Todd Bowles: Bucs’ Sacks Have Spiked Thanks To Secondary
October 27th, 2026
Causing sacks.
Interesting take by KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Joe is absolutely loving how, all of a sudden, playing for a coach who frowns on sacks, the Bucs’ sack total from the front seven has jumped significantly the past two games.
Against Pittsburgh and against Carolina, the Bucs had five sacks in each game. Against Pittsburgh, David Walker came of the bench (naturally) and had a pair of sacks. Sunday in Carolina, YaYa Diaby woke from the dead and had three sacks.
Yesterday in his day-after presser, Bowles had an interesting perspective on why his defense, not built for sacks, suddenly is putting quarterbacks on their arses consistently.
Bowles believes the credit goes to starting corners Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum.
“Yeah, they go hand-in-hand,” Bowles said. “I think they did a great job of making [Bryce Young] hold the ball a little bit more [Sunday] where those guys could get off the ball.
“You know, disguising some things and changing some things around, we really got the D-line going. Once those guys get going, [the defensive backs] can anticipate routes and go for interceptions.”
Whatever it takes. Joe is unbelievably happy the Bucs defense — finally! — is looking like a defense to be feared.
It’s one thing to drop an old man to the ground like Steelers drama queen Aaron Rodgers. It’s quite different to treat a mobile quarterback like Bryce Young in such a rude manner.
Please don’t change something that currently is not broken.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Are the Bucs really going to make a playoff push or just get further away from a decent draft pick? “As the stomach churns”
October 27th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Too many sacks puts a defense out of balance. We should expect more of the front 7 dropping into coverage against the Falcons. Forcing the other team to go on long time consuming drives also keeps the offense fresh.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:09 am
I think the greatest reason for the surge in sacks last week comes from playing with a big lead. Putting teams in known pass situations allows our defense to attack the pass rush. Situational football.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:12 am
coverage has been better without Winfield…less breakdowns in the secondary…Winfield could/should be on the trading block
GO BUCS!!!!
October 27th, 2026 at 9:14 am
One game at a time.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:23 am
We usually beat the Panthers anyway. Just a higher point total than normal.
Atlanta already has a winning blueprint against Todd. 3rd and 28.
Mike Evans knows.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:36 am
AWJ got the bag and gave up, not sure what the return on him would be with that dumb contract
October 27th, 2026 at 9:44 am
813bucboi…B-I-N-G-O!!!!
October 27th, 2026 at 9:47 am
for the draft pick obsessed, how many times in the lsot decade did a top 10 pick bail us out? Pretty much never.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:50 am
This is how young players respond when you get rid of old throw back coaches from the 60’s. Imagine how well this team will thrive when they get rid of old Bowles
October 27th, 2026 at 9:52 am
I have to agree with Bucboi, the defense seems to be playing better without Winfield. Of course Bowles isn’t going to admit that sacks are important but the proof is in the pudding. The strip sack of Young with a scoop and score by Clancey was huge in this game.
October 27th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Looking forward to see Trotter vs Bijan
October 27th, 2026 at 10:00 am
It’s the secondary plus an improved rush. McCollum having a career year, Parrish and Tykee balling out and the additions of Walker, Bain (it’s coming), Muhammad, and Robinson. One positive addition improves the entire line. Multiple positive additions improve the line as a whole exponentially.
October 27th, 2026 at 10:00 am
At least Penix is more or less a statue. Drop him a few times and he will get rattled.
That being said, I expect Stefanski to get the ball out fast and exploit the almost always open middle (likely Kyle Pitts) against Bowles. On the one long drive Carolina finally put together, that’s exactly what happened. Why Canales of all people didn’t go there sooner is a mystery.
October 27th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Fire Todd Bowles!
October 27th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Coverage has been getting better all season before Winfield was hurt and has continued to improve. The simpleton’s view is that since Winfield has been out the coverage has improved therefore Winfield was the problem! SMH
October 27th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Bryce Young is the one guy that struggles against Bowles every time. Bowles still must be fired after this season.
October 27th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Super Bowl baby!!!!!
October 27th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Don’t forget Vita dropping into coverage also helps
October 27th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Winfield is not missed. Trade the overpaid underperfoming guy.
