Bowles Didn’t Push For DBs
May 2nd, 2019
Benefactor of luck.
When the Bucs began selecting defensive back after defensive back after defensive back in last week’s draft, Joe was sure of one thing.
Joe was beyond confident Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles either told Bucco Bruce Arians or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht (or both) that there was no way he could build a competitive defense in the quarterback-loaded NFC South unless he had new troops in the secondary.
Joe asked Bowles about this yesterday and Bowles claimed with a straight face he never had any such conversation with the two guys directly above him on the football food chain at One Buc Palace.
“No,” Bowles said. “A lot of [the defensive backs] were hurt [last year]. We drafted good football players. In my opinion, you can’t have enough corners or depth, and the players fell right where we had them ranked and we picked them.”
So let Joe get this straight: The team needed a running back or running backs. The team could have used an offensive lineman or two. The Bucs surely could have used a top-end pass rusher.
But Licht, if you buy Bowles explanation, completely ignored the rest of the roster and loaded up at positions that he had already loaded up on the previous three drafts? Seriously? That this was all just a matter of dumb luck?
Joe understands how Bowles might not want to embarrass players by admitting in public he wanted (needed?) help in the secondary. But in the process, he threw his general manager under a PSTA bus in the middle of U.S. 19.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:08 am
Bowles didn’t throw Jason Gump under the bus. The walking talking missing a chromosome nit wit walked into the middle of 19 and laid down himself.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:08 am
Bowles has been a HC in NY, he knows how to not answer a question. His fingerprints are all over this draft.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:09 am
I guess it depends on what one *wants* to hear.
What I “hear” in the quoted Bowles statementt are three distinct things:
1) No, he made no specific request,
2) He acknowledges the Bucs had no depth at CB to deal with injuries, and
3) The player picked were where the team ranked them.
I don’t see at all where he threw the GM under the bus.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:11 am
Draft for need and you get fired, right?
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:12 am
Joe, I believe these guys when they say they like the RB position. I also believe they saw a very slow team on defense and offense and selected guys to change that dynamic. Most of the guys also produced in college which was lacking from last years class. I would like to know in greater depth how much coaches do influence picks and development. Jason seems to always give his coaches what they want and I think the last staff sucked at that part of things. Mike Smith seemed to value tackling over speed which failed because they could not tackle what they could not catch. Simple.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:12 am
Not really. You can always get camp and post draft castoffs to fill Dline, online, RB, and LB positions. It is difficult to find quality CB and S help after Free Agency/Draft.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:14 am
I think it’s funny that everyone’s complaining when before the draft BA said that if you draft for need you get fired. That statement alone should explain our draft. They got their BPA based on their player evaluations.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:17 am
@Cobraboy
So many commenters within this site are ignorant.
You…are not.
Your comment was logical and coherent.
Thank you. You’re spot on.
Much ado about nothing…not these coaches first rodeo.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:20 am
#1 Joe you have a outdated view of how the game is played today. #2 we didn’t need to draft a RB Peyton Barber and his 230lbs are more than capable of pounding the los softening a defense in a first half to create strikes downfield in the second half. You might wanna do some research on Bruce Anderson. #3 they will be deploying a form of defense that is suited to counter a pass heavy league. Coach Rapone stated 6 or 7 DBs will be in coverage on 3rd down. #4 @ Defense Rules the other day you mentioned being worried teams going run heavy to counter the 6 or 7 DBs. To counter that they deploy Deonne i.e the money backer who is a LBr much like Mark Barron but will go to SS to play downhill when teams switch to heavy packages. That’s why Bowles is preaching flexibility in this scheme.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:23 am
I’m sure I’m in the minority on this take, but with Bowles now calling the shots on defense I think there’s a pretty good chance that (if healthy) we could actually have one of the deepest secondaries for years to come. Every pre draft article on other news sites listed secondary as the Bucs first or second greatest need and we addressed it. Kicker is a huge need and we took the best one in college. Dude hit 8 of 11 from beyond 50 yards. Believe in BA and company. BA has succeeded everywhere he has been. GO BUCS!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:23 am
“You draft for need you get fired!” -BA
No shocker there
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:24 am
The team got who they were after so lets just move on already. RB was not a need in their eyes and if I do recall, we drafted a RB last year who still has some potential to develop. Remember, rookie running backs do not excel in a Dirk Koetter offense (https://www.joebucsfan.com/2018/02/dirk-koetter-not-rookie-running-back-guy/)…
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:24 am
Bang that drum you are unhappy Joe… bang it in every thread.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:26 am
You pessi @$$ fans and beat writers can maintain your low expectations all you want don’t matter to me. Behind those doors the theme is “raise your expectations” as long as those players are buying into that I’m Gucci. And of the belief the 2019 Bucs are about raise all kinds H3ll next season. No Doubt About It.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:30 am
Pay very close attention to the pressers,they tell you everything you wanna know about the team.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:32 am
Stevie Wonder could see we needed more help in the secondary…..
