New Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has a problem on his hands. It’s not one of those “bad” problems. It’s definitely more of a “is too much of a good thing a bad thing” problem.

I imagine he might be feeling like a kid in a candy store. I know I would be if I were him.

What’s the problem, you ask?

Well, Bowles has a lot of really good players on his defense. And last I checked, the NFL is only going to let him put 11 of them on the field at one time. Now he may be appealing that, and I wish him well if that’s the case. But until that hypothetical appeal is won, Bowles will still need to make some tough decisions.

Or will he?

Several players on this Bucs defense show a strong amount of versatility that will allow Bowles to move players around like chess pieces.

What might some of those personnel groupings look like? Let’s start with the simple and work to towards more exotic looks later.

Bucs’ Base Defense

Bucs SS Keanu Neal – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Makes sense for us to start with base. The Bucs operate out of a 3-4 base. Most likely that look is going to feature Vita Vea, Akiem Hicks, and Will Gholston as the starting down linemen. Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka will lineup as stand up outside linebackers. Devin White and Lavonte David will man the inside backer spots. Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean are my bets to be the starting outside corners with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Keanu Neal lined up as safeties.

I’m going out on a bit of a limb projecting Neal for the starting safety spot opposite Winfield. My argument is based on Neal being the best suited player to fill out the traditional strong safety role against 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends). He can match up well against most tight ends in coverage and lays the boom in the run game. In base sets I think Neal is the ideal complement to Winfield for those looks.

Nickel (Three Safety Sets)

This will be the package the Bucs will line up in most. From the base set you will see Gholston come off the field. This will leave the pass rush as Vea, Hicks, JTS, and Barrett. Replacing Gholston will be an extra defensive back in the form of Logan Ryan. Given that the Bucs are heavily featuring Winfield in the slot during training camp I think it’s safe to say that Bowles will be utilizing more three safety looks this year. There’s a good chance this could be the Bucs’ standard nickel look. I see one more substitution to complete this grouping. Safety Mike Edwards replacing Neal.

Edwards brings more of a ball-hawking skill set to replace Neal’s superiority against the run. The interesting part of this package will be how Bowles deploys each of his safeties. I have noted in the past that I think Ryan is most effective in the slot. Edwards played 191 snaps in the slot last year as well. Throw in Winfield and all three could lay a claim to the role. I could see Bowles playing each of them there depending on specific matchups.

Now Let’s Get Weird

Bucs NT Vita Vea and DT Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Now let’s get into some more exotic looks. One I have been salivating over since the Bucs assembled this Avengers-like crew is a 5-1-5 look. Imagine if you will, the Bucs lining up against 11 personnel with five down linemen in the form of Barrett-Logan Hall-Vea-Hicks-JTS. Behind them Lavonte David or Devin White manning the middle of the field. Finally, rounding out the defense in the secondary you could have a nickel package of Dean-Winfield-Edwards-Davis and say Neal to keep a bit of a run-defense element.

We’re not giving anything away, as we haven’t seen this package in camp practices. But this package would undoubtedly force the offense to keep a back or tight end in to block or risk having their entire offensive line run one-on-one against a considerably formidable pass rush. This would also allow Bowles to lean into his creativity.  JTS or Barrett could drop into a hook or a flat zone while Neal or White/David come in on a zone blitz. The options feel endless. And Bowles has to have thought about this look this offseason.

For Bucs, Versatility Is The Key

While the Bucs publicly spoke about getting younger and faster along the defensive line this year it appears they have prioritized versatility as well.  Last year’s primary slot corner Sean Murphy-Bunting is focusing on being a boundary corner during training camp while free safety Winfield is getting a lot of reps in the slot. Neal can man up tight ends, work in the box, while still offering some ability as a two-high safety. Ryan is adept in the slot as well as up top.

From a pressure standpoint, White has shown he can be an effective pass rusher. Both Hall and Tryon-Shoyinka have experience rushing inside and outside, as does Gholston. Bowles has shown a willingness to take his big inside guys like Vea and Hicks and have them push leaner offensive tackles around. Add on top of that stunt and twisting and unexpected pass rushers and it becomes exciting for fans and analysts alike.

This versatility can allow Bowles to mix-and-match based on specific matchups or simply to create unexpected looks that will force opposing offensive coordinators to adjust in-game. Ultimately Bowles hopes it will allow him to elevate his defense into the NFL’s top defense.