One of the major criticisms of Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff has been how the group tends to default to conservative play calling.
Last week Bowles was called out for not going for a fourth-and-two late in a game the team was losing by 14 points and instead punting the ball away. It's not the first time fans have rolled their eyes over a play call and it seems to be something the staff is aware of.
The Bucs didn't alter their approach in Week 7 based on some angry tweets, but it was clear from the jump that they wanted the play calling to be more aggressive. Nothing highlighted that more than the call to attempt a fouth down conversion on Tampa Bay's very first drive of the game.
It was a gutsy call, but one that fans were equally as enraged about as they were the conservative play calling as soon as it didn't work.
Bucs fans were furious over Todd Bowles gambling on fourth down
Tampa Bay decided to go for it on a fourth-and-six from the Falcons 42-yard line.
Yup.
It was a bold decision and one that went against the usual grain that we've seen out of the coaching staff. That being said, Bucs fans were quick to hate on Bowles after the gamble failed to pay off. What made things even worse was the fact that Atlanta used the short field to march down and score a touchdown on its opening drive.
Todd Bowles is horrendous. Just handed the ball to them at midfield because he got ballsy for the first time ever. This is the same guy who won’t go for it on 4th down when being down by 10 points in the 4th quarter
— Scott (@scottyi61) October 22, 2023
Should have never been in that position. Stupid decision by Bowles. #GoBucs
— Kerry Belkin (@BelkinKerry) October 22, 2023
That was a horrible decision. 4th and 6!!
— Joe Pennell (@jxplosive21) October 22, 2023
Why the fuck would you give them short field Bowles?! Lol
— Nσʂtαlɠiƈ Aɳt 🏁🐍🖤 (@Holeyfield85) October 22, 2023
Bold Strategy going for it on 4th & 6 midfield to start the game, Bucs don’t convert, Falcons ball… makes me think Tampa Bay has huge faith in Defense vs Ridder & co.
— 𝗭𝗮𝗰 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿🎙 (@ZacOnTheMic) October 22, 2023
Also w/ Camarda’s steady leg, maybe Bowles feels Offense needs to go for it at 50 or closer for points? Idk
Bowles again. Wtf man https://t.co/B2PxBdrTQU
— Jeremiah Lawrence (@jlh2640) October 22, 2023
This TD is on Bowles and the offense
— Bob (@Buccaneers7653) October 22, 2023
Tampa Bay was able to make up for the mistake a drive later when Baker Mayfield hit Mike Evans for a 40-yard touchdown. That helped take some of the sting off the call to go for it on fourth down not working, but it's hard to hate the aprroach.
One of the things that stopped the Bucs from building momentum in the loss to Detroit was the default to coaching too conservatively. The gamble on fourth down didn't work, but it's the sort of thing that we haven't seen from the coaching staff before that could help inject some energy that pays off throughout the game.