What Todd Bowles Is Looking For Next Week In New Jersey
August 9th, 2026
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Tomorrow, the Bucs fly to New Jersey to have two practices with the Jets and then a worthless preseason game with the Jets.
Sure, the Bucs want to improve all over. But the biggest thing for KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles is to see how his players perform against a totally different offense and defense.
“It’s a different scheme,” Bowles said. “You know, a different scheme, making sure we’ve got our fundamentals and technique down and then guys just playing to the ball and playing football.
“Here, it can get a little mundane when you go against the same guy every day and understand each other’s scheme to a degree of what they’re trying to do. So, to go against another scheme and then try to execute your plan, making sure we get ready for the season so we’ve got all our rules in place.”
Yes, a new environment and a new team to face breaks up the monotony. If anything, it is mentally refreshing.
There are young guys having a good camp (rookies Rueben Bain, Josiah Trotter, Ted Hurst and Keionte Scott), so you hope continue that progress against green and white jerseys.
Then there are guys like edge rusher Chris Braswell (he had two “sacks” in Sunday’s pads-free practice ) the Bucs also hope he continues to show up in an offense’s backfield, even though it’s been the second-team offense.
Joe almost didn’t know Braswell was on the roster in his first two seasons. This summer, Braswell has been noticed just about every day, even though he rarely takes snaps with the first-team.
If Braswell shows up this week in New Jersey, not only does that suggest what Joe is seeing at One Buc Palace is not a mirage, it may demonstrate the NFL is starting to click for him.
And of course, just about everyone wants to see David Walker harass Jets quarterbacks.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
No “main” pass rushers dropping in coverage? Got it….do it Todd, PLEASE!
Other OLB will drop here and there, i know….But let the MAIN ones eat!!!
August 9th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Who’s David Walker?
August 9th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
I’m looking for no injuries.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Same here on the injuries. Most first stringers won’t play much so that helps.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
As far as fundamentals…have the secondary practiced tackling yet? How about everyone taking correct angles? Those two things will win us a lot of football games if we perform them well! Didn’t see a lot of it last year…
Last year I saw way too much of people like McCollum trying to bring down running backs by throwing his shoulder instead of wrapping up. He got lucky a few times but his luck will not hold eventually. Get everybody at LB and secondary to wrap up and drive through ball carriers with their legs and we will win a lot more.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
I’m looking for players to PLAY. If that happens consistently with this roster, amd people stay healthy, everything else will work out just fine.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
He’ll be looking for the nearest candy shop!
August 9th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
Any word on Zyon? He had an awesome pick the other day against EE. Word (elsewhere) is he’s having a solid camp overall.
Garnes has also been mentioned as a surprise UDFA CB possibility.
August 9th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
I’m looking for dishwashers and Uber drivers to play in a lousy Swiss cheese scheme.
August 9th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Bowles said he has a new scheme. I don’t remember hearing that before. Joe, have you previously reported about Bowles’ new scheme?
August 9th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
I knew Braswell sucked during his first preseason games.
He was so slow. He had rocks in his socks. His first step was so slow.
He had zero power either. He got zero pressure against 4th quarter offensive tackles. Tackles who wouldn’t make the team.
And Braswell still couldn’t get past them.
I knew Braswell was a bust during his rookie preseason. And last preseason.
I would trade Braswell for a 5th rounder. Even a 7th!
August 9th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
Well I have been saying for a couple of months that the Bucs need to get a real legimate cb. If Morrison does not play next week at the Jets, the Bucs may need to declare an emergency to get a CB. I feel for the guy it must be frustrating, but if you can’t get on the field you can’t develop and he has a long, long way to go. Get a legimate CB and let Morrison take his time and see if he can get healthy, then get on the field. Then hopefully he can stay on the field and develop. However right now the Bucs can’t sit sit and hope.
I cant understand why the Bucs have been waiting on. With that said it will also be interested to see how McColumn fares against another team. I am not sold on the Bucs CB’s yet and see it as a huge weak link on the team.