Defense Better Come To Play

January 11th, 2021

Pressure is on.

If Todd Bowles is not taking interviews with teams just for show, then he best have his defense prepped or it could be a long time before he’s ever a head coach in the NFL again.

A lot of people in the NFL give the Bucs’ defensive coordinator a pass for his time in charge of the Jets because the front office was (and is) a total clown show.

But the way the Bucs’ defense has slipped this year, and the pass rush has gone invisible of late, Bowles sure isn’t giving many NFL general managers confidence he can take the next step up. Again.

Saturday night Bowles and his unit did their best Lovie Smith imitation, as in being ill-prepared. A friggin’ XFL backup looked like Brett Favre in his prime against the Bucs.

The way Taylor Heinicke passed and scrambled, over and through the Bucs defense, it reminded Joe of the Tennessee-Ready game when Lovie’s defense sure seemed like they had not watched two minutes of film on then-rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota of the Titans.

Mariota strictly ran a spread offense in college. And after Tennessee drafted him, then-Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt openly spoke of how he would mold his new offense to mimick Oregon’s for his young quarterback.

This apparently blindsided Lovie. It was one of the most shameful performances and a example of galling lack of preparation Joe had ever seen from a self-professed defensive wizard.

That was the beginning of the end for Lovie as an NFL head coach, as it should have been.

Now the Bucs defense wasn’t quite that bad Saturday night, but clearly the defense was ill-prepared for Heinicke. Soft or no pass coverage, no pass rush until very late, and shameful tackling add up to frightening any Bucs fan waiting on the Saints game in the Division Round.

Clark Judge of SI.com doesn’t believe the Bucs have a prayer after watching their defense have to wash tire tracks off the backs of their uniforms on Saturday night.

I’ll be honest: I don’t see how he or the Bucs win. Not because of anything Brady can do. But because of what his defense can’t.

Namely: Tackle, pressure the pocket and cover receivers.

That’s a bad combination when you’re playing Drew Brees, and the record proves it. In two games this season vs. the Bucs, Brees has six touchdown passes, no interceptions and two wins. Better yet, he won by a combined score of 72-26 and is 4-1 in his career mano-a-mano vs. Brady.

Can someone give NFL sack king Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul a wakeup call? Neither have had a sack since the win over Minnesota nearly a month ago. The playoffs are not the time to go into a witness protection program.

Yes, the (expected) return of Devin White should help. But what kind of condition will he be in after being on the Reserve/COVID list for two weeks? The way the defense looked Saturday, the Bucs need a lot more players to play their arses off than just one second-year middle linebacker.

If Bowles’ defense is caught sleeping like Saturday, Bowles may not have to worry about any more interviews.

61 Responses to “Defense Better Come To Play”

  1. Buczilla Says:

    Our defense has been weird as all get out this year. They absolutely clobbered a hall of fame quarterback in his prime one week and then look like hot garbage against far lesser quarterbacks. If they can at least be competent against Brees, we have a hell of a shot to win against the Saints.

  2. DavidBigBucFan99 Says:

    Unfortunately they are what they are and have not shown us anything different. Our cbs are afraid of contact of any kind and constantly take bad angles towards the sidelines and of course our lbs are so busy looking into the backfield thru let receivers run right in front of them to be wide open in the soft zone. This game is going to be entirely up to the offense, they will have to score on every drive if we want even a chance to win. Bowels has proven he’s not HC material because he doesn’t make adjustments until things get out of hand. He’s too stubborn with this soft zone concept which in 16 games hasn’t worked.

  3. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    We will lose come this weekend……..and it will be because of our crappy defense.

    EVERYONE sees this coming………

    Sorry bucs fans…..I love our team; but the saints offense is simply just too dynamic for our crappy defense to handle.

    But hey……….it was fun while it lasted, right?

  4. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    All this soft zone crappy playing 5 yards off your man BS will absolutely destroy the bucs

    LOVIE SMITH defense 2.0 coming this weekend again!!!!

  5. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    @ Buczilla

    The reason they clobbered Green Bay was because the defensive line was getting penetration……….specifically VITA VEA……

    Since Vita Vea has been out…..the defense looks totally different

    Sadly we’re going to see another hair pulling, TV screaming at bucs defense this weekend……..it’s going to be hard to watch just like last weekend.

