The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a very different looking defense in 2019. Here’s what to expect from Todd Bowles in his first year in Tampa:
The Bucs defense will be undergoing a change of direction under new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles in 2019.
Bowles was the head coach of the New York Jets for the past four seasons. Before that, he served under Bruce Arians with the Arizona Cardinals as defensive coordinator for two seasons.
While Bowles has stated that he has run a base 4-3 or 3-4 defense throughout his career, he chose to go with a base 3-4 defense the past six seasons.
The defensive assistants that will serve under Bowles, as well as new head coach Bruce Arians all, have either coached or played in the 3-4 defense throughout the majority of their careers.
Thus it is likely a 3-4 defense will surface for the first time since 1991 in Tampa.
The likely scheme change means that the off-season will bring a lot of defensive personal changes.
Tampa will likely sign players that fit their general defensive philosophy; then they will strategize around those players when the season is underway.
According to ESPN NFL Matchup, Bowles’ defense in New York blitzed 32.3 percent of the time in 2018. This came in as the sixth highest in the league.
Todd Bowles’s Defenses 2013-18 Vs.Defenses 2013-18
Bowles has been known for his propensity to frequently send five or more pass rushers on any given play.
This has generated more sacks, and quarterback hits overall than the Buccaneers defense since 2013.
With Bowles no longer a head coach and being focused only on the defensive side of the ball, he will have more time to create effective game plans that will get a consistent pass rush on the opposing quarterbacks.
In addition to having a track record of leading solid pass rushing defensives Bowles’s units also have had a knack for creating turnovers.
During his two seasons as Cardinals defensive coordinator, Bowles’ defenses ranked sixth and 14th in turnovers forced, respectively. That 14th ranking in 2014 included 18 interceptions, which was seventh best in the league.
In order to generate turnovers in Tampa there will need to be a personal overhaul.
Here is a list of Bowles’ most productive defensive players while coaching in Arizona and New York.
Standout Players under Todd Bowles:
Buccaneers’ cornerback Carlton Davis showed promise in his 2018 rookie season.
The corner out of Auburn is known for his physicality against number one receivers. However, in 2018 he was often tasked with playing off-coverage in Mike Smith’s defense.
Davis’s physical attributes and style are best suited for Bowles’ press-man coverage.
Bowles has coached some of the games’ best cornerbacks who fit that style of play. Namely Patrick Peterson and Darrelle Revis.
Thus, Davis should be able to get to the next level with Bowles as a mentor.
Another player who could fit very well in Bowles’ base 3-4 scheme is defensive end Carl Nassib.
Nassib has played in both a 3-4 and 4-3 defense in the NFL since he entered the league out of Penn State in 2016.
A last name that should fit in well with Bowels is Justin Evans.
Evans is very rangy and athletic safety who moves smoothly.
He combines his athleticism with a desire for hard hits. At 6-0, he is not much smaller than the average safety in Bowles’s past defenses.
He is a gifted athlete who Bowles could utilize as a difference-maker in the defensive backfield, similar to how he used Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams the past two seasons in New York.
There will be a few more holdovers from last year who will also make the transition to Bowles’ 3-4 scheme. However, these are the three names Bowles is likely most excited about.
With Tampa Bay’s offense looking as if they will once again be an explosive force, it’s up to Todd Bowles and the defense to make Tampa Bay a complete team.
There are players already in Tampa for Bowles to succeed, In addition, there are even more players available through free agency and the draft to allow Bowles to play his aggressive style of defense in South-Central Florida.
