2-Point Conversion: Todd Bowles Needs Another Bucs Defensive Masterpiece

Intro

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1. Todd Bowles Wants One other Bucs Defensive Masterpiece

Todd Bowles would be the first to inform you that’s not about stopping one participant on offense – even a quarterback as gifted as Washington’s Jayden Daniels.

He’ll say that his protection must deal with stopping the Commanders offense, which is orchestrated by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

However that’s not solely true.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA In the present day

Daniels is a outstanding expertise and ought to be the front-runner to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months after throwing 25 landing passes with simply 9 interceptions, whereas finishing 69% of his passes. Because the Bucs discovered of their 37-20 season-opening win, Daniels’ scrambling skill is really particular. Daniels ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and completed his rookie season as Washington’s main rusher with 891 yards and 6 scores.

That duel risk skill is what makes Daniels harmful. However Bowles dialed up a recreation plan that turned out to be a defensive masterpiece final January in a powerful 32-9 Wild Card win over Philadelphia.

The Eagles had their very own twin risk QB in Jalen Hurts, who together with Philly’s floor recreation, was neutralized by Bowles’ five-man defensive position scheme he threw out as a brand new wrinkle to cease the run.

Bowles will want one other defensive wrinkle or two to decelerate Daniels, who has improved by leaps and bounds from when he accomplished 17-of-24 passes for 184 yards in opposition to Tampa Bay’s protection again in Week 1. All season the weak spot has been the center of the Bucs protection the place the workforce’s inside linebackers and safeties have been picked on as a result of lackluster move protection.

Because of this, anticipate veteran tight finish Zach Ertz, who’s second on the workforce with 66 catches for 654 yards and 7 touchdowns, to get loads of motion on Sunday evening. And anticipate Daniels to attempt to scramble up the center for large yardage if the pocket collapses.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s Tuesday as I write this and the Bucs haven’t practiced but, so I’m not freely giving any potential recreation plan data – nor do I’ve any perception into what Bowles is cooking up. However let me placed on my South Pasco Predators Pop Warner defensive coordinator hat for a minute and consider a defensive scheme I’d contemplate operating if I’m Bowles.

Bowles blitzed Daniels an terrible lot again in Week 1 and that’s actually his tendency as a play-caller. One of many seems I’d draw up could be a 5-2-4 scheme with five-man defensive entrance consisting of out of doors linebackers Yaya Diaby and Anthony Nelson flanking defensive tackles Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea and Logan Corridor.

On the linebacker stage I’d characteristic Lavonte David and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who’s one of the best exterior linebacker in protection and one of the best and quickest OLB in house. Tryon-Shoyinka is quicker than J.J. Russell or Okay.J. Britt and will assist spy Daniels to stop scrambles – or blitz Daniels from the center. A five-man defensive entrance would probably trigger Washington to go away in a operating again or tight finish in to assist block. In any other case it’s 5 one-on-ones for the Commanders offensive line – benefit Tampa Bay.

The secondary might characteristic Zyon McCollum matched up in opposition to Terry McLaurin wherever he goes, together with Josh Hayes – if Jamel Dean can’t go – with Tykee Smith within the field at sturdy security and Antoine Winfield Jr. at free security or Mike Edwards if Winfield can’t play. We’ll see what occurs, however I’m actually curious to see what Bowles has cooked up for Daniels and Co.

STATEMENT 2: Mike Evans Simply Turned A First-Poll Corridor of Famer

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs huge receiver Mike Evans has lengthy been missed as one of many recreation’s greatest huge receivers. It actually wasn’t till Tom Brady got here to Tampa Bay and helped the Bucs win Tremendous Bowl LV that Evans actually began to get a variety of nationwide consideration. When Evans grew to become the one huge receiver in NFL historical past to begin his profession with 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons it grew to become clear to all that Evans is destined to be a member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Now that he’s contained in the High 25 at No. 24 when it comes to all-time NFL receiving yardage with 12,684 yards, Evans is a lock to not solely be a Corridor of Famer, but additionally a primary poll Corridor of Famer. With yet one more 1,000-yard season, Evans will transfer as much as No. 17 on the all-time record, and if he can get two extra 1,000-yard seasons he’ll be within the High 10 at No. 9, passing Corridor of Famer Marvin Harrison (14,580).

However what cinched Evans’ first poll standing as a Corridor of Famer is the truth that he tied Jerry Rice for essentially the most consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards at 11. If Evans by no means performed a down of soccer once more after this season he’s already accomplished sufficient to be a primary poll inductee.

Anytime the sentence begins with “the NFL file holders are Jerry Rice and…” nicely, the “and” man is fairly particular. And the “and” man is Mike Evans. Don’t be stunned if breaks Rice’s mark subsequent yr with a twelfth straight 1,000-yard season.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Is Yaya Diaby Coming On Robust At The Finish Of The Season?

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Sure. Yaya Diaby has proven a ton of enchancment this yr when it comes to speeding the passer and producing pressures. In truth, he completed ninth amongst edge rushers with a career-high 65 pressures this yr, in response to Professional Soccer Focus. For the third straight recreation Diaby bought to the quarterback, sacking Spencer Rattler for his 4.5 sack of the yr. Diaby notched a sack of Carolina’s Bryce Younger final week and break up a sack with Calijah Kancey of Dallas’ Cooper Rush the week earlier than that.

