If Todd Bowles Joins Bruce Arians…
January 8th, 2019
Solid work in Arizona.
So last night Joe decided to do a little research. Both fun and frightening.
It sure smells as if Bruce Arians will be coming to Tampa Bay. And if he comes, there is speculation he just might bring former Jets head coach Todd Bowles with him.
Bowles was Arians’ defensive coordinator in Arizona for two seasons (2013-2014) before he took over the Jets. Arians and Bowles are tight as Bowles played for Arians at Temple.
In 2013, Bowles had the No. 6 defense in terms of yards, allowing 317.4 yards a game. As far as points allowed, the Cardinals were No. 7 giving up 324 points for the season.
In 2014, the Cardinals were not so good in yards per game ranking No. 24, just a hair above Lovie Smith’s wretched crew, allowing an average of 368.9 yards a game. However, Arizona was quite good in not allowing points. The Cardinals were No. 5 in points allowed with 299 points, less than 19 per game.
Of course, Arizona had a much better stockpile of defenders than the Bucs currently have.
So are those promising numbers? Shoot, compared to what Bucs fans have had to put up with the past three years on the defensive side of the ball, Bowles’ numbers as leader of the Cardinals’ defense looks like the 1977 Steelers by comparison.
As leader of the Jets, Bowles’ defense in New York wasn’t good. His defenses were in the bottom rung for points allowed each season and only once did Bowles’ Jets defense come close to a top-10 finish in yards per game. That was 11th in 2016.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:06 am
I think I would rather keep Duffner or promote Buckner
January 8th, 2019 at 12:13 am
I looked at that further . In 2014 , they had bad injuries with key guys in different areas on defense. He made lemonade from a dog turd.. And I think he got assistant coach of the year im 2014 . So those 2 years appear solid.
I didn’t know Bowles played for him in college. There you go. As long as Bowles doesn’t get head coach gig there is probably good chance he will be defensive coordinator of Bucs.
Means 3-4 though. Do we have right system guys for that. We got Vita Vea playing that middle of dline. Defensive ends? Linebackers ? That up for debate.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:16 am
I’m on the fence with Bowles. Dream come true would be BA for head coach in line to become head of football operations with Kris Richards as Dc and Asst. H.C. and takes over in couple of years and it all works out. HOF GM. Like I said dream come true. Let me be.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:16 am
So not Mike Smith?
January 8th, 2019 at 12:22 am
What he said.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:23 am
Points win games, not yards. I’d be happy to see Bowles come in as D.C.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:28 am
no thanks
January 8th, 2019 at 12:29 am
Except I’m not really on the fence with Bowles, I think he would be a massive upgrade.
From what I’ve read on Bowles, he switches his defense to match his players skills so he plays both 3-4 or 4-3. He will also switch fronts to play certain teams and better match up.
I don’t think he had any pass rush in NY at all. Not a lot of talent there besides SS Adams, DE Williams, and CB Johnson.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:38 am
Me and Kobe faker just talked to are boy heargraves. As Kobe is a prominent qb evaluator. Jeff2380 is a prominent cb evaluator. I have been watching heargraves since high school I have watched all his games. So I am an expert on all thing heargraves. I have breaking news that I will release along with Kobe faker by the end of this jibberish hoopla I am spewing. According to my great insight of being heargraves number one film watcher. He has informed me that we are not hiring Arians. We are actually rehiring Schiano. Which was made possible by Ohio State firing him today. Heargraves has assured me and the qb whisperer Kobe faker that OJ Howard is already practicing his best toes on the line Winslow impersonation. And heargraves just informed me as did Vinny testaverde and Steve young just informed Kobe faker AKA the qb whisperer that Lovie Smith is also quitting the college football ranks and will be joining Shianos staff in Tampa as the the new Tampa 2 defensive coordinator. And lovie has also brought his main man mike Jenkins to be the dB coach. Who has already informed all currently on roster dB they will only be required to guard receivers that make the same amount of money as them as to not in the best miko/ Brent impersonation F up there vibe for the whole year. So cornerbacks will have and F’d up free vibe zone on the field. So heargraves has informed me since his bonus has already been paid out he will only be required to cover 2 million a year wide receivers. Mike Jenkins has already informed Licht that we have to get a 15 million dollar corner like we had when he was here that was released by lovie to cover Julio Jones and to also cover Mike Evans in practice.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:38 am
Did they really have a “much better stockpile”? They had studs at different positions- their secondary was their clear strength with Peterson but the Bucs have an outstanding LB corps which Arizona really didn’t have. And how many AZ defenders have been outstanding on other teams, or on that team since Bowles left?
