Effort Versus Flow
October 17th, 2026
Ex-Bucs Ali Marpet (left) and Beau Allen watched the Bucs-Packers game together.
How good were the Buccaneers on Thursday in Dallas, and why?
Joe finally got to watch a 2026 Bucs game and think, ‘Damn, the Bucs really got after it. They were the more hungry team in all phases.’
Of course, that should be what fans think watching every Bucs game, or they should at least walk away believing both teams gave elite effort.
The film shows the Cowboys did a lot of loafing. That’s probably why Jon Gruden said the following on The Gruden Family Football Show:
“The Cowboys were on the ground. The Cowboys lacked effort,” Chucky said. “The Buccaneers, I think, embodied effort. They played their ass off.”
Effort has a been a theme this week in a backhanded way.
Todd Bowles talked about the Bucs’ offensive line improvement in Dallas being tied to “imposing our will.” That’s code for “effort,” which coaches rarely will talk about when it’s below par. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson also went there referencing a new level of “energy, edge and physicality” shown by the offense. Notice the other “E” word wasn’t used.
Will the Bucs continue their strong effort Sunday against the Steelers? Joe is skeptical. Effort should have been a hallmark of this team since Week 1.
Joe also is curious to see if there’s anything to Robinson’s goofy “flow” talk from Thursday.
Speaking about the O-line improvement, Robinson dropped the following head-scratcher.
“Obviously, they didn’t play much together at all last season, but those guys are kind of getting back into the flow of the season,” Robinson said. “Those guys have to be so well coordinated together, and I thought that was reflective of Thursday.”
Is any sane Bucs fans supposed to believe the veteran offensive line, with an offensive line coach in his third Bucs season, is just now finding a flow because it didn’t play as a unit in 2025? Really? The O-line spent all spring together and was healthy for half of 2026 training camp, in addition to the entire 2024 season.
The Bucs will need excellent “effort” and “flow” tomorrow to beat a solid Steelers team — hopefully, both show up — that is getting starters back and won’t be as buttery soft as the Cowboys.
Enjoy Friday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast! It’s a must-listen before the Steelers-Bucs game.
October 17th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Let’s be clear — Carberry is a weak coach.
He obviously is bad at getting Offensive lineman to pass protect. It has gotten worse every single year he has been here and on top of that the penalties are up.
And that is with the same group of guys. Blame the players — but this coach deserves a lot of the blame too.
October 17th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Z.R. secretly hopes Baker can be OC for a few more weeks to cover up just how truly terrible he is at his job
October 17th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
The secret to the Bucs lack of success is regression. These Bucs coaches pride themselves on regressing the players into worthless lumps. Only a very few have risen beyond the coaching to excel.
October 17th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
SBucs is right. Lousy assistants because Bowles was a dead man walking. Good players not coached right. Then they develop bad habits and attitudes.
October 17th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
It’s not “goofy” to talk about flow. There isn’t any question that a good o-line has to be in the flow. It’s coordination, timing, and anything else required to play as a cohesive unit. It’s also not goofy to suggest they had not found their “flow” yet… If you want to question whether they should have found it sooner, that’s certainly reasonable.
But as far as whether they’ve actually found their flow, one game against a terrible defense isn’t going to convince me… and I’m not interested in talking about turnarounds if it means, in the end, that there’s any consideration for keeping Bowles in ’27.
I say let the purge begin.
October 17th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Todd Bowles, the defensive guru, genius HC that is light years better than Andy Reid will find a way to lose another football game at the ghetto trap house Licht built.
4-12 in the last 16. What a mater class in championship level football.
We now have two Todd Bowles on the coaching staff. And it shows!!!
Ownership must be giddy about the culture!!!!!
October 17th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
OK….just hear me out, a hypothetical
We have backup OC and a backup DC from now on (well, in the future)…only ONE HC & GM because…..
Ride the hot hand of who is designing the play calling….when one isnt working, put in the back up…
October 17th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Glad it took them 0-4, and the 5th game to show tremendous effort. Give them a cookie.
October 17th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
They were good because
They ran the ball
And
They rushed the passer
That’s the answer
October 17th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Carberry is excellent at the Run game.
We just need to bring in an offensive line specialist, who specializes in Pass protection.
Lots of teams have two specialist Line coaches.
Including the Bucs, in the not to distant pass
October 17th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
@Tim — The Bucs DO have 2 offensive line coaches. I’m not convinced the O-line coaches are the issue.
October 17th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
“The one thing you absolutely cannot coach is effort,” Barber said to Bowles.
Bowles nodded in agreement and had a quick reply: “That’s exactly right,” he said.
Barber continued: “If you’re coaching effort, you’re not coaching for long, man. Your team ain’t it. That is non-negotiable.”