Todd Bowles Hunting For Blocking Upgrades
March 29th, 2024
Tight end Cade Otton.
The Buccaneers’ head coach made a power move this month that didn’t get much fanfare.
Joe wrote about it, of course, and asked Bowels to explain himself this week.
Bowles hired Justin Peelle to coach his young tight ends. Peelle has double-digit years of NFL experience playing and coaching the position. He replaces John Van Dam, who will stay as an offensive assistant coach.
“I wanted to bring Justin in. He’s more of a technician to help those guys, especially in the blocking aspect of it,” Bowles told Joe at the NFL owners meeting/convention in Orlando.
“[I moved] Van Dam over into more of a passing thing, which was more of his thing when he came out [of college], being a quarterback. I think it really helps us, and it helps those guys from a technique standpoint. Hopefully, that will help us in the run game, as well, with better blocking.”
Bowles added, “it can be,” when Joe asked whether tight end blocking could a major area of improvement.
Joe thinks this is an underrated Bucs offseason change. Status woe quo for the struggling run game would not be acceptable. The Bucs have three young tight ends in Cade Otton, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft. None is a special blocker.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Ko Kieft is a complete waste of a roster spot. He doesn’t excel at anything. At the very least, Licht should be looking to replace him with a TE that specializes in blocking.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Ben Sinnot is the guy you want. Look him up.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Kieft will be on the practice squad when the season starts
March 29th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
@Tim.
no. make me.
lol
March 29th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Again, I’ll point out to Bowles, that he was handed a team that lead the NFL in passing… A team literally built to pass the ball.
March 29th, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Rod Munch … ‘Again, I’ll point out to Bowles, that he was handed a team that lead the NFL in passing’.
And I could point out to you Rod that that offense has changed A BUNCH since Todd Bowles took over in March 2022. For one thing, the QB? No more Brady. For another, the OLine? No more Jensen or Cappa or D Smith or Marpet. And the TE changes? No more Gronk or Brate. And the RB changes? No more Fournette or RoJo. Same with the WRs? ME13 & CG14 are still here, but the rest have moved on. Some vey pronounced changed in 2022, and even more in 2023. Very little about this 2024 offense and BA’s 2021 offense is the same.
But yes, the Bucs did lead the NFL in passing in 2021. Also led the league in Passing ATTEMPTS (731) & in Passing TDs (43). Tom Brady was on fire. Of course, our run game sucked (#26), largely because we ran very little (#31). Funny how that seems to work.
Personally I prefer a more ‘balanced’ offense. Some opponents are better at defending the run; some are better at defending the pass. A solid ‘balanced’ offense allows you to better attack your opponents’ weaknesses IMO. It’s also more ‘sustainable’ IMO (BA’s high-powered passing offense was REALLY expensive).
March 29th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
Agreed, Kieft doesn’t excel at anything. Time to replace our #3 tight end for sure
March 29th, 2024 at 3:12 pm
None are special..period.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Good call.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:21 pm
BucMan, I agree. Kieft doesn’t excel at anything. Doesn’t accel either. Small and slow is no way to go through life son.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Kieft was supposed to be our good boocker so time for him to go
March 29th, 2024 at 5:07 pm
Hey Joe,
I love that you’ve finally learned to spell my name correctly.
“Joe wrote about it, of course, and asked Bowels to explain himself this week.”
As for the point of your article, has a little lady from the Wendy’s commercial used to say, “Where’s the Beef?”. Hopefully, no one will have to ask that after the draft.
Kudos,
Toad
March 29th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Hey Tim,
Ye, been there for awhile now.
Everyone else, you want a TE, grab Sinnott in the 4th as he’s an upgrade over Otten in the blocking dept. Good all around TE and versatile prospect.
^^mtnbucman^^
Since ’76
March 29th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Toad, that’s funny…. Love the dry humor.
The new tightend coach knows his sh@t.
March 29th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Need another GRONK. Ott cant block.
March 29th, 2024 at 7:04 pm
It is true we need another TE that can block and catch like Gronk
March 29th, 2024 at 8:20 pm
Not sure 6’5 and 265 is small. He’s slow, yes. Maybe this new coach can get the TE blocking straight?
March 29th, 2024 at 10:51 pm
We should just get Gronk back.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Hey Defense Rules
I’m pretty sure your point is far different than Rod’s point.
I’m pretty sure Rod’s pointing out how badly Bowels SQUANDERED the entire offensive roster in a BIG WAY, we he took over. And if I’m not wrong, I recall you personally commenting on how that he was mishandling the team, Just like the rest of the ENTIRELY of the Buccaneer fans All Over the World.
It would have made A LOT MORE SENSE to work in his philosophies a bit at a time rather than the way he went about it via putting everything in a shredder and DESTROYING Any and ALL sense of balance! Would Have achieved a more balanced attack MUCH MUCH sooner than now.
I’m pretty sure that’s Rod’s point though I admit, I’m not sure why he’s bringing that up now.
Typically DR, you been more cleaver than to jump on fads and take cheap shots at a guy who can’t buy a break right now. Not your style and it cheapens your points. You’re better than jumping on fad trains and because of it, THAT’S part of why people appreciate your takes.
Then again, Rod might have taken a cheap shot at you personally and had a shot across his bow coming back his way.
Also, I know you’re standing up for Bowels but it’s a COME ON MAN moment to try to sell Anybody that his lousy approach didn’t almost have him thrown out IMMEDIATELY. You know it, I Know it, any Every actual Buccaneers fan knows it.
PLUS Bowels had No Problem At All LYING to Everyone he ever meet “last year” AND BTW, THAT includes YOU TO….
