Todd Bowles Was Not Happy With Bucs Tackling
October 4th, 2024
Lavonte David shoves Atlanta RB Tyler Allgeier out of bounds.
If Joe were Bucs coach Todd Bowles, assuming Bowles didn’t order his offensive coordinator Liam Coen to go turtle in the fourth quarter, Joe would have trouble deciding what to be peeved at more, the defense or the offense.
Joe maintains it was the Bucs offense that choked away the game last night in Atlanta, a 36-30 overtime loss. The defense, despite being a fully-blown sieve in the passing game, did get off the field unscathed in two of the last three defensive stands in the fourth quarter.
The offense didn’t take advantage.
But Bowles seemed really galled at the YAC (yards after catch) Atlanta receivers got all night.
“It wasn’t very good is all I can say,” Bowles said of the tackling. “A lot of catch and run, five-yard catch and runs.”
“We made these tackles against Detroit, [and] we missed them in this game.”
Joe doesn’t want to hear whining about injuries. The Bucs had plenty of talent on the field not to get lit up for 509 yards passing. Hell, the Falcons offense only threw for only 227 yards — and didn’t score a touchdown — against the slimy Saints on Sunday.
Go look around the NFL at some of the really disgusting teams. They don’t have the defensive talent the Bucs had on the field Thursday — and they don’t give up the booty like the Bucs did.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:09 am
Dont matter. You knew you weren’t going to atop Atlanta on the final drive yet we pissed down our leg on our final drive. Its literally point shaving on a national stage. Even the mediocre teams win those games. Who will be held accountable?!!
October 4th, 2024 at 7:10 am
*stop
October 4th, 2024 at 7:13 am
Yes The tackling was atrocious but the fact that Bowles put in a defensive game plan that gave Atlanta’s receivers 5 and 10-yard cushions to catch the ball was unconscionable in my opinion.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:15 am
Just don’t know how the refs totally missed the face mask penalty that should’ve been called on Atlanta at the end of the game for almost ripping Buckys head off. Even Al Michaels & Kirk Herbstreit thought it was a face mask penalty. That was ridiculous & that decided the game also.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:18 am
It’s not only the 509 yards you have to factor in the 42 receptions. How is that even possible especially when the Falcons straight dropped 2 of them. Not sure what scheme or game plan they had, but it was embarrassing to the players and the fans watching. Didn’t the Falcons put up like 50 with Calvin Ridley when Raheem was coaching the Bucs.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:23 am
Having YaYa, Braswell, any other OLB drop into coverage is a waste of time. This scheme is flawed. Hall’s best rush of the season was from D end, he’s not an inside tackle. He would make a great 4-3 D end. Bad tackling doesn’t explain how wide open their recievers were, and how much time Cousins had to find them. That’s why we lost. They picked up their pass rush in the second half, ours did not. Four sacks sounds good, until you add up the 509 yards, and four TDs, he threw 58 times! Goff threw 55 times. That’s how you beat the Bucs, shred their defense.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:24 am
YOU’RE THE COACH!!! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO TEACH THEM TO TACKLE!!
I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE SOFT ASS ZONE COVERAGE
October 4th, 2024 at 7:26 am
“Joe doesn’t want to hear whining about injuries.”
Then he doesn’t want to face reality!!! BOTH teams QB’s played very well. Both teams receivers played very well. I do not believe coaching made the difference.
It’s the freaking NFL. They pay the other guys as well! We can slam Cousins all we want, and I get all the OVER reaction on his signing, and I still can’t believe he’s worth that all the money but Cousins IS an NFL QB admittedly on the backside of his career, but he can STILL play!
So TWO thoughts about injuries. First the obvious. Does anybody really believe that a healthy Winfield and Kancey playing like he flashed last year wouldn’t have made a difference? The untold part of our injuries is also the lack of depth and the fact that our D was gassed in the 2nd half!!!
I was stunned they came back those last three series to do their job. Overall the D sucked but guess what…kudos to their freaking hearts!!! They sucked it up and gave their all at the end.
REALITY CHECK- It was a very disappointing loss. BUT while I agree the Cousins signing was totally overhyped we don’t have to go to the other extreme and believe Cousins sucks. The Falcons get paid to and we should show them the respect they deserve.
The Bucs did not lose to USF or FSU last night! They lost to a well coached team with some very good talent. The Bucs proved they are for real last night by at least getting to a position on the road, with some severely challenging injuries and walking wounded like Vea.
