“Breakthrough!”
April 21st, 2025
Poor pass defense solved?
Could we be seeing different wrinkles in Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ defense this year? He sure hinted at it.
Bowles has said for years a defense must change every few years or so because it is only a matter of time before NFL offenses figure it out.
So with the Bucs having one of the bottom-five pass defenses the past two years, Bowles said he spent from the end of the season through March trying to find the holy grail or the missing link.
Bowles said he went through every defensive call to determine several things. One was whether the right call was made. If so, were the players or players coached up properly to execute it? If the players were coached up, why wasn’t it executed?
Bowles said he went over this data with each of his defensive assistants in trying to find out what worked, what didn’t and how to resolve the calls that didn’t work.
Bowles thinks he found an answer.
“The first thing I did when the season ends, I watched tape, and I go over every call and see whether it was my fault or could it have been done better?” Bowles said at the NFL owners meetings. “Was it taught, and if it was taught, was it executed? If it wasn’t executed, what can I do differently?”
The research isn’t just internal. Bowles also tries to look at gameplans opponents used.
“How are people trying to attack me?” Bowles began. “How can I change as a coach? So from the start of last season, the end of last season [until March], I have been working on how we can tweak the defense and make the defense better.
“What do we need from a playing standpoint, what we have to do from a coaching standpoint and a teaching standpoint, and what is it?”
And when March arrived, Bowles found it.
“I finally had a breakthrough, because I’ve been racking my brain for months, trying to go through a lot of things and talking to every coach, going over everything, seeing how we can get better,” Bowles said. “What can we tweak? What can we do? What do they see? What do we see?
“[The breakthrough] comes with plenty of film study, plenty of doodling on the board.”
Bowles did note that whoever the Bucs add in this week’s draft could add to the breakthrough.
“We finally came up with something that we feel like [it] is a successful formula for our defense going forward this year and tweaking a few things and I’m excited about that,” Bowles said.
And no, Bowles did not offer up what that “breakthrough” is. Perhaps it’s allowing pass rushers to, you know, rush the passer?
The Bucs defense must improve if Tampa Bay is to make any type of a Super Bowl run.
Just from a math perspective, it’s difficult for Joe to believe that a first-time playcaller (Josh Grizzard) is actually going to improve on a third-ranked pass game and a fourth-ranked run game. So the defense has to step up.
And if Bowles is any sort of a defensive coach, league-wide he is a respected defensive mind, Bowles should be able to figure out something to allow his pass defense to improve from bottom-five the past two seasons.
April 21st, 2025 at 7:15 am
Our beloved Buccaneers always looked very fast , but not so much last season. Draft speed.
April 21st, 2025 at 7:16 am
“Perhaps it’s allowing pass rushers to, you know, rush the passer?”
LOL! Drives me crazy watching Vita drop in coverage. I do really appreciate the self evaluation, though. I think he is a good coach in that he is open to change.
In the draft, I would trade down if available. I do think one more fast good hands reciever is the difference for this team and would not be opposed to grabbing one in 1st or 2nd round. We did remarkable things when AB was on the field. You can’t bank on our older recievers staying healthy for the whole year anymore. You have to grab a difference maker early. I’m not sold on McMillan yet. Good, but not great. Defense can get better in day 2 or 3. Pretty flat draft for talent.
April 21st, 2025 at 7:23 am
The Pass Defense is this team’s Achilles heal. Any kind of a consistent Pass Rush that gets off the field on 3rd down will be a welcome sight and truly legitimize their Super Bowl aspirations. Offense is already there. Go Bucs!!
April 21st, 2025 at 7:31 am
Ok how about healthy players? Because backups will play like the backups they are.
Reddick will make the whole defense better. Because the pass rush will be better because he is there. You can double team just so many. Somebody is getting to the QB this season. Opposing QBs will make mistakes because of the Reddick effect the defense will create.
Let’s see if we can play defense like the 2020 defense.
LFG!!!!!
April 21st, 2025 at 7:47 am
I think the BUCS will show a lot of improvement next season Coach Bowles seems to be open to change & has brought in talent both player wise ans coaching wise.Keep the faith BUC FANS
April 21st, 2025 at 7:55 am
My assumption has always been our D sucked last year because we didn’t have the healthy personnel to RUN it as designed
April 21st, 2025 at 8:02 am
I am suddenly reminded of the Battle of Wits scene in the Princess Bride.
