The Secret Of Todd Bowles
September 19th, 2019
Coaching up the defense.
Yes, Joe already gave you the crib notes version of Bucco Bruce Arians on SiriusXM NFL Radio from his appearance last night on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian.
But Joe is going to highlight an item not already offered. It’s too good.
For too effing long, the Bucs have hired coaches or defensive coaches that had the mindset it was my-way-or-the-highway. You either played what the coach wanted or you were tossed aside. Meaning, if you didn’t fit his almighty “system” or “scheme,” you were trash and out the door you went.
(Never mind said coach’s “system” or “scheme” was trash to begin with.)
This is lazy coaching in Joe’s eyes and it often ends in decisions that haunt a franchise for years.
Exhibit-A was releasing future Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis, who went on to star on a Super Bowl-winning team the year after he left the Bucs, and make a Pro Bowl on his next team after that. This frosts Joe so much he just wants to take a baseball bat to someone.
Want to know one major reason the Bucs are the Bucs? The team is still trying to crawl out of the hold dumbarses dug for this franchise with braindead decisions like this.
Whoever made that call (Joe knows), Team Glazer should have told the fool, “No, Darrelle Revis can and will play for you. And if you can’t find a way to use him, then pack your bags because we can find someone to do your job a helluva lot easier than we can find a Hall of Fame corner.”
Alas, that never happened and some can argue the Bucs are still trying to catch up.
Too often in recent years, Bucs fans have been told in so many words, “We will find what a player does best and utilize his skills.” This was little more than lip service and a con to honest fans who spend their hard-earned dollars buying tickets, gear and paying for parking and $9 lukewarm domestic light beers and devoting so much of their lives to the pewter pirates.
That dumb philosophy of team building may be changing.
With the addition of Todd Bowles as defensive coordinator, the defense of the Bucs is giving fans flashbacks to Bucs’ defenses of old, when offenses visiting Tampa stayed awake at night trying to figure out how to score points.
The Bucs are tied for sixth-best in rush defense having allowed 137 yards in two games. One of those games was facing dangerous running back Christian McCaffrey of the Stinking Panthers who was held to a measly 37 yards.
That’s the lowest rushing total McCaffrey has ever logged in a game when carrying the ball 10 or more times (he had 16 carries last Thursday).
So last night on “Late Hits,” Arians was asked about the transformation of the Bucs defense from a complete and embarrassing sieve to stingy.
It’s simple, Arians said. It’s because of Bowles.
“I think one thing, we had talent,” Arians said. “Todd does a great job of taking the talent, and instead of trying to build a system, he just does what the players do best. And puts them in position to be successful. And I think that is what great coaching is all about.
“He’s not asking — trying to put a round peg into a square hole. It is not a system. It’s just, ‘Let’s put the players out there. Let’s do what they can do.'”
Let us not get carried away. Bowles has a “system,” a 34-defense. It’s been his core defense for years. That doesn’t mean Bowles isn’t coaching these guys up, something grotesquely missing in years past. Probably since former Bucs commander Greg Schiano was around these parts.
Given how the Bucs have mostly collapsed in years past at the first whiff of success, Joe isn’t ready to crown these guys just yet. But seeing how a defense can excel and make plays is certainly a refreshing sight.
And letting players do what they do best, if it continues, is music to Joe’s ears.
DL Ndamukong Suh says DC Todd Bowles without question has done a good job discerning what his defensive personnel does best and playing to their strengths.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) September 18, 2019
September 19th, 2019 at 9:27 am
Hope Bowles can keep it up. I think he will. Congrats to him.
September 19th, 2019 at 9:32 am
Todd Bowles.
Legend.
September 19th, 2019 at 9:36 am
I believe Bowles will take over as HC once Arians retires…..
I think that’s what the Glazers were thinking with the Arians hire too…..
September 19th, 2019 at 9:37 am
You guys conveniently forget you were calling for mikw smith to be resigned BEFORE his first season ended. You definitely were calling for us to resign him while sane fans were hoping he would get the job with the giants.
Glazers made a bad call in hiring Dirk it was a meh hire and got worse when we realized he had no vision or concern for the defense. The losing easily correlates to the loser coaches we hired. I’m glad BA was hired even if it’s for a short time because at least they wont go back to that moronic model of hiring unqualified coaches
September 19th, 2019 at 9:41 am
If Bowles can continue to excell with these players, this answers the question of whether we had a talent problem or a coaching problem.
September 19th, 2019 at 9:44 am
The greatest thing we have going for us is our youth……and speed…..Bowles certainly had influence on this year’s draft class and that’s a very good thing.
We needed the extra help with the secondary like Edwards (with Evans going down)
Think about the youth…..Edwards & Whitehead at Safety…..VH3, Davis, MJ Stewart at CB (Backups Dean & SMB)
Vea, Nelson, Nassib…..White….
