Todd Bowles Not Really Sure What To Expect Week 1
September 1st, 2022
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
So now that the 2022 roster is set — for now — Joe’s attention is turned to Week 1 and the Bucs’ first opponent, Dallas.
Yesterday in his first press conference since the roster was trimmed to 53, Bowles was asked if he thought the Cowboys would be pass-heavy like last year’s team was in the season-opener. Bowles seemed to have taken a page from Joe’s old high school coach.
Joe’s old high school coach played for John Madden with the Raiders, Lou Holtz with the Jets and Tom Landry with the Cowboys. Whenever, practicing defense, Joe or his teammates would ask Coach what he thought the opposing offense might do in a certain situation. He would always smile, shrug his shoulders and say, “You never know.”
(That was his fun way of telling players to prepare for anything: run. pass, trick plays, the works. Lesson learned.)
“I’m not sure,” Bowles said when asked how he expected the Cowboys to attack his defense. “You know, we’ve got to be prepared for everything. We know they can run the ball – they have two great running backs.
“We know they can throw it, so we’ll have to play an even-keyed game. Everybody’s going to have to read their keys and make plays.”
As you may recall, the Cowboys pretty much gave up trying to run on the Bucs last year and went almost exclusively to the air. Dallas only had 14 rushes from running backs. Prescott put the ball in the air 58 times!
The Bucs’ pass defense didn’t have its best game and when Sean Murphy-Bunting went out with a dislocated elbow, Prescott went crazy. He finished with 403 passing yards.
Joe should have a fairly fast answer to whether the pass defense has improved since that woeful showing against the Rams in the playoffs.
September 1st, 2022 at 12:25 am
Cowboys passing attack wont be as effective this season. Offensive line is weaker, receiving corps is weaker… they will be less effective
September 1st, 2022 at 12:33 am
No surprise that Todd would say he doesn’t have a clue. No sense tipping your hand.
Hopefully he gives a different answer to his coaches and players. But he might really not have a clue.
Like the Todd Bowles Bowl.
Please don’t be clueless, Todd.
September 1st, 2022 at 12:34 am
The one game I think we’ll win out of the first four.
September 1st, 2022 at 12:37 am
Who is our backup RT? If it gets ugly at LG, we move Tristan there!!!
September 1st, 2022 at 12:38 am
Hey, heres a thought, Goedeke played RT!
you’re welcome….
September 1st, 2022 at 12:45 am
I’m glad that Licht combed through all the o-linemen released from g cute other teams and found us some extra depth, because the Bucs have an injury epidemic raging. So thanks, Jason – wait, what are their names? Who did you sign?
Oh yeah. Logan Ryan. The DB. The guy you cut being cute about the Jensen thing. I’m sure he felt swell about it. Leader of your defense, all that.
OK, so after him, we got…..um…..uh………..er…………….nobody? Good idea. I’m sure in a pinch you can get a guy to whiff blocks just as well as Leverrett and Hainsey.
This is great!
September 1st, 2022 at 1:11 am
Long wait till 9/11
September 1st, 2022 at 1:26 am
I feel you goat…buy I’m bit more optimistic that we win atheist 2 out first 4 games with no improvement to line plus gage n Godwin I imagine out.
Will see we gotta play the games to see who we are.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:30 am
Madmax, Our backup swing tackle is Josh wells. After that we’ve got John molocon (sp) and I don’t know after that. I think we cut Fred Johnson. We need a better backup tackle too
September 1st, 2022 at 1:41 am
^ Thanks…and I agree. We def need more depth there.
I think Wirfs would be great at LG, in a pinch emergency situation just because he is who he is…a beast and athletic….thats all im saying. Goedeke knows RT because thats his experience!
September 1st, 2022 at 1:46 am
Goedeke Is not athletic enough nor big enough to play RT going up against elite edge rushers. He was drafted to play guard due to his limitations. He’d get crushed even more at RT.
September 1st, 2022 at 1:59 am
Thanks Goatfarmer. You nailed it.
I’m still waiting for Logan Ryan. If there was a wink-wink deal, why isn’t the entire transaction finished? It was only supposed to take one day. Did Ryan, the brains of the secondary, actually agree to be disrespected and kicked to the curb , treated like roster trash in “appearance” if not in reality? Or was he surprised and actually pissed? Everyone’s assuming, but there is still potential, however slim, that it can backfire. He isn’t waived, but can another team talk to Logan and make him an offer?
Mad Max, putting Wirfs at LG and Goedeke at RT is an interesting idea. Wirfs would make it work, but I don’t think Goedeke is ready for anything except spot play for another year or more. Hainsey the golden boy isn’t ready either.
I also don’t think this coaching staff has the vision to do such a thing. They’re just stubbornly shoving Hainsey/Leverett/Goedeke/Next Scrub Up to “learn” on the job, risking Brady’s life in the process.
September 1st, 2022 at 2:37 am
“Coach Bowles. Are you going to try to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the opener?”
Bowles: “I don’t really know. We’re gonna have to look at the film.”
