Pretty simple really. 3rd and 8 and Bowles predictably blitzes so they design a screen to the TE that really should have worked and sealed the game. Vea calls his own audible and runs the play down and saves the game momentarily.
It is a great instinct play by Vea, no doubt, but he's only making the play because Izien misses a tackle to stop them way short of the LTG. The D has the play covered.
Its right here:
https://www.nfl.com/games/buccaneers-at-cowboys-2024-reg-16?active-tab=watch. (second to last drive of the 4th Qtr, 3rd and 6)
Vea is standing up, they overload blitz on the other side, the TE side, four rushers plus David (I think) makes 5. Vea and JTS drop out into coverage.
Vea sees the screen and goes over. Izien is right there though, by design (you see him let the receiver through the zone). He should be tackling the TE at the 33 and the LTG is the 40. He just blows the tackle.
Izien is right there though, by design (you see him let the receiver through the zone). He should be tackling the TE at the 33 and the LTG is the 40. He just blows the tackle.
PFF defensive grades
Vite Vea has the higest PFF grade in the game
PFF Grade: 71.6
LVD has the lowest. McCollum is next and then Izien
PFF Grade: 53.7
In his postgame press conferences Bowles praises Vea but also criticizes McCollum and Izien and MISSED tackles specifically.
Ok but it's a slot corner filling in at safety (I assume) vs 1v1 tackle on a large TE... And Izien hasn't tackled well all game and really all season.
Bowles did what he always does and blitzed on third.
McCarthy called a quick screen and it's the perfect counter of Vea doesn't hustle on his own play call.
safety (I assume) vs 1v1 tackle on a large TE.
Yes, so normally AWJ? The impact of INJURIES, right?
The point though is that the play worked great AND as designed. The execution was poor by Izien
Bowles did what he always does and blitzed on third.
Many DCs - -not just Bowles --- are calling some version of pressure in that 3rd and 6 scenario trying to force EXACTLY what happened there, which is a throw well short of the line of gain. The point is that the pressure - even if it does not get home with a sack - forces the ball out of the Qbs hands.
Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin built their entire career on that concept, right down to the zone play behind the pressure. But you dont have to go back in time, its the same defensive philosophy you'd see from the Ravens or Steelers or Chiefs. In fact, its even a fake/drop out pressure play, the current trend in NFL rushing.
McCarthy called a quick screen and it's the perfect counter of Vea doesn't hustle on his own play call.
It is n ot the perfect counter, its what the DEFENSE wants. Its a punt if Izien just make a fairly routine play for an NFL safety. McCarty did NOT outsmart Bowles. Bowles' defense DICTATED the way it played out, but the execution failed. The perfect counter would have been something like a draw right or a SLANT to that receiver Izien lets go by. That receiver is past most of the defense.
HONESTLY, if you watch the play (I provided the link) you can see Izien sitting on the TE. He knows EXACTLY what is coming. He lets the other receiver run right by him. Izien is going to tackle the TE 7 yards short of the first down. He just fails to make the tackle. I mean, his attempt is why Vea could get there, but make no mistake he is supposed to make the actual tackle.
*********
Bowles is probably on his way out for his failings as a HEAD COACH, but it is UNTRUE that his defense doesn't work or that he doesnt know how to call a defense. Far from it. He just doesnt have the horses and that is PARTLY HIS FAULT, but his defense uses so many of the concepts that some of the best defenses in the league use today . . right down to that drop out zone blitz you hate so much :-)
I hate the off zone BS, but man if that isnt obviously a fall back thing then I dont know that to say. Bowles put both outside corners on Lamb man-to-man.
Anyway, the play you called out sort of makes the INJURY point because last season a VERY HEALTHY AWJ makes the exact play and he is HAILED as the best safety in the game. This season they have a very thin D to start with and then its VERY INJURED, so the safety role is being played by a NICKEL (rather than the rookie T Smith) and that nickel playing safety just went out for the season with a TORN PEC. The play we are discussing is at the very end of the game, so maybe Izien is even injured then.
