Todd Bowles: “You Win By Scoring Points”
April 2nd, 2025
Defensive guy talks offense.
Joe nearly fell over hearing this.
Joe knows a lot of Bucs fans are really going bananas because head coach Todd Bowles hired a clock management assistant. “This Joe” thinks this is the most overblown Bucs story so far this offseason.
Bowles had one of these last year; Jackie Davidson is one of Jason Licht’s treasured assistants in part for her knowledge of math. So all of a sudden people think she couldn’t read a clock and had to be replaced?
Valued JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman confirmed last fall that Bowles had final say when it came to calling timeouts, no matter what Davidson advised. So has Bowles has given up his liberty to call or not call a timeout? No. So what really has changed?
However, “this Joe” was blown away when Bowles, speaking yesterday at the NFC coaches breakfast at the owners meetings held at the swanky Breakers resort in Palm Beach, made a startling confession. It’s a confesson that has much more significant impact than someone on Bowles’ headset telling him what he can already see: a clock.
Bowles, a defensive guy, said he has learned that to win games you gotta score points.
For a defensive guy like Bowles to say this in such a public forum, Joe cannot begin to explain how the ground shook under Joe’s feet. Joe learned of Bowles’ epiphany when the head coach was talking about where he is leaning in the draft.
“Being a defensive coach, I learned that you win by scoring points,” Bowles said. “I don’t ever want to bypass a very good offensive player. I can figure things out enough on defense to keep us competitive.
“I would like to have some defensive players if that presented itself, but by no means will I bypass a very good offensive player just to satisfy my needs on defense.
“We can figure out how to keep the score down, but you can’t figure out a way to keep scoring points, especially if your horses go down. You can never have enough horses on offense. “
This is monumental in Joe’s eyes and Joe is so happy to see the evolution of Bowles as a coach.
The Bucs’ pass defense last year was horrible, yet even with that awful pass defense with zero edge rush, Bowles found a way to keep the Commandos and young superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels to 23 points.
In a playoff game, holding a team to 23 should not be an insurmountable hill to climb. Guess who else held the Commandos to 23 points in the playoffs? The big, bad Eagles defense.
No matter how well one thinks Jalen McMillan or Sterling Shepard played last year, the Bucs missed Chris Godwin terribly.
So “this Joe” was beyond surprised and proud of what Bowles said about offense. Maybe, this Emeka Egbuka really is in play for the Bucs? Egbuka is the Chris Godwin clone from Ohio State.
Bowles’ confession/redemption/epiphany impresses “this Joe” far, far more than Bowles hiring some dude who can tell time.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:12 am
So does this mean Bowles will grab the Golden opportunity if it presents itself?
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:16 am
Bowles, a defensive guy, said he has learned that to win games you gotta score points.
WAIT!
HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN COACHING!!!
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:23 am
Trade down from 19 a few spots and take golden for the deep threat we need.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:31 am
Todd Bowles … ‘ I can figure things out enough on defense to keep us competitive.’
Todd obviously does a lot of ‘figuring things out’ defensively, but there appear to be limitations to that. Take the game against San Fran last year that we lost 23-20. Bucs offense tied it 20-20 with 44 secs left in the game. After the kickoff, 49ers took over and moved 39 yards on FOUR completed passes to the Bucs’ 26-yard line then kicked a FG to win the game. Our defense allowed the 49ers to move down the field in only 39 secs to get into FG territory then win.
Or take the week prior to that when we led the Chiefs 17-10 early in the 4th qtr but then gave up TWO quick TDs to go down 24-17. Thankfully our offense tied it 24-24 with only 27 secs left in the game to send it to Overtime, but then our defense surrendered another TD in OT to lose 30-24.