Now on this draft for need comment…..I really suspect BA was talking about the first pick….not the entire draft…….that would explain some of the picks, especially the picker.
Did we need a MLB?….Yes….but the player was also possibly the BPA…..when those two meet….you are golden!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:41 am
Lmao figures
Hahahahahahaha
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:42 am
What does “I’m Gucci” mean?
Sheesh.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:44 am
NOSBOS & Tampabaybucfan: Agreed! Accurate posts!!!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:48 am
Figures: I’m Gucci: Translation – I approve; concur; agreed; the state of being satisfied. C’mon Man!
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:50 am
If I remember correctly, Todd Bowles excels at making the scheme fit with the talent we have, not the other way around. I trust they know know enough to make it work and they have a good reputation of turning around a bad team to a contender. I’m very excited about our future and can’t wait to see it all come together. Go Bucs!
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:51 am
@Joes
The Bucs have some of the dumbest fans in the NFL and you guys are partly to blame for it. All I have been hearing since the Draft is how bad the coaching was and how this coaching staff is going to turn it around. We just lost the best coaching staff we have had since Gruden was here and no one cares. Do any of you remember the 2016 season? If Mike Smith was SO bad how did he and his staff take the same defense that Lovie had and get 9 wins when Lovie only got us 8 in 2 years? The only FA’s we brought in were Grimes and Ayers and finally added a couple rookies from the Draft. If Winston wouldn’t have thrown SO many INT’s at the beginning of the season we would have won at LEAST one more game and made the Playoffs the first year Dirk took over.
May 2nd, 2019 at 8:58 am
Big Stinky, I agree with you on some points. The GM is about as useful as t*ts on a bull. People are acting like bowles has invented some new crazy defense and are in awe of what he is planning on doing with the 5-7 DBs on the field at once. People here are used to a fit in the box 4 DL defense Look around this has been a defensive startegy for over 10 years just not here in Tampa. Rex Ryan and his brother have done this for years, belichek has been doing it for 15 plus, saban does it at bama so does grantham at UF along with kirby at UGA. The college coahes cannot do it as much because in college they actual run the football and tackle. Bowles is not some innovative genious and his defense was terrible in NYJ
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:00 am
Off subject: listening to NFL radio this morning when they went over the NFC south. Charlie Weiss stated “the Bucs are stuck with Jameis Winston, for whatever reason”. He also stated what I have been saying all along, that “Will Grier is the most NFL ready QB in the draft.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:00 am
Figures,slang for “I’m good”.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:07 am
Let’s move on. What’s done is done. We, as fans need to let our new acquisitions feel wanted. We need to set the tone. We have a lot of youth and there will certainly be growing pains. Griping about what was not in our control is futile and does nobody any good. Yes, I’m not happy how it all transpired but I’m not ready to fully castigate anyone yet either until we get into preseason and see what we have. It does nobody any good to be upset all the time Joe. Let’s look for the positives and stop dwelling on the negatives, savvy?
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:08 am
Dusthty that’s why I’ve been saying this team will not resemble anything Bucs fans have ever seen “here in Tampa”. Finally a staff that is about getting with the current times happening in the game on the NFL level.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:13 am
Bucs had the talent to compete last season,it’s just hard to compete with coaches that call games not to lose instead of aggressively to win. Kneeling with time left on the clock in first half. S$@? was embarrassing. Go re-watch the Bucs/pats game from last season. They actually looked to my eye like an aggressive defense. Klueless wouldn’t run the ball,kicker missed a few kicks yards yada yada. But Brady left that game bruised up it told me if these coaches would simply stop nuttin up this team could have st very least should have been 500 last season.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:15 am
But it’s cool tho,I ain’t worried about my coaches nuttin up any longer.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:22 am
The last coaching staff was just as accomplished as this one is when they got here. After ALMOST making the Playoffs in 2016 we should have done it again in 2017. We lost 4 games by 3 points and another 3 games by 6 points or less but again Smitty supposedly was the reason. In 5 of those games our offense couldn’t score more than 21 points, and after the “Weapons for Winston” crap he had the BEST receiving corps in the league. That was his 3rd year in the same offense and it didn’t matter. Yeah, I know he got hurt early in the year but if he couldn’t play Fitzpatrick should have been in there. Smitty was the scapegoat for the last 2 years but Jason is the reason he got fired and may not coach again in this league. Licht drafted ONE defensive player in his first 2 years as GM and got LUCKY it was Kwon in the FOURTH round. Then, when he finally drafted players for the defense, he had one of his worst drafts since he got here. Defense STILL wins Championships but Licht spent MOST of his first 4 drafts on offense yet Smitty is the one that can’t coach. Yeah right!
