Todd Bowles’ Impact On Offense
September 4th, 2022
Influence on offense?
One reason why Joe, if all things are even, prefers an offensive-minded head coach is because defensive coaches seemingly are not aggressive with their offenses.
Defensive guys usually are way too worried about mistakes and turnovers and subsequently have their offense play conservatively. This lends itself to allowing teams to get back into games and/or pull away.
(Exhibit-A, of course, is Father Dungy and his then-prehistoric Bucs offense. Joe is convinced that cost the Bucs at least one Super Bowl.)
In naming the NFL’s best team using NFL suits as sources, longtime writer and Pro Football Hall of Fame selector Mike Sando documents that one NFL suit thinks Todd Bowles’ defensive roots and DNA may lasso the Bucs offense a little too much.
Well, it’s reasonable to think Bowles will have some influence on the offense. How much is the question?
Joe has a hunch more often than not, Bowles will be hands off and leave that to offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady. What smart coach wouldn’t lean on Brady?
September 4th, 2022 at 8:05 am
Exactly Joe… Lefty is calling the plays, Brady is doing the adjustments, Arians and Moore are watching the game and throwing in their analysis. I think Bowles is bright enough to know if it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it.
September 4th, 2022 at 8:17 am
I have very little confidence in any aspect of Bowles coaching.
September 4th, 2022 at 8:23 am
I agree, and think that Todd will let Byron run the offense.
September 4th, 2022 at 8:41 am
I think he’ll be smart enough to leave it to BL and TB. I do think they will run the ball 2–3 times more game because of his influence and how it helps the defense but that was before O line issues, so we shall see
September 4th, 2022 at 8:48 am
He doesn’t strike me as the type to try and fix that which isn’t broken.
September 4th, 2022 at 8:49 am
The only offensive calls Bowles will be making are situational.
4th and short – Go for it or punt? Stuff like that.
And even then he will usually do what the offensive minds (ahem – Brady) are “recommending”….
Todd is smart enough to stay in his lane and largely defer offensive decisions considering the offensive talent and brain-trust involved.
September 4th, 2022 at 8:51 am
As coach, it makes sense that Bowles would have some input on the offense, but he would be a fool to mess with a good thing. Don’t fix what ain’t broken. I think Bowles is wise enough to know better. If Brady and Leftwich leave in 2023, all bets are off.
September 4th, 2022 at 8:58 am
I think the only difference will be a slight uptick in the run/pass mix, I think for 2 reasons- 1. Get that interior oline some rhythm as they develop 2. Time of possession
September 4th, 2022 at 9:02 am
I don’t think Tom Brady will allow that to happen.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:12 am
By all accountes Coach Bowles is a smart guy – save for one call that still gives me hives. I expect he lets Lefty and Brady have at it.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:14 am
More passing on first down please! Play to your dam strength!!! A short pass for 6 or 8 yards on first down opens the playbook choices on 2nd down. And it keeps defenses from stacking their run stopping defense on every first down. Keep them guessing and the run game will improve.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:14 am
Look, as long as we are balanced against the Rams and Saints the offense will be fine.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:17 am
Bowles left Chan Gailey alone in NY, and I’m sure he’ll let Byron and Tom alone; his clock management in NY was a problem, but since Tom runs the best 2 minute drill in the business, I think Todd is smart enough to defer to him.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:40 am
“He doesn’t strike me as the type to try and fix that which isn’t broken.”
I think that statement is as true as the reciprocal… Todd’s not the type to try to fix something that IS broke (see Rams blitzing gameplan, and lack of halftime adjustments vs saints).
Great coach, but his confidence strikes me as stubbornness. Once he’s on the rails, he’s unlikely to change course which may bode well for him to stay out of TB/BL’s way. The jury is out on his game management skills and I’m excited to see how he has hopefully evolved in this regard from his Jets days.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:55 am
Wild Bill says it all…short passes & play action on 1st downs
September 4th, 2022 at 10:06 am
Hopefully we will go more hurry up. This will cut down on the exotic blitzes our opponents are sure to throw at our inexperienced offensive linemen. Adding KK as a fullback on some plays would also help, both with blocking on running downs, and as a movable blocker that Brady can deploy where needed on passing downs.
September 4th, 2022 at 10:32 am
I’d be happy if the only impact he has on our offense is field position and holding opponents to 10 points……
September 4th, 2022 at 10:47 am
Perfect example was Mr Defense Tony Dungy going to be Head Coach of the Colts.
He let Tom Moore run the offense, and stayed out of the way of Moore and Peyton. Kind of interesting Tom Moore is a part of the staff now in Tampa too lol.
Todd has enough sense to not try and fix something that is not broken.
GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2022 at 10:51 am
No more El Blundo Blunders. Only 1 week left til we see what is up. Hope it is not a Jets Replay. Dallas will tell. Yes I am still sick about the Rams game.
September 4th, 2022 at 11:52 am
More screens, please.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
The only problems that may arise will be 4’th and short at midfield or in positive territory. Will Bowles be more conservative and punt or attempt field goals where In the last couple of years Arians would go for it more.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Right on Wild Bill
September 4th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
Maybe Todd can over-complicate the offense like his defense? So that the receivers don’t know their routes and the linemen don’t know who to block? That would be awesome!
September 4th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
None
Hopefully
September 4th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
if we beat Dallas & Packers; then i think Todd lets Lefty & Brady manage game planning.. But if we loose 2 or 3 in a row ;; then Todd gets involved ….
September 4th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
I hope Bowles gets better. After what he did with the Jets and the critical errors on defense during the Rams game, single coverage of Cooper Kupp and as BA said, 2 defenders who were supposed to blitz, didn’t.
September 4th, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Conservative? Not a chance with Tom Brady running the offense
September 4th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
Plus Bowles is not conservative calling the defensive plays
September 4th, 2022 at 11:07 pm
If anything Bowles is able to throw in some input on what he sees when the offense is out there as a defensive guy. Iron sharpens iron.
September 5th, 2022 at 12:16 pm
NO WAY Brady let’s that happened. You don’t think this was addressed upon Brady’s return? Why do you think he had BA banished? Go back and watch the games the last two seasons and see how many times Brady shook off BA & BL including the SB. If Brady doesn’t control it, Bucs go no where.
September 5th, 2022 at 12:18 pm
Joe, FYI Belichick is a defensive minded coach, his offenses were pretty complex and aggressive.
September 5th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Wait, didn’t Dungy win the SB with Manning? The total opposite of a conservative offense.
September 6th, 2022 at 2:50 am
Counting on a head coach to defer to his offensive coordinator when game changing play calls are on the line seems like a stretch to me, and it only takes one wrong decision to make the difference in a game.
One thing is for sure, those type of decisions will not be left to TB because he will go for it every time!