The Bucs’ Refocused Defense
November 15th, 2023
Todd Bowles’ defense-only meeting.
So last week Bucs coach Todd Bowles sort of got back to basics.
With his defense in a four-game statistics slide that finally collapsed at Houston, Bowles held a full meeting with his defense to go over film rather than have them break down film with their position groups.
Bowles also wanted and encouraged feedback from his players. What did they not like? What do they want to do more? How would they change things? What would help them play better? How could they be better utilized?
From what Joe heard, the meeting was really constructive. Players were engaged. Bowles listened and offered his two cents
Then the Bucs defense went out and kicked the Titans’ tail. Joe spoke with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka after the game and he filled Joe in on the meeting with Bowles.
He said the meeting was very professional and impactful.
“It was a receptive room,” JTS said. “Everyone was trying to have one goal and that was to get the win. No one was selfish. Everyone was willing” to do what was asked.
JTS said basically the defense came to a collective crossroads.
“I think it was an overall decision of what do we want to make of the season?” JTS said.
That doesn’t mean the meeting with Bowles was fun.
“Nobody likes to watch film when they are losing,” JTS said. “But that is definitely what you have to do. You have to look at yourself in the mirror. What’s going wrong?”
So did the meeting of minds produce results? JTS was convinced it did.
“[Sunday] was a result of that,” JTS said.
The 20-6 win over Tennessee was the second-best outing for the defense this season. The Bucs held the Titans to 209 yards. Only the win over the Saints was better when the Bucs gave up just 197 yards of total offense.
The two field goals were also the fewest points the Bucs have allowed in a game this year.
So is this a sign of the new Bucs defense? We’ll find out on Sunday in Northern California.
November 15th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Hope they do the same thing this week
November 15th, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Joe I’m skeered of the 49ers.
November 15th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
I’m convinced that the Bucs can beat the 49ers, BUT … it’ll take a Herculean effort to pull off the victory. Our defense will have to play lights-out against the 49ers #3-ranked offense (they’re averaging 28 PPG & are a fairly well-balanced offense that can burn you on the ground or in the air). Bucs’ offense better crank it up a few notches; 49ers #2-ranked defense is only allowing 16 PPG & sport the #4 run defense & the #15 pass defense).
Opponents have tried mostly to beat them via the pass (most using about a 2-1 pass-run ratio). That’s failed miserably because the 49ers defense leads the league in takeaways (17 in all, with 13 of those being INTs). The 3 teams that beat them beat them at their own game: won the Turnover Battle (except the Browns game) & ran the ball effectively against them. Purdy threw 5 INTs in those 3 losses (versus NONE in each of their 6 wins).
IOW the 49ers pretty much beat themselves in those 3 losses. Bucs are very familiar with the concept.
November 15th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
It’s OK to say the Niners are a better team and a loss is most likely. What’s not OK is if the Bucs play lethargic and uninspired.
If they are competitive, play hard and lose, I can handle that. I can’t handle pathetic play with mental errors.
Go Bucs ! ! !
November 15th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Bowles will just go back to his garbage super soft zone on Sunday, that’s what he does in big games, is go ultra safe, because he’s more worried about being blown out than trying to win the game.
I’d love to see them come out on defense and be aggressive – but they won’t. White will be told to stand 8 yards off the LOS and play in space, and all the idiots in the comments will say how bad he sucks when the 49ers have all day to throw the ball and run crossing routes to pick a part of the zone.
November 15th, 2023 at 2:55 pm
TEAM COMPARISON (Advantage)
Defense: 49ers
Offense: 49ers
Coaching: 49ers (by a mile)
Homefield: 49ers
Odds: 49ers -11.5
All-time records vs 49ers: 6-19
This is going to be an ugly ugly loss. 34-10.
November 15th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
Right with you D-Rok
November 15th, 2023 at 6:56 pm
Pretty ironic that JTS was the one reporting details of this to Joe.
Ironic because the most obvious part of the “fix” was giving more snaps to Diaby and Watts….
And getting Neal off the field as well.
Why did it take so long to actually make those moves when it seemed obvious to basically everyone weeks ago that those changes might help?
November 15th, 2023 at 7:16 pm
First of all…Calm down we just got Our 4th Win against another team with a loosing record..and We should not think we did something against no real competition….We now have to play a team in the 49ers with a winning record in we already have 5 losses to teams above 500 ….so try not to look like Jacksonville Sunday…..#Go BUCS
November 15th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
While titans might not have a good record they are a physical team. Which the Bucs just man handled if they play that way against the niners this will be a close game. Some of y’all don’t really know too much about football. Look at the Vikings lost 3 straight and everyone was literally writing them off before the injury to cousins and they turned it around real quick. Any team can win any given Sunday. Niners lost to some bad teams too just goes to show that anything can happen