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:24 am
We had many close games last year…….a turnover here, a missed kick there….a missed tackle or coverage breakdown…..poor gameday coaching.
It wouldn’t take a lot to turn that into a winning season this year.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:36 am
Cobraboy … Agree with you; “It depends on what one *wants* to hear”. Heaven forbid that a NFL coach should answer a question honestly though. There’ll ALWAYS be those who will take it the opposite way from what the coach intended to suit their agenda.
Dusthty … “Bowles is not some innovative genious and his defense was terrible in NYJ”. (My spell-checker wanted to correct ‘genious’ for you but I told it NO after its last faux pas). Back on-track … Todd Bowles was the HEAD COACH with the Jets, not the DC. His 1st year they did OK (Rex Ryan had them go 4-12 in 2014 then Todd Bowles got them to 10-6 in 2015, with their defense allowing only 314 points … not that shabby IMO). Of note, VERY few injuries that year. But then in 2016 the wheels fell off; Jets reverted to 5-11 as their defense fell apart, allowed 409 points). A LOT of injuries, plus they lost several key players in FA & drafted poorly IMO (sound familiar?). LOTS of house-cleaning going on as I remember, and the next 2 years showed that in the record.
Only point being that Todd Bowles is a VERY GOOD DEFENSIVE COACH, and we’re very fortunate to have him. Let this thing play out though BEFORE folks start throwing them all under the bus. This is a quality staff that BA has put together, and it could serve us well for many, many years.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:39 am
“and the players fell right where we had them ranked and we picked them.”
Riiigghhttt! Keep plugging that company line there coach! Nothing to see here at all! My crystal ball shows this coaching regime being no better than last four, with a new staff in place within the next 2-3 years.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:45 am
This makes NO sense whatsoever!! Who’s driving the bus here??? Completely befuddling!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:55 am
Bowles will use 7 DBs on 3rd downs and will carry 5 safeties! So with his system, we needed more DBs
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:56 am
Dusthty let’s not act like because Saban and Belichess are known for defense that they perfect when it comes to defense. Saban In my opinion plays cup cakes en-route to national championship bid every season and that defense got they @$$ mollie-whop by Clemson,you know a program that can match them in play and talent. And don’t forget although he will gameplan your best offensive player right out of a game Belichess defense was getting handled in the first half the Super Bowl by the falcons and gave up over 500 yards of total offense to the eagles. I’m not praising the name Bowles I’m high on the fact they brininging in a current up to date style of football to this organization.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:57 am
Exactly Janice,they’ll see the light sooner or later.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:58 am
My bad I meant Jabuc. These cell phone man.
May 2nd, 2019 at 9:58 am
LOL! Once again, a case where fans think they know more than an organization. Just because it wasn’t what WE wanted, doesn’t mean it isn’t what we NEEDED.
Until they start playing meaningful games, I’ll reserve my kvetching about players drafted.
Keep up the good work though! The whining is quite entertaining!
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:26 am
@Cobra
I agree with Todd and the others. You had a solid post minus the hyperbole.
I also agree with what NOSBOS and TBBF posted.
The sky is not falling!
We had another UDFA RB…Earnest Graham. Largely played special teams his first several years while always leading the team in rush during the pre season. That led “genius” Chucky to dub him Mr. August while NEVER giving him a chance. Injuries to Cadillac and others FORCED Chucky to give him a chance and Graham ran with it. Pun intended.
Graham rushed for 898 yards and ten touchdowns in the thirteen games he played. In that span, he rushed for over 100 yards in a game three times and scored a touchdown in six consecutive contests. Graham became only the second running back in Buccaneers history to register back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, which he did against the Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals. In nine of his ten starts, Graham either ran for 100 yards, scored a touchdown, averaged four yards a carry, or caught six or more passes.
I shall not be surprised if Barber does the same kind of blossoming…IF BA can get the OL shaped up. 15th best in pass blocking is not embarrassing…31st best in run blocking just sucks.
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:26 am
Bowles just came from NY, Tampa’s media has to be backwoods compared to the NY media. BA, Licht and Bowles have thrown BS lies and misdirection quotes since they have arrived.
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:38 am
What your missing is just hard for fans and especially media covering teams is hard to admit but is true nonetheless, you ain’t in the building, you ain’t responsible for building or developing the talent, you don’t break down game film or have access to practice tape either. Your limited information is the error and you didn’t know what this staff thought it needed to compete.
