Shaq Talks Following “The Blueprint”
January 25th, 2022
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles
The pain of Sunday’s loss runs deep for Joe.
Why? Why? Why?
Before the season-ending, soul-sucking, groin-stomp loss to the Rams on Sunday, Shaq Barrett sat down with Father Tony Dungy for a chat for NBC Sports.
Multiple times Shaq referenced how the 49ers, which have beaten the Rams twice this season, laid out “the blueprint” of how to beat Los Angeles and the Bucs defense would be following that.
In Week 18, the 49ers hit Matthew Stafford 13 times and scored 5 sacks. The Bucs hit Stafford 8 times and had 2 sacks, and Stafford attempted more passes against Tampa Bay.
But what’s especially interesting regarding Shaq’s “blueprint” comment is that San Francisco is one of the least-blitzing teams in the NFL, sending blitzers just 19.8 percent of the time, one of the lowest rates in the NFL. The Bucs led the league blitzing 40.8 percent of the time.
So Joe was a little confused by “the blueprint” line. Perhaps the Bucs thought for a while they could get four-man pressure with Shaq’s banged up knee, playing Vita Vea less than half the snaps (again!) and with Jason Pierre-Pierre Paul essentially operating with one working shoulder?
Regardless, the Bucs ended up sending a load of blitzes at one of the great quarterbacks against the blitz.
Ballgame.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:28 am
Also playing Vita 47 percent of the snaps in a must win game if you are going to pay that man he has got to play more than 47 percent of snaps in a must win game
January 25th, 2022 at 9:28 am
as Al would say “just win baby” – all that mattered was the final blitz, but after looking at it, a 15 yard pass completion gives Gay a chance at a FG so they really couldn’t sit in prevent.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:29 am
I hate to say it. But deep down. Derwin James sounds really good right now. Especially stopping the deep ball.
Theyrre is really no use for a NT in these situations
January 25th, 2022 at 9:32 am
The 49ers got pressure on the Rams with out all out blitzes, leaving people to cover.
We were not able to get much pressure, even with all out blitzes.
So what does Bowles do, with seconds remaining, and the game on the line ?
January 25th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Coaching cost is this game
January 25th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Joe, the Buc coaches don’t have, or won’t use the blueprint for beating L.A., or N.O.. It looks like both clubs have the answer to whatever it is we try to do against them. Like that blitz to bretty much end the game. L.A. saw it coming, and called the perfect play. Leopards don’t change their spots. The Buc offense, and defense does, what it does no matter the opponent. That’s why whenever we play N.O., or L.A., the outcomes are pretty much the same, we lose. Both teams know what’s coming from us, and are ready for it.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Agree with Destin & Hodad. Our coaches are poor at withlin-game and between-game adjustments.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:41 am
The blueprint doesn’t account for a one armed DE who is a shell of his former self. Still the biggest mystery of the season to me was not addressing the pass rush at the deadline. JPP had been done for weeks
January 25th, 2022 at 9:42 am
Injuries- The D last year was very good.
Once JPP was a shell of himself, it made it a lot easier to scheme out the other guys.
Plus the secondary was a mess–never played together to actually gel.
I hoped the D would figure it out, but they did not. PLUS TB12 didn’t have his best day ever (reminded me on Ravens, Giants, Bronco games).
The loss sucks azz–no way around it.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:44 am
what if:
tom is waiting for byron to bail for a new job…
and then tom tells the BA and the bucs ” i want to call all my own plays”…
what if he says he’s only coming back if he is the play caller…
maybe he wants to blaze a new trail as the qb and play caller
January 25th, 2022 at 9:45 am
The difference is DJ Jones and Arik Armstead are getting interior pressure, and we don’t have a Bosa–JTS needs to replace an ineffective Pierre-Paul, and maybe we will.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:47 am
@lamarcus… seemed #13 had no problem blowing by him for a huge td but yes,james is a helluva a player. His coaches play him more than half the snaps too
January 25th, 2022 at 9:48 am
Hope you are right @adam. I personally would love that.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:50 am
Should have lined Shaq against their backup LT……..JPP was impotent…..