That right there was 2 losses because our defense didn’t hold up. Admittedly Todd was frantically ‘figuring it out’ but our pass defense failed us BIG-TIME. For example Mahomes was 5-for-5 passing on that 1st TD, then 5-for-6 passing on the 2nd TD, then 5-for-5 passing on the TD in Overtime to win it. So during a high-pressure 4th qtr & OT, Mahomes went 15-for-16 passing to win the ballgame. Sorry, that’s not ‘figuring it out’.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:40 am
Sorry Todd but the problem last year was on defense not offense. I don’t know how this is even a conversation.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:49 am
I would hope that if one of those rushers is still sitting there we take them at 19 but this is refreshing to hear nonetheless.
Too many injuries last season at wr in a passing league and two of those guys are over 30 or coming up on 30. I’m hoping we can find a legit talent at wr in the second or third round.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:53 am
We don’t need a Godwin, or Evans clone. We need some speed. Matthew Golden can run routes, and has speed to burn. The Bucs had a formal with him at the combine. We are not good at receiver. This kid would add some juice to the room.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:02 am
Of course it’s about scoring points, but also about holding the other team from scoring more points than you.
And please Todd, let us all know when you find a way to “figure something out” before blowing a late game lead.
Yes, the Bucs did hold a rookie QB to 23 playoff points. They also provided him with no reason to punt and gave him an 11 minute advantage in time of possession.
Mr. Defense Rules just gave a history lesson in your inability to figure things out.
Todd worries me. I believe things would be better off for the 2025 Bucs had they hired a defensive coordinator and relegated Todd to a weekly regular at the Pen & Mic Club.
But nooooo!
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:03 am
Bowles continues to be overconfident in his defense in end of game scenarios. I hope the talk about picking an offensive player early is a smokescreen and they invest in the defense. However, I can see picking up a deep threat, big YAC, WR in a late round.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:15 am
“Bowles, a defensive guy, said he has learned that to win games you gotta score points.” Just unbelievable. Hell, I’m an old drunk dude faux leather Stratolounger and even I know you gotta score points to win games.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:21 am
This was the Dungy evolution when he went to the Colts.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:26 am
I’m starting to think Joe is putting pins in a voodoo doll of Bowles. First, Reddick is signed. Now, Bowles says “points win game.” If Bowles says, ” i hate to rely on HOPE,” we will have full confirmation that one of the joes is a witch doctor
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:30 am
The bar is so low for Bowles with the Joes.
All he has to say is, “I brush my teeth before bed to keep them clean”.
Genius!!!! The smartest man in the NFL!!!
Remember these insane articles in the fall when Bowles fritters away more victories into the jaws of defeat.
28-27
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:30 am
Do we need offensive linemen this year?
Do we need an athletic TE?
I do like that he wants to pick DBs and LBs mid to late rounds… maybe some slot WRs too.
Smoke screens before the draft are great about this time of year too… maybe he doesn’t want folks to know he will be drafting defense.
At pick 19… Oline or TE sounds about right though.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:33 am
I think Dungee committed carreeracide (at least in Tampa) when he hired Les Steckle. If I remember correctly, he was the last straw in a string of mediocre offensive coordinators. The Licht/Bowles tandem is far superior to Dungee in one important category… hiring OCs.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:33 am
Where I would like Todd to be a better strategist on defense is now acknowledging that lots of teams go for it on 4th down. That is changing in the NFL.
So it is not always ok to give up 6 yards of 3rd down and 7 to go.
Or not always ok to give up 17 yards on 3rd down and 19 to go.
Because in each of those situations, you are allowing a team to be potentially successful on a 4th down play that lots of teams will go for it on. And more often than not succeed on.
Nick Saban remarked that in his last couple of years in Alabama, how he actually incorporated defensive practice to have his players think about those downs as two opportunities for a team to beat his defense for a first down.
I’d like to see that “mental” adjustment instead of the defense relaxing after a stop on 3rd down. You can bet that the teams that generally make the playoffs are going to be very successful in their 4th down conversions.
Before last year — Bucs opponents had never cracked more than 28 4th down attempts against their defense in a season.
Last year there 40 attempts against them in the regular season.
Then Washington was 3 for 4 against the Bucs in the playoffs.
