“Todd Bowles Is Really One Of The Great Coaches In The National Football League”
October 21st, 2020
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles got some serious run on a popular NFL podcast this week.
On “GM Shuffle,” Michael Lombardi, the former NFL suit and coffee fetcher for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, raved about Bowles in the wake of the Bucs defense suffocating Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday.
“Can I rant? Can I rant about Todd Bowles?” Lombardi began the podcast.
“Todd Bowles is really one of the great coaches in the National Football League. He really is. So to understand the background of Todd Bowles, you have to appreciate [Bill] Parcells. So Parcells is the head football coach of the New York Giants. And he’s watching the Washington Redskins Football Team — when they were called ‘The Redskins.’ And Richie Pettibone was the defensive coordinator of the Washington Football Team. He was so complex that on one of the football staffs I worked for in Cleveland, they loved to steal signals. And this was not the [Bill] Belichick staff.
“They loved to steal signals. And I remember going to the championship game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Football Team, just to try to get a handle on Pettibone’s signals. And they were way too hard to figure out. … It was so complex. …
“What impressed Parcells the most was this young rookie — free agent! — from Temple. A kid named Todd Bowles was starting in the secondary as a rookie and making all the calls. And Parcells is going, ‘This kid just aced the Princeton exam.'”
Lombardi thought it was shameful how some place a scarlet letter on Bowles’ chest because he got chewed up and spit out by the circus that is the Jets.
“Todd Bowles is one of the best defensive coaches in football,” Lombardi said. “He got ripped off at the Jets. He got put together in an arranged marriage with [former general manager] Mike Maccagnan. These are two guys who are opposite extremes.
“Maccagnan is from the Charley Casserly School of Football — I’m not quite sure what school that is. And then Bowles is from the Parcells School. I know what school that is. I know what Bowles wants.”
Bowles is a Parcells guy. After his playing career, Bowles was a scout with the Packers (and a bunch of his co-workers later became successful general managers) and later got into coaching, soon becoming a Parcells favorite. Bowles was secondary coach in Dallas for Parcells then flipped to Miami when Parcells ran the Dolphins.
Lombardi went on to say Maccagnan was hiring and firing offensive coaches under Bowles right and left and all that has happened to the Jets since Bowles left is the franchise is in a complete tailspin. Meanwhile, Bowles took one of the worst defenses in NFL history with the Bucs and within two years has them No. 1 in the NFL.
“The glue to this team [the Bucs] is their defense,” Lombardi added. “Their defense is really good. I was worried about their secondary, but the Auburn secondary — between Dean and Carlton Davis. Both kids from Auburn. Both are long. Both are athletic. Both really talented.
“I mean, with the pass rush [the Bucs] are able to generate plus the pressure [from run blitzes and the secondary] — unbelievable, unbelievable!”
Lombardi also added there is something wrong if Bowles is not offered a head coaching job this offseason. However, Lombardi added, given what Bowles has done with the Bucs, he has clout where he can be picky about what job he chooses. Lombardi said Bowles should only go to a place where he knows the general manager and both he and the GM are in full agreement how to build a team.
“Hats off to the Bucs!” Lombardi said. “Todd Bowles gets a gameball this week because he did such a good job.”
Joe has no idea if the following is true. No one told Joe this. It is absolutely speculation.
Joe would not be surprised if one reason Bucco Bruce Arians came to the Bucs was to set up one of his buddies to succeed him if Arians got sick or after he retired.
Is Bowles that guy? No clue. It wasn’t like Bowles didn’t have any other job offers when, at the last minute, he came to the Bucs.
Would Joe be stunned if Team Glazer already established a deal with Bowles to take over whenever Arians shuts down his Bucs golf cart? Nope.
October 21st, 2020 at 8:06 am
If Bowles continues success (expected)……I suspect he will get offers…..but he may stay if he is truly enjoying the success and has a good opportunity to succeed BA in a year……would love to keep him.
October 21st, 2020 at 8:13 am
Bowles as Arian’s heir apparent makes sense. Leftwich would continue to command the offense, and Bowles gets to focus on the defense that he built.
Arians would ride off into the sunset (or to Lake Lanier in Georgia) on his golf cart.
October 21st, 2020 at 8:25 am
He’s not a great interview, but I would rather have Bowles as the Bucs next head coach over Leftwich. I think both are good coaches though.
