“Technique” Is Torturing Todd Bowles
October 18th, 2022
Yes, that’s typically sideline-stoic Todd Bowles in the upper left corner crouched down and holding his head in his hands after a fourth-quarter Steelers conversion on 3rd-and-long. They had three in the quarter.
Some on-field failures are more painful than others for coaches, who pride themselves in being teachers.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said yesterday at his news conference that three different Bucs were responsible for the each of the three 3rd-and-long conversions Tampa Bay allowed to the Steelers in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Bowles didn’t name names, but he clarified a bit later on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
On radio, Bowles said it was “a different guy each time from a technique standpoint.” The “technique” element really was noteworthy to Joe.
Carlton Davis was in coverage on the first long third-down conversion (see photo and caption above). Lavonte David also was caught badly when he didn’t turn around for a third-down throw in coverage. And the third of the third-down messes appeared to be an Antoine Winfield issue, but Joe’s not 100 percent clear on that one.
Regardless, all those guys are veterans who have been taught by Bowles for years.
That drives coaches nuts when fundamentals, aka technique, are failing experienced players who are damn good.
Joe will speculate and say that’s a collective lack of focus. When players are getting away from their technique in crunch time, that’s a discipline issue and sometimes related to fatigue.
Whatever it is, it’s a problem.
October 18th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
If the offense was doing its job, we would have won. The wheels are coming off when players who ordinarily would have made the play don’t. Is there an internal meltdown on defense because the split D-coordinator situation causes communication problems? Who the hell can figure it out.
What’s disturbing is that I could see them turning around, but I could just as easily see the whole thing imploding. Such is the life of traumatized Bucs fans.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
That last series for Pittsburgh on offense they were going up against quite possibly that worst series of coverage I have ever seen from a defense. Nobody had a clue what they were doing and everybody was blaming everybody else.
These clowns have all been together for three or four years and they all looked lost, and that includes David and White.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
[Joe wrote about this very early this morning. —- Joe]
October 18th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Go watch Baldy’s breakdown of the Bucs D on Twitter. Terrible coaching and communication. No excuse for this sloppy play after being in this system for years.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
The team hasn’t looked focused at all this year.
They actually looked this way many times last year as well, the difference was they would usually turn it on for at least 1 half of the game.
This year it just isn’t happening.
That’s a failure of leadership: Bowles, Leftwich, Brady.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
The defense let the offense & special teams off the hook for the loss….somewhat….because it was their failure on the last drive…..but the truth be told…..it was the impotent offense and horrendous punt coverage that lost the game.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Maybe Todd should give up coordinator duties and focus on the entire team.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:22 pm
Our secondary other than Winfield is a case study of alot of marginal drafting
October 18th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
Yes this was a big surprise. Because had he been on the field every team in the league would have gone right at SMB. Then I would not be surprised at all. But this? Just further proof Bowles can’t handle his defense and HC at the same time. If I remember right, Davis is the one that got caught so far off after the fumble that should have ended that drive easily.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Remember the Jets teams Toad coached. Toad’s Bowel is failing to inspire anyone. Anyone. At all.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Wedding crashers rule number 76: no excuses play like a champion
October 18th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
After living through the lost decade, fans think this team is doing dysfunctional?! Did you see the Broncos last night? That’s a dysfunctional team. The players have open contempt for their QB. By the way, for all you people who say Brady is Brady washed, Russell Wilson is what washed really looks like. The locker room seems fine. There hasn’t been much grumbling.
We also don’t know what conversations are been held behind the scenes. I remember people were speculating that Brady “ghosted” his team during training camp. Lenny said Brady had a convo with the team before he left and they knew he would be gone. Lenny said Brady is very good with communication.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Even worse than the bored D is the play of Goedeke. PFF rating 29 vs Pittsburgh. So many clips on Twitter of 67 whiffing blocks or getting abused. Bucs have to put in Walton or Leverett. No way they are worse.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Coach Bowles better dump Leftwhich if he wants to keep his job. If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs everybody is gone.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:44 pm
Highest-graded Buccaneers through the 2022 season:
1. Jamel Dean – 82.6
2. Tristan Wirfs – 82.5
3. Antoine Winfield Jr. – 80.2
Lavonte David – 80
JTS – 70
Shaq Barrett – 69
Carlton davis – 65
Vita Vea – 54
Logan Hall – 44
Devin White – 37
October 18th, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Everyone does that to Carlton “Bum” Davis
October 18th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
Davis is overrated I don’t care what stats DR comes up with. Lack of preparation, discipline and motivation both sides of the ball = BAD COACHING!!! I’m not even going there on the play calling.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
I believe Joe’s speculation deserves merit.
October 18th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
A Glazer enema direct to Todd’s Bowel. Now.
And stop with the defending of Goedeke. He’s a weakling who doesn’t know what he’s doing. Hainsey might as well be a rookie next to him. Either get a center and move Hainsey to LG or trade for a real LG, or it’s the dreaded housecleaning time.
