Todd Bowles Vs. NFC South QBs
July 4th, 2019
Bucs DC Todd Bowles
The first thing Joe thought about when he heard that Bucco Bruce Arians hired former Jets head coach and former Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was, how did the rest of the NFC South quarterbacks play against a Bowles-led defense?
It’s a mixed bag.
Below are key stats that each NFC South quarterback (other than America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston) put up against Bowles, when he was the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator from 2013-2014 and head coach of the Jets (2015-2018).
In short, Drew Brees had little trouble from Bowles, Matty Ice of the Dixie Chicks had uneven games against Bowles and pouty Cam Newton downright struggled.
(Yes, Joe understands Bowles technically wasn’t the Jets’ defensive coordinator. But if you believe the Jets defense was not influenced by Bowles, Joe has a timeshare on the moon to sell you.)
Drew Brees vs. Todd Bowles.
2013 vs. Arizona (Saints 31, Cardinals 7)
29-46, 63.04 completion percentage, 342 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
2017 vs. New York Jets (Saints 31, Jets 19)
26-36, 72.22 completion percentage, 281 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Matt Ryan vs. Todd Bowles.
2013 at Arizona (Cardinals 27, Dixie Chicks 13)
34-61, 55.74 completion percentage, 301 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
2014 vs. Arizona (Dixie Chicks 29, Cardinals 18)
30-41, 73.17 completion percentage, 361 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Cam Newton vs. Todd Bowles.
2013 at Arizona (Cardinals 22, Stinking Panthers 6)
21-39, 53.85 completion percentage, 308 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INT
2017 at New York Jets (Stinking Panthers 35, Jets 27)
11-28, 39.29 completion percentage, 168 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT
What jumps out at Joe here is the number of picks both Matty Ice and Newton threw in their first go-around. That is a very good sign for a new Bucs secondary that Arians has lauded as being quicker than what he had in Arizona when he and Bowles first arrived in the desert.
If Bowles and his Bucs defense can put up similar numbers against Matty Ice and Newton, Joe believes the Bucs will win some ballgames.
July 4th, 2019 at 7:41 am
6-10
July 4th, 2019 at 7:56 am
Figures is on point!!!!!!!!!!! By week 12 most will be calling the bucs defense the “toilet bowles’ defense!!!!!!! at least this year, it appears so far that the d-coordinator at least will get to run a scheme he wants and not what she-MC wanted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 4th, 2019 at 8:10 am
Sweep our Division that is what we need to happen. Beat down all three teams in our division, that will give us 6 wins right there we need two more to break even, four more should put us in the playoffs. Win our division and do not help any of those players up, friends or not. The players can be friendly in the offseason, we need warriors who have each others backs not having the back of opponents. Be not afraid to hit them in the mouth the entire game, bloody their noses and make them feel they played us on Wednesday and Thursday after thay play us. This being soft and not having the us against them mentally is not going to get us to the playoffs. I do not want to ever hear our players mic’ed up say “Sorry” when they are tackling an opponent. Mental and physical toughness go a long way toward reaching team goals. Like the playoffs and beyond.
Yes I know the players may have been friends with opponents before they were in the NFL, but the players need to remember they are being paid to Win. Not just have fun with their teammates, and friends on the other team. I hope we have that passion and drive to not be friendly with other teams players on the field. Hey after the game you want to say good game and chat with your friend that is okay. Just not during the game. All our players focus should be to beat the team they are playing, not have fun with your friends playing in the NFL. Beat down the man in front of you play after play, game after game. 8-8 with sweeping our division would be a successful season IMO. Not that my opinion matters.
Go Bucs!
July 4th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Out of date data that is useless in 2019 for the bucs.
July 4th, 2019 at 8:56 am
We’re going to catch teams by surprise because the only film out there is from the Jets and Cardinals. We are neither. That will be our advantage. After game #1, it’s on coaching.
