Will Todd Bowles Make Another Great Hire — On Special Teams?
February 2nd, 2024
As Bucs fans learned two days ago, special teams chief Keith Armstrong retired. Joe will assume it wasn’t a corporate force-out situation.
So head coach Todd Bowles has another huge hiring decision on his hands.
Joe has faith because of how Bowles crushed that call when he was head coach of the New York Jets.
The Jets have been bad for a long time but they have had some great years of special teams. After Bowles’ first season with the Jets (2015), he fired his special teams coach and hired Brant Boyer to replace him. Boyer was not a big name but he got fast success with the Jets’ special teams and survived head coaching changes from to Adam Gase to Robert Saleh. And angry Jets fans have not run him out of town.
So Joe will say that Bowles got that one right.
Time to do it again, Todd.
In-house special teams assistant Keith Tandy is an interesting name, perhaps only because fans know the former Bucs safety well. He joined Bucco Bruce Arians’ staff in 2020.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Great pic Joe Bowles looks like a horror movie photo!
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Find someone young tons of energy, who has an eye for talent.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:44 pm
I think this hire can’t be over-rated. I’ve seen other teams really struggle in special teams’ return and coverage units that flipped field position.
I really didn’t like all the fair catches by Thompkins and I wonder if he was encouraged to do that by Armstrong/Bowels to be conservative.
Camarda is a great athlete that we need to use. He ran a 4.5 at the combine and I remember his crazy running kick from a couple of years ago. Have Tom Moore teach him how to throw well and we’ll have a great weapon, IF Bowels would take a chance on a fake punt or field goal.
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Mike Prieffer if he’s available. Mike Munchak for the OLine would be great
February 2nd, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Looks like Eric Bienemy is going to get fired maybe hire him to replace Harold Goodwin assistant head coach and run game coordinator. We could use plenty of run game coaches cause what we have doesn’t seem to be working.
February 2nd, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Is Bisaccia available?
February 2nd, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Isn’t Tandy from Tampa?
February 2nd, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Finally. We need a new Special Teams coordinator.
Dave Moore should be returning kick offs. He has better straight line speed than Devin Thompkins and he can break tackles. As we saw in the playoffs. He runs hard.
Devin can stay on punt return duty.
I honestly hope Devin is our next Karl “the Truth” Williams.
Devin is a Buccaneer man. He’s one of my favorite Bucs.
I hope he keeps developing as a nasty quick slot receiver and I pray God protects him for the next 10 years as a Buccaneer.
But Dave Moore should be returning kickoffs
The kickoff returner needs to have longer strides and better straight line speed.
Devin Thompkins is 5-6 with a short stride.
I want a legit kickoff returner this year.
6-3. 4.3. 230. Breaks tackles. Scary MF.
February 2nd, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Bucs should clean house and have a fresh start in ST other than who is working with the P and K. Haven’t even been average on returns or coverage for quite a while.
February 2nd, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Tandy should be pass defense coordinator. The last true shutdown Bucs pass defense was 2016 when the Tandyman was roaming the secondary. He’s be better as a head coach than Bloweszo as well.
It’s likely whoever Todd decides on will contribute to the further decay of the team.
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:21 pm
When was the last time the Bucs blocked any kick?
February 2nd, 2024 at 4:49 pm
teacherman777 – There’s very very few good returners anymore, mainly because the NFL has tried to kill the return game because they now market mainly to women and cupcakes.
Thompkins was 14th in punt return this year … and when you look at kickoff returns, on PFR, there’s only 2 ranked kickoff returners in the entire league when you account for the minimum number of returns stats. That’s how much the NFL has killed the return game. Thompkins only had 17 returns all year, so one a game, and he had the 8th most returns. So when you’re talking about one or two yards differences taking you from the bottom of the list to near the top – realize that is literally only like 1 or 2 yards in a game. That’s why teams don’t really spend resources on it – and mainly just want someone they can trust to catch the ball and not screw up.
With that said I don’t disagree with you – generally you want long striders, speeds guys doing returns, but it makes no difference anymore because of how the NFL as killed that aspect of the game.
February 2nd, 2024 at 5:05 pm
IMHO, almost anyone will be better! The Bucs have been perennial bottom 1/4 of all ST since Armstrong got here. And perhaps before too.
February 2nd, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Good that Armweak is gone.
February 2nd, 2024 at 6:10 pm
Is Rich Basaccia available? That dude is excellent and should have been the Raiders coach when he excelled as the interim! His special teams here might have been the last time we were good in that area
February 3rd, 2024 at 12:53 am
I just have to ask.
Does Bowles work on a shrimp 🦐 boat in the off season?
And is it possible he has a twin brother named Bubba Gump?
February 3rd, 2024 at 10:35 am
Know Keith Personally. He’s been a winner at every level. He just gets it and is a masterful communicator of the game. Has a way about him that makes you want to run through a wall to meet his expectations. This hire would solidify the special teams and he could continue to have input on the secondary. Getting a two for one deal. I say pull the trigger Todd and get er done.