Todd Bowles Blasts Buccaneers Run Defense
December 13th, 2022
The Tampa Bay run defense has gone from historically elite under Todd Bowles in 2019 and 2020, to darn good last season and below average this season.
The data bears it out, and so does the eye test.
It’s a sad and somewhat ignored problem with the 6-7 Bucs.
The poor run defense was on display Sunday at San Francisco. The final line was 36 carries for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns for San Francisco. Ouch.
And don’t blame it on manbeast defensive tackle Vita Vea leaving after the first series with a calf injury, Todd Bowles said this evening on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“We don’t lose much when Nacho comes in the game,” Bowles said, referring to Rakeem Nuñez-Roches.
Bowles ripped the overall run defense and wasn’t happen with some play(ers) off the edge.
“We were not in our gaps half the time,” said a frustrated Bowles. “And we had unblocked guys.”
The head coach went on to blats he team missing run fits and said “that was not a good game” for run fits.
Bowles said Carl Nassib was good against the run and Anthony Nelson was “decent.” He didn’t seem to like the play from other edge players, but didn’t mention them by name (Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Genard Avery).
To repeat what Bowles said, and Joe did a double-take, “we were not in our gaps half the time.”
That’s about as bad as it gets, and Joe’s not sure why that happens to a veteran team in mid-December with the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs on the line.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:53 pm
JPP and Suh changed. Released for no good reason. Sound familiar?
December 13th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
There’s a lot of bodies stacked under the bus this season. Geez.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Totally on Bowles, he’s the DC man and this is his D with his philosophy ! Is he owning up to the fact he has failed miserably ? HC is too much for this guy so that his defense is failing as well !!!
Maybe a bit on Licht for signing Hicks , injured all the time and letting JPP and Suh go. How poorly staffed and poorly prepped/coached.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Todd throwing all under the bus huh, is he really thinking he will save his job ?
December 13th, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Is it just me, or is the first thing that crosses the mind is, “Whose job is it to convey to players where to be, what to do during a game?”
Look in the mirror, Coach.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
This is a complete organizational failure. This ain’t no tweak here a tweak there. Think there’s pressure now? Wait till the Bengals blow them out in Tampa.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Ttsucs, did you read this post???
December 13th, 2022 at 6:16 pm
If Bowles wanted JPP and Suh, they’d have been signed
December 13th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
As a Brady fan I still think Gisele ruined the season leaving him in preseason. Brady showed up to training camp and lost 27 pounds. They said he was so depressed he couldnt get out bed. He begged Bucs to let him go. Bucs wouldnt let him leave. Brady wanted to leave and this terrible season wouldnt have happed. BUCS would have a new qb. He would still be married. I cant even watch the Bucs anymore. As a Brady fan I want this saason to be over. Brady wanted to keep playing after this season. He is done nobody will want him after this season. Like he said no regrets. Brady way never recover from all that has happened in 2022
December 13th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
I totally agree with the JPP Suh comment above. That’s on Mgmnt and Coach choosing to let them go. Tryon is athletic but runs around like he’s lost. He overruns plays all of the time. He’s like a chicken with its head cut off. Barrett’s out for the season and Bowles is blaming his players. THAT IS NOT WHAT GOOD LEADERS DO, Coach!!! You’re an idiot for saying that. Own it and take responsibility. Tryon is very close to being a bust. Where’s Logan Hall???? He was our top pick. Do they even have a clue if Trask can play? A second round apparently wasted pick. Jason Licht got cocky and a big head, because he’s turned back into the old bumbling Licht. And why is BA even here? Does he do anything? Tom Moore? What happened to him. Something big went on behind the scenes this off-season and 1BP will not come clean. I think the biggest problem with the players and the Coaches as a whole is a LACK OF BRAINS!!! BIG TIME!!! They cannot figure out how to stop repeating the same mistakes or how to correct them. SNAFU & FUBAR both describe this overpaid train-wreck. And that’s all I have to say about that !!!
December 13th, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Plan 9 from Outer space. Always plenty space between Plan9 and the pigskin. He is allergic to pork. Guess the do not want to admit another fail draft pick.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Circular firing squad
December 13th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
“It’s everyone else’s fault”
December 13th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Todd Bowles … “We don’t lose much when Nacho comes in the game.”
