Without an above-average defense over the past three seasons, it's difficult to figure out what Bowles is adding to the Buccaneers. By his own acknowledgment, the team had lost intensity and focus, and the Bucs needed to look in the mirror before the Panthers game in Week 16. They did yet lost that game. The Bucs are 30th in fourth-down decision EPA, ahead of only the Jets and the Titans. Bowles had an enormous hand in the Buccaneers' run-heavy offensive approach this week, and he probably has had that influence for a while. In five of the Bucs' past eight games, they've had run rates 10 percentage points over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Directionally and in execution, Bowles is not carrying the water a modern NFL coach needs to carry.
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Nothing to disagree with here.
Did you ignore the whole first part that said Mayfield’s recent play is not an anomaly and that early in the season and last year were actually the outliers. Obviously defense is an issue, but the way people just ignore the fact that this is the norm for Mayfield is weird.
All the sheep need to read this. Bowles has been living in the Stone Age for years. Whatever you think he brings, overall, he’s a net-negative
*”Coach Todd Bowles has struggled to figure out the Buccaneers’ defense for an unacceptably long period of time. While there have been reasons for poor play in various pockets over the past few seasons, a good defensive coach should eventually get a stretch of good defensive play. Over the past three seasons, the Buccaneers are 22nd in defensive success rate and 22nd in defensive EPA per play. Eight of the 10 teams below them have seen at least a defensive coordinator switch, if not a head coaching change, in that time period.*
*Bowles’ team philosophy is clearly reflected in how his defense has performed over this large sample. The Bucs are 26th in EPA per dropback faced but fifth in EPA per rush faced; they are 25th and fourth in the same pass/run split by success rate. Independent of player injury/matchup and team offensive performance, stopping the run at all costs has left the Buccaneers’ pass defense liable.*
*Without an above-average defense over the past three seasons, it’s difficult to figure out what Bowles is adding to the Buccaneers. By his own acknowledgment, the team* [*had lost intensity and focus*](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47283496/todd-bowles-says-bucs-inexcusable-loss-falls-players)*, and the Bucs needed to look in the mirror before the Panthers game*[ *in Week 16*](https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401772912/buccaneers-panthers)*. They did yet lost that game. The Bucs are 30th in fourth-down decision EPA, ahead of only the Jets and the Titans. Bowles had an enormous hand in the Buccaneers’ run-heavy offensive approach this week, and he probably has had that influence for a while. In five of the Bucs’ past eight games, they’ve had run rates 10 percentage points over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Directionally and in execution, Bowles is not carrying the water a modern NFL coach needs to carry.*
*Tampa Bay has endured a gamut of injuries, especially on offense, and remains in striking distance of the NFC South crown so long as it wins its* [*Week 17 game*](https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401772916/buccaneers-dolphins) *against the Dolphins (and* [*Quinn Ewers*](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4889929/quinn-ewers)*). Then it’s win-and-in* [*versus the Panthers*](https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401772969/panthers-buccaneers)*, a team the Bucs very well could have — and should have — beaten on the last drive this past week. Things are far from disastrous.*
*But disaster can be good, if it forces necessary philosophic or staff changes.”*
Something needs to give. Baker has been my favorite QB since his rookie season, and even in college. I really want to see him win a Super Bowl. He’s got the swagger of Johnny Manzi without the cocaine (presumably) addiction
Very well written article
People take this all far too seriously.
The Bucs have out performed their post Brady era dead money problems every year. The other teams are full of pro athletes too, everyone watches film, it’s not a mystery.
The constant hot takes from ridiculous homerism to “fire everybody” is annoying. While I cannot say I predicted the roller coaster, this teams record is about what I thought it would be and I still enjoyed the games.
It’s entertainment, lighten up.
I don’t think Bowles is a terrible head coach. He’s average. And he’s a players coach. He does need to hire an offensive coordinator. Keeping Grizz was a mistake. He also needs to hire a defensive coordinator. There is too much miscommunication between defensive players. A DC and which ever underlying staff said DC needs is a must. Let’s kick the tires on Chris Shula next year.
I hope the Glazers read this. Maybe they’ll believe it. They don’t seem to believe us.
Will there be a locker room led tank to ensure the coach gets canned? I’d hate to have the playoffs save the job again.
Bowles philosophy is to take away the hardest throws and let the qb take the easy ones, it’s ass backwards especially when you’re a defensive guru who loves blitzing.
Blitzing and giving the easiest hot read for a free 12 yards is crazy.
Lions got decimated by injuries. Bucs had injuries but ultimately lazy coaching has done them more harm than the medical tent. The blueprint on the Ravens has been out, and they refuse to adjust(Lamar’s return to being injury prone also doesn’t help). Colts got ravaged by injuries in the worst possible positions.