Todd Bowles: Improvement On Defense Needed At Every Level
February 27th, 2025
Time to fix pass defense.
The pass defense stunk in 2024. It stunk in 2023, too. Something has to be done.
It seems Bucs coach Todd Bowles has come to that decision. Speaking at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, the beehive of the combine, Bowles seemed fed up with a lack of takeaways, a lack of an effective edge rush (HALLELUJAH!) and overall sloppy tackling.
Bowles cited these issues on his get-done list.
“We’ve got to do a lot of things,” Bowles said. “I’m very disappointed in the way we went after balls this year – we didn’t get our hands on enough balls and get a lot of turnovers.
“I don’t think we rushed the quarterback as well on the outside on the edge. We’ve got to get better at a few things. And we missed too many tackles.”
Now, is Bowles fed up enough to hound Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht like he did to sign Baker Mayfield? Or the way Dirk Koetter stomped his feet for an edge rusher, which resulted in Jason Pierre-Paul and, subsequently, a Super Bowl win?
Harold Landry is very much a JPP-like guy off the edge who is 28 years old. JPP was 29 when Licht stole him from the Giants.
The above is one reason why Joe thinks Jamel Dean is in the crosshairs.
February 27th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Harold Landry is intriguing Joe. Has 6 years in the league (plus 1 on IR all season), and has only missed ONE game in those 6 years. I like that.
Landry has 50.5 sacks in those 6 years, so he averaging about 9 sacks per 17 games. I like that too. Seems to be a Shaq clone (6’2″ & 252 lbs). Signed a 5-year $87.5 mil contract with the Titans back in 2022, so he’s averaging about $17.5 mil per year, with 2 years still to go on his contract.
What makes you think that the Titans want to trade him though? Seems to be like he’d be a classic ‘building block’ for their defense.
February 27th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
gotta believe adam schefter who reported he was granted permission to ‘seek trade’
February 27th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Is that the peak age for edge rushers? 27-30?… Hey that would be a great poll question. Where does Todd rank compared to the other 32 head coaches? Top 10? Top 15? Bottom 10 or 15? Or right in the middle 16,17? Go Bowles!
February 27th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
“Todd Bowles: Improvement On Defense Needed At Every Level”
including DC.
what happened to Todd’s post season look in the mirror? seems like all he sees is player problems.
that said bye bye JTS
February 27th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Good for Bowles to state the obvious we desperately need help on defense at many positions
February 27th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
A huge part of this massive LB problem was created by trading picks with the Jags who drafted Devin Lloyd who has turned into as rock solid a LB as you could want. Bucs backed up and took Logan Hall who is just Meh. Bucs should have taken the sure fire pick that was there in Devin Lloyd.
February 27th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
I think it’s pretty evident that we need to grab a DE in FA. Joe, you need to get on board with this (sarcasm). Use the draft for ILB, help in the secondary, and possibly a WR if Godwin goes elsewhere. I mean, we’re pretty much set on the offensive side of the ball with the possible exception of guard. We simply don’t have a lot of holes to plug on that side of the ball. This should be an easy board to set up for the draft. But first, please Jason, go get a legit DE in FA.
February 27th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
First step in solving a problem is acknowledging you have one. I don’t think Licht and Bowles will be fooling around this offseason. They have a couple of seasoned vets in Godwin and Evans who want to win now.
It will be interesting to see the defensive changes that are coming. Whitehead departure is a good start. Bucs can’t afford to play the development game. They need an impact EDGE right now. Hoping that Winfield rounds back into form and that Bucs get lucky with a drafted DB and LB.
February 27th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
I guess our DB coaches (Rappone & Ross) get a free pass as usual. When are they going to figure out when to resign
February 27th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
So Bowles your brilliant plan for the pass rush was to continue playing JTS the guy who has done nothing for you since he was drafted? You don’t get to complain about that sir. Your corners play 7-10 yards off of their receivers, you don’t get to complain about that either sir. Your best corner gets bored during games, Tykee could have started at safety as a rookie and you could have left Izien at nickel. Just throwing crap at the walls to see what sticks is not coaching
February 27th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Pewter Power you are right on point!!!!
