The Awful Pass Defense
December 20th, 2025
Pass defense struggling.
The Bucs pass defense has been rotten to the core this season. Again.
This year, it ought to open people’s eyes. The Bucs are currently 30th in the league in passing yards allowed per game, coughing up 246.9 yards through the air per game. Frustrating.
However, it gets a little worse. The Bucs’ pass defense is allowing receivers an equivalent of an extra first down in YAC, per BSPN Research.
Stat to know: The Buccaneers’ defense is allowing 9.8 YAC per reception in its past six games (since Week 10), which is the second most in the NFL in that span behind only the Eagles (11.2).
That is simply terrible and no wonder the Bucs defense has gagged away games to two lousy teams like the slimy Saints and Dixie Chicks.
How you fix that right before Christmas with one of your starting corners on injured reserve is a helluva trick.
Joe is also pretty confident lousy tackling is an issue in so much YAC being allowed.
Last Sunday Joe watched the Chargers-Chiefs game. Damn, the Chargers tackle. And Joe is going to guess the Chargers follow the very same NFL practice rules that the Bucs must follow.
So how is it a team from normally soft SoCal can tackle but the Bucs struggle wrapping up?
December 20th, 2025 at 12:16 am
It starts at the top then you need players with heart
December 20th, 2025 at 12:18 am
Yep, defense is pathetic because the DC is subpar which happens to be the HC that is a JOKE!
Beyond time for a change at HC!
December 20th, 2025 at 12:29 am
cant play soft zone with no pass rush, tampa 2 worked cuz bucs had pass rushers. Seattle’s legion of boom cover 3 worked bc they had pass rushers, the bucs don’t have that and TB is too stubborn to change his defense
December 20th, 2025 at 12:29 am
I would suggest we kill the zone but I’m pretty sure we roll with the zone more because people can not stay with the assigned player toe to toe we are not built like that but I think it would register more sacks by pressing and possibly better tackling since defenders will at least be by the play to make a stop.
December 20th, 2025 at 12:35 am
Canales done went out and got his version of Mike evans glad they don’t have Adam thielen anymore dude killed us last year…if we don’t put a spy on these running qbs we will forever be toast Bryce is faster than mayfield and will take off in a heartbeat..we will literally chase that guy all day if we play timid and not fundamentally sound..I think guys are out there just playing and not focusing on how teams can execute on you at will we just have to learn to stop the little things better…we have to account for the tight end our safeties are too good to let tight ends look like a young Jimmy Graham on us
December 20th, 2025 at 12:58 am
I don’t think they really practice it. Hitting dummy carts every now and then isn’t the same as somebody that moves, hits back, and stiff arms.. Combined with cushion coverage receivers have 10 yards of uncontested green grass to catch the ball. Or if it’s a screen the first defender to the ball carrier tackles air and falls down. I think a lot of it is by design to keep everything in front of you then everyone run up and try to gang tackle. It’s a Todd by default strategy. Every QB in the league surgically carves it to pieces. I think the idea behind it is don’t worry about the yards worry about the points. When they get into the red zone the field will shrink and we can hold them to 3. Then our amazing high octane scoring offense will march down the field for a TD and light the scoreboard up with all the WR/RB firepower.
December 20th, 2025 at 1:49 am
I think it’s a culmination of everything wrong with the defense. The guys up front aren’t getting to the QB fast enough and when they do, they’re missing those tackles. I’m not saying the coverage guys should be getting let off the hook, they also have to be better, but their job is being made harder than it needs to be.
I also could be because teams are more prone to either running less often or abandoning the run game quicker than usual because of Vita Vea. I doubt this to be the case as he hasn’t been the Vita Vea that we’ve seen before, but he still does warrant that extra respect. If only we had a healthy Kancey next to him đ
Immediately I went to fact check this, we are the 4th in least rushing attempts against and 9th in most passing attempts against. Tie that in with 6th in completions allowed and 4th in yards per game allowed, it adds up. Where it gets interesting is despite teams rushing against us far less than others, we allow the 9th most rushing yards per game.
I say all this to say, I think the defense is playing very poorly everywhere. I just think the pass D is getting more shine and notice because it’s easier to see. When Sam Darnold evades a sack attempt in the pocket and then finds a wide open receiver for a touchdown, it’s easy, and understandable, to first blame the guy who was supposed to be covering him.
