Not Seen In The NFL Since 2010
October 7th, 2024
If you thought the carving of the Bucs’ interior pass defense Thursday night felt historic, well, that’s because it was.
Joe’s got the numbers.
The fine folks at ESPN track passing yards in every game betwen the yard-line numbers on the field. This is the 19th year in which ESPN has been charting the data, and Thursday’s results against the Bucs were a jolt not felt since 2010.
Kirk Cousins completed passes for 371 in between the numbers. That was exceeded twice in 2010 (Donovan McNabb and Matt Schaub) and never again until Thursday.
It’s no wonder that Bucs fans remain in disbelief from what they saw Thursday as it relates to the middle of the Tampa Bay defense.
K.J. Britt was abused. Tykee Smith had rough moments. (You could see confusion in his eyes on film). And the Bucs’ zone defense was too often softer than the Charmin no longer on the grocery shelves in the Tampa Bay area.
And as Joe noted, all of Cousins’ 509 passing yards came from throws with him in the pocket. That hasn’t happened in the nine seasons NFL NextGen stats has been tracking pocket passes.
Yes, it was a historic night.
October 7th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
I saw this somewhere, the other day… On the Friday after the game! Noticed the others were all in 2010.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:01 pm
Bowles got possessed by the spirit of
Mike smith cushion defense
October 7th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
I just Glad Todd to his guns and made no changes as usual.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Playing for overtime is not fighting until the end, imo.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
This is why Bowles most likely needs to be replaced. Coach Bowles appears to have done a great job in selecting Liam Coen as the OC, but his defensive game plans are regularly exploited by accurate QB’s.
The Bucs have an extremely talented roster, and it would be a shame to waste it over the next few years with a head coach that is not a plus at his forte(defense).
October 7th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
@crickett… how about holding on to a time out down 1 score in a playoff game?
October 7th, 2024 at 2:26 pm
Todd Bowels is 21-21 as the HC for Tampa. That isn’t an accident. He is not a head coach. He’s a decent DC with questionable decision making skills at best. The numbers do not lie. We have a 50/50 shot of either winning or losing with him at the helm. That should not be good enough for this franchise.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Thursday was disturbing at the very least…TBBF has zero confidence in our pass defense vs Saints….The only way to win is to outscore them in a shootout…..we cannot take the foot off the gas….I can live with a defeat if we go down swinging.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
“but his defensive game plans are regularly exploited by accurate QB’s.”
Yet without close to HALF of his defensive team out, on the road against a favored team, the Bucs still put up a fight and at least gave Rah a good scare.
Losing one score games is always a tough pill to swallow. I get it.
Throwing in the towel, or tossing the baby out with the bathwater isn’t the answer! Whining over spilt milk is also not the answer. Taking a LESSON from the loss is valuable.
REALITY CHECK – The Bucs are simply not good enough much less deep enough to beat quality teams with the most talented half of their defense missing! That is not going to change. You could fire Bowles and bring ANY other coach in and they’d be burdened with the same thing.
So people are peoed because of “style” points and LUCK including officiating.
Let’s face it IF White breaks one of those throwback screens, as he has done on numerous occasions Coen and Bowles would be getting praise right now!!!
That’s ONE freaking play which is typical in the cap era NFL. It’s NOT an indictment of the coaching staff.
Hindsight is freaking 20/20, no wonder we have so many insightful guys here trashing Bowles/Coen and crew.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Hey Joe what about a poll on bringing Chucky back as the head coach
October 7th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
@st pete… The D played historicaly bad. It was embarassing. Scheme sucked, coaching sucked and tackeling sucked. If you want to play the what if game, we could have lost by 20… a blocked fg, a missed fg and mooney drops a pass at the 15 with no one around. We got very lucky to beat detroit. The outgained us by over 200 yards. 4 tough teams comming up, he better right the ship!
October 7th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
@stpetebucfan
REALITY CHECK – The Bucs are 21-21 including the playoffs under Bowels.
That’s 20-19 in the regular season and 1-2 in the postseason.
Another indictment of a coaching performance gone drastically wrong.
He’s not the guy, never been the guy, isn’t capable of being the guy.
We need a new guy.
October 7th, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Halloween came early but believe the saints will do the exact same thing. Check out of run plays and instead throw right at him every time.
October 7th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
Well, we should have played to win. At the end we played far too conservative. That is a Bowles tendency. He doesn’t seem to see the error of it. I’m not ready to scream for his head just yet.
No, I don’t think trading for Devin White is going to help. Pass coverage was never his forte. Besides, I don’t think the Eagles play him much either. The guy is just washed.
October 7th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
JJ Britt is Devin white w/o speed smh
October 7th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
@joe: an idea for a research. How many games since Todd became responsible for our D we were torched by a QB? I would love to see what is the % of the games he called the D that were a mess on pass D….