All of these young guys on D…….great!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 9:54 am
Not forgetting whatsoever. He earned it. The defense played fantastic that season. Then it went to hell the next year and there were clear signs he should have never been let back in the building. Shoot Joe was hearing Smith had packed it in and was delegating virtually all responsiblities to underlings.
If Joe heard that, then you have to believe both Team Glazer and Jason Licht knew this. Why he was brought back after having the worst defense in the NFL in 2017, Joe cannot understand.
September 19th, 2019 at 9:57 am
So far I have been very impressed with Bowles. He seems to be the real deal. I hope he can comtinue to do it.
Go Bucs!
September 19th, 2019 at 10:06 am
The defense played fantastic that season.
wrong…..
they played well for 5games….not the entire season….
you take those 5games out, defense is exactly the same as 2017 and 2018….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 10:07 am
TB has been our savoir…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 10:11 am
“Joe Says:
Not forgetting whatsoever. He earned it. The defense played fantastic that season. Then it went to hell the next year and there were clear signs he should have never been let back in the building. Shoot Joe was hearing Smith had packed it in and was delegating virtually all responsiblities to underlings.
If Joe heard that, then you have to believe both Team Glazer and Jason Licht knew this. Why he was brought back after having the worst defense in the NFL in 2017, Joe cannot understand.”
———————————————————————————
^^^^^^^
Ok, that’s crazy that Smith mailed it in that early.
I thought that maybe Smith would’ve been like Mike Tomlin….he had some good years in Chicago……but I don’t understand why he couldn’t replicate that same success in Tampa?????
September 19th, 2019 at 10:11 am
Hey Y’all.
Just got back from a trip to the future and MAN, I can’t wait for you to witness RoJo having his break-out game! 227 all-purpose yards!!!
Three fricking touchdowns!!!
And that 71-yard field goal by our Gay kicker!!! Woah!!!
37-9
What a win!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 10:11 am
Acquiring a disgruntled 29 year old CB coming off an ACL tear for the price of a 1st and 3rd round pick and then turning around and paying him 33% more than ANY other CB that had just signed a free agent deal is the idiotic part.
I don’t blame Lovie for not wanting Revis, who did not play anywhere close to his former standard the year before. Lovie ran a ton of zone concepts, was he to change his entire scheme for one player that wasn’t even great anymore? Maybe he could, but if you started to run more man, then you would need another strong man to man CB for the OTHER side… which the Bucs did not have. This trade was one of the worst and one-sided in history.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:13 am
Joe Says:
September 19th, 2019 at 9:54 am
You guys conveniently forget you were calling for mikw smith to be resigned BEFORE his first season ended.
Not forgetting whatsoever. He earned it. The defense played fantastic that season. Then it went to hell the next year and there were clear signs he should have never been let back in the building. Shoot Joe was hearing Smith had packed it in and was delegating virtually all responsiblities to underlings.
If Joe heard that, then you have to believe both Team Glazer and Jason Licht knew this. Why he was brought back after having the worst defense in the NFL in 2017, Joe cannot understand.
———————-
His defenses were terrible EVERY single year in Atlanta, his defense was terrible for all but that six game stretch in Tampa. I was praying a team was stupid enough to hire him as a Head Coach… but Tampa bought the bluff and was forced into giving that bum a new contract. STUPIDITY at its finest.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:15 am
Which is why Joe screamed for the Bucs to hire Jim Schwartz. But Koetter/Smith had a handshake agreement that it was a package deal for the two of them.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:20 am
One guy who I thought would be gone was VHlll but I m guessing he was just not being used to show his talent..let me be clear I never thought he was dumb, stupid and too slow like some here believed. Those who believe this way can’t wait to see him go up against the league best receivers like J Jones of the ATL! Well he usually makes the best DB’s in the league look dumb, stupid and slow but I’m counting on TB to come up with a scheme to slow down JJ!! Let coach TB keep coaching them up!!! And please let go of the past…GO ahead and bury it and stop digging it up because it compares to nothing we have going on at this time!!! GO FAMOUS GO SHUY GO SHAQ!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 10:40 am
I just hope we shut down the Giants offense and win a game at home that is very winnable. Before the season I thought a 2-1 start was possible but I thought it would be wins against the 49ers and Giants. The Panther win is even better if we can go to 2-1.
September 19th, 2019 at 11:07 am
I just wonder how long it takes the NFL to forget what happened with Jets when Bowles was the coach and he starts getting hit up for a head coaching job. Plus when does Bowles want to try being a head coach again…. only a matter of time if the Bucs D keeps going strong.
September 19th, 2019 at 11:13 am
Joe always seems to conveniently forget that his boy Dom signed Revis to a contract that was completely unsustainable – AFTER giving up 1st and 3rd rd picks for an injured player… SMH
It was $16M per year in 2013 – which in today’s NFL dollars is about $23M per year – for a CB!!! Dominik was desperate and STUPID to pay all that money and draft capital for a rehabbing veteran CB…… future HOFer or not – doesn’t matter – STUPID!
Thanks Dom! Bucs are just now crawling out of the deep hole that idiot “GM” dug for this Buccaneer franchise.
