A Historic Low For Todd Bowles
December 14th, 2023
Todd Bowles is in his 13th NFL season as a head coach, defensive coordinator or a key leader within a defense.
Sadly, his 2023 unit is the worst Bowles has had in one critical category.
The Bucs defense ranks 27th in total yards allowed — and it plays in the sad NFC South.
Joe has no explanation that ties to talent. Look at the names and look at the salaries. And look at the experienced coaching staff, and look at the contributions from rookies. The struggles make no sense.
Sometimes, it feels to Joe like NFL offenses have caught up to Bowles.
NBC Sports film guru and ex-Bucs quarterback Chris Simms agrees.
“Their defense, man, I don’t get it. They’re getting gashed and they seem like they have more talent than what they’re doing,” Simms said this week on Pro Football Talk.
Why is this happening? Joe can’t be sure. Much of it, Joe believes, comes from the Bucs’ failures when pass rushing only four players. Even dismal Desmond Ridder of the Falcons had a career yardage game against the Bucs on Sunday.
If Todd Bowles gets fired after this season, Joe is sure the demise of his defense will be a front-and-center reason.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Bowles is not a defense Guru. He is a Defense Bozo.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Joe is 10000% right. If you cannot generate a pass rush with a front 4 grouping you are toast in the NFL. I love blitzing and its a great tool to use but when that is the only way you can get home for a sack you are in serious trouble. Time and time again we have been required to blitz and either we dont get there in time or the QB gets it off too fast and we get gashed.
If we dont blow this team up we need to draft DL/OL all day long.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Don’t forget the Dallas playoff game last season. The Genious did not have the team ready to perform!!!
December 14th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Stats are stats, but people, in this case Simms, asuume that the Bucs are talented, in this case on defense, and I disagree.
Vea is talented (injury prone)
Winfield is talented.
LVD is a warrior, not sure about his talent anymore.
Kancey you can see a future ..
I love Gholston, but I wouldn´t say he is talented.
Please let me know where else I can find talent on this defense.
JTS? Nelson? CDIII? Dean? Barrett?Hall? White?Gaines?Delaney? Mc Collum?
December 14th, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Yes pass rush is an issue. However on Sunday the falcons did a lot of play action and when they didn’t Ridder averaged 2.31 seconds before throwing the ball. No one is getting home that fast.
I still believe offenses know now the best way to beat Bowles defense is quick throws because of his exotic looks and disguises where he has players out of position. Especially his soft zone looks and his version of Cover 3 which is getting beaten every game at this point ( long pass to Mingo in Carolina and Pitts TD in ATL).
A beastly pass rush fixes lots of things but if a receiver is always immediately open in less than 2.3 seconds it won’t matter who is rushing.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
It’s a mix between
A-Bad Play calling-bowles
B-Bad preparation-bowles
C-Apathy-bowles
D-Motivation-bowles
Seriously folks, short of some pretty damn memorable blitzing moments, what has this cat actually done to make this defense better.
well, he did draft his players, which I think are almost all studs. so it aint on the players ability
December 14th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Total yards allowed? Who cares? Total points allowed is all that matters because the purpose of the defense is to prevent the offense from scoring points.
So far the Bucs defense has given up 27 total touchdowns (8th least allowed) 17 passing touchdowns (5th least allowed) and 11 rushing touchdowns (8th least allowed).
Our defense is technically top 10 in preventing offenses from scoring points and we would have a winning record if we had an above average quarterback.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
If baker could just get to the qb quicker , stop blowing coverages, and hit the gap faster when he blitzes, we’d be fine……
December 14th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
I commend those teams that can recognize a losing HC quickly and aren’t afraid to cut bait from him to go after WINNERS!
It would be AMAZING if the Bucs would WAKE UP and be one of those teams that become consistent winners which Todd cannot produce….
December 14th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Devin “Cancer” White! Regardless if if he is actually on the field or even at the game. Are two highly priced CBs aren’t helping either. I don’t think they are as talented as people think they are.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Todd is a historically bad head coach. I can make that argument about our whole team. Look at the talent we have on the roster compared to even Atlanta. Why are we playing down to that level of talent? The only answer is coaching he’s terrible.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Not that it’s the entire story but we made some bad personnel moves the past two offseasons. SMB and Edwards should still be here.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Another problem for the defense is the major amount of 3 and outs by the offense.
The defense gets no chance to rest before going back onto the field. By the fourth quarter they are dragging.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
It’s very simple why this defense is bad…
NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO PLAY ZONE DEFENSE IN THE SECONDARY!!