January 25th, 2022 at 9:51 am
what if bowles is demoted to “cooler dude”…
no not like he’s a “mad cool guy”, maybe cooler than you and i…lol
i mean the foykin’ cooler dude…who makes sure they’re full of water and power drinks…
or maybe bottle squirter…
BA should turn him into bottle squirter during time outs…you know keep the players refreshed and not all frothy at the lip
January 25th, 2022 at 9:54 am
^^^
You mean bobby beaushay?
January 25th, 2022 at 9:55 am
Coaching staff had a supremely talented team with the best QB of all time and blew it. Their fragile egos had to have the glory. So Bowles loses his brain and outsmarts himself. We can replace this staff in a second and still win. No Brady. You got nothing. And he’s gone!
January 25th, 2022 at 9:59 am
No way we should have been down so many points so quick. This is the reason why I feel we have a bad coaching staff we got beat by the Saints and Rams twice in one season and they did nothing to adjust the game plan either time. Im sorry but Leftwitch is not head coach material and will soon prove that and Bowles is to laid back for my taste and Aries is just to old to be on the field maybe he should be in the booth calling plays away from player and head smacks.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:02 am
Bowles is solely responsible for this loss; how can the bucs be 19 games in and still have communications on the back end; those guys stupid? And an all out blitz, abaolutre dumb call
January 25th, 2022 at 10:03 am
JPP was not lined up outside, Vea was for some obtuse reason. Vea was the right DT. It almost looked like Bowles set up the perfect D.for Rams to score. The strangest play call since Seattle didn’t hand Marshawn Lynch the ball on the one yard line in the SB.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:06 am
Agree coaching was pretty sketchy this season.
Dealing with injuries is tough.
The coaching was also an injury…I wasn’t impressed with BL, TB (the coach), or BA.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:10 am
has anyone asked bowles in an interview why he did this, or threw the game?
or is he hiding out at a dive motel figuring his fastest way out of dodge?
January 25th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Here’s another interesting tidbit. Did the coaches watch the first game Bucs played against the Rams? The 70yd TD to Kupp that Hollywood Davis and bobble head Edward screwed the coverage up on was.the EXACT same play Jacskon scored on in their first game. EXACT. If you watch it it looks like they cropped out Jackson and put Kupp in. The DB’s acted the exact same way, Davis just stared at Edward’s as he got spun around. Ya think that is something ya bring up in preparation? Lazy arse coaching staff & players.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:13 am
Last year we got decent pressure without blitzing, not so much this year
January 25th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Honestly, my assessment of Bowles is that he’s simply not flexible when it comes to building a defense or game planning. Some coaches like players who can flex to different positions, and have the ability to be coached up to assume a different role each week. This is used to exploit another team’s weaknesses. Other coaches stress perfecting players to work within well-defined roles, with the belief that you attack within tightly defined strengths.
Everything I’ve seen makes me believe that Bowles is in the latter camp. He has the same game plan. The problem wasn’t just the rigidity of the game plan (which I thought was stupid), it’s that the players were obviously confused about their role. They looked like they didn’t understand their roles, and that they didn’t trust one another. These were veteran players during the playoffs, not rookies and second year players during the preseason. That was inexcusable.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Three words for the top coaches on this team. BA- Fat BL- Dumb and Bowles – Complacent! Actually all fit BA.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:29 am
I would not be opposed to seeing both our secondary, and ST’s coaches fired. Both units have been a weak link since Arains was hired. No matter who’s playing in the back end starters or back ups, we look lost to many times. Same with teams, different players same results. At some point, some coaches on staff need to be held accountable. Every team brings in new coaches who fail to live up to a standard, not the Bucs. Arains is loyal to a fault. Some heads need to roll.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:31 am
Bucs were outplayed. They lost to a better team who showed us what a great defense is supposed to look like. They rattled brady. And that was their intention. Mission accomplished. Us ole heads knew we were going to lose. You youngsters had hope….To many injuries finally caught up with us in a crucial game where all hands were needed on deck. I just thought the Rams defense was Outstanding.
They took a 5 hr plus plane ride across the US all the way to Fl and whipped us. Hats off to them. Now we wanna blame Bowles. Bame our players, injuries and the Rams…Next…..
