When you’re an NFL head coach for a long period of time, both positives and negatives start to become magnified for simple reasons.

It’s because fans and media are used to seeing certain situations develop on the field over time. The parties get to know the guy(s) calling the shots, their tendencies, etc. and when something goes well or bad, it’s easier to point to due to familiarity.

That’s become the case with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. While he’s ushered in plenty of positives over the years, negatives have been attached as well.

One such example of the latter is the inability to cover opposing tight ends. Bowles’ defenses usually struggle when it comes to clamping the position down in the passing game and that’s been the case so far this year.

Per Sports Info Solutions, the Buccaneers have allowed the fourth-most receptions (17), the third-most yards (172), and fourth-most touchdowns (2) to tight ends in 2026. Opposing TEs have recorded at least 71 receiving yards and one touchdown in each game, so far.

Todd Bowles doesn’t believe the Buccaneers are struggling against tight ends, however, and said as much when he spoke with the media on Wednesday.

“I don’t think we struggled against it this past weekend,” Bowles told reporters. “I mean, the first week I thought we missed two zone drops, and this week we busted the coverage and he caught one pass. But I don’t really see the nature from last year to this year. I thought we made big strides, and it’s too early to tell right now whether we struggled against the tight ends or not.”

The Buccaneers’ history against tight ends is easily explained by the numbers

In 2025, the Buccaneers allowed the eight-most completions (100), 12th-most yards (974), second-most touchdowns (t-2nd) to the position. Opposing offenses averaged the ninth-highest EPA/play (0.29) and fourth-highest positive play rate (63.4%), as well.

In 2024, Bowles’ defense allowed the sixth-most completions (102), second-most yards (1,115), and 14th-most touchdowns (5) on top of the sixth-highest EPA/play (0.35) and 13th-highest positive play rate (57.5%).

And in 2023, the unit allowed the third-most completions (103), a league-leading 1,091 yards, and the sixth-most touchdowns (7). That year the EPA/play dropped to 13th at 0.20 per play and the positive play rate dropped to 27th at 49.4%, but teams were obviously doing damage in the form of raw stats.

Everywhere you look, the Buccaneers underperform against tight ends.

A lot of it has to do with Bowles’ high blitz rate that leaves short-to-intermediate voids on the field. It’s very easy for tight ends to find and exploit those areas by using their big frames to block out smaller defenders that may be on them due to others blitzing.

For instance, a guy like T.J. Hockenson, whom the Bucs play this week, would be a total mismatch for Buccaneers defensive back if Alex Anzalone and/or Josiah Trotter were sent on a blitz. That’s just one of many examples of how tight ends can win against this defense.

“He’s an extra blocker and an extra receiver. He presents a problem that way because he’s a dual tight end,” Bowles recently said of Hockenson. “His height says a lot as well. He’s been doing it for a long time. Very good hands, very good route runner, but at the same time, he’s a very good blocker.

“So they can spread you out, or they can bring you in. If you play small, they can run it. If you play big, they can throw it. So he presents a challenge.”

It’s a problem and it’s been a problem for the Buccaneers over the last several years, now. And to be frank, it’s going to continue this way if Bowles really thinks this way. Sure, he could be saying this just because he doesn’t want to sell his guys out to the media. But at the same time, you don’t want to come off as delusional.

The problem has to be addressed publicly at some point and there are ways to do it without pinning it completely on players. This kind of route isn’t the way to go, however, especially when there are multiple seasons that say otherwise.