October 7th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Define “torched by a QB.”
If you are asking 500+ yards passing, Joe’s written about this in a couple of stories (Joe’s search function is free!)
Jared Goff threw for 517 vs. Bowles in 2019.
Kirk Cousins threw for 509 last week.
October 7th, 2024 at 5:35 pm
Got gouged in the middle of the field ALL GAME. Then we lose to a game winning throw right to the middle of the field in overtime. Unreal. How do we get an interception with 1:45 left on the clock with the lead and blow the game? The coaches blew this one and what was that challenge flag Bowles threw???? The Bucs will continue to get abused in the middle of the defense until KJ Britt is removed from the field.
October 7th, 2024 at 6:07 pm
Reading this blog makes me think the team must be 1-4 or 0-5. 🤪🤪
October 7th, 2024 at 6:14 pm
The Falcons were lightning up the sky with passes over the middle
While we were running up the middle, and throwing screens to our RBs. Really, the Falcons should have beat us by 20 points. They made a lot of mistakes, penalties, drops, missed the.
October 7th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
**missed FGs
October 7th, 2024 at 6:25 pm
He is a stiff….
October 7th, 2024 at 6:25 pm
Torterella said it best “safe is death”. Todd is a coward. Every game is the same theme. If you get a lead sit on it, if you fall behind throw until you catch up, then sit on it. It’s always a “hope they don’t score” panic. He plays it scared every time. Trick play- no. Go for it – no. Continue to pass with the lead – no. Step on their neck when you have them down – no. Didn’t learn a thing from Arians. How refreshing was the Arians’ regime compared to Todd the turtle? There are some Xs and Os and personnel issues, but the main problem is the loser mind set. He’s Steve Deberg – just good enough to get you beat. It’s time for the change. I was hoping we could get one more year out of him with the talent we have, but he is not the answer. Too many mistakes and not enough guts. It’s a game for gamblers. The sheep get slaughtered.
October 7th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Chucky SUCKS as a head coach. Yes he got us a Lombardi and I’m happy for that but he’s past his time. How did he do when he got his second chance with the Raiders? They sucked… I’m not loving what we’ve seen from Bowels (consistently inconsistent is what his teams have proved to be) BUT if he is ever let go I hope it’s not for someone that couldn’t get in done at their last stop. There’s too many assistant coaches that are due a shot at being a Head Coach to go with a retread.
October 7th, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Literally just stop 🛑 I can’t let’s move on to the Aints please can you do that
October 7th, 2024 at 7:18 pm
I lost all respect for bowels after this game. Let cousins swag surf up the middle of the field all game and couldn’t do anything to stop it. Worst challenge I’ve ever seen. Threw a flag to challenge a fumble that would’ve gave the falcons 5 yards instead of an intentional ground that would’ve gave us 10. There was not even a doubt that it was grounding in the first place. If anyone should’ve challenged that it should’ve been the falcons. Guys doing favors for the other team and micro managing his OC.
October 7th, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Well said St.pete totally agree.
October 7th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
“stpetebucfan Says:
October 7th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
“but his defensive game plans are regularly exploited by accurate QB’s.”
Yet without close to HALF of his defensive team out, on the road against a favored team, the Bucs still put up a fight and at least gave Rah a good scare.“
There was 2 starters out on defense against the falcons. Winfield and Kancy. 2 is not even close to half of the defense. The players filling in for them were not the disappointments. Players like Jamel Dean who seemed to be on the ground more than in coverage and could be to blame for the falcons getting their field goal with one second left. Also KJ Britt who got completely exploited in coverage all game. Both whom are starters. Of course having Kancy and Winfield would have been a huge help but them not playing has nothing to do with why we lost.
October 7th, 2024 at 8:04 pm
I would say Eagles and Lions are quality teams and we beat both of them without Winfield or Kancy and Vea missed half of the lions game.
October 7th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
If he lose to the Stanks … 6-11
October 7th, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Fire Lovie!
October 7th, 2024 at 9:17 pm
Ballhawk75
“REALITY CHECK – The Bucs are 21-21 including the playoffs under Bowels.
That’s 20-19 in the regular season and 1-2 in the postseason.”
That’s the PROBLEM. Why stop with your check there Ballhawk. How about the REST of the story for REALITY? Bowles took over and was saddled by BA with BL as an OC.
Bowles took over after the GOAT absolutely sucked physically and mentally his final season. OK I won’t blame St. Tommy but freaking Giselle, Tommy’s lust to go to another team all CONTRIBUTED to the REALITY!!!
And then of course is the freaking cap hell that Bowles/Licht inherited and the need to place the Bucs in the hands of the unknown includng a lot of 1-2 year players and a QB that half this board wanted crucified!!!