The Bucs have found their offense. Baker has finally won over even the nay sayers here. Bucky made a huge rookie blunder, he’ll learn, White had a good game.
For me this game answered a big question. Are the Bucs the team that won 3 games or the team that didn’t show up in Denver.
IT WAS A FRUSTRATING LOSS! I get that. Even cost me money LOL.
But for me it was very very promising and we have an exciting season ahead and the Falcons just made it even more interesting. It’s not a sin to recognize that the Falcons DID have a LITTLE bit to do with that final score eh?
Losing 20% of your D, especially when it’s the best 20% in Winfield and Kancey, losing depth on D and getting gassed, and still showing up on the road against a GOOD team shows just how much heart and opportunity for improvement these guys have.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:29 am
About to lose the next 4 out of 5
October 4th, 2024 at 7:30 am
All together now..! “Defensive genius!”
October 4th, 2024 at 7:33 am
I hope they get it together but I don’t trust Bowles and we have 5 more games before the bye week and 3 of those teams have elite QBs way better than cousins such a maholmes, Purdy and Jackson. Those QBs could put up 700 yards on the defense we saw last night.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:34 am
Tackling looked a lot like what we saw in the Denver game. A lot of first downs by Atlanta could have been prevented by better tackling in the secondary.
October 4th, 2024 at 7:36 am
This game and the Denver game we will look back on as the ones that tanked the season
October 4th, 2024 at 7:54 am
So how often are we supposed to burn the game tape. Every other game, once a month. I have read and experienced this same debacle over and over again. Here’s the thing guys, ready, New Orleans is going to toy with us. The results of the Atlanta game will carry over into the muck of the Bayou. This will be 2024’s lull for this team. By the way Baltimore is coming with a freight train on two legs very soon, enough with the excuses. Teams have figured out this defense, Todd Bowles no longer has the edge.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:00 am
Todd’s D is getting exposed as usual
October 4th, 2024 at 8:02 am
Stainks hoping they keep it up.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:03 am
Over reaction Friday. The season is still young. Bucs will get healthy and still win the division.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Todd Bowles Doesn’t know how to make any second-half adjustments I don’t think they’ve made a second-half adjustment all year. They just run out there and play the same defense in the second half that they did in the first half
October 4th, 2024 at 8:15 am
Go out there and give up 500 yards passing when first place is on the line. Absolutely unacceptable this Is a fireable offense
October 4th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Your the coach the players are a reflection of u but no surprise because you suck as coach.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:26 am
The decision to play KJ Britt every snap is what lost them the game. Period.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:27 am
MAKE THE BUCS GREAT AGAIN lol lol FIRE TODD BOWLES
October 4th, 2024 at 8:29 am
I suspect Bowles ordered Coen to be conservative. Can you throw a challenge flag on a missed facemask? The silver lining is Baker, who played outstanding, acted like a leader after the game. He made no excuses and just said we have to get better amt closing. Dame reaction to Denver. He will work with the offense on stuff. Plus Bowles won,t be able to over rule Baker and Cohen when they want to stay aggressive.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:32 am
Last night was Atlantas Super Bowl. The Bucs will be fine.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Tykee Smith did not belong out their last night….undersized and slow. Couldnt stop 1 pass all night. Same with Izien.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:38 am
It was a complete breakdown in the middle of the field pass coverage last night…..starts with Bowles and his inability to adjust.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:39 am
If you saw the way the falcons celebrated it wasn’t their Super Bowl they wanted it more. They saw how beatable we were and that despite their struggles they are tied in the division.
Believe what you want but this team may not win the division. Antwoine Winfield has been on the field when drake london has eaten Todd Bowles alive so it wouldn’t have mattered. It’s either the roster or it’s the coaching staff but somebody is too soft.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:40 am
I’m convinced these Refs have relatives or friends placing bets on these games!!! My 15 year old was calling out penalties, ridiculous!!! I’m sick of it, it did not fully decide the game but come on now!!! Go Bucs.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:42 am
“””This game and the Denver game we will look back on as the ones that tanked the season”””
You very well may be right on that. Bowles is to blame. HIS defense got embarrassed again just like the Denver game. I’m over this guy. He needs to go after this season. The worst line from this guy….”They weren’t where they were supposed to be”.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:43 am
@Pewter Power – Antoine Winfield not being on the field wasn’t the problem last night. The problem was KJ Britt left the middle of the field open all night long and Todd Bowles did nothing about it. Losing Sirvocea is what sunk the defense. There better be another LB deployed against the Saints or they’ll lose again.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:45 am
I’m just tired. Really tired. It always comes down to the same things why we lose. Conservative, play to not lose offense. No defensive adjustments (I get it Voss is hurt, but no excuse, get someone else in there). Defensively it’s the opposing team converting on 3/4th and long or scoring on such scenarios. Not giving the ball to Evans or Godwin when the game is on the line. As stated before in a different post, the ball went to White, the worst running RB twice. For run plays.
