Todd Bowles Defends Devin White
November 22nd, 2022
Devin White
Todd Bowles emphatically put his foot down yesterday when it came to Buccaneers savior linebacker Devin White.
Bowles made a trip to SiriusXM NFL Radio and was asked about criticism of White. Bucs fans probably remember White being blasted for loafing (social media video is an ugly/beautiful thing) and, of course, there are many fans who still needle White for his pass coverage deficiencies.
Bowles was having none of it.
“I think he’s called out from the outside, not from the inside. We know he’s one of our best players and we think the world of him. Anybody can have one or two bad plays and kind of go from there,” Bowles began.
“But the things he does when he feels like he doesn’t play well, and it’s constantly, he works so hard at everything; he wants to be great at everything. And that mindset alone helps him become a very good football player. He’s like that week in and week out. Even when he plays well, he looks a things he can do better. Just coming back [Monday], he’s working on some things he can do better trying to get ready for Cleveland.”
Joe believes Bowles when he says the Bucs love and appreciate White internally. He’s a driven guy who has accomplished so much.
The thing about White is that he is so damn talented, it’s hard to be satisfied with his play unless he’s tearing up the league every week.
November 22nd, 2022 at 8:20 am
I get a kick out of the ignorant fans who wanted to trade Devin White…..first of all, who do you replace him with?……KJ Britt is on injured reserve.
I guess the reason they want to trade him is that they think he has great value to another team and we’ll get a high draft pick….
I can’t name many Bucs who are tradeable….
I have always been a DW45 fan……but like everyone else, I’m disappointed when he has a bad game.
The particular play he was acuused of loafing comes to mind.
There were 4 or 5 Buc defenders along the sidelines missing tackles….White was at least 15 yards away from tje play with the camera behind him……and yes, he was trotting toward the play…..but the play was all but over.
Watch it again.
November 22nd, 2022 at 8:35 am
You can not disagree with Warren Sapp because He is one of the greatest defensive players of all time. If I had to chose who to follow, I would follow Sapp over Bowles in a heartbeat! Sapp doesn’t lie!!!
November 22nd, 2022 at 8:42 am
It’s sad when the fans have got to step in when the coach has no Balls !!
Ya Bowles the fan base is wrong , former player announcers are wrong and former Buccaneers are wrong ?? Todd quit trying to be liked and try be a f ing head coach !! Todd your lack of fire and direction is the main struggle this team face es week in and week out !!!! Co Defensive Coordinators !!
Balls for Bowles !!
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:10 am
Devin White is kinda like Jameis Winston on Defense. Can be the best in the league on one play and the worst in the league on the next and has amazing games followed by horrid games.
Consistency is key and you can tell that Devin is working to be more consistent. This might just be the player he is…
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:12 am
I’m not on the Devin White bandwagon. I’ve seen enough. Yea he will have monster games like Kwon or Barrett Ruud did. And its nothing built on those games Sounds like it was so bad that they had to hold back the critical criticism from him from probably entire turning him into disaster
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:29 am
I will defend the God White. I will not defend the Bad White.
And this season the Bad > Good.
Unfortunately, he’s like ATM: either brilliant or a hot mess.
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:31 am
Good, hardly God.
I wish Joe would enable a short edit time.
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:45 am
You can get off the Devin White BS Joe. This isn’t some kinda Brady divorce media milks the entire season.
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:47 am
R E L A X
He had a couple of subpar games, he’s going to be fine Chicken Little’s.
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:55 am
I’ve been a Devin White fan since Day 1, but he’s still human. Once the draft is over, well duh, the draft is over. The round in which a player got drafted is no longer significant; water under the bridge. What IS significant is performance on the field. Thus far this season …
o Devin has 5 sacks, second only to Vea who has 6.5 sacks.
o Devin has 10 QB hits to lead the team (tied with Vea).
o Devin has 8 TFLs to lead the team.
o Devin has 2 forced fumbles to lead the team.
o Devin has 47 solo & 29 assist tackles to lead the team in both categories.
o Devin has 4 PDs, second on the team to Dean who has 6 PDs (he’s tied with Davis & LVD who also each have 4 PDs).
o Devin has 34 blitzes to lead the team by far, almost twice as many as JTS who’s in 2nd place with 18.
o Devin’s tied with LVD for the most defensive snaps on the team with 644 … representing 100% availability.
Oh and BTW, for all those whining about his coverage skills, his catch percentage allowed is 76.3% this season. That’s down from last season’s 82.1% or 2020’s 83.3%. Yes he’s showing improvement (LVD is at 69.6% BTW).
I’ve got a suspicion that any other NFL team would take those numbers from their middle LB in a heartbeat. Only in Bucville do fans bitch about on-the-field performance like Devin’s shown this season.
November 22nd, 2022 at 9:59 am
Hey Joe’s, Hold on here. Your Savior plays for the Saints. As I remember it we drafted the Savior with the Highest QB IQ in history of the NFL. You had him photoshopped into a Jesus image with arms spread wide. What happened to your faith in that “once in a generation QB”? No more residual FSU vs PITT game fond memories? I also remember how many articles we read here that were all not so positive taking White in the first round..
White is a great LB. Him and David are top 10 LB’s IMHO.
November 22nd, 2022 at 10:01 am
We know he is good, so we expect good on every play. When we don’t see it we wonder why. It’s simply that.