April 21st, 2025 at 8:09 am
OUTSTANDING ARTICLE Joe! One of your best as a matter of fact. Coach Bowles is truly an excellent defensive coordinator IMO, but all that analysis takes time. Being dual-hatted as the HC has to limit the amount of time that he can spend on his DC duties. I don’t envy him for the amount of time he has to put in to make this work, but thankfully he seems to be up to the task. With a very good draft, I’m convinced that we’ll have a much better defense this season.
April 21st, 2025 at 8:26 am
Todd/Beeej… been saying it all off season. Don’t think it’s Bowles fault we had a lot of weird injuries in the secondary and a lingering shoulder at MLB that hopes to be fixed for good. Some of the fastest players we have were on injured reserve, so the overall defense was definitely slower a big chunk of last season.
April 21st, 2025 at 8:43 am
a 4-3 defense with defensive ends who don’t have to also be able to play linebacker?
April 21st, 2025 at 8:46 am
Good News, it won’t take much to make this a better defense. Meaning that the “perform better” water mark is Easily achieved because it’s so low as it stands now.
Also after he has reached his 5th year as the Bucs head coach and another 3 or 4 years with the jets, he’s had an awakening. It only took nearly a decade to admit it’s time for a change.
But Can He Actually do It??? Sending Vita Vea into coverage was his last genius spark. (Though I dont recall that working out so well)
I’m thinking his seat is Hotter than he realizes because Most are quite tired of hitting the same ole wall, season after season with little to no improvement ESPECIALLY on the defensive side of the Buc Ball… Just ask Dungy. He said it started with a slight warming and the next thing he knew he was Burnt to a crisp!
It’s the end of Bowkes contract. He’ll say whatever it takes to save his job. The Question is Will He “DO” Everything it takes to save said J. O. B.?
Times up buddy. If you can’t take the heat it time to vacate the kitchen….
April 21st, 2025 at 8:47 am
Let’s hope Griz is taking a similar approach.
April 21st, 2025 at 8:50 am
Great article. Todd Bowles has it going and works hard. Defense will step up this season. Need to avoid another season of injuries too.
April 21st, 2025 at 8:57 am
Well he finally realized scoring points helps you win games so maybe this breakthrough is him realizing stopping the other team from scoring helps to!
April 21st, 2025 at 9:18 am
In a ‘passing’ league we sell out to stop the run. Playing soft zones is our Achilles heel.
April 21st, 2025 at 9:24 am
Have no idea who will be picked at 19. Except it will be defense. But the Bucs need at least two of them to be in the secondary for sure.
April 21st, 2025 at 9:32 am
It’s Corn Says:
April 21st, 2025 at 8:43 am
a 4-3 defense with defensive ends who don’t have to also be able to play linebacker?
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Yes, let’s get max pressure on the QB. Can still send blitzers from LB or SAFETY. Forget the silly notion of dropping linemen into coverage.
April 21st, 2025 at 9:46 am
Refreshing to hear that type of self evaluation approach, although I’d hope/assume most coaches do something similar each year. He should also be ready to adapt/change in-season based on how people are performing or certain things are working/not working.
I can’t remember feeling this good about the roster going into the draft and the future in general for multiple seasons to come, because of how well we’ve drafted which just gets me even more excited for this draft. We’ve had maybe better rosters on paper during the SB year but we had a lot of FA’s/older guys vs the core we have now.
April 21st, 2025 at 9:54 am
Draft ability, durability, but DON’T forget intelligence. If you draw up complex defensive schemes, you’d better have guys that can understand and assimilate them.
April 21st, 2025 at 10:05 am
If we have a good draft (by JL standards) and can avoid major injuries, this team should make it to the NFC championship game at least.
April 21st, 2025 at 10:53 am
The pass defense has been horrendous for too long. Injuries have been a factor, but the scheme has been the consistent issue, and that’s on the coach. The Bucs need either a DC or a HC, because Bowles obviously is struggling to do both. The whole team appears to love and respect him, so the best option should be a new DC imo. The sum of my experience is sandlot football, and then about 75 years in front of a television set. Like every other Buc fan, I’m used to watching good to great defenses paired with pathetic offenses, so what we have now is definitely different. I live in a mix of Fleagle and Giants fans, and see the possibility of a truly balanced Buc team if Bowels would only add a True DC to the coaching staff. I’m impatient, but I’m running out of time.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:13 am
We were 5th in the NFL in sacks.
