Todd Bowles Says He Won’t Change The Offense And Doesn’t Want To
May 13th, 2022
Todd Bowles says he’s calling the shots on 3rd-and-short, but the head coach put his foot down today to declare that he’s not altering the Bucs offense.
In fact, Bowles says he has no desire to mess with offense and never has.
“Everybody thinks that I’m changing the offense,” Bowles said. “I didn’t get a head job to be an offensive coach. That’s not my job. I’ve always been a defensive coach. That doesn’t mean I can’t be a head coach. So me and Tom understand that. We have a great relationship going forward. We communicate constantly.”
Joe thinks Bowles is a shrewd guy — too smart to start tinkering with the Tampa Bay offense in any significant way out of the gate. But that can change.
Being a head coach is all about adjustments and leadership, and the day may come when Bowles feels it necessary to exert his authority on the offensive side of the ball. You know, like former head coach Dirk Koetter should have with his defensive coordinator, Mike “Throw In The Towel” Smith.
Hopefully, it never comes to that during the Bowles regime, certainly not in 2022.
May 13th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Yeah because it’s Brady’s offense duh lol.
May 13th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
If the bucs don’t run more this year, they’ll get the same result as last year. You can’t have 65.5 pass/ run rate. Sure it got them to the divisional round, but they LOST!! Last years accomplishments were done with a healthy Godwin, and Antonio brown. That’s not the case this season. I truly believe the approach will be more balanced. Bowles shouldn’t need to change anything. Brady and BL are smart, and should realize that fact. They didn’t trade for Shaq Mason, and draft a back with the 90th pick, to pass 65.5 % of the time.
May 13th, 2022 at 5:24 pm
GOB – the result last year had nothing to do with passing too much and not running enough. They scored at an unprecedented pace…the defense couldn’t stop anyone (especially when it mattered). It’s a tough league but scoring 30 per game will lead to a winning record regardless of how bad the defense is.
May 13th, 2022 at 5:33 pm
TB12 is in charge….everyone know…lol, all good.
May 13th, 2022 at 5:50 pm
Brady is not running the offense. This is one of the biggest misconceptions going around. He’s one of the best play action QBs ever, and yet we don’t utilize it enough. You think that’s HIS decision? We’re also at the bottom in the league in utilizing motion. Brady loves to use motion to identify coverage and mismatches. Tony Romo and Dan Orvolosky had to excoriate us on TV to incorporate just a little motion. That’s Brady’s idea?
He’s also one of the most efficient QBs who will take the high percentage throw. Instead we’re taking deep shots on third and 1. That’s exactly why Bowles wants a say in those situations. He gets it. I think it’s a good idea to get a defensive perspective. Brady is not running the offense. Don’t be fooled. Leftwich is adamant about keeping the status quo. Each game we should have a different game plan to attack a defense. We need to stop being stubborn and do the same thing over and over. We also need to help our D by having more long drives. We have too many 3 and outs.
May 13th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
The JPP injury was equally devastating as losing Godwin or Brown or Wirfs. It was the Rams year. Stafford deserved one and he got it. Now TB12 has unfinished business and I wouldn’t want to get in his way. Plus he has won a Super Bowl every other year since 2015. I would bet the farm on the Bucs winning it all this year. Easy money!
May 13th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Also I would not be surprised if we have to face a healthy JPP in the playoffs this year. He will go to a contender ie Green Bay or KC
May 13th, 2022 at 6:05 pm
I believe the Bucs will run more this year just because they don’t know what they have at the LG spot and Shaq Mason (a great player) is substantially better run blocker than pass blocker (from what I’ve read). It would also be nice to save Tom Brady’s arm some for the playoffs. I noticed someof his passes really started dying or were off target as the season progressed. It was noticeable to me during the Bills game and beyond.
May 13th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
They can have him.
May 13th, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Brady won several rings with a great D and not turning the ball over- made enough plays to win
I expect a similar philosophy this year – more ball control, more TOP and an aggressive D trying to create a lot of turnovers for those extra 2 possessions per game that allow for all of the above
The schedule doesn’t scare me, we might win 14 games if we get just a couple last pieces on D – a la Suh and another edge rusher veteran
May 13th, 2022 at 6:25 pm
I think you should let him clarify…I believe he meant 4th and short. But, journalist like to create tension and division where ever possible. Really not a fair assertion. It seems like you are doing what you accuse Joe of doing. The Buccaneers have a sizeable media relations staff that includes people who listen to Coach Bowles at all times and read this site. If there was an error or issue, they would reach out on this point. In addition, many football staff members read here and many of them have Joe’s cell. Joe has not heard from anyone after sharing this multiple times and talking about it on podcasts.-Joe
May 13th, 2022 at 6:42 pm
@Think Before You Type, the run pass imbalance certainly contributed to the defensive failure. The defense was on the field way too much. Of course I won’t argue with scoring points, but how you do it effects the defense. The bucs need more long scoring plays. I’m talking 12-14 play drives. I will agree that the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed, but some complementary football would’ve helped
May 13th, 2022 at 6:45 pm
Thanks…I stand corrected
May 13th, 2022 at 6:48 pm
If Bowls is calling 3rd down…Byron should resign now. No point in pretending he’s calling the plays if he only get 2 chances to make a 1st down.