Bowles did not inherit the SB team!!! He inherited an incredibly bruised team psychologically as revealed in comments about “having no fun!!!”
They started well, got smacked with the truth in the middle of the season…they just didn’t have the horses and so everybody gave up on them after the losing streak!!! Well everybody but the PLAYERS!!! That is a HUGE testament to Bowles.
Oh and btw blog experts, you should all have jobs in the NFL!!! Can you believe the MORONS who run the NFL, Licht, BA, The Glazers are all STOOOOPID enough to hire a “pathetic” “a head coach that is not a plus at his forte(defense).” “he is a stiff” “I lost all respect for bowels after this game.”
Just a smattering of the JBF “EXPERTS”!!!
With apologies guys. I choose to believe the NFL and the Buc players over a bunch of whiners getting their rocks off by venting their frustration at a one score game which ALWAYS is disappointing.
Bottom line: The players do not feel like you guys and the NFL doesn’t either.
October 7th, 2024 at 9:50 pm
@ St. Pete. I’ve given Bowles the benefit of the doubt several times using most of the same arguments you just used above. You’re argument against us Experts falls apart , however when you cite the judgement of Licht and the Glazers for HC choices. These are the same geniuses who brought you Lovie, RAH, Gruden, et. al. Choosing coaches is a crap shoot, which is what we have now. Arians being the breath of fresh air.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:23 pm
I honestly consistently identify draft sleepers and have a solid track record for evaluating talent, even without insider access to coaching staff. I really should have started a blog years ago for historical proof. Often, the players I pick as sleepers/late round picks turn out to have successful nfl careers. Just because someone isn’t widely recognized doesn’t mean they lack football knowledge.
Regarding Bowles, I believe that performance on Thursday night was lacking wasnt calling him pathetic the performanceon the other hand. He’s obviously a good person, and it’s clear the players respect him, but his decisions—like keeping Britt on the field while holding the punter accountable for a single net yard—are questionable to say the least. This year, as a defensive-minded coach, there hasn’t been any innovation in getting open rushers and his zone seemed pretty basic. Any creativity we’ve seen seems to come from Cohen and the offense.
Honestly do you think Bowles instructed them to go into “code Turtle,” as named by the joes around here St. Pete? Or was that Cohens decision?
October 8th, 2024 at 12:33 am
LVMYBUCS Says: “Hey Joe what about a poll on bringing Chucky back as the head coach”
——————————————-
You want to replace one career .500 coach with another?
October 8th, 2024 at 6:51 am
You are you going to believe StPeteBucsFan or your lying eyes? You all saw that pathetic display of incompetence AGAIN. Bowles failed miserably. On both sides of the ball in the 2nd half where good coaches adjust and coaches like Bowles fold like a deck chair. You all saw it. We’ll probably never know but you can absolutely assume he told Liam to sit on the lead and run clock. This guy has his fingerprints all over that devastating loss.
October 8th, 2024 at 7:51 am
Hey guys thanks for the responses. They were thought out and respectfull so I’ll do the same.
BadBucs – “when you cite the judgement of Licht and the Glazers for HC choices. These are the same geniuses who brought you Lovie, RAH, Gruden, et. al.”
Yes indeed! And they are also the same “geniuses” who brought us not one but two SB’s if you’re going to lump in Gruden. If you wish to contain it to just Licht and his choices just ONE SB and and 3 straight Division titles. So yeah again with all due respect I trust their opinions more than ours.
BucU – “You are you going to believe StPeteBucsFan or your lying eyes?”
I’ll take responsibility for bad writing but that is NOT what I posted. I do NOT expect people to respect much less BELIEVE my opinions…I’m just an average assshole, we all have OPINIONs.
Part of the problem is contained in Mark Twain’s famous line…“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
The entire premise is flawed statistically. Including his DC days Bowles has coached in 220+ games. TWO games out that sample is LESS
October 8th, 2024 at 7:56 am
Oops fat fingers…LESS than ONE %.
In statistics that is nothing more than “noise”.
I get that the game sucked. The Bucs lost a game they coulda/shoulda won.
They’ve also won some games they coulda/shoulda LOST.
My entire point is you do not judge an entire season on ONE game, nor a coach.
The other problem here is that many are like ME. I love “AirCoryell” offense not “Steel Curtain” Defense. So I understand and support gripes on “style” points.
What is everybody’s expectation from Bowles. I want to see improvement. That means reaching the playoffs again but going at least to the Conference Championship this year! That sets the stage for off season improvement and a SB next year. That is what I would like to see YMMV
October 8th, 2024 at 9:43 am
Agreed St Bucs Fan
October 8th, 2024 at 11:41 am
I sure hope you’re right St. Pete. “Better to rule in Hell” winning the NFC south at .500. I’d like to see Bowles get us there, but I really think he’s the interim coach until the cap gets cleared after next year.