We were 5th in the NFL in sacks.
Why do you guys complain about dropping players in coeverage?
It’s called disguising blitzes!
Again.
We were 5th in the NFL in sacks.
We were 5th in the NFL in sacks.
Can you guys READ?????
April 21st, 2025 at 11:38 am
These are the right words. The process he describes is the right one.
And of course he isn’t and shouldn’t revealing the “breakthrough.”
Now, will action and results correlate with these words?
Skeptically optimistic. Go Bucs.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:41 am
Teacherman … Yes we were 5th in the NFL in sacks, but at a very high cost … excessive blitzing. I contend that’s the cause of our poor pass defense (it necessitates a LOT more use of zone AND leaves gaps in coverage).
The best way to fix it is also the simplest IMO: improve our pass rush using a 4-5 man rush, leaving 6-7 for coverage. When Vea’s in there, our inside pass rush looks pretty decent; when he’s not, QBs get all day. Draft another beastly DT/NT like Vea and we’ll be able to get mush more consistent pressure inside, and our whole pass rush will benefit. So will our pass coverage (opponents will have to use 5 OLinemen PLUS at least 1 more to deal with the inside rush). The numbers in pass coverage work out in our favor once that happens (4 receivers out with 6-7 defenders in coverage).
April 21st, 2025 at 11:42 am
It’s the timely sacks we need though.
With a horrible pass defense a sack still led to a first down.
We need pass rushers that can step up on 3rd and 12-15.
After adding Reddick, believing in Diaby and Braswell, I don’t see OLB.
Pressure up the middle is still KING, which is why Chris Jones gets paid.
I like adding a beastly DT or a starting safety/CB/ILB over a backup OLB.
There are literally 5-6 possible DTs.
Maybe 4 possible CBs.
2 safeties.
2LBs including Walker.
April 21st, 2025 at 11:44 am
If have no one to get to the qb gotta drop them in coverage
April 21st, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Bucs are in a great position to draft the best defender available. Just hope its the right fit.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:13 pm
He has to get pressure with a 3 or 4 man rush. This means he has to rotate in and out defensive linemen more often to prevent the line from being tired in the final period.
Additionally, we need a second starting corner and safety from the draft.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:16 pm
The pass defense had issues last year because of injuries to multiple players and because JTS was a bust.
Improving the talent and depth through FA and draft, along with some luck on avoiding injuries will go a long way towards Bucs’ playoff success.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Teacherman,
Bucs DID NOT get consistent pressure on QB’s. Watch the ATL games and see the time that Cousins had in the pocket. Don’t care about 5th in league in sacks when pass defense so pathetic. Few teams were afraid of Bucs pass rush which is why the Bucs were near the bottom is pass defense and interceptions.
April 21st, 2025 at 12:53 pm
I totally disagree with Scott. This draft, to me, has a drop off about 25 picks. After that it’s throwing darts. Pick a stud in 1st round. After that do whatever yow want. But, that first pick must produce a player that can play year one. No more Braswells.
April 21st, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Great article, Joe.
April 21st, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Brasswell,not a first rd pick. Second pick last year, and in case you haven’t heard most edge guys don’t pan out and Year One and often Year too, it always takes some 2 to 3 years to get adjusted in unless you’re that high IQ or elite or a combo of both which makes a player rare
April 21st, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Mike Smith and lovie smith were both respected coaches league wide, and they had the worst secondaries in team history. Widespread league respect doesn’t mean you can produce results. This defense used to play aggressive in coverage super bowl year, haven’t seen it since
April 21st, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Baking with Grizz
“Ok how about healthy players? Because backups will play like the backups they are.”
INDEED! How would the Steelers Defense have looked without Polamulu or the Ravens without Reed. AW hasn’t played long enough to be ranked with those guys YET and if he has health issues he may never be, but when healthy he’s absolutely in their class!!! Take the best DB from the team and what happens?
Dean plays pretty well WHEN he plays. No speed in the middle with poor Britt hung out to dry repeatedly. That’s not only 3 guys missing from action one is a major STAR and glue for that D.
Like everyone else I’m hoping for a great haul in the draft for the D. But more important is the HEALTH of AW. He’s the man when he’s healthy.