Game Ball: Todd Bowles
September 16th, 2019
Likes Bucs defense.
In recent years, it has been rare for an NFL Network postgame show to have good things to say about the Bucs because the Bucs often puke on themselves in primetime games.
Not so much last week. A fter the Bucs beat the Stinking Panthers, former three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker and current NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest was giving Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles his props.
“How about a game ball for Todd Bowles?” McGinest crowed. “For the way he called the game for this defense, the secondary, the guys up front, they did a phenomenal job. And they lost Devin White.”
McGinest backed up his claim by highlighting certain plays in which he thought the Bucs defense was set up to make plays. McGinest lauded the defense for being disciplined all night, especially cornerback Vernon Hargreaves on making his game-winning tackle of Christian McCaffrey.
When is the last time any NFL analyst thought a Bucs defensive coordinator did a strong job to this degree? Might have to go back to Monte Kiffin’s days.
September 16th, 2019 at 5:56 am
Our offense and defense have switched places. Both had and still have plenty of talent..Before the defense lacked a good DC and offense Koetter moved the ball well. Now the defense has an excellent DC and the offense has a mediocre career qb who has only called plays once before on another team that resulted in a losing record. EVERYONE on offense looks off.
If Arians takes over the offense this team.is playoff bound. If not, playoff caliber teams will win the game every….single….time.
COACHING IS EVERYTHING!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 6:27 am
Howard and Winston are lookin off on offense. Evans has been playing sick on both games. Other than that our opine is doing a solid job. The running game is getting 100 yards per game as a group.
As long as Jameis continues to be a game manager like in the last game, we should see more Ws coming our way. No turnovers by Jameis is the key factor.
I don’t see this defense collapsing any time soon. Feels great to see a hard working defense again.
Go Bucs!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 6:28 am
Offense
September 16th, 2019 at 6:31 am
Todd Bowles is THE KEY to the success we’re experiencing right now to start off this season, just like he was THE KEY to BA’s success the first 2 years in Arizona. He turned this defense around even faster than he turned the Cards’ defense around in 2013.
Folks hopefully aren’t underestimating the fact that this defense HAS TALENT, and lots of it. First Round picks … Suh, Vea, White, VHIII, Bucannon. Second Round picks … LVD, Davis, Stewart, Minter, SMB. Third Round picks … Nassib, Edwards, Dean. Fourth Round picks … Gholston, Whitehead, Nelson. That’ a pretty good start for any defense, and that’s not counting JPP who’s on the NFI list. Excellent mix of experience and youth. And all but 3 of those have been added in the past 2 years, so they’ll only get better the longer they play together. Plus we’ve also got some nice depth, for a change.
Still, it’s Todd Bowles who’s making it all happen. Sure hope we can keep him, because if this continues … and it will … other teams will come knocking. Todd didn’t do great as a HC with the Jets IMO because that organization was poorly managed and didn’t give him the resources he needed to succeed. The Bucs have, and Todd is now showing what he’s capable of. Others are also noticing to be sure.
September 16th, 2019 at 6:45 am
BucEmUp says, “Our offense and defense have switched places”
It takes a little longer to pick up a new offense. Give it a couple more games and I think you see a big improvement.
September 16th, 2019 at 6:51 am
We will see where the defense is at when we play the Rams.
Not looking past NY just yet though.
September 16th, 2019 at 7:28 am
Completely agree with Willie. Bowles has the done the most so far in these early stages. Dude does his homework
49ers looked a lot better a team yesterday than against us.
September 16th, 2019 at 8:00 am
With the exception of the run blocking scheme,and improved run game,we may see some similar plays to Koetter’s offense for some time. Jameis s strength is still the intermediate passing game with some 35-40 yard passes sprinkled in.
The difference might be a more patient Jameis in the red zone. T he play
that went to Brate in the back of the endzone that was called back in game 1,
looked very much like the famous Dwight Clark catch that won a superbowl.
If the blocking holds up for long enough for Jameis to wait for his receivers to get open we could see an improvement in red zone efficiency.
September 16th, 2019 at 8:21 am
Really?
White should not be starting obviously Minter is the better fit right now.