And THAT’S why Vea has a 4-year, $71 mil contract and RNR has a 2-year, $5 mil contract, because their performance is so close.
Reality Todd is that Nacho is a good rotational player, while Vea is a bonafide starter. And BTW, what you lose with RNR is about 50 lbs clogging up the middle.
Me thinks the pressure of being a HC is getting to Bowles. Can’t say as I remember him ever throwing his defense under the bus like this in 2019-2021. Not a good look.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Time for talking is over bowles remember?!?!? Study your head coach for dummies book and shut up and win!
December 13th, 2022 at 6:47 pm
bowles may get extended another 5 years. clearly this was not his fault.
December 13th, 2022 at 6:50 pm
So……we don’t lose much with Nunez Roches……a sixth round pick vs Vea 1st round……..that is either saying a lot for Nunez Roches or not so much for Vea…
HEY TODD!!! IT’S YOUR DAMN RUN DEFENSE>>>>>
December 13th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Joe, How about a Jason Licht interview or Bruce Ariens ……..Are they gone for the holidays ………………………………..
December 13th, 2022 at 6:52 pm
Bucsbray? Is that a real post? He still near tops in the league in yards , downfield throws , and still with no one open or even getting separation rarely turns it over . Everyone knows he’s been crippled with what’s around him. Several Teams will be lining up to get him
You’re out of your mind if you think he’s retiring. He didn’t go through his personal life just to quit after this year on this awful team. He’ll be playing at MVP level within a year book it. You haven’t been watching him over the last 20 years if you think he’s going out like this
December 13th, 2022 at 6:53 pm
Were is Jason and were is Bruce !!!!!!
December 13th, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Todd is just showing why these gifted athletes don’t want to play for him…
They know this team is a cesspool under Blows leadership!
December 13th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Todd is just showing why these gifted athletes don’t want to play for him…
They know this team is a cesspool as long as Blows is taking them nowhere!
December 13th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Todd Blowes is right, the run defense was brutal. Having said that, why not hold them accountable during the game. Dude needs to go.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Todd is just showing WHY these gifted athletes don’t want to play for him…
They know this team is a cesspool as long as Blows is Head over it!
December 13th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
90 became 9 and 9 is a Stinka, where is SUH oh Philadelphia. The bucs are soft, uninspired, and a shell of their former selves.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Devin White is garbage against the run. I remember we drafted him to stop McCaffrey/Kamara. He’s a serial loafer. His angles are worse than Sabby
And it seems like he doesn’t want make the first contact? When the last time we seem him get in there and thomp? He’s a serious problem this year against the run along with Number #9 makes the run defense weak.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:25 pm
Poor Clueless Todd. He’s not understanding how the offense can actually make his goober defense better. Fools.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Is Bowles trying to blame Licht for not getting better players? Good luck. Maybe Mississippi State will hire you.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:39 pm
Devin White would be great as a second line against the run. Oh, that’s right, he always takes an obtuse angle and watches the play go by, from where he over ran it.
The loss of Shaq was critical. He is a sack master, but also our best outside line backer.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
Sorry Lamarcus, I didn’t read your comment, but you can see that I agree about Devin White.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:54 pm
Right Todd! I could tell you were pissed. Throw them all under the bus! I think I almost saw you move off your spot once, but maybe you were just shifting your weight from one foot to the other. I think if a REAL coach saw his defense continually out of position, not filling gaps etc he would have confronted his guys and at least tell them to get their head out of their anal cavities. But nope. Just stand there like a Macys mannequin and totally ignore your defense when it comes off the field. That’s real coaching and will certainly get the attention of the team. I do have to admit that I think I saw you grimace a few times though. So there’s that. Look in the mirror.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:54 pm
Bucs pass defense has been solid this year….in today’s NFL, pass defense > run defense.
Remember when Lovie Smith always had a solid run defense but Mike Jenkins couldn’t gaurd a slant to save life?
Not worried about the defense when the offense can’t score more than 14 points….
December 13th, 2022 at 7:55 pm
Find another MLB put Devin at DE like Dallas is using their guy forgot his name Parsons I think and let him go hunt the QB. He can’t do worse there than JTS or at least I hope he can’t. I was asking myself on Sunday why was JTS in there so often. He hasn’t done a thing. Nassib with a sack and batted pass against the Saints. Nelson with the INT against the 9ers even though it was wiped out due to a bogus call on Carlton Davis. Those 2 should be in there and rotate JTS for the 2 of them but not very often.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:00 pm
This far into the season if players are not in their gaps then that is totally on the coaching. PERIOD.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:19 pm
SanFran is Physical Bucs are not
December 13th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
Was pondering about White today, I think he’d make an awesome edge rusher?
