Curious Words About Corners From Todd Bowles
August 23rd, 2026
CB Benjamin Morrison.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles held his day-after remarks Zoom call early this morning and commented about cornerbacks.
Bowles was asked by a member of the local pen and mic club for his review of the Bucs corners from last night’s worthless preseason game against the Chiefs’ future truck drivers and outboard motor mechanics. Bowles’ response was very curious.
“They’re very athletic,” Bowles said of his corners. “Got to get [Benjamin] Morrison out there at the same time.
“But I think they’re very athletic, and I think they’re very good at man-covered guys. “
Has to get Morrison out there? That’s interesting to Joe.
Bowles loves, loves, loves to have all his corners play nickel or at least pretend to play nickel. Does Bowles wanting Morrison out there “at the same time” mean he has Morrison penciled in as a starter, even though just last week Morrison finally began to practice regularly?
Does this mean Bowles envisions Morrison as a nickel corner, which he hasn’t previously?
Or is this a motivational tactic for Zyon McCollum to continue to bust his tail? McCollum had some good plays last night.
Or perhaps this just could be that Bowles wants to see last year’s second-round pick demonstrate his draft value and start taking snaps on a regular basis?
This is all very interesting to Joe.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:44 pm
To describe players who don’t achieve their NFL dreams as future “truck drivers & outboard mechanics” is quite degrading considering most are college graduates…..
I’m not denigrating truck drivers or outboard mechanics…..just think future teachers, high school coaches, stock brokers would be more appropriate.
I’m sure Joe is just poking fun and has no intention of being insulting.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
It’s degrading to NFL players to equate truck drivers and outboard mechanics as NFL players.
The NFL is about results. It isn’t pee wee or high school. None of this huggy-feeling sap. You either get the job done or you don’t. Either finish the job or step aside for someone who can.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Benjamin Morrison or Garnes will be outside cb 3 & 4 and Pepe Williams #5 with Josh Hayes gets the last spot with his great special teams play. The Cb depth looks much better than we thought going into camp.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:56 pm
“…outboard motor mechanics.” Hahahaha!
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:04 pm
He has Bain dropping back already.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Perhaps some could be future Sports Blog Writers….
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Had your outboard fixed lately? They mechs make BIG bag money.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:07 pm
Those that don’t make the squad (or another teams) could always run a football blog…. A lot less talent or skill needed than a mechanic or truck driver. 😎
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Dammit TBBF. You beat me to it 😂
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:08 pm
DL solid
LB solid
No more excuses from the DB play … spotlight on the back end
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Joe how much longer you gonna ignore the offense ??? Here ya go. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2026/08/left-tackle-issue-alters-bucs-offensive-work/ –Joe
wtf was that from Baker, they never even threw the ball down field
Bunch of screen passes … wtf was that about
Where do we be getting these offensive coordinators from
Baker ain’t look like no 50 million QB to me
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Garnes should definitely be given a chance to be on the team.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Mechanics and truck drivers are better paid than teachers and more useful to society than stock brokers, imo. They aren’t particularly good at pro football is all.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Tampa Bay Bucs fan
I also think it’s heartless to disrespect these football players chasing their dreams.
Every player who gets cut will feel deep heartbreak.
They all deserve our respect
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Ayden Garnes looks like he should make the team!! He plays like an NFL starter. I think Bowles wants to see what Morrison can do. As of now, he has no clue!!! Morrison and Garnes will probably be CB3 and CB4. Garnes has earned that IMO.. Hayes and Williams CB5 and CB6.. Keionte Scott will be starting Nickel.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Laird
You are missing the point……….you don’t go to college to eventually become a truck driver or outboard motor mechanic…..you can do that without a degree..
I stated there is nothing wrong with those occupations……but to ascribe college graduates who don’t make the NFL to those is simply a bad example.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:38 pm
You guys need to settle down on the crocodile tears for people that got a free education and more perks than we could imagine, before getting to play in preseason games. Ruthless sport, ruthless business
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:40 pm
The backend debate of today sounds so much like the rushing game debate of yesteryear. Then we argued whether it was the runners or the OLine. Eventually we got better linemen and much better runners. Problem solved. Debate no longer interesting.
Now we’re talking about the defense in general and the pass defense in particular. We’ve just imported a bunch of sack artists and have picked up (or motivated) more players in the back.
I hope to God the thing is fixed and the pass defense debate becomes boring. I can’t take too much more clickbait on how the Bucs lack five deep HoF corners. Or how one of the front five often drops back when we’re not blitzing. Or how Todd Bowles started hating sacks when JPP retired.