Todd Bowles showing us all how much coaching really matters!
If anyone told me 3 months ago in all seriousness that the Defense would be the strength of this Bucs team in 2019, I would have laughed in their face…..
September 19th, 2019 at 11:24 am
Funny how the Haters who made fun of BA’s age, “Ole stale biscuit”, and wanted all players who weren’t high producers last year cut as busts, etc., are getting mighty quiet now and are not telling us now that our season is in the toilet. They made fun of Licht as well and blamed our losses on him and Jameis. I hope all those Haters find another team to gripe about, because this one has already become a Winning Culture. As I have continually told them Trust BA he always finds a way! We are already playing better in the first year than even Dungy’s first year at this point! The sky is not falling as the Hater’s predicted; instead the sky is the limit for this team. Rejoice long suffering Buc’s fans!
September 19th, 2019 at 11:36 am
All the more reason to keep him, or at minimum get something for him. Bucs tossed away a good first round draft pick. And for what? Thanks Lovie.
September 19th, 2019 at 11:40 am
Great article, Joe. It says a lot about how pitiful our coaching has been. The self-appointed experts said it was all Jason Licht’s fault or all Winston’s fault. In reality, it was coaches who wanted to show everyone how smart they were rather than win games.
We’re starting to see that Licht’s talent evaluation isn’t as horrible as some said. I’ve been saying all along his bust rate is pretty average. I said when the BA hire was announced that he would take advantage of players strengths. We are already seeing it.
September 19th, 2019 at 11:55 am
“Just got back from a trip to the future”
Uh-oh, Todd is time traveling again!
September 19th, 2019 at 12:00 pm
pickgrin
i agree…
joe loves to say dom was a lousy GM but doesnt hold him accountable….a unhealthy revis shouldve never been signed…..dont blame lovie for getting rid of a player that wasnt himself and overpaid….lol…
so in joe’s eyes we shouldve kept him because he was unhealthy and making 16mil….lol….
dont quit your day job joe….lol….smart GM’s admit their mistakes and cut bait….you wouldve made dom look like bill polin….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Ok , Lichts O line is in the bottom 5 in QB hits and the top ten teams in least amount of hits on the qb are most of the best qb s in the league . Winston has 500 percent mor pressures/ contact than Lamar Jackson !!! Joe this is no different than Revis ( bad for winning)just harder to identify and kinda stubbornly opposite , but yet just as foolish and blatantly ignorant. Revis wasn’t the qb, first overall pick and most important player on the field , HANDS DOWN !!! Btw many of the teams with half or less the qb hits are flooded with 2-0 records and widely considered the better teams .
This Sht ain’t hard folks , ignorant people make it hard !!!
September 19th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Todd Bowles will not necessarily be a good HC, Buc fans should be painfully aware that coordinators don’t necessarily make good HC’s
And people…pump the brakes on how awesome this defense is ..just yet.
I love the Bucs and great Defense..but let’s curb the enthusiasm until we actually shut down a good offensive team.
We one the Carolina game on the last play, and they had no QB.
I’m not ready to anoint them the 02 Defense just yet.
September 19th, 2019 at 12:19 pm
*won
September 19th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
Joe come on man. I know you’re good at reading the tea leafs. Sometimes you can’t forget to look for them.
Lovie didn’t just get rid of Revis that year. He also completely dismantled a really good offensive line. He also took on a team that had no option at QB and completely ignored it. We rostered two career backups at the position that year.
It was a tank job bro. It’s pretty clear. Heck the season even ended with us throwing a game at home to a division rival. How do you not see they tanked for Winston?
They dismantled and enitet OL and drafted all passing weapons. Who dismantles a entire line a drafts no replacements? A team that’s tanking. That’s who.
September 19th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Great article joe. Agree with everything you said. Hopefully BA/bowels can get us back to being competitive
September 19th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Bowles is a boss…always has been…no one would have won consistently with those Jets.
Once Smith whiffed for the Charger opening in favor of Anthony Lynn ( boy did their fans dodge a bullet )…he went into a give up slide at the 5 on 4th and goal.
September 19th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Revis sucked for a $1,000,000.00 a game
September 19th, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Joe conveniently gets amnesia. Joe wanted Smith resigned before Joe wanted Smith fired.
Smith was never re-signed. After the Bucs led the NFL in third-down defense during the 2016 season, Joe was eager for Team Glazer to make sure Smith would return for 2017 and not seek a head-coaching job. There was no reason at that point to believe SMith was worthy of getting launched.–Joe
September 19th, 2019 at 3:07 pm
All you going in on Joe for Lovie cutting Revis who did he sign with the money? Anthony Collins.. BUST.. Michael Johnson… BUST. Josh McCown… Bust. Oh and McCown gifted us Winston so take that how you will.
September 19th, 2019 at 5:20 pm
and that’s why for the most part to my eyes Carl Nassib is not actually playing much linebacker, but his usual Left Defensive End