July 4th, 2019 at 8:57 am
We’ve seen head coaches with great resumes as HCs or coordinators come here and lose (Lovie, Wyche, Frazier, Koetter, and more). Sure, it’s a curious note and maybe interesting stat to some on how Bowles (or Arians) has done in various situations. But it’s impossible to isolate the fact this is a different team, different HC, different schemes, different players, different rules (to an extent)…so I’m just going to wait and see. I’m not knocking the article, it’s good and I’m glad to read this stuff. I’m just not buying anything in this staff until I see results; I am not of the mind this will give us a glimpse of much of anything.
July 4th, 2019 at 8:57 am
I have no idea what to expect… which is fantastic! We all celebrated a new player here or there the last few years but suffered under the knowledge we were tweaking around the edges. Drafting a new CB couldn’t erase the fear he was going to be playing 20yds off the ball with Grimes. Picking up a few rotational LBs couldn’t erase the vision of Kwon whiffing on a tackle but recovering in time for a celebratory muscle flex… 20 yards downfield. Collecting veteran and rookie linemen couldn’t erase the certainty that the defense’s foundation was built on GMC’s soft shoulders. This looks very different… not another 43 retread but an entire team of coaches who are focused on disrupting the opposing offense through any and all means. All could be lost by Thanksgiving but it just feels like this will be a good year… if not a playoff arrival at least solid progress.
July 4th, 2019 at 8:58 am
4-12, maybe 6-10. With hopes that I’m way off.
July 4th, 2019 at 9:02 am
@WestChap…I hope you are right. But I DO remember the excitment around here when we got Lovie, when M. Smith got HC money to stay and continue to work the D (have to chuckle now of course), when they were fearful Koetter would go to the 49ers (another interesting one) when Raheem finished 10-6 and the only major FA change the next year was picking up a punter. Yet all those things felt right. Hmmm.
July 4th, 2019 at 9:12 am
Interesting article Joe. Got me wondering what it says about what we should REALLY expect from a Todd Bowles’ defense. After looking a little deeper, I’m probably even more impressed than I was before reading this. One NY Jets game in particular stands out to me: the 2017 game in which the Panthers beat the Jets 35-27.
At first your numbers made no sense … Panthers rack up 35 pts but Newton only completed 11 passes (out of 28 attempts) for a 39% completion rate, 168 yds and 0 TDs. Something had to be really out of kilter for that to happen. And it was.
Carolina rushed 33 times for 145 yds and 2 TDs. They also controlled the TOP (32 mins to 28 mins) & made zero turnovers. Their S/Ts played flawlessly: Gano was 3-for-3 on FGs, Palardy punted 6 times for a 47 yd average, and Kaelin Clay (remember him … we drafted him) returned a punt for a 60-yd TD. Panthers defense was just average that day, but they did just enough to hold the Jets to 2 FGs & 3 passing TDs (courtesy of Josh McCown).
Jets defense actually played very well in that game. Jets offense fumbled once, and Luke Kuechly retuned it 34 yds for 1 TD (that’s on the Jets offense). Kaelin Clay returned a punt 60 yds for 1 TD (that’s on the Jets S/Ts). Take those 14 pts away & the Jets would’ve won 27-21. Jets’ defense also held Carolina to 3 FGs (vice giving up TDs?). They held Newton to only completing 11 passes out of 28 (quite good IMO) and although they did give up 145 rushing yds on 33 attempts, 2 rushes accounted for 69 yds (remove those 2 & the Jets gave up 79 yds on 31 attempts (2.4 average).
No, the Jets defense didn’t lose them that game … lousy COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL lost them that game. And exceptional COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL won it for the Panthers, on their way to an 11-5 season & a Wildcard loss to the Saints in the playoffs. And THAT’S what the Bucs will need to play this year to have a successful season.
July 4th, 2019 at 9:13 am
BA wasn’t the coach of the year TWICE for nothing. He turned around two teams with poor records. This is the most talented team he has inherited for the first year. I would be surprised if we lost more game than won.
July 4th, 2019 at 9:24 am
Magadude … “4-12, maybe 6-10. With hopes that I’m way off.”
