“You’re Not Going To Rattle Todd Bowles, Either”
November 2nd, 2024
Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of their generous storm savings. Just ask! Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!
BY IRA KAUFMAN
In his 14 seasons as an NFL defensive back, Kevin Ross never gave up on himself. He’s not about to give up on the guys he’s coaching in Tampa.
A two-time Pro Bowler at corner, Ross knew the kind of mental toughness the position demands.
Even the best cornerbacks are going to get beat on occasion, so Ross had no choice but to forget about the lapses and focus on the next play.
He’s taking the same approach with a Buc pass defense that has been gouged in recent weeks. Only two teams have yielded more passing yards on the season. Only four teams have allowed more TD passes.
Only two teams give up more yards after the catch.
It hasn’t been a pretty picture for Buc Nation — and things don’t get easier Monday night in Kansas City against Patrick Mahomes.
“We’ve just got to stay positive about what’s happening,” says Ross, in his sixth year of coaching Buc cornerbacks. “We’ll get through this thing.”
Major praise for Zyon McCollum.
In sweeping the Bucs and climbing to the top of the NFC South, Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins tossed eight of the 15 TD passes allowed by Tampa Bay. The Bucs have picked off only five passes and Ross says missed opportunities have contributed to the recent defensive tailspin.
“Zyon McCollum can be a top-5 corner in this league,” Ross says. “All he has to do is catch the balls that are thrown to him. His coverage skills are very good and he’s got the size and change of direction. His upside is really, really good.”
Ross has no concerns about finger-pointing in the locker room. He saw the 2023 Bucs rebound from a 1-6 slump in midseason to capture a third consecutive division crown.
“These guys aren’t going to turn on each other,” Ross says. “Mentally, they’re OK. And you’re not going to rattle Todd Bowles, either. He’s the same guy every day, no matter what.”
Bowles has talked often about communication issues plaguing the pass defense. Jamel Dean has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury and undrafted free agent Tyrek Funderburk has played 37 percent of the defensive snaps this season.
“Here’s what I knew from the very beginning,” says Ross. “I knew I wasn’t going to play with the same secondary the whole year, What you’ve got to do is get your backups ready and don’t make excuses. Funderburk got introduced and baptized and now his feet are less wet. Josh Hayes is going through the same thing.”
Ross points out Tampa Bay’s quality wins against Washington, Detroit and Philadelphia — teams with a combined record of 17-5. Another NFC matchup is set for next week at home against the 49ers.
“The message to our guys is we can play with anybody,” Ross says. “All you want to do is get in the tournament. Remember, we got beat twice by the Saints during our Super Bowl year. That stuff’s irrelevant once you get in.”
For Ross, there’s been too many busted snaps. He’s hoping for more cohesive play in the next two games before the bye.
It starts with simplicity.
“Limit what they’re doing,” he says. “Make sure they understand what we’re asking them to do. Then just go out and play.”
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:04 pm
Just walked in the house a bit stressed over some business today and I’ll tell you Ira that by the time I got to your last paragraph I am kicked back with my feet up and not a care in the world. This is a good bunch of guys and coaches we’ve got – which I already knew- I can’t wait for Monday Night!!
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Prove us all wrong and beat the Chiefs
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:43 pm
Yeah? Here’s the thing. If you think you are going to “get in the tournament” on a wildcard you are delusional. The NFC North is going to be in your way. And if Todd Bowles “isn’t rattled” well, maybe he should be. If he is suffering under the delusion that if he proves who he is… an average DC and a below average head coach, he’s not going to survive to next season.
I could be wrong and the Bucs will turn the defense around. They have done it before. This is a capable defense but there is an element of predictability that the league has clocked and figured out. That’s on Bowles. And that’s why I believe that if the Bucs aren’t in the NFC championship game at the end of this season then we are in the market for a coach.
If the Glazers really believe in him which I can’t image why they would unless they have seen things we haven’t ( I am sure they have ) I could possibily buy the notion that they will hire a DC to take that weight off of Todd’s shoulders.
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:07 pm
In everything we do in life we are judged by what we accomplish and no where more so than in sports. Todd Bowles career coaching record stands at 47 wins and 62 loses plus 1-2 in the playoffs. Those looking at the situation in Tampa thru rose colored glasses and seeing lollipops and unicorns are simply delusional. He has a history of under performing. Could we beat KC.. sure… Is it very likely… No. Time to start vetting better options.
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:14 pm
And to clarify im not saying we dont have good coaches because we do… Im saying we don’t have a good head coach… Might be a great guy… Dont know him… Just his record isnt good
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:17 pm
This team isn’t just bad, it’s hard to watch. The wins are often hard to watch. We finally beat an actually good team in week two this year and it was still so ugly that at no point did it feel like a win. And I was stupid enough to think, ‘hey, if we can beat the Lions with all these guys out, we might be OK.’