October 18th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
bowles channels mckay.
October 18th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
I still think Carlton Davis is pretty solid, but is it me or does he look BAKED every close up shot of him after a bad play or good? Just wondering… could be reason he looks lost out there quite often.
October 18th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Coach Bowles is full of cr-p. The QB had all day to throw because pash rush was blocked heavy. He should have blitzed 3’rd and 16 because the odds are in his favor based on time to get 16 yards down field. So instead of taking responsibility for his screwup, he throws DB’s under the bus. They can’t cover guys forever. Guarantee Trubisky had 4-5 seconds to make a play. I’m disappointed Coach.
October 18th, 2022 at 3:56 pm
I had replay every single game this season
And Carlton Davis is ALWAYS giving touchdowns
And a bunch of 3er downs, look at the stats and this guy
Have the worsts ones( after he got paid ALL this money)
October 18th, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Hey Bowles – how about this… when you’re playing a team like the Steelers, you blitz, blitz then blitz again – and don’t just go to soft coverage on every 3rd down. You’re as predictable as Leftwich is on offense on 1st down. Over and over again, the Bucs bring pressure on 1st and 2nd, have the opponent in 3rd and long, and then Bowles tells his defenders to play 15 yards off the LOS and then he’s shocked then the other team gets 9 yards on 3rd and 9.
October 18th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Like I’ve said before I wana punch these guys in the gut wake the F up it’s basic mistakes a veteran team cannot be making its Brady’s last year you smucks
October 18th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
I’m kinda thinking Bowles is not a good head coach… it sounds similar to a lot of teams where players are just disheartened and have lost confidence in leadership… it really starts to show by game 6.
Probably the exact kind of culture where they then get other coaches to come in and “change the culture”. Maybe Brady was doing it in prior years and just isn’t involved enough now because of all his business and personal issues I dunno.
October 18th, 2022 at 6:12 pm
Winfield and Edwards are rock solid, we needed Ryan bad
Neal is basically a LB with no business being in deep coverage, hence why he was jettisoned originally
The kid from preseason should get a shot – Turner?
October 18th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
i saw davis on a receiver this past weekend and he was blanketed on the dude, but he still lets dude catch the ball – when all davis had to do was drive his arm thru the receiver’s midsection or chest area to create an incompletion, but he didn’t do it…
he is good but some fundamentals still need to improve
October 18th, 2022 at 8:03 pm
Technique is torturing Todd?
That’s terrible but no where near the torture that his coaching is causing the fans. How about Todd show some emotion, like someone who actually gives a toss
October 18th, 2022 at 8:12 pm
When players are getting away from technique in crunch time it’s COACHING!! I’ve been saying it since it happened… They should have never took B.A. off the sidelines!!
October 18th, 2022 at 8:39 pm
First time I read this in a recent post, the word CULTURE. That’s what has changed the winning culture. The new culture is arrogance, complacency, lack of drive and accountability the team simply lacks luster. This is a sad case of forcing diversity down one’s throat rather than picking the best person for the job no matter what race, gender etc.
October 18th, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Not impressed with Carlton Davis. Jamel Dean is outplaying him easily. Davis seemed like he was in position to make plays but just couldn’t pull it off. Dean has some dawg in him and looks like he wants to be the best. Davis acts like he has arrived and just his mere presence should be enough to make plays.
October 18th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
Maaybe it’s not technique, Toad . Probably it’s because your dudes don’t have a clue what the eff they are doing most of the time because whatever you think you are teaching isn’t sinking in?
October 18th, 2022 at 10:40 pm
Geez. WE CAN DO IT! After we flip over BL’s AND Todd’s play-cards, WE CAN DO IT!!
GO BUCS!!! DO IT.
October 18th, 2022 at 11:27 pm
Bowles stoic lack of fire or emotion has to go.
October 19th, 2022 at 1:39 am
I don’t get the “hands off” Goedeke ??
October 19th, 2022 at 3:35 am
Devin White calls the plays on defense. That’s the problem. He has a below average football IQ which he hides very good behind his elite physical traits. I would let either Winfield or David call the plays on defense. White needs to be in a Micah Parsons role or be let go.
October 19th, 2022 at 8:14 am
Devin White is an average MLB at best. Next year he’s going to want to be the highest paid LB in the NFL. Please Licht, don’t pay this guy what HE thinks he’s worth. Right now he doesn’t even look like a first rounder. Don’t pay this guy, once he gets paid I’m affraid he’ll get worse. If I was Bowles I’d either blitz White on every passing down, or get him off the field, he can’t cover. He can’t play man, or zone. Why you keep him in coverage is beyond me.
October 19th, 2022 at 8:32 am
White could be the best MLB in the league if someone would coach him up on how and when to pursue and tackle correctly, the NFL isn’t the rodeo.