November 22nd, 2022 at 10:17 am
Defense Rules, all fans bitch about the players on their team, yes even the greatest players, go look around the net if you don’t believe me.
November 22nd, 2022 at 10:20 am
Defense Rules, all fans complain the players on their team, yes even the greatest players. Go look around the net if you don’t believe me.
November 22nd, 2022 at 10:22 am
@TampaBayBucFan, I’m one of those ignorant fans that wanted to see Devin White traded before the deadline. It has little to do with loafing and a lot more to do with the fact that he’s not a consistently good linebacker. He is a supreme athlete that pops on occasions and makes highlight reel plays. But misses way too many tackles and is the opposite of Lavonte in terms of instincts. With the season looking like it was about to fall apart, Devin White was unraveling right before our eyes over a 3 week stretch. He has thankfully stepped up his game the last two weeks and that is great. I still don’t think he will get a contract with us and if he does, that will be a disaster. Because we already have seen what Devin White is without Lavonte last year, he sucked.
November 22nd, 2022 at 10:43 am
Jonny is on point. Well said
November 22nd, 2022 at 11:01 am
DR, great research and analysis. Thanks! Go Bucs!
November 22nd, 2022 at 11:21 am
Devin is a baller. He will be talked about like Ray Lewis some day. These Negative Nancy comments won’t age well
November 22nd, 2022 at 11:38 am
Any team in the league would give their left nut for devin white. We don’t win the super bowl without him and he is the reason why its pretty much impossible to run screen plays or sweeps. He hunts the running back or wr down behind the line of scrimmage or not far past it almost every time.
November 22nd, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Todd took a stand. Good! Maybe if he has emerged from his energy nap, he can instill some more life and effort into his trenches.
November 22nd, 2022 at 12:47 pm
I think Devin is getting a bad rap, from a lot of people.
November 22nd, 2022 at 1:58 pm
DW45 definitely had the talent, but this year it seems like his attitude is irking everyone as well. You can be confident but don’t be conceited & arrogant.
Watch what you slash to media as well Mr “we got bored” in the 4th quarter.
Thats what has rubbed me the wrong way this year.
Bro, just keep your head down & kick a$$ & keep the attitude in check…
November 22nd, 2022 at 2:47 pm
That last sentence sums up exactly how I feel about White. Man, I saw Derrick Brooks make bad play while in his prime, but it was really rare. If Devin can be just a little more consistent, there are no limts for this dude.
November 22nd, 2022 at 5:50 pm
I love me some Devin White. He has limitations to his game, sure, all players do. But I think he’s one of the fastest LB’s I’ve seen, and I love his energy. I regard him as a very good LB compared to others I’ve seen play in the last 30+ years.
Should he last another 5-10 years, watch him rack up accolades and records. Learning next to Mr. Consistent, Lavonte David, can only help him mature.
November 22nd, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Ok we will see Sunday Chubbs & Hunt enough said
November 22nd, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Jonny is spot on!!! He’s a terrific athlete, not a terrific football player at this time. I have consistently spelled out his issues and loafing on a regular basis is not one. Again….don’t just watch highlight folm… watch entire game films…and any one comparing him to Ray Lewis needs hs head examined!!! 45 is fast, physical, a good Blitzer and is involved in a lot of plays. However, he is a poor tackler( always around the shoulder and neck area allowing the ball carrier to get lots yds. after contact. He is way out of position on too many plays, he is very poor at shedding blocks, he continues to miss tackles that even a mediocre LB makes. Watch the replays completely instead of highlights…the tape doesn’t lie!!!!! Oh, watch the Ravens LB acquired from the Bears to see what 45 should be with his ability…
November 23rd, 2022 at 1:31 am
Those stats are great but it’s not what our fan base is being critical of.
Its the inconsistent play. Barett Ruud made lots of tackle stats. Almost all 10 yards down the field. Its the constant being out of position in the run and the pass. Over pursuit, or just failing to fill, taking him out of plays. In the pass game, either not understanding his assignment or freelancing, allowing big plays. Our defense is designed to manufacture sacks for him and others, so i discount that STAT. He can Sack. But Linebacker is about way more than the splash plays and STATS! He is what we used to call a grand stander! Personally I’m way over the loaf play. What I didn’t like about it was his response and attitude about it. That speaks to character and is hardly defensible!
BTW If your buying Bowles coach speak I got a bridge for sale. I sure hope he and the team doesn’t truly believe what he is saying or this team really is screwed.
November 23rd, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Bucs fans still doubt D White? He is a perfect compliment to Lavonte, doesn’t need to be like him. We need a prick that’s going to talk trash and fly around. He’s our prick! Love his game and without him our defense at best is mediocre. Take the good with the bad- that’s why you have teammates!
November 25th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
There are a lot of really good linebackers in the NFL now. You have to watch other teams to get a read on how hard players work.
New England’s linebackers swarmed all over Dalvin Cook. Cowboys linebackers stopped Barkley in his tracks.
You can love Devin White but at this point in his career there are other players that can play great defense.
I believe Michah Parsons on Dallas and Judson on the Pats are the standard.
When White puts up numbers like those 2 then he goes on the pedestal but right now he is damn good, maybe can become something special but has to play harder than it appears he is on many plays..