Their zone defense has gotten progressively worse each year it seems like.
They can’t pass coverages off, and opposing WR’s are WIDE A$$ OPEN in this coverage….
Also seems like rushing 4 hasn’t worked either but receivers tend to get open so fast against this defense now….
December 14th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Bowles seems like a great guy. Likeable. Respected by players. The hardest thing ownership will face is if Bucs win the division, then move off Todd. I really want Todd monkin as hc. Immediate improvement. Qb friendly offensive scheme. Lamar winning with a less frenetic style of play . Baker worked with monkin in cleveland. Not sure what bowles contract will cost to end, if anything. That’s my hope . Will monkin want to move up to hc?
December 14th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Bowles defense has only looked effective when we had a high scoring offense AND a front seven that had JPP, Suh, Vea, Shaq, LVD and White. Why was the defense successful?….Because no matter who our opponents doubled teamed, somebody else was capable of winning their 1 on 1 match ups. That’s not the case anymore, Shaq is beating anyone nor was JTS. Bowles system is completely ineffective, we can’t stop anyone when it counts and our best strategy is disguised blitzes that are more busts than boom plays.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
13th in points allowed, 10th in rush yards allowed, 13th in takeaways & 4th in red zone scoring % counting tds. Wayyyy better unit than the offense. Bowles does need to prepare them better though too many miscommunications.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Two more years of Toilet Ball to go.
By that time the team will have regressed to the point that it will take decades to rebuild.
December 14th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
49ers, Eagles, Commies front loaded the D with high draft picks on the line. Licht swing and missed on JTS and Logan Hall. Correcting that mistake with Calijah and hopefully Chop next year..JTS had one good year and then COVID, forgive that hit and miss. Limited data. Logan Hall was a WTF, too small for DT and too big for a DE. A tweener, and they drafted him anyways.
But, post-COVID old boy has been hitting picks. Kancey and YaYa are difference makes, looking like Goedecke and Mauch were triples maybe home runs.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Sort of hope they keep Bowles for one nore year for a few reasons. His vision of the team is polar opposite from No risk it, no biscuit. He wants Ravens South. Doesn’t have the personnel in place to that. Next reason, he has not lost the locker room. Would have been easy to quit after a forever losing streak. The team didn’t, they’ve bought in and ate working their butts off, playing through injuries for their coach. Yeah, he makes some dumb decisions. I watch a lot of football and can truthfully say he has a lot of company there.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Say what you want. I’ve said he’s gone. But, if he finishes 3-1 and wins a playoff game, he’s probably coming back.
Miss the playoffs, and he’s gone.
That’s my prediction.
It’s in your hands, Coach.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Davis and Dean are paid like cornerstones. Hopefully they can get healthy and effective down the stretch. Disappointments.
I did not expect much from Shoyinka or Barrett. More Watts, please.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
“Our defense is technically top 10 in preventing offenses from scoring points and we would have a winning record if we had an above average quarterback”
We’d also have a winning record if the defense could have held the Texans off for 35 seconds, correct?
December 14th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
Bend but don’t break…
The Bucs defense is allowing 20.8 points per game.
13th in the NFL in points allowed.
That is the stat that matters the most besides turnovers and time of possession.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:24 pm
I don’t think anyone believes that our defense can really consistently stop anyone. When the game is on the line at the end and the other team is driving everyone knows the Bucs defense is going to give up a score. If Atlanta had one more play they would have probably scored and everything would be different this week.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:31 pm
All the 3 and outs on offense doesn’t help. I think the defense is gassed alot of the time. 27th is bad. Yet I still think the defense is better than the offense.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Our recent drafts have yielded 5 of the last 7 top picks to the defense.
Kancey, Hall, JTS, Vea, White……..along with 2nd and 3rd round picks Ya, Ya….Davis, Dean, Winfield
Plus high salaries LVD, Davis, Shaq, Dean, White
They are just not getting it done…….very, very disappointing.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
This whole team sucks under Bowles. Offense. Defense. Special Teams.
December 14th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
@Jack Clark
You are ignoring field goals for some reason, because we are 13th in scoring defense which seems a little flukey. They’ve been good in the red zone basically but not a great D overall.
And the last 3 games we are 23rd in points given up while playing some pretty horrible offenses if we want to go down the isolated stats road lol.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
UKBuccaneer Says:
December 14th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
We’d also have a winning record if the defense could have held the Texans off for 35 seconds, correct?