  6. mg Says:

    Brady expects to score on every drive. Defense looked nervous in that victory, maybe now they can play with a can do attitude.

  7. Joe in Michigan Says:

    The NFL average for 2020 is 240.2 passing yards per game, 1.7 passing TD’s per game. The Bucs averaged 246.5 yards per game, 1.8 passing TD’s, close to league average. In other words, most NFL defenses get shredded. If the Bucs are able to effectively blitz up the middle with Devin White, JPP and/or Shaq can get some pressure, and Bowles has a good game plan, they have a shot at beating New Orleans.

  8. dmatt Says:

    The Bucs gotta believe n go in the dome with the mind set of kicking butts n taking names. We can beat the Saints if we gang tackle n play
    discipline/aggressive/mistake free football. The bears had their chance n blew
    it. In 2003 we played the eagles on their home field in what was to be their last game in the late veterans stadium. U see the eagles had beaten us earlier that year n the regular season n also previously beat us two years in a row in the playoffs so they were cocky n adamant believing they were going to win at ease as the fans n all were prematurely celebrating victory in the last game played in their old stadium. Well, the Bucs came in with an attitude that against all odds, they would win the game. Derrick Brooks set the tone n Ronde Barber put the icing on the cake. The 2020 Bucs must come in with the same attitude. Let’s beat the Saints at their own game. Attack, attack, attack!

  9. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    Anthem – Vea didn’t play in that game.

  10. Clean House Says:

    Depends which Bucs team shows up. We could definitely win this game.
    Unless JAMEIS comes in as the back up. Then he might eat a playoff W.

  11. Defense Rules Says:

    @Joe … “But the way the Bucs’ defense has slipped this year, and the pass rush has gone invisible of late, Bowles sure isn’t giving many NFL general managers confidence he can take the next step up. Again.”

    Cheap shot Joe. The Bucs’ defense hasn’t slipped this year … it’s actually improved a bunch in terms of the one criteria that really counts: POINTS ALLOWED (as in ‘449 Points Allowed in 2019 down to 355 Points Allowed in 2020’). Todd Bowles took it from a #29 ranked defense in 2019 to a #8 ranked defense in 2020 … with almost no depth behind our starters and after losing the key cog in the middle, Vita Vea.

    Is it infuriating to watch? Oh heavens yes; drives me nuts. But where it counts … POINTS ALLOWED … this defense is getting the job done. Bucs have only allowed 28 or more points THREE times this year in 17 games: TWICE to the Saints & once to the Chargers (and 7 pts of that was due to a Pick-6 our defense wasn’t even on the field for). Take away those 3 games and this horrible defense gave up less than 20 points/game average in the other 13 games (10 wins & 3 losses).

    Problem at hand is that we now face the team that beat us handily TWICE this year, and we face them in their stadium. Whoopee. Is New Orleans a better team? Yes. Based on those 2 games, they’re better-coached and are ‘balanced’ as a TEAM (stronger in both trenches & in the Secondary especially IMO).

    Could we beat them? Yes to that also, but I sure wouldn’t expect us to go in as the favorites. IF we do beat the Saints, it’ll be because our offense controlled the game & scored a lot of points. After watching them beat the Bears yesterday, I’m not counting on our defense to stop them from scoring 30 points. So the only way we’ll beat them is to out-score them. And since our high-priced offense averaged 31 PPG this season, should be a piece of cake. Sure, we’ll go with that.

  12. geno711 Says:

    Anyone else notice that New Orleans late year average looking team was on display again yesterday. Not saying that New Orleans is horrible but they certainly are not the best version of themselves lately. 1 sack, no created turnovers. Nothing down field. Offensive pretty vanilla.

  13. geno711 Says:

    74 Bucs Fan Says:
    January 11th, 2021 at 6:31 am
    Anthem – Vea didn’t play in that game.

    Appreciate you making the correction to Anthem!

  14. Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:

    If all the Taylor Heinke love in Peter King’s MMQ article doesn’t piss off the Buc’s defense this morning, I’m afraid NOTHING will.

  15. Buctooth Says:

    I’m going to try and keep it simple on our defensive unit playing the Saint’s on Sunday play man on man no zone defensive and most important DO YOUR JOB.

