“I Want Ballhawks!”
February 25th, 2025
Todd Bowles speaks out.
Joe point blank asked Todd Bowles today about how he wants to transform his defense this offseason.
Is the focus to get faster? Bigger? What?
“Right now, for me, I want ballhawks,” Bowles said with emphasis.
And then the head coach was happy to explain.
“And whether that’s a down guy, a defensive lineman, whether he bats balls down or gets strip-sacks, whether that’s an outside linebacker that does it, whether that’s a backer that can punch the ball out or get turnovers, whether that’s a safety that can hit and draw the ball loose or get turnovers, whether that’s a corner that has a nose for the ball, we need ballhawks,” Bowles said.
“We need turnovers. We need guys that are very astute in the game and can see things and go make plays, and go get them. And that’s probably what I’m looking for.”
Tell us what you really want, Coach!
Joe watched Bowles deliver the passionate rant and couldn’t help but think of Jamel Deans future at cornerback with a fat salary. Dean is not a ballhawk.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
we only have one ballhawk and thats AWJ. For some odd reason, we can never identify them at CB. Send me some tape on college CBs, ill find them!
February 25th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Hard to be a ballhawk when the scheme has you playing 12 yards off the WR
February 25th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
This sounds hopeful…and aggressive!
February 25th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Hearty…yup.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Dean drops too many interceptions to be a ball hawk. One of his drops was part of the reason we lost in the playoffs the season before last.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
I’m anxious to see how much Tykee Smith improves in year 2, he has ball Hawk in his DNA plus a aggressive hitter
February 25th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Ballhawks on D:
David
Winfield
McCullum
Edwards
Nelson
February 25th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
🤮
Your corners and safeties buddy are you expecting them all to lead the lead in turnovers and interceptions? Stop playing this soft zone because pbu’s are more likely. LVD was the best at creating fumbles man the other guys get paid to hold on to the ball so stop them from getting it. We’re not used to edge rush getting to the quarterback so strip sacks I’m not sure why he talked about that
February 25th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
I’m Ok to move on from Dean. I used to be a fan but I just felt like he looked soft all year last year. Cushion coverage. Not a hard hitter. Not someone making plays on the ball. Nothing really that made me feel like we need that guy.
Zyon was visibly way tighter in coverage than Dean and was making plays all year.
CB is a weird position in the NFL. It’s rare guys dominate all their career and many seem to go through down seasons after great ones. Which is probably just more evidence of how important the overall pass rush is. An elite CB can get exposed if the QB has 7 seconds.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
No ballhawks in a prevent D.
Try coaching.
What happened to the first guy secures the runner and next guy in knocks the ball loose.
Nose to the ball people and we don’t have that when DBs are playing soft zone and linebackers can cover the middle.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
No edge rush = no strip sacks. A pass rush might force more bad QB decisions or bad throws and result in picks.
Bowles has his DBs playing soft zone and expects them to run up and tackle before the down marker. Bowles has his DB’s chasing the receiver with their backs to the QB! Bowles is coaching his DB’s not to make a mistake. How about they play tight coverage and look at the QB and the pass? If the DB’s are near the ball and actually looking at the ball, maybe they would get some picks.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
ATLBucSolar Says:
Ballhawks on D:
David
Winfield
McCullum
Edwards
Nelson
^^^^
Don’t sleep on Tykee Smith or Christian Izein. They’re ballers.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Since he has been given permission to seek a trade Jonathan Allen along side Vea and Kancey would look pretty dangerous
February 25th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Todd Bowles knows exactly what he wants to see his defense looking like. I knew he did. With the injuries last year and the focus on offense he just didn’t quite have enough horses. Heck of a coach down here in Tampa. Knows exactly what he wants. And that’s another Super Bowl.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Here is what I want. Players that are not always in the tub or in concussion protocol. Hamstring injury or foot injury. Find players for defense that can stay on the field.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Empty words… dude has led this Bucs D for 6 years and now he states the obvious like it’s some revelation. Show me a DC that DOESN”T want guys with ball skills on their D. Hilarious, but def not surpising, that some are actually inspired by this. Been a DC for 8yrs & finally realizes he needs ballhawks?? Really? Jesus… lol.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Nope Jamel Dean is Not a Ballhawk lol
February 25th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
SlyPirate Says:
February 25th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
ATLBucSolar Says:
Ballhawks on D:
David
Winfield
McCullum
Edwards
Nelson
^^^^
Don’t sleep on Tykee Smith or Christian Izein. They’re ballers.