Let’s get ahead of this curve. Sacks and pressures on 3rd down look like a way to get ahead of that.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:36 am
Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor. His philosophy when he was hired was run the ball and keep the defense fresh. That has been my biggest gripe all along. I guess an old dog can learn a new trick sometimes.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:39 am
Bowles has PTSD…
Watching both Evans and Godwin go down in that Ravens game still gives him nightmares.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:42 am
For those complaining about the defense… in the NFL today, its seemingly impossible for DBs to cover without an aggressive pash rush.
The QBs are getting better and better… go look at the dynam QBs in the league now. Hard to cover.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:52 am
The Guru has spoken.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:02 am
Great point!
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:17 am
It is absolutely crazy Joe is giving Bowles credit for holding Washington to 23 points. Washington’s offense did exactly what they wanted the whole game and never punted the ball. Washington had 11 more minutes in time of possession which kept the Bucs high potent offense sitting on the bench while watching Washington easily go down the field while using every second on the clock to kick the game winning field goal.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:18 am
Hyperbole. It’s not what he says it’s what he does
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:19 am
Mahomes is unbeatable in close games, especially OT games. No defense can keep up with him.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:20 am
You win by scoring more points than your opponent. Zero to Two is still a win. Bowles is throwing in the towel already for his defense.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:20 am
Joe – You got played as Bowles was not being truthful.
1) Yesterday was April Fools day
2) We are less than a month from the draft, so it’s officially “Liar’s Season”. Anything coming out of a GM or Coach’s mouth related to a pick or interest in a player is most likely a lie/tactical deception until after the draft and UFA signing are done.
3) Do you really believe Bowles would try to improve the 4th ranked Offense with his first round pick with so many holes on the 28th ranked Defense? I’m not saying there will be no picks on offense, just not the first pick (or probably the 2nd). You were shocked by his comments because you know that’s not how he thinks.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:45 am
We have a Top 5 offense. Adding depth on the OL, upgrading TE position, and succession planning at WR are all good ideas. However, the defense needs to be addressed. Inability to get pressure rushing 4 and injuries in the secondary are problems, but not being able to defend the middle of the field has to be fixed.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:49 am
It’s these type of comments that make me scratch my head and wonder is he really saying this? Look at what Defense Rules posted above. That is exactly what I’m talking about when it comes to CTB. Yes, he is a man of good character, the players think the world of him, but you can’t turn in coaching performances like that over and over again and expect to continue to stay employed. 53% winning percentage is a 53%. How long are you comfortable with him doing this? Another season? Another 3 seasons? Another 5 seasons?
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:05 am
Sounds like shade being thrown weeks before the draft.
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:10 am
Todd only got this job by default okay let’s not forget that!
Okay second off defense win championships let’s not get it twisted.
He only got one because the Bucs GM and fans made it clear we had one.
He drafts an offensive player I won’t be watching Bucs football next season. That much is clear
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:24 am
Has ‘Jackie Davidson’ ever been held accountable for anything?? What exactly does she do? Women should not be coaching in football unless they are HIGHLY qualified, which is rare
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:33 am
SMOKE SCREEN
Bucs are just trying to keep other teams guessing at what they’ll do in the draft.
Everyone knows they are going all defense. This team is going to be loaded the next few years.
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:43 am
So many comments, so little time. We know they are going to draft whoever is the highest rated on their board and still available. Anyone remember that Bucs video in youtube of them drafting where their comments hinted at who they really wanted but he didnt fall to them? So what did they do? Draft the next best guy. Obviously they aren’t going to waste time evaluating say Cam Ward for their pick but there will be a number of guys who they will consider assuming they are open. I think we will take whoever the highest rating person is regardless of position.
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:54 am
If Todd truly believes this then why does he continue to trust his awful pass defense to close out games versus trusting the stronger side of the ball?
He can say this all he wants but his game day actions say otherwise
Dude coaches scared
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:58 am
LB3 @ 19
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:00 am
More Bowlesh!t.
