Todd Bowles Goes Heavy On Experience With New Linebackers Coach
February 21st, 2023
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
A new man is tasked with raising the game of edge rusher Joe Tyron-Shoyinka.
Screaming across the NFL Network ticker is a report the Bucs have hired George Edwards, the former Washington, Buffalo and Minnesota defensive coordinator, to coach their outside linebackers. He’s replacing retired Bob Sanders, who was hired by Bucco Bruce Arians just prior to Bowles taking the Bucs’ head coaching job.
Edwards, 56, was a senior defensive assistant in Dallas for the last three seasons. He coached linebackers on staffs with Bowles in Cleveland (2004) and in Miami (2008 and 2009). Bowles was defensive backs coach at those stops.
Edwards is the second man Bowles has grabbed from the Dallas offseason purge. The first was running backs coach Skip Peete.
February 21st, 2023 at 3:53 pm
Interesting.
February 21st, 2023 at 3:55 pm
To me JTS has last chance to show something else that he is just a very good athlete….This is not an Iron man competition this is NFL……
February 21st, 2023 at 4:00 pm
I actually do not think the LBs were all that bad last year, so I feel they were scapegoats. But what’s done is done.
Welcome aboard!
February 21st, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Changes to coaches at any position in the organization is welcome. Hopefully he can help JTS progress this season.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:09 pm
JTS looks good but he looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing…..maybe a new coach can help…….the raw materials are there….
February 21st, 2023 at 4:16 pm
Bigger win for White. Cowboys have Micah Parsons and they knew how to use him to rush the QB. A little coaching for White could go a long ways.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Whoop de Doo….Bowles,,,Yuc Oh My Bowles strikes again. Never Mind. How anyone has any hope for a Super Bowl team with Bowles in charge is beyond my Magination.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:25 pm
Plan 9 From Outer Space. Bowles Hero.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:28 pm
Coaching is more important for young players with relatively little experience. Edge rushers seem to take a few seasons to find their way, just like quarterbacks.
TJ Watt only got 7 sacks his first year as a starter, then came on like gangbusters in subsequent seasons. Ditto with Myles Garrett, and Khalil Mack (4). Others come on very strong from the start, like Micah Parsons and Joey Bosa.
But JTS will definitely need to show improvement this season or he likely will not get a second contract with the Bucs.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:33 pm
Another solid hire today.
Lots of solid NFL experience working with elite pass rushers.
Go Bucs!
February 21st, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Hc Grover , I can’t wait every day to read your positive posts..you Sean like you are the happiest guy around..
February 21st, 2023 at 4:51 pm
Yep always right…Plan 9 is and always has been A BUSTED PICK.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:51 pm
to me, JTS was really hurt last year by the loss of Shaq Barrett. He came close many times to getting sacks and it sometimes feels like he’s close. A lot of respect for all those snaps he played those last few games when we were down multiple outside linebackers.
February 21st, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Hopefully Edwards knows how to perform a heart transplant because this kid looks like he has the tools he just doesn’t seem to have the desire or maybe just doesn’t know how to use them.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Bowles has guided our Bucs from a Super Bowl Run (remember this time last year?) to a race for the bottom of NFC South. All in one season. He will complete the destuction this year. If anyone thinks the Bowles Yucs are going to SB they need mental help.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Grover, I don’t think any of us realistically think the Bucs are going to the SB next season. It’s always the goal, but realistically this is a transition year. Obviously. Feel free of course to hate on a team you supposedly like, but constant negative posts on articles that realistically are at least somewhat positive are both redundant and silly. Their remain plenty of posts to spew your vitriol on. But no reason to do that on a post regarding what seems to be a positive hire. But… Carry on. I’d say have a good day, but you seem incapable.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:34 pm
You can’t teach this BUST what he doesn’t have which is any semblance of football aptitude. Sure he’s athletic. That doesn’t mean he’s a football player. 2nd bust first round pick in a row.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:35 pm
what peeved me about JTS was the same as his rookie season, he gets there A LOT but overshoots!! The guy could have easily had 8 sacks but he doesn’t know how to get there AND be patient/smart. He reminds me of a puppy learning how to play fetch. Yes, it’s exciting to get near your target but if you let that override your focus you’ll be easily moved or go past your target!
