rd Down Conversions (15-of-42 for a 35.7% Allowed) and limiting Red Zone TDs (3-of-8 for a 37.5% Red Zone TDs Allowed).
Obviously our sack rate needs work (we’ve only gotten 6 sacks in 3 games), as does our pass rush (duh). We’re also not getting the Takeaways like we’ve gotten in the past (only 2 Takeaways in 3 games). Our own Giveaways have obviously REALLY hurt us (4 fumbles lost + 3 INTs) in these first 3 games. Tackling has also been an issue as we all know (9.7% Team Missed Tackle Percentage is MUCH TOO HIGH).
Nonetheless, Bucs’ defense improved considerably in Game 3 IMO. I’m convinced that the motivation’s there, they just need to ‘settle in’ and play to their talent. Anzalone played a LOT better yesterday, and it looked like Vea did also. Walker and Muhammad both impressed me; Kancey didn’t (yet again). I thought that Rozeboom did a nice job for his first time-in-the-barrel as a Buc, and even SVD looked decent. MAYBE there’s HOPE?
September 28th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
JustVisiting, there is things that can be coached. And I’ll tell you, being big helps, but it’s definitely not the most important thing when it comes to good blocking. It’s mostly footwork, and if you watch a lot of that game, most our guys were slow off the snap and either got beaten immediately, or they just lacked the footwork and athleticism to move efficiently and maintain their blocks for more than like 2 seconds on a lot of plays. I believe that can be fixed, but I also believe that at this level these guys should be able to do that by now.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
And, NO. “Josh Allen” would absolutely 💯 without a DOUBT, turn this team around. He has played MANY SEASONS with farrrr less weapons, and complete TRASH for Offensive-Lines. So, GTFOH with all that complete BS. Cause, NOBODY is buying THAT. 💯 And, that’s “THE DIFFERENCE” between BAKER and a TRUE “Franchise” QB. 💯
September 28th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
JustVisting
I don’t believe the OLine need fixing
Our biggest problem was not having a blocking RB and TE
But, we can get the ball out quicker
Mix it up with more run plays, and not Bucky all of the time
September 28th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Now our fans are getting their fake football news from TikTok videos. I just can’t anymore with the level of dumb fans here
Baker missed throws, didn’t see some guys wide open and held the ball too long per usual.
The scheme and OC do suck, but so does Baker. Not mutually exclusive.
But the Baker boy band apologist will blame everything on on everything BUT Baker.
But when you’re the highest paid player in team history, there should be expectations to play at least solid football..he has not.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:35 pm
Godwin should be getting a ton of targets in the slot. Hes got the best hands on the team and they’ve been waiting for him to get healthy. Now its like hes behind Cade in targets. Throw him the ball he catches everything
September 28th, 2026 at 6:35 pm
Gotta be decisive with the ball. 2.5 seconds and it’s out of your hand, if nobody is open, throw it at somebodies feet as Brady would do. Can’t hold on to the ball and run around Scooby Doo style.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:38 pm
No GM is drafting players with the expectation that the coaches will simply do nothing with them. The GM acquires the talent, and then the coaching staff is responsible for developing, coaching, and ultimately deciding how that player fits into the scheme.
When that rookie contract comes due, the organization has to evaluate the player all over again: Did he develop? Did he actually perform when given the opportunity? Does the coaching staff still want him? What does his next contract cost? And is that money better spent on him or somewhere else on the roster?
That’s why I have no problem criticizing Licht for bad allocations or questionable decisions. Those decisions are fair game.
What I do have a problem with is looking backward and saying, “Why didn’t they just keep Hainsey? Why didn’t they keep White? Why didn’t they draft somebody else?” as if the GM had unlimited cap space and knew exactly how every player would develop.
And yes, hindsight is 20/20. I’d take Frazier at 51 over Barton at 26 all day knowing what we know now. But that doesn’t mean the decision can be evaluated as though Licht had that information at the time.
You have to judge the decisions based on the player’s development, the coaches’ evaluation of him, the roster situation, the cap, and what was actually known when the decision had to be made.
Criticize the decisions all you want. Just don’t remove half the context to make the criticism easier.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Do the bucs have any audibles on offense?
September 28th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Apart from some running plays our OC is trash
September 28th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Bring in Gruden
September 28th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
The “Tom Brady effect” is totally gone, but the “Todd Bowles effect” has reached its climax.
September 28th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
Last January I texted my Brother and said Dungy and Gruden were both fired for much less. This coach hovers in mediocrity at best. I am sure it impactsed ME13 decision to move on. How would you like to be in ticket sales after that decision was made? It certainly shows in the stands, albeit the 20K empty seats not buying concessions. This mess unfortunately starts at the top and has trickled down through the franchise.
Gonna be a lot of work to fix this mess!
September 28th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
“Nonetheless, Bucs’ defense improved considerably in Game 3 IMO. I’m convinced that the motivation’s there, they just need to ‘settle in’ and play to their talent. Anzalone played a LOT better yesterday, and it looked like Vea did also. Walker and Muhammad both impressed me; Kancey didn’t (yet again). I thought that Rozeboom did a nice job for his first time-in-the-barrel as a Buc, and even SVD looked decent. MAYBE there’s HOPE?“
Both Elijah’s as well, can’t forget the young fellas
September 28th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
Our OLine started off slow in 2024
Against Detroit and Denver in week 2-3, Baker was sacked 12 times
But they got better as the season went along
September 28th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
The pirate ship is half full of water and sinking fast …
Loser HC/dc, bum OC, weak online, nobody QB….
Season is circulating the drain with no stopping it now!
September 28th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Lakeland said
Our biggest problem was not having a blocking RB and TE
Thanks, Lakeland. I don’t know enough to judge, but it sounds plausible. I hope the Bucs find an answer!
September 28th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Tye,
All that and we’re only a game out
September 28th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Lo ie couldn’t defend the slant pass. Bowles cant get his oc to call one.
September 28th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
Is there a QB on the PS? Bucs will probably resign Browning.