Todd Bowles Opens Up On Ndamukong Suh
May 29th, 2019
Todd Bowles opens up
Joe is fired up to see the Buccaneers getting smart and taking big-time advantage this season of having in-house reporters. Please, Team Glazer, wake the heck up and deliver more exclusive interviews with the Buccaneers people that matter to fans. Team reporter Carmen Vitali just got the first interview with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles since the signing of manbeast defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. So Joe had intern Zach dive into it.
BY ZACHARY SEIFTER
JoeBucsFan.com intern
Why the Bucs?
It’s a legitimate question to ponder when it comes to new defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh. His last team was in the Super Bowl. He probably could’ve latched on with a winning team earlier this offseason if he truly wanted to.
But instead he chose to take his talents to Tampa, a team coming off consecutive 5-11 seasons. A team with question marks all over the roster. A team banking on its new coaching staff to turn things around.
And that new coaching staff is exactly why he’s here. Let’s not pretend it’s to play with fellow Cornhusker Lavonte David, or that it’s because he’s enamored with Devin White like everyone else inside One Buc Place. Suh wants to win, and this coaching staff, mainly defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, convinced him that he can in Tampa.
Suh almost had the chance to play with Bowles with the New York Jets. So the two have a past that was a factor.
“We spoke for the first time last year when I was with the Jets and we talked about him as a free agent coming in,” Bowles told Buccaneers.com. “So we had a few conversations last year, maybe about three conversations last year. But we do have a pretty good relationship and feel for each other.”
That good feel is going to have to translate onto the field, as Suh will be relied upon heavily to help fix a defense that has been among the NFL’s worst the past two seasons.
“It’s always great to add another piece,” Bowles said. “If you can’t stop the run on the inside, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing in the passing game. It gives us another big body inside to go along with Vita [Vea] and Beau [Allen] and [Will] Gholston and the rest of the guys and put in the rotation so we can keep people fresh. … “He will probably play a bunch of different places on the line.”
Along with his toughness and grit, Suh will be expected to bring in veteran leadership to the group in the absence of Jason Pierre-Paul.
It’s a challenge he hasn’t really had to face thus far in a nine-year NFL career. Everywhere he’s landed had established defensive lineman in place: Cliff Avril and Ezekiel Ansah in Detroit, Cameron Wake in Miami and Aaron Donald in Los Angeles.
Now it’s Suh’s turn to show young guys how to do things the right way. He needs to boost the play of those around him.
May 29th, 2019 at 7:51 pm
And boost he will! These guys have never lined up with a proven beast in their midst. I am betting that Suh will bring his A game to the Bucs. Some may think it’s just a retirement check for him, but I don’t believe that for a second. The man knows football and will play football. He is being given the chance to be a leader and mentor. He will take it
May 29th, 2019 at 7:52 pm
I believe he WILL boost the play of those around him instead of lowering the play of those around him like the comic book character he replaced did.
May 29th, 2019 at 7:53 pm
Odd that Bowles mentions Allen and Gholston by name but JPP coming off a 12 (12.5?) sack season gets lumped in with the “rest of the guys”. Neck fracture be damned that’s a cold shot Todd.
May 29th, 2019 at 7:59 pm
ToesOnTheLine!!! Says:
May 29th, 2019 at 7:53 pm
Odd that Bowles mentions Allen and Gholston by name but JPP coming off a 12 (12.5?) sack season gets lumped in with the “rest of the guys”. Neck fracture be damned that’s a cold shot Todd.
Toes it’s simple, in this defense JPP is an OLB not a dlineman, just like Nassib.
May 29th, 2019 at 8:00 pm
Im thinking Bowles was referring more to the interior lineman otherwise not mentioning carl nassib is jist stupid. I see Carl being a big story this year with a lot of starting time.
May 29th, 2019 at 8:08 pm
Zeke wasn’t a veteran leader already in place for Suh in Detroit though…was drafted in 2013.
May 29th, 2019 at 8:13 pm
I just saw Softie didn’t get a deal in Baltimore.
0-2 so far, but he’s used to that.