February 21st, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Coach White is real easy, just tell him to run at the ball. That’s it, do that, and you got an all-pro LB. Only an idiot coach would tell that guy to play pass defense 75% of the time when he’s not good at it.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:37 pm
If Blowes can find guys to teach (since he has shown that he cannot), maybe the Bucs might win more than 2 games.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:39 pm
JTS has much to prove this year. I thought 2022 was going to be his year but instead he ranks 90 something in the league for sacks and he sucked at the rest of it as well. But, I think we can agree that too many times last season the linebackers in general were not in their gaps as reported by the Joe’s after Bowles gave his wtf happened press conference after the games. This new LB coach may be what is needed, and perhaps, just maybe this dude and the Dline coach can get it figured out.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:41 pm
JTS is an incredible athlete. Does not do a damn though for his football skills. Not sure he can be coached up by anyone since he can’t use his hands, can’t bend around the tackles and gets help up at the LOS by one blocker. Not NFL material. Simple, he needs to go.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Goatfarmer – that would be awful, the worst thing that could happen to the Bucs is for them to win like 5 or 6 games, that’s how you end up picking Vernon Hargreaves.
Speaking of which, ouch… I just looked at the 2016 draft, out of the top 20 picks, only 3 didn’t end up becoming pro-bowlers. Maybe you shouldn’t draft undersized corners who aren’t fast at the top of the draft.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:43 pm
*sorry, not pro-bowlers, I meant one of only 3 guys who aren’t active. Although with the way they keep expanding the pro-bowl, pretty soon every active player will be a pro-bowler.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:43 pm
I really like these last 2 new hires (Peete & Edwards). Both are highly experienced. Edwards spent 6 years as Vikings DC and averaged a #6 ranking over those 6 years. That’s impressive. Peete has a ton of experience also, and that has to help our sorry running game. We’ve got some decent talent there, and hopefully better OLine play and better play design & play calling will make a big difference this year.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:44 pm
At least JTS is durable and seems to be athletic. Maybe he will be a strong backup but he surely isn’t an every play edge rusher at this point. He is not strong enough on the rush at setting the edge. However calling the dude a bust after his second year is ridiculous. The same goes for Hall, he cannot yet be a bust because they have yet to really grow into a pro. Hall needs the weight room more than anything but JTS just needs to play smarter with better leverage and anticipation.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:48 pm
If you want to help JTS and Hall, just run more traditional nickel, so both guys can play a 4-3 DE.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:48 pm
Year 3 would be a perfect year to breakout,but unfortunately for JTS people see the position he plays and the one stat they want to judge him off while having some arbitrary sack figure in their heads to hold as his standard. Come in, keep contain, don’t regress, and get to the ball carrier that’s it imo. We’ve got JTS on his rookie deal for another 2 season with 2023 included, some of y’all need to relax or take a Prozac or something.
February 21st, 2023 at 5:52 pm
Thad Lewis new QB Coach
February 21st, 2023 at 5:53 pm
Rod, it’s all base nickel now anyway. Give me three guys who can play safety/corner and business. Idk, whatever
February 21st, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Are all the Bucs coaches minorities now? Hardly seems diverse any more. What’s going on there?
February 21st, 2023 at 6:09 pm
This is another encouraging hire for us. It gives me pause and makes me step back a bit and give Todd Bowles the chance to turn around my impression of him as our head coach.
I would still be happy to see us draft another potential edge rusher this year. Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka have too many questions surrounding them at this time.
February 21st, 2023 at 6:12 pm
I was surprised these 2 coaches were fired in Dallas. Glad to see them in Tampa now. Go Bucs!
February 21st, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Wasnt a fan of JTS college highlights. Seemed a bit robotic and straightline. didnt move well side to side , stiif hips, and the worst thing was noticed a lack of awareness of run or pass play, bad against the run and not instinctive football smart. Think he was a reach based on potential and size athleticism high ceiling ,but I thought he was bit stiff side to side , lacked awareness, and bad on the edge in run plays as previously stated. Needed a lot of coaching up and I foresee a rush specialist with limited every down skills and would have preferred him as situation sub only for nelson.
February 21st, 2023 at 6:27 pm
If Logan Hall sucessfully bulks up another 30 or 40 pounds he will surely get a chance to line up beside Vita Vea more frequently.