January 25th, 2022 at 10:44 am
Just make Bowles go away please. I can’t even think anymore about his stupid call on Sunday. Hope he gets a HC job ……. anywhere.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Passing Thru 100%-
January 25th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Brady did his job. Defense let him down.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:49 am
On the bomb to Kupp on that final drive. Kupp said about the play call, he was just a decoy to draw another defender towards him. Then bonehead Bowles lets his ego get in the way and calls an all out Blitz.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:50 am
Listnfrmafar Says:
January 25th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Three words for the top coaches on this team. BA- Fat BL- Dumb and Bowles – Complacent! Actually all fit BA.
^^^^^^^^^^
The guys that are 29-10 (74%) in the last 2 years? The guys who won a Super Bowl last year?
January 25th, 2022 at 10:51 am
Mike, that fact remains the score was 0-0 with 42 seconds left. The Rams D was tired and on their heels. Agreed Bucs were arse whipped all game but the game is 60 minutes long and Rams were losing steam. At that point the game was NOT lost, it was lost with 26 seconds left on the clock and Bowles decided to blitz a QB that’s know for torching the blitz. The momentum was on the Bucs side. That was the most irresponsible call a DC could make in that situation and may cost him the HC position because I am sure in his next interview he will need to explain it.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:56 am
Similar to the bonehead call the Packers made last year prior to half…Scotty bomb. Barry got roasted for that also–Packers lost.
Bowles and his prep of his squad let the team down.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:57 am
All season it seemed like teams would jump on bucs defense early in the game its only fitting thats how bucs lost this game . The start of the game did the bucs in more than the end. The bucs barely beat the jets due to poor defense
January 25th, 2022 at 10:58 am
So…..BA goes…….36-19 in his first 3 years………5-1 in playoffs and wins a SB…..& he’s not good enough?
Lets fire the bum……bring in Raheem again.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:58 am
Typical coach stubbornness.
JTS is not good enough to conquer most Tackles, right or left. He’s a one trick pony. JPP is injured. Why our strongest Olinemen only play half time is something the coach has to answer for. Lots for the coaching staff to evaluate.
January 25th, 2022 at 10:59 am
Yeah, not much of a blueprint followed. That blueprint is what the Buccaneers did most of the Super Bowl, pressure with 4.
And when the other team does not have a time out and there’s under 20 seconds left it’s one of the few times in my life I will say, “Play a prevent defense!!!!”
Keep everything underneath you and make the tackle. Time runs out, overtime. An all out blitz? Makes no sense.
As much as that play call this is haunting me, I really hope Todd Bowles does not leave.
A revolving door in the secondary. LVD playing with a hurt foot for several games. Shaq playing several games with a bum knee. JPP playing with a torn rotator cuff, Bowles did pretty darn good.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:01 am
Sorry Joe in Mich, what have you done for me lately? 0-0 26 seconds left!
January 25th, 2022 at 11:07 am
Imagine it being right now and there are FSU fans in the comments wishing we had Derwin James. He has been injured for almost half of his NFL career so far.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:19 am
Kupp 40 Time 4.62
AWJ 40 Time 4.45
So, it isn’t just speed…..
You can’t have any play in the book that has a safety covering 1 on 1….the best WR in the NFL……especially with 20 seconds left……Period
January 25th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Listnfrmafar Says:
January 25th, 2022 at 11:01 am
Sorry Joe in Mich, what have you done for me lately? 0-0 26 seconds left!
^^^^^^^^^
It was a painful ending, but I’m looking at the big picture. Maybe Bowles gets a head coaching gig and the Bucs have a more dependable defense going forward.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:28 am
Stop it with the ragging on the defense. Defense caused 3 out of the 4 turnovers and without those turnovers we never get back to even. TB12 had 2 turnovers and Succop missed a FG.
If you want to put it on Bowles , that is fine , because getting it to OT should have been the primary objective.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:38 am
Please don’t feed the trolls.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:56 am
They had the plan just like every other team. Bowles should have known it. When you need a big score or big play where do you attack the Bucs.? Their Secondary. He gambled he lost. Now the very next day BL gets a second interview. Bowles? So far crickets. We shall see.
