Todd Bowles Has To Be Salivating
December 6th, 2024
Santa Claus coming to town Sunday?
Think of the tingling sensation that goes through your head when you think of the hottest woman you’ve ever seen in real life. Well, that’s the same rise NFL defensive coaches get fantasizing over turnovers.
Defensive coaches are something else. Nothing gets these guys hot and bothered like the thought of turnovers. It’s in their DNA. They are fully obsessed.
Joe likes to (sort of) joke that he doesn’t do fantasy football because his fantasy has absolutely nothing to do with football but everything to do with a comely brunette and a secluded Caribbean island. For defensive coaches, turnovers are their fantasies.
So when Joe read this piece from Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis documenting how the Raiders cough up the ball on the road like a dude in a bar who tried to wolf down a half-dozen Carolina Reaper pepper wings too quickly, Joe immediately thought of Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
He may need a cold shower after reading the following.
Las Vegas has turned the ball over on a league-high 19% of their possessions on the road.
Talk about playing Santa Claus.
Hey, turnovers are great, so long as you can turn those gaffes into touchdowns. Defensive coaches seem to be convinced turnovers win games. All they do is give your offense a chance to score.
Turnovers don’t mean jack if you can’t put the ball in the end zone. And that’s Joe’s hang-up with the obsession of turnovers. Punts are turnovers too. The game is still all about blocking, tackling and, most importantly, scoring touchdowns.
Tom Brady threw three picks on the road in the NFC championship game in January 2021. But the Bucs still won. Why? They scored touchdowns.
The Fighting Schianos were third-best in the league in takeaways in 2013 but former Bucs commander Greg Schiano had a lousy record (4-12). Why? He had Mike Glennon at quarterback and the Bucs were third-worst in points per game (18.0).
Getting points off turnovers? Now you’re cooking and you won’t need Carolina Reaper peppers, either.
December 6th, 2024 at 5:26 am
I finally understand the logic of Joe’s Joe’s “hangup” on turnovers. Capitalizing on turnovers or sacks for that matter is key. IMO settling for three is not an option, It always been a emotional letdown for me and unfortunately Todd plays to stay in the game
instead going for the win all too often. You gotta start winning from game one
and continue to win, instead of being forced to win out because you have not benn agressive enough previously.
December 6th, 2024 at 5:40 am
Unfortunately we we don’t capitalize on sacks that well either, because we give
up big plays on third down all too often.
December 6th, 2024 at 5:50 am
You just know that it is coming that with this article, the Bucs will lose the turnover battle this weekend. Hopefully, not the game.
December 6th, 2024 at 6:15 am
Bucs have one of the leagues’ best offenses in the Red Zone by TD% so Bucs will most likely capitalize on Turnovers.
December 6th, 2024 at 6:50 am
Just figure out a way to cover Bowers
December 6th, 2024 at 7:05 am
“The game is still all about… tackling…”
And the Bucs are the worst in the NFL (per PFF). This makes me crazy watching the Bucs tackle. IMO, it is more frustrating watching the opponent run thru missed tackles (plural intended) than watching the Todd Bowles prevent (team from winning) defense that leaves the middle of the field wide open.
Todd, apparently, does not believe in practicing tackling bc he is a “player coach”. It is said, your team is what you emphasize in practice. And a good tackling team is not who we are.
December 6th, 2024 at 7:23 am
Turnovers are usually picks. Picks…. USUALLY caused by strong pass rush……..
December 6th, 2024 at 7:36 am
Here we go again. A team is doomed, so the Bucs should smash them.
Some folks never learn.
December 6th, 2024 at 7:41 am
If they throw to Brock bowers they should be fine.
December 6th, 2024 at 7:43 am
Remember, they beat Baltimore. In Baltimore. Any Given Sunday. Not gonna cry if we barely beat them either, a win is a win is a WIN.
That said, Let’s GO East Coast Pirates!
December 6th, 2024 at 7:48 am
Can’t depend on 19 percent. Show up and play to win.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:22 am
I will be happy if we stop leaving the middle of the field open
December 6th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Don’t believe for a second that this game is a lock — remember Bowles is still the coach and is capable to blow even the easiest wins.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:41 am
This must be the “other” Joe writing. No mention of fantasy and Rachel Watson in the same sentence.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:59 am
ir8oldman:
Think you mean Detroit?
Lt. Dan:
LOL!!
December 6th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Joe’s- I love your argument that punts are turnovers too. That’s an aspect of the game that I don’t think gets a lot of recognition.
I have another take that’s pretty similar: Tackles for loss are just as good as sacks and should be viewed as such. I think TFL’s get overlooked and they’re the running version of sacks.
December 6th, 2024 at 9:43 am
Speaking of Mike Glennon, there was a game vs Cardinals at RayJay in 2014 where the Defense played their hearts out, yet the Bucs lost because Glennon threw 2 interceptions in the 4th quarter.
Punts are NOT turnovers- they are strategic moves regarding Offense options and field position outcomes.
Turnovers are unplanned losses of possession that frequently determine outcomes of the game because they drastically affect Offense opportunities and field position.
December 6th, 2024 at 9:50 am
If the bucs are gonna play soft zone they won’t get any turnovers.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:23 am
Although I get your point Joe, scoring should be positively correlated with the number of possessions a team has. Turnovers increase the amount of possessions, and therefore the probability of scoring. Pretty straightforward logic IMO.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:28 am
Interesting take. Not sure they have the same affect (drivekillers) because you don’t see that many tackles-for-loss on third downs. Good point, though.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:33 am
You would think, but it is hardly an absolute.
Too much emphasis on turnovers tends to lead to poor fundamentals. Dudes trying to punch the ball out rather than bringing a ballcarrier to the ground.
Can’t begin to tell you with Lovie how often Joe saw ballcarriers dragging Bucs defenders for a first down while the would-be tacklers were swinging wildly at the ball instead of tackling a guy short of the sticks.
Forcing punts keeps your defense off the field. Joe’s never been one to bank on accidents.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:05 am
You know who else is salivating? Aidan O’Connell
December 6th, 2024 at 11:14 am
I will tell you an absolute: a Bowles team can lose to anybody including a 2-10 team.
I have *ZERO* faith and confidence in this open seive of a defense.
Love the O though…
December 6th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Toss Bowles salivating? Please. He should be worried about keeping his job. If it were up to many of us> he would already be shoveling snow in Montana.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:24 am
And the worst or best turnover is the pick6. Pray that your qb doesn’t throw two in every game. Wasn’t America’s qb’s first pass a pick 6. He’s not praying enough apparently. Go BUCS.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:31 am
Joe, ir8oldman was saying that the Raiders beat the Ravens at Baltimore this year. Which they did.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Joe Says:
December 6th, 2024 at 8:59 am
ir8oldman:
Think you mean Detroit?
Nah, can’t forget that win for us, BUT West Coast Pirates beat the Crow’s in DC Swampland. So NO complacency please.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Pick 6s are either amazing or gut wrenching.
It was amazing for me watching Cousins throw a loaf of Bread on 4th down to the Chargers. Hopefully he has a hangover from that against Minnesota.
We can easily be leading the Division after this week.
And win against the Chargers with a Washington loss to Philly and we lead both the Division AND the wild card spot.
All this team needs to do is win and they are in I think.
I do like Baker thinking we are in playoff mode. That is exactly how they need to play EVERY SNAP.