January 8th, 2019 at 12:42 am
This feels like when we hired Lovie…
January 8th, 2019 at 12:45 am
Disagree on the talent level. Was Matthieu there yet? I know Peterson and Campbell were, and I’m sorta grasping to remember who else. I think the defensive talent is comperable especially considering how many injuries we had (are we getting rid of our strength and conditioning staff please) & how this draft will be focused on defense and offensive line.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:53 am
Joe, Todd Bowles also ran a 3-4 defense for the most part, with 4-3 mixed in at times. We do not have the players for a 3-4 defense…and we need the defense rebuilt quickly. That means keeping our top players and upgrading only the weak areas.
If we go 3-4…well, shoot. Vita Vea might fit in it. Who else?
Bruce Arians also had him add in Dime Packages at times. They were very aggressive against the passers. They blitzed…a lot.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:58 am
Honestly, I’m up in the air on Bowles. He is the high risk DC at this point…for Tampa anyway. Maybe not so with a team that has the players and system for 3-4.
But then…there are not a lot of defensive coaches available. Arians may end up keeping some of our current guys (shudder) until he can get replacements. Maybe he can raid the college ranks.
People might laugh…but Greg Schiano has 7 years experience coaching defensive backs, and he is available as of today. I would not bring him in as DC…obviously…but DB coach or assistant? Maybe. I don’t really know. But getting him some experience in the NFL outside of the HC spot might do the guy a world of good.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:04 am
Todd Bowles absolutely CANNOT join Arians, because Arians is NOT the new Bucs head coach.
The new coach is Richards. Arians decided to stay retired.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.
January 8th, 2019 at 1:08 am
Possible defensive staff?
DB Coach: Steve Wilks
DB Coach: Vance Joseph
RB Coach: Hugh Jackson
lol
January 8th, 2019 at 1:19 am
I can’t even get myself to care. I will get excited about the Bucs when they start winning again. I am not holding my breath. I have zero faith in this entire organization or better said unorganization.
January 8th, 2019 at 3:04 am
Clean house- fire licht, sell the team
What a joke
This is another side show waiting to happen- I’m sure everyone on here will say I have a terrible attitude, and should get a new team-
Well we can check the archive of this post when the next cycle of incompetence and chaos and losing comes to it’s peak
Have fun on the hamster wheel
Not for me
Todd Bowles- unbelievable
January 8th, 2019 at 4:22 am
just hire the sob…so we can all sport hats like he does…
go buccaroonies!
January 8th, 2019 at 4:23 am
Then Bowles will become HC at some point?
Arians: “Too much to live for to die on the sideline”
Posted by Darren Urban on January 9, 2018 – 10:16 pm
Bruce Arians was doing the media tour Tuesday, talking with both Rich Eisen and Colin Cowherd a week after retiring and mentioning he’d like to get into the media business. I can’t imagine someone won’t be willing to give him a chance. During his appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show,” Arians talked again about retirement, touching on familiar subjects with some more detail.
— He admitted his 2016 health scares “were eye opening.” He didn’t want cancer to drive him out of the game, and he was able to return. But there was concern for both himself and his wife, Chris.
“The stress of being a coach’s wife, of watching my health go up and down with wins and losses,” Arians said. “I knew I was done too, I was, ‘Yeah, you’re right, there’s too much to live for to die on the sideline.”
— He reiterated he knew he was done in the last game in Seattle when Phil Dawson made his field goal and then Blair Walsh missed. But he acknowledged the family had talked about it as far back as the weekend after the Thursday night home loss to Seattle. “My wife, she was done,” Arians said. “God bless her, 47 years in this business is enough.” (Arians had previously written he was considering staying one more year and renting an apartment if his wife went back to their “forever home” in Georgia.)
January 8th, 2019 at 4:23 am
arians that is…and his chill hat
January 8th, 2019 at 4:25 am
I notice the packers have their shiny new HC – what is the delay if this is a done deal.
The Packers didn’t have to have a hospital visit during the hiring process…odd?