^^^^
We’d also have a winning record if Baker Mayfield could have scored more than 16 points at home against the Falcons
December 14th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
As always not picking on coach
The same guy that wants Raheem back what a contradiction
December 14th, 2023 at 2:13 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
December 14th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
You are ignoring field goals for some reason, because we are 13th in scoring defense which seems a little flukey. They’ve been good in the red zone basically but not a great D overall. And the last 3 games we are 23rd in points given up while playing some pretty horrible offenses if we want to go down the isolated stats road lol.
^^^^
Our defense isn’t on the field when other teams are kicking field goals so I didn’t include them because that’s a special teams stat.
Those “total points a team allows per game” stats also includes scores coming from interceptions and fumbles returned for touchdowns as well as punting and kicking returns for touchdowns, so those numbers can give people the wrong idea about how many points were actually given up by the defense.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Its called lack of quality depth. 3-1 turns into 0-4 turns into 2-0 as the rookies step up. It’s called going from $55M otc in March to signing the most important players you can and letting quality walk. Joe is not stupid, Joe realises why the smart people called this a 2 win team. Part of it was dumping on washed up Baker, part was unproven Kyle, biggest part was the smart people saw 25% of this team as rookies and UDFA. They’ve overachieved. Turns out Baker ain’t washed, the vets are fighting through injuries, and the team is fighting for their coach. Shame on you Joe, you know how big a part not giving up and fighting through plays in this game. They lack depth but they got heart.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
He is over his head. He is a good coordinator who needs to concentrate on that. His lowest low is being the only pro coach to have a losing record with Brady as his QB.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:31 pm
JTS and Hall were huge misses and have been very detrimental to the growth and rebuilding of this defense. Shaq is now basically useless too.
But I think the biggest problem is Todd’s terrible Cover 3 scheme. Our CBs play 15 yards off the line; they never play man and disrupt the WRs routes. Every opponent knows this and just call quick cover 3 beaters, that work 95% of the time. Todd never adjusts.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Jack Clark Says:
^^^^
We’d also have a winning record if Baker Mayfield could have scored more than 16 points at home against the Falcons
—————-
So we’re in agreement that it’s a team game, and making one change isn’t going to magically fix things?
Great stuff. That’s what I’ve been telling people.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
The league has caught up to his defensive scheme. His defense is antiquated and offenses around the NFL know how to move ball against this coach. No surprises here guys, just hold your breath week after week for the letdown, priceless.
December 14th, 2023 at 2:54 pm
UKBuccaneer Says:
December 14th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
So we’re in agreement that it’s a team game, and making one change isn’t going to magically fix things? Great stuff. That’s what I’ve been telling people.
^^^^
No, we’re agreeing that if Baker Mayfield sorry as could score more than 2 touchdowns a game then we’d have a winning record 😂
December 14th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
Uk we know that you have a thing for a member of the bucks organization. But truth be told he’s not getting it done. Defense is 13 the in points allowed. That’s what matters. Offense is ranked 23rd in yards. baker is 20 th qb in yards per game. So I agree with Jack. Replace Mayfield he is 225 yards a game. WITH GODWIN AND EVANS!!!!! That’s a bust for a first round rookie. Let’s take a rookie next year. ENOUGH OF THIS SUB PAR ACCEPTANCE.
December 14th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Hw can someone claim to be a fan since76 and use a k in Bucs? This isn’t Milwaukee
December 14th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Just going PPG the defense is 13th and the offense is at 22d.
This offseason based on our on-paper roster and where we dedicated resources, I thought the formula for winning was a top 5ish elite defense and an average or even below average but competent offense.
We only had 1 established piece or even high draft pick on the O-line. We had none at RB. We had none at QB.
We had 2 established WR’s and Tristan Wirfs and then the entire offense was “?”.
Compare it to the defense and the fact that the HC is a defensive HC, and that’s why my criticism has been a lot harder on him than a guy in his first job at OC running an offense with 3 established proven pieces going into the season.
And Bowles hired Canales lol. It all falls on him ultimately
December 14th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Sorry we had a high draft pick QB. I should have said “recent high draft pick” and not some other teams high draft pick lol
December 14th, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Bad scheme. We have talent but we refuse to let them use their size and strength to play bump and run. Instead soft zone Todd all day long.
When was the last Buc corner to disrupt a route?
No free releases ! Never, ever!
the entire league wants the ball out quick.
