“They Don’t Have An Equation”
November 18th, 2025
The calculus is off at One Buc Palace.
The Bucs are like a box of chocolates. What’s the identity of the team?
Sometimes they pass with precision. Sometimes, like Sunday, they run with fire and fury.
Sometimes the defense is suffocating, like its complete lockdown of the Eagles (second half) and the Saints, and often against Detroit. Sometimes the defense makes fans think of suffocating themselves.
The formula for a Bucs win changes every week, it seems. And former Bucs guard Ian Beckles (1990-1996) thinks that’s a problem, so he ranted on his In The Trenches podcast.
“They don’t have an equation, and I think that’s scary. The Bucs don’t have an equation to win,” Beckles barked. “They don’t have it. They’ve still won some games but they don’t have an equation. Every game they win is a different equation. And I think that is a bad thing.”
Joe gets Beckles’ sentiment, but Joe actually thinks the Bucs’ ability to win games in various ways is a strength overall.
The real issues are inconsistency and so much inexcusable play from special teams.
If the Bucs’ special teams unit was simply as effective as it was last year, it’s likley Tampa Bay would have beaten the Eagles and Bills this season and would now be savoring an 8-2 record.