Todd Bowles On Man Vs. Zone Defense
December 4th, 2024
Defensive usage explained.
So on Sunday, when the Bucs played man-to-man defense against Stinking Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, he struggled mightily.
The second-year quarterback completed just 21 percent of his throws against the Bucs’ man coverage, connecting on only 3 of 14 attempts for 56 yards. Really, really strong work by the Bucs.
But then, when the Bucs played zone defense, Young looked more like Steve Young and picked the zone defense apart like he was throwing against Florida State.
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick looked like the star prospect he was thought to be, not the benched quarterback he appeared to be facing Todd Bowles’ man coverage.
Young against Bowles’ zone was borderline lethal hitting on 23 of 32 attempts for a season-high 242 yards (against zone defenses).
So why the disparity? Why not use man more since it appeared the Bucs had Young on lockdown?
Bowles said the Bucs played zone defense for a reason.
“It was all situational,” Bowles said. “We played quite a bit of man, but we can’t play man all game.”
Bowles is completely correct here — that you can’t play man all the time. Nobody would expect or encourage the Bucs to go full-blown man defense. But since man was working so well, why not use it more against Young, just a little more? You know, adjust to what is working.
Bowles seemed to think the lack of a pass rush was the culprit. Can you imagine?
“We’ve got to get to the quarterback,” Bowles said. “He’s very athletic using his feet.
“With a four-man rush, he kind of got away from our bigger guys and bought some time for himself. It’s a credit to him.”
This is also true. Sometimes, you have to just doff your cap to a great athlete making athletic plays. Young is a professional paid (handsomely) to make plays, drafted No. 1 overall for a reason.
Look, Joe admits to bellyachging about a lack of an edge rush for years. Part of that is because an edge rush is vital if not critical for a team to make a deep run into the playoffs. There’s a reason why good edge rushers make truckloads of cash.
Perhaps the Bucs not losing sleep over an edge rush is coming back to haunt the team. You know, chickens coming home to roost?
December 4th, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Go get Myles Garrett.
December 4th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Our edge players not rushing passed the QB would also help.
December 4th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
We were in their backfield all day……I agree, you have to give Young some credit…..he was very good at escaping and did it often able to dump off passes before a sack.
December 4th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Ohhhh, so when the guys that Bowles picked to get sacks don’t get sacks, it’s no big deal, it’s just a credit to the QB. Don’t blame the players who can’t rush, or the people that pick the players, blame (or credit) the opposing QB. Got it.
And of course Bowles wouldn’t play more man coverage, that was successful and working and you can’t have that. Nope, go mostly zone to keep the other team in the game.
Some “fans” really want another year of this decision making. Sad.
December 4th, 2024 at 4:52 pm
OLB please contain the edge. No edge rush to force QB to step up in pocket.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:07 pm
“But since man was working so well, why not use it more against Young, just a little more? You know, adjust to what is working.” Good point Joe.
I don’t have words strong enough to condemn what happened on defense against….wait for it…the Panthers. Really? Note to Coach Bowles: “Your zone defense gets torched week in and week out. You make rookies and second string quarterbacks look like hall of famers. Here is a novel idea. Play to your teams strengths. Man was working! Maybe 80-20 man D in that game?
December 4th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Why not ask:
Coach, why do you think every QB has career days against the Bucs?
But why ask? He obviously doesn’t have an answer.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
This dude is so following his dream as an academic as soon as this season is over. He is so toast.
“It’s all situational.” Duh. And the way Coich calls it, that’s also BS. If you have a strong enough stomach to watch that atrocity again, you will note less correlation to situation and more to just 3 out of 4 times at random the Bucs are in Cover Who zone.
December 4th, 2024 at 5:48 pm
Despite how terrible the defensw has been this year, I suspect a solid pass rusher or two will fix it. Licht has done a good job stocking the cupboards, but they desparately need a pro not guys learning to be pros. A guy like JPP is desparetely needed to lead this position group. We have heard before that sacks are contagious, we just need a couple solid vets to do it. Next year I am expecting Licht to either sign a solid pass rusher in FA or trade for one. Draft a PR has been his achilles heel.
December 4th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
We have fired a Hall of Fame coach before because he was to stubborn to change!!
December 4th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
was watching a clippers game asst coach jeff van gundy was telling head coach tyrone lue what to do on each play that what the bucs need
December 4th, 2024 at 6:19 pm
Somebody lie to me and tell me he wouldn’t lovie 2.0 with a darelle revis
Bowles is a goner! The zone blitz is his scheme even though it gets roasted. Suh, Vea, jpp, shaq, LVD, Devin white. They had the #1 run defense for a couple years but forget that pass defense was still middle of the pack average with Dean, Davis, Winfield, Edwards and whitehead. His pass defense will not improve
December 4th, 2024 at 6:49 pm
Bucs gave always been better at man coverage than zone. Nothing new about that for this game or this year.
Like Bowles said, though, you can’t play it all the time.
Like “Joe” said, you can certainly use your most successful pass defense WAY more than you currently employ it – especially in definite passing situations.
Man to man frees up an extra pass rusher or two, as well.
December 4th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
Todd Bowels has proven time and time again he is far too stubborn to actually make the adjustments we need. Whether it’s waiting too long to make personnel changes, calling the same terrible soft zones, blitzing too often, calling complicated coverages that cause “communication” issues… He said it’s situational but the situation was that we were getting picked apart in zone and playing man well. THAT’S THE SITUATION TODD.
December 4th, 2024 at 8:35 pm
I look for some kind of trade for an edge pass rusher by Jason Licht. That seems to be what works for this franchise, not the draft! We are getting good stuff from the middle with Vea and Kancey.
Go Bucs!
December 5th, 2024 at 2:24 am
People say play more man. Yes until injuries pile up. Y’all want to see KJ Britt in man coverage??? Did you see what happened to our DB that played Thielen in man. His feet looked like they were on soap bars
December 5th, 2024 at 6:04 am
whatever todd. i’m SHOCKED you have no intention of heeding advice, and blown away that you won’t take responsibility for failing to disguise blitzes. everyone can see what’s about to happen presnap. rush four, blitz an unexpected guy. there’s your standard D. too obvo when u rush six-plus guys, and nobody shadowing the QB when you rush four. of course people shred ur zones. you’ve had worst-ever zone stats so many times you’re out of excuses for failing to adjust. face it. you don’t have an edge rush. change something!@
December 5th, 2024 at 7:18 am
Bowles did his best to lose ANOTHER game for us. The defense allows the go ahead TD with a minute or less in regulation then allows Carolina to drive right down the field in OT to win the game except for a miracle strip from Anthony Nelson to save us. You can dismiss that all day long if you want but some of us rightfully call out this guys blunders which happen all too frequently.
December 5th, 2024 at 9:43 am
I love my bucs but if the defense Doesn’t get better we are done no playoffs for us point blank. That soft zone they play is pure garbage.
December 5th, 2024 at 11:59 am
Such a weak a$! Excuse! As a coach you’re also suppose to assess the level of skill you’re playing. The Panthers had only one weapon at WR in Thielen and he’s not a speedster so why in the hell would you play a coverage in zone that doesn’t help the team knowing the pass rush isn’t elite!? That makes no sense Coach Bowles! No one is telling him to play man all day! However, get a big lead first then you can go to “zone” coverage. It’s not that difficult Coach Bowles!
December 5th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
When our season is done it will be because of Bowel’s soft a$$ pass defense. Absolutely no confidence!