Todd Bowles Finds Inside Linebacker Help
November 6th, 2024
Linebacker J.J. Russell.
Hardcore Bucs fans have been monitoring the woes of Tampa Bay’s pass defense, especially in the middle of the field.
Heck, even Bill Belicheat moaned about them on a hot mic this week.
Lots of focus has been on the troubles of inside linebacker K.J. Britt in pass coverage. He got exposed weeks ago after team MVP SirVocea Dennis messed up his shoulder, and the issues continued for Britt.
Todd Bowles had said Britt was playing a lot in pass coverage because he was the best option without Dennis and other guys weren’t ready.
Well, it sounds like the Bucs may have found a fix without shopping for one on the trade market.
Veteran backup J.J. Russell played 31 snaps at inside linebacker on Monday and largely split time with Britt while Lavonte David played the entire game.
On his Buccaneers Radio Network show, Bowles said he liked what Russell delivered.
“J.J. has become, in practice, a very good zone-awareness guy and especially in the passing game,” Bowles said. “So we started using him some [against the Chiefs] and he played very well.”
This intrigues Joe because Russell has been with the team since the spring of 2022 as an undrafted free agent. Is he just starting to develop in pass coverage?
Russell has played pretty well in very limited time — he made one start last year — but now it sounds like Russell finally got another chance and it worked out.
Bowles went on to praise Britt for playing “downhill” against the run when he was in Monday’s game. That is Britt’s forté.
Joe assumes Russell will get another load of snaps against the 49ers on Sunday at The Licht House. Maybe, just maybe, he’s the answer to stopping some of the bleeding in the middle of the Bucs’ pass defense.
November 6th, 2024 at 8:56 pm
Good to see Bowles getting some of the guys like JJ in the game. If Bowles and Licht won’t pick up veterans then these young guys need to be evaluated in real games before the draft. We need to get some tape on Vi Jones and Antonio Grier Jr too. It seems like Grier has some pass defense potential as he had 3 pick sixes in college and a pick this preseason.
November 6th, 2024 at 9:08 pm
If they stop letting TEs and receivers run by then without even looking their way that might help some. Who says you have to stand in one spot inside your zone staring at the qb waiting to react to his throw? Closing off some easy slant patterns would help as well. Maybe keeping an eye on the rb in the flat would help I don’t know, I’m an armchair coach
November 6th, 2024 at 9:20 pm
The scheme is flawed. For this Bucs defense to be solid they need two elite ILBs, which is not realistic. The Bucs would have to pay top dollar for two ILBs next season, which they can’t do.
November 6th, 2024 at 9:24 pm
Hmmm, now if the Bucs were to move to a 4-3 defense (use it more than they do now), then JJ might find a home opposite LVD with Britt in the middle. Wouldn’t mind seeing a Front-4 of Vea, Kancey, Diaby & Brasswell (although I wish the later 3 were each about 10-20 lbs heavier).
November 6th, 2024 at 9:34 pm
The talent is there. I think something is just a little off with the way they’re being used on D or maybe with the scheme of everything. Anybody at LB right now over Britt.
November 6th, 2024 at 9:37 pm
Let me preface this by saying I’m not a Bowles fan, never have been. But this makes me think Licht is controlling the roster on game day to ensure his draft picks play over undrafted guys to pad his resume. All GMs want their picks on the field to prove how smart they are, but GMs can get blinded by their egos. If that’s the case, Bowles is cooked, and it’s a replay of Lovie’s tenure with Coen ending up as head coach. Will be an interesting offseason if the Bucs can’t reel off a lot of wins after the bye.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:06 pm
I’ve never understood how, week in and out, Travis Kelce seems extraordinarily open . Every week. He and Mahomes must have a mind meld going on.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Defense Rules Says:
November 6th, 2024 at 9:24 pm
I wondered about that too, but you don’t really hear (@ least I haven’t) many defensive coordinators switch from 4-3 to 3-4 or vice versa.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:59 pm
It took what 4-5 games for Bowles to do what fans have been saying since Dennis got hurt?
If Bowles comes calling play for him, he won’t make changes no matter how bad you play unless you’re a punter
November 6th, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Debo Williams, Jason!
November 6th, 2024 at 11:12 pm
Kelce caught 14 of 16.
November 7th, 2024 at 1:45 am
Defense rules says:
Hmmm, now if the Bucs were to move to a 4-3 defense (use it more than they do now), then JJ might find a home opposite LVD with Britt in the middle. Wouldn’t mind seeing a Front-4 of Vea, Kancey, Diaby & Brasswell (although I wish the later 3 were each about 10-20 lbs heavier).
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I agree with using a 4-3 more would be effective because you’d have three linebackers out there. But I’d replace Britt with the highly athletic JTS. I feel a position change would do him good. As an OLB he already has to play the pass, rush the passer and stop the run. He may be better at playing the gap then setting an edge.
November 7th, 2024 at 3:25 am
Why wasn’t Izien on the field?
Bench Whitehead.
Start Izien.
Period!
November 7th, 2024 at 3:39 am
Commander … ‘I agree with using a 4-3 more would be effective because you’d have three linebackers out there. But I’d replace Britt with the highly athletic JTS.’
I’ve wondered about that too. Bucs ineffectively kept Mark Barron at Safety for 3.5 years before trading him to the Rams in 2014, where they used him as a LB. Went on to have a fairly successful career there, as an ILB (6’2″ & 230 lbs with decent 4.54 speed).
Have no idea if JTS could actually function as a MLB (6’5″ & 260 lbs with 4.69 speed is not the typical MLB) but it’d be fun to watch for 1 game (or maybe just a few plays). He sure doesn’t seem to be functioning well as an OLB, particularly for a 1st Rnd pick.