A Todd Bowles Defense Is Beginning To Rise
August 10th, 2022
Always has tough run defense.
In the past six or seven practices, Joe noticed a trend that had a lot of Bucs fans, skittish about the suddenly vulnerable offensive line, pointing fingers.
About the fourth practice, maybe the fifth, the Bucs run defense began to pick things up. Gradually, it became tougher and tougher to run on, especially up the middle.
Bryon Knowles, typing in the Football Outsiders 2022 Almanac, believes what Joe is seeing is a typical Todd Bowles defense.
Todd Bowles’ defenses haven’t finished worse than 10th in stuff rate since he first became a coordinator in 2012. They have finished first or second seven times in nine seasons spanning three franchises.
So the run defense getting stingy is not because the Bucs’ offensive line is in unexpected turmoil in the wake of Ryan Jensen’s blown knee. Intead, it’s what a Bowles’ defense does.
So when Playoff Lenny and others cannot crack that wall, it’s ok for fans to doff their caps to the Bucs defense out of respect. No need to heckle the offensive linemen and stomp feet for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to invest a fortune on some overrated castoff.
August 10th, 2022 at 10:09 am
I hope that’s the truth. I guess these next two day’s practice against the Dolphin’s D-line will bear out the accuracy of that idea…at least as far as the O-line and run game stands during week 3 of training camp.
August 10th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Stopping the Run is always job one for our defense.
And Hicks is a good run stopper, as well as being the pass rushing threat that Suh never was.
With Vea and Hicks, we have two huge bodies, in the middle of our D Line.
It is not easy to move two huge bodies out of the way.
Old Time Buc Fans have a hard time realizing that we have become one of the best teams in the NFL.
But it is true!
August 10th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Stopping the Run is always job one for our defense.
And Hicks is a good run stopper, as well as being the pass rushing threat that Suh never was.
With Vea and Hicks, we have two huge bodies, in the middle of our D Line.
It is not easy to move two huge bodies out of the way.
Old Time Buc Fans have a hard time realizing that we have become one of the best teams in the NFL.
But it is true!
August 10th, 2022 at 10:16 am
Todd Bowles to me is still the guy who was the key engineer of our SB LV run.
Fans overreact to that one poorly executed blitz which unfortunately cost us the divisional round comeback against the Rams.
It was unfortunate, but it doesn’t make him a worse defensive coach.
I trust him.
August 10th, 2022 at 10:29 am
Best quote so far, “I’ve learned that the best defense is to play offense” says Bowles. He knows if the D is fresh and his opponent is chasing points, the D will feast.
August 10th, 2022 at 10:37 am
Dough rises too. But when you punch it, it’s soft. It’s not and never has been Todd’s run defense than concerns me. I
It’s watching countless receivers running wide arse open because of yet another coverage bust.
Cooper Kupp being the last and most unforgivable.
Bucs SB run –
Taylor Heineken almost beat Todd. Low-rung QBs seem to do that to the Bucs.
Brees’ arm was toast and Todd finally figured that out in the late 3rd quarter.
The typical Bowles bid lead collapse happened in the Packers game and it took LaFleur choking on 4th and goal, and the PI on Tyler Johnson for what might have been an uncatchable ball for Bucs to put IR away.
KC were missing both starting OTs and Mahomes was hitting guys in the hands, in the facemask with passes to get them back into the game, his men just couldn’t catch that day.
Let’s see the defense choke out a few quarterbacks in the first four games and finish 2-2 to start the year. Give up an average of 19 ppg or fewer. Then I’ll agree that it’s defense and not dough that is rising.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:14 am
Thats because of the new O-line.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:15 am
Fact check: Probably true
August 10th, 2022 at 11:17 am
Goat farmer – you failed to mention Brady’s 3 picks in the second half of that conference final game. Can’t lay everything on the D. Oh, and we did win the Super Bowl you know.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:22 am
It seems they’re gonna try to actually catch a few into this year. That and slightly better tackling should make us a juggernaut.
If they get even slightly better special teams play we should win at least 12 games this year, maybe more.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:24 am
My only worry is that oline.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:35 am
I agree. Depending on JTS, we have arguably the best front 7 in football on earth. Not a slight in the least for any line to struggle against them. Our Oline is fine, and going agains that defense will only make them better
August 10th, 2022 at 11:40 am
They looked good last year and then got rolled continuously during the regular season.
August 10th, 2022 at 11:56 am
74 fan — no doubt, the team played good enough football (sans atrocious special teams against the Saints) to win all four games culminating with the SB. Brady’s three picks a combination of rare poor judgment by him and Byron calling the second half like a tard.
The point is, anyone thinking it was due to a 1999 or 2002 style dominant defense needs to check their enthusiasm.
You’ve been a Bucs fan as long as I have by your handle — you know how many times we get our hopes up only to have them crushed like a muffin in a trash compactor. I’m concerned about depth, and about Todd’s scheme versus his players understanding of their assignments. And poor tackling.
Go Bucs.
August 10th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Chris Tucker … ‘And Hicks is a good run stopper, as well as being the pass rushing threat that Suh never was’.
You’re not the 1st one to throw out that horsepuckey Chris, and I’m sure you won’t be the last.
o Suh career (12 years): 70.5 sacks … 212 QB Hits … 130 TFLs … 191 out of 193 games … 8707 def snaps (726/yr average)
o Hicks career (11 years): 40.5 sacks … 111 QB Hits … 73 TFLs … 138 out of 177 games … 5635 def snaps (512/yr average)
Saying the same thing over & over doesn’t make it true.
August 10th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
The best defense is a quick-start offense.
August 10th, 2022 at 2:31 pm
@DR: those are career stats for Suh and Hicks.
I really like Suh and still want him to be a Buc, but honestly his pass-rushing skills the last two seasons were underwhelming. Not bad. But not a great asset.
I’m hoping Hicks brings more pass rush to the table in 2022. That, and Suh would likely slip some more in that area.
August 10th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
SUH > HICKS
GO BUCS!!!!
August 10th, 2022 at 8:07 pm
You really think the OL adjustments don’t have any affect in defensive performance? Bowles’ D is a run killer but c’mon Joe, what happens on one side of the line has a reaction on the other. It’s just physics.
August 10th, 2022 at 9:28 pm
His defense is good only if he can reduce the blitz down under 30%