Evidence Todd Bowles May Be Anti-Cornerback In Round 1
April 27th, 2022
Jamel Dean, a 2019 third-round pick, and head coach Todd Bowles.
It’s hard for Joe to believe this is a total coincidence.
During Todd Bowles’ five years as an NFL defensive coordinator for Bucco Bruce Arians, those teams never drafted a cornerback in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. And in Bowles’ four seasons as head coach of the New York Jets, his teams never drafted a corner in the first two days of the draft — Rounds 1, 2 and 3.
As Joe and all Bucs fans agonize with anticipation of tomorrow night’s NFL Draft, many would like to see Tampa Bay select a cornerback at No. 27 overall.
That’s not a bad choice. But would that be a Bowles kind of choice?
Joe laid out a little bit of Bowles’ draft-related history above, and Bowles knows he won a Super Bowl with corners from the second round, like Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting, and third-rounder Jamel Dean.
Maybe, just maybe, Bowles believes there’s more value in drafting a safety or a defensive lineman in Round 1. He’s certainly been apart of those happenings in past seasons. And yes, the head coach will have influence on draft night.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:35 pm
That fits a trade down scenario
April 27th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
At 27 its more about who is there not just what they want…Nice to not being stressing about the draft like we did when Mike Smith, Dirk Koetter, Lovie Smith, Greg Schiano, Mark Dominik, Josh Freeman etc were all here. Good times…
April 27th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Please someone who can lock down Cooper Kupp!! or someone who can give him fits. He was our #1 issue for the last 2 seasons and still is as we will probably play them twice this year!! Go Bucs….
April 27th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
The way to “lock down” a WR is to get after the QB…
April 27th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
I agree with that theory, unless you are in front of a super star you do not get a TE or a CB or a RB or a safety on first round….
April 27th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
Alontae Taylor rd 2 if we go that route.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
This has to be the sensible Joe.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
Mike Maccagnan <<<<<< Jason Licht. Dude drafted Bryce Petty with a 4th and because that backfired he used a 2nd on Christian Hackenberg a year apart from one another. Waited 2 more years and spent a 1st on Sam Darnold.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:53 pm
There’s a legit argument to be made that the Bucs won the Super Bowl DESPITE our weak corners.
Green Bay and Kansas City both had Pro Bowl OL players out of those games (injuries are part of the game) that let our pass rush feast at a much higher level than they had been playing on average during the season; this helped mask the weak corner play.
Dean, SMB, and Davis are all not elite cover guys in the NFL, not even close. The Bucs should have gone after Gilmore in free agency.
The Bucs will go D-Line in the 1st round, GUARANTEED. A better pass rush is the solution to covering up weak corner play. Corner is one of the toughest positions to scout and draft; which is why acquiring proven corners in free agency is the way to go.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Gotbucs
Lol 😂
April 27th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Trade it.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Many want a CB?……13.5% according to the poll…….that sounds like “some” not many…..
But, I’d be OK with a CB….
Perhaps Bowles thinks he can coach up a later round CB……same as Licht with OG……so we compromise on a DT or DE…..
If the right ILB is on the board that would be a good selection to replace LVD.
Kevin Minter hasn’t been signed so we need some depth at LB…..don’t be surprised if we go that route.
April 27th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
LOL I am too old to wait for draft picks to develop!!
April 27th, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Trenches please
April 27th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
As Dungy said, you build your defensive from the line, backwards — not the other way around. If you can get pressure from the defensive line, it makes your corners a lot better.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
Joe…..you are in the minority wanting a corner in the first round. Accept it! Your very own poll shows that.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Good! 👍
April 27th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
This defense has not been able to even sneeze on Matthew Stafford for 2 years. If it wasnt for the flukey fumbles we wouldnt have come back in the playoff game last year. They dominated us!
So lets draft another cb or safety??? Where is the pass rush coming from this year? we dont have anyone, shaq barrett? smart teams will take him out of the game and then what? We better flood the def line with this draft.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Well let’s remember: The team won with Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Jamel Dean when the Bucs had a superior pass rush. With JPP likely gone, and Suh slowing down (if he returns), that pass rush may not be as potent. That means more time for the opposing QB to make a decision and pass the ball. That’s when you’ll really see the deficiencies at the CB position.
Last, SMB and Dean are both entering the final year of their rookie contracts. It can take a full season for many rookie CBs to develop.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
i apologize, we couldnt sneeze on the great Jared Golf when the rams kicked our butts 2 years ago…..
April 27th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
In Bowles history with the Jets and Bucs, his defense never lost a playoff game due to poor DB play.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
I just hope we get DBs that can catch the ball. I can’t tell you how many meaningful games were lost due to dropped INTs by the usual suspects.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
He knows they can get another good one in another round.
All these people are going to be upset when the trade down
April 27th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Hargraves still gives me first round heebeejeebies at corner!!!
