Todd Bowles’ Coverages
November 5th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Interesting breakdown for Joe in how Bucs coach Todd Bowles likes to use defenses.
Per the “Football Insights” Twitter feed, it seems Bowles, the de facto Bucs defensive coordinator, likes to run a Cover-3 zone defense. Using Football Insight’s composite data using various sources that document defenses, Bowles, some 32 percent of the time, runs a Cover-3 zone.
The next-highest rate of a defensive formation Bowles uses is a Cover-4 zone defense. This, Bowles uses 20 percent of the time.
What does Bowles not like? He doesn’t like to use man-to-man defense and he doesn’t like running a Cover-6 zone defense. Cover-0 or Cover-2 man defenses Bowles uses five percent of the time, each.
Same with a Cover-6 zone defense. Bowles uses that defense 5 percent of the time.
But, yeah. Bowles is a zone-defense kind of guy.
Coverage usage through Week 9
Via @FantasyPtsData pic.twitter.com/ovAlesxM7A
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) November 4, 2025
November 5th, 2025 at 5:39 am
It would be interesting to see these splits when Morrison, Zyon, Parrish and Dean are on the field together.
Morrison in particular was brought in to allow the Bucs to play more man coverage (so we are led to believe)
November 5th, 2025 at 6:44 am
Looks like the Bills and Bucs are the most balanced defenses, at least in terms of variety. Both head coaches are from the defensive side.
November 5th, 2025 at 7:25 am
I hope everybody can look at this graphic and realize EVERY TEAM in the NFL plays more zone coverage than man. Also, realize there’s no column for “soft” zone because that’s just a figment of your football imagination.
November 5th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Championship defense is on display!!!!!!
GO BUCS
November 5th, 2025 at 9:06 am
DVOA: Buccaneers Defense #7. Offense #20
November 5th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Nothing gets Todd more hot a bothered than a comfy 15 yard cushion on the WR.
November 5th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Bowles has been running cover 3 forever and limits his man to lower red zone – a typical split of zone/man. The CB’s are better, healthier this year compared to last year (remember Funderburk and Hayes?) so he’s mixing in tighter zone coverages.
I still think SVD is the weak link. Bowles needs to sprinkle in some snaps with other ILB’s and find someone who’ll step up.