December 13th, 2022 at 8:30 pm
Beej and others,
DW would be just like JTS at edge. Neither have enough power, only speed. Neither can shed blocks.
If DW can shoot gaps unblocked, then yeah, he’d be a good rusher, which is what he’s currently used as.
Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t see DW as an Edge.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:07 pm
White would just run by the target.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:10 pm
So basically what you’re saying is a gay guy is clearly the toughest guy on our defensive line. Fantastic.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
You fired Suh you idiot toilet bowel and hopefully you will be fired after we miss the playoffs butthole
December 13th, 2022 at 9:21 pm
Glazers wake Up…they play like zombies… We have zombie Coaching
December 13th, 2022 at 9:32 pm
Bowles should stfu
December 13th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
Oh and remember the team made new season ticket holders commit for 2 years, what a joke. Figured you’d get a good year and crap year, but instead 2 crap years
December 13th, 2022 at 9:40 pm
players either are getting surprised (bad coaching) or have no belief in what the team is doing (bad coaching)
December 13th, 2022 at 9:41 pm
Move Neal to mlb..white to right end..
Winfeild at slot..Edward’s n Logan in the back assuming all is healthy…
A lot has been said about schemes and Brady getting old…
But I personally hate the defense scheme and how they use david.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:45 pm
Lol. Teams would run right at White if you moved him there. Tackles would blow him 10 yards off the line. You people are insane.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
Logan Ryan is awful, the defense played much better when he was out of the lineup
December 13th, 2022 at 9:58 pm
Jason Licht rarely does interviews during the season. As for Bruce Arians, where ya been? Ira had an interview with him a couple of weeks ago.
December 13th, 2022 at 11:15 pm
Beej Says
“If Bowles wanted JPP and Suh, they’d have been signed”
Maybe not. We were very tight against the cap and the Bucs felt Brady might return all along…so they had to have money for him. I think JPP might have returned for a lower price…but Suh has, in the past, insisted on $10m a full year.
December 13th, 2022 at 11:53 pm
Todd?
What’s different?
Who are you holding accountable? What are the consequences?
Looked in a mirror?
Got a plan after football yet?
December 13th, 2022 at 11:58 pm
BUT, we’re giving Hicks nearly $8 million
December 14th, 2022 at 1:37 am
SUH
Philly says thank you to the Bucs, he can help us.
SUH, “Oh every other GM did not sign him”
SUH
December 14th, 2022 at 2:12 am
bowles can’t even think for himself…his answers are just rehearsed responses…
any time he gets jammed up with a question that requires more than one of his basic 50-75 responses he’s been reeling off during his past 20 years of coaching, he just says “i will have to review the tape” because he is not a bright man, not an independent or creative thinker, and he knows he is “one and done” here in thumpa bay…
#AyeSeasonOfPunishmentByTheBay
the fall from grace was too hard and fast this year…so i do see bowles as a one year blunder…
it was a huge mistake to bump him up because once he’s axed we can’t have him back as the DC…it just doesn’t twerk that way
December 14th, 2022 at 3:13 am
Bowles, please blast yourself. Your job is to get these guys to do their jobs.
Poor leadership, dissension, a mess in every direction.
December 14th, 2022 at 5:44 am
I don’t see how you don’t think white can successfully come off the edge when Shaq Barrett is built like him
Barret Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 249 lbs
White Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 238 lbs
2 inches and 11lbs means white can’t rush the edge opposed to who?
Nelson Tryon Nassib enter other nobody names ____ ,
Nelson is a hitter put him in the box he will hunt not to mention he probably will work better in the coverage scheme.
Just turn white lose after the ball… blitz him every down from everywhere non stop…
Once they key him send david or winfeild jr.
These things will allow us to be more tone setting on defense…at this point what do we have to lose…
White suppose to be a rb hawk well turn him loose on wte side he plays or all out blitze
December 14th, 2022 at 10:53 am
Did anyone ask Devin White why he didn’t push Samuel out of bounds on the Niners first touchdown?