Todd Bowles Assesses Chris Braswell After Six Games
October 15th, 2024
Report card.
So the Bucs spent a(nother) valuable pick this past spring on a cover corner pass rusher. So how’s he doing after a third of his rookie season is now in the books?
That man is Chris Braswell. And Joe has noticed him more and more by the week being involved in plays. Joe just wishes it was more so blasting quarterbacks, but Joe digresses.
Yesterday at One Buc Palace, still glowing from the huge win in Lincoln’s Tomb in New Orleans on Sunday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles gave a breakdown on how he sees Braswell playing.
In short, Bowles said there is work to be done, but he really likes where Braswell is headed.
“Braswell has come a long way,” Bowles said. “Like I said before, the spot he’s playing is the hardest position on defense to play – the outside [line]backer spot, because of what we ask him to do. He’s getting all the coverage stuff down.
“You can see him starting to rush the passer better and better because he’s playing faster and he’s not thinking as much, and the game is coming to him naturally. So we like where he is right now.”
Joe thinks Braswell is going to be all right by season’s end.
But Joe is beginning to wonder about a starting outside linebacker who seems to realize he may need better production.
October 15th, 2024 at 7:44 am
That’s 2 rookies on defense getting better by the week. And 2 elite veterans back from injury making the defense better by the week. And McCollum exceeding expectations at cornerback. He picked off another pass and “ouch” he brings the lumber!! We’re not gonna mention the run game and offense. Am I the only one who’s seeing this?
October 15th, 2024 at 8:32 am
I’m glad I wasn’t just imagining it, sitting there thinking hmm, there’s Braswell close to the play again.
October 15th, 2024 at 8:39 am
Lincoln’s tomb ?
I don’t get that one 🤷🤷🤷🤔
October 15th, 2024 at 8:47 am
Lincoln’s tomb? Hey Joes, come over to O-ville and check out that joke of an Arena here. That place is a real dump as well as being a tomb. Bowles knows LVD is getting set to retire. It’s great seeing the young talent develop, but it takes time.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:01 am
Michael Bennett was a UDFA,
The Bucs have spent numerous high draft picks on pass rushers. And the only one that was more productive than Bennett was Leroy Salmon. Jason Licht should stop wasting high picks on pass rushers.
And buy or trade for them
October 15th, 2024 at 9:07 am
Let’s trade a 1st and something for Maxx Crosby! Go Bucs!
October 15th, 2024 at 9:09 am
**But the Bucs have been great at drafting interior pass rushers**
The problem has been drafting outside pass rushers
October 15th, 2024 at 9:15 am
I too like this team. Arrow pointing up, IMO.
I felt this way before the Saints beat down.
Give Tucker the ball. McMillan is not ready for WR3 … bring him along more slowly.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:28 am
If you’ve ever been in both Lincoln’s Tomb and the Superdome, you’d fully understand.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:31 am
Okawville? Not a bad town. If Joe was forced at gunpoint to live in Illinois.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:48 am
We are so lucky the Bucs run a defense that commonly puts linebackers and defensive linemen into zone coverage where they cover nobody and don’t know what their assignments are. Maybe if Braswell is assigned to rush the passer instead of dropping deep into the ethosphere, he might start making an impact.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:54 am
BOWLES STRONG SUITE:
OLB Development. Braz is just one more stud pass rusher success story in Todd Bowles lineage.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:05 am
@Kenton
No you’re not the only one. I agree completely. In fact I’m breaking out the Timbuk 3 classic Gruden used to like. “The Future so Bright I Gotta Wear Shades 😎 “
October 15th, 2024 at 10:07 am
Guess how many sacks Khlalil Mack had his rookie year?
4
That’s right, 4.
I think most forget it takes time to develop 90% of the time.
When teams figure you out, you have to work harder to get back the EDGE, literally.
Braswell and Diaby will be fine by mid season and rolling by the playoffs.
Kancey just got back. Still leading the league in sacks over the last 3 games.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Braswell will come along. He’s built like YaYa. He has good speed, power and instinct.
I thought Logan Hall was going to be a bust but he’s showing signs of living up to his 2nd round draft status. I am hoping he continues to improves. I don’t have much hope for JTS. He’s not bad but I doubt he’ll ever live up to his first round draft status.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:20 am
LakelandBuc Says:
October 15th, 2024 at 9:01 am
Michael Bennett was a UDFA,
The Bucs have spent numerous high draft picks on pass rushers. And the only one that was more productive than Bennett was Leroy Salmon. Jason Licht should stop wasting high picks on pass rushers.
And buy or trade for them
———————–
The only one more productive than Michael Bennett was Selmon. Are you dumb?
