Todd Bowles: K.J. Britt’s Pass Coverage All About The Eyes
May 29th, 2024
Bucs ILB K.J. Britt.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles doesn’t want to hear any noise about how inside linebacker K.J. Britt isn’t the best in pass coverage.
The knock on Britt, who usurped Devin White late last season as the Bucs’ starting inside linebacker, was that he was really good on the run but needed work in pass defense.
Yesterday, Bowles scoffed at that saying Britt is a three-down linebacker. Bowles emphasized Britt really didn’t struggle in pass coverage. He struggled instead with his eyes.
“It was never his coverage skills, with him,” Bowles said. “It was always his eyes. His eyes have gotten a lot calmer.
“He’s settled down, he knows what’s going on, and he understands where he needs to be on the field. I think he’s doing a lot better at that.”
Bowles didn’t guarantee Britt would always be on the field in all passing downs. The Bucs have so many different “packages” and the ability to move guys around on defense to keep an offense guessing, Bowles said, so Bowles can’t call Britt a full-time pass defender yet or not.
Bowles added with so many different combinations to throw at teams, Britt’s responsibilities likely would change week to week.
May 29th, 2024 at 7:25 am
Shelton Quarrels made is name by understanding where he was supposed to be on each play as it unfolded. Something speedster DW never understood and OC’s actually used his speed against him by having DW bite on the trick and then designing the play to go where DW had just left vacant.
Ronde was not known for his speed either but understood what was happening as plays developed
May 29th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Britt reminds me of Shelton Quarles….very effective at executing what is asked of him
May 29th, 2024 at 8:00 am
Watched Britts’ presser yesterday, you can tell he’s one of the guys that camps out in Bowles’ office because he’s starting to sound like him and is really emphasizing knowing his X’s & O’s to get him to play at a level like past great ILBs. I’m rooting for the kid, without sounding like a zealot I think Britt is going to have a big year for us and himself.
May 29th, 2024 at 8:23 am
Nice Quarles comparison @ SB and Bobby. Very accurate me thinks. I’d take grinder Britt over Diva White everyday of the week and twice on Sundays!
May 29th, 2024 at 8:35 am
Kwan Alexander never achieved the level of play needed either. Which makes me wonder why some of our past ILB’s are calling the defense as rookies.
May 29th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Zakly SB. addition by subtraction. always been our weakness, predictable underneath and easy to fool
May 29th, 2024 at 9:48 am
If Britt struggles in coverage I could see Smith replacing him in dime leaving Izien in the slot.
May 29th, 2024 at 10:04 am
“If Britt struggles in coverage I could see Smith replacing him in dime leaving Izien in the slot.”
We had a guy on the roster in 2019 who moonlight as an ILB-Safety hybrid in Deone Buchannon, I think the attempts of having Winfield being a Saftey-Nickle hybrid is what makes drafting Smith so important. Outside of his ball skills, the guys isn’t just a willing tackle he’s damn near lights out in that regard.
It’d be awesome of it’s the plan, and even better if it works out for us.
May 29th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
Britt is an Auburn guy.
He has the Takeo Spikes neck.
I love that.
I saw him take on GUARDS head on!
He’s a bull!
I f-in love KJ Britt.
May 29th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Compared to the doich Britt replaced, he looks like Deion Dansers compared to the Diva (good riddance).
May 29th, 2024 at 7:39 pm
Britt= Lunch pail guy
May 29th, 2024 at 9:07 pm
Loved Britt at Auburn and was thrilled when we drafted him. Always wondered if he could compensate for lack of speed and looks like he’s making great progress. Rooting for him to have a great season.
May 29th, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Britt might be the breakout guy no one’s expecting. Of course his breakout might just be to do the job instead of freelancing like the Diva, and LVD has his best year ever.
May 30th, 2024 at 2:29 am
Bowles tries very hard at times to BS us on his guys. However I choose to believe him on the problem with the eyes. Bowles does know about how to defend the pass. Diva never took advantage of his old coaches knowlege and I think Britt will.
Go Bucs!