Horrible Defense On Backs Catching Passes
July 8th, 2025
(Lack of) pass coverage.
Wonder if K.J. Britt and J.J. Russell will get blamed for this.
Joe knows the problem with the Bucs last year was pass defense. Actually, it’s been the last two years when the Bucs ranked fourth-worst.
And Joe finds it borderline appalling that a defensive guy like Todd Bowles has had the Bucs’ pass defense ranked between 20th and 30th in the NFL since 2019 with the exception of one season. How? Why?
Inexcusable.
It may help if the Bucs learn how to stop running backs catching passes out of the backfield.
The Bucs were downright horrible when running backs were the target last season. Per Sharp Football Analysis 2025 Preview, the Bucs ranked No. 29 defending running backs in the passing game.
What puzzles Joe is Bowles is so smitten with outside linebackers dropping into pass coverage, shouldn’t the short passing routes (running backs) have been flooded with defenders?
That stat alone should be enough evidence for Bowles to knock off dropping so many outside linebackers back into pass coverage and instead have them rush the passer.
Either that, or someone is doing a pretty s(p)itty job coaching up the outside linebackers on how to defend the pass.
This spring, Bucs defensive assistant Larry Foote returned to coaching outside linebackers.
July 8th, 2025 at 5:34 am
Todd just got a contract extension. Why should he change anything when the Bucs are obviously satisfied with his current work?
July 8th, 2025 at 6:00 am
No good against backs or TEs. LBs were not up to the challenge.
We gotta do better this year. Tackling needs to be way better as well.
Go Bucs!
July 8th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Makes me ill thinking back to last year’s pathetic defense. We’ll be watching and waiting to see major improvement from YOU and the players Todd. I don’t want to hear a single time how there we’re communication breakdowns between position groups any more. It’s your job to make sure that everybody is on the same page.
July 8th, 2025 at 6:48 am
JBF … ‘Joe finds it borderline appalling that a defensive guy like Todd Bowles has had the Bucs’ pass defense ranked between 20th and 30th in the NFL since 2019 with the exception of one season. How? Why? Inexcusable.’
The season (2022) in which our Pass Defense ranked the highest (#9) was Todd’s worst season (8-9). Our defense surrendered 358 points that season (21.1 PPG) … to include 29 Passing TDs (the most since giving up 30 TDs in 2019). Better ‘rankings’ don’t necessarily equate to winning.
I’ve long assumed that Todd Bowles’ defensive schemes prioritize 1 thing: minimizing Points Allowed. TDs Allowed, both Passing & Rushing, have fluctuated considerably in his 6 years here. Instead of measuring performance in terms of Yardage Allowed, look at it in terms of TDs Allowed …
o 2019: 449 pt (#29) – 30 Pass TD (#25) – 11 Rush TD (#7)
o 2020: 355 pts (#8) – 29 Pass TD (#20) – 10 Rush TD (#1)
o 2021: 353 pts (#5) – 26 Pass TD (#13) – 11 Rush TD (#5)
o 2022: 358 pt (#13) – 29 Pass TD (#28) – 12 Rush TD (#10)
o 2023: 325 pts (#7) – 23 Pass TD (#17) – 11 Rush TD (#8)
o 2024: 385 pt (#16) – 27 Pass TD (#19) – 13 Rush TD (#10)
There’s actually a lot of consistency there in terms of Total TDs Allowed (37-41), with the exception of 2023 when our defense only allowed 34 TDs (23 Passing & 11 Rushing). That’s the least number of Passing TDs his defenses allowed in the 6 years, yet our Pass Defense ranked #29 in Passing Yards Allowed.
In the year (2022) that our Pass Defense ranked the best (at #9 in Passing Yards Allowed), we gave up 29 TDs, the most of any year since 2019.
July 8th, 2025 at 7:16 am
And Dean is still here.
July 8th, 2025 at 7:17 am
Shocking. It is almost as if there is a schematic weakness. I wonder if the rest of the NFL has figured it out?
