Todd Bowles: You Want Another Edge Rusher? Forget About It
August 19th, 2024
Hope.
Bucs fans stomping their feet like Joe, unsatisfied with banking on hope and wanting the Bucs to bring an edge rusher that’s proven he can regularly put a quarterback on his ass got a cold wakeup call from Todd Bowles yesterday.
In so many words, the Bucs head coach said he likes his outside linebackers, thinks the team is deep at outside linebacker and there is no need to add one.
“The outside [linebacker] position on defense probably has the most depth of any position [on defense],” Bowles said. “We’re very comfortable with the guys we have that are playing and that are backing them up right now – and guys that could possibly make the team.”
For Bowles’ sake, Joe sure hopes he’s right. This nonsense of not prioritizing getting after quarterbacks with an edge rush is going to give Joe an ulcer. When opposing quarterbacks drop back, it’s nearly to the point Joe puts a hand over his face and looks away — like some people do rolling past a nasty car crash.
Teams that win Super Bowls have an edge rush. Funny how that works. And the last time the Bucs had guys that could come off the edge, those pass rushers helped the Bucs beat a Murderers’ Row of quarterbacks (Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Pat Mahomes) — all in a row — to win a Super Bowl.
Hope is an evil though intoxicating four-letter word.
.@Jose4six recorded three sacks, and @greatyaya4 won't let you forget it 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/nb9fXMysmC
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 18, 2024
August 19th, 2024 at 4:06 am
Listen this is the guy who zero blitzed to destroy an all time classic TB12 comeback for the ages- we probably win the Super Bowl that year again.
And that Browns game with the punt…
Let’s stop pretending he’s someone else who has a clue.
August 19th, 2024 at 4:19 am
Todd Bowles … “The outside [linebacker] position on defense probably has the most depth of any position [on defense].”
THAT statement surprises me; I would’ve thought he’d pick our Secondary (Dean, Winfield & Whitehead have SB experience, then add several others with significant playing experience like McCollum, Izien, Hall, Thomas, etc).
Yet even though they’re quite young, our OLBs do have some experience. Nelson’s in his 6th year now & had 75 games under his belt. JTS is in his 4th year with 51 games. Diaby played in all 17 games last year. Add the rookie Braswell for sure, plus probably Ramirez, and that’s probably all the OLBs we’ll keep on the active roster.
Still, the productivity of that group is lacking. Last year, Diaby-JTS-Nelson (10 total years of experience) totaled 15.5 sacks & only 21 QB Hits. Braswell & Ramirez probably won’t add major numbers to that since this would be their 1st year playing. Still, those are ‘our guys’ and we’ll play the hand we’re dealt it sounds like.
August 19th, 2024 at 4:20 am
LOL
Not stomping here Joe. I think Todd and Jason both have said as much already. They are happy with what we got. Trading for a FA is not in the plan me thinks. You just rarely get what you pay for with that and at this late hour…you would be trading for …hope.
Jason is not gonna give up the farm for Reddick I don’t think. Add that we just got rid of a dude who constantly shot himself in the foot with his inflated self worth. Reddick has painted himself and the Jets into a corner with his trade demand.
We do know what our fan favorite Shaq can do. So for me we might bring him in if he wants to come back. But only for spot duty on a one year deal.
DT, ILB, and Back end depth concerns me alot more than OLB at the moment.
We looked weak there Vs the Jags. As usual we could not get off the field on third down and it was not on the pass rushers! Can you say blown coverage and missed tackles?
We, as usual made an average QB look All Pro!
Go Bucs!
August 19th, 2024 at 5:23 am
Chris Jones a defensive tackle for the Chiefs not an OLB or DE or an Edge Rusher.
2 of the last 3 Super Bowls the Chiefs have won and the 4th super bowl they lost to us, they did not have a OLB or DE hit 10 sacks. The one time they got an edge rusher to 10 sacks, it was just 10.5 sacks.
While it is certainly easier to get to a Super Bowl with a dominant edge rush, I think this proves the hypothesis that teams that win Super Bowls have edge rushers as incorrect.
Lots of ways different ways to win it all in the NFL.
August 19th, 2024 at 6:25 am
Wondering if Coach Bowles doesn’t have some tricks and surprises under his hat that we haven’t seen yet in training camp and preseason games. Keeping them in his pocket until we face the Commanders.
August 19th, 2024 at 6:39 am
We need another rusher we lost gregory!
August 19th, 2024 at 6:40 am
“”Wondering if Coach Bowles doesn’t have some tricks and surprises under his hat that we haven’t seen yet in training camp and preseason games. Keeping them in his pocket until we face the Commanders.””
That may be but I wouldn’t bet a mortgage payment on it.
August 19th, 2024 at 6:43 am
Yeah, when JTS is the starter what more do you need? He’s the next JPP and Simeon Rice all rolled into one. Honestly, I don’t trust Bowles and fail to see why everyone thinks he is a good coach. The guy has had monumental in game brain farts. Much rather have Dan Campbell as the Bucs HC. Oh and why if the OLB is so deep they Jason sign Randy Gregory? That guy is a total loser that has worse stats than JTS. lol.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:04 am
Cleanhouse—
“Let’s stop pretending he’s someone else who has a clue.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Among your litany of shortcomings, don’t forget the timeout he failed to use against Detroit. Yeah, the odds were long, very long, but you never give up—QUIT!
