Mike Tanier: Time For Bucs To Rebuild
October 4th, 2026
“Ed, is it time to reboot?”
This summer, Joe’s good friend and NFL columnist/humorist Mike Tanier had an interesting Bucs take.
Tanier believed the Bucs were still trying to run it back to the Super Bowl but someone forgot to tell them that the team only had four starters left from that glorious Super Bowl victory in January 2021.
Well, there was one another leftover from that Super Bowl win, the defensive coordinator who is now the head coach, KitKat-eating Todd Bowles.
Watching the Bucs this season, Tanier believes hitting the reset button on the roster is long overdue with a terrible offense and now a hurt starting quarterback and an 0-3 record.
Collapsed last November. Lost Mike Evans and Lavonte David in the offseason. Extended fumbly/bumbly Baker Mayfield because they didn’t have any better ideas, and have now lost Mayfield to a thumb injury. Offense is turnover-happy and lacks focus. Defense looks like nine guys running three different schemes while two others call their agents. It’s past time to rebuild.
The only thing saving the Bucs is a decent defense. Now that Bowles seems to have capitulated and claims leading sacker David Walker needs more snaps, hopefully Bowles has seen the light when it comes to needing an edge rush.
But is it too late?
October 4th, 2026 at 12:05 am
Mike Tanier. Funny person. Not a good judge of talent.
October 4th, 2026 at 12:20 am
I second Tanier’s motion.
October 4th, 2026 at 12:40 am
“Hitting the reset button” is a fantasy in today’s NFL.
October 4th, 2026 at 2:51 am
Anybody else here thinks 2025 looked a lot like 2008?
October 4th, 2026 at 5:11 am
I dont know what happened last year after the bye week…..it has carried over to this new year and season. Ride it out i guess…..see who has what and go from there…top 5 or the #1. That #1 would do a heck of a lot in trading down.
October 4th, 2026 at 5:28 am
If, at the bye, you guys (and gal) decide to pull the trigger, maybe someone who is ok with knowing they might not be the next guy for the next 3 years, just a temp, but work a system into this mess todd has created and at least coach that crap out and clean things up. I GAURANTEE the boys will respond happily.
October 4th, 2026 at 5:59 am
A year late and 100 million short.
October 4th, 2026 at 6:16 am
MadMax … ‘That #1 would do a heck of a lot in trading down.’
I agreed with you Max, to that point. But IF we get a high draft pick this year, we have to use it to draft a QB. This is supposed to be a great QB draft, and Baker isn’t the answer, short term or long term.
October 4th, 2026 at 6:23 am
@Defense, Mestemaker…..he’ll be there in a trade down
October 4th, 2026 at 6:46 am
A qb is a roll of the dice. Jeremiah Smith is a future hall of famer unless he gets injured.
October 4th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Agree with DR, draft a QB – its the year of the OBs. Take advantage.
I still believe Baker is good enough with the right OC or offensive HC. But he is 31 years old and plays too much LB.
Brady had the right idea – throw the ball away and live to play another down. Bake, if you are so team minded, you don’t do them any good playing so hurt you can’t make an accurate pass, or if you are riding the bench.
Trade our older vets like Vea, Godwin, Winfield for draft capital. Our window has closed. Keep Bake in ’27 to groom the heir apparent. Then trade him.
’28 can be the beginning of hopium again. Sad
October 4th, 2026 at 7:22 am
StPetematt, who is going to throw the ball to him?
October 4th, 2026 at 7:32 am
Nothing screams “Football” like that pic of the Glazer bros.
October 4th, 2026 at 7:34 am
Baker. Our second round pick should be used on a guard to replace Bredeson who is playing terribly so far this season. Baker needs time and he’s not getting it. 11 sacks in 3 games proves that.
October 4th, 2026 at 7:35 am
Bowles didn’t see the light on Walker Bain got hurt he had no choice. Bowles don’t see talent if it hits him in his face. Bowles runs by the buddy system. Looks like the three Glazers are pondering where can we get another coach for three million a year.
October 4th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Jeremiah smith is the closest thing to Calvin Johnson the NFL has seen before or since. He’s an expert at beating press man- our WR’s biggest weakness- and will provide an always open target for Baker for ages. Then we replace Bredeson and our offense will be a lot better. Put Hurst as flanker and move Egbuka to the slot where he could be a maniac in the middle. Trade away Godwin and Diaby.
Really disappointed in how the O-line is playing right now…
October 4th, 2026 at 7:45 am
MadMax … Mestemaker MIGHT be there with our 2nd pick, but I doubt we could afford him. The kid’s got a $7 mil 2-year deal to play at OK State. 2nd Rnd picks don’t make nearly that much.
October 4th, 2026 at 7:53 am
I’m sitting squarely on the fence in terms of drafting a qb if we get a Top 5 pick. Baker is right on the line of ‘my team doesn’t have a qb / my team has the qb we need’.
If you have the high pick and feel it in your soul the guy is the next “One”, you have to pull the trigger. But if it’s not clear, or some project like A Richardson or JJ McCarthy don’t do it. Take whatever elite talent is there at some other position or trade down a bit for some qb desperate team.
October 4th, 2026 at 8:01 am
We need to see a game where Baker is being protected to properly gauge how well he is playing. So the O-line needs to start pass protecting much better than they have.
October 4th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Bucs have never been able to develop a QB they’ve drafted, all the successful years including 2 SB wins were with FA QBs. If the Bucs have the #1 pick, and they feel they absolutely need a QB, then in a QB rich draft they need to trade down, get an additional 1st Round pick, and get a good QB at the 10th OA pick or thereabouts. Bucs are going to need all the draft picks they can muster, esp with a new coaching staff needing players to fit the schemes they want to use.
October 4th, 2026 at 8:39 am
I’d probably be surprised if he gives Walker meaningful snaps.
October 4th, 2026 at 8:41 am
The defense has played well but so far what have they saved. There is enough talent on this team offensively and defensively, the problem is coaching. That doesn’t mean it is a complete roster, but saying a rebuild is required is laughable!
October 4th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Nothing screams Football!! like that pic of the Glazer broz.
October 4th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Soooo hit the reset button when it’s the coach that’s mediocre? That’s a genius plan especially when this isn’t an old roster lol quit your day job
October 4th, 2026 at 9:16 am
Time we admit this is not a Super Bowl caliber team and retool now!
October 4th, 2026 at 9:19 am
“Mike Tanier, funny person, not a good judge of talent.” – the Bucs are going to be 0-4 after today PAL, and you remind me of those American idol mothers thinking their kids are more talented than they are. The reality is that they aren’t, the reality is that they stink.
October 4th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Hire Miami Hurricanes HC, draft their QB. Christobal, pay him whatever he wants. Former O linemen, tough, offensive mind, is just what this team needs. He can bring his defensive staff with him, reunite with Bain, and Scott. Just one thought. So many more to explore. But first, Licht, and Bowles need to go.
October 4th, 2026 at 10:35 am
So Tainer says “ Defense looks like nine guys running three different schemes while two others call their agents. It’s past time to rebuild.”
That in itself is is hilarious. But Joe immediately follows that with “ The only thing saving the Bucs is a decent defense. ”
You can’t make this stuff up.
October 4th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Glazers got conned big time by Arians and Licht. Hope they read your Blog Joe. I call for Boweles to be fired today. Team would be better off without him.
October 4th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Agreed @Bosch. I am somewhat confused too.
the D might have looked good against an inept Minnesota team. They looked awful in the previous 2 games.
They looked wretched last year down the stretch.
GOOD defense ?? Which franchise??