April 27th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Joe, you have a true chicken or the egg conversation going? HAHA
April 27th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Bowles may not have used a first-rounder on a CB during his head coach stint with the NY Jets, but the Jets immediately traded for Revis and Cromartie and started them at CB.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Round #1 – BPA @ CB, S, OLB, DT, WR, OG – whoever is rated the highest by JL.
I know some of you don’t believe we need another WR. If we end up trading with the Giants for Toney then we don’t.
However – I don’t trust Perriman, Miller, Grayson, Darden and Johnson as much as you do.
Plus – I don’t believe C. Godwin will be 100% until mid-season…
We don’t nec need to draft a WR in round 1. I really like A. Pierce out of Cincinatti. 6’3″ – 215 – 4.4 (40 yd dash). He might be available in the 3rd round.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Cam Taylor-Britt round 3.
April 27th, 2022 at 3:49 pm
I think if Zion Johnson is not there at #27 and if Licht has an opportunity to trade down–he will Bank on it
April 27th, 2022 at 3:59 pm
Kyle yes. Shaq Barret dissapeared in that Rams game. If he is our only passrush we are in deep trouble.
Please dint tell me we can get JPP back either. He hasent been a playmaker in over a year. Love the guy but lets get real.
If we are relying on Nelson and Tyron to get it down Im scared(hold me Rod Munch).
Everyone is saying DL. Dont even know what that means in this defense. Shaq, JPP and Tryon all line up as down lineman in many of our alignments so if Edge is included when you say DL I like it.
Ill take a DT or a Edge or a DE. Bowles loves to move his guys around so just find him a guy who likes yo hit QBs and trust Todd the Godd to make it work.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
I know people don’t want to hear it, but he worked wonders with the DB’s given all the injuries they had last year. Dean is way better than people think. Davis is a stud. Winfield, although ge gave up the season ending play, is a stud. Delaney is on the rise etc. Todd Bowles knows what matters most – the D line.
TRENCHES
April 27th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
My mock draft:
1 – D. Wyatt – DT
2 – T. McBride – TE
3 – A. Pierce – WR
4 – J. Cook – RB
7 – M. Bell – S
7 – Highest rated DB/LB/IDL/OLB available
April 27th, 2022 at 4:20 pm
NEW NAME: Zyon McCollum, CB Sam Houston State
6’2, 190lbs, 4.33
“He is instinctive and has great ball skills at the catch-point but there is room for improvement playing downfield throws.”
Round 3/4 Grade
April 27th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
^ nice find Sly
April 27th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
As long as we draft one of the two badass punters, I’ll call its a successful draft.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
If we don’t a Pass Rush, we Do Not go to the Super Bowl. There simply is No Question about it. How that can be argued is beyond me.
We were simply doomed last year mostly due to injuries on both sides of the ball but what was CLEAR as Crystal was that our pass rush was no longer a treat without JPP to help Shaq. So it Has To Be the defensive trenches. Has To Be….
With that said, we can’t dismiss the notion of an edge being just as likely a target as a lineman. Either or gives us the Exact rehab that we must have to compete again just like 2020.
It is a proven fact that the line Indeed Will help tremendously any and all issues we have in the secondary. Let’s face it, at least half of the commenters on here believe that the secondary is only fair and some believe that what we have is only fair “at best”. With that being the belief then it’s probably fair to say that the commenters agree with it is a absolute Must to lean towards drafting the D line because otherwise how could we have won the Super Bowl when most of them (the secondary) were Rookies or second year guys when we won the Bowl? ONLY ONE WAY THAT’S POSSIBLE…. Rushing the passer. That’s it, end of story for half the JBFer’s. D Line or Bust!
GO BUCS!
April 27th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Somebody here says lets lockdown Cooper Cupp. Weel, he never would catch the pass IF…we had a pass rush. Bucs need to find one from somewheres or risk repeat of last yrs performance in the playoffs.
April 27th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
Hey Marine, I like your draft.
Not too shabby except number 3 pick for me. Solid choice as far as the prospect it’s just that I feel we should go defensive with the number 3 pick. However, I really like it otherwise 🦾👍
April 27th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
^ Matt Araiza in the 4th….lets get him! Been saying it for a while now.
April 27th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
good posts guys^^ looking forward to see how it all breaks down. GO BUCS
April 27th, 2022 at 5:14 pm
Marine Buc: if the picks end up as you laid out; THAT would be awesome!
April 27th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
So am I. And anti RB, anti S, anti WR. Unless you play Oline or front 7 D, I’m not interested in you in Round 1.
April 27th, 2022 at 5:23 pm
OL coming you knuckleheads
April 27th, 2022 at 5:49 pm
I can already hear the crying and weeping if the Bucs don’t take the “proper” position in the 1st Round this year. There were Bucs fans that wanted them to draft Dayvion Nixon in the 1st last year because, you know, he’s an Interior D-Lineman. He went in the 5th Round. Jason Licht and his scouts know more about these guys than you do.
