Todd Bowles Reveals Masterplan To Defend Bijan Robinson
December 6th, 2023
Unique defensive ploy.
Todd Bowles has jokes!
My, what a win does for the work environment at One Buc Palace. Today, the usually button-downed Bucs coach Todd Bowles let his off-camera personality slip out. Just a little.
Of course, Bowles is a defensive guy. To be more specific, he’s a stop-the-run guy in a passing league. Joe isn’t sure if the emphasis on the run while his pass defense is faltering will come back to bite Bowles or not.
So Bowles was asked how much the Bucs may need to sell out to stop the run this weekend in Atlanta facing rookie stud running back Bijan Robinson.
You may remember back in October; Robinson had one carry for three yards against the Bucs. It was later learned that Robinson was suffering from migraines, which is why he never popped up on an injury list in the days leading up to the game.
So Bowles was asked about stopping the Texas rookie. Bowles remembered the first meeting Robinson’s lack of carries.
“We can stop him full-time if he doesn’t play,” Bowles said before chuckling.
See, just like Joe has been saying for two years now, Bowles has a personality!
Joe doesn’t know if Bowles was being funny right before this Robinson quote or if he was just paying respect to rotten Dixie Chicks quarterback Desmond Ridder, as not to offer up any bulletin board material.
Bowles was asked about the importance of stopping the run because Dixie Chicks coach Artie Smith is one of those old school pound-the-rock coaches who neither likes the forward pass nor explosive plays — yet he enjoys seeing talented receivers rot on the vine.
Bowles in so many words, said you have to be careful facing Atlanta’s offense, despite it being so one-dimensional.
“If you [focus] too much on the run game they will burn you in the pass game,” Bowles said. “They have a lot of weapons on the outside. So we have to play balanced football.”
Call Joe a weirdo, but Joe won’t lose a wink of sleep over Ridder. Joe will very much lose sleep over Robinson.
Remember, the Bucs lost to the Dixie Chicks with three Ridder turnovers in the red zone. At home. And without seeing Robinson but for a non-descript run.
December 6th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Just don’t let him get started downhill.
December 6th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
“______ is one of those old school pound-the-rock coaches who doesn’t like the forward pass nor explosive plays yet enjoys seeing talented receivers rot on the vine.”
Sounds familiar… I see what you did there Joe.
December 6th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
I remember Bowles’ defense letting Ridder march down the field repeatedly in that game. Got lucky with a couple goal line takeaways. Which set up the offense with 98-yard fields. Fun game.
December 6th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Winfield made what should have been the play of the game. That game was as frustrating offensively as much as the Steelers game was last year.
I really don’t expect much from the Bucs offense. I only hope the Mayfield is accurate enough to get Mike the ball and not hurt.
December 6th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Bwahahahahaa
Master plan
December 6th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Pretty easy to heap coals on Bowles head. Gifted a team that won a SB and bled talent ever since. This year roster is thin as a beggars coat, starting QB signed for less than a quality backup, 25% of the team is drafted and undrafted rookies. Anyone with a brain knew things would go south late in the year when the blue chippers got knicked up. He’s probably getting fired end of year but this was probably his best coaching effort. Making bricks without straw is an uphill climb
December 6th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Team went all in for a Ring, and rightly so, but the piper has to be paid. Rams did the same, and it’s worth it. Rams fans wouldn’t give up McVay for the world. Bucs fans just want to blame someone. Typical stupid fanbase.
December 6th, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Ridder was 19-25 for 250 in that game, while they were 38 for 156 on the ground
December 6th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
If it was Arians still coaching this team, they wouldn’t be calling for his head. He’s the one with credibility and brought this team a ring (like McVay). If you think Rams fans wouldn’t be calling for a coaches head if it wasn’t McVay, you’re kidding yourself.
Todd Bowles is a career loser as a head coach. He stunk in NY and is no better here. Most of the issues are self inflicted due to his inability to manage games ot personnel effectively. Has zero to do with ‘paying the piper’ or some other nonsense. Bucs fans see what Bowles is – an ineffective, inept head coach who was gifted a position he never earned.
