Will Larry Foote Work Magic Again With Outside Linebackers?
March 24th, 2025
Bucs OLB Larry Foote.
A move by Bucs coach Todd Bowles has really flown under the radar for a lot of fans, including Joe.
When the Bucs announced (officially) their coaching staff for this season, long-time Bucco Bruce Arians/Todd Bowles protégé Larry Foote was moved back to outside linebackers coach.
Foote was the Bucs’ outside linebackers coach when Jason Pierre-Paul and Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett were both raising hell in the Super Bowl.
When Foote spoke with the local pen and mic club earlier this month, it was mentioned to him that the Bucs had a lot of production from their outside linebackers/edge rushers when he was their position coach.
Foote waved off the compliment, saying anyone would look good coaching JPP and Shaq in their primes. But he did take some credit for JPP setting a personal best for interceptions in a season in 2020.
“I do take credit for JPP,” Foote joked. “Some of those interceptions that year during the Covid year, he could actually hear me [barking] where to drop because the stadium was empty.
“So I will take a lot of credit for those. I do take credit for JPP. Some of those interceptions that year during the Covid year, he could actually hear me where to drop because the stadium was empty.
“Anybody could have gotten those numbers out of those guys.”
JPP had two picks that season.
So what’s his secret to taking over the outside linebackers for this season? Well, he already spilled the beans about new free agent edge rusher Haason Reddick. “Rush the passer.” That’s what Reddick was brought in for, Foote said.
Foote did say he wants his outside linebackers to look at offenses the same way an inside linebacker does.
“Look at formations and know what to do,” Foote said. “You might know what they are doing. And from a dropping [into coverage] standpoint, the minimum they do, make sure they are in the right place.”
If Foote can get the same production out of Reddick and YaYa Diaby, Joe has a strong hunch this Bucs team will do damage next January.
March 24th, 2025 at 7:26 am
Joe, what was it that Al Davis used to say?
March 24th, 2025 at 7:32 am
I am excited to see what Foote can do. We needed a change at this coaching position as we were failing to develop the players the Bucs invested in with 1st and 2nd round picks at the position.
Bowles makes me crazy with his soft zone D, but he has proven to be a master at hiring new coaches.
March 24th, 2025 at 7:50 am
I don’t think we have done much developement of guys. I hope Foote can get a bit more out of Watts, Ramirez, Diaby, and maybe even my man Nelly.
Go Bucs!
March 24th, 2025 at 7:54 am
I’m convinced that Todd Bowles penchant for blitzing … 461 times last season … is what drives our OLBs to drop back into coverage so much.
Most fans would expect that our OLBs would do the most blitzing. Not so. LVD had the most blitzes last year (80), then yes, 2 OLBs … Diaby (76) and JTS (56). But just about everyone got a chance to blitz last year (Todd even threw in the kitchen sink for good measure).
Still, IF we can get more from our front DLine (say the Front-5), we should be able to blitz less and get at least the same pressure on opposing QBs. And that should result (I think) in better pass coverage.
March 24th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Get Foote plenty of depth at LB by adding some in draft. Sign back Ndamakong Suh to provide VV 15 snaps off a game-Suh can still get it done.
March 24th, 2025 at 8:41 am
This is exciting. Foote has a solid plan. Can’t wait for the season to begin.
March 24th, 2025 at 8:49 am
What DL said–unexpected pressure up the middle always wrecks of plays
March 24th, 2025 at 9:10 am
“I do believe this is a game, psychologically, of fear and intimidation. And I do believe that somewhere, within the first 5-10 plays of the game, the other team’s quarterback must go down. And he must go down hard.”
March 24th, 2025 at 9:13 am
One game at a time Jose, one game at a time. Don’t be talking January to me now. We have to get out of September first. Then October and you know the rest.
March 24th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Beej, as we all know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. As a result, I’ve always believed that strength up the middle is an absolute priority of a defense. Look at our two SB teams and we had the best up the middle combinations in the league those years.
March 24th, 2025 at 9:29 am
I like moving Foote to OLB coach. Last year I was disappointed in the slow development of YaYa and the play of Braswell. I think Larry can get these guys to step up and ball.
I found it odd that LVD was used so much in blitzes, as I would rather have him in coverage and have the other ILB blitz. In OLB advanced stats for pass coverage, JTS was the best, so no wonder he was on the field when Nelly had much better pass rushing stats. Bowles has said that his OLB’s weren’t rushing the passer well nor were they good in coverage. Maybe Licht can find a LB that good in pass rush and coverage? Or Bowles could play with three safeties, with 1 in the box?
March 24th, 2025 at 10:19 am
@Joe I was gonna say “Just win, baby.”
March 24th, 2025 at 11:19 am
It drives me crazy when JTS is portrayed as “the best” at anything other than a total flop. Lipstick on a pig would come to mind. That he signed with some other team without creating even a ripple in the pond shows the Bucs know that, too. I’m surprised that they never acknowledged that. Actually since the Bucs tried to sell us that he is getting ready to produce and never did I’m not surprised.
March 24th, 2025 at 11:26 am
I loved that Davis quote! I’ve been wondering about Shaq Barrett. We hear nothing about him and he is not showing up on the team on the Bucs’ website.
March 24th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Larry will teach his outside linebackers ‘Foote’ work.
March 24th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
I think old Al was right. Get it into the mind of the QB that this is gonna be a slobberknocker of a football game.
March 24th, 2025 at 4:03 pm
George Edward’s is apparently not a very good hands-on position coach, more of a strategic/cerebral guy which why he’s now pass game coordinator. Foote may have been able to get more out of JTS. Oh well. He’ll do a good job with Diaby and Braswell.