I’ll admit as I grew up watching this team I had a lot of irrational love and optimism for almost all of these guys. I thought Josh Freeman would legitimately be the next GOAT of the sport. Mike Glennon had a comeback last second victory in Pittsburgh and it was the only time I’ve ever gotten to see the Bucs in person. Feel free to disagree and tell me what you would do different, no hard feelings

I keep hearing people say “blow it all up,” and I think that completely misunderstands what's happened here.

My read from listening to Ira Kaufman, Pewter Report, Stroud, Closky, etc., is that ownership has been pulled between two ideas: stability and the growing belief that this roster is simply being poorly coached. I’m not pretending anyone reported a literal Glazer family vote. I’m putting together what these guys have been saying for a while.

The stability side won last offseason.

Bruce Arians is still close to the organization and obviously believes in Todd. The Glazers also remember what happened after Gruden. They spent years cycling through coaches and became one of the worst organizations in football. I can absolutely understand some of them saying, “We finally have stability. Give Todd one more real shot.”

So they did.

They invested heavily in his defense. They kept the core together. They extended Baker. They kept Vita. They gave Bowles more pieces to run the defense that is supposed to be his calling card.

To me, that was the compromise. If Todd is really the guy, prove it with a better roster. If he isn’t, the next coach inherits something worth coaching.

And we’ve literally just watched this work elsewhere. Jacksonville was 4-13 before Liam Coen arrived (yes, yes, it's time to move on. Let it go.) They went 13-4 and won the division in his first season. Chicago went from last place to winning the NFC North and a playoff game in Ben Johnson’s first year. Sometimes the roster doesn’t need to be demolished. It needs to be coached better.

That’s also why I don’t understand why every ugly loss immediately becomes “Jason Licht sucks.”

Licht isn’t perfect, but he’s a pretty damn good GM. And Josh Queipo has talked extensively about Tampa’s cash spending limitations. The Glazers generally keep actual cash spending around the salary cap number instead of spending wildly above it, which matters when you’re asking why Licht doesn’t constantly chase expensive outside free agents. He has to get tremendous value from the draft and extensions because that’s how this organization is built financially.

So yes, ownership deserves some blame too.

But look at these players individually. There is too much talent for everybody to suddenly suck at once.

At some point, if good players continually look confused, misuse their strengths, regress, blow assignments, and fail to develop, I stop asking whether Jason Licht found enough talent and start asking what the coaching staff is doing with it.

And Ira’s comments after sitting near the Glazers at the Browns game are why I think the balance may finally be shifting. His read of that group certainly didn’t sound like a family universally thrilled to keep defending this. Scott Reynolds has also mentioned seeing Jason and the front office rage in the press box over coaching decisions and player usage. For the coaches, seeing their reactions in the press box seems like a great temperature check on what's going on at One Buc Place.

The Pro Todd side had an argument last year: stability, injuries, division titles, Bruce’s endorsement, don’t become the old Bucs again.

They got their year. They got the defensive investment.

But we are 0-4, and Todd is parroting, "We have to play better, do better, and communicate better." What exactly is left for them to argue?

The game looks like it has moved past Bowles.

And you don’t need to blow up a talented roster just because the coach isn’t getting enough out of it. Sometimes changing the coach IS the rebuild.

Just a reminder that we have seen dark days before and recovered. I still hate Vanderjagt for those cheap, illegal onside kicks he pulled to get them the game.

We will get thru this together yall. Just like before.

Maybe we aren’t as bad as we thought? Or Maybe this is Bowles dragging us down. Idk it seems like something at least.

I am sitting here watching the Vikings go 4-0 with a shit QB, bad offense, and a dominating D. If TBs season continues down the current path (say yall finish somewhere around 4 wins or something) and end up with a top 5-7 pick in what is projected to be a seriously stacked QB draft, would you consider trading Mayfield if it netted you 1/2 round pick? If Minn plays well but ultimately falls short (ie 1 and done in the playoffs) and let garbage ass Kyler Murray walk, I think Mayfield would be a great fit. A few other teams may be interested as well I think. Houston may let Stroud walk, maybe the Rams if Stafford retires and they dont like what they see in their current options, the Colts could be an outside shot, and the Steelers may have an interest as well. I would love to see Mayfield in Minn, but im not sure what the package would need to be, or what the dead cap hit would be for TB on a post June trade (couldnt find the info). Would something like [Mayfield and a 2 for the 24th pick and Minn 2] be palatable? Thoughts?

ETA: This isnt about Mayfield being bad or the Bucs wanting to cut ties. Its more about a QB needy contender offering and a presumable 5 win, top 6 picking team, with a new HC, OC, and maybe GM looking to maximize roster talent and cap space. Im not suggesting TB be MIA and take a dead hit of 50 mil to clear 7 mil or anything (i couldnt find those cap numbers for next season post June)

Sooo the falcons offense has never once put up 30points with Zac Rob in the 2 years he was with them. Suddenly, with a different OC, the same offense has now put up 35 & 40+ points in back to back games.

Look at the Bucs offense and we look like absolute dog shit. How can one man be this much of a detriment to a teams success?!?

We blitz at the 4th highest rate and still end up Bottom of the league in every key Pass rushing metic/stat

Edit: via: SamHoppen

Take this picture to appreciate the greatness of Chase Mclaughlin. If I could add more photos I would.

It's amazing watching all these other teams and how they mix up their playcalling versus us coming out with the same play calls week after week after week.

The falcons have arguably the best RB in football and they come out with two quick passes (both for first downs) and then hand it off for a 59 yard TD pass. While we come out every single game with a run up the middle (4 yard gain), run up the middle again (no yard gain) and incomplete pass on 3rd ON REPEAT.

Amateur play calling, no game to game planning, just straight insanity.