So you defend his poor decisions, lies, and so so defense all you want but don’t expect everyone to just forget what he’s done and how he did it.
And I SWEAR! If I see more Offensive POOR CHOICES, and PERPETUAL running it up the middle with crap results, AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, ANOTHER YEAR IN A ROW, I’m going to publicly apologize to Leftwich because IT WILL BE CLEAR WHO THE CULPRIT WAS..!! And I’m going to CALL FOR HIS HEAD AGAIN!
So Far, it looks like We got into playoffs DESPITE Todd Bowels. This is the year he had better be the ANSWER rather than the lost buffoon on the sidelines letting opportunities slip by Again and AGAIN!
Either his luck better not run out OR he BETTER ACTUALLY be Good this year instead of lucky…
I’m rooting for him because I WANT TO WIN. I’d (just for once) like to see him as “competent” instead of seeing him as Homer Simpson! Here’s to him Finally TAKING IT instead of stumbling into it… I might just be PROUD of him for change and I’d SURE PREFER THAT..
March 30th, 2024 at 5:50 am
Ko fullback power running game
March 30th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Obvious and Not
First Not. I assume you have a scroll wheel or a finger to drag the screen past any of the longer posts that “offend” you. I’m guilty and again since everyone here has the ability to move to the next post in a millisecond I’m not going to feel sorry about it! Just ignore me like many others here do. Long ago I learned I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and I’m fine with that.
But I enjoy D.R. and Obvious’ longer posts. They don’t waste a ton of time on stupid ad hom attacks and attempt to illustrate their posts with some facts and stats. THAT takes time!!!
Obvious…as you can read from above I respect your posts and so do not take this as a criticism just engaging. I take your points but it’s funny how two people can read the same posts and come away with different takes.
We’ve gotten to this point after a tumultuous 3 years that occured after the SB.
Brady checked out his 3rd year after proving that it was he not BB that drove all those SB’s.
Year two of Brady the team peaked resigning ALL 22 starters from the SB squad. That was NOT Todd’s team!!! The next year the GOAT became a lamb and stole the Bucs money and season. He waited until the freaking preseason to address his marital problems which actually began when he reneged on his promise to retire if he won another SB. The off season was filled with Brady’s unhappiness and desire to play in Miami or Vegas.
Brady was not only a horrible loss of talent at the most important position, he tanked it going out of town.
D.R. pointed out the ENORMOUS difference in talent…starting at QB!!!
I think Baker outplayed Brady’s final year…but he’s not Brady and he’s not going to match years 1 and 2 of Brady’s TB career. That ALONE should show how Bowles has managed to to SURVIVE a horrible transition made all the worse by the GOAT!!!
March 30th, 2024 at 8:29 am
BTW I’m not attempting to disparage Tom Brady’s career. He is the GOAT!!!
He played like the GOAT his first two Buc season.
Year three Brady became “Fat Elvis” in Vegas at the end, all drugged up and going through the motions. Elvis Presley was one of the greatest entertainers of all time. But NOT at the end.
Tom Brady is the GOAT…but like Fat Elvis…not at the end!!!
March 30th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Defense Rules – The team was built to pass the ball, not to be a boring 1971 offense where you run the ball up the middle. So the offensive lineman are primarily pass blockers, your superstars on offense are at WR, your starting RB is best as a pass catcher, your starting TE is best as a pass catcher.
What part of that fails to compute with you?
Put your players in a place to succeed, instead of demanding them to play YOUR system because your middle school coach once said ‘you win by running the ball’.
March 30th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Obvious Says:
Then again, Rod might have taken a cheap shot at you personally and had a shot across his bow coming back his way.
———-
I enjoy the back and forth with Defense Rules, and he does a great job with stats, but he’s still sore about me mocking him year after year after year for him saying that Chris Conte and Ryan Smith were good defensive backs and the Bucs would have a good passing defense – in the year where they were literally the worst passing defense in the NFL.
But, with that said, you are correct – my point was about the team being built to pass the ball, from the strength of the offense being your WR, to having primarily pass catching RB’s and TE’s and a pass blocking offensive line.
I know that Leftwich, who is literally retarded, soured Bowles on passing the ball, but that is more about Leftwich being uniquely stupid and thinking he’d improve on Arians scheme by dumbing it down and making it ultra predictable. Also, frankly, last year I thought Canales did a very good job in mixing it up – but you could also see he was hamstrung by Bowles – if they got any sort of lead, things immediately were dumbed down to the basics, and it was just about running clock. That’s how Bowles managed to lose that Houston game, by trying to sit on a lead. With the new ginger OC, I worry that we’re going to see even more of Bowles inserting himself.
But maybe I’m wrong. Bowles outperformed expectations last year, albeit by playing a cupcake schedule in a terrible division. This year will be a lot tougher, and I hope he can surprize me again. Not rooting against Bowles, just want him to be more flexible.
March 31st, 2024 at 3:36 am
I don’t fault Bowels for anything he has done. Put yourself in those situations and ask yourself what you would do. Instead we sit on the couch and bitch about how he calls In hindsight. I don’t think he will hinder Coen at all. The guy knows what he wants and I agree with running the ball, we just have to do it better.
It starts with better run blocking and Mauch was a good start. Who we get in this draft and what they specialize at will tell the story.
I personally am tired of Bowels using high draft picks on Defense.
If he does it again this year, then he needs to go because it is more about him being a DC and a HC that wants the best players for himself.
We need to outscore teams and that takes better offensive players. Maybe an OLB with the first pick, bit then it better be 3 guys on the other side of the ball.
If he is such a good defensive coach, he should be able to do it with less talent and a scheme that computes for the average JOE.