Come on Magadude, take the plunge. Flip it around … 10-6 maybe even 12-4. I’m sure that you didn’t take off on combat missions saying to yourself, “Wow, we’ve got a 25% of coming back, but I’m hoping that improves to 37%’. Nope, you went in with the idea ‘OK, let’s kick some ass & we’ll worry about the rest of that crapola later’.
Being a Bucs’ fan isn’t for the faint-hearted. Lots of Debbie Downers out there who’ll gladly jump on the bandwagon when the winning starts, but pee & moan until it does. What’s the joy in that? IF for some reason this team does stumble for awhile, piece of cake … send in the Jolly Greens to clean up the mess, then go right back out there & kick some more ass. No excuses.
July 4th, 2019 at 9:24 am
Joe, that time-share on the moon is closer than you think! Right now billionaires are hard at work trying to make that happen meanwhile, billions of people on earth starve & live in abject poverty!?
Anyone notice the number of pass-attempts made by the Dixie-chicks in those games? 61 & 41! In only two games Koetter called 102 pass plays!
July 4th, 2019 at 9:27 am
@DR…funny, thanks. The difference is I knew I was ready. I don’t know these guys are ready, but hope THEY think so!
July 4th, 2019 at 9:29 am
^^^and also hope they ARE. You were talking about those guys who are all talk :-)…
July 4th, 2019 at 9:33 am
6-10
They don’t need film . These coaches will make in game adjustments. Leopard will not change their spots. So they will play the same system they have before. Just different players.
July 4th, 2019 at 9:55 am
“Lots of Debbie Downers out there who’ll gladly jump on the bandwagon when the winning starts, but pee & moan until it does”
DR – I think you just described jbf’s target audience…
July 4th, 2019 at 10:10 am
Pickgrin … You might be right about JBF’s target audience. I just want to meet the guy who sold Joe that timeshare on the moon. One helluva salesman IMO. Or Joe’s VERY gullible.
July 4th, 2019 at 10:10 am
Even when Tony Dungy changed the Buc’s culture they lost five or six games in a row at first and then won seven games in a row to finish the season so don’t be discouraged if they lose some games at first but then go on a run, but with so many Coaches I expect BA to have a better first year than Dungy did.
July 4th, 2019 at 10:26 am
The Jets were tops in the league in cap space available as Bowles was shown the door. You can’t expect much from a team who spends zero money. I would rather look at bowles numbers strictly in Arizona under Arians and zoned in on calling the defense.
July 4th, 2019 at 10:27 am
And Bowles had a crap offense that couldn’t stay on the field. Totally different animal in Tampa and Arizona not even comparable with his time with the Jets.
July 4th, 2019 at 10:43 am
Completely meaningless.
Slow news until TC opens.
Props to the Joes for filling the time. Nice effort.
July 4th, 2019 at 10:56 am
Blitzing doesn’t work on Drew Brees.
Winston and Ryan are close to equal, but Matty had better coaching.
Newton is the worst QB in the division, and comparing career stats proves it.
July 4th, 2019 at 11:01 am
Whatever happens, happens.
Wins or losses. I prefer wins (boy do I), but in the end, it really does not matter. I’m a fan for life because my father was…so I’m in it for the long haul.
That said, my desire is wins. Championships. I want to be the team that replaces the Patriots at the top. A pipe dream? Maybe. But dreams can come true.
July 4th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
4-12
I have a difficult time seeing where they are going to win any others…
Maybe 1 or 2 games they get calls in their favor to squeak out 6 wins!
July 4th, 2019 at 4:07 pm
My only question is how is Matt Ryan possibly still a starting QB in the league after he had a 4 pick game? I mean no QB with any accuracy or brains ever does that right guys?
July 4th, 2019 at 7:13 pm
Did the Jets offense set the other team up at the 50 yard line after going 3 & out most of the time? These good NFL teams love to play Arena Football!
July 4th, 2019 at 7:55 pm
4- 1st round picks on offense
4- 1st round picks on defense
Great coaching
If Bucs don’t win, it will be because of injuries or qb.