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:09 am
To the Joe who agrees with most of us that Bowles needed this game management coach because last year’s method was a fiasco — thank you.
What I wish Todd would have said as a defensive coach is, your defense has to give up fewer points than your offense scores.
But if he is really coming around that the offense is the strength of the team (it is), THEN COACH LIKE IT! Redskins game, Niners game, Chiefs game, Falcons games…….grrrrr.
Good night, Irene.
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:16 am
Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl last year by stopping KC and Mahomes from “scoring points” with great first half defense.
It is time Bowles and Bucs do the same. Agree with Bowles prior comments that he needs “ball hawks.” That sounds like defense to me. Past time to develop a defense the offense can count on. Pass defense has been abominable the last two years. Fix it now.
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:17 am
The man is saying he will help the team with the best player available meaning offense or defense we picked up some good pieces in offseason we got our offense back from last year and might add more pieces why is it that when he shows he is trying to do better for the team there is more hate for Todd if your a fan be one and respect the coach
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:23 am
geno711 … ‘Where I would like Todd to be a better strategist on defense is now acknowledging that lots of teams go for it on 4th down. That is changing in the NFL.’
It looks like 4th down killed us last season. Opponents went for it 30 times and made it 19 times for 63.3% success. That’s terrible on our part. The year before opponents went for it 25 times and only made it 12 times for 48.0% success. That 15% iincrease in success rate represents a huge improvement for opponents. and a huge degradation for our defense.
But real question is WHY? Why did we do so crappy last season? Admittedly you’d have to analyze each one of those 30 4th-down plays to see what happened & how to fix it. But I do think that one generalization can be made: We didn’t have the horses to stop it. We need better talent in certain positions.
Improving the middle of our DLine for stopping the run AND pressuring the QB is a decent starting point. Being able to do a better job of sealing the edges is another need IMO . And being able to improve our short pass defense (especially) is yet another need. I’m convinced that it requires both improved talent AND a change in philosophy (less blitzing especially).
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:29 am
Applause to DR, nailed it in two posts.
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:38 am
Front seven depth is my top need
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:42 am
TRBinCLE … ‘Inability to get pressure rushing 4 and injuries in the secondary are problems, but not being able to defend the middle of the field has to be fixed.’
Great observation TRB. Personally I’d be happy though with getting pressure with rushing FIVE … our 3 DLinemen and 2 OLBs. That gives us 5 of our defense rushing 5 OLinemen, plus probably 1 TE to help out & maybe even an RB. With 5 quality and FRESH defenders attacking, I like our odds in that case.
Your point about ‘not being able to defense the middle of the field’ is spot on. I’m convinced that happens because we blitz so much, and leave big gaps open. If the blitz doesn’t get there, most NFL QBs will have you for lunch in that case.
Our defense went downhill considerably last season, but it’s not that hard IMO to figure out why. Our 2024 talent-level on defense was considerably lower than what we fielded in 2021 for instance (the year before Todd assumed HC duties). I’m convincd that Todd Bowles can lead our defense to a Top-5 finish PROVIDING that he has the horses. Last season he didn’t; nor does he right now. We NEED this draft to fill in several significant holes in our starting lineup AND with our key rotational guys (someone to rotate with Vea for instance?).
The zone coverage that we all saw last year isn’t what Todd Bowles prefers to use IMO (you give up possible INTs when you play that far off?). He NEEDS the Front-5 to be able to create a viable pass rush WITHOUT so much blitzing (except maybe the OLBs). That provides 6 defenders in coverage to defend against a max of 3-5 offensive receivers. I’ll take those odds.
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:55 am
Aqualung … ‘But if he is really coming around that the offense is the strength of the team (it is), THEN COACH LIKE IT! Redskins game, Niners game, Chiefs game, Falcons games…….grrrrr.’
You caught me by surprise with that one, but I agree with you 100% after thinking about it. Opposing HCs went for it 30 times on 4th down, and made 19 (63.3%). Todd went for it only 14 times on 4th down, and made it 9 times (64.3%). So we had the #4 offense in the league, yet we only went for it 14 times in 17 games, even though we did just as well as our opponents when we did go for it.
