Let Joe be clear: Not all players are tuning out the coaching staff. Not all players have thrown in the towelNoall players are thinking of Tulum in January instead of the playoffs.
But man, Joe does not like the vibe around this Bucs team.
Joe has seen and felt worse, much worse. But for a team with a shot at the postseason, Joe sees and feels growing indifference.
For example, Baker Mayfield is busting his ass. You may not like his results, and Joe understands. But there is no way you can watch Mayfield and get the idea he’s half-assing it.
Devin White? Well, you tell Joe. Look at the box score and tell Joe he’s busting his tail. Then look at the way he gets clowned by running backs Gardner Minshew near the goal line. We’re not talking about Pat Mahomes. It’s Gardner GD Minshew! Give Joe a freaking break!
Yesterday in his day-after presser, Bowles was asked if there is a growing disconnect between the coaches and players and if that is why there are critical mistakes week after week as the Bucs are spiraling.
Bowles disputed this.
“I don’t think it’s a disconnect, I think it’s a concentration thing,” Bowles said. “They’ve done these things millions of times. It’s not like they don’t know how to do them.”
And then Bowles added his stock, weekly statement about his under-performing Bucs.
“We’ve got to coach it better and we’ve definitely got to play it better.”
Indeed. Yet the same things keep happening, week after week.
One reason Joe thinks there is a growing disconnect and guys are tuning out the coaching staff? How the players are used.
You think White, for all his drawbacks, isn’t PO’ed he’s not rushing the quarterback more? You think Carlton Davis (who had a strong game in Indianapolis) and Jamel Dean enjoy being used in zone when they know their best football is when playing in man-to-man defense?
Yes, yes, yes. Joe knows they are paid handsomely. They are professionals. Joe also knows players don’t live in vacuums.
Players are human. If the Bucs were winning, they might not like how they are used, but they are competitors. They want to win. When they are not happy with how they are used, and the losing mounts week after week, it’s understandable the joys and excitement of playing football might be zapped from their souls.
November 28th, 2023 at 2:05 pmJOE: “One reason why Joe thinks there is a growing disconnect and guys are tuning out the coaching staff? How the players are used.”Oui! And it all started with starting the guy who lost training camp and benching the guy who won training camp.
November 28th, 2023 at 2:06 pmPlayers? I’m convinced Todd Bowles has checked out. Remember, he’s already working as hard as he’s willing to.
November 28th, 2023 at 2:10 pmI am not sure of what’s happening at one Bucs place but, something is not right. So many of the players seems that they don’t have much motivation and it’s showing in their play
Honest question, at what point down Bowles look at his self and realize that’s the disconnect. The man hasn’t been head coach of a winning team…EVER
@ Joe
“Are Players Beginning To Mentally Check Out?”
Ask Devin White…
I think the scheme is so bad that some players are disgusted by it.
Shaq seems a bit miffed that he is not rushing the QB enough. He has to play like a regular OLB because last week the only half of the ILB team that does anything was not playing.
DBs drafted because of being press/man guys line up for that , but don’t disrupt the route of the receiver. The next play is a soft enough zone that quick slant almost guarantees a first down.
O-line guys who are supposed to block straight ahead on running plays, zone blocking is done by most high schools and colleges. How come the Bucs haven
t discovered it yet?
Some players are not making enough effort because they got his check, some other because they didn’t got his check.
THAT’S RIGHT! FUTURE MVP BAKER MAYFIELD GIVES 110% ON EVERY PLAY, NEVER TAKES A DAY OFF, IS ALWAYS THE FIRST TO THE OFFICE AND THE LAST TO LEAVE, HE LEAVES IT ALL ON THE FIELD, HE’S GOT HEART, HE NEVER STOPS TRYING, HE’S A GRINDER, HE HUSTLES, HE’S A BLUE COLLAR LUNCH BAIL GUY, HE PUNCHES ABOVE HIS WEIGHT, AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, HE HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE! THAT’S WHY HE’S GOING TO LEAD THE BUCCANEERS TO THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR, AND IT ALL STARTS THIS SUNDAY WITH A BLOWOUT OF