Carolina is next on Gummie’s whirlwind tour, but last I heard, they don’t have much cap room.
Hopefully he signs with Cincinnati.
That would be sweet payback for Ghost Johnson and that other OL guy we got suckered with.
We’re so much better off without his sissy azz.
This defense is gonna be fun to watch!!
May 29th, 2019 at 8:14 pm
I pretty much ignore all the sports teams up here, so I didn’t know a lot about Suh other than his occasional dirty plays. After watching an interview he did at the French Open, Suh might have a career as an announcer someday. Very articulate.
May 29th, 2019 at 8:19 pm
How about we give Jason Licht a little credit here ? He is also an ex Nebraska Cornhusker.
I can hate on Licht as much as anyone, but what’s right is right.
Jason Licht joined the Huskers in 1991 as a walk-on at the OG position. At 6/2 and 240 pounds, Licht came to NU after playing previously at Yuma. He is from Yuma, CO.
Learn more about Nebraska’s Class of 1991 or scroll down to see players similar to Licht in Husker history.
Read more: https://dataomaha.com/huskers/player/jason-licht#ixzz5pMX1yk0
May 29th, 2019 at 8:33 pm
McCoy hate. Can’t ever recognize his 6 pro bowls or 1st team all pro 2013. So much hate for a man that laid it out there Sad 😞. Model citizen. A MAN that could provide a role model to kids
But no let’s tell him how we really feel. Douche you are the worst. At least tmax has been consistent from day one with that nobody OL that spills on the air waves But you are late to the party
May 29th, 2019 at 8:37 pm
Joe, any chance you guys would entertain giving a reader the privilege to visit your desk inside the depths of One Buc? Maybe a contest or just me, lol…
Faithful reader since 2012
May 29th, 2019 at 8:41 pm
You say its dangerous to put too much faith in a coaching staff change. Coaching alone can only do so much. The bigger effects of the coaching change are the following. There is a new defensive scheme that is touted to be an attack defense. That is a night and day difference from last year. Secondly the coaching staff has repeatedly stated that their intention is to fit the scheme to the players and not visa verse. This was not the rule last year. The O-Line is another area that totally floundered last year; a coaching change can only help. Last year’s coaching had no clue on how to fix the problem. The emphasis on accountability is also a breath of fresh air. Finally a new staff identified the needs for speed and a total upgrade to the defensive backfield. Both sound pretty positive compared to last year. Heck the defense is practically all new both in scheme and in personnel. So its not just the coaching of the individual players; it’s the effect created by the coaching decisions.
May 29th, 2019 at 9:12 pm
Toes,
Bowles was mainly focusing on the interior of the line.
No dis to JPP there, buddy
May 29th, 2019 at 9:16 pm
I hope people note that this offseason the Bucs seriously hardened the middle of the defense.
Yeah, edge rushers get the glory, but anyone who understands real non-Madden football understands a defense is only as strong as the middle.
Look at what they have now: Vea/Suh, White/David and Edwards/Whitehead. That’s some tough right there.
What did they have last season? McCoy/Allen, Red Rooster (hurt)/Joe Dirt/Minter and Evans/Conte (hurt)/Whitehead.
Think of the SB team and what it had up the middle: Sapp/Darby, Quarles and Lynch/Smith, another seriously tough group.
Who wants to argue this season’s D middle is not vastly superior to last season?
IMO, this defense has great potential to be significantly better.
May 29th, 2019 at 9:22 pm
Excited! Bowles and company got their man! Suh is happy and motivated to be here! Defense has been bad in an epic way for the last two years and needed big changes. So this is all great news! Just need to win games now…. GO BUCS!