Pro football is all about getting the most you can out of the tools at hand. Bowles produced a SB-winning defense when the groceries were good. No one — not George Hallas, not Buddy Ryan, not Jimmy Johnson was going to get a Top-5 play out of the likes of JTS and Krewe. There were “Reasons” that that side collapsed, and most of those reasons are General Knowledge of those who watched the General Manager.
There are defensive groceries on the table this season, with four draft picks coupled with five unrestricted free agents and a bunch of undrafted free agent prospects. Now that the cupboard is stacked let’s see how this meal tastes.
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:44 pm
plumbers are ruthless.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Right….it’s a worthless preseason game with a bunch of worthless losers trying hard to win a spot on a team with a worthless coach.
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Sure did see bain dropping into coverage. And he didn’t look comfortable doing it
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:09 pm
I’ve been plenty critical when Bowles was struggling mightily and candidly the improvements that seem likely may be more because of the timing/cycle of players healing and coming available on top of some good drafting. But C’mon man why do losers like we have here have to spew so much hate? Take your misery somewhere else.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:10 pm
I don’t think there’s anything interesting or notable about what Bowles said. You can try to spin up ideas, but he didn’t say anything other than the obvious. Morrison needs to get some game reps. Duh.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:13 pm
What I heard is that the corners are good man cover corners aka not good at zone aka Todd’s given up his complex defense that kids these days don’t get and Todd ain’t blitzing at 30% this year and will rely on his pass rush to get home. This can’t be bad news.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Tony Says:
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:23 pm
He’s a lock.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:22 pm
HC Grover Says:
August 23rd, 2026 at 3:04 pm
People need to settle down about this. Outside linebackers have to drop in coverage sometimes. It’s not just Bowles’ defense. In a straight up 4-3, Bain would be a DE and wouldn’t have those responsibilities, but that’s not what they play. Saying Bain shouldn’t drop in coverage is essentially saying they should switch to a 4-3 and that’s not happening as long as Bowles is HC.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:24 pm
Do not call a Handy Man around here. Butt Crack Rob Jobs……
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Skunk ya got it. That is why Bowles only wins half his games. He will turn Bain in to Plan 9 from outer space.
August 23rd, 2026 at 5:12 pm
“worthless preseason game” – Joe
Tell that to Danials.
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:26 pm
Joe says this:”The NFL is about results. It isn’t pee wee or high school. None of this huggy-feeling sap. You either get the job done or you don’t. Either finish the job or step aside for someone who can.” yeah I agree, very no nonsense, that is why I grade someone on results not cool personality or effort. This team should of dumped Braswell and Bowles and Baker (if it was not so hard to get a better QB). Accepting piss poor results is the hallmark of a bad team.
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:42 pm
I think if they put some catnip in her saucer at breakfast she might be able to finish a week of practice.
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:56 pm
I think he’s right. I haven’t had the five-alarm, total ‘freak-out’ about our Defensive Secondary, that everyone else has had. As long as they’re healthy, and Winfield Junior is “Winfield JUNIOR” AGAIN, then I don’t see a problem. You can’t be 4-5 Deep with ALL STUDS at CORNER, in a salary cap league. NOBODY IS. These modern day offenses and ‘elite-level’ WR-play all throughout the league today, makes it virtually IMPOSSIBLE covering these guys for too awfully long, to begin with. Eventually, EVERYBODY’S gettin’ BURNED. You might was well go ahead, and be ‘aggressive’ and SWARM for most of the time… Create. TURNOVERS. And, keep ‘em out of the EndZone. A lot easier said than done though, when you can’t rely on your “OFFENSE” to move the ball, pick up 1st-Downs, and sustain drives.
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:28 pm
By far the most interesting thing he said there was:
“But I think they’re very athletic, and I think they’re very good at man-covered guys. “
Does that mean Bowles is actually going to go away from his God awful super soft zone finally – and switch back to his aggressive man defense that he actually won a SB with? If that is the plan – expect some big time early struggles, just like in 2019, when the Bucs defense was on-pace to be the worst Bucs defense of all time, before finally starting to improve in midseason, before closing out the year really strong. We don’t have that sort of corner talent now, so they won’t end up as good as the 2019 defense did at the end of the year, but they could certainly crack the top 12 by the end of the year if they stop playing so soft. Also, some tight coverage, should result in a lot more sacks (and yes, a lot of big plays given up, but I’ll take that over passively sitting back and being picked apart).
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:42 pm
Guessing there our some boat mechanics that make more money than the Joe’s. Not to be degrading to anyone who owns a football fan site for living..but this ain’t pee wee…or is it?
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
“Has to get Morrison out there? That’s interesting to Joe.”
Isn’t that kind of the consensus on B-Mo? Jurys’ still out on him and it’s going to stay out as long as he isn’t on the field.
