Sports is crazy highs and lows, so never worth reading anything as absolute BUT a few wins and out comes the LOVE
This is Pewter Report, Josh Queipo:
"It has become easy and commonplace to blame Todd Bowles for the troubles the Bucs have experienced this year. Afterall, they are 23rd in scoring defense, 28th in yards allowed per game and 24th in epa/play. Those aren’t exactly the numbers you would expect from a team led by a defensive-minded head coach.
And it has been frustrating as much of the defense’s struggles have been in areas that have traditionally plagued them. Middle of the field access, soft zone coverage and poor tackling have been discussed ad nauseum this year.
But the Bucs defense has been better since exiting its Week 11 bye. Tampa Bay deserves credit for that.
And the Bucs deserve more credit when you consider that success has come with a revolving door of back-end play due to a relentless string of injuries. And while I acknowledge the competition has been some of the worst offenses in the NFL, Tampa Bay’s defense has been able to rank third in epa/play allowed and 12th in success rate allowed. The grand result is holding those three opponents to an average of 14.3 points per game."
THE KEY POINT FROM QUEIPO:
"If you think this is the “same old Todd Bowles” you haven’t been paying attention."
Its worth the read because JQ goes on about the EVOLUTION of the Bucs defense:
"And do you know who is using these trendy, defensive solutions? Todd Bowles is"
https://www.pewterreport.com/todd-bowles-defense-evolved-playing-better/
Just like the GMC . . I will just leave this BECKLES quote here and walk away
“I don’t know if there is a coach who has overachieved more than Todd Bowles in the last few years,” Beckles said.
“Every one of our stars go down,” the former Bucs starting guard said. “Every one of our stars — both receivers went down. We’re still here.
“Both of our safeties go down. We’re still here.
“The great Joe Tryon-Shoyinka goes down. And we’re still here
and for what its worth (not much lol), the play that JQ highlights as the TRENDY "creeper" pressure is right here
https://x.com/josh_queipo/status/1866532955893457049
its LVD I think blitzing in the role that was White befor
JQ even discuss the back end and Bowles influence
"And Todd Bowles has followed other league-wide trends on the back-end as well. Where he used to be a heavy Cover 3 scheme with some Cover sprinkled in, he has followed many effective defenses over the past 3-4 years in increasing his rate of Quarters, or Cover 4. One could actually argue the Bowles was the person who ushered in the era of Quarters. While Vic Fangio had popularized it to a degree prior, it was Bowles who implemented it so effectively in Super Bowl LV that the rest of the NFL changed to a two-high structure against Mahomes the following year, eventually moving to it as a pre-snap look more often than not as a league-wide shift."
and heaven forbid . . he mentions . . . INJURIES:
"The injuries to Tampa Bay’s defense have been a killer this year. The team was high on linebacker SirVocea Dennis as a long-and-late coverage option. And through the first few weeks of the season, it looked like he would be able to help them be at least competent enough to compliment a high-scoring offense.
But after Dennis was lost to a season-ending shoulder injury, Todd Bowles struggled to adjust, as he kept running K.J. Britt on the field despite his extensive struggles in coverage. Part of that could have been due to injuries suffered by free safety Antoine Winfield Jr., nickelback Tykee Smith and strong safety Jordan Whitehead.
But it’s been clear as of late that Bowles has wanted to get to dime looks where he has six defensive backs on the field to help in coverage. But the team cannot maintain four healthy safeties for an entire game to see what that could look like in action. But that hasn’t stopped Bowles from getting creative."
He goes onto mention LVD as a line linebacker
The END
"And give Bowles credit for trying to find solutions while working around problems that really come down to lack of depth at linebacker and a historic run of injuries at safety."
Now, on to get BLOWN OUT in LA (hope not)
It's just the competition. We knew this would be fool's gold.
The bigger issue is losing Coen to keep Bowles... Even if he's coaching world class we cannot afford to lose Coen when Bowles is almost retired.
The Bucs are Bowles have been an interesting roller coaster. Would be good to see how this season plays out.