May 13th, 2022 at 6:50 pm
@Bucsfan13, is exactly right. Blaming the defense for the loss to the Rams is the popular opinion. Nobody seems to remember how badly the offense sucked through 3 quarters. It’s funny, the same people who blame the offensive problems on Godwin’s injury, and ABs absence, don’t wanna hear about how the bucs trampled an arena league O line in the superbowl. You can’t have it both ways.
May 13th, 2022 at 7:06 pm
^ Buccos, you the man….im throwing a hundred on it.
May 13th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Sorry! My Bad! I think Byron should resign if he only get 2 plays to make a first down and Bowles calls 3rd downs.
May 13th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
@GOB. That’s a big issue. We start off way too slow offensively, and if the defense is struggling at the same time, it’s an absolute disaster. We have too many three and outs. It’s too predictable. We get behind the chains on third down and expect Brady to bail us out. It’s kinda like what Cincy was doing to Burrow in the SB. Yes, we put up great numbers on offense, but it’s a an inefficient, volume offense.
On defense, we can’t get off the field on third down. We give up too many drive extending plays. That game ending WFT drive last year was an absolute embarrassment. We’re gonna regret not addressing the defense enough this off season. If we’re not gonna get enough pass rush, we need good secondary players. Joe has been sounding the alarm on our weak secondary, and we pick a developmental corner who might only contribute on ST this year.
Licht and company claim this team is all in. We’re not acting like one. The Saints meanwhile are going all out. we’re pinching pennies. Were on the last year of Brady’s rookie deal, and the team is gathering spare parts this off-season
May 13th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
@Bucsfan13, if this team doesn’t add a significant piece or two, I’d be very surprised. I think some significant players should shake loose. Remember we have pre and post June 1 cuts. I also believe they’ll be active in the trade market. I’m not talking the ghost of Julio Jones either. They can do better. I’ll admit, most years when you add a piece late, It usually turns to poo. I have a different feeling about this year though. We just went through a record off-season, with multiple, high profile players changing teams. I talked to a buddy who was in a front office. He said the template for a team going for it remains the 94 9ers, sadly Steve Youngs only superbowl.
May 13th, 2022 at 10:29 pm
I agree, BucsFan13. These are the final games of the Brady era. Why shouldn’t the offense be geared specifically for Brady’s best skills and what he does better than anyone else? Frankly this team should play just like the gritty old Patriots teams. Far more balance, far more variety, absolutely solid clock-chewing smashmouth and defense. Instead of the predictable pass-happiness and bombs, 3 and out.
The brutal schedule makes it even more important to be tough, patient and even boring.
May 13th, 2022 at 10:47 pm
Agree with the guys suggesting a hybrid “No Risk It No Biscuit” with move the chains “Patriot football”. Why not the best of both? We have the personnel to run either!
May 13th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Everyone at the Buccaneers organization has stated how BL runs the offense and of course Brady has some input. Why does everyone sitting at home on their couch think they know better and that all the Buccaneers are lying? That’s kind of ridiculous.
It’s all irrelevant anyway. The offense will probably score 32 points a game or more and be absolutely fine. The issue is whether or not they will generate a pass rush
May 14th, 2022 at 7:03 am
Let’s not get carried away and lets put last season in perspective. First we were BEHIND a lot because of our defense. We were second to last behind the futile Jets with about 22 ish runs per game. We were lumped just ahead of the Jags, Falcons, Steelers all poor teams. So yes we need to run the ball but more importatly we need to play better defense. The Rams, GB, Bengals, Chargers, Chiefs were all lumped together apx 22-25 in the league with a whopping 3 more carriers per game. Its a passing league and some stats are overstated or misleading. The Titans and Eagles led the league but they had Derrick Henry, and QBs named Hurts and Tannebomb!
May 14th, 2022 at 7:09 am
22.6 vs 24.5
This past years runs per game vs last year SB Title year. Not exactly a big difference. Who was complaining we passed too much last year.
May 14th, 2022 at 7:49 am
Chris Simms did an AMA last week and someone asked what were his favorite offenses in the NFL. He said Byron Leftwich was his favorite. Bowles should just let Byron and Tommy work in the lab together and stay out of the way.
And since you mentioned that the team reads this site, I’d like anyone with the Bucs to know I’m available as a consultant. My skills range from the practical (beer runs for Licht, Old Fashions for BA) to evaluation (shut up and draft the trenches) to public relations (those clock uniforms are hideous/no one actually cares about Gruden’s emails just wait 48 hours for the SJW mob to move on) to social media (cyber bullying dissenting fans on behalf of the regime)
May 14th, 2022 at 7:53 am
I wanna know who calls FIRST down– “Fournette up the gut for TWO yards! Wow Dan, it SURE looked like they were expecting that”