Todd Bowles Defends His Defense, Claims It Is Not Complicated
February 26th, 2026
Laughs at suggestion his defense is complicated.
If one listens to sharp football minds who have played the game in the NFL, including some Todd Bowles players current and past, they say Bowles has a complicated defense.
Hall of Fame corner Rondé Barber has detailed this on his WFLA.com webcasts. One of the smartest men to have played the game, Barber consistently describes Bowles’ defense as not for the weak of mind.
Retired defensive back Logan Ryan played 11 NFL seasons, including in 2022 with the Bucs. He has spoken openly as a SiriusXM NFL Radio host about private early-morning film sessions with Bowles and how complex the Bucs defense is.
It seems Bowles gets a laugh out of these accusations.
Tuesday, in a sidebar with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club at the Indiana Convention Center, Bowles was asked about his “complicated” defense. Bowles busted out laughing.
“It’s really not,” Bowles said as he laughed. “We always tailor our defense to our players and definitely a rookie can come in and start. We have shown that at all levels of our defense. … we are just looking for the right kind of football player.”
Bowles was then asked if his defense was not that complicated, then why does he have his edge rushers pretend to be safeties when they should otherwise perform what they are paid to do: rush the passer.
Bowles bristled at the suggestion that outside linebackers playing pass defense is the root of defensive problems.
“Outside linebackers have been dropping for the past 30 or 40 years,” Bowles said. “We don’t ask them to go very far [back]. … it’s not very complicated to do. Obviously, it puts you out in space a little. It’s not complicated for the things that we did.”
Well, if Bowles’ defense is simplistic, then his assistants did a lousy job of coaching up players last season.
No matter how you slice it, the defensive lapses and deficiencies fall on Bowles. He is, after all, the guy calling the defensive plays and the head coach.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:37 am
3-&-28
And everyone … EVERY SINGLE BUCS FAN … knew Bowles’ defense was going to give it up.
WHY DO YOU ASK?
What insite could a clueless coach give after years of repeated failure?
February 26th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Insight
February 26th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Todd mirage bowles strikes again it’s not complicated it just give the illusion of being complicated so much so that our very own players were confused he even drops his defensive tackles into coverage what a genius.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:46 am
Equal opportunity confusion even the rookies can be as confused as the veterans in Todd mirage bowles scheme let everybody in on the fun.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:48 am
He’s 100% correct! His defense is not complicated for the opposing offense.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Redblocks Says:
February 26th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Insight
Lololololol. That basically sums up the typical JBF commenter
February 26th, 2026 at 9:53 am
Again, Bowles throws his own players under the bus.
His system is not complicated and is tailored to the players on the field???
That implies that the players are not smart enough to grasp what Bowles considers a simplistic approach to defense.
Nothing will change on that side of the ball until the Glazers finally inspire change at OBP.
2026 will be a repeat of inept schemes and long sustained losing streaks.
But hey, we have the best “culture” in the NFL. #SuperBowles
February 26th, 2026 at 9:53 am
When is bubba gump gonna go back to being the captain of his shrimp boat
February 26th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Anthony Nelson covering James Cook on a go route for a TD from 40 yards out is pretty far, TODD! “And they kind of outran Nelly. Chalk that up to scheme. They did a good job and ran a good play right there.”
Save it, TODD! Your defense is outdated. Selling out to stop the run so a defense can throw deep on you in 2026 is malpractice. Chris Simms rips on him all the time for it. Why do we need 8 guys in the box when they’re throwing it all over you?
February 26th, 2026 at 9:55 am
Complicated defense? You mean the one that won us a Super Bowl five years ago?
Suh, JPP, Winfield Jr, David, Davis III, Barrett, White, etc. didn’t seem to have an issue with it while they were dominating.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Obviously his defense is not complicated…..opposing offenses have no problem scoring and converting 3rd and longs consistently against that “COMPLICATED” defense.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Not defending Bowles here but as ’74 Bucs fan says if his defense was not too complicated for opposing offenses what does that say about the guys playing defense? They either aren’t as smart as the opposing offense, were lazy and late in their assignments or just flat out didn’t have the talent. Bowles routinely said it was 1 guy missing their assignment at any given time and that’s all it takes for the play to blow up. I believe it’s a combination of talent and desire at certain positions.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:06 am
I think the complication of the defense is an over exaggeration for what players are asked to do in terms of cross-training and/or doing things that help facilitate the wide array of blitzes we’ll see this team use.