This is what? Year 3 of Bowles now? Once is an accident, two is a coincidence, three is a pattern. 3rd year, of the same things plaguing this team, what’s the coincidence? Bowles. No pass rush, other than from established vets (as Joe has said, he’s never developed one). Turtle offense (Coen said unless told, foot on gas pedal).
I agree with Joe, the offense choked at the end. I don’t blame Bucky or Barton too much, they’re rookies in a high stakes situation, the missed fscemask is unacceptable for any team, but they shouldn’t have been in that situation, gas got let off and the defense giving up yards like halloween candy.
When will Dean get held accountable? Ever since he got paid, he’s done what? No picks in almost 40 games? Ridiculous. Give someone else a chance. Looks like we traded the wrong corner.
Right now, we need to seriously heal up, the amount of injuries is insane for one team. Seems like league wide it’s an issue, but still, ours is snake bitten rn. Hold the training staff accountable. That’s the only solace is that we are so banged up, we technically can still get better when reinforcements arrive.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:00 am
Stop calling Todd Bowles a defensive guru he’s average at best, got exploited and has no answers. KJ Britt being vocal shouldn’t get a player starting job only in a Todd Bowles defense.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:03 am
Same stuff happened last year. Baker brought the team back late in a few games last season only to have defense allow winning field goals or touchdowns in last seconds . Every team the Bucs will play now sees how porous the middle of the field is. Might be too late to fix. Getting Winfield and Kancey back will help but defence is just bad.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:05 am
This game came down to a few things:
– Missed face mask call by refs
– Terrible defensive scheme by Bowles (soft zone)
– Conservative play calling in 2nd half
– Bowles not calling timeouts on Falcons two hurry up 4th down conversions in 2nd half.
– Bucky’s fumble
This game eerily reminded me of the Texans game last year
October 4th, 2024 at 9:05 am
Bowles is an average coach that is why this team continues to be a .500 ball club. Bowles is screwed, every week our opponents will follow Atlanta offenses gameplan until Bowles figures out how to cover up the weaknesses in the middle of the field. Britt is the jamel dean of linebackers.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:06 am
The Bucs were playing….Not to lose….ok we have the lead, just maintain it……the Falcons were playing to comeback and win it
Rah has the Falcons playing hard, no quit in them, they’re in every game….All credit goes to the Falcons!!
October 4th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Play it safe bowls cost us the game in the last two min. Played to our weakness instead of our strength .falcons knew we would run and were ready for it .meanwhile evens was wide open but baker was told to run. Bowles plays not to lose instead of playing to win with the two best wide outs in the league ! S first dow would have won it but bowles was hell bent on the run game are weakness . Damn shame .his clock management sucks .trying to run out the clock instead of getting your first down !dumb !
October 4th, 2024 at 9:20 am
I’ve never understood the soft coverage we seem to always play. Why wouldn’t an offensive coordinator take 4 or 5 yard dink passes if the defense is going to allow it. Eventually a receiver is going to pop off a 10+ yac. I didn’t see the 3rd qtr. I was disappointed to hear our offense went dark after the half. Very disappointing. Shouldn’t a competent OC expect what the other team’s defense is going to change to stop your offense and have a plan to shift gears so your offense keeps humming? So frustrating. Especially the last couple Buc drives before the end of the game.
And, I still don’t like the OT format. Still decided by a coin flip. College football has a better approach.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Outrigger Says:
October 4th, 2024 at 9:05 am
– Bowles not calling timeouts on Falcons two hurry up 4th down conversions in 2nd half.
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GREAT POINT! Yet another example of Todd Bowles’s inability to manage a game. You’d think he’d get clued in after the fail the first time.. This guy just is not HC material. Shoot, after watching that defensive performance/gameplan, he’s not even DC material
October 4th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Smith and Dean (cb’s) are the main reason we lost. Those two allowed Cousins to look like Brady.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Sometimes I wonder if the fans could do a better job drafting. I had them at 9-8. Don’t know what they see in Bowles.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Lack of tackling is not on the coach, in 100% on players!!! AN NFL player has to know how to tackle, you can teach technique, and this was not a technique problem…….