It’s entirely possible Bowles turns down head coaching opportunities in the offseason to become the Bucs head coach in 2022.
October 21st, 2020 at 8:26 am
I think a SB win this year and BA is out, (TB12) might be out, the question is if Bowles gets an offer before the job is done and it doesn’t get done
October 21st, 2020 at 8:27 am
The Bucs attained mediocrity the moment Monte Kiffin announced he was leaving. We need Todd to stay.
October 21st, 2020 at 8:40 am
If I’m the Glazers and Bowles and our defense keep producing, I’m giving him anything that he wants to take over for Arians when Arians hangs them up. It’s still early in the season though and I need to see more as a fan of the Bucs for like, ever.
October 21st, 2020 at 8:42 am
Is Todd HC material? It’s not a knock but, he didn’t succeed at that level.
Bowles could be one of those assistant ‘greats’ that’s not cut out for the HC position.
He’s a great coach and I wouldn’t mind it at all if he did take over. I just wanted to throw that out there for discussion.
Like the Monte Kiffin example, maybe he’s just a really, really good DC?!
October 21st, 2020 at 8:55 am
BL will be the HC of the BUCS or texans next year….
imo, bowles is strictly a DC(see romeo crennel)….and its nothing wrong with that….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2020 at 9:00 am
kong suh vs. aaron rodgers
here rodgers discusses the occurrences that happened with he and suh during the game sunday:
https://youtu.be/pCboaYYIS8M
October 21st, 2020 at 9:09 am
leftwich will not ever be the head coach here, i can almost guarantee that..
i think the glazers have learned a thing or two regarding quarterbacks and coaches over the past decade…
leftwich would be more like hiring koetter, raheem or schiano…
moving forward i think they don’t wing it as much any more regarding nfl upstart coaches…
same at qb…i think they see what a brady brings to the table in many many aspects after 5 years of jameis
October 21st, 2020 at 9:31 am
adam
so you have a crystal ball huh?….
you dont know jack sh!t….lol…
has dirk, raheem and greg played in the NFL?…..
have they been apart of a SB winning team?….
BL is nothing like those other coaches…..
BL will be HC and bowles will get promoted to assist.HC and continue to be a DC…..
i can almost guarantee that..
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2020 at 9:56 am
^^^
lol ronde will be head coach before leftwich…
leftwich doesn’t even have a really good grasp of the english language most of the time…
not trying to slam byron, but he’s just not the next head coach here imho …
in fact it is questionable if he’s really even a solid oc…
in fact he’s probably the most expendable high level coach on the team now, with the arrival of brady…he is almost “obsolete” – if that even applies here…
yes his role with jameis was more important…but with the new scenario in tampa, tom can literally take him under the wing, but with jameis he was always in “coach him up mode”
813bucboi wake up…have some coffee…
October 21st, 2020 at 10:00 am
813bucboi –
so you’re a byron supporter…i can respect that…
he’s definitely not bombing out as our oc…
but is he lighting it up in that role???
that’s debatable…
if he get’s a offer to be head coach of a franchise in disarray, he’s otti like john gotti…
imho he’s just biding time in tampa now…
once again just my humble opinion
October 21st, 2020 at 10:02 am
I wrote this comment in an earlier post. No one outside of Todd Bowles’ intimate circle knows what he endured with the Jets. It certainly left a bad taste in his mouth. He may decide against head coaching. Who can blame him? He is working on his Tampa Bay defense. Let him finish building it.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:18 am
adam
BL ” doesn’t even have a really good grasp of the english language most of the time”…
obviously your opinion lacks intelligence…..
who knew one can get a job in the nfl as a player and coach without,”good grasp of the english language”….
you’re not even worth debating with a post like that….
BL will be a HC next year for the BUCS or texans…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2020 at 10:21 am
adam
so you’re a BL hater….
i wouldve never guessed…lol…
check our offensive stats….and you think he’s expendable?….
you’re clueless….and your “opinion” proves it….lol..
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2020 at 10:27 am
I sure hope Bowels already knows he is Arians’ successor. Leftwich isn’t ready yet. And defense is the Bucs persona.
October 21st, 2020 at 10:47 am
I agree.
I would be surprised if a HC succession was not part of the dealio with a retired Arians coming to the Bucs.