September 1st, 2022 at 3:37 am
Goedeke 6’5 312
Wirfs 6’5 320
The only thing not big enough here Brady fan is your logic.
Protecting the GOAT’s blindside is where its at….and you should know that if youre true to your moniker!
September 1st, 2022 at 5:36 am
I better expect to see better tackling.
September 1st, 2022 at 6:13 am
Yes, let’s take the top 1 or 2 RT tackle in the entire NFL and slide him all the way across to left guard and stick the struggling rookie left guard out at right tackle on an island and expect him to immediately grow up there…..
This one is definitely in the running for dumbest comment conversation so far this young season. Congrats.
September 1st, 2022 at 6:21 am
You know what we can expect??? Long returns from their little return man and their special teams is going to be a difference in this game. When the special in your special teams means riding the short bus wearing a football helmet and the coach is driving, its going to be a long day for offense and defense making up for that
September 1st, 2022 at 6:50 am
The cowboys are much better running team now that they finally figured out what they have in Tony Pillard. The defense is what holding back Dallas from being a really good team. Their ranking coming into ‘22 is 12th. That’s up 5-7 spots. The good news is most ranking have the Bucs around 5th.
2nd year in a row the Bucs open vs Dallas. This is going to be a great test out of the gate.
September 1st, 2022 at 7:30 am
“Goedeke 6’5 312
Wirfs 6’5 320
The only thing not big enough here Brady fan is your logic.
Protecting the GOAT’s blindside is where its at….and you should know that if youre true to your moniker!”
Ummmm…. Put the pipe down madmax and back away. You need a time out.
September 1st, 2022 at 7:31 am
Gotbbucs nailed it. Beat me to it.
September 1st, 2022 at 8:01 am
Why would he know what Dallas is going to do? He’s 100% dead on right. Get ready for anything they throw at you. Don’t assume jack. Let the game determine how it’s going to be played. Remember last year The Patriots threw three times against The Bills. Gotta to ready for whatever. GOBUCS!
September 1st, 2022 at 8:41 am
Bowles top job is to tighten up the pass defense this season. Otherwise the Bucs are not a real threat to take the conference.
September 1st, 2022 at 8:58 am
Doubling Cee Dee Lamb the whole game and forcing another Dallas WR to beat you might be a good move after the Cooper Kupp dungshow. Don’t see how Carlton handles him one on one. Just double him.
However that’s too simple an approach for Todd, he’ll call some 14 option zone coverage plan depending on formation, where the hot dog guy is in the stadium and the location of Mars relative to Jupiter.
Lamb will catch at least two TDs.
September 1st, 2022 at 9:11 am
Do you think we’ll try to tackle the cowboys or will we just play two hand touch as usual? Coach Bowles: “I’m not sure”.
September 1st, 2022 at 10:43 am
The real question isn’t whether Bowles knows what to expect from the 2022 cowboys rather can he adapt to what the Cowboys throw at him after the kickoff. It wasn’t the case last year. The secondary was ineffective and Dean in particular was unprepared to step in for SMB after he went out early in the first quarter.
September 1st, 2022 at 11:40 am
I’m not concerned at all about the Bucs run defense. Its the pass rush that has to be improved. There is good reason it should improve:
Akeem Hicks gives more pass rush than Suh did.
JPP was non-factor, Joe Tyron S has got to improve. Preseason and camp has shown that, real games matter. He has to prove it but he certainly is fast and if he takes the correct angles, he should be ok.
Logan Hall has the size and athletic skills to be a better pass rusher.
At first glance, the defensive line should be better than in 2021. It does give an expectation of a better pass rush. Both Cowboys and Saints have lost key offensive line components that will give Barrett and JTS an inexperienced or backup tackle to rush against.
Dallas All Pro tackle Tyron Smith has a devastating hamstring injury and is probably done for 2022.
New Orleans first round draft pick left tackle Trevor Penning suffered a torn ligament in his foot and is having surgery. He will not be playing vs Bucs. Reserve guard Forrest Lamp, expected to compete for a starting spot was put on IR. Also lost backup tackle Sage Doxtater to a season ending elbow injury.
Dallas will not be able to replace Smith and the Saints have lost 3 offensive lineman which certainly means lesser players blocking for Winston.
Bucs defensive line will have some matchup advantages in these early season games.
September 1st, 2022 at 11:52 am
THE KEY TO VICTORY
Zeke looks healthy. He’ll be running tough Week 1. The Bucs need to get up early and force the Cowboys to rely on suspect WRs and pass protection. A 2-3 score lead could lead to a snowball of turnovers/sacks.
September 1st, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Ok, its a bandaid offensive line already…gonna get worse…but go ahead and keep smoking whatever it is you’re smoking and remain in denial (i dont smoke).
We’re in trouble already….SERIOUS trouble if Wirfs, Hainsey or Goedeke goes down. If you cant wrap your head around that, i dont blame you. I think outside the box and I see whats coming.
We better have a strong run game because Brady wont have much time to execute.
September 1st, 2022 at 12:27 pm
And btw, “got”, Goedeke’s position in college was RT, but you didnt know that i guess….all good.