Media always trying to say draft picks are evaluated after 3 years but your lying it’s not just fans wanting instant results otherwise you’d realize Rojo still has something to give and can get better or are you the hypocrites invoking fans as the irrational ones because it’s also you and here’s the proof. It’s not like you or anyone else here will eat crow if this team plays better
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:39 am
1 “moneybacker” aint going to counter a run heavy offense with 2TE set or an extra lineman…..the PATS killed the chargers with all those DB’s on the field and they had dewin james who’s better than bucannon…..
regarding the draft, idk who to believe…..lol….i think the truth is somewhere in the middle….TB mightve said he needs some depth in the secondary and all licht heard was “needs secondary”…..lol….
terry beckner is a good run stuffing DT and we all what what VV can do….JPP and gholston play the run well….that leaves the LB’s and S’s to blitz to create a pass rush…..
the teams in our division drafted to counter TB’s blitz happy scheme by grabbing OL’s and Rb’s that excel in pass pro….we’ll see how it works…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:47 am
Trade McCoy for a Guard or R tackle and Sign Suh !!!
Trade McCoy for a fourth at this point and pluck a Vet of need off a draft happy team and sign Suh
This isn’t that hard , look at les Snead been wheeling and dealing for three years and after 2 he wAs in the final !!!
May 2nd, 2019 at 10:57 am
look..it does not take an Einstien to know..to see..our Defense was quite slow in reacting to the ball last season. You could buy a sandwich in the time it took us to get to a defender. You all saw it. We had to get faster on D. And I think we did that. Ok so 2 of our Draftees might have been bad choices. The rest are OK. Both Bowles and Arians knew what had to be done.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:00 am
Read one comment and BA and Bowles are the greatest coaches ever to hit Tampa. The next comment says they are bums. Let’s face it, we have no idea how they will do. And, considering that our track record has been concisely downward oriented, I have no confidence this crew will be any better than the last. I’m willing to watch, but to expect great results is simply unjustified and stooopid.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:06 am
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:12 am
Licht is like a nine-lives cat. He has thrown himself under the bus on his own over and over. Maybe one of these days the bus will back up and go forward over and over and rid us of this true cancer.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:15 am
Tired of all the whining because you don’t get answers you don’t like. They don’t owe you anything.
May 2nd, 2019 at 11:42 am
Bowles knows his job. I am sure he was very involved in the player evaluation process, and probably provided some sort of state of the defense address to his leadership, but at the end of the day, we had more needs than we could address in one draft, so the Bucs trusted their evaluations and took the best players available at the position they picked. It just so happened that the value picks were in the secondary.
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:33 pm
sure and the reason i have a sports car in my driveway is not because i wanted it, it’s because my wife and i agreed it was the best choice for the family, not because i myself really really wanted a sports car. with 3 kids you might think that need would push us to an SUV, but the board said get the car with 2 seats and a big engine. we never buy to fill needs, we stick with best available
May 2nd, 2019 at 12:52 pm
This is a continuing DUMB argument…
Previous drafts should have no bearing on who you draft in a new draft, especially if you still need major help in certain areas.
If no one knew WHEN (or where) the 2018 Bucs secondary players were drafted/signed/came from, but just simply looked at their performance…
AND… you then removed Brent Grimes from that secondary unit, and you’re left with what you’re left with… AND… you don’t have free cap space to go sign a top free agent corner(s)…
There’s not a single NFL GM or NFL Coaching Staff that would not have heavily drafted defensive backs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:08 pm
I know it’s hard for some of you to see the forest through the trees when it comes to Backstabbin’ Jason Licht but he really is a bad GM. The worst this team has had in years.
May 2nd, 2019 at 1:49 pm
Bruce Anderson.
A lot of educated national analysts I trust point to him as a potential breakout UDFA. The Bucs did add to their RB arsenal when they snagged him up.
Joe, you complain all the time about how bad the Bucs are at 2nd round picks and day 3 picks and rave about their UDFA steals. With that logic, isn’t it better the Bucs addressed RB with a hidden gem like Anderson as an UDFA rather than waste a round 2 or Day 3 pick?
May 2nd, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Joe don’t know if you watched defense last year, but secondary did blow and we didn’t have any depth. We did get a pass rusher in Devin White. Very strong feeling this is going to be a blitz happy team and we have multiple players in the secondary that are blitz happy. Oline should’ve been taken care of. What amazing RB did you want to grab in the first three rounds in a passing league when we almost had the worst defense in history last year that did nothing but lose in the second half.
Bowels definently had something to do with those large secondary players and I think BA, Licht, and the entire staff inside OBP has been blowing large puffs of cigar smoke up everyone’s arse since BA arrived.