December 20th, 2025 at 1:57 am
We need to draft players with bad attitudes and are hungry to win like Warren Sapp
December 20th, 2025 at 1:59 am
How did it get this bad?
December 20th, 2025 at 2:20 am
Can you guys believe there ARE STILL people supporting the cause of the Diseased Team Culture that is “Afflicting ALL TRUE FANS HAPPINESS IN THE WINNERS CIRCLE”… Their continued attempt to Push their Agenda of the continuance of extreme lousy coaching via MORE of Todd Bowles! These people ARE the Problem And they ARE the head of the Snake! They ARE ACTUALLY STILL Insisting on the support of such a Very, VERY BAD Product! And these few delusionals Actually Want to Continue On with YEARS MORE of Todd Bozo Bowles! They “Expect YOU” to support their dribble and THEIR POOR DECISION MAKING, BAD TASTE, AND THEIR SAD PARTICIPATION TROPHIES! These few I’m speaking of Dance around like “Gerald McCoy on the sidelines” with their Feeble Minded, Poor Taste. They qre TICKLED with this Diseased Riddled Team and Happy at the thought of WASTING “REAL FANS” LIMITED YEARS of even caring a out this teams Success so that THEY can bath themselves in Todd BOZO Bowles! They Are the currently this web sites very own ” Bozo Bowles TROLLS”!
They want THAT Embarrassing Todd Bowles product Right back next year and as many years as possible. They are known as what 99% of the World would call, DUMB!
December 20th, 2025 at 2:22 am
Canât wait to see Bryce Young look like Drew Brees on Sunday⌠đ¤Śđťââď¸
December 20th, 2025 at 2:26 am
Actually ment to clean that up before posting but as fate would have it, my finger slipped….
So it’s presented raw and without seasoning. I imagine it’ll still get the disturbing point across..
December 20th, 2025 at 2:51 am
The defense sucks. The Bucs are going to have to score 30+ points a game to have any chance of winning again this season.
December 20th, 2025 at 3:59 am
Dean and Tykes Smith are highly ranked at their positions for pasa defense.
Itâs the middle of the field thatâs killing us.
At the beginning of the season I called for the âTampa 7â
Rush four. Drop 7 DBs. No linebackers.
December 20th, 2025 at 4:44 am
gisele just pumped out a baby with that karate expert dude…
let’s get a victory for the city of tampa…the gipper…and even for ole tommy b
December 20th, 2025 at 4:46 am
i think we will be ok on sunday…i just noticed my post posted at 444… ^^^
if ya know ya know…
the bucs just might be divinely protected going into carolina this sunday
December 20th, 2025 at 5:11 am
We will see what happens anymore trying to predict what this team does is an impossible task. Expect them to win they lose expect them to lose they blowout the opponent. Just hope these boys still have something left in the tank to make a strong push. Get into the dance anything can happen. Just ask the commanders
December 20th, 2025 at 5:37 am
OrlandoBucsFan – So correct about Sapp. The intensity needs to come back.
December 20th, 2025 at 5:40 am
Nick Rapone was Todd’s coach in college, Kevin Ross was his teammate there. Both coaches should’ve been replaced a long time ago. They’re running the same stuff they ran in college. Bowles is loyal to his coaches to a fault. [You were making very reasonable, logical points until you fell off the cliff. Feel free to look at the OC who Bowles fired after first year and every guy he hired to succeed him. Doesn’t support your argument. At all. — Joe]
December 20th, 2025 at 5:50 am
Other local outlets have been making excuses for Todd (the Times for instance) where their writers are saying Todd is not the biggest problem, rather the lack of talent on the D saying that Bowles’ D is successful if the base front 4 can effectively pressure and rush the QB. Unfortunately, that has not worked since JPP and Shaq Barrett were getting the job done. The apologists neglect to point out that Todd has never adjusted his scheme even though he does not have a pass rush and has stated publicly that it is not too important to him. Sure, some blame can go to Licht for not drafting the right players but you can bet Todd signed off on all defensive players drafted. Kancey might make a difference if he was ever healthy but right now he contributes nada and is unreliable. Bowles in the end is the one who is accountable and even though he is so well liked by some in the local media that they are defending him, he is to blame more so than Licht or the players though player who have checked out on the coach are probably the locker room people have been whispering about. However, sometimes replacing a coach can reverse a team’s fortune. Eberflus was a lot like Bowles, unaccountable and unable to adapt, he got launched and voila, the Bears are suddenly decent. Bowles is responsible for embarrassing Tampa fans, and the organization week after week with his play calling. Changes are required and I hope the Glazers will act when the season is finally over.
