Todd Bowles’ High Standards
September 29th, 2022
Striving for perfection.
You’d think a guy in charge of the defense which has given up zero touchdowns on the ground and has held three opponents to a combined three touchdowns through three games would be damn proud.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles isn’t there yet. One reason is the Bucs have given up scoring drives on each opening drives this season.
Yesterday, Bowles was asked if he is excited about how his defense has balled out. Bowles isn’t close because the defense has allowed three scores, though he seems buoyed because the defense is playing better than last year.
“I don’t know if I’m proud or excited [after] the first three games,” Bowles said. “I like the effort and I like the communication – that has picked up. And we’ve played defense once you get past the first drive.
“We talked about it [Wednesday] morning, as we’ve been talking about it all week. We’ve given up 27 points and 20 of them have been on the first drives, or the first two drives in Green Bay’s case, three to the Saints and three to the Cowboys. So we’ve got to learn how to start faster and we’re looking for ways to start faster and communicate and play better right off the top.”
Bowles isn’t wrong, but dang, a defense giving up a touchdown a game is borderline insane for the NFL in 2022. The league is set up for offense like never before. For a defense to dominate is exceptional.
Joe just thinks Bowles’ high standards are amusing and crazy. You have to figure the Bucs won’t finish the season averaging a touchdown allowed a game.
But hey, if everybody believes this is a Super Bowl-or-bust team, why not carry those high standards to every element of your team like Bowles has for the defense?
September 29th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
All it takes is one mistake on one play to change a game.
Devin White over pursuing on 3rd down on the first drive.
The 2 times an olb quit covering their guy and went for the qb.
The team that makes least mistakes tends to win right?
September 29th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Jason: All that said, the defense gave up 14 points that game. The defense is good this year, you can nitpick all day long, but you have to admit the defense is good.
September 29th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
I think it’s a matter of teams having good game plans against our defense early…..and then our defense adjusting to it……
I’m actually ok with this…….the important thing is to finish strong and if you can finish strong for 3 quarters, that’s great.
September 29th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
How many points has the defense scored? Exactly. Not up to standard.
September 29th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Defense is ballin out. But we gonna need more offense than we have had in order to beat the Chiefs. We are gonna have to score 3 or 4 TD’s.
September 29th, 2022 at 4:37 pm
His high standards need to be applied to the offensively uncoordinated Boron Leftwurst. He and DardOn can get in the cart together and bring me the crows after proving me wrong against the Chefs.
September 29th, 2022 at 5:05 pm
TBBF I agree. Let’s not forget there are professionals on the other side of the field and their best in the business coaches scheming up ways to “execute” against our defense.
Frankly, I think it’s even more impressive that once they get through their scripted plan to score our defense adjusts and dominates. I can’t think of a more sustainable patter for winning than that.
September 29th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
TBBF … ‘I think it’s a matter of teams having good game plans against our defense early…..and then our defense adjusting to it’.
Awesome explanation TBBF & surely spot on. Bucs often seem to have some difficulty getting ‘into the game’ for whatever reason, but once they do (offensively & defensively) we do very well.
Holding opponents to FGs is not a big concern to me. Falling behind quickly by 2 TDs is concerning though (as in the Green Bay game) because it gets us out of our game plan early. Letting the other guy control the game is not a good look.
Packers had a great game plan I thought that kept us nicely off-balance. Their 3rd down conversions were particularly impressive. First drive they made 2 x 3rd down conversions out of 2 attempts (both by passing) … TD resulted. Second drive they made 3 x 3rd down conversions out of 3 attempts (all by passing) … TD resulted. Third drive they had 1 x 3rd down attempt (down by the goal line), but Aaron Jones fumbled to kill that drive. We were fortunate because the tide turned after that.
September 29th, 2022 at 5:23 pm
View from 132 Says:
September 29th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
How many points has the defense scored? Exactly. Not up to standard.
^^^^^^^^
Tied for first with several other teams in defensive touchdowns with 1. Defense is giving up 9 points a game: NINE POINTS PER GAME, and you nitpick.
September 29th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
Now if we can just get him and Byron to literally let Tom run the offense. There was nothing wrong with it. Now bc we want ” balance” we’ve essentially fcked ourselves. Whatever this new philosophy is ut belongs in the dumpster right next to Byron’s play calling.
Bring Arians to look at it. Bc neither of these two seem capable without him keeping them from their own demise
September 29th, 2022 at 5:31 pm
I love this defense. With them, I can argue against any fool in my local Arizona tavern trying to talk stuff about our Bucs. And the defense leads my arguemnts this year just like the D leads our team in these first three games
September 29th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Thankfully, I have very low standards. I’m seldom disappointed.
September 29th, 2022 at 5:56 pm
The 2002 Bucs defense gave up 37 points in 3 games in the playoffs…
Well, except they didn’t. They gave up 31, as stupid Tom Tupa got a punt blocked for a TD in the SB. But still, 31 points… But they also scored 28 points, so they gave up a net of 3 points in 3 games.
BUT, what about those those 31 points…
3 points came after a kick return vs the 49ers where the ball at the Bucs 46 (and then Lynch got a BS PF for 15 yards to put the 49ers in FG range).
7 points came after a 66 yard kickoff return to open the Eagles game, and started at the Tampa 26 yard line.
3 points came after a terrible Tupa punt vs the Eagles, where they got it at the Bucs 38.
3 points came after a Brad Johnson INT that was returned to the Bucs 36 in the SB.
6 points came in the SB on that completely BS Joey Porter TD catch where he was clearly out of bounds but the NFL wanted to try to keep eyes on the game.
———
The only scores against that 2002 Bucs defense, where the other team drove the field was a FG vs the 49ers, and the 48 yard blown coverage TD to Jerry Rice. That’s it.
