Todd Bowles has the head coaching responsibilities for the Bucs now. That means Tampa Bay will need a new defensive coordinator, but the team will stay in house with that promotion.

Will Bowles continue to call the plays on defense even with more on his plate? He addressed that on Thursday at the Advent Health Center. That’s where Bowles had his introductory press conference, appointing new responsibilities for the current coaching staff. Inside linebackers coach Larry Foote and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers will now be co-defensive coordinators for the Bucs.

But when it comes to calling defensive plays, Bowles stated that he will continue to handle that responsibility.

“As far as defensive duties, it’ll be co-DC’s with Kacy Rodgers and Larry Foote,” Bowles said. “I will still call it this year, but they will run a lot of the defense going forward.”

This coaching trio has been together for the last three years since Arians took over in Tampa Bay. Rodgers also first worked with Bowles on the Dolphins, and was his defensive coordinator when Bowles coached the Jets.

Comfort Level Of The Coaching Staff

The familiarity of already knowing so much of the coaching staff is not always common. It’ll make for a smoother transition than your typical coaching change.

Bucs DC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“The comfort level is outstanding,” Bowles said. “I’ve worked with most of these guys for more than three years. We were together in either Arizona, New York or somewhere else. The comfort level – Byron (Leftwich) Goody (Harold Goodwin) Kacy (Rodgers), (Larry) Foote, (Kevin) Ross, (Nick) Rapone, (Joe) Gilbert, (Todd) McNair, everybody.

“It’s very comfortable from that standpoint. We all know each other, we all get along. We all are our own individual leaders, but come together collectively as coaches to make us a better team. That’s what we’ll continue to do. It’s not about who’s the smartest, it’s about us coming to an agreement and being right and being on the same page when we play. Regardless of what side of the ball we’re on. Bruce (Arians) has taught us that, and we’re going to carry that on.”

Dividing Responsibilities

Bowles then explained what went into his thought process of promoting two assistant coaches to defensive coordinator.

Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Because when I’m on the offensive side of the ball at practice we go through phases or run periods and pass periods and sometimes they’re at the same time,” Bowles said. “Kacy excels in the front seven, Larry excels in the back seven. So when I’m over there, to be co-DCs, they’re kind of handling the same situations. But one is in the run game and one is in the pass game, so I know I have it covered over there. I think our DB coaches do an outstanding job. Coach Rapone taught me almost everything I knew, and Coach Ross I played with.

“Having that dynamic with both guys over there that I trust, along with the two DB coaches, I think it helps a great deal in practice when I’m on the other side of the ball. I’m going to install in the spring because we have new things going in that they don’t even know about yet. And I’ll call it on game day. I think from the day-to-day operations of understanding the players and going into training camp and everything, they’ll be at the front of the room a lot more.”