  16. geno711 Says:

    Joe in Michigan Says:
    January 11th, 2021 at 6:13 am
    The NFL average for 2020 is 240.2 passing yards per game, 1.7 passing TD’s per game. The Bucs averaged 246.5 yards per game, 1.8 passing TD’s, close to league average. In other words, most NFL defenses get shredded. If the Bucs are able to effectively blitz up the middle with Devin White, JPP and/or Shaq can get some pressure, and Bowles has a good game plan, they have a shot at beating New Orleans.

    Thanks Joe. What I think as well. This cornerback group is average.

  17. Bobby M. Says:

    Will continue to say this…..for whatever reason QBs that are new to starting for a team always gives Bowles fits. It seems if he has 6-8 games of film on a QB, the unit is better prepared. I think we’ll come prepared for Brees but if the Saints are executing at a high level, we’ll be screwed on the defensive side. They have every trait that it takes to give us problems defensively. Brees is excellent at reading defenses, has a quick release and is very accurate. Kamara can run inside, outside and is excellent in the screen game. Their receivers can play possession ball or go over the top. Our best hope is we hold them to FGs and a timely sack/TO.

  18. Alanbucsfan Says:

    The Bucs offense is playing at a different level than when they played the Saints earlier this season. Just hope Larsen holds up if Cappa can’t go.
    I disagree about the zone – mix the zone coverage up with blitzes – bend but don’t break, keep Saints’ scores to fg’s as much as possible- and DO NOT let Kamara have any big runs.
    This game will likely be a shootout with 70 points being scored. In that scenario, I like Brady and Bucs’ weapons.

  19. Bucfan81 Says:

    I just hope they don’t get embarrassed. Bruce needs to show the clip of the saints dancing in the locker room like they were at a night club after the last beat down. Winston eating Ws on national TV interview. If I were a Bucs player I would be going into this game pissed off. The saints are the one team I hate the most in the NFL they play dirty and the refs cheat for them way to often and I can’t stand how Dan arrogant they are.

  20. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I’m hopeful but not optimistic……seems the Saints have our number….

    I think a great deal will depend on our offense because the Saints will score on us.
    We need to shut down Kamara at all costs…..put LVD or White on him……and blitz White when he’s not on Kamara.

    The only positives are……we are familiar with Brees……..and, our Offense is much better than when we played them last.

  21. Bucsfan101 Says:

    Bucs – packers NFC Championship game
    BUCS WIN.

  22. Waterboy Says:

    A famous football coach once said “It’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s the Jimmy’s and Joe’s” and unfortunately I don’t think they have the Jimmy’s and Joe’s on defense to compete with the big boys. That pass rush and secondary is horrible. I don’t even recall seeing Shaq Barrett on Saturday IF he played at all.

  23. Bird Says:

    Bucsanthem

    You love this team. 😂. You just surprised 99 % of posters on here
    All that comes from your sissy mouth his how bucs suck and how they will lose and brady has a noodle arm.

    You have not been right about anything. Everyone knows the bucs pass defense sucks
    Anyway you can sit this out. We dont need your diarrhea coming from the mouth

    The bucs have a shot. It will come down to one person – tom brady
    He will beed a 400 and 5 td day. You know the guy you said was washed up and garbage

  24. gofortheface30 Says:

    Did someone say the Saints offense is dynamic? Lol no. No theyre not. Just because they are trotting Taysom hill out 40% of the time to run gimmick stuff to manufacture yards doesnt make them dynamic. They rarely get explosive plays, they dont throw the ball down field 90 percent of brees’s throws are <10 yards, they have agonizingly long 7 minute drives. Jussssst the kind of offense the Bucs struggle with. Allllll these people making a case for the virtues of a "bend but dont break" defense will change their stance when Tom Brady only has the ball 2-3 times in the first have because the Saints going to get first downs a 6yard play after a 6 yard play. The Bucs offense is going to have to make the most of their limited opportunities, and then frankly this off season the defensive front needs to get reworked, and a few veterans need to be signed in the back end

  25. Beej Says:

    TheBucsAnthem Says:
    January 11th, 2021 at 6:00 am
    @ Buczilla

    The reason they clobbered Green Bay was because the defensive line was getting penetration……….specifically VITA VEA……

    Since Vita Vea has been out…..the defense looks totally different

    Sadly we’re going to see another hair pulling, TV screaming at bucs defense this weekend……..it’s going to be hard to watch just like last weekend.

