Todd Bowles Credits Coaches For Explosion Of Interceptions
November 11th, 2026
Sweeping offseason changes to the Bucs defense are paying off.
The defense has been strong, though inconsistent. Some stretches have been amazing, like stopping high-flying Chicago on seven consecutive drives on Sunday.
Among those changes were moving on from Todd Bowles pals Nick Rapone (safeties coach) and Kevin Ross (cornerbacks coach). Their assistants replaced them, and Bowles said they deserve credit for the explosion of interceptions.
Tampa Bay leads the NFL with 16 picks and is on pace for the highest single-season total since the Packers racked up 31 in a 15-win season back in 2011.
“I think Coach [Rashad] Johnson and Coach [Tim] Atkins do a really good job of not just playing a coverage but understanding what routes come in, the coverage and what you have to see to get your interceptions in that coverage,” Bowles said on his official team radio show (Joe listened on SiriusXM).
“And I think Zyon [McCollum] and [Jacob] Parrish have done an excellent job at that, as well as Tykee [Smith]. Yyou can add Alex [Anzalone] to that as well. And so it’s really paid off for us big time. When we practice it, we study it, we talk about it. They feed off each other, they communicate and they’re really starting to make plays. And that’s really a credit to their coaches.”
Joe has no doubt that Bucs coaching has been more effective in the secondary. Sometimes simply fresh voices in charge can make a huge difference.
Somebody got McCollum’s head right, Joe believes. Joe also sees the emergence of Parrish and Smith very much tied to their young talent and aggressiveness.
November 11th, 2026 at 10:15 am
Bowles made some good moves, elevating these coaches. The defense is trending upwards and it’s too bad the offense is lagging. I wouldn’t mind Larry Foote taking over as DC next year (with Bowles gone), and Danny Smith retained also. Being in the bye week, it’s time to let Z-Rob go and elevate Zampese.
November 11th, 2026 at 10:22 am
“Sometimes simply fresh voices in charge can make a huge difference.“
No kidding.
November 11th, 2026 at 10:35 am
From what I understand, Rashad Johnson was the nickel coach… which is why Tykee, Christian Izien, Parrish and all our guys at nickel the last 2 or 3 years have been good but regressed when moved to safety or elsewhere. Now Rashad’s in charge of all secondary personnel. What does that teach us fans? Coaching matters… a lot! And sometimes the right coach is in the same building. Like Liam was. Sometimes not.
Kirk Cousins was great under Kubiak and KOC. Under Zac? Not good. Baker was great under Liam throwing 40+ TDs. Under Zac? Not good. Not sure the answer for offensive coaching is in the same building this year but let’s hope it is and that they find those answers during the bye week… cuz there’s not that much statistically that separates us from the 6-2 Minnesota Vikings except the wins and losses. Go figure!
November 11th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Fire Robinson – it cant be any worse
November 11th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Rashad Johnson is the newest branch on the Bowles coaching tree, and just like Coach Foote-the guy ya’ll mocked for hollering about David Walker, who all of you now all of a sudden love-is a former player of Bowles. So what he’s teaching not only lines up with what the HC wants from his guys, but Johnson can give it to our guys as a former player teaching what he’s experienced.
November 11th, 2026 at 11:34 am
The turnovers are really making a huge difference in the outcome of games and our overall record.
In a results driven business Todd Bowles always delivers first rate success.
His teams are a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all. Winning is fun!
Coen is a terrible HC and I’m so glad we avoided that pitfall. Credit to the Glazers!
Todd is the alpha of alphas in the HC realm. First ballot HOF induction.
November 11th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Just think if we actually had a good head coach to go along with those fresh voices.
November 11th, 2026 at 11:50 am
The Pittsburgh game was a wake-up call. The coaching staff saw X Buccaneer cornerbacks playing lights-out. The problem wasn’t the players; it wasn’t the system; it was the coaching mentality. The coaches had the players playing scared for 3 years.
November 11th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
The raise mccollum got looks better each week. At first it seemed like a waste but it was a JL masterclass to pay him early and CHEAP. He isn’t even top 10. Carlton Davis makes more than him LOL
November 11th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
The raise mccollum got looks better each week. At first it seemed like a waste but it was a JL masterclass to pay him early and CHEAP. He isn’t even top 10. Carlton Davis makes more than him LOL
November 11th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Bowles is going to be offensive coordinator from here on, and it’s going to make a huge difference, even if the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it.
November 11th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
“The raise mccollum got looks better each week. At first it seemed like a waste but it was a JL masterclass to pay him early and CHEAP. He isn’t even top 10. Carlton Davis makes more than him LOL”
Yup, as it stands right now. We’re getting top 5 play out of the 23rd highest paid CB and former 5th round pick.
Playing better than guys at the same position making more like Marlon Humphery, AJ Terrell, Jaylen Watson & Denzel Ward (who’s damn near making twice as much as Zyon)
November 11th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Yup Toad, 3-6 in the worst division in football. SMFH!
November 11th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
Seven. Consecutive. Drives. We should have been up by 30!
November 11th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Nutty professor, you’re better at trolling than sarcasm. Just a tip.
November 11th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
But.. if nutty professor really wants to emulate McBay, have at it. Two peas in a pod.
November 11th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
the dbs have turned out to be a bright spot in a dismal season. they are playing slightly off and baiting the qbs into tight throws and unlike our WRs they actually catch the ball!! unbelievable our record is not better with that many pics, proves the offense is historically horrifically bad!!
November 11th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
So let me get this straight, when things are going bad the answer is only the players can fix it… But when things are going good, it’s because of the coaches? Losing a lot of respect for this guy.
November 11th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
With all the Oc’s hes had,maybe pop a prevagen or 2
November 11th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Now a dumb coach is trying to take credit for something that he shops have done YEARS AGO. 60 years old and the only coaches you trusted coached you in college him. A coach born in the 1950’s. Now you’re about to get fired and you brag about hiring young coaches you know something all coaches do