I totally agree!!!
February 25th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
I’m loving what I’m hearing from Licht and Bowles today. Edge production and disruption would enhance the defense beyond padding the acceptable but widely distributed sack totals of Bowles’ defenses. It creates opportunities for ballhawks but the Bucs just don’t have any. Who was the last true Buccaneer ballhawk? Talib? Jonathan Banks and that other first round CB who didn’t even make it through his rookie deal were terrible picks. I hope DB is the Bucs first pick and that the Bucs base their choice on production rather than potential. The Bucs flub their first round CB picks but seem to hit on every CB pick from the second round on in the Licht era. SMB still has a job and even M.J. Stewart’s career didn’t end in Tampa. I hope the Bucs go safety and edge early then address CB on day two and put emphasis on interceptions or at least DBs who are converted receivers. i don’t know- what is worse? The Bucs snagging only 7 interceptions or watching all the infuriating dropped interceptions? Xavier Watts in the second round would be a great start. He is a converted WR with a well-rounded game and seven picks in 2024. Andrew Mukuba and his six interceptions is another rock-solid option in round three. He is faster and more productive than Malaki Starks but doesn’t play downhill with menace like Starks does. Starks and Emmanwori will be gone by the Bucs’ pick in the first methinks. I’d love Emmanwori with his 4 INTS/2 for TDs- he is like Kam Chancellor with sub 4.4 speed and man coverage skills. If he and Starks are gone for the Bucs in the first I hope the Bucs can pick Jahdae Barron with his 5 INTs and his advanced Bowles-style zone skillset and versatility, but he’ll likely be gone as well so I hope the Bucs can trade out of the first. The talent drop-off from the Bucs first pick to their second pick is negligible in this weak draft class.
Realistic ball hawking CBs for the Bucs start with Zy Alexander if he falls to the third. He is a former quarterback, receiver and state champion outfielder whose hands and ball-tracking abilities hauled in 13 INTs in 4 years. He is solid against the run and naturally skilled and adept in zone as well as press man coverage. Next is another converted receiver with 3 INTs and a maxxed out spider graph in Darien Porter. He should be there in the third due to him being 25 years old once the season starts but that doesn’t concern me. Porter had 5!?! blocked punts in his career and is a press-man beast, master of zone and solid against the run. Mello Dotson had 11 career INTs/5 for TDs, most of which came in zone but his press-man skills are all there though he could bulk up a little from 190 lbs. He can be had early on day two. Nohl Williams led the FBS with 7 INTs (14 in his career.) He is an excellent zone CB with ideal size and the proven skills to jam receivers at the line. He could be there in the fifth because he has questionable long speed. I think he could make the move to safety and/or thrive as an Izien 2.0/solid utility DB good for a few picks a year in a back-up/Quarters package role. Last year’s pass defense was so egregiously infuriating I am not against blowing nearly all 2025 Draft ammo on LBs and DBs who can cover AND take the ball away. The only offensive need I see is a fresh back-up OT. Oh, and Maxem Hook with his 2 INTs in the seventh just cuz the Bucs don’t just need a safety to start with Winfield- they have needed quality back-up safeties for years now. The Captain Hook nickname is worth a last pick flyer!
February 25th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
*Nohl Williams led the BCS in INTs not FBS
February 25th, 2025 at 8:16 pm
In order to intercept a pass not thrown by Will Levis, it might be helpful to coach a defender to be in the same zip code as the receiver.
February 25th, 2025 at 11:56 pm
you need a better pash rush without blitzing…dpsht
February 25th, 2025 at 11:57 pm
you need a better pash rush without blitzing