December 20th, 2025 at 5:53 am
i’d love to see jpp get 2 sacks……………..lol
December 20th, 2025 at 6:03 am
[You mean write fake news that the pass defense is the new Steel Curtain? Joe is not a cheerleader nor does Joe practice ostrich journalism, sorry. — Joe]
December 20th, 2025 at 6:20 am
At the season of players donât know where to be AND have bad technique thereâs only one person to blame. Canât get excited about the Bucs draft picked every off season then when the losing streak starts say they have no talent. If they win the last two games Bucs have 9 wins and no one is calling for his head uh coaching job
December 20th, 2025 at 6:45 am
And we all know why, Joe.
December 20th, 2025 at 6:46 am
I watched the All-22 from the Falcons and Saints games. Blitz you have a fighting chance bc their man-to-man coverage is actually decent. Rush 4 and drop into zone, you have no chance. They just double Vita and the other three are easily handled with single blocks. QB very comfortable.
December 20th, 2025 at 6:57 am
This was apparent that Bucs needed a great tackler and a coverage expert over middle a long long time ago. So why did Jason Licht not make a move at the trade deadline to add Jordyn Brooks the leading tackler from Miami who was definitely available? Would have made immediate improvement to our defense, so Jason Licht you can expect coal in your stocking.
December 20th, 2025 at 6:57 am
The defense is clearly broken, so there’s nothing Bowles can do with three games left. Not only that, the Bucs don’t actually practice, it’s just walkthroughs.
December 20th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Like a lot have said, we don’t have dogs. We don’t have those fiery players. The ones who want to knock the snot out of you. Is it because the NFL has gone soft or we don’t have a coach that will light a fire under their arse? Both.
December 20th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Iâm starting to think regardless of the Bucs making post season or not, a head coach change is coming. How can a team with a defensive minded coach be this bad at defense for consecutive years? Remember Dungy was let go because they couldnât advance further into the playoffs. That was a much harder call for ownership to make than the decision that lays before us. I hope the team rallies and fights for Bowles and makes a deep run in the postseason. Without that, a big change is coming.
December 20th, 2025 at 7:55 am
I’m not familiar with All-22 is it a subscription package? I really don’t go back and re watch games other than highlights periodically. I see a lot of chatter about it on here. I do use Hard Rock Bet alot to gauge what odds makers are predicting about specific matchups. I’m thinking it may be useful for comparison purposes, and insights. Is it a easy to use format? I may look into that next season. Thanks
December 20th, 2025 at 7:56 am
Half a%%ed Bowles getting to his number. .500
December 20th, 2025 at 8:20 am
The 4 Trolls still blame Baker for every loss. Has he played perfectly and doesn’t need improvement? The answer is no. But this defense is what loses games with the cover zero.
It is Bowles defense and it has to go. To stop it Bowles has to go.
December 20th, 2025 at 8:46 am
I asked ChatGpt why Bowles defense is not working and this is what it said, “Youâre right to call this out â Todd Bowlesâ defense is underperforming right now, and itâs not because he âforgot how to coach.â Itâs because his scheme no longer matches his personnel or the modern offensive environment.” Do we need to say anymore! Glazers, make the call!!!
December 20th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Licht & Bowles have failed with top defensive draft picks & high priced free agents.
JTS
Hall
Kancey (constantly injured)
Braswell
Morrison (injured)
Reddick
Add letting Devin White go
No wonder our defense is poor
All these 1st & 2nd round failures
December 20th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Missing the real story according to many here, it isn’t about the defense but about Baker Mayfield. Hoping the trolls get Shedeur Sanders next year and Baker escapes. He is used to escaping since he has played all season behind a leaky, jv Oline. His injuries and injured receivers haven’t helped.
December 20th, 2025 at 8:51 am
Full ChatGpt response….Youâre right to call this out â Todd Bowlesâ defense is underperforming right now, and itâs not because he âforgot how to coach.â Itâs because his scheme no longer matches his personnel or the modern offensive environment.
Letâs be very direct.
Why Bowlesâ current defense isnât working
Bowlesâ identity is:
Heavy pressure
Disguise
Man-match principles
Stressing QB protection rules
That requires elite coverage on the back end.