Diaby led the workforce with 7.5 sacks final yr as a rookie and was anticipated to probably hit double-digit sacks once more. Whereas his variety of pressures and his stress charge win charge have elevated – from 6.7% to 17.4% this yr – Diaby hasn’t gotten to the quarterback as a lot as we thought in his second season in Tampa Bay.

But it appears Diaby has some momentum heading into the playoffs this yr with 2.5 sacks and 10 pressures within the final three video games. Diaby didn’t file a sack within the Bucs’ two playoff video games final yr. And he solely recorded 4 whole pressures in opposition to the Eagles and Lions. Tampa Bay hopes Diaby could make his presence felt within the postseason and his arrow seems to be pointing up after his sturdy end to the common season.

QUESTION 2: Can The Bucs Finish Their Primetime Hunch?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA In the present day

They’ll must in the event that they need to proceed their quest for a Tremendous Bowl look. The Bucs have been 0-4 in primetime video games this season, and that could possibly be an ominous signal as Tampa Bay is ready to host Washington within the NFC Wild Card recreation on Sunday Night time Soccer on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The Bucs’ first primetime look this yr got here on Thursday Night time Soccer in Atlanta the place they blew a lead and misplaced in time beyond regulation, 36-30. Tampa Bay misplaced the coin toss and by no means bought the ball because the Falcons scored a landing on their first possession in time beyond regulation. Up subsequent was a Monday Night time Soccer recreation in opposition to Baltimore wherein Tampa Bay jumped out to 10-0 lead, however misplaced 41-31 in a recreation that wasn’t as shut because the rating would point out.

The Bucs had a Monday Night time Soccer street recreation at Kansas Metropolis and misplaced one other time beyond regulation recreation, 30-24. Tampa Bay tied the sport at 24-24 and performed for time beyond regulation slightly than making an attempt to win it with a two-point conversion. That will show expensive because the Bucs misplaced the coin toss once more and by no means possessed the ball on offense as Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a landing drive on their first time beyond regulation possession.

Tampa Bay misplaced the turnover battle 2-0 in Dallas and that sealed the workforce’s destiny in a 26-24 loss on Sunday Night time Soccer in Week 16, ending the Bucs’ four-game successful streak. Now the workforce has an opportunity at redemption in primetime with a house playoff recreation in opposition to the Commanders.

What could possibly be signal is the truth that the Bucs had by no means gained a recreation wherein they didn’t rating first. Tampa Bay was 9-1 in video games wherein it scored first and 0-6 in video games it didn’t previous to Sunday’s win over the Saints. New Orleans scored first in Week 18, however Tampa Bay nonetheless prevailed, 27-19. So maybe that’s an indication of issues to come back and the Bucs can finish their primetime stoop.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Sunday Night time Will Be A Shootout

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

I can see the Bucs vs. Commanders recreation being a shootout. Maybe the final workforce with the ball wins. Bear in mind, a extra cohesive, skilled Bucs workforce gained again in Week 1, 37-20. That’s 57 mixed factors within the season opener in Dan Quinn’s first recreation as Washington’s head coach. Now with a full season in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s system, search for the Commanders offense to be stronger.

Tampa Bay has the fourth-highest scoring offense this yr, averaging 29.5 factors per recreation with Washington ending fifth at 28.5 factors per recreation. The Bucs wrestle to cease the move and the Commanders wrestle to cease the run. The workforce with one of the best defensive efficiency probably wins, in addition to which workforce wins the turnover battle.

It ought to be a really entertaining playoff recreation for certain. The over/beneath is at present at 50.5 and that appears low. I’d guess the over proper now.

PREDICTION 2: Bucs Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen Is Going To Be In Excessive Demand

Bucs OC Liam Coen and Tom Brady – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Pewter Report has reported for weeks that Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen was going to be a extremely sought-after candidate for head teaching jobs this offseason. That’s coming to fruition, because the Jacksonville Jaguars have publicly said that they wish to interview Coen for the emptiness that was created with Doug Pederson’s firing.

Two weeks in my SR’s Fab 5 column I reported that the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots might hearth their head coaches, Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo, and that occurred over the 48 hours for the reason that conclusion of the 2024 common season. Coen, who was a quarterback at UMass, was born in Rhode Island and grew up a fan of Tom Brady and the Patriots.

The prospect to play for the New England workforce he grew up following could possibly be powerful to show down if he will get an interview and finally a suggestion. The Patriots have already got a younger quarterback in place in Drake Maye, final yr’s first-round choose, and essentially the most wage cap room in 2025 with $127.7 million.

However Brady is now a minority proprietor of the Raiders and it’s been reported that he could have a variety of affect over the top teaching hiring course of, as proprietor Mark Davis has made a number of blunders over the yr. Brady has referred to as three Bucs video games this yr, together with Sunday’s Week 18 recreation in opposition to the Saints wherein Coen’s offense scored 27 factors. He was additionally readily available to see Coen and Co. rip the Eagles protection for 33 factors in Week 4. An in-person interview with Brady is likely to be very tempting for Coen, and the Raiders have $107.3 million in cap house, which is the second-most within the NFL.