January 8th, 2019 at 5:27 am
seems like the Bucs are covering all bases…regarding the hospital visit and med exam…didn’t we have a OC that seemed healthy, then all of a sudden was gone due to some illness? Having a thorough physical for an executive is not unheard of in hiring situations…it protects the hiring agency, in this case, the Bucs…let’s focus on the future and not get bogged down in stupid stuff
January 8th, 2019 at 5:31 am
Bowles would be an upgrade from the garbage we’ve had.
January 8th, 2019 at 5:44 am
@Mike … “This is another side show waiting to happen. Have fun on the hamster wheel.” Side show? Hamster wheel? Awesome! You just wrote exactly what I’ve been thinking Mike.
ONE STEP AT A TIME … we’ve got too many diversions going on, which is typical of life in Bucsville IMO. Glazer Boyz focus right now can’t be just on filling a HC spot; they NEED an adult in the room at the top. The Boyz can write the checks, but don’t want to see them in charge of much else. And Lapdog certainly needs someone to hold his leash, point him to the best fire hydrants, and not just to clean up after him when he makes messes.
The Bucs NEED someone like Bruce Arians to fix this mess. And when you’ve only won 27 of the last 80 games … 10 wins in the last TWO years … it’s called a MESS. Personally see BA as more of a President of Football Operations type than as a HC right now, but IF he’s hired, there’s a decent chance that happens within a couple years anyways, and maybe sooner. He’s got the experience & contacts to put together an effective staff, whoever that might be (his choice, not ours). In the meantime, maybe we can get some of this mess cleaned up and build a REAL foundation for future successes.
January 8th, 2019 at 6:37 am
I think 3-4 defense better disguises their next play than a 4-3. Arians is a master on keeping the offensive scheme a secret week to week. Some weeks his team is throwing 70% of the time and the next week he is running 70% of the time. Arians’ approach to the game is all about masquerading the game plan. Arians prefers doing the same on the Defensive side, so it would not surprise me if he chose Todd Bowles as the DC or a DC who prefers a 3-4.
I do feel we have the linebackers to shift to a 3-4. Noah Spence would be great in this role with Lavonte David on the other side. Vita Vea is a classic NT prototype. JPP is better in the run than most people think. If Carl Nassib can put on more weight to his 6’7″ frame than he would also be a good 3-4 DE.
January 8th, 2019 at 7:11 am
Another thing to consider with those D numbers is that QBs during 2013-2014 in the NFC W prob not comparable with what we faced in NFC S. If your gonna be HC of Bucs you better build a D. Brees, Ryan, Cam are a pain.
January 8th, 2019 at 7:23 am
I just don’t see a future for Noah Spence in the 3-4. With all the issues we had at linebacker ,he was not in the picture. He needs to have the ability to both get to the QB and make tackles. IMO the shoulder injury has helped derail his progress and will keep him from being anything but a situational speed rusher..
Its too bad, he showed promise early in his career.
January 8th, 2019 at 7:43 am
Draft Greedy Williams – He could be our Patrick Peterson. Then watch the potential Bowles defense hunt with a potential shut down corner.
January 8th, 2019 at 7:55 am
Bob in Valrico Says:
January 8th, 2019 at 7:23 am
I just don’t see a future for Noah Spence in the 3-4.
One could say the same about Noah Spence in a 4-3. In theory we should have the linebackers for it, depending on the health of Beckwith and Kwon. VV could play nose tackle he’s big and strong enough. Cancer 93 would have a public meltdown over the scheme change but i think he’s gone anyway. It’s all academic at this point, they could transition over a season or 2 if they don’t have the horses to pull it off going into this season. The upside is not matter the scheme, there is no way this defense could be worse than it was the last 2 years.
January 8th, 2019 at 8:12 am
@rrsrq
Amen brother. Bring on Greedy and he is projected right around 5-7 so we shouldn’t have to spend picks to get him.
And yeah he could become our Patrick Peterson. And at 6-3 with a ton of attitude he could really help us in our division. Unlike heroes like Brent Grimes…Greedy would not look at Julio and the others with fear…he’ll be cocky and challenge folks to throw at him.
Can someone answer this for me. Why haven’t we heard any talk about Buckner who of course worked for Arians. Did he leave the Cards for what looked like a lateral transfer to the the Bucs because of Arians leaving Arizona?
What is the relationship between Arians and Buckner?
