The Brock Bowers Challenge
December 8th, 2024
Star rookie TE Brock Bowers.
Joe has a hunch that Brock Bowers may as well be a wide receiver today because he’s likely going to get the most targets for the Raiders against the Bucs at The Licht House.
The Raiders are a trash team. Minority owner Tom Brady probably doesn’t even list them on his resume he’s so ashamed (but not ashamed of the revenue stream). It is a safe bet the Raiders will have a new coach shortly after Black Monday (Mike Vrabel?).
But the Raiders do have one seriously talented weapon on offense. And it’s a position that has given the Bucs fits this year with their soft defense in the middle (which is now softer since practice squad dude Vi Jones will likely start).
Joe really believes Bowers, a leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, will get a ton of targets today. So many that Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Bucs corners will have to tangle with him.
Bowers is a big dude. He’s 6-3, 243. That’s like trying to guard and/or bring down a truck. So Joe asked Bucs corner Jamel Dean how he plans to tangle with Bowers if the two cross paths.
“To bring a [big] guy down you always have to go for his legs,” Dean said. “And then hold on for dear life.”
Joe can sympathize. For a corner, Dean is good-sized. He’s not Bowers’ big.
“Guarding [a big tight end], you have to mix up your technique,” Dean told Joe. “[Bowers is] a guy that can run and he’s big enough to throw you.
“So you have to mix it up.”
The Bucs seem to be so vulnerable if Joe was with the Raiders, he’d even have Mike Mayer — no small guy himself at 6-4, 265, a second-round pick from 2023 out of Notre Dame, cruising in the middle too.
Bucs icon Lavonte David is going to have to have a whale of a game today.
Somehow, someway, the Bucs are going to have to find a way to slow down Bowers.
December 8th, 2024 at 1:30 am
Here’s an idea, since they’re a one player offense, put two on that one. Of course that would mean Bowles couldn’t hand guys stand around in a zone all game, and that would really be difficult on Todd, but it might actually work.
Or, even better, how about pressuring the opposing QB by blitzing – instead of standing around in a super soft zone all game.
Just an idea.
December 8th, 2024 at 2:37 am
I’d have Winfield spy him all game…let someone else play safety.
December 8th, 2024 at 5:22 am
A smart Defensive coach would look to take away a teams best offensive weapon and dare the other guys to beat him. As others above have said the raiders offense is Bowers. Stop him and we win
December 8th, 2024 at 5:53 am
You guys clearly haven’t seen tre tucker yet….bowers is there star but they have elements to score on offense we just can’t sleep on them due to the record they have they have been in every contest just about and lose last minute they really not a bad team just young and haven’t found ways to win.
December 8th, 2024 at 8:16 am
19 rec – 215 yds
December 8th, 2024 at 11:52 am
My Lord, not sure I can watch as we give 15-20 yards off coverage, Todd Bowles is not the best defensive coordinator. Please come up with ideas for a new DC as I think Bowles is on the ropes.
December 8th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Hammer the over on him and whichever scrub QB the Raiduhs trot out there. Bucs can’t stop a Tight End. Haven’t. Won’t (until The Change).