Right now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers donât have:
Lockdown corners
Safeties who can consistently hold up in man
A pass rush that wins fast enough to justify zero/one-high pressure
So when he blitzes: âĄď¸ QBs get the ball out
âĄď¸ Receivers win early
âĄď¸ Explosive plays happen
Thatâs not a play-calling issue â itâs a math problem.
What defense Bowles should be running right now
â 1ď¸âŁ Base out of Split-Safety (Quarters / Cover 6)
This needs to be the foundation.
Why
Protects corners
Keeps explosive plays off the board
Forces offenses to be patient
Reduces coverage busts
What changes
Less Cover 0 / Cover 1
More Cover 4 (Quarters)
More Cover 6 (QuarterâQuarterâHalf)
This is what modern defenses use when they donât trust pure man.
â 2ď¸âŁ Simulated pressure > all-out blitzing
Bowles needs to pressure the QBâs mind, not overload protections.
Run more:
Creepers (DB rush, DL drop)
ILB cross-dogs with coverage behind
Late safety rotation, not pre-snap tells
Run less:
Zero blitz on normal downs
Predictable nickel pressure
Repeated man-free looks
The league has adjusted â QBs feast on known pressure.
â 3ď¸âŁ Lean into Cover 2 Man on money downs
This is the best coverage for his current roster.
Why it works
Takes away quick throws
Protects deep shots
Forces perfect execution
If you donât have elite corners, this is the safest aggressive defense.
â 4ď¸âŁ Rush with discipline, not desperation
Contain > chase.
Fewer wide rush angles
Better pocket integrity
Make QBs throw from the pocket
Mobile QBs are killing blitz-heavy teams right now.
â 5ď¸âŁ Accept shorter gains â kill explosives
Bowlesâ biggest mistake right now is trying to win every snap.
Modern NFL defense is about:
âMake them snap it again.â
If you remove explosives:
Drives get longer
Penalties matter
Mistakes happen
Thatâs how defenses survive today.
What Bowles must stop doing â
Cover 0 outside of red zone / desperation
Repeated man-free blitzes on early downs
Asking average DBs to play elite-man roles
Blitzing to âsend a messageâ
Messages donât stop touchdowns.
The uncomfortable truth
Bowles is a great defensive mind â but his scheme is:
Too aggressive for his personnel
Built for a different era
Dependent on coverage talent he doesnât currently have
Great coordinators adapt.
The fix in one sentence
Base out of split safeties, disguise coverage not pressure, simulate more than blitz, and force offenses to earn every yard.
If you want, I can:
Build a game-plan call sheet for Bowlesâ current roster
Show how offenses are attacking him
Compare this to what Fangio/McDonald/Spagnuolo are doing successfully
December 20th, 2025 at 9:34 am
No suprises here. Year after year itâs the same issue. Different players can come in and the defense is still Swiss cheese. Itâs the coach. Fire Bowles
December 20th, 2025 at 9:46 am
@Gipper
You need to stop with the Bakers gonna this and that. Baker isn’t going ANYWHERE! He’s had a tough “second half” of year. It’s a shame that so many are not supporting him. They DEFINITELY FORGET! BUT….. that doesn’t mean that YOU should paint yourself into such a tight corner. Baker Mayfield will be just fine. UNLESS he just Absolutely crashes out. And if he does, there’s not a d@m thing you can do about that! It’s beyond reality that it’s somehow “Gippers fault”. And Baker Mayfield IS NOT your son!
I get that you want to and in ways need to defend him but like I said, No Need to paint yourself into a corner. You’re skin needs to be thicker than that! Otherwise if you get triggered by “any” little comment so hard as you feel you have to go to total war, you’ll end up giving yourself a heart attack.
Baker has done Nothing BUT pick this team up off the ground MANY MANY TIMES and has given leads to this team that on “most teams” are insurmountable. He’s NOT supposed to throw 70% of the time UNLESS we’re losing. And of you think about it, he’s Always given us a chance to win. There isn’t a d@m thing he can do about the defense. THAT’S on Todd “the NEVER WAS QUALIFIED” Bowles! However, Baker IS the kinda guy that WOULD go play defense if needed….
MOST… Most understand that CLEARLY Baker ISN’T THE PROBLEM! What you have there is (for the MOST PART, Todd Bozo Bowles supporters) trying to find away out for their idle. The Hangmans Noose IS CALLING TODD BOWLES AND THEY KNOW IT! They don’t seem to think there’s anyone better than Bozo Bowles to lead our team. So they NEED A DISTRACTION AND THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY WOULD OFFER UP ANYBODY TO SAVE THEIR STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE….
