Bucs In The Zone
September 13th, 2025
Todd Bowles kept what seemed to be an offseason promise Sunday against the Falcons.
The Bucs played far less zone defense than usual.
A season ago, the Bucs played zone defense on an average of 84 percent of quarterback dropbacks. That’s a huge number and it ranked second-most in the league per NFL data queen Cynthia Frelund on her NFL IQ & Numbers Game show. However, the Bucs cut that down Sunday to playing zone on 59 percent of dropbacks. That’s still a big number by league standards, but obviously a significant change.
How well did it work in Week 1? Well, Joe will let Bucs fans answer that. The Bucs won, which is what’s most important.
As for Monday night against the Texans, Frelund notes that Texans QB C.J. Stroud has 9 touchdowns versus 11 interceptions against zone since the start of the 2024 season.
Look for lots more zone Monday, even with the Texans’ depleted receivers corps.
September 13th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Is that “still a big number by league standards” ?
I’d be very interested in league average/s….
Would be surprised if it’s much less (or any) than what we played but don’t have the stat handy.
September 13th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Never underestimate an opponent. Never become over confident, I’ve seen some bad outcomes. Just go out there and be who they thought you were, and one more thing, Just Win Baby lol!! Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
September 13th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
Please….I beg of thee…..please no..just no..no to the zone
September 13th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
First time I’ve seen that 84% zone number for last season Joe. I had zero idea what our percentages were admittedly, but if I’d had to guess, it would’ve probably been around 65-70% zone.
Nice to see that Sunday’s zone percentage was a lot lower (59%), but even that seems too high. I don’t know what the preferred numbers would be, but ranking #29 in Pass Defense last season tells me that 84% zone is way too high with our pass rush.
September 13th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
“However, the Bucs cut that down Sunday to playing zone on 59 percent of dropbacks. That’s still a big number by league standards, but obviously a significant change.“
59% slightly below the league average of 63% zone coverage in 2024.
The league average in 2023 was 76% usage.
Bowles has also popularized the usage of quarters coverage, which was what we used in SB LV to put a lid on the KC Chiefs with Tyreek Hill.
Don’t think people realize if you don’t have the dogs to man up, you’re just putting your defense at a disadvantage.
Our usage of zone around 80% of the time was tops in the league last year.
Packers, Bears, Chargers, & Colts all used zone coverage 77-78% of the time. As 2nd to 5th most.
Check my numbers, I’ve been sittin on these for some time now lol
September 13th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
I’m a novice.
I’m limited to what they show on tv, ir what I can find online such as Baldy’s Breakdowns or Ronde’s Film Sessions.
It certainly looked to me like they were playing a lot more man coverage and were much more “sticky” than they usually are.
It wasn’t perfect and we made some mistakes. But we got the win!!
September 13th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
Thanks WLB…… kinda what I thought.
Regardless of the exact numbers its obvious man to man is NOT some kind of easy/magical fix nor it is the most deployed scheme league-wise.
Our man vs zone #s will be based on the opponents – as it should be. If our safeties hold up and we avoid injuries I’m sure man will be played more than last year but its not going to be more than 50%
September 13th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
I think we ranked 26 th in pass defense last week 😭
September 13th, 2025 at 8:24 pm
Hogslyr…so were off to a better start. lol
September 13th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
VanessaAnne
Well your opinions are certainly not novice. If you’re looking for content I’ve recently discovered a ton on YouTube. Lot of football highlight shows and once you start clicking some bucs shows the alogrhythms get you and the Bucs stuff really starts coming…even from dudes I’ve never heard of. Anybody with a camera and some initiative can start an internet channel. Therefore some of the opinions are even less than lame, but some are simply rebroadcasts of shows like Ronde’s.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Chris Simms pointed out last year that Bowles ALWAYS tries to take away the run even when teams suck at running the ball. The Texans have no running backs and offensive line. Will Bowles try to play the run or stop the pass? Makes no sense if the Texans can’t run the ball
September 13th, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Texans first drive if the game will be a TD. Take it to the bank.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:54 pm
@St.Pete and anybody else for that matter
“matchquarters” on YouTube, great defensive breakdowns and the brains behind the channel is a Buc fan!
September 13th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
I can’t help but think last year’s high number of zone was partially due to the rotating MASH unit we had going on in the secondary
September 13th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
All the more reasons for Bowles to play even softer zone.
Might as well just tell every opponent that their drives start on the Bucs 25. It would save time and a lot of wear and tear on the players. Since yards don’t matter but points do, it’s a genius kind of move.
September 13th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
I don’t have a huge problem with Zone coverage if our team was good at it.
But we suck at it.
We have a much better chance of having good coverage if we play Man.
It’s as simple as that.
September 13th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
But its not.
September 13th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
The one team that has a zone concept named after it talking about how worthless zone coverage is, I’m distraught.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:14 pm
Warren
You have to have Brooks down the seam…
September 13th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
Well we got thrown over 300 yards against us so not sure zone or man coverage works well in Bowles system. At least they attacked the run well!