fact is that we often bring blitz packages while playing cover 3 behind it.
He is often playing cover 3 as a base - like much of the ngl- but altering it as part of a pressure package. This is why he has traditionally loved "joker" type players ie someone who can start in the S role but then cover because that pre-snap CB blitzed.
like every decent DC Bowles is trying most often to show one thing to a QB presnap that is different from what they are actually running. That is very effective - multiple seasons top 10 in scoring - when you have talent and less so when you do not.
we just reloaded on defense
I think the Bucs last season were 5th in scoring offense and 17th in scoring defense. That would mean they were roughly a 11 team - (5+17)/2. The Eagles were something like a 3, number one defense and 5th offense, I think.
The 2025 most likely scenario for the Bucs is a slight regression on offense and a slight impatient on defense. Injuries etc can change ACTUAL performance but assume the Bucs at 7th offense and 10th defense so they are an 8 team.
Look at 2024 teams. An 8 should be a division winning playoff team?
just a guess
Not worth correcting the autocorrect.
point is the Bucs should do well, barring injuries Pressure on Bowles
My personal expectation is 11 wins and making the NFCCG.
Agreed.
Anything less is a failed season.
....Dean is not a m2m corner. Zion can play some man. He didn’t draft them to play man. Now I hope he has drafted Morrison and Parrish to play more man.
Great post(s) as usual.
Only thing I would disagree with you on is your summarization of Dean.
He has proven to good at m2m throughout his career. He's also proven to be highly effective when pressing (it was one of his strengths in nearly every draft profile).
That being said, I think we'll see a more physical style with Morrison, and especially Parrish.
My bigger concern is with Todd and his "explanations" of pressing vs. off coverage, man vs. zone, etc.:
- A few seasons ago, his 2 starting corners voiced their frustrations that they weren't playing enough man, and weren't playing enough press.
- Then the next season, Todd came out and said it was up to the corners (play dependent)
- Now, this season, Todd is saying he doesn't like off-coverage and he prefers press.
Multiple instances of him absolutely contradicting himself.
And, going what we've all seen and Bowles' history of stubbornness, I'd agree with the aforementioned players.
You want to play more press, Todd? You want to play more m2m, Todd?
Then shut up and do it. Stop talking about it.
"Dean missed time last season with injuries to both knees and a hamstring, and Tampa Bay missed him when he was sidelined. With Dean on the field, the Buccaneers allowed 6.8 yards per attempt and an 89.6 passer rating, Without him, those numbers were 7.6 and 111.4, respectively. Dean graded out as PFF's 14th-best cornerback out of 77 who played at least 600 snaps," Pereles wrote."
I dont think Dean (a M2M corner) has ever played a full season? Maybe his first year. The Bucs defense is definitely better with a healthy Dean playing. As soon as he leaves his M2m post against the Commanders we give up a TD pass to the guy he was covering.
BUT, he's not been consistently healthy
SO . .
. . does he play a full season?
and IF he does and IF he performs like he should what do the Bucs do with him from there?