I just finish watching the game again, even LVD missed several tackles….
What is on the coach is the extremely conservative approach at the end of the game, that’s 100% on him….
October 4th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Tackling was not the issue, although I agree they could have tackled better on a few plays. Todd Bowles soft zone is what KILLED US!!!!!!
October 4th, 2024 at 9:42 am
Zzbuc… Bowles was conservative 90% of the game.
October 4th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Great game! The loss sucks, but it was still a great game!
Trying to pause the game and rewatch plays on Prime sucks, and I have not yet rewatched the entire game. So, first impressions:
Bucs rookies are a blessing, but:
– Bucky is great, but his fumble killed a 3rd quarter drive that had great momentum and was on the way to gassing the Falcon defense and making it a two score lead.
– Barton is great, but the hold on 2nd and 13 with 1:39 to play- ouch!
– McCollum sold out to defend the pass on the last play of the game, but it left him with no chance to make the tackle; I think he made the right decision as there were two other defenders downfield within about five yards, but they looked gassed – no Winfield, Whitehead left the game, so not able to rotate and rest defenders who needed rest.
Yards don’t matter, points do. David’s interception! Sacks! Run defense! The second Falcon TD pass was well defended and just hit the only spot it could. But, when you have defended against over 500 yards, almost 500 passing yards, you have to defend your defenders by possessing the ball or they will miss tackles. The second Bucs drive, 3 plays, 44 yards, but only 1 minute and 44 seconds off the clock – the defense gets that much rest on a three and out. So, yes, you must run the football – better!
Officiating – missed face mask, duh; the play that dinged up
Lavonte David looked like a no call on an old fashioned clip to me; first drive, the defender played the ball, but he altered his path away from the ball to hip check Evans – no call.
Great run by White. Great runs by Mayfield.
Special teams :
– Blocked punt!!!
– Great pressure on the missed field goal!
– Truckin’ Tucker running back kickoffs!
The depleted Bucs went into the other team’s house and played with skill heart against a good team in a hostile environment. A great football game! And, man, if this team ever gets healthy!
October 4th, 2024 at 10:02 am
We are VERY porous in the middle, with the exception of Lavonte, we have nobody to cover the middle. Every QB from rookies to Veterans are exploiting it.
Until we fix that we have to play 4 quarters of offense and score on 90% of the drives.
We have the weapons on offense, I hope our RT makes it back for the next game along with Winfield and Whitehead. We need to hold our own within the division. We’re down one, let’s get healthy, let’s stay focused on offense all 4 quarters, let’s get it done!
October 4th, 2024 at 10:24 am
Agreed right now with the pass rush not getting home and without Winfield and Sirvocea Dennis in the lineup the middle of the field outside of Lavonte David is severely exposed. They were throwing at will to that area and every catch a receiver was opened with nobody close to him…
In addition you have a fast corner who thinks he’s fast enough that he could play such off coverage and still make up ground. Wow that clearly isn’t working and Jamel Dean has been a huge liability.
I would like to see in the next game Tyreke Funderburk getting more reps at cornerback. I would also like to see either Greer or Russell be the inside linebacker on any long down and distance or passing downs and 2 minutes.
October 4th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Not that had any bearing on the game but why did Bowles challenge the intentional grounding call on Cousins when Atlanta recovered the football. I don’t understand the logic?
October 4th, 2024 at 11:42 am
ITS VERY CLEAR TIDY BOWLS CANNOT BUILD A DEFENSE SO MUCH FOR BEING A DEFENSIVE GURU….. GO BACK TO COLLEGE BALL
October 4th, 2024 at 11:59 am
What a liar he is – we got gashed up the middle all night long – they were not 5 yard passes – they literally took turns burning Dean and Britt over and over and over and Todd just watched it happen….
October 4th, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Poor coaching..toilet bowls will never get us to the promise land.. when we play better coaching we are done .. look at what sean Payton did to us..
October 4th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
If you play ” not to loose” ;; you don’t win games.. Bowles did it in that Cleveland game when he took the ball out of TB12’s hands. It’s in his nature…….
October 4th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Goddamn Joe your filters really suck lately
October 4th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Softserve isn’t allowed?
October 4th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
I give up.
If Bowles doesn’t want a soft defense, stop running a soft training camp and soft practices every week.