10 legit points, on that defense, in 3 games in the playoffs, all vs top 10 offenses — while scoring 28. Also, it should have been 35 except for on a TD return by Ronde in the 49ers game, Rice punched a guy in the helmet away from the ball.
That is why Jon Gruden is so hugely overrated. His offense did nothing to help the Bucs win the SB, all he literally had to do was not screw it up and get in the way.
September 29th, 2022 at 6:09 pm
The offence will come around. … I hope…. This week???
September 29th, 2022 at 6:55 pm
And if we beat the chefs can you STFU GOAT
September 29th, 2022 at 7:08 pm
Not like injuries have any thing to do with our offense goat and you are bitchin about lefty we already know you don’t like him but tell us why since you are such a great offensive mine
September 29th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
If Bowles standards were up to you Joe, he wouldn’t be an NFL coach.
September 29th, 2022 at 7:47 pm
The Bowles Prevent Offense will keep us within 1 or 2 score in to the fourth quarter.
The we have to hope our opponents will make mistakes.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:35 pm
watching Dolphins game man they are on fire! The Bucs are weak garbage compared to these guys.
September 29th, 2022 at 9:02 pm
looks like the bengals now have 2 helmets…
let’s get bucco bruce on brady
September 29th, 2022 at 9:33 pm
Performance drives production. Limited production means ooor performance. I will shove and entire crow down my beer guzzler if Boron can actually call a creative, effective offensive performance. Without BA I don’t think he can do it.
I will be the happiest to be proven wrong.
September 29th, 2022 at 10:19 pm
The Bowles Bucs are going down the tubes,,,,FIRE BOWLes
September 29th, 2022 at 10:30 pm
Hold em to zero on opening drives now bowlsey. Then maybe we’re looking at shutouts!
September 29th, 2022 at 10:33 pm
So good to hear Bowles not accepting the D starting out slow, no matter how well they played afterward in the game.
Those 14 points were enough to get the Bucs beat.
Posters getting on me for talking the same way.
I do not care what stats are used if you lose.
The big stat is wins and losses
#1 in points is great, but it still means they gave up too many against the Pack and got beat.
If injuries do not hit this defense, they are going to just get better and better, because Bowels is keeping them accountable.
I am sure many fans can quote Derick Brooks talking about the Dungy telling them they got to do better. And Brooks and Sapp would look at each other.
They were playing at a very high level, but Dungy asked for more.
Even though the offense could not get out of its own way with Dilfer at QB,
Dungy still asked for excellence.
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 29th, 2022 at 10:41 pm
I think if Boron achieves mediocrity in play calling this weekend we should be ecstatic.
September 29th, 2022 at 11:15 pm
The reality is none of this matters. When you have an amazing defense and a inadequate offense what do you get? A good record and late season losses when you hit the playoffs. You need offensive fire power to compete in the playoffs. Bowles doesn’t want a flashy offense, he wants a dominate defense that shows what a mastermind he is. He failed in the off season to rebuild the offensive line, and it is going to cost us. His mindset is to go back to the 70’s and 80’s with controlling the clock by running the ball until you wear out the defenses. This results in close games where the margin of victory or loss is razor thin. I much prefer to go for the throat with a deadly offense and relentless defense. I fear Bowles doesn’t respect offensive football enough to lead us in the right direction. I don’t think his 38% winning percentage as a head coach is an anomaly. God I hope I am wrong!
September 30th, 2022 at 3:18 am
Now n days the defense shouldn’t have to score many points. The offense should be scoring points.yes we would love that..that’s complimentary football..but the league is still a pass happy league..with all the pass interference calls. Sure the defenses look like they are catching up this year..but still is. We just haven’t had our best receivers in the game. Still too early…we are 2-1..who wants pie,?
September 30th, 2022 at 3:29 am
HC Grover … ‘The Bowles Bucs are going down the tubes,,,,FIRE BOWLes’.
You never did answer my earlier question to define what you’re calling ‘The Bowles Prevent Offense’. Now I see why. You’re not a Bucs’ fan at all; just someone who loves taking contrary positions to gain the spotlight.
Just so you know. Our Bucs are 2-1 right now. We’ve played 3 very good defenses, and have been in all 3 games because we have an excellent defense ourselves … thanks to that same Todd Bowles who you want fired. Our offense is struggling for a number of valid REASONS, not excuses, but will come around in time. Too bad you won’t be able to enjoy it.
September 30th, 2022 at 3:48 am
Dreambig … ‘Bowles doesn’t want a flashy offense, he wants a dominate defense that shows what a mastermind he is. He failed in the off season to rebuild the offensive line, and it is going to cost us.’
Folks can’t have it all ways. Todd Bowles didn’t fail ‘in the offseason to rebuild the OLine’. That’s Jason Licht’s job; he’s the GM, not Bowles. And JL did it in terms of the STARTING OLINE. The only question mark was our LG replacement for Marpet (who retired probably unexpectedly?), but even there we had plenty of options: Stinnie, Goedeke, even Leverett, Wells & Hainsey. Unfortunately we got slammed by the injury bug: Jensen, D Smith, Stinnie, Wells.
What we didn’t have was quality experienced DEPTH. Too many ‘average Joes’ and youngsters. Our OLine is struggling IMO, but Brady has only been sacked 6 times in 3 games. Heck we sacked Jameis that many times in 1 game. Joe Burrows has already been sacked 15 times in 3 games, and he’s a lot more mobile than TB12.
You’re right about Bowles wanting a dominant defense. I’m all for it (obviously). Once Tom Brady really does retire (2023?), and we start ‘paying the piper’ from a salary CAP perspective, we’ll need a great defense just to be relevant. Thankfully we’ve made some great progress towards that goal.