Keep in mind the Licht connection, too…
October 21st, 2020 at 12:29 pm
813bucsboi:
your rebuttals ooze where you are at mentally bro…
not a hater of byron at all…
he is still kinda like an oc in training…
and i’m pretty sure BA chimes in with plays from time to time to override plays in key situations…
leftwich has called some games and some clunkers…
as for his verbage, just listen to his pressers and interviews…he speaks the english language somewhat poorly…
maybe you do as well, so his jargon actually sounds ok to you…
anyway go bucs…i route for byron as well…he’s just not the guy for head coach anytime soon here…
elsewhere
October 21st, 2020 at 12:32 pm
813bucsboi:
your rebuttals ooze where you are at mentally bro…
not a hater of byron at all…
he is still kinda like an oc in training…
and i’m pretty sure BA chimes in with plays from time to time to override plays in key situations…
leftwich has called some good games and some clunkers…
as for his verbiage, just listen to his pressers and interviews…he speaks the english language somewhat poorly…
maybe you do as well, so his jargon actually sounds ok to you…
(but you type ok)
anyway go bucs…i route for byron as well…he’s just not the guy for head coach anytime soon here…
elsewhere he might get an offer from a messy team and he will prolly just fly the coop…which is ok…
he is becoming obsolete in bucsville
October 21st, 2020 at 12:33 pm
i won’t respond anymore holmes…
go bucs…(including byron)
October 21st, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Joe, pro tip? Maybe calling a guy a glorified secretary for coaches doesn’t exactly buff his credentials, but you then cite him as someone’s opinion to pay attention to. Yes, Lombardi working roles for all those guys exposed him to all sorts of philosophies which makes his words valuable, as well as having contacts around the league because of it. Sometimes you shoot yourself in your own foot, my friend.
October 21st, 2020 at 1:19 pm
If Bowles stays here (which I most definitely think he will) and B.L. stays and they don’t lose too much of their roster AND THEY FIND A QB then this could be a special team for a long run!! But only if the pieces that are here now are mainly kept together!! … I would LOVE to see Brady retire and become our QB coach or something like that!!! But I would think his loyalty would lie with the Patriots for something like that?? Belichick will retire after this year I believe because he’s just now realizing that “oh yeah, I was a terrible coach before Brady saved my legacy!!!” … He was fired from the browns and then screwed another team while signing with the Patriots and then went on to have losing seasons with them… They were having a losing season I believe when bledsoe got hurt and Brady took over… If I remember right belichick was one of the “hot seat” coaches right before Brady?? …. Something about Brady makes other around him better!! You can’t quantify that!!…. The spiiiice!!! Maybe it’s the spiiiice?!? Lol .. for all you South Park fans
October 21st, 2020 at 1:20 pm
fortunately for the bucs, he has a GM who was drafting for a Bowles defense before Bowles even arrived. if he wants to be sure he’s on the same page as his GM, the bucs roughly 2 seasons from now will be his best fit.
this D will have all these 2nd and 3rd year studs entering their prime and the bucs will have the money currently flowing to guys like Brady, JPP, and Donovan Smith to keep a dominant Bowles D together without robbing the offense of its biggest weapons
October 21st, 2020 at 1:41 pm
@Sorryjackchuckiesback
__________
Could also be TB’s …….. Creme Frayshh!
October 21st, 2020 at 2:03 pm
“The stupidity of JBF amazes Kobe Faker everyday
history class
Bowles had the choice as defensive coordinator of a top 3 defense and generational player Mack of the Chicago Bears or DC and build Mike Smith powerhouse Bucs defense
If there was any success, BA, Licht and the Glazers agreed that Bowles will be the HC in waiting when BA retires in 3 years
Why is it only Kobe Faker that can read between the lines?”
Kobe Faker
October 21st, 2020 at 2:06 pm
adam
BL has a college degree…lol…
your “verbiage” is equivalent to a 3rd grader….and thats ok(i guess)…
BA has stated several times BL controls the entire offense including playcalling….but obviously you’re not smart enough to research those facts….
root for the bucs…great…
and also root for them when BL is named HC….
GO BUCS!!!!
October 21st, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Why is it only Kobe Faker that can read between the lines?”
we’ve been wrong so many times you make realist seem somewhat knowledgeable…lol…
put your glasses on….your reading the wrong lines…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 21st, 2020 at 3:58 pm
813
Why can’t we get Kris Richard instead?
😉
October 21st, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Doosh… Maybe they have all gotten better from the shake weight?? Lol is that the secret of their success??? Lol