The POINT: they are down to 3rd and 4th string guys and guys off the street.
None of that absolves Bowles as a HC.
The Steelers were supposed to be dog crap this year and they are not and yet you will find Steelers fans who call for Tomlin to be fired.
And just to show the Bucs and Bowles are not special, one of the reasons some Steelers fans call for Tomlin's head is they think he cant coach in December because the Steelers have had December struggles, just like Bowles and his mid-season struggles.
I would never presume to speak for another poster, but one reason you read a "steady wins the race" approach on this board may be that the grass is NOT automatically greener. Bucs fans should know this more than most because they saw a decade where the owners changed coaches from one extreme to another. . . over and over . . and got NOWHERE.
"Gruden will never daft a 'franchise QB' but this kid Dominic will and his coach Morris wants one too" . .. . FAIL
"Morris' teams was UNDISCIPLINED . . Schiano is MR.TOES ON THE LINE . . . FAIL
"lets go back to our GLORY DAYS . . . . FAIl, FAIL, FAIL
"we cant waste our good OC with our new QB" . . . FAIL
Bowles is probably at the end of the line as the Bucs HC, but not because he is "incompetent" lol or "his defense doesnt work anymore. " Best DCs in football include Spagnolo (65 yrs old) and Fangio (66?). He NFL has not passed them buy or figured them out
And to bring it full circle, this is a Steeler fan saying 52 year old Tomlin is . . . STUCK IN THE PAST
"Mike Tomlin’s style of winning doesn’t work in the modern NFL. It isn’t 2008 where you can finish 22nd in total offense and still win a Super Bowl. There are more than two other great quarterback threats in the AFC to overcome. You need to have a guy under center that is capable of taking over games, as well as weapons for him to distribute the ball to. In the latter years of the Roethlisberger era, there was no succession plan."
Frustrating season . . sure. Get that part. Keep Coen, get that part too. Bowles incompetent? Come on.
Maybe if they lose the next two lmao
they might.
Fire, you're in at safety! Make that tackle!
We've discussed Bowles' shortcomings as a HC ad nauseum. He'll make a fine DC somewhere else.
We've discussed Bowles' shortcomings as a HC ad nauseum.
Exactly. He’s given us countless examples of his ineptitude as a head coach over the last 3 years.
But, imagine trying to compare a career sub-.500 HC to a Super Bowl winning HC with ZERO losing records in 18 years.
The Todd sycophants are grasping at straws at this point.
Sad to see.
imagine trying to compare a career sub-.500 HC to a Super Bowl winning HC with ZERO losing records in 18 years.
If that’s what….ugh
Scratch that …
i have no doubt that is what you took from that lmao
The Steelers were supposed to be dog crap this year and they are not and yet you will find Steelers fans who call for Tomlin to be fired.
And just to show the Bucs and Bowles are not special, one of the reasons some Steelers fans call for Tomlin's head is they think he cant coach in December because the Steelers have had December struggles, just like Bowles and his mid-season struggles.
I would never presume to speak for another poster, but one reason you read a "steady wins the race" approach on this board may be that the grass is NOT automatically greener. Bucs fans should know this more than most because they saw a decade where the owners changed coaches from one extreme to another. . . over and over . . and got NOWHERE.
"Gruden will never daft a 'franchise QB' but this kid Dominic will and his coach Morris wants one too" . .. . FAIL
"Morris' teams was UNDISCIPLINED . . Schiano is MR.TOES ON THE LINE . . . FAIL
"lets go back to our GLORY DAYS . . . . FAIl, FAIL, FAIL
"we cant waste our good OC with our new QB" . . . FAIL
Bowles is probably at the end of the line as the Bucs HC, but not because he is "incompetent" lol or "his defense doesnt work anymore. " Best DCs in football include Spagnolo (65 yrs old) and Fangio (66?). He NFL has not passed them buy or figured them out
And to bring it full circle, this is a Steeler fan saying 52 year old Tomlin is . . . STUCK IN THE PAST
"Mike Tomlin’s style of winning doesn’t work in the modern NFL. It isn’t 2008 where you can finish 22nd in total offense and still win a Super Bowl. There are more than two other great quarterback threats in the AFC to overcome. You need to have a guy under center that is capable of taking over games, as well as weapons for him to distribute the ball to. In the latter years of the Roethlisberger era, there was no succession plan."