    Yup. Roches is a good backup, but he’s one of the lowest rated nose guards in the NFL, else he’d be a starter somewhere

  26. alton green Says:

    I’ve been really anxious to read the comments this morning. I’ve been watching for almost 60 yrs. After the 1st or 2nd game I said if Bowles doen’t fix that secondary we aren’t going anywhere. And that would have been true if not for Tompa. At first I screamed “stop playing that damn soft zone” well they briefly played man coverage. Well, Todd, unless you have a magic card, we’re screwed. For the 3rd time. The secondary just plain sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bowles you have 7 days to go to the unemployment office and find somebody that knows ANYTHING about coverage. My ex, ex, ex wife taught “special” education for over 30 years. It shouldn’t take 16 games to learn that Brees will throw those 5 yd passes all night and carve us up. AGAIN. They took a muffler shop owner and in his 2nd frickn start threw for 300 yds and cost Vegas a fortune

  27. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    It is not just us who gets shredded, New Orleans did it to Chicago too!
    Tony Romo even said during the game that the Saints are “tailor made” to beat the Bucs.

  28. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    If the Browns can beat the Steelers last night like they did, the Bucs can go to NO and beat the Saints. It is VERY difficult to beat a team 3 times in the same season. Plus, the Bucs offense is clicking. Considering all the drops on Saturday and the fact WFT is a very good defense, the Bucs are a machine; we can keep up with the Aint’s

  29. Cannon Says:

    The reason why the Saints give us so much trouble isn’t necessarily because of their offense…

    Yes, their offense has and will toast our defense. Its what historical evidence supports, and its likely what will happen again.

    That being said, the real reason why we get curb stomped is because their defense is very strong, and has a knack for disrupting our offense. In that last blow out, their defense held us to 3 points. Let that sink in.

    My reason for optimism is that I believe our offense has improved since Week 10. We still have our “look deep, then short” approach, but we are offering more short routes for Brady to dump off the ball when things get pear shaped. Brady is also connecting on the deep stuff at a far greater rate. That last game against the Saint’s was the introduction of AB, and the whole offense just didn’t seem in sync. I don’t see that happening again.

    Go Bucs

  30. Robert Says:

    I have faith. Like the eagles game we will break the curse. 1 int or 1 key sack is all it takes to turn the tide.

  31. Bucsfan951 Says:

    Yes, the Bucs will only go as far as their defense will allow them to.

    Which defense will be playing next week? The blitzing, sacking, packers game defense (from the end of the first quarter on defense) or the defense that played the saints in thay blowout loss?

    That defense absolutely depends on pressuring the qb. If and when it doesn’t, the secondary gets roasted. The pressure masks the horrible secondary the Bucs have. When was the last time you heard “and that’s a coverage sack”? It just doesn’t happen.

    The team will only go so far with this defense and how far they will go depends on if the defense pulls their heads out of their arses and pressures the qb. If Bucs can’t get to the qb this weekend, this game will be a blowout loss.

    But let’s face it, I fully plan on the Bucs getting out-coached once again this weekend by Sean Payton… god, I hate the saints so much!!!!!

  32. Robert Says:

    Play the same O they played the WTF s with

  33. pewter941 Says:

    We will have to play a perfect game offensively to win

  34. AMI_Chris Says:

    We’re getting blown out on Sunday night. There is no logical, sane reason to think differently. And hope is not a strategy.

  35. Cobraboy Says:

    My doubt for a positive outcome for the Good Guys Sunday night is based on a firm belief that the outcome of football games in the NFL are not based on scheme or psyche.

    They are based on the play of the Big Uglies.

    And while the Bucs are indeed a good team, their weakness is match-ups with teams with better Big Uglies.

    IMO, the Saints are such a team. Every game the Bucs have lost to the Saints in recent history they badly lost at the LoS.

    Imma look at a lot of film this week, especially in games the Saints lost, and make some observations.

  36. richbucsfan Says:

    12-6 is not a bad record at all. I do hope there will be a greeting at the airport when they get home. Losing to the Saints is not an embarrassing thing. They will have give their best. Go Bucs!

  37. View from 132 Says:

    The Bucs do have one thing going for them – the Saints have a history of choking in playoff games they should win. A few fluke plays, a big play or two called back for holding, and Brady can pounce. That’s been his whole career… be good enough while other teams make mistakes, then be great.

