Todd Bowles Explains Bucs Are Better Because Of Tom Brady’s Absence
September 7th, 2022
Todd Bowles
Joe’s not sure this one can pass through the air filter at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters without being flagged.
Still, Joe understands where Todd Bowles was going and it sure is interesting.
Bowles sat down with Father Dungy for an NBCSports.com feature in advance of the Bucs’ game against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Dungy asked Bowles about how the Bucs got through Brady bailing on the team for 11 days. Bowles said it was beneficial to be without The Goat.
“I thought it was a good thing,” Bowles said. “… And it kind of helped us develop our run game a little more. You know, it’s like, ‘Ok. We’ve got to play with Blaine [Gabbert] or Kyle [Trask], let’s develop things we have to do to win the ballgame.’ And I think in that process we got our run game going a little more because we spent a little more time on it, which we probably wouldn’t have had he been here. So I think it’s helped us on the long run. And we figured out that we’re a team and not just one guy and a team.”
Joe loves hearing that Bowles sees improvement in the run game and team bonding, but something smells awfully strange.
Are Bucs fans to believe Bowles changed practice without Brady to try and win preseason games? Was Bowles unsure that Brady would return? He has said repeatedly that everyone knew Brady was returning.
Something doesn’t quite add up. Bowles tried to sell two weeks ago that Brady really only missed three practices. Joe didn’t buy it, but if Bowles was being forthright, then why alter the practice plan and work more on the run game just because Brady wasn’t there?
Keep in mind the Bucs are trying to acclimate new targets in Kyle Rudolph, Julio Jones and Rachaad White (Russell Gage was injured), and polish the pass-blocking skills of inexperienced offensive linemen.
Joe will buy that the team learned more about itself without Brady and found a new level of bonding. But the notion that time without Brady is a good thing is a tough sell from an organization that’s been quick to say Brady’s daily presence improves everyone from the team nutritionist to the coaches, players and general manager.
September 7th, 2022 at 3:36 am
‘Joe will buy that the team learned more about itself without Brady and found a new level of bonding. But the notion that time without Brady is a good thing is a tough sell from an organization that’s been quick to say Brady’s daily presence improves everyone from the team nutritionist to the coaches, players and general manager.’
I love your ‘Bottom Lines’ Joe. I’d like them even more IF you’d just stop caveating them. Your 1st sentence nailed it. You either buy it, or you don’t (you said you did BTW). But your 2nd sentence caveated the living daylights out of it & gets everyone questioning whether Todd Bowles was just blowing smoke.
Personally I don’t think he was. It’s too easy for teammates to ‘lean on Brady’ during those ‘we got troubles’ times instead of they themselves stepping up to the plate & making the big plays. Once Brady retires for real, Bucs lose their security blanket. Now’s the time for all 52 others to ‘dig deep’ & make those big plays that champions make.
September 7th, 2022 at 3:42 am
You are never better without your best player.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:00 am
Bowles said Brady wanted to come into training camp during the install. When Brady arrived at training camp, he was able to work on chemistry with Gage, Jones, and to a lesser extent Rudolph. He accomplished that. Gage, Evans, CG, weren’t even able after Tom went on his absence. Julio practiced like only three times a week after Tom left. Boy, Tom sure missed out on developing chemistry with receivers who were either cut or are now practice squad.
There was no benefit to Tom taking 95% practice reps with practice squad. Bowles has always been consistent. This was a pre-planned absence and Tom really didn’t miss many practices because he wasn’t playing in he first two preseason games anyway. Bowles has said that they wanted to get Trask more snaps in camps, and that would have been made impossible if Brady was present. Joe always complained about Trask not getting enough snaps in camp. Brady’s absence allowed Kyle to get the majority of reps. It also provided hi the opportunity to prove he can be a leader of the team. It was more than just practice reps.
Defense Rules makes some great points. They need to start cutting the umbilical cord because this Tom’s last dance. Joe posted a great article that where Matt Cassel said Brady prepares for a preseason the same way for a regular season with film work and meetings. I hope thats something Trask really observed. The article also noted that Brady was the team’s crutch. Bowles was correct. You need someone to fill that leadership void.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:09 am
Bowles said Brady wanted to come into training camp during the install. When Brady arrived at training camp, he was able to work on chemistry with Gage, Jones, and to a lesser extent Rudolph. He accomplished that. Gage, Evans, CG, weren’t even able after Tom went on his absence. Julio practiced like only three times a week after Tom left. Boy, Tom sure missed out on developing chemistry with receivers who were either cut or are now practice squad.