February 27th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Including, and especially, coaching at every level. Scheme, practice detail, technique teaching, play calling, situational awareness, everything. Not sure that’s feasible with a half time coordinator distracted with the huge job of being the head coach.
BA used to run three practice fields for a very good reason. The jenius decided it’s better with one.
Results tell the tale.
February 27th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
Basically ditto everything Pewter Power wrote. Because – you know, (list of Todd excuses here…) are proven wrong.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
If you can get Landry for like a 3rd rounder, go for it. He wants out of Tennessee and has been a productive player. Pair him with Yaya and you have taken care of your edge needs – plus you still got Braswell who should not be written off as you should never write off guys for rookie years, not to mention he was always a project.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
“We’ve got to get better at a few things.”
Yeah we heard this same broken record after every sloppy game during the season too. And nothing changed. Is this what he repeats to his players? “Just do it better?” Because that’s not coaching.
February 27th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
If TEN is open to a 4th rd pick as trade compensation (Pick 120), Licht should lock that deal down ASAP to secure Landry.
(TEN will only saves $10.95M against their Cap # if they trade him before June 1)
February 27th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
DC is at the VERY top of the list!
Each Squad is a direct reflection of their coordinator…
February 27th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Landry, Mack, Garrett please somebody anybody we need a beast on our D line.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
I’m encouraged.
Coach Swiss Cheese even acknowledging that we didn’t rush the QB enough on the edge/outside is a step in the right direction.
A very, very small one. But I’ll take it, lol.
This is the same coach that during the middle of this season or last (I forget which) stood at the press conference podium and dismissed the idea that we needed an edge rush.
We should definitely kick the tires a couple of times on Harold Landry. He looks pretty solid.
I’ll pass on listing all my criticisms of Coach Swiss Cheese.
What everyone else said.
February 27th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Watch Emmanwori jump at the combine! Hes a take away machine!!!
February 27th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
No worries Todd. Jon Gruden will be the Bucs head coach next year. You heard it here first .Just reinstated to the ring of honor . Hmm, very interesting.
February 27th, 2025 at 8:46 pm
Robert, that ain’t happening. Without Todd Bowles this team…probably isn’t champs in 2020. Bruce Arians was about toast, Brady was toast by 2022. We’d about mortgaged the future and without Bowles no way we have Mayfield. Now leading a team with these challenges he’s increased win total and made the playoffs 3 straight seasons. Conference champs each year and very competitive in the playoffs except for Brady’s last year. The most important thing Bowles has done is set the culture for this team. He’s the heart and soul of this team whether you like it or not. I can forgive Gruden but like alot of football folks I can’t forget some of the shi. he said. No team in the NFL will ever interview Gruden for a HC position. And Robert. You heard it here first.
February 27th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
So my oldest son just calls me and tells me that our Bucs set up an interview with Nick Martin, inside linebacker from Ok. State. Tells me that he ran a 4.53 today and what a good player he is. I’m still hurt that my son chose to root for those dirty Cowboys over my beloved Sooners. I would suggest that if our powers that be have interest enough in this Pistol Peter to interview him that they don’t get too enamored by him. There’s gotta be something wrong with him. Gotta be. Take a look at Stutsman, OU inside linebacker. There’s nothing wrong with him.
February 27th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
Kenton Smith – there are doctors for conditions like yours.
February 27th, 2025 at 10:06 pm
@Kenton Smith if you think Gruden will never get a HC interview again you’re sadly mistaken. Don’t act like we’ve been dominating in the crappiest division in football over the past 3 years barely snuck in year before last if it wasn’t for a heroic strip play by Winfield ,then this season we were 4-6 going into bye week ,good thing we didn’t have to play a good team down the stretch even the Panthers took us to OT glad they fumbled that ball or we would’ve lost that one, lost to Cowboys WTH Cooper Rush 🤣🤣. Bowles hasn’t had a Defense in 3 years this is a what have you done for me lately league. Not to mention his horrible clock and game management. A lot of holes to fill on this Defense and even if they do fill them I’m not confident Bowles will use them right . Hope he proves me wrong this season haven’t seen it in 3 years
February 27th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Aqualung, we know what you think of Bowles. And we know what Dave Pear thinks of Bowles. Thankfully for most of us it isn’t all black or white.