When say, a CB blitz gets home, nobody is complaining about the OLB on the backside of the formation protecting the flat in zone coverage.
But when you have a situation, where wires get crossed and there’s an OLB 30 yards down field, then it’s “OMG it’s so stupid to have OLBs in coverage”
Fans like it, until the notice enough to not like what’d they have no qualms about IF the play was a positive play.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:09 am
It is easier to teach man D, than zone. This is your man, follow him and try to know where the ball is – pretty simple. With zone, you defend an area. What if 2 players are in my area? And watch for the ball? It adds a layer of thinking. Thinking slows a player down from reacting and creates more chance for the player to make the wrong decision.
Bowles runs a lot of zone (as most NFL teams do), plus he adds layers of disguises and blitzing and switching player positions to cover who blitzed the QB, and… You get it. Layers upon layers of thinking and making a decision at each layer to react, so more steps that slow the player down to make that decision and more chance for the wrong decision. Wrong decision = D loses that play to the O.
Bowles probably looks at his D on a step by step basis with each step being a very simple decision. Instead of looking at it as a whole with the number of steps involved. This is why you hear coaches say to keep it simple so the player can play fast.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:11 am
When the Bucs general manager hired a consultant for Bowles to advise him when to use his red flag, which in itself is a red flag, I thought he was on the correct path. Now, with these new comments from Bowles, it is very obvious that Bowles lacks critical thinking skills. You can be a good coach and not have Critical Thinking skills, but not a head coach or a coordinator
February 26th, 2026 at 10:11 am
He’s got to coach it better and the players got to play it better- problem solved
February 26th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Well of course he’ll defend it. He’s not gonna say his scheme sucks. If somebody else ran that D they’d probably look much better.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Warren, I agree with your observation. Makes sense. So ultimately it comes down to execution and talent. As noted above, when we had that going on in 2020 and that era, no one is complaining because the pass rush is getting there which allowed the other things to happen as designed. It’s when the pass rush doesn’t get home, or close enough to elicit The quarterback to make a mistake, we end up with situations like last year where Nelson and Yaya are exposed making the play look idiotic from the start.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Ronde Barber says otherwise and I’ll take a 17 year pro’s word for it. Plus the fact that watching the other team score a 50 yard touchdown with a defensive lineman covering down field makes me wonder WTF.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Todd lacks any self-awareness.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Nor effective. Now stop asking him uncomfortable questions!
February 26th, 2026 at 10:40 am
The Curse of Bowzo continues.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:51 am
His defense shut down Mahomes to win the Super Bowl.
Shaq and JPP were great at tackling in space and dropping in coverage.
Yaya is very similar to JPP in terms of athleticism.
We just need to find another Shaq Barrett.
How Licht found him for 5 million that off season was just brilliant.
When Devin White was on fire, we had White and LVD who were extremely fast.
This defense needs TWO great inside linebackers to work.
We relied on KJ Britt and SVD the last two seasons. They were both 5th round picks.
We need two 2nd round picks at inside linebacker. Two guys who run sub 4.6
February 26th, 2026 at 10:54 am
This franchise is the only one in the NFL that would retain Bowles after the disastrous great collapse of 2025. The fraud should of been fired immediately after the Dolphin embarrassment in a season chuck full of embarrassments. Literally every metric shows just how awful the guy is in the modern NFL. The absolute worst one to me is the Bucs had the worst redzone defense in the entire league. 32 out of 32. Pass defense 29th out of 32? And these moronic owners didn’t even have the courage to force him to relinquish the DC position.
Mid finger to the Glazers.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:58 am
Please tell me Todd, why dozens of players have been out of position in your defense. Ones you say are very talented and knowledgeable and know the defense well but they just seem to be out of position.. Bowles will be gone soon with that attitude you have to adapt or be gone.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:58 am
His stubbornness will doom him.
February 26th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Its always word salad with this guy! How do you say you tailor your defense to the players, but also say we are looking for the “right kind of football player” in the same sentence?
February 26th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Is there another NFL team that is running his defensive scheme?
