The top CB's are usually m2m CB's. With Bowles playing so much zone, using these top picks on m2m CB's is a waste of resources.
Agreed.
Bowles would play more M2M with better talent so they probably would draft a M2M boundary corner, if available at the right spot
They played M2M a bunch against McLaurin, one of the best receivers in the game. They played Lamb M2M (and got burned). McCollum is a M2M corner. Jamel "tissue paper" Dean is a M2M corner.
Even Josh Q points this out in todays article:
"And Bowles tried to change his defense as he dealt with an incredibly bad string of injuries to his back seven. You saw him try man coverage more. Every time he did the defense would give up an explosive play down field."
And he goes onto say he needs to play more.
Cant do that without the corners.
They have a lot of defensive needs though, so who knows?
1st round - BPA at either corner or LB
2nd round - BPA at either corner or LB
The top CB's are usually m2m CB's. With Bowles playing so much zone, using these top picks on m2m CB's is a waste of resources. This is why they sent Davis packing last offseason and will probably do the same with Dean this offseason. Zone CB's can be found later in the draft.
Yes, if there is a good two-way LB in R1 or R2, they should jump on them. Same with Edge. Bowles and company have blown the high edge pass rushers and LB picks in the past, but they have to keep trying.
All the more reason to move on from Bowles and play more physical m2m imo.
If we stick with zone then I'd agree so I'd maybe adjust those first two picks to be LB/D-line but we have a massive need at corner and safety.
Unless we move Smith to safety and draft another slot corner.
It all depends on Bowles and I suspect he will stay.
Need to target the best pass coverage EDGE players possible with 5 of our first 7 picks.
May need to address RB, as I’m almost positive that Tucker is entering the elusive and coveted JCHoF as an early first round ballot.
I think we're set with Vea and Yaya being great in zone.
Bowles would play more M2M with better talent so they probably would draft a M2M boundary corner, if available at the right spot
They played M2M a bunch against McLaurin, one of the best receivers in the game. They played Lamb M2M (and got burned). McCollum is a M2M corner. Jamel "tissue paper" Dean is a M2M corner.
Even Josh Q points this out in todays article:
"And Bowles tried to change his defense as he dealt with an incredibly bad string of injuries to his back seven. You saw him try man coverage more. Every time he did the defense would give up an explosive play down field."
And he goes onto say he needs to play more.
Cant do that without the corners.
They have a lot of defensive needs though, so who knows?
First of all Hayes is a project as a boundary CB and not a natural boundary CB that Ross has been working with. Everyone knows that he shouldn't even be out there in the first place as a starter.
Also the change in defensive philosophy due to injuries isn't true.
Since last season the Bucs were a heavy zone defense.
Mike Smith was sent packing because he used Carlton Davis as a rookie in heavy quarters and off coverage when he is ideally a m2m CB. Schiano and that brain trust at the time burned a 1st round pick to trade for Revis to turn around and have him playing zone when he was a dominant m2m CB.
Bowles had McCollum and Dean and chose to play heavy zone.
It is ironic that Bowles downfall will be what caused him to be hired in the first place.
Also the change in defensive philosophy due to injuries isn't true.
Since last season the Bucs were a heavy zone defense.
The Bucs defense, like every defense, is mixing zone and M2M.
I said that last season Bowles said his increasing use of zone reflected the (lack of ) talent on the field. So Same this year obviously, although the played straight up M2M a bunch on guys like McLaurin and Lamb,
Heres Josh Q writing yesterday about Bowles use of zone:
"And Bowles tried to change his defense as he dealt with an incredibly bad string of injuries to his back seven. You saw him try man coverage more. Every time he did the defense would give up an explosive play down field.
As you say above they played much of the year WITHOUT their primary M2M corner, Dean, and instead with Hayes who is "a project as a boundary CB and not a natural boundary CB"
They played Hayes M2M against McLaurin . . instant TD. Both Dean and MCCollum had M2M breakups covering McLaurin
Bowles had McCollum and Dean and chose to play heavy zone.
Dean is/was almost never on the field, but when he was he often played M2M. For example, Dean and McCollum were often matched up M2M with Lamb and McLaurin
If you are a BLITZER - and especially a guy like Bowles who blitzes off corners and safeties - playing M2M would have to be your preference because of the NUMBERS game.
First, he has to survive though and he might not.
Also the change in defensive philosophy due to injuries isn't true.
Since last season the Bucs were a heavy zone defense.
This is correct. Bowles had Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean as starting CB's (both of whom are m2m CB's the organization used 2nd rounders on and paid big second contracts to) last season and played more zone than man. There's really only one nitwit that continues to argue this inarguable point since last summer, saying "Todd Bowles is COVER ZERO GUY" ignorantly.
Also the change in defensive philosophy due to injuries isn't true.
Since last season the Bucs were a heavy zone defense.
This is correct. Bowles had Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean as starting CB's (both of whom are m2m CB's the organization used 2nd rounders on and paid big second contracts to) last season and played more zone than man. There's really only one nitwit that continues to argue this inarguable point since last summer, saying "Todd Bowles is COVER ZERO GUY" ignorantly.
Bowles is Tony Dungy rush 4 cover 2
:-)
Asante Samuel Jr is an interesting free agent. 25 with a great skill set but coming off an injury/bad contract year.
Also like Azeez Ojulari as an edge signing.
Ojulari should be a top target because whatever degenerative issues people feared for him hasn't come up so far as a pro.
ILB is #1 as far as what's missing. I don't know that you have to use a 1st round pick on that position, but you better go out and find multiple players through FA and the draft. We will get Dennis back hopefully, but the depth is non-existent. It takes time to get a rookie to get acclimated, so they need to put some dollars toward a legit free agent or two, not just practice squad guys.
ILB is #1 as far as what's missing.
Almost the entire back-end of the defense will NOT be Bucs defensive starters in 2025, right?
From the PR snap count article
"The secondary as a group had players going in and out like a revolving door."
Zyon McCollum -- back
Jamel Dean - GONE
Josh Hayes - GONE (or at least relegated to ST)
Tyrek Funderburk - GONE
Kaevon Merriweather - GONE
Tykee Smith - Back
Mike Edwards - GONE?
AWJ - Back
The entrie LB corp probably relagated or gone too
LVD - should retire
.J. Russell - GONE or relegated
K.J. Britt - GONE
Deion Jones - GONE
That means that we played the playoff game with 12 players, 9 of who are not really NFL starters or will be gone next year.
This is probably why Licht said, "“and what [Bowles] has done with what we have, I think, has been remarkable.”
How often do you hear a GM critical of the talent he was responsible for gathering? He can say that because of this:
"Two years ago when we had the — I don’t want to say rebuild — but we knew it was going to take some time to fill every spot on the defense. Is there some spots that we could add to? Of course. But it takes time."
PR just posted this video by SR
"Pewter Pulse: Bucs Must FLOOD THE DEFENSE In 2025 Offseason"
Linebacker - "get rid of Britt . . they need 2 speedy LBs who can cover . . . flood the position"
CB - "move on from Dean like they did from Davis". "McCollum a KEEPER" "Blow up everyone else besides McCollum and Smith"
S -- "upgrade the position . .. Whitehead big concern . . cant be the presumptive starter in 2025 -- Edwards, Izien, Merriewether. . . not starters"
"Set at DT, need an ALPHA edge, pencil in SVD as one LB but flood position, secondary . . move on from Dean and blow up everyone else besides McCollum and Smith"
More from PR
"Currently, the Bucs have no linebackers you can call a “lock” to make their 2025 opening-day 53-man roster. "