December 14th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Atlanta was holding the Dline from here to Andromeda and not getting called either. And you birdbrains wonder why they looked so good? An old cripple like me could toss a ball with that kind of protection. Bucs better be ready foe the zebs in Lambeau. The players will be psyched and ready, no doubt. Looking forward to listening to a Bucs game for a rare once. Go Bucs!
December 14th, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Hey joes, where’s my postgame video from last Sunday?
December 14th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
White, Shaq, JTS and Hall are not producing. Dean, Neal, and Davis are horrible in coverage, can’t shake blocks and can’t tackle. Bowles runs the same coverage scheme even when it isn’t working. Tiring to watch offenses march down the field and continue to make third downs on this soft defense.
December 14th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Dewey it’s auto correcting…….welcome to the future.
December 14th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Hard headed, old school coach!
December 14th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
What talent? No all pros on this D. Far from it.
December 14th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
Zero pass rush without a blitz.
Inconsistent pass rush even when they do blitz.
And the secondary is still making mistakes in their various zone coverages.
Go look at how many times they’ve been beaten for a huge play or a touchdown in cover-3. This has been happening for years actually (the cover 3 issues).
December 14th, 2023 at 7:00 pm
But they’re not giving up the points so at the end of the day it doesn’t matter how many yards you’re getting against this if you don’t let them the other teams score points guess what you win and at the end of the day our offense is the problem actually not our offense Baker Mayfield’s the problem
December 14th, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Bowles sucks, therfore the defense sucks!!!
December 14th, 2023 at 8:39 pm
What defense??? He’s a dinosaur and outside of one year jets defense wasn’t all that either
December 14th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
So it is only Baker that has to score points on this team. Now I have seen it all.
December 14th, 2023 at 9:53 pm
The yards sure as hell do matter when you have a field goal to tie or win {Atlanta, Texas} or a short field for a TD to win. During the game not so much but you sure as hell don’t want them in a position to score points in the first freaking place, that’s why we have a DEFENSE. And they matter for the offense to give the Defense a chance to rest and put POINTs on the board. Not rocket surgery. Just be consistant, bad games or plays are gonna happen but in times past we KNEW we would shut them down. When we scored with 30 seconds left against ATL.I was genuinely concerned, and with good reason.
December 14th, 2023 at 9:57 pm
The Chargers are setting a new low for Thursday Night Football.
Even Todd could beat the Chargers tonight. Yes it would be by 3 or 4 points but, Yeah!
December 14th, 2023 at 10:07 pm
We played good games against the 49ers and Eagles.
We have been in every game this season.
We play decent football and we have a chance to win every game.
The talent we have this year is not there, but we are still playing pretty well.
That means our team is well coached and our players play hard for their coaches.
What more can you ask for?
Have you seen other teams? The way players check out mentally?
Our team hasn’t quit on our coaches.
That says it all.
Bowles is not the problem.
We just need a nasty center.
And we will be great next year.
December 14th, 2023 at 10:42 pm
It’s this whole bloated coaching staff.
Hanging around to make a paycheck.
That attitude shows up in the players.
December 14th, 2023 at 11:26 pm
Since the Rams game at the end of the 2021 season, Bowles has played mostly a zone defense – and done a lot less of those ‘exotic’ blitzes that Bowles was allegedly known for.
This year they’ve been particularly passive, up until a couple of weeks ago when they seemed to go back to playing more man-to-man. However, after playing 95%+ of zone on the year (real number), not shockingly, the players haven’t been very sharp going back to a lot of man coverage and it might take a little bit to get back into the flow of things.
Even if they’ve been technically blitzing (bringing 5) at a high rate, they’ve been very conservative in those blitzes, seemingly doing a lot of delayed blitzes while playing soft zone, which has give QBs a very easy time of scanning the field and finding the open guy. Switching back to man-to-man and being more aggressive I think will bring a lot better results, but again, is going to cause pain as they just haven’t played this defense much in years.
December 15th, 2023 at 2:04 am
Wuda shuda Cuda
So sick of hearing that bs if atl had 1 more play they wuda scored changed the out come that’s every friggin game in the
NFL if only 1 more p,ay had changed wtf the game ended the way it was supposed to. had nothing to do with wuda shuda Cuda shut the f*** up,you people r worse than my x wife wtf
December 15th, 2023 at 2:07 am
Why the f are u people always talking in the past who gives a darn bout 2021 or 2019 or 2022 it’s freaking 2023
December 15th, 2023 at 2:08 am
All I care bout is sunday in green bay & a win!!!!!!!!
