https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42743442/rams-claim-emmanuel-forbes-jr-waivers-commanders
There's gotta be reason why we didn't grab him for some depth. I know he's been bad but legit there's no way we couldn't use him for depth based on our recent injuries.
Am I missing something? Can't be salary.
The Rams are higher on the waiver list than the Bucs, but I have a hard time believing they were trying to pick up anybody. On the defensive side, for better or worse, the Bucs would rather promote a UDFA off their practice squad than pick up a former first rounder off the waiver wire. Bowles values players who know the system and he doesn't want to try to teach the system to a new player in midseason or even at the beginning of the season. Is there anybody on the defensive side who didn't go through the Bucs training camp from Day 1? Their entire practice squad was made up of training camp castoffs. I'm sure there's somebody on the practice squad now who was picked up later on, but they probably haven't been elevated. Troy Hill I guess would be the exception, although he hasn't played a down yet.
Bowles values players who know the system and he doesn't want to try to teach the system to a new player in midseason or even at the beginning of the season
This sure seems to be the case
Bowles values players who know the system
They can know it all they like... They aren't executing in it at all.
Bowles values players who know the system
They can know it all they like... They aren't executing in it at all.
sort of the point that SR made in one of his earlier Fab 5s.
Essentially, his argument was to compare Coen's offensive coaches to Bowles' defensive coaches and to point out that Coen's offensive coaches have really modified their approach to suit the talent on the field. That point is reinforced in a PR article today about the change in the running game from zone to heavy gap.
So, SR's theory is, essentially, if the DEFENSE doesn't work, adapt. . . like the offense.
Bowles obvious response would be that it DID work. They won and held the Panthers to 23, a score that NORMALLY their offense would beat.
NOT saying that is the correct response, saying that that type of response would sort of reinforce SR's theory of YOUNG, INNOVATIVE offensive staff versus older, set in ways defensive staff. Bowles doesn't really have to say that though because the fact is THEY DID ADAPT. If you look at the Panthers game they start out in DIME and then only really go away from it when Edwards gets hurt. The Bucs defense had special teamer T Thomas in (because of injuries to Whitehead, Smith and Edwards) and JJ Russell in at ILB (because of injuries to Dennis and Britt) and BOTH guys gave up big plays, so thats not really failure to adapt, its a failure of talent.
The other challenge to SR's theory though is the offensive production itself. Faced with its own INJURY issues the offense went down from 30 pts per game to 25 even while adapting.
My guess would be there is some truth in SR's theory but that it is not the driving factor. Either way though, we are very likely to see more defense from Bowles like the Panthers game (off coverage/zone etc) unless/until they get Smith or Edwards back. And I seriously doubt we ever see heavy use of man cover behind the blitzing, although they even did that a couple times against the Panthers.
Let the FRUSTRATION continue!
Bowles obvious response would be that it DID work.
from JBF, Bowles on the terrible Mayfield pick
“Nobody flinched on the sideline. He threw the interception; nobody got upset,” Bowles said, aware that an untimely screwup like that can rattle some teams.
“The defense went out and played. The offense went back out there and ran the ball and made some timely throws and we got it done.”
There's gotta be reason why we didn't grab him for some depth.
I think it goes back to what SR alluded to a month ago.
Most likely no signings on any level with a lame duck HC.
Bowles doesn't really have to say that though because the fact is THEY DID ADAPT. If you look at the Panthers game they start out in DIME and then only really go away from it when Edwards gets hurt. The Bucs defense had special teamer T Thomas in (because of injuries to Whitehead, Smith and Edwards) and JJ Russell in at ILB (because of injuries to Dennis and Britt) and BOTH guys gave up big plays, so thats not really failure to adapt, its a failure of talent.
Josh Q of PR stating who he thinks the Bucs need to step up on defense down the stretch
"Whatever voodoo the Bucs have come under that doesn’t let them go three quarters without losing a defensive back to injury needs to stop quickly. Every time the team is in a position to try out a dime look on long and late downs, they lose yet another safety or cornerback. This past week, newly reacquired safety Mike Edwards fell to a hamstring injury and the team had to finish the game with Tavierre Thomas at nickel while kicking Christian Izien to safety.