Haven’t analyzed all the possible situations when we MIGHT have gone for it, but sure would like to see us take a few more risks. Hey, when we went for it on 4th down, we made it almost 2 out of 3 times and could’ve kept a lot more drives alive. Scoring more points is what Todd says he wants to do. Well, there’s one way to do it.
April 2nd, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Todd had a smile on his face when he said you win by scoring points. It looked like a forced smile. Like he couldn’t believe what he was saying. He’s from a generation alot of us are from. Defense wins championships. In baseball pitching and defense win championships. No matter the time of possession in the Commanders game the defense only allowed 23. Should have been enough to win the game. He knows Philly won the SB with a strong defense. He knows as a DC he won a Super Bowl with a strong defense. He’ll field a stronger defense this year judged by points against per game. He’s always gonna be old school. DR thank you-we didn’t have the horses to stop it. Barely. A td instead of FG against Washington we win. We’re close. Bowles knows that too. But DR, about the change in philosophy? Don’t count on that. We should blitz less though.
April 2nd, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Obviously, to be a Super Bowl team you need both.
April 2nd, 2025 at 1:45 pm
Kenton … ‘But DR, about the change in philosophy? Don’t count on that. We should blitz less though.’
The blitzing less IS the change in philosophy Kenton. Excessive blitzing to create pass rush pressure is the cause IMO of all of our pass coverage problems. Creat sufficient pressure with 3 DLinemen & 2 OLBs and I’d contend that pass coverage becomes MUCH easier.
April 2nd, 2025 at 1:46 pm
KABucs Says:
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:33 am
I think Dungee committed carreeracide (at least in Tampa) when he hired Les Steckle. If I remember correctly, he was the last straw in a string of mediocre offensive coordinators. The Licht/Bowles tandem is far superior to Dungee in one important category… hiring OCs.
Les Steckle was mediocre???
His offense was Fun to watch. It was the first time anyone ever reffered to the Bucs as an offensive juggernaut. Finally an offense to go with our defense!
During his one year the Buc’s went 10 and 6 but lost badly to the hated Eagles in the playoffs. That game got him fired.
April 2nd, 2025 at 1:48 pm
Yeah, Joe doesn’t remember Steckle’s offense to be that horrible. Joe knows “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig hated Steckle.
Joe just did some checking: The Bucs scored a bunch of points (6th) which was good. Rushing was good (9th). Passing they were inept (a Father Dungy tradition, 26th).
April 2nd, 2025 at 2:07 pm
If the other team doesn’t score, your team can’t lose. Let’s try that approach once in awhile in 2025. Have been saying that this team needs 4-5 new defensive horses in 2025. Jamel Dean has to go. Draft Emmanwori and play him at SAFETY or LB. Cut out all the nonsense. He is the best defensive player in this draft. If the Bucs are lucky enough to have him fall their way, TAKE HIM.
April 2nd, 2025 at 2:52 pm
KA- Steckels offense scored more pints than any other Dungy team, if I’m not mistaken.
As far as Bowles.. he should have said you win by scoring more than you allow.
Defense (boom boom) Defense.
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:20 pm
The defense is the problem on this team and it’s not even close. Todd can’t close out games and it’s been displayed time and time again. Edge of your seats, final moments in the game and the defense always gives up uncontested catches and first downs to lose the game. I have zero confidence is bowles fixing that this season. He always chokes
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:15 pm
His new philosophy compliments the ballz deep zone coverage his D is always in.
April 2nd, 2025 at 10:08 pm
Wait, WHAT!?!? This is the same man that said you win games by not turning the ball over – without mentioning scoring points. I’m so proud of Bowles to have finally figured this out – only took a few decades to do so.
April 3rd, 2025 at 8:39 am
It sounds like Bowels is becoming the new Yogi Berra with his profound quotes. Why would anyone question the brilliance of this man?