May 29th, 2019 at 9:42 pm
Cobraboy
Your agruement is baseless because this year d hasn’t played a down yet. You mean on paper. Our front 7 looks different but it’s unproven
May 29th, 2019 at 10:12 pm
The Lions did not have any established lineman in place
May 29th, 2019 at 10:38 pm
Dougyballs yes let’s recognize his 2013 all pro nod. That was 6 years ago. He was one of the highest paid defensive tackles in the game. And last made an all pro 6 years ago and we should celebrate him. This move was long over due. If he was so great a team would have instantly sent a 7th round pick for him and took on his salary. But not one team wanting to give up a 7th round pick to have his rights tells us non McCoy jersey owners that he ain’t that highly thought of. We traded a diva wide receiver with an 11 million dollar hit for a 6th. Heck we traded mark Barron for a 4th and 6th. Yet couldn’t get a 7th for McCoy. We traded Tim Wright for Logan mankins. Then again for Kyle brindza. We got something for Tim Wright twice and couldn’t get even a practice squad player for McCoy. Case closed
May 29th, 2019 at 10:39 pm
The biggest thing to me after hearing this is that Suh will be in the middle being a run stuffer. A DT in a 3-4 needs to first stop the run which means control the LOS. Then if it isn’t a pass make a second move and go after the QB which Suh can do and get the 6-7 sacks we need a year from that position. McCoy is a quick off the ball 3 tech with no second move. He can’t play inside DT in a 3-4. When people defend McCoy and say he is a better pass rusher they are a correct. But, he would be a liability playing DT in a Bowles 3-4 defense with his skill set.
May 29th, 2019 at 10:40 pm
Isn’t a run*
May 29th, 2019 at 10:47 pm
I’m just so happy to know what we have on the line now as compared to last year with that smiling loser fool we don’t have to see or hear everyday ! Yay ! Listen to suh is a breath of fresh air and sunshine compared to Mr. Comic relief mc cry- scream ! Yes yes and more yes ! Go bucs
May 29th, 2019 at 11:14 pm
Um…Ansah was drafted way after Suh in Detroit.
May 29th, 2019 at 11:46 pm
Very excited about Bowels running the defense and if he can accomplish greatness then I will have more expectations taking over as HC instead of his work as HC with NYJ.
Off topic…Joe or Zack you gotta give us an Xavier Ubosi article tomorrow. Now a passing league, this team continues stacking up with potentially good WR with the QB whisperer at HC. Stacking up with potentially good DB with secondary whisperer Bowels. Surrounded by one of the best coaching staffs we’ve ever had.
It’s a competition and all these good coaches know how to pick em. Very excited.
May 30th, 2019 at 12:16 am
Phattitudes
You nailed it!
________
Go Bucs!
May 30th, 2019 at 12:47 am
Joe in Michigan—
Get out of my head, Joe! You must have heard me saying to myself…”Suh would be one helluva’n announcer!” You are so right. Dude’s amazingly articulate. Obviously carries around a high IQ. Man I’m excited about this SMART man-beast!
Phattitudes—
Yours was an OUTSTANDING post regarding to coaching staff changes. Amen, Brother. PREACH!
SOE Buc—
Man-oh-MAN! I looked at Xavier highlights today and am ashamed to say I caught a little wood in the middle of a pizza restaurant. Whoa! This dude is a FIND! Yes, Joe’s…PLEASE write an article on this young talent!
May 30th, 2019 at 5:59 am
Bowles is 100% right and any coach worth his weight in salt should easily recognize that if you can’t stop a team in the middle (ahem, Devin White!), it doesn’t matter what you do outside.
REAL coaching!
May 30th, 2019 at 8:47 am
@ Lamarcus: I apprewciate that you are the quintessential negatron. No problem.
But it has to start “on paper” first.
On paper last spring the Bucs looked far worse than today. Do you care to challenge that statement?
May 30th, 2019 at 9:02 am
Thankfully this coaching staff has their priorities right and are more worried about getting gutted in the running game than just worrying about sending a speed rusher off the edge when they can never get themselves in a good pass rushing situation.
Running the ball and stopping the run are still the most important parts of this game, especially the deeper in the season you go. It’s the difference between getting or giving up 3 points and 7 points.
May 30th, 2019 at 10:34 am
I don’t think he will be a leader at all. I think it will be all about him and that is just the way he is. That is fine, but we shouldn’t put expectations for him to become a leader when he hasn’t before.