February 21st, 2023 at 6:27 pm
@ Joe you gotta cover this !!! Check out the story about Thad Lewis , guess who broke the news none other than Geno Smith — Thad Lewis friend from high school. All signs point to Geno coming to the Bucs , perhaps we can hold off on the tank talk. Is it any coincidence Tony Polllard is also a scheduled free agent . We would need to unload some serious cap , Fournette , Succop , Brate , Donavan Smith, draft a younger option. Perhaps , we can restructure/ extend Mike evans , Godwin , Vea to elongate there heavy cap hits . Draft LT and Edge and we are reloaded . Very doable , why not ask Tom to stretch his cap hit over the next few years not like he will be short on money given the Fox Big bucks.
February 21st, 2023 at 6:40 pm
New QB coach Thad Lewis. News broken by… Geno Smith. Really.
February 21st, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Good hire, got an experienced D coordinator coaching our edge rushers. Gonna need a dominant defense this year if we are to win games.
February 21st, 2023 at 6:52 pm
Edwards also has the credentials to call the defense, so Bowles would not have the excuse of wearing too many hats. Remains to be seen if he’ll go with that, but this is a very solid hire.
February 21st, 2023 at 7:01 pm
JimbobBucsFan
Could not agree more. I actually like Todd in his interviews, he makes me feel like I am listening to an educated man.
SO FREAKING GLAD Leftnut is gone.
I really believe he was the MAIN problem last season. He almost got Brady killed before he ever played a down for us.
Lord KNOWS, I would have shot him dead for walking into my house unannounced.
February 21st, 2023 at 8:47 pm
Another good hire.
February 21st, 2023 at 8:50 pm
Sasquatch … ‘Edwards also has the credentials to call the defense, so Bowles would not have the excuse of wearing too many hats.’
That’s EXACTLY what I’m hoping happens. Unfortunately all the defenses he worked ran a 4-3 not a 3-4 hybrid like Bowles does. Of course, maybe this hire tells us something about the future?
February 21st, 2023 at 9:29 pm
If Devin White wants to be an impact guy like Micah Parsons, now is his chance.
February 21st, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Rod – regarding the 5 or 6 win thing, you know that’s exactly what’s going to happen. More like4 or 5. Probably 5.
5 wins in 2023, calling it now. I think there’s a trophy for that. Maybe the coveted Dirty Pig award.
February 21st, 2023 at 9:46 pm
Larrd Says:
February 21st, 2023 at 9:29 pm
That’s not going to happen. Devin White plays inside, Edwards will coach outside. White is not the same type of athlete that Parsons is. White is fast but he’s not someone who can really rush from the outside, he’s straight-linish and isn’t going to bend the edge like great pass rushers.
White needs to be traded. Unload his 11 million and avoid having to sign him to a 20 million dollar anchor next year, and pick up a draft pick.
February 21st, 2023 at 10:29 pm
I am not much of a D white fan but I disagree. I see D White being able to do the things Parsons does. While he is a bit smaller, he is incredibly explosive and strong. I think this would be maybe best role because he simply doesnt have the discipline to maintain position as an inside Lb. Lets get a smarter guy with enuff athleticism and move D white around like a chess piece.
Or trade him lol,,bet he could fetch a 2nd round pick believe it or not..has upside. I question his toughness inside ..he doesnt like taking on and engaging blocks and sometimes you just need to. Think he is overrated.. but some team will be lured by his speed and explosion
February 21st, 2023 at 10:33 pm
Definitely would take a 2nd rounder for him. I don’t see any way he would turn the corner effectively if he was put outside. All his effective blitzes have come up the middle.
February 21st, 2023 at 11:15 pm
JTS needs a Tiquan Underwood haircut. That alone will add three or four imaginary sacks to his total.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:57 am
Who Says Says Can’t Say Says:
“Are all the Bucs coaches minorities now?”
_________
??? LOL
Byron Leftwich was replaced at O.C. by Dave Canales.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:58 am
^^ Not that it matters one F.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:58 am
Steven007 Says:
“New QB coach Thad Lewis. News broken by… Geno Smith. Really.”
___________
I SAW that. That is pretty interesting.
February 22nd, 2023 at 9:24 am
Another solid hire with good experience. That’s 2 decent coach hires in a row for Bowles.
Maybe Joe was right about Bowles not hiring his own staff? This year, we shall see.