Frustrating season . . sure. Get that part. Keep Coen, get that part too. Bowles incompetent? Come on.
Maybe if they lose the next two lmao
they might.
Fire, you're in at safety! Make that tackle!
Watch it again. 80 is the blocker. He whiffs.
Izien reads it well but misses, yes...
So 80 whiffs, Izien whiffs. Net neutral. Vea makes the play.
The blitz forces a quick throw but this is a backup QB throwing to to only option left on their offense with Lamb having hurt his shoulder.
The whole "backups" argument is easily negated when Dallas has even more injuries on offense than we do on defense.
The difference between Spagnola and Bowles is that his blitzes actually work, are well disguised, and the results speak for themselves.
We'd all take Spagnola over Bowles...
Bowles did what he always does. McCarthy called the counter to it despite having a plethora of injuries. His backup backup backup missed his block. Izien missed his tackle. Vea decided to not blitz and cover the screen. He saved Bowles play call.
The difference between Spagnola and Bowles is that his blitzes actually work, are well disguised, and the results speak for themselves.
The play you called up is an overload blitz one if Spag’s tools
i was just comparing their ages as it relates to use of things like blitzes
imagine trying to compare a career sub-.500 HC to a Super Bowl winning HC with ZERO losing records in 18 years.
If that’s what….ugh
Scratch that …
i have no doubt that is what you took from that lmao
My apologies if it’s difficult to keep up with your constant excuses for Bowles.
Figured I’d have enough practice with your incessant leg-jumping of Byron; but I digress.
imagine trying to compare a career sub-.500 HC to a Super Bowl winning HC with ZERO losing records in 18 years.
If that’s what….ugh
Scratch that …
i have no doubt that is what you took from that lmao
My apologies if it’s difficult to keep up with your constant excuses for Bowles.
Figured I’d have enough practice with your incessant leg-jumping of Byron; but I digress.
DH, in your "White is the Man" - football world someone who posts about the good and bad of your teen idol doll, Tom Brady, is a "Byron leg humper" and someone who posts an accurate break down of a play is a "Bowles-sycophant."
You seem to choose name calling over smart football takes.
Makes sense
You seem to choose name calling over smart football takes.
Makes sense.
“tHe bUcS aBaNdOnEd tHe rUn iN 2022”
Kudos for standing firm on your claim to never responding to me again.
About as believable as telling the FHP that “I swear officer, I’ve only had 2 drinks”
“tHe bUcS aBaNdOnEd tHe rUn iN 2022”
"The Buccaneers' early deficit and difficulties in the red zone forced them to mostly abandon the running game, and Brady ended up throwing 66 passes, his most in any game in his career, regular season or postseason. He previously threw 65 passes in a 2012 loss to San Francisco and 62 in the famous comeback win over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI. Brady complete 35 of those 66 tosses for 351 yards, connecting on touchdowns to Julio Jones and Cameron Brate, but was not pleased with the efficiency of the Bucs' passing attack.
"They played good defensively and put a lot of pressure on us and we just couldn't make enough plays," said Brady. "It was kind of typical of the way we played all year, just inefficient in the passing game and not really good in the running game. It's hard to beat good teams like that."
******
"In today's pass-happy NFL, why was Coach Todd Bowles so insistent on building a running game? Why did the Bucs draft with run-blockers in mind, and why is new offensive coordinator Dave Canales forever talking about the marriage of pass/run?
Because, to put it bluntly, the Bucs were not good enough to be one-dimensional last year. Even with Tom Brady leading the league in both completions and sack percentage, the Bucs had a pretty lifeless offense in 2022. They struggled in the red zone and they were in too many passing situations after failed run attempts early in a series of downs. They may not need complete balance between run and pass, but they need more balance.
