Can Todd Bowles Control Himself?
January 23rd, 2022
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is one of the best defensive coordinators in the game. It’s why he’s getting so many interviews for the eight (current) head coach openings.
Bowles likes to blitz and blitz and blitz some more. That’s the way he is wired.
Dan Pizzuta, typing for Sharp Football Analysis, details how if Bowles is wise today, he will restrain himself. Why? Because Rams quarterback Matt Stafford shreds blitzes.
The most interesting blitzing decision might come from the Buccaneers. Stafford was blitzed at the third-lowest rate in the league, just 20%, during the regular season. He’s going up against a Tampa Bay defense that blitzed the most during the regular season. That includes when these teams met back in Week 4.
Tampa Bay blitzed Stafford on 30.8% of his dropbacks, the second-highest blitz rate against Stafford during the regular season. Against the blitz, Stafford went 9-of-11 for 91 yards and a touchdown — 0.59 EPA per dropback.
While the rap on Stafford this season has revolved around if an offense can force him into making a mistake, that just doesn’t happen against the blitz. Stafford had no interceptions against extra pass rushers and just a 5.5% sack rate. 68.5% of Stafford’s throws come within 2.5 seconds of the snap against the blitz, opposed to 43.2% against a four-man rush. The Buccaneers only had two games during the regular season with a blitz rate under 25%. It’s ingrained in the DNA of Todd Bowles to send that extra pressure.
Pizzuta then breaks down each game that Stafford faced blitzes in at least 25 percent of his dropbacks. In short, Stafford was lights out.
So what is Bowles to do? Will he not be himself and instead drop six or seven defenders back in coverage like he did in the Super Bowl? Or will he just blitz because that’s who he is and cross his fingers that Stafford just has a bad game?
Joe knows which option he’d choose (not blitzing).
The Ira Kaufman Podcast. Dial It Up!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:07 am
de emphasize blitz
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:37 am
Bowles has to resist temptation; don’t blitz Stafford. Blitzing Stafford is doing him a favor. It’s a major reason for the recent lack of success against the LAMBS. It opens up the field for Stafford.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:44 am
If memory serves, Bowels holds a good bit of his arsenal back throughout the season to unleash in the playoffs.
Today will be the “Big Reveal” for new packages that will confuse the hell out of the Hollywood Team who will have traveled over 20 hours in the air eating crappy airline food while Bowles is gathering his flock together in comfort to install new pressure-yielding plays in his mad scientist room.
I predict Vea at safety. Or something.
LFG Bucs!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:51 am
Todd.. I think you hit it on the head. Bowles doesn’t show everything during the regular season. And I expect some new, and hopefully effective, wrinkles from the D in this game.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:51 am
The Bucs D keeps winning and Mr. Bowels can pick his coaching gig.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:59 am
I do think our 3 lights out safeties allow a plethora of options.
I too believe Bowles saves schemes for the playoffs and is a pioneer at bringing something new and fresh.
Just look at how many teams deployed 2 high safeties this year against the Chiefs.
I think the disguise of pressure has a bigger impact than people expect against Stanford.
Brady can’t be rattled. You don’t think him ramping up his release time isn’t in response to a 4 man rush getting home being the MO to beating him?
I AM SO FREAKING PUMPED and it’s still only 7 am
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:00 am
Stanford HaHaHa
My IPAD auto fills Brady.
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:08 am
F Roger’s the piece of SHAT. Bye Bye Felicia!!! Underdog weekend. GO BUCS!
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:43 am
He still needs to blitz, maybe not as often but when he does they have to get home. Coverage has to be tight and Kupp doubled. I think Davis can play man vs OBJ and take him out of the game. Watch for the bafoonery from McVay stay disciplined and stay home. I’m expecting a big game from the D today LFG!
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:58 am
I suspect Bowles will be thinking, “We blitz everybody and it has worked great for us all year. There is no point in spending a lot of extra effort thinking about doing something different. After all I have 8 head coaching interviews to prepare for. We will be fine, no need to fix what’s not broken”. Obviously I am being facetious, but Bowles is only human, it will take Brady GOAT like mental toughness for him to stay focused on the task at hand. I hope he can.
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:02 am
Right now Brady has Giselle running 15-yard hook and out curls in their main foyer for some last minute preparation.
Not even kidding.
That man times his dumps in relation to his visualization of drop backs and releases.
He’s already figured out the third play of the fourth quarter…which, by the way will be a seam route to Gronk for 14-yards.
3pm minus 8am.
Five ours to go, Bucs fans!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:02 am
I’m just hoping Suh is extra motivated (of course he may be disappointed he won’t get to see A@ron
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:10 am
Todd,
Your math is off a bit, it’s 7 hours to go. 🙂
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:11 am
Joe hits the nail on the head.
