Todd Bowles: Jason Pierre-Paul Is “Grasping The System”
December 27th, 2025
Still learning Bucs defense.
This is awfully weird to Joe.
From 2018-2020, Bucs outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul was one of the more feared edge rushers in the game. He helped lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl title, in part because he and Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett terrorized opposing quarterbacks from the outside.
(And Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea did the same from the inside.)
Joe doesn’t think the Bucs win a Super Bowl without JPP. The fact Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht got JPP for a third-round pick was one of the greatest heists in Tampa Bay history.
In 2021, JPP got hurt early but gutted it out but was pretty much washed and he left the Bucs after that season.
Back with the Bucs now, in what many believe is an act of desperation, pulling him off his rocking chair after two years in retirement, JPP is trying to make an impact as he gets into football shape.
Then Friday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said something truly strange.
“He’s really just grasping the system, obviously, and getting used to playing again,” Bowles said of JPP. “So, there are different things that he’s got to grasp that will increase his workload. As he gets more comfortable with that, he’ll get more playing time.”
Wait a minute: Didn’t JPP play for Bowles for three seasons? And he’s just “grasping” Bowles’ defense? What in the wild, wild world of sports is going on here?
Yes, Joe knows Bowles changes things up each year so as not to be so predictable. But is Bowles trying to tell fans that his defense is so different now than it was three seasons ago that a veteran like JPP has to learn a new defense all over again?
Joe thinks it’s safe to speak for a good number of Bucs fans that whatever Bowles changed, he may want to think about returning to his old ways given how his defense is getting gashed nearly every week.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:04 am
“He’s really just grasping the system..” Hahahaha!! This defense has to be the equivalent to learning to be a brain surgeon. Mensa man Bowles.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:08 am
JPP is working on dropping back in coverage. His legs are not there yet. Tucker is zooming by him in practice.
Patience Bucs fans. 2 more games left.
7–10 is coming.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Todd Bowles: Jason Pierre-Paul Is “Grasping The System”
And Todd Bowles is grasping for straws…
December 27th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Todd Bowels is grasping…
December 27th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Here’s the reason Coach Bowles thinks JPP is having trouble “grasping” the system. Every time coach tells him to drop back in coverage, JPP says, “WHAT?!?!”.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:17 am
and… Devon Culp is still learning the offense 2 years in. 😳
December 27th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Just send him to the QB how hard is that?
December 27th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Bowles has to leave. The rams signed baker and 2 days later won a game playing qb. We cant sign anyone and let them play 2 days later. Its ridiculous
December 27th, 2025 at 8:21 am
I think Bowles is just now grasping the system. And learning that it sucks!
December 27th, 2025 at 8:23 am
“Grasping the system”, “still learning the system”.
This is how Coach Bowles shifts blame.
JPP has no reason to understand any part of the “system” other than put the QB on the ground or cause enough of a disruption so that YaYa can put the QB on the ground.
I really hope the Bucs win the next two games. I am a fan and losing sucks.
But I also hope Coach Bowles is not retained after this season.
Take that putrid defensive “system” some where else.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Has to learn how to cover the curl/flat.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:28 am
Has to be trained up to cover backs and receivers now! About another two weeks and he should be good to go…oh wait!!
December 27th, 2025 at 8:34 am
I think it more of JPP grasping the play of the guys around him. During the Super Bowl season, they had a dominant defense, with skilled, dominant players. But now, that’s not the case, it’s not even close.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:44 am
He needs to get more comfortable with allowing plenty of time for the opposing QB to shred this “new” defense.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Weird
December 27th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Yes by werk 20 he will be ready to go, he will break the sack record. What a moron of a coach we have.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Hahahahahahahaha!!! More doodoo talk from Bowles. He had to learn to cover the slant routes better before he can go in and rush the passer. What a joke!!!!
December 27th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Yea he is trying to learn how to cover a WR 30 yards down field. Bowles is washed and so is his defense. We need younger coaches that know how to run modern systems. Bowles is not the answer. Just fire him already
December 27th, 2025 at 8:53 am
And Bowles is gasping.
