Philosophy Change On Defensive Front
January 14th, 2025
So head coach Todd Bowles and key players and coaches typically meet with TV broadcasters the day before each game.
The idea is to give the broadcasters inside info so they sound smart and on point to the masses.
Sometimes, a little bit of that intel trickles out on the game broadcast in the form of “Coach told us …”
That happened Sunday night. Annoying NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth dropped this nugget after YaYa Diaby stuffed a 1st-and-goal run by Washington for no gain.
“It was interesting as we were talking to Todd Bowles about changes; he said defenses change every 2 1/2 years, so he went from being big with the tackles to big with the edges,” Collinsworth said. “And it’s helped his defenses.”
Joe will let fans chew on that over a plate of Hooters wings.
Joe has heard Bowles talk a few times about needing to adapt/evolve his defense every two or three years. If not, he says, it’ll be figured out by offensive coordinators.
Joe’s not sure where Bowles is in his cycle, but it’s sure appears to be time for a fresh tweak this offseason, and that’s most likely the plan.
January 14th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Does that mean he is going to stop dropping Diaby and other guys like Vea and Kancey back into pass coverage. Analysts are so stupid. Last mid season they were still talking about Devin White being one of the best ILB’s amidst the worst season he was having.
January 14th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
>>> so he went from being big with the tackles to big with the edges <<<
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
If Bowles really said that to CC then he should have been canned already.
CC should be canned too for being that dumb. And for owning PFF.
January 14th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Well if true, thank God. It means the end of the era of the super soft trash zone defense we’ve been plagued with the last 3 years.
As the rest of the NFL goes to zone defense, be ahead of the curve and go back to being an aggressive man-to-man defense. That alone would be the single biggest positive step Bowles could take this offseason.
January 14th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
That a point I’ve been mentioning this entire season. Change DL and CB coaches and also Philosophy on defense. I know he’s loyal to his assistant coaches, but bring in new people on the defensive staff. If he don’t want to fire his DL and CB coaches remove them around.
January 14th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
How about starting with a change in defensive coordinator?
January 14th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
If you’re looking at edge rushers in the draft look at the guys that are 265+
January 14th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Well, I seemed to see “big” in coverage with VV, Anthony Nelson and YaYa (Eckler beat him on a critical play late in game) over the past few games. My thought is opponent OCs see that as a huge advantage for their offense. Maybe it’s time to cycle that OUT of our defensive scheme, find players that can actually rush the passer and play in coverage!
January 14th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
The Bucs HAVE to get multiple ILB’s. There has to be someone behind David that can play, and if Britt is still on this roster next year, it’s a complete failure by Licht to add talent, as Britt shouldn’t be on any NFL roster.
Speed, speed, speed. Get an elite ILB, get another highly drafted safety, sure up the middle of the field. Then get corner depth as well so if the Bucs are having to start their 5th string corners, they’re hopefully more talented than the guys they have now.
If they shore up the middle, and get some corner depth and STOP playing that trash zone defense, suddenly you’re going to see all that draft capital at edge paying off as QBs won’t have receivers running wide open on every down.
January 14th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Permanent move for Vita Vea to MLB.
Give JTS a record setting contract and move him to the slot CB spot.
Tykee Smith to starting NT.
January 14th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Who the heck wants to be big on the edges?? That’s a preposterous change if true.
January 14th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
ElioT lol
January 14th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Maybe he’s talking about dropping your best edge rusher, Yaya, in zone against one of the NFL’s best receiving running backs LMAO
January 14th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Problem isnt that defenses have to evolve. The problem is are you being reactive or proactive. Changing your D for what teams were doing 2 years ago isnt going to be beneficial. Run game is having a Resurgence. If you changed your D to stop the pass you are behind the 8 ball already. Just coach and play D based on what th other team wants to do. Washington wanted to dink, dunk and run to control the TOP and thats what they did. No point in rushing and blitzing 3 step drops. Bucs dont coach batting balls at the LOS. Bucs let RBs and TEs constantly leak out for easy 2 yd passes and 8 yd YAC gains.