February 26th, 2026 at 11:08 am
OK great it’s not the defense it’s just you Bowles. It’s your low intensity training camps and practices. The defense is low energy just like him. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a big hit by a player light up the sideline. Can’t remember very many big hits, it’s enough for the to luckily wrap up
February 26th, 2026 at 11:10 am
I think we are all on to him, ever notice its never him or his scheme. O coordinators fault, scheme is easy so it must be the players! Players see this so they just follow his lead.
February 26th, 2026 at 11:19 am
The Guru speaks.
February 26th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Looks like we are safe to bitch about bowels as long as we don’t say fire him….LOL
February 26th, 2026 at 11:32 am
He’s apparently telling the truth. Opposing passing games would vouch for that. Its so uncomplicated that even rookies and backups carved it up yearly.
Its an over/under front with a prevent on the backside. Its not discriminatory to the short pass, mid pass, or deep pass…it will gladly give them all up equally.
February 26th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Rather than describing Todd’s defense as ‘too complicated’, I think it’s more appropriate to describe it as ‘high risk’. With optimal TALENT at all positions, that risk is mitigated substantially. Without that optimal TALENT, the risk increases substantially & the points allowed start piling up.
I wish that JBFers would take a detailed look at our 2020-2021 defensive results and compare them to our 2024-2025 defensive results. We had TALENT at each starting position back in 2020 & 2021, and Todd used it well. Blitzing is a critical aspect of his defensive strategy, and back then he blitzed incessantly (542 blitzes in 2020 & 526 blitzes in 2021).
Our defense got 48 sacks, 116 QB hits, 91 TFLs in 2020 while ranking #8 overall (#1 Run defense & #21 Pass defense). Then in 2021 it got 47 sacks, 127 QB hits & 81 TFLs while ranking #5 overall (#3 Run defense & #21 Pass defense). Our combined record for those 2 seasons: 24-9 in regular season plus 5-1 in playoffs with 1 Super Bowl victory.
But then fast forward to 2024-2025 defensive results. We haven’t had nearly the TALENT levels that we had earlier. Todd still blitzed a bunch (461 blitzes in 2024 & 276 blitzes in 2025), but the results weren’t nearly as good.
Our defense got 46 sacks, 113 QB hits, 81 TFLs in 2024 while ranking #16 overall (#4 Run defense & #29 Pass defense). Then in 2021 it got 37 sacks, 89 QB hits & 83 TFLs while ranking #20 overall (#5 Run defense & #27 Pass defense). Our combined record for those 2 seasons: 18-16 in regular season plus 0-1 in playoffs.
Bucs’ defense surrendered 708 points in 2020 & 2021 together (21.5 PPG) and 796 points in 2024-2025 (23.4 PPG). Two pts average per game may not seem like much, but during those 4 years, Bucs played NINE games that were decided by 2 points or less. Fortunately, Bucs were 3-1 in 2-pt games in 2020-2021, and 3-2 in 2-pt games in 2024-2025.
Bucs also played EIGHT more games during those 4 years that were decided by 3 pts. Unfortunately, Bucs were 0-2 in 3-pt games in 2020-2021, but 3-3 in 2024-2025. So that’s 17 games won or lost by 3-pts or less in those 4 years … and we pretty much broke even (9 wins, 8 losses). Kinda reflective of our record these past several years? We’re pretty close to being a ‘break-even team’.
February 26th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
D shouldnt be complicated Todd!!!! Pass rushers RUSH, corners COVER the dam wr, and LB, well, theres where you can play around a little, sometimes rush sometimes cover…..JEEZE!!! BUT NO!!!! Drop a 350 lb D line guy into coverage…SMDFH!
AHHHHH! Im so ready for this to be OVER!
Expect 5 wins guys, sorry.
February 26th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Just draft McDonald so they can’t run on us.
You would see a ton of inside pressure if we get the big guys.
February 26th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
It’s concerning that Bowles refuses to take accountability for his sucky D. In another interview he basically blamed Grizzard…for the DEFENSE!
February 26th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
RodMunch reminds us daily how good the Bucs defense is. The Bucs sole problem is Baker Mayfield. Munch also very fond of the special teams play and thinks the fired, special teams coach got a bad deal.
February 26th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Jason Light – career .449 losing % = LOSER
Todd Bowles – career 61-74 – .452 losing % = LOSER
THESE GUYS ARE LOSERS!!!!!