Well I for one disagree. He’s (Bowles) outdated and doesn’t have the energy to be the head coach. He waddles and THAT DOESN’T INSPIRE ATHLETES TO REACH FOR THE STARS! It’s on Bowles! Not Baker. That doesn’t excuse Baker from having bad games though. He better keep them to a minimum..
December 20th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Confido75. After reading your post (in its entirety) it makes me go back to simpler times. Like 50 years ago when I played. Donât remember any rules protecting QBs. Or âdefenselessâ receivers. Either your head was on a swivel (and in the game) or you were knocked out. And coverage packages? Heck, I was a cornerback and played 100% bump and run man coverage. Of course it was rare to face a team then that threw the ball 15 times. So our defensive backs were primarily tacklers, and Iâve got a hard time watching our tackling. Many of us wrestled and were just good tacklers. Confido75, Iâm sure your ideas are valid. But if I was coaching them up I believe Iâd try to simplify Everything. I watched my sons play 20-25 years ago and they would go 7 on 7 in the offseason and yes, the passing game has changed. But there is still 11 guys on each side of the ball trying to compete. KISS- keep it simple stupid. Something like that.
December 20th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Living rent-free in the heads of Bakers’ digital fluffers.
“The 4 Trolls still blame Baker for every loss. Has he played perfectly and doesnât need improvement? The answer is no.”
“Missing the real story according to many here, it isnât about the defense but about Baker Mayfield. Hoping the trolls get Shedeur Sanders next year and Baker escapes.”
And by “trolls” he means anybody that’ll point out the obvious instances of Mayfield underachieving or voicing the desire to see what’s behind door #2(again). Say anything critical of Mayfield, and you’re a troll lol
December 20th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Kenton Smith, understand the KISS method all to well and you are right. I just asked AI a simple question and even AI basically said in not so simple terms, adapt your scheme to your player’s strengths and the current offenses being played. Bowles is always jamming a square peg into a round hole. The guy can coach up people and has the soft skills, but he and his staff just can’t or won’t adapt and adjust. Basically, they are getting out coached, because they keep trying to force a scheme that doesn’t work effectively. What I see is an inability to change and adapt, thus impacting player morale. Players are not stupid! Monte Kiffin was the man with the Tampa 2 back in tbe days, but the game evolved and made him obsolete. Same is happening to Bowles. He should be a CEO HC, not the technical DC.
December 20th, 2025 at 10:36 am
WarrenBrooksLoser,
You are right. Our 2x Pro Bowl QB should sharpen up his skills. Shame he doesn’t get to play against Tampa defense at least once a year. All other QB’s see it as a great way to pad their season stats. Notable among these is Kirk Cousins.
December 20th, 2025 at 10:38 am
The pass defense has sucked for years not just this season. Bowles scheme allows for everything underneath. Very little is challenged and lately the middle of the field is wide open all day. JL has to find two studs to replace LvD and Dennis next year along with Edge and DT. Good luck.
December 20th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Living rent free in a trolls head.
Notice he only made comments about Baker or door #2 and never disputed blaming him for losing all the games. Nothing about the defense. Of course he doesn’t under his names.
Got his panties in a wad as soon as Baker’s name appears.
December 20th, 2025 at 10:54 am
What Teacher said–outside of 1st down, I’d like to see a 4/7 a lot. (Mebbe 5/6) our ILB’s can’t cover anyway.
December 20th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Exceptions to every rule Joe. For the most part I think I’m right.
December 20th, 2025 at 11:51 am
All 22 available on NFL+ subscription
December 20th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
Nope, Joe. Maybe don’t write practically the exact same article, with almost the same headline, 15 times. We get it. Geez. It’s almost like you hit a button and out pops the same article. Over and over and over again.
December 20th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
How about some stats on another squad ?
Pass offense is not much better but we don’t like to focus much on that around here.
Ranked…our pass offense:
Pass yards Comp % = #25
Pass Yards per completion = #25
Pass Yards per game = #20
December 20th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
POOR COACHING!!! FIRE TOILET BOWLES!!!!!
December 20th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
McVay, as the betting Super Bowl favorite, canned his ST in week 16. Bowles sits on his thumb all year to protect his homeboy. So unserious