Todd Bowles: I Will Get Involved In The Offense
April 1st, 2022
“Jason, about this Jaelon Darden …”
Once upon a time a Bucs head coach firmly said he would steer clear of all things defense because he’d probably screw things up.
That was Dirk Koetter, the offensive guru who was so loyal to former defensive coordinator Mike Smith rather than to innocent Bucs fans, he preferred to let the defense be historically bad instead of diving in to help and calling for backup.
Defensive-minded Lovie Smith? He cared so little about offense that he joined with general manager Jason Licht to defraud the fanbase by naming Josh McCown his inaugural quarterback to lead the Bucs to the NFC South crown.
Super Bowl coaches Bucco Bruce Arians and Jon Gruden (before he was canceled by Team Glazer) were offensive wizards that kept hands off their defenses.
But new Bucs head coach and defensive playcaller Todd Bowles will be busy with the offense. He made that clear yesterday and during a chat this morning on WDAE Radio.
Bowles said he has the utmost faith and trust in Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady, but he will be working to get up to speed on the offense, will work with the offense in practice, and will give input when he thinks it can help or is needed.
Just keep the red pen in your pocket, Todd!
April 1st, 2022 at 11:21 am
I hope his involvement is something like “Great idea Tom, I agree with you.”
April 1st, 2022 at 11:32 am
Todd — that’s a bad idea. Tom, with BL’s help, has this. Focus on the defense. its what you know
April 1st, 2022 at 11:35 am
The offense hearing what a defensive mind thinks is not a bad thing. Seems obvious to me & its probably done already.
April 1st, 2022 at 11:35 am
He’s the head coach, he should be involved. No problem.
April 1st, 2022 at 11:39 am
Leave Tom and the offense alone. Last thing they need is your help.
April 1st, 2022 at 11:47 am
Input is okay as long as he doesn’t have final say.
Is anyone else concerned about his ability to make decisions on the fly as games progress? He didn’t exactly shine in the final minute of our last game.
April 1st, 2022 at 11:48 am
As long as they don’t listen to him I’m fine with it
April 1st, 2022 at 11:49 am
It is imperative that the HC has a working knowledge of the offense in order to be an effective leader and encourager to them. Also as a defensive minded coach he may see gaps which might be able to be exploited by the opposition. He is the team HC not the defense HC. I have much more thought on this but not the time to express in writing.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:02 pm
N Todd, Hell No..Stay in your lane. Please sir! You are the HC and know Defense. Let those 2 be your strengths. Leave the Offense to Brady and Leftwich. If you don’t, you are gonna be booed outta Tampa Bay. Your job is to get this Defense stinging and hittin hard again. Concentrate on that pass rush.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Hoping this leads to better synergy between offense and defense. The offense was 18th in the league in time of possession. Reduce the amount of time that the defense needs to hold on for dear life, and run the ball a bit more. Having the ball and The Goat more than 30 minutes a game can only lead to more success.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:15 pm
Anyone who thinks a defensive coach cannot help an Offense is a fool. This is going to be a big step.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:16 pm
Don’t do that.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:16 pm
We’ve only won Superbowls with offensive minded coaches. Defensive minded coaches are too conservative with the offense. Period.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:23 pm
position Might be going to his head already…
Enjoy this season because this train track look like its headed down hill, back to the losing decade!
April 1st, 2022 at 12:25 pm
I hope he does help the offense by saying “ how about not throwing 3 interceptions in a playoff game at Green Bay, or how about not getting stuffed at the goal line in the Super Bowl and give new life to Mahomes or how about scoring some points when my defense holds the Saints to 9 points, or how about scoring some points in the first half against the rams in a playoff game so my defense isn’t bone tired come the fourth quarter”.
Neither side of the ball is perfect and as a head coach Bowles is ultimately responsible so he should have input. But he should and I think he will trust his staff and Brady to push back when they disagree. That’s how successful functional football teams (or businesses) work. You use all of the expertise, experience and skills you have available, no matter where or from whom it originates.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Jesus, just worry about defense, the clock, and challenges. Brady isn’t just the best to ever do it, he’s also one of the best football minds ever. He’s been trained by the best, and obviously can still do it on the field. I’d take these comments with a grain of salt. What’s he supposed to say, “I’m not messing with Brady and BL, they can do whatever they like”. It would only make him look more of the puppet coach he is. We all now know for a fact, who runs things in Tampa, the goat does.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Yeah, just don’t bring your redlining pen, Todd.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:43 pm
I would prefer that Todd Bowles just be the head coach, and not the defensive coordinator or medal in the offense. I would think he would have learned from his jets tenure. He started calling plays when he deemed Rodgers was incompetent, and we see how that ended up. I’m not sure about this experiment, just not sure he learns from mistakes. I hope I’m wrong.