2022
Start out 2-0 and thinking this Bucs team, although the offense was sluggish, will win their 11-13 games and be Super Bowl contenders.
We then lose 5 of 6 to the likes of Pittsburgh and Carolina to boot where the team struggles to score 20 points. We need comeback efforts to win Rams, Saints, Cardinals, Panthers games and lose to the lowly Browns.
Overall 8-9 record, Brady's first losing record as a pro and get demolished in playoffs
the team had issues that many of us didnt see at the time expecting MVP caliber Brady to return but on in all he gets an F for this year. God, i hate this year.
2023
Bucs are supposed to stink but start out the season 3-1 with impressive road victories over Vikings and Saints.
Again, we then lose 6 out of 7 with some winnable games against ATL, HOU, and IND.
At 4-7, the Bucs then rally to win 4 in a row with some impressive wins over Green Bay and Jacksonville
Win the division at 9-8, have an impressive win over the Eagles and going to the 4th quarter with the Lions. This was our best non-brady year since the 2002 Super Bowl championship.
Bowles gets an A for this year despite almost being fired (in our hopes) mid way through.
2024
Bucs start out 4-2 with impressive wins over the Lions and Eagles. They have a clunker against the Broncos and defense doesnt show up in their loss against Atlanta.
Bucs lose 4 in a row - albeit to some top talented teams, and without their top 2 WRs, but Bowles has had questionable coaching calls in their losing streak
At 4-6, we have seen this rodeo just last season and now have a 3 game win streak.
He's currently at a C performance. Depending on how these next 4 games go, and hopefully playoffs, we shall see.
when Bowles is almost retired.
I changed view to say Bowles would reture and Coen take over, but Bowles was actually asked last week and he said a big NO to retiring.
It's just the competition.
JQ acknowledges the easier teams now BUT that impacts the results
JQ is highlighting the actual changes and adaptations.
Whether those changes are the reason for the statistical improvement is subject to debate, but it is a fact that he's made changes (maybe because he's had no choice lol)
God, i hate this year.
I think most do.
NOT coincidentally it is a year where, IN HINDSIGHT, the expectations were out of whack, especially with part-time Brady
have to laugh a bit at JQ crediting the Ravens with a pressure strategy that drives some here nuts:
"But the wrinkle is that the four rushers coming are not going to all be traditional down linemen. Someone, most often an edge rusher, is going to drop into a shallow zone. Meanwhile an off-ball linebacker or defensive back is going to rush, usually from depth in an effort to catch the offensive line’s protection off-guard
The bigger issue is losing Coen to keep Bowles... Even if he's coaching world class we cannot afford to lose Coen when Bowles is almost retire
I doubt the Glazers are reading the Red Board
;-)
God, i hate this year.
I think most do.
NOT coincidentally it is a year where, IN HINDSIGHT, the expectations were out of whack, especially with part-time Brady
just terrible vibes with Marpet, Gronk, and Arians all retiring
us assuming that Brady was a machine and that (A) Divorce wouldn't affect him (B) Father Time couldn't touch him
us assuming
Reasonable assumptions for fans. We are all hoping for success not clinical analyzing the situation.
sometimes there are years like 2022. Sometimes like 2023. The 2002 Champion Bucs should’ve probably won in 99 (I think). Brady’s second year we should probably repeat, if that was t such a tough task in the NFL
Add Licht to the list. Licht is JINXING. . . err . discussing why the Bucs have been good in December and January
"“I will start with the head coach, Todd,” Licht began. “Unwavering attitude and just the way he leads the team. And we’ve been through some tough times over the past couple of years.
“Last year we were sitting at 4-7 and came back to go to the divisional game. This year? We lost two of our best players in the same game, Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin], and now we have a slew of injuries on defense. We may be playing with our fifth inside linebacker and fourth safety this week.
“But [injuries have] never been used as an excuse by our head coach or our players."
“Todd preaches to the team every day that December and January football is when it matters,” Licht said. “That is a testament to our coach and the way that he’s been leading our team.”
GM Speak?