January 25th, 2022 at 11:56 am
I’m over it. The Bucs lost. Fun game. Great season.
Bucs should be congratulated.
27 teams would have loved our season.
January 25th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Just caught a piece of a Matt Stafford interview. He was asked about the last play. His comment was that 99.9% of the time that play doesn’t work and Kupp just sprints down the field to clear the zone. He said when he saw everyone coming he knew Kupp was his only option. WTF Bowels????
January 25th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
He followed up by saying we always practice that play and run it all the time in games but it never works, almost smirking as ha was saying it. Maybe someone should of looked at some film.
January 25th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Most defensive coordinators would have been fired after that performance. I am sure the owners that are looking for a head coach saw it also. So he won’t be leaving
January 25th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Rams gameplan was throwing. Not running. So it makes sense to not have vea in there all the time.
This is the fact. Jpp is done. Shaq is another d. Smith. And c. Davis is always clueless in big games. That leaves d. White running around and l. David being psst.
Again. Ill say it. Everyone here gets on d. White performance but when it comes to shaq its like hes god. So let me make it clear. It was a mistake to sign shaq.
With that money we couldve signed 2 pass rushers like … Hendrickson and dupree. And still have joe tryon. Our pass rush was the weakness. Along with brady being nervous or afraid of being hit.
It was not until v. Miller hit brady woke up. .
January 25th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Listnfrmafar … ‘He (Stafford) said when he saw everyone coming he knew Kupp was his only option. WTF Bowels????’
I’m sure that plays well with the LA press, BUT … if the blitz had gotten there, no way Stafford would have had time to throw a deep pass (it obviously didn’t get there). And when he let that pass fly, I seriously doubt that Kupp was even clear. Plus, in a heavy blitz situation, how many QBs would opt to go deep with just a few seconds left as opposed to throwing a quick slant or out to try to get Gay in FG range?
It’s apparently the cool thing to do to skewer Todd Bowles for calling up a blitz in that situation, but all the Rams needed was about 15 yds or so to be in Gay’s FG range. A prevent defense MIGHT very well have given them that yardage, AND maybe allowed them to get out-of-bounds to stop the clock, then run another play before kicking a FG. It was up to the Bucs’ players to execute the call, and they did a poor job of that. And not just Winfield BTW.
January 25th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
BA would NEVER have a 5-1 record in playoffs if it were not for Brady.. He would NOT have a SB ring.. Neither would Bowles, leftwich, darden , OJ, ,ROJO and a few more’
Its really THAT simple
Brady wants to play–but if BA calls the plays, If Leftwich & BOwles are still here —I’m not so sure..
He might just finish with the Colts or the 9ers???
January 25th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
DR, they were on their on 35, 15 yards, is his foot made out of lead. If Stafford was lying why is he supposed to be one of the best when blitzed? Sorry, no defending this one, the world saw the mistake. 4 seconds after the spike. One more play and a hail Mary then OT. In your defense these DB’S are so bad that the probable would happen and they would give up the yards to get them in FG range. They should of had rushed 3 or 4 the most sat LVD, White & JPP and brought in Desair, Cockrell and Adam’s or Delhaney.
January 25th, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Didn’t Bowles interview for head coaching jobs on Friday and Saturday? Maybe he should have been more focused on the GAME SUNDAY instead. The defense was not prepared or ready to play.
January 25th, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Blueprint only applies when you have the personnel to execute it. The 49ers have Nick Bosa, etc. who create great pass rush without blitzing. Same with the Rams with Miller, Donald and Leonard Floyd, whose name hasn’t come up enough (what a first step, he was in the backfield ridiculously fast on every play).
Bucs couldn’t. JPP, hurt, Shaq, hurt and underperforming. JTS, disappointing. Gholston, okay, but needs help.
January 25th, 2022 at 9:57 pm
Players inability to do their job is what cost this game. Coaches blitz because their front 4 isn’t getting any pressure. What good was leaving guys in coverage when Stafford was still completing passes? What was Bowles to do? You all saw no pressure just like Stafford did but guys still getting open. If he didn’t blitz more you all would be crying why he didn’t. Stop blaming him because he and his plan won us a Super Bowl. Players couldn’t/ didn’t do their jobs plain and simple