Could be as simple as seeing how well Morrison pairs with other CBs on the field. Do you like him opposite of Zyon and kick Parrish in at Nickel. Especially if we’re evaluating film, you want to see how your boundary CBs work in tandem. Believe it or not, some coverage concepts flow and you want to see what pair works well individually and together, relative to their respective responsibilities.
Can’t do it with Morrison nursing a hammy.
Garnes and Pepe look solid. If I had to choose between those to be looked at as a NB, it’d be Williams. Pepe bring a little more physicality. I like Garnes solely on the outside, but I’d still cross-train him just in case there’s a match-up we’d feel good relying on him with.
We should also keep an eye on Roman Parodie, guys first week back in the big leagues and he literally had a roster spot fall into his hands last night lol. I think he played in the UFL some this year and it’s good to see a guy like that get another shoot. Looking around the league the past few weeks, there’s been about a few teams bringing UFL guys. Idk that’s cool to me, it’s almost like 2nd Chance U, but it’s an entire league.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:26 pm
Doesn’t bowles OWE this kids dad something? Isn’t this one of bowles buddies, .. kid? Wasn’t that the take on Morrison last year or do I have the wrong always hurt rookie/year 1 guy?
Does anybody remember that?
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:41 pm
So there’s a future for Todd tone a plumber?
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Btw, boat mechanics make more than most of you ever did at your “whatever you did type jobs”
It’s not a cheap shot. It’s A FACT…
A beginner pulls in anywhere between 80 to 125k “starting”. Average “boat” mechanic makes 150k+ per year. Accomplished boat mechanic “can make” over 200+k per year Easily. And btw, that doesn’t exactly make them the brightest bulb on the tree…. Just far more fortunate than most. Lucked into the right skill set for “desperate and needy fishermen”
Heck the acronym for B.O.A.T. is “Bring On Another Thousand”
That might give some a signal to just how much a boat mech makes.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
There is just such a huge drop off in talent and skill-level, when your top Corners are OUT. And, you can’t hide it. They’re out there on an island, and they are just going to get exposed in one way or another. That’s just all there is to it. The Seahawks were without their TOP-4 Corners when we played them last season, and EVEN “WE” lit ‘em UP for 38-POINTS at Seattle. THIS Bucs OFFENSE. From last season… AT THE eventual “Super Bowl” CHAMPIONS. One of THE ‘toughest’ places to play in the entire LEAGUE. After flying across country. And, that included THEIR LEADER and BEST PLAYER, in Devon Witherspoon… Who just signed for over $35-MIL+ PER YEAR LONGTERM, for 4-years!!!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:22 pm
@ Obvious One – I always thought it meant, “Break Off/Out Another Thousand.”
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:43 pm
@ Rod Munch – Yeah, I mean, WHY just give them everything, and then have to rely on your little nickel/corners to have to make tackles like that, especially in SPACE!? It’s ridiculous. I don’t believe that he trusted our OFFENSE to be able to KEEP UP.
Idk why my other post didn’t appear after my first one!? Happens constantly, now that I am being “Permanently Moderated.” For WHAT reason too, I have absolutely NO IDEA. When, I’ve been posting on here FOR YEARS (with the exact same crap – nothing different), and NEVER had the FIRST problem before!? Definitely, never permanently moderated. I’m just about DONE with it.
August 24th, 2026 at 12:19 am
Actually, I thought I heard an ad for Walmart truck drivers and it was offering 6 figures with great benefits. I heard there is a shortage of truck drivers.
August 24th, 2026 at 1:45 am
Really annoying how this guy gets such accolades and yet we really haven’t seen anything from him on the field. He’s paper thin always getting hurt. He may have talent but when have the fans gotten to see it.
August 24th, 2026 at 1:47 am
Is “very athletic” another term for “hurt all of the time”? How many games will Benny Hamstrings play in? Probably less than half.
August 24th, 2026 at 6:33 am
Josh Hayes needs to go. I haven’t seen anything special from him. Scott can be CB five or bring in a veteran
August 24th, 2026 at 6:34 am
You’re reading something into a figure of speech that just isn’t there, Joe.
What Bowles was actually saying was, “I like what I’m seeing from our corners. They are very athletic and good in man coverage. While that is nice (a.k.a. ‘at the same time’), I’d like to see Morrison out there playing so that I can see whether we have enough depth at the position.”
August 24th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Interesting how Todd’s exotic look defense designed to confuse quarterbacks actually confuses our pass coverage more than anything else. Todd says his corners can cover in man. Duh…that requires very little scheme knowledge. But when they have to play zone and know what they’re supposed to be covering Todd’s defense requiring a PhD results in guys being scared to blow their assignment and therefore play soft just making sure they don’t get run past. That’s why guys are wide ass open all the freaking time.