Todd Bowles Cites One Position Where Several Players Could Start
August 1st, 2025
Not a starter — yet.
Joe started training camp thinking the Bucs would have a position starter on defense manned by a rookie.
And no, that’s not outside corner for Jamel Dean, sorry.
A week ago when training camp kicked off, Joe was of the mind nickel corner was rookie Jacob Parrish’s gig to lose. Unless Parrish got torched this summer, he’d be your new Buccaneers nickel.
Through seven practices, Joe doesn’t see any reason why Parrish won’t be starting at nickel. He looks like a solid player.
However, the man who will make that decision, Bucs coach Todd Bowles, isn’t ready to bestow Parrish that honor. In fact, Bowles made it sound as if half of his secondary could be starting at nickel — including Antoine Winfield!
“[Jacob] Parrish is there, ‘Izzy’ [Christian Izien] is there, Tykee [Smith] is there, J.J. [Roberts] is there, Zyon [McCollum] is taking reps there,” Bowles confessed. “We have a bunch of guys… [Antoine] Winfield Jr. is taking reps there.
“We have a bunch of guys that know how to play nickel and learn how to play nickel. It gives us options going into game-in and game-out of things we want to do. Right now, everybody is doing a very good job right now, where they’re supposed to be.”
Well, Joe cannot fully take Bowles seriously here after he dropped Winfield’s name. Why in the world would you move an All-Pro safety to nickel corner? That’s just crazy talk. However, Bowles did that in 2022, after Winfield was a Pro Bowler in 2021.
So Joe has to take what Bowles said with a grain of salt. Bowles had to be clowning people.
Of course, Bowles said once the worthless preseason games begin, he’ll have a better idea of who will be on the field Week 1 at nickel.
“We’ll look at the preseason games and we’ll see what combination matches up best for us,” Bowles said. “Parrish has been taking a lot of reps, Tykee takes reps, ‘Izzy’ takes reps, J.J. takes reps, ‘Win’ [Winfield] takes reps. It’s a smorgasbord right now.”
Joe is a big believer in the number of snaps a guy is getting in practice. Someone the team doesn’t have faith in isn’t going to get more snaps at a position than someone higher on the depth chart.
Currently, Parrish is getting a bunch of snaps at nickel, and he’s demonstrated he can handle the task so far.
Joe’s money, barring injury, is still on Parrish being the Bucs’ No. 1 nickel when the team flies to Atlanta to open the season next month — next month!
August 1st, 2025 at 9:03 am
he’s just good at not saying anything Joe. prolly because he dealt with NYC. i wouldn’t take anything from his statements other than he wants his secondary pieces to be able to move all over the place situationally.
August 1st, 2025 at 9:12 am
We can 100% rotate the talent to field the best 3 CBs to counter whomever opposing teams line up at WR.
Parrish might be better suited to cover quick, twitchy WRs, but what happens when a TE motions/lines up in the slot? That’s a size mismatch. Rotate the coverage, bring Tykee down whether zone/man and float Parrish(Izien more than likely) up SS.
That’s the one thing about having this potential depth, we can match up with anybody with our personnel in theory of course. Guys have got to stay healthy.
August 1st, 2025 at 9:16 am
Jack of all trades, master of none!
August 1st, 2025 at 9:16 am
Vita Vea not taking in reps there? surprising
August 1st, 2025 at 9:19 am
Bowles isn’t just blowing smoke. This is his latest installment of “Bowels the Innovator”. He is revolutionizing the art of being a creative defensive coordinator (sarcasm).
August 1st, 2025 at 9:30 am
It’s because we have depth Joe,in case someone goes down anyone could fill the role and with safties being stacked this year we can switch the looks up on several sets…it’s pure genius yall can hate all yall want.
August 1st, 2025 at 9:46 am
Bowles go watch the Rams tape , Winfield can’t handle that duty !! Dumb Jock disease !! Kupp made Winfield look like a D Lineman …………. Winfield is a good player but he isn’t covering a good TE or Rec in single ……… Licht Call Todd into the office . This is why Bowles isn’t Arians even though Arians is a fan . Licht call him in and hit play ,,,,, hey Todd I let Bunting get away ( my bad) but if I didn’t you win the Rams game and Winnie is not the answer!!
August 1st, 2025 at 10:50 am
Yep. Vita will start at nickel. Goedeke will start at nickel. Everyone on the team will take reps at nickel. Mr. Twocoach loves those Swiss cheese army knives who can be confused at every position. Good grief. Stop masturminding and start coaching for crying out loud.
August 1st, 2025 at 10:51 am
You have to go with the matchups
August 1st, 2025 at 11:04 am
There’s going to be several guys, or at least a couple, playing there every game. Izien has 2 years experience and is no slouch. Parrish may be very good one day. It’s fine and I agree with someone who wrote that Bowles is working on versatility and perhaps making sure that everyone in the secondary knows what everyone else is supposed to do.
August 1st, 2025 at 11:46 am
Activate Desmond Watson from PUP list and give him some reps at Nickel!
August 1st, 2025 at 12:26 pm
BakerFan Says:
Vita Vea not taking in reps there? surprising
^^^^^^^
Come on now! You know all our DL is practicing dropping into coverage.
August 1st, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Bosch – brilliant. Surprised it hasn’t been done already. Then he’ll rotate to free safety.
August 1st, 2025 at 5:30 pm
If I’m not mistaken didn’t Winfield loose his footing on that Kupp play? Regardless there should have been 2 on him to prevent that. And the Bucs digging themselves a big hole didn’t help the outcome.
August 1st, 2025 at 8:20 pm
This is where Todd messes up and tries to get too cutesy …. leave the MAIN guys who dominate their MAIN position where they need to be…..sheesh, dirves me nuts sometimes. Rooks and 2nd yr players, i get it….try them out in different areas. But dropping guy’s specialties into something thats not their specialty is just stupid.
August 2nd, 2025 at 6:26 am
Hope Todd is not getting to fancy here Joe.
I have been known to fool only myself with such things.
Go Bucs!