January 8th, 2019 at 8:54 am
Alabamabucs,
A 3-4 better disguises blitzing pressure. However, it’s easier to manipulate the front 7 by far compared to a 4 3.
The problem is you guys are focusing on the LB position and d lineman.
That’s not the swing position. The position of interest should be on finding a big and fast safety. A mark barron type. That’s the key to success, because that’s the position a Oc game plans for.
January 8th, 2019 at 8:56 am
folks want us to become the tampa bay cardinals…..lol….
how’d that work out for us when we hired ATL’s rejects….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…#KRISISTHEPICK!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
January 8th, 2019 at 9:30 am
If the Bucs could have a defense like those two he had in AZ then the Bucs will be back in the playoffs soon with the offense that we have.
January 8th, 2019 at 9:45 am
Bowles runs a one gap defense. Lining up 1 gap 3-4 looks similar to a 1 gap 4-3 under alignment. That is what the Rams did when Wade Phillips took over for team built with high drafted 4-3 players and went instantly into a top defense.
We can call it anything that makes us comfortable but the main principle of 1 gap defenses is to operate on the other side of the Line of Scrimmage. Stop the run on your way to the QB.
2 gap 3-4 and 4-3 man goal is to free up the LB’s to make the play, so DL have to read pass before trying to rush the passer (Mike Smith defense).
January 8th, 2019 at 9:46 am
Would rather lose a game while blitzing than lose giving up over 70% completions to opposing QB’s.
January 8th, 2019 at 10:24 am
In my opinion Noah Spence is a stand up outside LB in 3-4. His smaller size dictates he needs to keep himself from being overpowered by tackles.
January 8th, 2019 at 11:54 am
JPP is our only good pass rusher. He was gotten rid of by the NYG because they were running the 3-4, the preferred scheme NYG defensive coordinator, James Bettcher, who was Arians DC in Arizona after Bowles left. That is not a good sign for our hopes of having a good pass rush, that the one good pass rusher we have doesn’t even fit in our D.
Plus, Nassib looks to be a very solid base 4-3 DE. David and Kwon are prototype run and hit 4-3 LBs. If McCoy were to restructure and stay, his best fit is easily a one gap 4-3. Vea can probably do either but I think he would be more disruptive in the 4-3. Beckwith could probably be good in either but he would be an ILB only in the 3-4. It would be a big transition to the 3-4. I would prefer that we stick to the 4-3 as our base defense.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Could be worse. What if he brings Chuck Please who’s only ever been a defensive coordinator for one year
January 8th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Pagano
January 8th, 2019 at 1:09 pm
High powered offenses such KC and Rams demonstrate have defenses must evolve with the rules changes and introduction of more speed players on offense. Does not matter what we call it a 3-4 or 4-3, we need 1 gap penetrating line with a blitzer coming from all different angles. A 3 safety look or big nickle is what I believe is needed to counter the speed of offenses. Both the Browns and Chargers demonstrated how much more effective their defenses can be to counter the speed of a fast QB and still be able to control the running game by RB’s.
With the NFL transitioning to spreading the field and adding more speed old style philosophies of a read and react defense is outdated.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:17 am
Texbucs,
You make some good points. One is the addition of a hybrid safety. Unfortunately there’s not a big pool of players who fit the description. Personally, I believe there is, but the problem is that there’s too many coaches, scouts and GM ‘s groomed in the NFL, or pro game.
The 1 gap scheme isn’t new or an adjustment made by cutting edge d coordinators. It’s been 30 + years since it has been a mainstay in the league. 3-4 playing 1 gap is a departure from the original philosophy . But its not new either. Way less common, but not groundbreaking.
3 down lineman in a 1 gap scheme means theres an area not defended. Offense wins prior to snap. This issue is why no team, not a single one, can stay in a traditional 3-4 look for long. And that’s the defense everyone hyping the 3 4 is referring to .
Last, the Rams d isn’t that good this year. Last year, it was better but the rams play in weak azzz division and that makes it easier to get good stats and wins. Huge upgrades this year , scheme change in the secondary and the best 4 down lineman in the league and that ain’t great. 4 not 3..don’t know why you didn’t mention Chicago. KC and LA defenses are not sound up front. Vs Chicago who play 3 4 and has a brick wall up front.
January 9th, 2019 at 1:24 am
hell what we are doing defensively isn’t working, gotta do something. Im happy