VH3 gave up 10 receptions? I never want my cb or safety, for that matter, with 12 tackles
And Cam literally gifted us the game with his horrible accuracy
But yea we’re SB bound!? Come on ya wake up!!!
Got a loooooooooong way to go especially in the secondary. (Whitehead being the exception)
Half yard away from losing and ya are celebrating smh
September 16th, 2019 at 8:23 am
We’ll have a better gauge of where we are after the London rematch. Just a caution. Fig Newton is a damaged QB but still dangerous. The adjustments made and the final result of that game will tell us a lot. Hopefully Mike Evans will be healthy, and OJ and Perriman will be in sync.
September 16th, 2019 at 8:34 am
“Half yard away from losing and ya are celebrating smh”
That’s right. How dare we celebrate a victory.
September 16th, 2019 at 8:39 am
SuperBowl? What Superbowl? With our schedule, it 8 or 9 wins is pretty optimistic.
Right now I am a bit more worried about Carlton Davis and his PI, holding
penalties that give up unnecessary first downs. He is the one that put Panthers on the three yard line with a stupid yank on the facemask with four chances to score.
Foolish not to give VH3 credit for a game saving tackle. He stoopd uup when he
needed to.
September 16th, 2019 at 8:56 am
“There is going to be fire sales as teams bale for the season by half the season week 8
players are going to force teams to trade them ala AB, Bell, Fritz
I believe Jags going to trade Ramsey if they continue to lose and they dont have the money to extend Jalen
Trade Bucs #1 picknext year ,with Brate and our 2 corners in rookie contracts to Jac
Give Bowles a shutdown corner”
Kobe Faker
September 16th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Virtually shutting down a gifted back that is capable of creating 200 yards of offense single-
handedly is an accomplishment for this defense to build on. This strategy forced Cam to win the game with his suspect arm and wheels. In previous years he was pretty good at making plays with his feet. IF Cam doesn’t regain that aspect of his
game then we may see a QB and regime change in Carolina.
September 16th, 2019 at 9:08 am
edit: meant to say stood up.
September 16th, 2019 at 9:38 am
Bucs are 1 of 3 teams that have yet to give up a redzone TD so far. Think we gave up 70% plus last season.
September 16th, 2019 at 9:59 am
DB55
and how many TD’s has VHG given up?……
screw the 10 catches…..did any of those catches result in a TD?….no….
you sound like the folks talking about all the yards dirks offense put up….but did we score TD’s with all those yeards?….NO….
WR’s can catch passes all they want….as long as they’re held out of the endzone im fine…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 10:15 am
DB55
its a game of inches…..
Cam was pretty accurate on all those targets to VHG as you mentioned so i doubt he “gifted” us anything….if anything Gay “almost” gifted them a W…..
im not saying we’re SB bound yet but i will say we’re improved and you dont want your team peeking at the wrong time….
last year our team peaked in week2…..this year we’re no where near peaking in SEPT….
the entire team has a long way to go but not as long as you think….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 10:16 am
Congrats to The D !!!
September 16th, 2019 at 10:21 am
Bowles is gonna earn some serious HC interviews the hard way with us, an it will be glorious to see.
September 16th, 2019 at 11:40 am
“Bowles isnt going anywhere
The reason Bowles chose Tampa over Chicago as DC was because he was HC in waiting
If Glasers liked what they saw, Bowles was guaranteed the next HC in 2-3 years”
Son of 1Buc Mole
September 16th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Bama we shall see, they all look like they dont trust or believe in how they are being coached. If I end up being wrong on this I will be the first to admit it but the thing tgat really dissapoints me is that Arians isnt even helping with the offensivr game plan durng the week.
At least if that changed by confidence would increase. We all see now that coaching has made a HUGE difference on defense. Nobody is even talking abouy JPP anynore its looking so much better. However when they play against a top offense Jameis is going to struggle. The qb whisperer needs to do what he is known for.
COACHING!!!!
September 16th, 2019 at 1:24 pm
DR
‘Todd didn’t do great as a HC with the Jets IMO because that organization was poorly managed and didn’t give him the resources he needed to succeed.”
Curious comment…The Bucs are clearly poorly managed with JLicht at the Helm, which you have vehemently pointed out on many occasions (I agree btw).
But we have all witnessed that a Good or great coordinator does not necessarily a HC make.