Dear Glazers – stop hiring LOSERS ya freaking loser owners.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Bowles is a loser that needs to be fired. Cant wait to see him fail again this season. We got DE running 40 yards Downfield to cover a Running Back
February 26th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
It’s not complicated. You stand around flat footed in zone and then wait for something to happen, then react. Simple as could be.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
4th and 14 , 3rd and 28. 🤮. Both Terrible Todd and Loser Licht are going to give us another season of poor defensive draft picks, third string FA edge rushers and a defense that will be bottom of the barrel. Nothing will change until the coach does and Terrible Todd sees no need to change.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
We are still saying that edge rushers are dropping back. We keep trying to compare our “Edge Rushers” to Simeon Rice who was a defensive end in a 4-3 defense. In our 3–4 scheme you have to think more of Leroy Selman who was a 3-4 Defensive end. Technically when we rush the outside linebackers it is a type of blitz. It is one reason I always preferred the 4-3 over the 3-4.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Dropping Vita Vae back in pass coverage is a ‘Brilliant Move’.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
the defense isnt complicated…
the defense lacks true fundamentals!!!!!
poor tackling…poor angles…poor communication….thats all fundamentals!!!
that falls on the coaches!!!
the other problem is “want to”!!!!
our defense has no FIRE…no urgency…no bite…defense doesnt seem interested in competing or wanting to become a great defense….that falls on the players/leadership within the locker room..
GO BUCS!!!!!
February 26th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Rondé says it is complicated. Bowels says it is not. Who are you going to believe?
Sorry for the rhetorical question.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
This is all the proof anyone ever needed. First we read, Dude is clueless about why his team swoons. Every. Season.
And now, despite very smart players (including a hall of famer) citing the reasons why Bowles’ defense is complex, and all the busts every game that are on tape, players can’t play fast, dude is in denial about his defense.
The players don’t know their fargin assignments play to play, going back further than Cooper Kupp. And dude is clearly not going to change anything. The regression in defensive performance is due to…..everyone else but Todd!
20-0 Super Bowles.
Time to pound some beers. For health.
February 26th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
And once again people bring up a game from FIVE YERS AGO to prove Todd’s genius. He had a boss, named Bruce Arians. He had an opponent that had two dance moms playing offensive tackle. The Chiefs had 6 critical drops that would have made the game much closer. Good grief.
“Back in 1995 the Bucs beat the Eagles in Philadelphia.” That is just as relevant.
Jeemus Crud.
February 26th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Coachspeak cracks me up. “This a well-coached team.” was the best but this one is up there.
Busting Bowles’ zone is not complicated- run levels concepts until a LB or DB goofs up a triangle. Feel free to gash it for a good run when that that gets boring or if you’re a rookie like Tyler Shough who is still getting comfy with progressions. This has more to do with front seven personnel than it does with the degree of difficulty of the Xs and Os. Todd Bowles is a good coach and I’m glad he is back to redeem himself but this is not a well-coached team.
Bowles needs to tailor his scheme to the best available talent rather than continue to have Licht draft him more willing accomplices.
Compared to, say, the Texans Bowles’ scheme is quantum physics. The Texans consistently draft front seven talent early and then buy more defense in FA(much to the detriment of their OL.) They don’t scheme. They are in the same formation 70some per cent of the snaps most games.
I’m not saying Bowles and Licht should copy the Texans method. His scheme isn’t much different from what Mike McDonald and Vic Fangio do and they have had no shortage of recent success so I’m fine with the scheme and philosophy but its presentation and application in camp and practice seems to be missing players for whatever reason. Its as if there is no room within their assignments to just play the darn game. These guys were all drafted because they were lovers of the game. Let them play it. Let them rediscover that love because from here it looks like too many hours are spent staring at a smartboard trying not to fall asleep. Every DB is way more concerned about hitting his mark or depth perfectly than he is about receivers and ball carriers and what they’re doing. Veterans look lost. They whole defense looked like they hated their jobs. Raschaad White may have “kicked over the kitty litter box on his way out the door” in Licht’s eyes but I can’t fault White for calling it what it is. I was way down on Winfield for sneaking out of the locker room after games in season but thats probably the right move after performances that call for kicking the kitty litter box. It was that bad.