The same things keep happening. Nothing is going to change. We’ve been winning a division full of embarrassing teams. We finally beat a couple rookie QBs, but then bent right over for Sean Payton and Kirk Cousins, just like old times.
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:33 pm
If the Glazers really like this guy so much that they choose to keep him as HC, why don’t they help him by getting a a DC for the staff. Clearly help is needed. Or move him into the front office.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:28 pm
I keep asking myself ‘If BA had THIS team, what would our record be right now?’ Quite frankly, I have no idea. BA was an offensive mind; he never touched the defense. His 2019-2021 offenses ranked #3, #3 and #2, averaging 29.8 PPG Scored over 3 seasons. His 2019-2021 defenses ranked #29, #8 and #5, averaging 23.6 PPG Allowed over those 3 seasons (mostly because of the horrendous 2019 season when we went 7-9 and gave up 449 points, largely because of the offense committing an astonishing 41 turnovers).
BA had some exceptional talent on BOTH sides of the ball. You know, players like Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette, Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet, Tristan Wirfs on offense, and Lavonte David, Antoine Winfield, Vita Vea, Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, Devin White, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Jordan Whitehead on defense, and a host of others representing great depth. Those are all recognizable names, and we excelled because of the talent they brought to the table.
But there was a cost. We all knew what the cost was, we were willing to pay it, and we’ve been paying it since 2022. We’re just now starting to dig out. We started with fixing the offense, and we’ve pretty much succeeded I think. We’re now averaging 29.4 PPG this year … almost exactly what our 2019-2021 teams averaged with somewhat better talent. Our defense is hurting though, largely because of injuries, lack of depth, and yes lack of talent. Through the 1st 4 games (3-1) our defense allowed only 19.5 PPG average. Through these last 4 games (1-3) our defense allowed a whopping 33.8 PPG average … 2 TDs MORE per game on average.
The big difference? IMO, Turnover Differential. Bucs won the Turnover Battle in our 3 wins in the 1st 4 games. Bucs lost the Turnover Battle in 2 of our 3 losses in the last 4 games, and tied in Turnovers in the other loss. We committed only 3 Turnovers in the 1st 4 games, but committed 9 Turnovers in the last 4 games. And Turnovers is one factor that we CAN pretty much control. The first 4 games proved that.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Todd’s going…..I saw it last year….it’s time Jason
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Every year is different that’s why Super Bowl we destroyed and the next Bowles calls an all out blitz in the nfc championship to getting blown out the next year at home by Dallas. I guess you have to tell yourself whatever you can to prevent your team from having picking in the top half of the draft next year
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:10 pm
“Limit what they’re doing,” he says. “Make sure they understand what we’re asking them to do. Then just go out and play.”
What week of the season is this?
November 3rd, 2024 at 1:41 am
Ira, the title of your article is exactly why Jason needs to end the second Lovie Smith era first thing Tuesday morning, after another public humiliation is performed on national television. Lovie II is smarter than everyone and has all the answers. And horrible results which are getting worse.
November 3rd, 2024 at 1:54 am
BA would have this team 6-2.
The Defensive Coordinator needs a boss that is not himself. This humiliating catastrophe would not be happening if BA were the head coach. He flat out wouldn’t tolerate the same mistakes over and over and over.
Jason needs to go in Tuesday morning after another public humiliation and do the merciful thing. Put Bucs fans out of our misery.
November 3rd, 2024 at 6:07 am
Right on point, Ira. Like what Ross said too, including simplicity.
We have rebounded many times and this is looking to be Zyon’s break-out year.
I respect Coach Bowles, but we can’t keep blaming everything on communication issues now. We are too far into the season. Communication starts from the top.
November 3rd, 2024 at 7:01 am
You are not going to rattle Toilet Bowles, he is the same dense moron day in and day out no matter what. #flushbowles
November 3rd, 2024 at 10:04 am
To compare BA’s Super bowl roster with the current is laughable. We just saw the studs listed in a comment above… show me the equal on this year’s roster (you can’t). BA probably has this team at a similar record when he started in 2019 with similar talent. Which was 2-6 through 8 games.
So while there may be some rose colored lenses this season, people definitely have some rose colored lens film on their rearview mirror.
November 3rd, 2024 at 11:50 am
Maybe Plan 9 will fire his retro rocket.
November 3rd, 2024 at 11:51 am
Maybe the problem is that Bowles is the same every day no matter what.
November 4th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Actually, the Bucs were swept by the Saints during the regular season during both Super Bowl winning seasons.