July 8th, 2025 at 7:27 am
“And Joe finds it borderline appalling that a defensive guy like Todd Bowles has had the Bucs’ pass defense ranked between 20th and 30th in the NFL since 2019 with the exception of one season. How? Why?” And…we are talking about the guy who just got an extension – right?
July 8th, 2025 at 7:37 am
I don’t like giving up yards either but I like giving up TD’s less.
July 8th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Bucs were hurting at safety last year. This year, Bowles will stack the box with 3 safeties instead of two safeties. Most likely, Lavonte David will be the sole inside linebacker in many pass defense coverages.
July 8th, 2025 at 9:17 am
Seems to me that offenses know exactly what we are doing on just about every play. We have success on defense when we outplay someone or they make a mistake, not because of defensive scheming.
July 8th, 2025 at 9:40 am
I don’t get hung up on yardage allowed. Alot of that is skewed because we force teams to be 1-dimensional against us, as we’ve been a top 5 team in rush yards allowed every year since 2019. Part of that is personnel, but most of it is a hallmark of the scheme.
What we haven’t had is the talent to exploit that tendency of nullifying the opposing teams run game and forcing them to beat us through the air. That’s why it’s crucial we get better at generating pressure on a snap to snap basis, because all the positive things that come with that should come along with the ability to pressure the pocket on demand.
The Titans finished 2024 as the top pass defense in terms of yards allowed averaging 177 yards a game through the air. They also finished 3rd in total yards allowed, but also only won 3 games and allowed 27 ppg.
July 8th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Everyone needs to stop crying if you don’t have anyone to rush the passer then you gotta drop em into coverage if we had Someone at least Serviceable who offensive tackles had to respect like yaya On the other side of the line, then maybe others wouldn’t have to blitz the quarterback like our dbs …you know what they say? You have to earn the right to rush the passer I didn’t see that with Jts or brass until the end of the season you work with what you got not with what u think we got ..we ain’t gotta pass rush witch lead to dbs rushing the passer it will only make since if you use your brain and not overthink it
July 8th, 2025 at 10:12 am
Uhhh, duuh… Your outside linebackers are either going to rush or cover. This is called NFL defense. Unless your alignment has only 2 D-lineman and both OLBs are lined up as ends, one of your OLBs is going to drop if you’re rushing 4 instead of a blitz package… This is basic math.
Sometimes the swipes at Bowles’ defenses seem to come from people who have never watched football before.
July 8th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Points against is the only defensive stat that truly matters.
If coach Bowles can get our defense back into top 10 status in that category – the Bucs will win a bunch of games in 2025 and be legit Super Bowl contenders….
July 8th, 2025 at 10:18 am
The biggest reason the Bucs defense was rated so low vs RBs catching passes last year was because of KJ Britt – who is no longer on the team….
July 8th, 2025 at 10:26 am
Bowels knows he is protected by the ‘buddy system’…
He has no incentive to change anything about his horrific coaching…
The owners rewarded his lack luster results…
He is protected and like him, the Bucs remain mediocre!
July 8th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Bowles is the most overrated “defensive genius” in the history of the league. Go watch last year’s 8 losses. If you dare. Drink a lot of alcohol first. Keep drinking during.
I was ok this morning, then I read this. Time for another beverage. And a wall to bang my head on.
July 8th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Listen, the bottom line is Todd Bowles himself Doesn’t Personally train players anymore than very, very occasionally.
He’s too Old, He’s too tired, He’s too Fat (the man waddles when he walks). He “himself” is simply unable….. He doesn’t have the energy …..
And Just as importantly, HE’S NOT THE DC! His job is the “Head Coach”! He AND Jason Licht ARE completely NEGLIGENT in Their Duties to provide not only “reasonable” coaching of ALL LEVELS of the Pro Football Players fom a rookie to a 5th stringers, IT IS their Responsibility to provide and “HAVE IN PLACE” PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEVEL TRAINERS AND COACHES!
To Start with for instance, a LEGITIMATE, FULL TIME, FULLY FOCUSED DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR….
