Todd Bowles Names Three Most Instinctive Defensive Bucs
August 7th, 2025
Defensive back Tykee Smith.
Todd Bowles is hard to read when it comes to one aspect of his defense.
For some reason, Bowles loves to change nickel cornerbacks.
Antoine Winfield was a Pro Bowl safety in 2021, so Bowles moved him to nickel in 2022. Bad move. The 2023 nickel, Christian Izien, he was decent for a rookie but Bowles decided to replace him with another rookie in 2024, Tykee Smith. Now, Smith has relocated to safety and rookie Jacob Parrish is leading the pack to win the nickel cornerback job.
Bowles’ history of changing nickels goes back even further, but no need for Joe to dive deeper. Today on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bowles noted he was rather certain Smith would only play one season at nickel.
Joe sure hopes Bowles knows what he’s doing because no Bucs player other than Smith last season had three forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Bowles talked up Smith on radio saying he’s a playmaker.
“He’s one of our top three most instinctive guys on defense along with Winfield and Lavonte [David],” Bowles said of Smith. “And he punches the ball out probably better than anybody. But he played safety in college, so he understands the position. He plays it well. He’s still taking nickel reps so there’s flexibility there as well. But he’s been doing a great job playing strong safety right now. He’s had a great camp.”
Another Bucs defensive player having a “great camp.” Joe’s happy to hear it, but Joe also sees the Bucs defense continue to struggle in zone defense in practice.
Lotta question marks on this defense, and a lot of high-end talent.
August 7th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Please play more man to man. The soft a$$ zone pass defense was the biggest weakness for the defense as well as the whole team. Didn’t they play more zone defense last year than any or almost any teams? You got the players and depth now. No excuses!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
The problem with the Zone Defense,
It’s a lot more complicated than Man Defense
It seems like the Bucs defensive players can’t grasp the playbook
That’s why they be out of position a lot
So many busted plays
August 7th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
Whitehead should’ve been benched for Smith last season, allowing Izien back in the slot. Bowles is slow to pull under performing players, see JTS.
August 7th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
Yes, this year comes down to that putrid pass defense that loves to play more yards off the ball than the first Down marker is. Have a little confidence in your players get up in their face a little bit and still have the safety behind them to help. Don’t make it so easy this year, please.
August 7th, 2025 at 8:46 pm
I think Tykee Smith will blow up this year!!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Bowles are stuck on his players, the players he drafted
August 7th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
Can Someone please for the love of America help NFL people speak English properly!! It’s So ignored and so socially irresponsible to youth it’s sickening …….. and all the jock sniffers just ignore that 10 year college grad, nfl vets really can’t even close to properly speak English ……. Your Not Cool For Ignoring , Your ridiculously supportive…. Y ?
August 7th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
You’re
August 7th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
Macdanny
😂😂😂😂😂
August 7th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Under Bowles tutelage the Bucs have always struggled in zone defense. The common denominator is Bowles.
August 7th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
A post FILLED with grammatical errors criticizing players/coaches for not speaking English properly – that’s hilarious. 🙂
August 7th, 2025 at 10:03 pm
Try again Eckwood lolol
August 7th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
He better figure it out this year. Team has way too much talent.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:31 pm
Izien outplayed Winfield and Whitehead last year.
If Winfield sucks again, we have to release him, save the money and start Izien alongside Tykes Smith.
I want Izien on the field. Even as a dime package LB alongside LVD.
Izien is a playmaker!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
When Bowles was the DC, and they were playing the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, in over 80% of the defensive snaps, Bowles used a zone defense, holding Mahomes to ZERO TDs. So, he has used it successfully in the past.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
Eckwood you ok bro you having a bad day 😆
August 8th, 2025 at 5:22 am
If Tykee balls out at safety my theory will be Todd uses a year at nickel as a long terms training ground.
August 8th, 2025 at 8:43 am
I’m a Izien fan so I sure would like to see more of him on the field along with Smith, The other big problem for the Bucs last year was injuries. That’s Buc Luck and we’re due for a break this year.
August 8th, 2025 at 8:48 am
@BucsFanSince1996
The Chiefs had two starting tackles that couldn’t play and Mahomes was running for his life. Lets not get it twisted and at least put it in perspective.
Year in, year out, Bowles has a bottom 5 pass defense. Bowles is the king of playing players out of position, and at the very least, playing players in a scheme that doesn’t fit their strengths as a player.
The one thing a Bowles defense can hang its hat on is being able to stop the run in a league that no longer features the running game.
August 8th, 2025 at 10:21 am
That’s not really true. For instance, there’s more draftable running backs in fantasy football this year than any other time in recent memory.
August 8th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Leave it to me to declare I was impressed by Todd’s interview and was starting to believe in him. Then I read the above, including comments, and realize I may be premature in my accolades for Todd.
I did hear him say he was watching the offense and would judge the defense by looking at the film. Here’s hoping he sees what needs to be seen to finally make some corrections.
August 8th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
Still struggling on zone defense is wild for a team that has most of the players returning. This better not be the achilles heel again this season! More than enough time to fix/ simplify where needed. At this point it is inexcuseable. Let’s hope the pass rush gets home to help out!