Tykee Smith, who was having a fantastic rookie campaign before a knee injury sidelined him in recent weeks was starting to make big plays. And the Bucs will need those big plays to help offset for coverage issues that aren’t likely to go away any time soon. Smith had three forced fumbles and one interception in his last four games. If he can keep that penchant for turnovers up, it could just be the boost the defense needs to help offset the issues in coverage that aren’t likely to go away any time soon.
The Bucs had similar coverage issues last year but were able to overcome those just enough through a bonkers turnover season from Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2023. Smith, by virtue of playing in the slot will see a healthy number of those opportunities working against slot receivers while dropping into middle of the field zones. His return, hopefully paired with the return of Edwards will also, maybe…. just maybe, be able to actually try some dime defense to improve their down-to-down performance against the pass
There's gotta be reason why we didn't grab him for some depth.
I think it goes back to what SR alluded to a month ago.
Most likely no signings on any level with a lame duck HC.
I looooove your confidence that he's a lame duck and we will keep Coen and promote him etc. Love it. Hope you're right.
But my GUT tells me that yes Licht is seeing what Bowles can do but also, a divisional win and we don't lose him.
Definitely could be, or it could be until the offseason. Resigning/extensions will have an impact on next season cap numbers, right?There's gotta be reason why we didn't grab him for some depth.
I think it goes back to what SR alluded to a month ago.
Most likely no signings on any level with a lame duck HC.
Is Queipo implying Tykee Smith & Mike Edwards will be available against the Raiders, or just generally stating that once these two get back in the lineup we can finally start effectively playing some dime again?Bowles doesn't really have to say that though because the fact is THEY DID ADAPT. If you look at the Panthers game they start out in DIME and then only really go away from it when Edwards gets hurt. The Bucs defense had special teamer T Thomas in (because of injuries to Whitehead, Smith and Edwards) and JJ Russell in at ILB (because of injuries to Dennis and Britt) and BOTH guys gave up big plays, so thats not really failure to adapt, its a failure of talent.
Josh Q of PR stating who he thinks the Bucs need to step up on defense down the stretch
"Whatever voodoo the Bucs have come under that doesn’t let them go three quarters without losing a defensive back to injury needs to stop quickly. Every time the team is in a position to try out a dime look on long and late downs, they lose yet another safety or cornerback. This past week, newly reacquired safety Mike Edwards fell to a hamstring injury and the team had to finish the game with Tavierre Thomas at nickel while kicking Christian Izien to safety.
Tykee Smith, who was having a fantastic rookie campaign before a knee injury sidelined him in recent weeks was starting to make big plays. And the Bucs will need those big plays to help offset for coverage issues that aren’t likely to go away any time soon. Smith had three forced fumbles and one interception in his last four games. If he can keep that penchant for turnovers up, it could just be the boost the defense needs to help offset the issues in coverage that aren’t likely to go away any time soon.
The Bucs had similar coverage issues last year but were able to overcome those just enough through a bonkers turnover season from Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2023. Smith, by virtue of playing in the slot will see a healthy number of those opportunities working against slot receivers while dropping into middle of the field zones. His return, hopefully paired with the return of Edwards will also, maybe…. just maybe, be able to actually try some dime defense to improve their down-to-down performance against the pass
Definitely could be, or it could be until the offseason. Resigning/extensions will have an impact on next season cap numbers, right?There's gotta be reason why we didn't grab him for some depth.
I think it goes back to what SR alluded to a month ago.
Most likely no signings on any level with a lame duck HC.
Could be that as well.
There's gotta be reason why we didn't grab him for some depth.
I think it goes back to what SR alluded to a month ago.
Most likely no signings on any level with a lame duck HC.
I looooove your confidence that he's a lame duck and we will keep Coen and promote him etc. Love it. Hope you're right.
But my GUT tells me that yes Licht is seeing what Bowles can do but also, a divisional win and we don't lose him.
I mean, at the end of the day, the Glazers (and Licht to an extent) have one simple question to ask themselves upon the completion of the season:
Are we better than last year?
I am on record as saying they will make the change but the SECOND question will be the finances, again.
I think they will be better, but that has been a question each of the last couple years
I am on record as saying they will make the change but the SECOND question will be the finances, again.
I think they will be better, but that has been a question each of the last couple years
Glazers about to get some massive tax cuts so... I think they can afford paying an elite OC