That simple answer TO ALL OF OUR DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS seems to be Escaping the wizard of Odd (Jason Licht) “The man hiding behind the curtain”, AND of course Droopy (Todd Bowles) “The proverbial dear in the head lights”. Or is it more like Homer Simpson as he bumbles and stumbles around living life Unaware and blessed with Pure Dumb Luck? ” Which way did he go”…
Does ANYBODY “really believe” the addition of a guy to hold Bowles hand and remind Homer of what time it is, IS TRULY GOING TO Fix this Bumbling Crap Show?
I say NO! NO WAY! I certainly Appreciate Lichts skills of late to pick SOLID draftees and recruit with the moves of a Super Star! Oh Yeah… Beyond that though….. what the he!! is Licht doing? WHY is he letting this go ON AND ON without INSISTING on the addition of said Defensive Coordinator (DC)???
This has become childish. Maybe the Glazers NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHY THEY DON’T HAVE ANOTHER LOMBARDI or AT THE LEAST that Their Club GO Futher than the Pathetic Defensive Results that THEY ARE PAYING MILLIONS APON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE EMBARRASSED BY????
And to give Bowles an extension without proof that he WON’T WAIST 100’S OF MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS “AGAIN” with the Lousy Schemes and Lack luster performance that Bowles CONTINUES to poop on the field with?
One thing I’ve learned in this life watching owners like the Glazers and the Dumb A$$ decisions they have made with the job extension, is that just because you have money, IT DOESN’T GUARANTEE THAT YOU HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING! It Also demonstrates that NONE that are still alive built their fortune… Man, THAT’S CLEAR!
A FOOL AND THEIR MONEY ARE SURELY “SOON” TO BE PARTED!
WHERE IS THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR THAT THIS TEAM DESPERATELY NEEDS?!
July 8th, 2025 at 10:46 am
The defense is going to improve drastically this year, and everyone will settle down about Bowles… I’m fairly confident. I also know that people will nitpick even if the defense is good this year, because they loves to hate them some Bowles.
July 8th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Bucs offense have done a great job implementing a West Coast Style Offense.
Defense has had problems implementing a Nick Fangio style defense that routinely has D Lineman dropping into coverage. Telegraph a blitz and have a lineman or defender in front of the hot routes or force QB to throw short of the line to gain. Either one gets the defense off the field. Perhaps its an inability to learn or defenders see fewer sacks as fewer dollars and not that it makes the defense better.
July 8th, 2025 at 11:25 am
How many times did we get to see a back running with a pass through the middle of the defense with JTS trailing him? That guy was a true liability on defense. And, we played him almost all year.
Great #1 pick, Jason.
July 8th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
Everybody always looks for the simple answer or an easy scapegoat. Life is not that simple!
There are a VARIETY of reasons the Bucs defense has sucked against the pass.
Coaching can be viewed but coaches coach and player PLAY. Does the talent have NOTHING to do with this?
How about this? It’s the freaking NFL with a salary cap, competitive draft and everything POSSIBLE done to insure even competition. IE the NFL has become very cyclical with very few dynasties…KC?
We’ve all heard the lines about the “LIES” contained within “statistics”.
I feel stats have SOME value as INDICATORS but are not ANSWERS. There is a LOT that goes into this and there is not ONE answer and the stats being tossed are not that impressive in terms of sample size.
July 8th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
You mean to tell me that the defensive coordinator that doesn’t force punts gives up short passes at will? Tell me it ain’t so!
On any given 1st or 2nd down, Bowles either stops a run or gives up an easy 7 yard pass. There’s really no in between.
He’s known as a heavy blitzing coach, but he’s not blitzing the QB. He’s blitzing the RB.
In a passing league, Bowles apparently still thinks that every team has a Thurman Thomas or Barry Sanders in the backfield carrying the ball 30+ times.
Listen, I’m all for stopping a 1st down run for no gain, but I’m not in favor of playing 10 yard off man the very next play and giving up an 8 yard dump off to an undrafted scat back.
July 8th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Todd is top 3 in culture though!!!!