“Stacked Unit”
August 28th, 2025
Is there any excuse for Todd Bowles to treat Bucs fans to another sad pass defense this season?
The cynics might say the edge rush remains suspect and free agent Haason Reddick, at 31 years old, is the equivalent of a prayer after a sad 2024 season that called his heart and talent into question.
Joe’s just grateful Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has been launched from the building. His 2,500 snaps as a Bucs defensive player did little to soothe Joe’s fragile mental state. Reddick is a hell of an upgrade.
Definitely do not throw “injuries” at Joe. Every team must prepare for them.
So Joe can’t find a reason why the Bucs wouldn’t improve their pass defense from woeful to average. If not, Joe’s going to have to point another finger at coaching. Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht even applauded coaching tweaks he believes will improve the pass defense.
Bucs legend Lavonte David said this week that the Bucs have a “stacked unit,” and he talked about increased competition around him in training camp, for starting jobs and for depth.
Joe agrees. The offense is loaded. The defense has playmakers at every level and the benefit of Bowles running largely the same system for seven years.
Simply an average pass defense would make the Bucs a highly dangerous postseason team. Is that too much to expect?
August 28th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
We will see
August 28th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
How many of these playmakers are injured? How many of therm limping and less than 100%? They are loaded on paper, but, how many of them will actually play a full season?
August 28th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
I just hope we don’t have to see your “deer in the field” photo very often this season…
August 28th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Uh oh. Dont get the ReTodd Fan boys angry. You know The ReTodd is the only coach who has to deal with injuries. And please whatever you do, do not hold him accountable for that gosh awful defense he’s put out there over the last few years. That is everybody elses fault but The ReTodds!
However you can give The ReTodd all the credit in the world though for the offense though.
August 28th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
11 man drop in coverage
August 28th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
The offense is not consistent
The defense is not consistent
The QB is not consistent
The HC is not consistent
The GM is not consistent
Even the medical staff is not consistent
August 28th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
At least 1 thing is consistent, NFC South Champs 4 years running, post Super Bowl win.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
LakelandBuc, you should change your name to Lakelandjag or Lakelandfin,, cause most of what you said is wrong ,,, QB good, GM good , offense Good , HC ok, D poor
August 28th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
People forget we play a 3-4 Defense. So yes, your OLBs have to cover too. Yes we see some plays where down linemen drop into coverage, but they are expected to occupy a zone or a set space on the field, not cover a guy.
I hear all this talk about letting pass rushers do their thing and rush the passer (Jose Ramirez), but guess what? They also have to know how to play the run as a DL. And if the are an edge rusher/OLB, they have to know how to cover too.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
They’re good against weak teams
When it comes playoff time
It’s a first round knockout
August 28th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
They are not a Big Time team
They choke in big games, disappear like Houdini
August 28th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
OK now, 2026.2027 1st rounders, White and Logan Hall for Parsons II I think Dallas is ready to break, C’mon Mr. Light don’t let him go to Green Bay!! Go Bucs
August 28th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
The negative traskies are out BAD after seeing their savior kicked to the curb. I havent seen such negativity since the traskites were on here after every loss in 2023. Not as bad last year but seems they are back with a vengeance. Part of me thinks Kyle Trask runs them all
August 28th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Bad against good teams huh? Lions, eagles and commanders = Wins last year (although we split with Commanders on year). Interesting observation LakelandBuc.
Details matter. Maybe not to the majority of Americans nowadays, but like it or not, they matter.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
LakelandBuc seems like he’s fun at parties.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Amazing how here we are 1 week from start of season. Joy joy real football is back. A time when every team has the same record and time to celebrate and enjoy but people just be angry. I use football as a distraction and escape. I guess some people just can’t escape their misery. Even while watching a”Game” for fun. Go Bowles! our Superbowl winning defensive coach.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
Absolutely zero excuses. Play your corners up and go
August 28th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Stacked when compared to NFC South, not so stacked against the NFC Conference.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
The first time somebody gets beat deep in week 1, all the talk of tighter coverage is out the window. Todd will double down on his comfort zone, (which is soft shell deep zone), give them everything underneath, get them into the redzone and hope to hold them to a FG. Might as well just give them the ball on the Bucs 20 every possession. At least the offense would have more time to score instead of watching Todd’s ball control defense eat up the clock.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
Joe … ‘Definitely do not throw “injuries” at Joe. Every team must prepare for them.’
Absolutely true Joe, but some teams have a lot better depth to deal with injuries than other teams. Our offensive starters this year are 100% the same as last season, plus we’ve added Egbuka. On defense however we’ll have 4 new starters: Reddick at OLB, SVD at MLB, Tykee Smith at FS, and Parrish at Nickel. Depth-wise though we seem to have improved some in the Secondary, but that’s just a gut feel because the evidence isn’t there yet with Morrison, Parrish, or Vildor (enough evidence on Hayes though to make me question why he made the team instead of Bryce Hall). Nor is the evidence there with others like Braswell, Watts, Wisdom, Roberts, or Bullock on defense.
The key to success will be to stay healthy, and especially with the big dogs. Lose Vea, Wirfs or Mayfield for any lengthy period and we’ll be really hurting. Injuries do matter, and especially when they occur, to whom they occur, how long the take to heal up, and what kind of depth we’ve got in that position group to compensate.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
WOW!!! Good thing I read this. I thought we had a borderline great team, top to bottom. Thanks for the reality check.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
The Buc’s need to unleash everything they have, offense and defense, in Atlanta! A dominate win in Atlanta sets a precedent for every following game. Win and win big! Move on to the next game… repeat!!!
August 28th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Time will tell, but I am concerned that the Bucs don’t have the depth on the defense like they do on the offense. It’s hard enough to play in Bowles scheme, but when you are down to third string players due to injuries the defense just collapses.
August 28th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
every time we pay atl it’s a tight game whoever scores last and doesn’t turn the ball over… 23-20 bucs
August 28th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Just saw something that said Sue would free lance on the D line in the SB….. maybe he was the reason we shut down pat….
August 28th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
Cynics or logical thinkers?
August 28th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Is it just me, or do a majority of the commenters seem even more miserable than normal?
Season hasn’t even started and half ya’ll are acting like we’re 0-3 already lol.
I’m concerned about depth at a few positions, specifically: ILB, OLB, S, OL
August 28th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Nothing like coming on a Bucs ‘fan’ blog, and a bunch of loudmouths keep posting like the Bucs were 1-16 last year. Getting really tired of it!
August 28th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
I hadn’t noticed any posts from you for a while DR. Happy to read your insights again. That said, I think Hayes is here over Hall specifically because of his special teams play. There is going to be a much bigger emphasis on special teams this year. I’m really thinking it’s going to be a very good year
August 28th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
🤣 Lol
August 28th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
Hype season is over. Reality is about to get real. We’ll see if all the gushing over the defense has validity. The question will soon be answered: Is this a SB type of defense? We’llsoon find out.
August 29th, 2025 at 3:42 am
I would be very happy with average Joe.
We lost games last year because our pass defense could not get stops on third and long…or third and …anything. No pass rush when we desperately needed it and dudes who could not get anywhere near a receiver on the back end.
Looks like we have dudes playing tighter coverage so far this season, so maybe we can be average and force some punts.
Go Bucs!
August 29th, 2025 at 11:36 am
RUN TO THE BALL@!!!
DON’T RUN WITH THE BALL!
The rest of the defense will join in tackling offense.
Hold the RB n. RCVER. THEY WILL COME.