Maybe you’ve heard of Simeon Rice, Shaq Barrett, JPP… how about Marcus Jones, Santana Dotson, Hugh Green, Stylez White, or Chidi Ahonotu? They were all more productive than Bennett…. some by a wide margin.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:23 am
I think it’s so wondewrful that there are some commenters who visit here who seem to be convinced that Todd Bowles has no clue what he’s doing as a DC. I admittedly disregard their comments for the most part because they’re broken records that provide very little insight into WHY things are happening and HOW to make improvements.
Bowles’ hybrid 3-4 defense is very complex from everything I’ve read, and at times it’s not very pretty. But there is a ‘method to his madness’ apparently, because his defense has been amazingly consistent starting in 2020 (it took him a year to get it established it seems; of course Jameis 30 INTs didn’t help our defense much).
The measure of effectiveness in my world is POINTS ALLOWED per game. His defense has been amazingly CONSISTENT using that criteria. And it’s been consistent even through multiple personnel changes & lots of injuries. Everyone always the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but those who bitch the most need to be careful what they’re wishing for.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:26 am
he’s getting closer. Seems like he’s just still a little hesitant off the snap at times. Definitely more developmental than instant impact guy so far
October 15th, 2024 at 10:38 am
@Davepear,
With all due respect sir I think Todd Bowles knows more about defense than you can fathom.Leave the defense to him ,it’s in great hands.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Glad he’s getting the “coverage” stuff down, but for the life of me I’d rather see our pass rushers spend most of their time uh, rushing the passer / playing the run, instead of running down field trying to over a WR or TE.
I understand it creates confusion but it also creates mismatches that heavily favor the opposing offense. We’ve seen that play out more than a few times.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:39 am
“”@Davepear,
With all due respect sir I think Todd Bowles knows more about defense than you can fathom.Leave the defense to him ,it’s in great hands.””
Where was this post last week when Cousins threw for 500 yards and marched down the field to win the game in OT?
October 15th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
I have no idea why the Bucs think they should even keep JTMs around. All this guy does week after week is give dancing lessons to OT’s around the league. I swear he is worse this year then he was last.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Brandon,
Can you read?
Those guys wasn’t drafted
I said drafted
October 15th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
OLB shouldn’t be the hardest position to play on defense, in my estimation. Every time I see those guys turning and covering receivers who catch 15 yard passes confirms this!
October 15th, 2024 at 1:06 pm
I like Bras… I think he’ll be a really nice, impact-type player, who will have a long NFL career. I believe they got a good one, especially for a late 2nd Round Pick. He has a good amount of upside and potential. And, comes from TWO ‘powerhouse’ programs, with great coaching, etc. He has all of the other intangibles… Long arms, brute strength, good speed, & mentally tough and strong. He should be a great fit for what we want to do.
October 15th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Yeah, “Brandon.” You even quoted his comment and included it into YOUR own response… “LakelandBuc” clearly said “DRAFTED,” Dude.
October 15th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Braswell is gettimg better and better. Can tell he has a knack for .akimg plays .. look 4ward to seeing the Sacks that are coming. Have noticed he and Diaby seem to be playing the run really well. At times Diaby reminds me of JPP against the run, and Braswell is showing very positive signs that he will emerge into our undoubted Edge2 by playoff time
October 15th, 2024 at 8:13 pm
Tykee & Braswell look like some serious Ballers on defense. I know people are on Yaya because I think he only has one sack but I’ve been keying in on him most games and he’s playing great. He is disruptive and pressuring and way better against the run than we thought. I’d be real surprised if the sacks don’t start coming in bunches, especially if the opponent is playing from behind because this offense keeps rolling. Also, because Kancey is back in the center.
October 16th, 2024 at 12:50 am
Asking Todd for a straight answer about on of his guys?!?
Yeah right…
Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2024 at 8:56 am
Dave pear says have u ever noticed,nobody on this site agrees with anything u post on this site.Why don’t u just read everybody else’s post & learn how the game is played by the pros!not by the Joe’s. I know it’s hard for a knucklehead but try for u own sake
October 17th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Reddick changes the culture of the defense overnight. They need someone upfront for the two second pass rush. David is in the middle which helps Britt. McCollom is on the outside to help Funderb..and Winfield can 0lay the field because of Whitehead.
Tucker is not a surprise. The protecting of White has been exposed. This shows that we don’t need Edmonds and should have drafted a true tackle, corner, or a more developed offensive guard.
We need to focus the next two weeks on getting Reddick under contract for 2-3 years. It is worth the risks. He will make us NFC favors.
In closing, Trevor Palm is more difficult to skeem for, like Tucker due to their speed. So, we didn’t need Bucky or McMillan which could have gotten us a starting corner. We knew Dean would eventually be injured, right?