October 27th, 2026 at 11:32 am
The best defense is when the Bucs give up a long 8 or 9 minute drive that ends in a field goal. That way the opposing offense is tired and the Bucs offense is fresh.
October 27th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Notice people are not complaining about the Todd Bowles Defense now?
October 27th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Joe! All spring and summer I have been trying to talk you off the ledge concerning our corners. Yoy went on and on sayinghoe badly we needed help at the cornerback position. All the while, I tried to reassure you that we didn’t need any help at cornerback. Well, now perhaps you will finally calm down about the CB room. I’m just surprised you couldn’t discern this from training camp. Of course this is Parrish’s first year at corner but it was plainly evident from his play at nickel that he would excel at corner.
October 27th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish played far more aggressive, tight press-man coverage on the outside, eliminating the quick-rhythm hot routes quarterbacks usually rely on to beat Bowles’ blitzes.
October 27th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Bowles doesn’t frown on sacks. Sacks are just not the end all be all like some of you think. Pressure is the real key and that’s what Bowles stresses and I agree. Without pressure, there can be no sacks and even if pressures don’t turn into sacks, they still can cause mistakes, interceptions, disrupt timing, etc.
Don’t get me wrong, take the sacks all day if you can get them but you shouldn’t view a defenses success by how many sacks they have.
Again, Myles Garrett broke the single season sack record and what did that get the Browns?
October 27th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Jacob Parrish is the truth. He’s one of the best CBs in the league. I believe his presence has rubbed off on ZM. Right now, what we thought would be a liability, has turned out to be a strength.
The secondary is playing lights out and it has made a world of difference for this defense…
October 27th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Nothing succeeds like a strong pass rush. It forces QB to lose rythm, timing and control. Those weren’t coverage sacks last Sunday. Just aggressive old fashioned pass rush. Nice to know we have a hidden pass rusher in David Walker. Not sure why Bowles would ever take him off the field. Another great draft choice by Licht.
October 27th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
It takes eleven players working together to make a great defense. Takes more than that to keep it sustainable. Many of us have commented on needing the right players in order to fire on all cylinders. It’s not rocket science but it also isn’t as simple as wanting more sacks.
October 27th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
Melifonu looks good in the center and he is tall so quarterbacks don’t really want to test him, Winfield has been a liability for awhile yes he should be in the trading convos for a lineman or a linebacker
October 27th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
I agree. If they can maintain great position for a second longer then that forces opposing QBs to hold on to the ball that much longer.
October 27th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Every player thrives under Bowles. There are multiple measures and proofs of that beyond the standings and the scoreboard.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
@McBay. just stop. It’s not even entertaining. You may need to seek mental health care.
October 27th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Yes.
I haven’t seen a Cornerback, or secondary, playing absolutely off the charts.
Both would have to be Pro Bowlers- or one got robbed.
But,
Coach Bowles dialed up the blitz. And even more, he dialed up faking the blitz.
And designing Blitz packages is what Todd Bowles does best.
Why he stopped doing that, since middle of last season, would be the first Question I’d ask him.
Why abandon your greatest skill.
When you blitz, you put your secondary in a bad spot. Somebody left coverage to go after the QB.
Most Secondaries get beat.
Not ours. Zyon, Parrish, Scott are just killing it. Best unit on the team by Far.
Only other group in the competition is the Running backs.
Keep Running. Keep Blitzing.
They may win some games yet.
October 27th, 2026 at 3:52 pm
“Joe is absolutely loving how, all of a sudden, playing for a coach who frowns on sacks…..”
———–
Why does Joe keep saying stoopid shlt like the above or any of the other Todd doesn’t like sacks comments ? He never said any of the anti-sack crap you keep attributing to him. All he did was agree with most people who know modern football that pressures matter too and that sacks are overrated by some.
5 sacks – 4 were 4 man rushes, 1 was a 3 man rush. Maybe that’s something we could/should be talking about – pressure without sending 5-6 and sacrificing coverage! And the sacks are going to keep on coming, we’re talented and deep now on the line.
Credit were credit’s due. To Todd and to the defensive staff and players. We’re legit strong on all levels of the D.