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:17 am
We didn’t blitz in the super bowl
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:30 am
Shaq and D line need to play like they did in the SB
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:46 am
@bradybucs
I stand corrected. I suffer from premature e-gamulation.
Happens.
Good catch!
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:47 am
Carlton was just coming off an injury, Jamel went out that game hurt, and we had no JPP. Our outside corners are playing great lately along with the AW, ME and JW. I’m all for Bowles bringing the heat with our secondary playing like they are and the Rams being down Woods. Nelson is improving as a rusher, JPP is back, blitz away Todd, keep them disguised and unpredictable. Go Bucs!
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:07 am
All bllitzes are not made equal. I might cut back a bit, but I wouldn’t abandon them. If Stafford shows that he can handle Tampa Bay’s blitzes, then adjust. But, don’t shy from our identify. Hopefully, Bowles has a defensive game plan than can counter Stafford’s ability even with blitzes in play. Double team Kupp and tackle upon contact. Kupp and Akers (out of the backfield) will make catches, but we’ve got to keep YAC to a minimum.
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:33 am
I hope Bowles’ (& BL’s, for that matter) ego will allow him to make adjustments based on logic & not his “time-tested” blitzing (passing BL).
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:34 am
*endless passing
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:07 am
GREAT Defensive games yesterday, loved the old school football!
Bucs have to establish a threatening running game today !
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:29 am
I loved the snow ending of the game last night.
I also enjoyed listening to Pack fans whine on their sports talk radio after the game. Seems Rodgers does not have a massive fan base in GB. But I do not blame him for the loss at all. ST’s lost/won that game. That punt block TD was a gift from the football gods to Buc fans.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:31 am
If Bowles has got the entire first-string secondary playing today, anything is possible.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:06 am
No, he can’t. He can, at least, control the timing. It is not how much you blitz, it is when you blitz.
Bowles with have that much restraint.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:09 am
We really need a vintage gap shooting , TFL, ball punching out performance from LVD today. And Gholston crashing down the line for the TFLs.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:22 am
I actually felt bad for Aaron Rodgers cause he’s one helluva of QB…….but he doesn’t really have a good supporting cast of talent around him and because Aaron Rodgers is so good……he disguises the Packers weaknesses on offense.
You guys all relish the fact that they lost last night…..but Aaron Rodgers isn’t the reason why they lost.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:24 am
…….and Todd Bowles will sure as he’ll bring the Blitz…..cause it’s the only way we have any hopes slowing down this Rams Awesome offense…..
So yeah, I totally expect Todd Bowles to Blitz 50% or more the Entire game to Force Stafford into making mistakes…….GO DEFENSE!!!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:34 am
Have White45 blitz Stafford only when he isn’t expecting the blitz.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:47 am
Blitz or no blitz I don’t really care because I don’t expect Bowles to chance one single bit. Just please don’t give up big play after big play this time. The secondary sucked last time we played them
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Toilet Bowles will be exposed today. The log should sign any contract he can from any team he can fleece for head coach, before he gets flushed.
January 23rd, 2022 at 2:06 pm
Anthem go away man you Brady hating Jameis jock sniffing and loving non Bucs fan. Physically Shaaron Rodgers is great but not mentally and he has no heart. He’s only about himself and does nothing for his team. Brady does nothing but lift the players around him and you come up here with your quivering sniveling dribble about that choker. He had that game in hand and couldn’t deliver. How can you say he didn’t have a good supporting cast? One of his players had more offense than the entire 49rs team! He had obey of the best WRs in the league. Bruh stop making excuses for him because you hate Brady so much because of your Winston love affair! Every post you put up here shows why no one respects you in any way but that right there takes all the cake.
January 23rd, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Proud and Pewter just don’t watch the game then losers. You obviously didn’t see the game plan he put in place for the Igglets did you. His defense pitched a shut out for 3 FULL quarters!
January 23rd, 2022 at 2:13 pm
We won’t need to blitz because JPP, Suh, Shaq and JTS will get home. Even Vita will have a sack today. Dean and SMB will not drop their INTs. and Playoff Lenny helps us control the clock.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:50 pm
Bowles just needs a louder voice. Clearly the DBs didn’t hear him when, in the last 30 seconds, he said “Look out for a long pass”
January 25th, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Bowles should be forced to sit in his office and read this post for an hour every day between now and the resumption of the regular season in August. Not all statistics are for losers. Some of them scream at you to be noticed and respected.
January 26th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Bowles should offer an Apology to the TEam , & offer to resign…..
January 29th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
So — no Todd’s Bowlel could not control himself.
THANK’S, TODD!