So Whose Play Impressed Todd Bowles?
January 16th, 2025
Shoutout from Todd Bowles.
Teams change, teams grow and teams take steps back during a season.
That’s why the regular season has so much drama. A team could look like the 2020 Bucs in the season opener and end up looking like the 2011 Bucs at season’s end (minus Albert Haynesworth, of course).
So what player or players caught Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ eye as far as improving this past season? Bowles was asked on Monday and picked a player from both sides of the ball.
“I really like where Luke Goedeke played – I like the way he came back this year and played,” Bowles said of the Bucs’ right tackle. “Even after he got hurt with the concussion, he came back and he made a lot of strides this season, as well.”
How about the defensive side? It didn’t surprise Joe that Bowles selected a defensive back and the name didn’t surprise Joe, either.
“I thought Christian Izien before he got hurt made great strides and did a lot of things well,” Bowles said. “There [are] a few guys that made strides like that, but those two stand out.”
Goedeke became a good right tackle. Good enough that outside of Detroit, the Bucs may have the best pair of tackles in the NFC.
Izien? Joe thought he looked sharp all year. He really caught Joe’s eye in training camp. The guy was making play after play, day after day.
Along the way, Izien became a plug-and-play guy. He could play nickel, he could play safety, and in an emergency, he could and did play corner. Didn’t embarrass himself there, either.
Not bad for an undrafted free agent from Rutgers.
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January 16th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Love Izzy he is physical! Man we need more guys in the secondary like that
January 16th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
It’s hard to believe that Bowles couldn’t come up with some better gameplan than allowing 17 play drives to a rookie QB.
His scheme sucked all season for the most part. Every offense started throwing to the middle of the field where receivers ran wide open time and time and time again. Fix it or your fired.
January 16th, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Love Izien as a depth guy. I don’t want him running with the 1’s but as a 4th guy and a backup safety – that would be awesome. If the Bucs can draft a Benjamin Morrison, he instantly becomes THE guy. Zyon at cb2, Dean at 3, tykee smith in slot. A healthy Bruce Hall coming back. All of a sudden that secondary looks damn strong. It’s almost easy to see how the secondary will improve and take shape. The inside linebacker situation though, along with the edge rush – that’ll be interesting to see how they approach that
January 16th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Wonder if Jihaad Campbell get to the Bucs doubt it he looks incredible
January 16th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Surprised he didn’t mention Tykee Smith. We’ve got some good young players on our D. We just need to hire a new DC and install a fresh defensive scheme. Got to fix the pass defense without diminishing our run defense.
January 16th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Bowles would be smart to hire a DC who is sharper than himself. We had quite few games where we simply did not make Defensive Adjustments at halftime. But I don’t know, Maybe we could’nt?
January 16th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
@BucU
That’s what I said. I think it’s the scheme he’s running. It won’t matter who they put in there on D if he doesn’t change the way he’s running the D. When he’s got the secondary playing in another county it’s not gonna matter who they’ve got on D. He’s gotta stop being so stubborn & change that crap.
January 16th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
This defense—aw screw it. Who cares who we draft? He will be thrown into the washing machine that is the Bucs defensive plan. Edge or DT (VV) will learn how to cover the middle. You know- -where everybody is open.
Glaziers, Licht, etc. don’t seem to care, why should I or you?
January 16th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Bowles is a Sorry joker any other coach gets his best players on players on the field. He cross trains safeties to play slot, if you can play slot you can play corner. Izien can plays anywhere on the field. He actually did fill in at corner and played well but when he was healthy Bowles was brining out funderburke and Hayes. People prefer to go draft a rookie or pay a free agent when players are right here in house. Is he going to compete with whitehead or at corner or be the backup up again. Zyon, smith and Izien were easily your best db’s this year
January 16th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
@BucsfaninOregon
I’ve been saying that constantly. It’s as if all of them just don’t care & try & do nothing to help the team get better. I think it should really get to the point to where the fans should just boycott the team & put off going to the games because yeah if they don’t care why should the fans.
January 16th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Tykee Smith, Izien and Zyon all played well for the Bucs when on the field. We need to keep building there though, as we need another starting corner opposite Zyon and some depth at both CB and Safety. We also had great play from Lavonte, Vita and Kancey, so there are a lot of good pieces on Defense.
January 16th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
I hope Denis Sir Voceia (sp) shoulder is not going to be a problem going forward
January 16th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Time to embrace the insanity.
Groundhogs day again, version 3.
As the late great Bob Uecker would say, “Just a bit outside”.
Draft day is once again the culmination of our football year.
All down hill after that.
January 16th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
MOST IMPROVED?
Zyon was the highest graded CB in the NFL for a few weeks.
Mauch was a rock.
Goedeke, when healthy, shut down some of the top rushers.
Hall is now a solid pro.
Tucker should have been inserted as the #2. He was player of the week 1x.
Baker had one of the best seasons in Bucs history.
January 16th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
ROFL. Who cares
January 16th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Doesn’t matter who you draft without better coaching and scheme. Get better coaches in here preferably some without man boobs to show these young boys you’re serious
January 16th, 2025 at 7:25 pm
As we sweep Boles el floppo under the rug.
January 16th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
Bowles has his plan….8….9 /….or 10 wins a year. Bet the ranch. All he will ever be.
January 16th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
I’d throw Otton in, as well, at least as an honorable mention for most improved.
January 16th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Holy moly. Some of these guys would post the same old krap no matter what.
Joe could post an article on his favorite apple pie recipe and beavis and butthead would make the same comments – Lol
It’s somewhere between funny and sad.
Back to the topic… I think we had a few guys either show a lot of promise or solidify their solid play. We need some new talent but a lot of bright spots!
January 16th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
* No offense to the real Beavis and Butthead 🙂
January 16th, 2025 at 9:37 pm
Izen needs to start. He is good in the box like Neal, but better in zone coverage than Neal. Neal is big enough to be moved to ILB. He is good on the inside but horrible at safety.
January 16th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
We really missed Izzy down the stretch and in the playoff game. Also, remember we picked up Bryce Hall in the offseason and he would have provided a lot of depth to our secondary but unfortunately he had a season ending injury early in the preseason.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:03 am
terrible injury luck this year. not coincidentally, the OL was solid and had very few injuries. baker and lavonte injuries would have killed us. godwin’s’ did.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Zyon was consistently good in his first full season and I think he’ll work hard on his own to get better in the offseason. Tykee played well considering he was hurt a few games, can he stay healthy? Kancey started slowly and gradually came on at the end, but he needs more consistency. I’m not a huge fan of Izzy. Bowles like Izzy because he can play a lot of positions – but not very well IMO. Bowles needs to put Izzy in one spot so he can really develop, like Zyon.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Being a huge Izien fan since his Rutgers days, reading how you don’t like him is insane. This guy is one of the best on the defense for this team. You’re making Buc wanna knuck….lol. Seriously, he should be one of the starting Safeties and he’s a better coverage guy than your favorite Smith. He’s far from slow and he’s mentally and physically more talented than the other guys here. Shot, if y’all don’t appreciate a guy who loves to win then say that!
Knuck if you Buc!