December 27th, 2025 at 8:55 am
People and players can like him all they want, this is a mediocre coach. Some guys in locker room see it and it’s why he is/has lost a portion of that locker room.
JPP knows football, let him put his hand in the dirt and go after the QB
December 27th, 2025 at 9:06 am
the system hasnt changed . mcmillan scored the same game winning td as kupp did . dean on mcmillan mismatch winfield on kupp mismatch
December 27th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Win the Superbowl or go fishing. Let the suffering end.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Hmmmm could it be bowles is running something different but getting similar results…I will say same ol same ol for a thousand Joe
December 27th, 2025 at 9:21 am
What’s there to grasp? Rush the passer that’s it. What’s there to learn or forget?
December 27th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Hope the Glazers are grasping what needs to be done to this system.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:25 am
For Todd Bowles system to work he needs players who can excel in his system. He lacks players that can execute his system.
Why hasn’t Bowles built his system on players strength? You can’t make players into something they’re not.
There’s so much disconnect under Todd Bowles defense. We are late into the season and it’s getting worse.
The results speak for themselves and the outcome is staring us right in the face. If they fail to make the playoffs will the Bucs organization make the right choices?
I’m honestly not sure. If Jason Licht is as good as everyone says we about to test assessment.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:29 am
That’s GREAT news, cuz it’s quite obvious that very few other defensive players have “grasped our system.”
Or, it could also mean this: as bad as our “system” currently is, perhaps JPP is learning how to “grasp” failure.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:29 am
I could see adding in wrinkles as offenses evolve but toilet Bowles isn’t doing that. No wonder his guys keep making mental errors. Todd Bowles it’s time to retire when your scheme is too old to beat rookies and back up quarterbacks. We watch you do the same things over and over, if you don’t call the perfect defense for an offenses play the players get roasted
December 27th, 2025 at 9:37 am
I hope this is a joke. Bowles has to go!
December 27th, 2025 at 9:39 am
If Bowles is basically making it up as he goes along, he too is just “grasping the system.” And he’ll likely have the whole offseason to figure it out.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:39 am
Munch,
You asked about Dean pay cut in 2025. Any fool, especially you, knows the data. Reminding you here:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean took a significant pay cut for the 2025 NFL season, reducing his salary from $12.5 million to around $4.25 million (with incentives) and voiding the final year of his contract, making him a free agent after the season, a move he made to stay comfortable in Tampa Bay rather than restructuring.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:44 am
This guy. I am so tired of reading his ish.
We all love our Bucs and we get in here a debate and disagree.
One thing we all agree on is this coach has to go.
🤙🏾👊🏾👊🏾
December 27th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Please let this be the last season of this head coach. JPP has played in the league for years and played for this coach for years BUT is “grasping” the system. Smh… Phillip Rivers comes out of retirement after 5yrs and plays the most difficult position on the field he played the entire game the same week they signed him. This shows that our coach refuses to adapt to his players strengths.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Thanks for the laugh this morning Joe. What that means is JPP can’t be on the field unless he knows how to drop back in coverage. Ridiculous.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:54 am
He is probably being taught how to fall back into coverage repeatedly and poorly cover TEs and receivers.
December 27th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Oh no no no no. Why was he brought in? Many of us were rooting for him, and now this. If he is in the game tomorrow, I am hoping for the best. Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Not saying im rooting against the bucs. BUT I am rooting for some chamge.
December 27th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Here is the system JPP needs to grasp. Everyone drop into an eleven man zone guarding various blades of grass. After an inevitable explosive play everyone stares at each other while shaking their heads, and pointing to the blades of grass they were covering. It’s a complex system masterminded by a defensive genius.
December 27th, 2025 at 10:30 am
Vikings re sign Brian Flores. Go ahead and take him off your “prospective” coaching list.
December 27th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Joe, no one cares about JPP.
December 27th, 2025 at 10:34 am
JPP has 66 career PD, to go with his career 94 sacks
Diaby, Reddick, Nelson, Braswell has 29 combined PD
JPP is an all- around do it all OLB
I can’t say the same for the Invisible 4