Stranger things have happened …
Unlike some here, who derive joy from disparaging others, I do not, but I often wonder if only thing Bowles has under his hat is an empty head, and the only thing he has up his sleeve is an arm.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:08 am
We need another edge ruser no doubt about it!
August 19th, 2024 at 7:16 am
Ya act like top edge rushers grow on trees, and all you have to do is go pluck one. If it was that easy every team would have one. The only edge that might be had is Riddick. Don’t see the Bucs giving up a kings ransom for someone who’s looking to be paid as the best, but keep beating that dead horse.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:24 am
Every coach has an ego. Bowles ego is centered around scheming pressure regardless of personnel.
It’s the gift and curse of every coach.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:34 am
@Billyboy
We’re bringing Simeon Rice back.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:46 am
BucU – Thank you for the laugh. Thankfully I am not a betting person. Hoping though that maybe he will give us some good surprises.
August 19th, 2024 at 7:54 am
I always look at car crashes to see if I can render assistance or if it is someone I know.
August 19th, 2024 at 8:07 am
Look at it this way, all of us Bucs fans will get what we want one way or the other. Either TB knows exactly what he’s doing and the position is in good hands, or he doesn’t and his seat gets red hot.
It’s his job he’s gambling, I wish him well and hope he’s right.
August 19th, 2024 at 8:31 am
Every great edge rusher started out as a rookie or 2nd year guy developing before they got double digit sacks. Ours are just young at this point. I prefer this to getting some injury prone 32 year old you have to over pay for and you have to give up draft capital. On top of all that you lose a guy like Ramirez trying to sneak him on your practice squad. Only to watch the Saints get him and he goes on to get them double digit sacks the next 8 years. Your broken down FA got injured again and is just a dead cap hit.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:51 am
The Bucs finished 6-2 their last 8 games last year
The Defense allowed 17.3 points /game the last 8 games
The Bucs added Braswell, Whitehead and Smith to the Defense
Kancey, hopefully starts the season healthy this year
White is gone, Davis is 5 minutes away from another injury list
No reason to go fishing for an expensive and likely egomaniac FA
August 19th, 2024 at 10:01 am
Let’s hope TB is not referring to JTS9, he’s no Richard Dent!
August 19th, 2024 at 10:03 am
We rolling with the newbies.
Everyone understands the rush metrics of these guys up to date.
Everyone knows they are bad.
Either they break through and raise the level – or they don’t.
Bowles thinks they will.
The rest of us? Skeptical.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:30 am
STILL A BUILDING YEAR
Jason isn’t all in on this team; otherwise, he’d pull the trigger on vet FA. Jason wants to move the +$20M to next year, finish the dead money clean up, evolve their talent pool, load up on another rookie class, and go all in next year and the following year. Licht has a long-term plan and he’s sticking to it.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:31 am
A month ago, I would have deferred to Todd, that he would know better than us.
At this point after seeing the same old same old, I look to Jason to do something regardless of Bowels’ blathering. He’s talking out of both sides of his mouth every week. This is really no different.
To be fair, if Toad stressed an unmet need at edge it would drive the price up for whatever Jason might be working on, so there’s that.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:33 am
Gregory = addition by subtraction.
August 19th, 2024 at 11:53 am
i sincerely hope Bowles and his staff know and see something us Buc fans do not .If I were him, I’d try to pick up another DE. Injuries happen and what gonna take place when Ya-Ya gets hurt? No pass rush equals a minimum of 5 loses in todays NFl.
August 19th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Good thing is, we have a decent pass rush even if it isn’t the edge. Kancey, Yaya, and Vita make up a heck of a combo and we ideally only need a couple of rotational edge rushers behind that which would consist of Nelson, JTS, Braswell, and Ramirez. So truly it’s not the worst situation and if JTS actually shows up this year we should have decent depth. With that said I wouldn’t mind seeing Licht add another edge rusher who will actually show up to practice.
August 19th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Hey, it’s Bowles job on the line. I hope he’s right, and they found some edge rushers. If they hit on Brasell or Ramirez, or perhaps even JTS has leveled up over the offseason – and obviously Yaya is back and healthy – then Bowles and Licht should get a ton of credit for sitting pat.
Quite risky, but if I’m Licht, I’m not giving up good draft picks to get some old pass rusher coming off a major injury for this squad as it’s not SB material. But hey, go out and prove everyone wrong, I’d love to see it.
August 19th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Agreed, Rod.
August 19th, 2024 at 5:57 pm
hey joe thanks for covering this angle for us bucs fans. i appreciate it.
All i’m saying is if a stud Edge Rusher becomes available, we should go get them.
Believing in the guys we got is fine, but Judon for a 3rd round pick?
JTS was picked in the first! So how is Judon not worth a future 3rd?
We haven’t had a dominant edge rush guy in a minute. Jason Lit already made our LT the highest paid and our Safety the highest paid.
If a guy wants a pay-day and he’s proven. Trade for him and pay him period. T
I’m tired of this team not being ALL IN
August 19th, 2024 at 6:44 pm
“SlyPirate Says:
August 19th, 2024 at 10:30 am
STILL A BUILDING YEAR…..etc etc”
Agreed……
August 20th, 2024 at 1:13 am
New edge, fuggettaboutit.
If Bowels is wrong, new head coach. Jason will pick well.
August 20th, 2024 at 6:42 pm
Getting a higher tier edge rusher than we have is not likely. The smart thing for Bowles to do then is to talk up the guys we have instead of being dismissive. That’s what a good head coach does, brings people up, not down. Tua’s referencing the difference in that in disclosures now, as an example.