After having the ability to hold onto offensive coordinator Liam Coen, one member of the Bucs’ teaching employees has been poached by a corporation they’ve grown fairly acquainted with in latest seasons.
On Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Tampa Bay’s co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers is heading to Detroit and becoming a member of the Lions’ teaching employees as their line of defense coach.
#Bucs run sport coordinator/line of defense Kacy Rodgers is anticipated to hitch the #Lions as line of defense coach, per sources.
Detroit is changing Terrell Williams, who grew to become Patriots DC. Rodgers has been with Todd Bowles since 2015. pic.twitter.com/QgYcDVSD45
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 23, 2025
NFC Juggernaut Lions Pry One Of Todd Bowles’ High Assistants Away From Tampa Bay
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and co-DC Kacy Rodgers – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
It was not the NFC North workforce that appeared more likely to take Kacy Rodgers away, as he not too long ago interviewed with the Packers for his or her line of defense coach place on Tuesday. As a substitute, the Lions are taking certainly one of head coach Todd Bowles’ high assistants and finest pals from underneath him.
Rodgers has been with the Bucs since 2019 when he was employed because the line of defense coach after Bowles was employed as defensive coordinator. With Bowles taking up as head coach in 2022, Rodgers additionally acquired a bump up in duty, changing into the run sport coordinator and defacto co-defensive coordinator alongside Larry Foote.
The 2 have been collectively since 2015 in New York when Bowles had his first head teaching gig, which makes this an fascinating departure. After such a protracted and fruitful partnership operating defenses collectively, Rodgers now heads to Detroit, a workforce Tampa Bay has confronted 3 times over the previous two seasons.
Rodgers is taking up Terrell Williams’ spot, as he was employed away by the Patriots to be their defensive coordinator. Now with the Lions, he’ll work with a proficient group led by Aidan Hutchinson and likewise boasting the likes of Alim McNeill, Za’Darius Smith, and D.J. Reader, amongst others. Lengthy recognized for his prowess in creating Professional Bowl defensive linemen, he can be doing the identical in a very new — however thriving — atmosphere with a workforce that simply went 15-2.
Is Kacy Rodgers’ Exit A Prelude To Different Bucs’ Defensive Teaching Modifications?
Bucs DT Logan Corridor and DL coach Kacy Rodgers – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
As Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera not too long ago outlined, it doesn’t make sense that the Bucs let Kacy Rodgers depart the constructing.
If there was a vivid spot alongside the protection this previous season, it was certainly the line of defense anchored by Professional Bowl defensive sort out Vita Vea, 2023 first-round decide Calijah Kancey, and 2022 second-round decide Logan Corridor. Kancey and Vea led the workforce with 7.5 and 7 sacks, respectively, whereas Corridor flashed what as soon as made him the workforce’s high draft decide with 5.5 sacks of his personal.
Whereas that may be credited to their expertise, Rodgers additionally performed a key half in that course of. Since getting into the NFL in 2003 with the Cowboys, the veteran defensive coach has overseen the Professional Bowl play of defensive linemen reminiscent of La’Roi Glover, Randy Starks, Paul Soliai, Cameron Wake, Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams, and most not too long ago Vea. With that prolonged resume and monitor report, Tampa Bay’s defensive employees loses arguably its finest coach.
What’s subsequent?
Bucs co-DC Kacy Rodgers and OLBs coach George Edwards – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
With Todd Bowles’ return a close to certainty now that the way forward for Liam Coen has been decided, Bowles must look lengthy and onerous at how he assembles his defensive teaching employees. Larry Foote stays readily available (no pun meant) and will take over as the first defensive coordinator.
Nonetheless, a line of defense coach will have to be employed to switch Rodgers, and he is probably not the one one which must be changed. Outdoors linebackers coach George Edwards, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, and safeties coach Nick Rapone should still be let go or retire after underwhelming years at every place group.
After the Bucs overhauled the offensive employees this previous offseason, Bowles could now determine it’s lastly time to show over his defensive coaches. Whereas shedding Rodgers is a tricky blow, particularly for him, it might begin a mini-avalanche of strikes to get Tampa Bay’s protection again on monitor in 2025.
