Todd Bowles Suggests José Ramirez (And Other OLBs) Are Inconsistent
August 18th, 2025
Todd Bowles breaks down.
Earlier in training camp, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he knows José Ramirez can rush the passer.
This got Joe to hit the bottle of Eagle Rare. Then why on God’s green earth is Ramirez not on the field on Sundays!
It took Bowles a while but it seems he sort of outed Ramirez and his Weekday Warrior brother-in-arms, Markees Watts. It seems they are too inconsistent for Bowles’ tastes.
Bowles was asked about the edge rush Saturday in Pittsburgh. He began by giving Chris Braswell some love when he dovetailed into outing Ramirez and Watts (and others).
“I was happy with the play of Braswell from the outside,” Bowles said in his day-after presser Sunday morning. “The quarterback, Skylar [Thompson], was a very good athlete. Sometimes we got out-athleted, and other times we could have done a better job with contain.
“Ramirez, Watts and Peeples have to grow mentally and put it together. When they do it mentally, they don’t do it physically, and when they do it physically, they don’t do it mentally.
“So they have to put the whole package together. I’ll be eager to see what they do [this] week.”
So now we know why Bowles won’t put Ramirez and Watts on the field on Sundays. Still, from what Joe understands, these two go bananas in closed practices against the Bucs’ first team offense.
Surely if they are this good, and Bowles already noted Ramirez can rush the passer, get him on the field on certain passing downs. If he can rush the passer but can’t do anything else, so what? Have him just rush the passer.
As Bill Belichick famously told his personnel folks in New England, “Don’t tell me what a guy can’t do; tell me what he can do.”
August 18th, 2025 at 4:24 am
Why call out Warren Peeples?
Peeples has two sacks in two preseason games
He’s a UDFA from a small college
He may not be able to cover like a Darrelle Revis
Is that what he want?
SMH
August 18th, 2025 at 4:39 am
That’s because some of you think it’s all about sacks and it’s not. If you can’t kee contain on run downs, you’re a liability I’m putting on the field until it’s a run situation. If you’re not rushing the passer better than the guys who can play contain or out in space, then you do not see the field, period.
Fantasy football has warped fan perception of “good” footbal plahers, and they’re left pining for the same “good” play to determine a players worth i.e., sacks. Pass rusher is a job duty, not a position
August 18th, 2025 at 4:52 am
Even PFF are giving Warren Peeples high grades
He’s playing good, especially for a rookie from a small college. He’s playing a lot better than some of the other rookies, and veterans that Bowles is praising. I think Peeples can play inside or outside LB. But he needs a DC that’s willing to put him position to succeed. Like l said, l don’t believe anything that comes out of Bowles mouth.
August 18th, 2025 at 4:58 am
What exactly do Bowles want from a UDFA rookie from a small school. Is he expecting a TJ Watt performance? I’m going with OFF grading system, not Bowles favoritism system. PFF grade every player, according to their performance on the field.
August 18th, 2025 at 5:02 am
PFF haven’t given Warren Peeples a low grade in coverage or playing the run. They grade him very high in rushing the passer.
August 18th, 2025 at 5:52 am
Did I miss something? From my observation Braswell ran into the tackle platter play…no moves, no nothing. Even a blind squirrel can find an acorn, but seriously, a good game?
August 18th, 2025 at 5:55 am
play after play
August 18th, 2025 at 7:15 am
Need Hendrickson-Get it done Jason.
August 18th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Warren Brooks Lynch, good perspective and analysis. Go Bucs!!
August 18th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Joe, Todd Bowles is more concerned if whether is edge rushers can come off the edge and become LB’s. He might as well put Jackson and Bullock on the edge and forget about a true edge rusher
August 18th, 2025 at 8:17 am
If Bowles defense is so complex and hard to figure out, why do rookie quarterbacks routinely eat it for lunch?
August 18th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Ramirez and Watts are situational players. Use them in rushing situations. I saw one sack from Braswell so I will give him that, but he was getting stood up by second and third string tackles in one on one situations and chipped by RBs all game long. Ramirez > Braswell as far as rushing the passer.
August 18th, 2025 at 8:54 am
I trust that Bowles knows more than a blogger. No offense.
I imagine if they aren’t doing it “mentally” then it’s worthless to put them in even on passing downs. Bowles calls the most exotic blitzes in the league; what good is it to have some slappy out there that can’t comprehend the play? Doesn’t know whether he’s going to be rushing or covering based on a look?
You gotta play fast, and you gotta play smart.
August 18th, 2025 at 9:50 am
i agree with Joe and bowles
yes, you cant just be a one trick pony as bowles points out but if you are extremely good at doing your one trick, like joe has mentioned, coaches have to put you in position to be successful…
with that said, trading for trey hendrickson solves both problems imo….
we’d have a proven vet and a respected player watts and Rameriz can learn from….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 18th, 2025 at 10:06 am
If Ramirez is so fierce in practice, why haven’t we seen it on the field? He’s going against third and fourth stringers there, not Wirfs FGS. As Belichick should have said, “Don’t tell me what a guy can’t do. Show me what he CAN do.” Tampa now is a Show-Me state and Jose is not from Missouri. Just sayin.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Braswell and a 2 for Hendrickson.
We’ll get at least 2, maybe three good seasons. Would be better than going the JTS route with Braswell…other than being expensive.
As far as the guys we have to pay. Ask Baker if he’s cool with Trey.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:27 am
If Bowles is so concerned about OLB doing more than rushing the passer– then why he continue to praise Yaya Diaby.
No disrespect to Yaya
But the guy has ZERO PD as a Bucs, 34 games ZERO PD
Brian Burns had 8 PD and 8 1/2 sacks last season, with the Giants. You can blow hot air out of your mouth, all day, all night.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Coaching fail.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:44 am
If a player in the same system for the third year in a row still struggles “Mentally,” do I have to spell it out? JR is not smart enough to play.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Pass rush from OLBs looks the same “nonexistent” granted it was only a handful of snaps.
August 18th, 2025 at 10:57 am
out of 4 guys, including braswell, odds are someone will get the whole package done.
if not they are still useful in camp making the offensive line get better at pass blocking
August 18th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Whats the mental part that Bowles is referring too? Get the gawd damn quarterback on the ground, punch at the ball, don’t body slam. Bowles makes it too complicated.
August 19th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Want excuses? Bowles has em! Starting to cover his behind already for when the pass rush is non existent. Typical.
Go Bucs!