The only issue with edge players and DTs dropping in coverage is its going to stir up fan bellyaching. Fangio and McDonald do so frequently as has most of the league going back to the last century. It has become more common over time but another part of this outrage I think is the cameras on those ingenious wire systems give us more unflattering angles every year.
Mike McDonald’s favorite blitz brings 7, leaves each boundary corner on an island and has not one but both interiormost DTs peel back into a hook zone but no fan is upset. The Seahawks have the hosses to pull that off again, and again, and again… The Bucs don’t. I’d like them to bring in so much talent scheme doesn’t matter but until that day comes I’d settle for presenting and packaging the current scheme more like the Seahawks, Eagles and Broncos do currently. The Bucs players were obviously pancaked by something and it wasn’t the heat. Its been an issue for years. What are all the its though? Its not just Bowles or him and his scheme no matter how many voices howl how many times that it is just that simple.
February 26th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Bowles lack of self awareness is truly astounding.
If I’m Mike, and I want another ring, this tells me it ain’t going to be in Tampa.
February 26th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
Bowles has been bragging about the complexity of his defense for years. He thought it made him look smart, I guess. More gaslighting.
I haven’t felt less confidence in a head coach for a long time, or more dejected about the team’s chances.
February 26th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Improve defensive personnel and the team will play better. Don’t lose 40% or more of your starting offensive line and you will still be able to score, throw the ball, and run it too. Simple.
February 26th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Bowels then show us, and draft higher caliber players while you’re at it. Bowels and Licht make some FA acquisitions or trades,
February 26th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
It’s complicated for his own players, easy for has-beens like Kirk Cousins to absolutely SHRED. The defense has been a COMPLETE CLOWN SHOW for the last 2 seasons, but somehow the Bucs brass want to see more of the same.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
The defense the last 2 years was on par with the Lovie Smith/Mike Smith defenses Bucs fans had to endure before Bowles. The Bucs punted on the 2026 season by having not only this clown back, but also hired his son. That’s straight out of the Lovie Smith playbook, hire your relatives that don’t know anything, either.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
Didn’t Bowles say during the season that he didn’t know why the defense sucked so bad? Well no sh!t Sherlock, we know that you didn’t know what was going on, but how in the world was this complete clown allowed to keep his job?
February 26th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Say what you want Todd Bowles. You are undefeated for the new season. UNDEFEATED. I can say one thing for certainty though, If you do not fix our sorry a.. Defense this season> You are gonna get booed out of town. I’ll be in front carrying the, Dump Bowles in the Bay sign. You gotaa get us a Defense sir. Its now or bust….
February 26th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
@MadMax
It’s like having the heavy guy run a marathon.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
So, is Ronde stupid? Just another example of how Todd can’t take feedback, listen and adapt, or take accountability. Glazers are dip$hit$ for keeping this moron. Next year is so predictable.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:12 pm
@‘74 Bucs Fan 😂😂💯💯
February 26th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
4th and 14. Vildore playing press man. No time out to correct. No correction from Winfield r others in secondary. A leader would’ve barked at him to back up, like dean was opposite him. This play was a microcosm of the secondary last year.
February 27th, 2026 at 8:15 am
Todd’s defense couldn’t tackle, pressure, or cover anyone His defense had a pathetic 38 sacks all season, and his secondary was bottom 3 in the league. He blamed our awful defense on our former OC in an interview yesterday, in which he also as always, refused to acknowledge his own inadequacies as a coach. Todd is delusional, and he should be fired for his stupid comments, blaming Grizzard, as much as for his poor coaching. He also said Baker has to protect himself better. WTF. Baker was trying to win games. Baker was trying to rise above Todds terrible defense and win. He was putting enough points on the board in nearly every game to win, but Todd’s defense was not giving him any help. He was forced to created due to injuries on the O- line and that got him hurt. He didn’t just put his body on the line to intentionally get hurt like Todd makes it sound, he put his body on the line to win because he had to make up for our lack of defense. Todd is so desperate to cover is own inadequate ass he is gonna to alienate QB QB is he keeps up that stupidity, and then where wilp this team be. Todd needs to learn the word and the meaning of humility. And I don’t want to hear about Todds Superbowl win. That was 5 years ago. That was then, this is now ago and and we all know that Tom Brady was the really the coach at the time, not Todd.