April 1st, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Perhaps some are misunderstanding what he’s really meaning to convey? MAYBE he’s saying that he wants to learn what he can as the Head Coach about that half of his team, and yes provide input where his defensive expertise could be helpful. As good as ouroffense has been, it’s still hit rough spotsagainst some of the better defenses like the Saints and Rams. MAYBE Todd’s input in times like that based on what he’s seeing as a defensive guru could be valuable?
April 1st, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Sounds great to me, it should be a collaboration
Raheem Morris made the transition to coaching wide receivers in ATL, it’s helpful every now and then to have the opposite perspective.
I expect the head coach to bring innovation to all phases of the game, I could believe Koetter did what he did and saw no issue with it while getting paid millions of dollars……….
April 1st, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, Mr. Bill……..
April 1st, 2022 at 12:59 pm
I think bowles shouldnt even have been considered for this job i feel it was an obvious choice in byron leftwich with his offensive mindset and this offensive team it would have worked beautifully and bowles just doesnt know what he is doing out there he is trying to do to much and he needs to fucus on one thing at a time its the same thing he did with the jets and look where that got him
April 1st, 2022 at 1:04 pm
Stop it with the Brady worship already…its disrespectful to Leftwich. Players play & coaches coach! The HC is over all of it. Brady & any other player will do as they’re told.
April 1st, 2022 at 1:06 pm
I can think of at least two things he can help with.
Offense stripping the ball after an interception…….if not, tackeling.
Recovering offensive fumbles
April 1st, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Tackling
April 1st, 2022 at 1:20 pm
I get a sick feeling about this,Iike when Raheem and Greg were hired.
Bowles knows football but head coach is another animal.
April 1st, 2022 at 2:30 pm
Its in TB12’s hands, we’re good lol, but thanks
April 1st, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Gotta agree with Defense Rules, perhaps as a HC he will be freer to comment on some of the offense sets than he was comfortable doing with pappa Arians as HC. And that sure can’t hurt.
April 1st, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Hope this promotion doesn’t go to your head Todd. If you want to educate yourself with what they’re doing on offense that’s fine, but please leave your opinions at the door. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! You just saw Tom briefly walk away because of Head Coach interference. If you want to retain any hope he returns in 2023 then memorize and repeat this quote: ” Yes Tommy, whatever you want to do is fine with me”
April 1st, 2022 at 4:27 pm
BL was pretty stale at times last season, running on first down is not meant to be an every first down thing.
As long as he suggests and listens to Brady I think it might add some spice to the game, maybe some added insight into what the opposing defense is planning.
Anything to sweep the Saints this season.
April 1st, 2022 at 5:01 pm
I agree. As a head coach and the game on the line, on 4th and inches. Bowles should be able to say kick or go for it.
April 1st, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Eric the Viking….your forgetting that is was our defense that won us the last 2 Superbowls! If his input is to explain how he would stop certain offensive plays so they can adjust a certain call or route, I’m all for it
April 1st, 2022 at 6:45 pm
God I hope he doesn’t own a red pen. NOT GOOD.
April 1st, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Todd is now our Head Coach, so of course he will be involved with the Offense. But I bet his involvement will be minimal.
Brady and Lefty will run the offense, for the most part.
April 1st, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Todd Bowels is now our Head Coach, so of course he will be involved with the Offense. But I bet his involvement will be minimal.
Brady and Lefty will run the offense, for the most part.
I keep getting the duplicate comment detected screen a lot lately, BTW
April 1st, 2022 at 9:00 pm
You know when you think about it Byron Leftwich could be our 4th string QB.
He’s younger than Brady!
April 1st, 2022 at 9:43 pm
Co defensive coordinators but I’m calling the plays !!! Nope , Notta , no way , failure, 3 yrs tops, same mistakes again , you can’t be for real !!!
April 1st, 2022 at 10:37 pm
ModK thank you because there’s a lot of fools on this site. So many think they know more than a coach. One clown says job going to Bowles head because he’s going to pay attention to the offense. I’m like really??? Since when does the HEAD coach don’t have the right to ALL parts of the team he’s controlling? A lot of doubters up here even though Bowles did a masterful job last year in spite of all the injuries and keeping the defense from falling apart. Also not to mention the defense he crafted to beat Myhomies in the Super Bowl but all of these clowns firget about that. There’s two defenses that Brady hasn’t been able to defeat so to think Bowles defensive input can’t help is just idiotic. Too bad for Bowles he’ll never really get much credit with these fans no matter how good he does here. Dungy is a prime example
April 2nd, 2022 at 2:21 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
April 2nd, 2022 at 7:15 am
Gruden wasn’t cancelled by team Glazer. He was cancelled by himself. Actions have consequences.
April 2nd, 2022 at 9:31 am
Defensive minds make terribe offensive minds. If I were Brady I’d look elsewhere.