April 27th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Marine Buc … I still consider 7th Rnd picks to be throw-aways (hard to find starter-capable players that far down). So in our case we’re talking Rnds 1-4 being critical.
Like your Rnd 1 pick (Wyatt), but then I noticed that you succumbed to the pressure and went all-offense after that (TE, WR, RB). All are great selections, but if we take that path we’ll be lucky to make it to Rnd 2 of the playoffs. Our defense will be missing a dominant DLine (2 gaping holes upfront) & a rotational LB (the 2 ILBs we’ve got aren’t even close to starter-quality IMO).
Still think our Top-4 selections will be DT, DE/OLB, ILB in the Top-3 Rnds (BPA when we pick) and TE or CB or RB (in 4th place). Looking forward to this draft because it’ll determine whether or not we really get a crack at the SB.
April 27th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
@ DR
I know. Guilty as charged. But I just am too much of a “value” whore to pass up players I see as guaranteed hits in this draft.
I don’t mind mixing in a few defensive players if that is how the draft falls…
We do need OLB, CB, S and LBs. But this is TB12s last year here. I want to give him a plethora of talent on offense. The one advantage with having a defensive coordinator as head coach – is that you get to load up on offense and count on the defensive guru to limit the other teams offense just enough to get the win.
If we score 40 points a game. We won’t lose very many…
April 27th, 2022 at 6:55 pm
@ Obvious
Fingers crossed. Regardless we are bound to grab several players who will help our cause.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:01 pm
I hope the FO keeps in mind that a luxury today, can turn into a need tomorrow!
Don’t reach to fil a need…If a better prospect is on the board.
And don’t be afraid to deal out/down, if your guy can be had later.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:07 pm
Marine Buc … ‘If we score 40 points a game.’
And I thought that I was an optimist. Wow, you put me to shame.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:09 pm
Defensive lineman first no doubt!
April 27th, 2022 at 7:24 pm
Considering Dean allowed 53% completions and opposing QB rating of 50 and allowed ZERO TDs… I would say Licht can find damn good CBs in round 3.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:28 pm
@ DR
Hahaha…
I told you before. I have PTSD from last year when we lost Godwin, Perriman, Miller, Gronk, Grayson, Miller to injury at various times.
Then we lost AB right before the playoffs over some BS…
That’s probably why I want to load up at WR and TE – especially in rounds 2-4.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:30 pm
LOL
I just noticed I listed Miller twice… But you can add Watson to that list. Another victim of the injury bug at One Buc.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:37 pm
@ DR
Also – there have been reports that Godwin won’t be 100% until November…
If Evans or Gage gets injured we are screwed.
Plus – we really don’t know if Gronk is returning. I hope he is but we really don’t know what he is doing.
April 27th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
If Gronk has not signed then draft a.tight end in the 3rd round. In the 2nd round if and only if a quality CB is available then take him, If not then a WR.
April 27th, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Marine Buc … And yet we shelled out $20 mil for Godwin knowing that injuries like his take a long time to recover from. Good thing we signed Gage. Besides, I fully expect one of our 47 other WRs to step up until Chris gets back on his feet.
Not only don’t we know if Gronk is returning, we don’t know that Suh is returning either. And JPP is a goner. Also don’t have the foggiest idea if LVD’s leg & ankle will hold up. Those are 4 reasons why I’d love to see us draft a DT, DE/OLB, ILB & TE in our Top-4 picks. Forget about next year; we need those 4 picks just to survive this year. Next year will be a lot worse.
And BTW, PTSD can’t be used as a rationale for drafting a WR & TE without also using it to draft virtually every other position on the team. The injury bug wasn’t very selective last year.
April 27th, 2022 at 9:31 pm
When the roster was thin at CB DB S, we’d draft multiplier players to load up on that position. This year we need to load up on D line.
April 27th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
Someone needs to make ValueWhore their screen name on here.
That, MarineBuc, is a golden nugget!
April 27th, 2022 at 9:45 pm
Marine Buc
I absolutely think DT is the number one draft pick taken because it’s the best chance to get on the field and have an immediate impact, over corner or edge rusher.
But TE in round two? Every scouting report out there says there’s barely a TE worthy of round 2. This draft sucks at tight end. I know the Bucs need one but they’re better off waiting until round 4-5. I think they are fine with Gronk and Brate this year. I do expect them to pick up one more. Next year‘s draft will have a lot of good TEs.
If they take a wide receiver in the top 3 rounds, that tells me Godwin misses at least half the season and Johnson and Darden are not showing them much early on. We all know Miller’s a one trick pony. I have faith in Perriman and Grayson as 4 & 5. Hopefully not 3 & 4 for too long
April 28th, 2022 at 5:51 am
Want Wyatt in rd 1. If not, then Williams, Green or Linerbaum. If none of them then try like hell to move down. Really would like to see them draft Dameon Pierce in 3rd or 4th. I think the kid will be a star in NFL.