January 14th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
By the way Joe Buc fans, if you watch Philly v Rams this weekend, check out Eagles Edge Nolan Smith. He aint big but he can run and rush the passer – 2nd year guy from UGA. That’s the guy I wanted in 23 draft. Slid to 30 and Howie Roseman got’em. Hate the Eagles but they do well getting draft assets and drafting well. Yea, I know about Mr. Verse for Rams.
January 14th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Ooooga Booooga!
January 14th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
IF they bring back Toilet Bowles…then its another year of 500 at best. We have a team so talented they could have won another superbowl with a coach that new how to make the right adjustments even with the injuries. Every team has injures. look at the Lions. I am so sick and tired of this whole excuse year after year with the injuries. We all know that This was a DEI hire and not the bests man for the JOB! Bruce stepped down not for health but just that DEI! NFL has gotten so political is sad.
January 14th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Whatever he’s doing he’s doing a shytty job at it.
January 14th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
NeExt year, Nelson and Joe Tryon have to be given their pink slips. We need more results on the Edge..a lot more. Find us 2 beast Licht. Free agency or the draft..But find’em..PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
January 14th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
What is DEI?
January 14th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
How stupid is that bruh your secondary Has been in need of a refresh for over a decade
January 14th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Would help to have the right personel
January 14th, 2025 at 5:35 pm
I know let’s drop DTs in coverage.
January 14th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
That isn’t a nugget – we have watched our OLB and NT do nothing in coverage for a few years now
It’s almost as inventive as his odd side pressure with safeties playing 30 yards off the ball that every team in the league eats alive
7 interceptions in 18 games and the HC specializes in the secondary
Yeah, let’s keep going down this road the dead end sign must be misplaced….
January 14th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
What RO said. Defense should be based on what’s happening in that particular game. If they are 3 step dropping and getting ball out quick, rush 2 or 3 and drop rest in zone. Patriots used to run this all the time vs Manning.
January 14th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
It would be fine to drop these guys in coverage situationally if they had ball awareness at all. Outside of Nelson, they don’t. Diaby should have had a pick the other night.
January 14th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
A question for Todd Bowles, “How’s that working out for you?”
January 14th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
Dear Todd,
January 14th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Whatever changes the scarecrow is making, it isn’t working.
Everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room.
“We just gotta get better” is not a strategy.
It’s an empty statement from an inept fool.
January 14th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
A large tweek.
January 14th, 2025 at 8:46 pm
Best way to do that is fire your entire defensive staff, and hire a bee DC, and let him hire his staff. That’s what a good head coach would do.
January 14th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
The biggest change will be not needing to play a free agent undrafted safety, a 6th round cornerback, and an undrafted linebacker in the 4th quarter of a playoff game. The talent on defense was not even close to playoff caliber. Recall how bad the Eagles were in their playoff game against the Buccaneers last year. They spent the off-season correcting it and now are one game from the super bowl Not Bowles fault.
January 14th, 2025 at 11:15 pm
Vita can play corner if he can play receiver. Go Bowles.
January 15th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Yup I heard that and literally said, “welp time for a change again cuz this one has clearly been figured out!”
January 15th, 2025 at 1:43 am
VOT Says:
January 14th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
That isn’t a nugget – we have watched our OLB and NT do nothing in coverage for a few years now
It’s almost as inventive as his odd side pressure with safeties playing 30 yards off the ball that every team in the league eats alive
7 interceptions in 18 games and the HC specializes in the secondary
Yeah, let’s keep going down this road the dead end sign must be misplaced….
————
Everything he said….
If you only need 1 example of why Todd sucks, his FS becomes the highest paid DB in the league, and Bowles puts him 30 yards deep all season, negating any playmaking ability whatsoever. That’s the HC you Bowles fans are rooting for. Bravo.
January 15th, 2025 at 8:25 am
So, when was the last refresh? Maybe we should check if he switched over his calendar. The pass defense has been bad for two years. Part of that this year was injuries, but not all of it.