  38. DBS Says:

    One clue for Bowles now. Everyone needs to tell him because he he has not figured it out. When Hill comes on the field guess who is going to get the ball and pull a gadget play???

  39. BucsFanSince1976 Says:

    Sorry Joe , but when you say the defense has slipped this year , that is just not factual. Last year 2019 Bucs ranked 15th in total defense and averaged giving up 28 points per game. 2020 Bucs ranked 5th in total D and gave up 22 points per game. So I have a hard time piling on the D due to Heinicke balling out and having a career game. Also , I firmly believe that had Devin White and his blazing 4.4 speed been available , Heinickes’ runs are cut back quite a bit. Devin White will make his presence felt in New Orleans in a big way.

  40. The Coroner Says:

    “I’ll be honest: I don’t see how he or the Bucs win. Not because of anything Brady can do. But because of what his defense can’t.
    Namely: Tackle, pressure the pocket and cover receivers.”

    Yep. For those who wondered what happened to the sacks – No Vita Vea who crushed the middle driving the QB back for the feasting on JPP and Barrett.

    No Devon White blitzing and hunting with speed to the outside.

    Yep. the DBs: I don’t care if they are young – they get paid man-sized money.
    No Vita Vea = ( – ) pressure = exposed weaknesses in back 4 = worrying defenders giving giant-sized catch zones. They cover like an army in retreat.

    If they are not close enough to touch them or smell their breath they are too far away!

  41. Buc4evr Says:

    Bowles should not be interviewing for any job right now. He needs to be working 24/7 to come up with a plan to stop the Saints. Blitz schemes, man coverage, and a spy on Kamara and Hill. Gadget plays always trick the Bucs. As always third down will be critical and the Bucs have to anticipate trick plays or Brees escaping the pocket and running on third down.

  42. unbelievable Says:

    If Devin White is our only source of a pass rush, we are fked with a capital F.

    We didn’t even breathe on Brees last time we played them. Our defenders looked afraid to tackle Taysom Hill. It was downright embarrassing.

    And yes the win over the TFTFKATR this past weekend certainly did not inspire any confidence in our defense. Gaping holes in the secondary all night. ZERO pressire again on the QB.

    Makes you wonder if Bowles even put together a game plan, or is he simply too busy with interviews…

  43. 813bucboi Says:

    been saying all year my concern was bowles and the defense….

    im not sure what he has planned….

    but, as someone said above, the offense is playing at different/higher level….

    bowles vs payton is just a bad match-up…..i think our match-up BL vs d.allen goes to our advantage….that’ll come down to execution…drops and penalties…i doubt godwin has a repeat performance and brate showed what he can do….

    defense(and brady lol) win championships…

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  44. 813bucboi Says:

    BL looking more and more like a HC than bowles…

    been saying that all year too!!!…lol…

    GO BUCS!!!!

  45. Destinjohnny Says:

    I don’t think our secondary talent is there.
    Davis is okay and Winfield is solid and will get better, but that’s it.
    If we had nailed all those those secondary picks.
    We’d be looking really good

  46. BucsFanSince1976 Says:

    Saints kicker Will Lutz is in a downward spiral , he has missed 5 of his last 9 attempts and was noticeably flummoxed after missing in the first half.

  47. danr Says:

    our defense has been mediocre to bad since we lost Vita Vea.

  48. 813bucboi Says:

    maybe bowles didnt want to put too much on film knowing we would play either the rams or saints….

    it doesnt explain the lack of pressure from shaq and jpp…

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  49. Defense Rules Says:

    @Buc4evr … “Bowles should not be interviewing for any job right now. He needs to be working 24/7 to come up with a plan to stop the Saints.”

    And if somebody offered YOU a better position AND the opportunity to make 4 or 5 times what you’re making now (at least), you’d blow them off, right Buc4evr? Todd Bowles doesn’t get to dictate when other teams offer him an interview. Personally I think it’s wrong that the NFL allows this, but that’s not on Bowles.

    And let’s not forget that Todd & the Bucs have faced the Saints FOUR times in the past 18 months. And yup, lost to them FOUR times, by a combined score of 137-67. In other words, Saints averaged 34 PPG to our 17 PPG. Their offense hasn’t changed very much in those 4 games, nor has their defense. And that 34 PPG is pretty close to what they averaged against EVERYBODY (30 PPG this year).