December 6th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Beej, Kancey and Yaya this game. Bucs by 10
December 6th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Stormy the Rams stunk up the field last year and #1 concern was OMG McVay might retire. Get your facts right. Fun fact for the Baker haters, BA couldn’t wait to get his QB whisperer hands on Baker.
December 6th, 2023 at 2:10 pm
The Master of Mediocracy speaks. I cringe every time he does. Hope they get rid of him soon and get in the coach hunt early before all the good ones are snapped up.
December 6th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
If ever there was a game for D.White to be motivated and play through the pain or whatever excuse he has, this is it. I don’t think White is good enough at this moment to stop Miles Sanders let alone Bijan but we really need Devin to challenge himself to stop this guy. Lavonte back will obviously help, and to a previous article, playing guys like Diaby and Watts, who have speed and are hungry won’t hurt in a spot like this.
December 6th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
That Bowles quote is just the last straw. Bland, Vanilla, Non-committed, just a nothing burger. He has this team in Tatters…Tatters I tell you. Get him out now.
December 6th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
We have to play balanced football of they will run or pass. GOOD GRIEF!
December 6th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
Which means that Bowles won’t change his defense one bit. Even though he knows what Atlanta will do. Like a lot of runs to the outside. The guy just makes me sick when he spouts more garbage excuses after every game.
December 6th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Buckeyebuckchuk-
Rams fans were worried about McVay retiring because, unlike Bowles, he’s actually good at his job.
As for Arians – I’ll say he probably would have done more with Baker than this overly conservative boring ass brand of football that Bowles seems to favor.
He’s a career loser and a crappy head coach. This team is going nowhere with him, and the sooner he’s gone, the better. Get someone who plays to win, not Bowles’ ‘play not to lose’ philosophy.
December 6th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
“Todd Bowles Reveals Masterplan”
You kidding right?
December 6th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Let’s cut to the chase…
Falcons 31—Bucs 17
December 6th, 2023 at 3:18 pm
“We can stop him full time if he doesn’t play”, kneecapping is illegal in most states!
December 6th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Held Robinson to 3 but the others gouged him for 153.
I believe that was the game that Fantasy and Gambling Communities were crying for an Investigation because Smith held him out.
Believe Falcons response was they were going to play the guy that gave the team the best chance at winning. Sound Familiar?
Allgeier 59. Patterson 56. Ridder 36. Robinson 3. 156 Rushing yards.
Guess the Bucs defense was playing pass as they held the basically rookie QB to 11 yards fewer passing yards than St. Baker. Even won the turnover battle and Lost.
December 6th, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Brady for HC
December 6th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
I’m recommending tackling as the best way…
December 6th, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Play man… get rid of the zone. Look at ridders stats between man and zone, night and day.
December 6th, 2023 at 8:08 pm
This guy is about to have 200 yards game on us and QB 300.
December 6th, 2023 at 8:08 pm
Very interesting that the line has moved towards the Bucs. It opened Falcons -2, now it’s Falcons -1.5.
I legit can not imagine why anyone would bet on the Bucs, who are 2-7 in their last 9, with the only wins vs two of the worst teams in football.
I wonder what they know…
December 6th, 2023 at 8:10 pm
Falcons will be up by 4 we will punt it to them with 5 min left cause Bowles thinks we can get it back. They will run it down our throat and use the entire clock. Wiles will blame defensive players not being in right spots.
December 6th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
THETRUTH – I disagree, I think the Bucs will get a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, and Bowles will attempt to sit on that lead for the entire game, and they’ll eventually lose 4-3 on two Baker safeties – but the Bucs cover, so they all celebrate like they did in the 49ers game when they lost by 13, but beat the 13.5 point cover, and talked up what a moral victory it was.
December 6th, 2023 at 10:48 pm
Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood will be in his own backfield this weekend.
Smooches,
Toad L. Bowels