There was no benefit to Tom taking 95% practice reps with practice squad. Bowles has always been consistent. This was a pre-planned absence and Tom really didn’t miss many practices because he wasn’t playing in he first two preseason games anyway. Bowles has said that they wanted to get Trask more snaps in camps, and that would have been made impossible if Brady was present. Joe always complained about Trask not getting enough snaps in camp. Brady’s absence allowed Kyle to get the majority of reps. It also provided hi the opportunity to prove he can be a leader of the team. It was more than just practice reps.
Defense Rules makes some great points. They need to start cutting the umbilical cord because this Tom’s last dance. Joe posted a great article that where Matt Cassel said Brady prepares for a preseason the same way for a regular season with film work and meetings. I hope thats something Trask really observed. The article also noted that Brady was the team’s crutch. Bowles was correct. You need someone to fill that leadership void.
I can’t believe that Joe is still running with the notion that this wasn’t a preplanned absence and that Brady just ghosted the team. Lenny recently said on a podcast that Brady told the players that he would be absent for a portion of training camp, but will return after the Titans’ game. Lenny said Tom is great communicator with the players and coaches. While the media was left in the dark, Brady made sure that the people who mattered the most like his coaches and teammates knew he was taking this leave. They weren’t caught off guard. If i were a teammate of Brady, I would absolutely be going mad because the media won’t stop asking questions abut the absence, even though it’s been asked and answered a million times. I also think Bowles is exhausted by this line of questioning.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:55 am
Great interview with Dungy- “Details and Accountability” and Bowles can sing!
September 7th, 2022 at 7:18 am
Off topic a bit Joe but can you tell us if Gage has been in ANY practices in training camp? We kept hearing he’s day to day for weeks.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:03 am
Brady taking a break was a good thing for the Bucs and a good thing for JoeBucsfan site. It gives unending articles through the rest of this season when nothing else is happening on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:14 am
I buy what Bowles said. It makes sense to work on area’s that otherwie would not get attention with Brady under center for 85-90% of practice snaps.
To that point and with all due respect to you Bucs Guy…I think you can get better without your best player in this case. Brady can miss time and come back just as good, meanwhile other areas get addressed.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:31 am
Good in the sense we got to evaluate Trask, depth at WR, and figure out our OL rotation in Brady’s absence. This is why it’s good to have Gabbert, who’s been in this system since 2017 when he signed with BAs Cardinals teams, to catch Brady up and point out which players are thriving or who needs more work in a task/area.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:30 am
Is it Sunday Night yet? I’m ready.
Bloody Mary number 2.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:50 am
I think what Bowles was saying was they got a chance to work on what they would do if Brady was hurt and had to miss some games.
September 7th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
I realize it shouldn’t be a problem and I’ve been saying the Bucs were fine with it to determine Trask future. I didn’t like the fact he didn’t return after Stinnie because Hainsey and Goedeke we’re gonna be the guaranteed starters now. Hainsey had injury in camp before Colts.
September 7th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Maybe smoke screen for Dallas to inhale!! “Those play action passed are really actual runs, so bite!!”
September 7th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
“Something doesn’t quite add up.”
Seems pretty clear to me Josephs….
Bowles treated the time Brady was away as if Brady was hurt and unavailable.
If Gabbert or Trask find themselves playing any type of meaningful snaps this year – the offensive game plan would be to run the ball a good bit more than if TB12 is in there. Since those are the conditions the back up QBs would be asked to manage in a live game – those are the conditions Todd focused on getting them extra practice reps managing.
September 7th, 2022 at 2:07 pm
You might be drilling to deep in this one, Joe’s. Perhaps you are correct to out this through a drive but how about at face value Bowles was simply saying we were able to see another side of what we can do.
September 7th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
*put this info through a seive.
(Seive you effin spell check pos Android ai)
September 8th, 2022 at 12:36 am
When the boss is out of town. People have to think for themselves. They can’t rely on someone to affirm what they are doing is right. Sometimes being without a strong leader makes everyone take the next step. It also amplifies peoples mistakes to thier peers. Instead of letting down the leader with a mistake they let down thier peers. I think in Brady’s case he can cover up other players flaws by compensating to overcome those flaws. Making things easier for everybody.