December 15th, 2023 at 2:12 am
Ne FSN no u & new rngland wtf is a new England fan this site I don’t get it (go away) retard
December 15th, 2023 at 2:15 am
This actually a good team with some really bad fans!!! SO CALLED FANS
December 15th, 2023 at 2:24 am
Since76 says u obviously still think it’s 1976 225 yds is pretty darn good in this league shud b more than adequate with a little run game to win in this league see how many games qb gets 300 or 400 yds & still loses 1st game with vikings comes to mind 400 yds cousins& last week against falcons 347ydd & a loss comes to mind wtf is the matter with u tards
December 15th, 2023 at 9:44 am
I’m just waiting for Belichick or Tomlin to be hired as the next HC.
December 15th, 2023 at 9:52 am
I agree with Joe on this, but I’m not quite sure how you put this all on Bowles. If he blitzes more often, that carries a lot of risk as well and we’ve seen that bite us in the azz this season, too. If the 4 rushers aren’t getting any pressure, as seems to be the case, there isn’t much the coach can do. I’d think that’s either more on the GMs for not having the necessary players or the players themselves if they aren’t performing up to their standards.
On the other hand, if the defense were to, say, go to a 3 man line in definite passing situations, and brought a 4th rusher from one of our safeties or the slot to try to add some unpredictability and take advantage of playmaking in the secondary, I’d be in favor of something like that. However, that’s not very standard in the NFL so far as I’m aware. So I guess you can fault Bowles for not going ‘above and beyond’ and being innovative when the standard tactics are coming up short, but that’s an ‘above and beyond’ kind of thing. So far as the front 4 getting no pressure is concerned, it doesn’t seem to be Bowles fault.
I think people may also have to take into account that the team could be a lot better than the results have been except for a lot of little things that went the wrong, some mistakes and some bad luck. I know Einstein said “the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results”- but sometimes in sports you have to stick your guns. Sometimes to overreact is the biggest mistake. It’s hard for any of us to know because we aren’t in that building. Sometimes a play doesn’t work because it’s poor strategy, but sometimes it was poor luck and if you run the same play again it’ll work. In fact I remember an instance just like that this season: we threw a deep hitch-and-go up the right-side seam, and if I recall, the first play the refs said our rookie WR didn’t catch it on replay (I swore it looked like a catch to me) so the very next play we ran the exact same play except had Evans run that route and we got the big play.
I think in the next couple of weeks we’ll know more answers because it really isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish. If we put it together now and keep the win streak going, the journey was successful. If we start crapping the bed again we will have to correct that quickly, or the season will be lost and changes must be made. I sure hope we don’t crap the bed! I believe this team has the ability to succeed and we will put that together now when it matters most! Go Bucs!!!
December 15th, 2023 at 10:06 am
I agree with teacherman777 as well. Injuries hurt us bad and what we really need is an all-pro C: we need Ryan Jensen but unfortunately we all know he won’t be back this season. Thus we have to adjust as well we can and do what we can to now to win anyhow. I do look forward to having him back 100% next year, or if that’s not possible another great center, but that’s in the future and can’t help us this season unfortunately. Still, I think I feel the point your making and I agree. While personally I hope they can make improvements, by and large I don’t want to throw the coaches under the bus. Have they made mistakes? Yes they have, but everyone does at times. On the other hand, they’ve kept the team together and given us a chance to win every game even in a season we had no $ to spend and we’ve had a ton of injuries. I want to see improvement because I think they can do better, but I disagree with the people who want to move on from our staff. First of all we have to let this season play out! We’re in first place!!! If we make the playoffs, that’s something to build on. Trust me I’ve rooted for teams that keep changing staff, and they always end up sucking because of it. Our first priority should be winning with the team we got, and if we can make the playoffs with all the injuries this season, in a year we knew would be a ‘reloading’ year, I’d say it’s a great sign for this team.
December 15th, 2023 at 10:10 am
BakerSBbucs@ it’s no wonder your wife left you, you are a bitter man. Let me give you today’s REALITY, the Bucs D is 30th in the league giving up passing yds. Avg almost 265yds/gm. How’s that for PRESENT information going into GB?
December 15th, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Fire Todd Bowles!!!
December 16th, 2023 at 8:01 am
Good defenses get three and outs…For there offenses!
Go Bucs!
December 16th, 2023 at 11:46 am
He doesn’t motivate. Second half he makes no adjustments to play against what the the other team is doing. Terrible adjustments and lack of motivation equals a losing team.