    Not only that, but the Saints have been extremely CONSISTENT in those wins against our defense: 31 pts, 34 pts, 34 pts, 38 pts. We on the other hand have been rather INCONSISTENT in those 4 losses against their defense: 24 pts, 17 pts, 23 pts, 3 pts.

    And oh ya, the fact that the Saints have won the Turnover Battle 11-3 in those 4 games hasn’t hurt them any. In 3 of those 4 losses, Bucs committed 3 or more giveaways … not exactly a prescription for victory.

    For us to beat them, Bucs will have to play consistent, COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL. We need BOTH sides of the football firing on all cylinders.

  50. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Geno711: Yes, the Bucs are a good CB away. I’ve heard that Patrick Peterson had a rough year with Arizona…Could the Bucs get him on the cheap and he has a rebound year? Or do the Bucs need to use another 1st or 2nd Rounder on a Corner? I’d rather get a good/decent vet cornerback and use a high draft pick on a good young edge rusher.

  51. Bucamania Says:

    TB12 will have to play out of his mind and the receivers will have to catch the freakin ball for the Bucs to win. This D ain’t changing. Bowles will play soft and the DBs will miss tackles and we’ll all be yelling at the TV. Brady or bust.

  52. Joe in Michigan Says:

    DBS: It pisses me off that the Saints put Taysom Hill in at QB, and defenses seem surprised when he runs the ball. Nobody spying him? Or is it that the Saints O-Line so good that they make defenses look silly?

  53. DavidBigBucFan99 Says:

    The sad thing about this soft zone is that on one particular play I watched C Davis line posted up directly on his receiver, expecting him just to let him run right by without laying a finger, but get this he actually played PRESS and won that battle! I believe the play went for zero yards not sure though, might have been on the play LVD got his sack. You can’t tell me press coverage even if you fall back into zone.

  54. DavidBigBucFan99 Says:

    Can’t tell me press coverage doesn’t work even in zone.

  55. Fernando Says:

    Joe
    Bowles don’t tackle
    Bunting a liability right now
    No Devin White he would have 2 sacks
    JPP one bad wheel
    Shaq a ghost
    Players need to make plays simple as that

  56. Joe Says:

    Bowles don’t tackle

    Of course not. However, he is in charge of the defense to, in part, ensure that his defensive players can and do tackle.

  57. 6throundpick Says:

    It’s football. Don’t overthink. No plays off. Bring your best.

  58. Aaron E May Says:

    I think Bowles knows his corners can’t cover and that limits how he blitzes.

    But this zone
    1 – we suck at it.
    2 – it plays right into what Brees does best…

    We have to go man underneath with safety help…don’t blitz from the outside…it has to be a schemed blitz…and do it from the middle…I think I’d rather see us go all out aggressive and get beat than sit back and let them take 7min to score. We’ve been here before…play off zone…they slowly walk down the field…completing three 3rd downs…then they get inside the 20…its 3 and 9…Brees drops it off short…we miss a tackle or two…now its 4th and 1. Here comes big #7…1st down…then eventually a Michael Thomas TD or Kamara walk in score.

    I think most fans just want to see something different – scheme something…game plan something…anything….just do something different.

  59. Reach87 Says:

    The Defense needs to show up, no doubt. I think they will (turn-overs and some crushing hits). However, I think it has very little/no impact on whether he will be a head coach again. We have I think a top 5 Defense that helped (helped) the team to at least a 12-5 record. Add that to the defenses he has led in the past and the value of his scheme (say what you want, its a good basic scheme). Again, this game will have little impact on his future as a head coach when compared to the other variables. Go Bucs!

  60. tbbucs3 Says:

    Bowels is more focused on his next career move than he his trying to fix his defense. Taking interviews in the middle of the playoffs after your D was shredding by a guy named Heinke is embarrassing.

  61. Lakelandsteve Says:

    If Bowles doesn’t come out in press man and stick to it, we don’t have a prayer defensively. Wouldn’t we rather go out challenging the Saints offense than sit back in a passive zone and let them move up and down the field five yards at a time. I would much rather give up a long pass to Brees playing press than play this death by a thousand cuts defense that we have been playing. You can’t tell me we don’t have the players that can do it because we have seen them do it at times and have had success. Nut up Bowles