SR’s Fab 5: 5 Things Todd Bowles Must Do This Offseason

Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that options 5 issues which can be on my thoughts. SR’s Fab 5 is now a faster learn, however nonetheless packs a punch. Take pleasure in!

Please notice, there is not going to be an SR’s Fab 5 column subsequent Friday, Could 31, as I’ll be on trip.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has seen his workforce enhance from eight wins in 2022 to 9 wins plus a postseason victory final 12 months. What has to occur for Bowles and the Bucs to maintain enhancing in 2024? Here’s a listing of 5 issues he and his teaching employees should do in the course of the offseason to set Tampa Bay up for one more profitable 12 months and present much more progress.

FAB 1. Todd Bowles Wants To Be George Edwards’ Shadow

Bucs OLBs YaYa Diaby and Anthony Nelson – Photograph by: USA At the moment

Todd Bowles wants the Bucs exterior linebackers to as soon as once more be a pass-rushing pressure for his protection. Shaq Barrett, who turned 31, was launched this offseason for wage cap causes after notching 4.5 sacks final 12 months.

The excellent news is that the workforce has a glut of potential with a number of younger, gifted go rushers, together with three gamers with only one 12 months’s price of expertise in YaYa Diaby, Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez in addition to rookie Chris Braswell, this 12 months’s second-round decide.

However potential is essentially the most harmful phrase within the NFL.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka enters his fourth season in Tampa Bay and is in a contract 12 months after underwhelming sack manufacturing because the Bucs’ first-round decide in 2021. Anthony Nelson enters his fifth 12 months with the workforce, and the Bucs additionally added veteran Randy Gregory in free company. Competitors on the place might be fierce this summer season – maybe greater than at another place on the workforce.

These seven edge rushers are vying for probably 5 or 6 spots on the Bucs’ 53-man roster, relying on how particular groups shakes out. However it’s critically necessary that whoever winds up beginning reverse Diaby, the workforce’s main sacker final 12 months with 7.5, that the skin linebackers see an uptick in sack manufacturing this season to assist Tampa Bay’s go protection, which ranked twenty eighth final 12 months, permitting 249.6 yards per recreation as a result of the Bucs didn’t stress and sack the quarterback sufficient.

Former Bucs OLBs Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul – Photograph by: USA At the moment

The Bucs haven’t had a double-digit sacker since Barrett’s second Professional Bowl season in 2021 when he notched 10 sacks. That season, Jason Pierre-Paul, Barrett, Nelson, Tryon-Shoyinka and Cam Gill teamed as much as produce 23 sacks from the skin linebacker place. These 23 sacks out of the workforce’s 47 that 12 months accounted for 48.9% of Tampa Bay’s sack manufacturing.

Ideally, Bowles needs greater than half of the workforce’s sacks to come back from the skin linebacker place. In his first 12 months in Tampa Bay, Barrett’s 19.5 sacks led the league and accounted for a lot of the workforce’s 35 sacks from the sting. The Bucs exterior linebackers accounted for 74.5% of the sacks that season, however that quantity is a little bit of an unreasonable outlier as a consequence of Barrett’s Herculean season.

Whereas the collective OLB sack manufacturing dipped to only 19.5 within the 2020 common season and accounted for under 40.6% of the sacks, the unit made up for it within the 2020 postseason. Together with Tremendous Bowl LV, Barrett and Co. recorded 7.5 out of the workforce’s 10 playoff sacks. When factoring within the postseason that 12 months, the skin linebackers accounted for 47% of the Bucs sacks.

OLB Sack Manufacturing: 202322 out of 48 common season sacks (45.8%)1 out of 5 postseason sacks (20%) OLB Sack Manufacturing: 202217 out of 44 common season sacks (38.6%)0 out of 1 postseason sacks (0%) OLB Sack Manufacturing: 202123 out of 47 common season sacks (48.9%)0.5 out of 4 postseason sacks (12.5%) OLB Sack Manufacturing: 202019.5 out of 48 sacks (40.6%)7.5 out of 10 postseason sacks (75%) OLB Sack Manufacturing: 201935 out of 47 common season sacks (74.5%)

Bucs co-DC Kacy Rodgers and OLBs coach George Edwards – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

The arrival of recent exterior linebackers coach George Edwards helped final 12 months, because the unit elevated its collective sack output from 17 in 2022 to 22. The Bucs exterior linebackers accounted for 45.8% of the workforce’s sacks in 2023 in comparison with simply 38.6% of the sack manufacturing in 2022.

Edwards looks like a really succesful assistant coach, but when Bowles goes to spend any additional time working with one unit on the observe area in the course of the necessary mini-camp and through coaching camp, it must be the skin linebacker place. Bowles must be Edwards’ shadow this summer season.

It’s essential that the skin linebacker unit enhance its sack manufacturing and account for extra of the workforce’s sacks in 2024 – nearer to 50% or extra. And it’s additionally essential that Bowles and common supervisor Jason Licht decide the suitable 5 or 6 edge rushers to maintain on the roster to assist make that occur. Having an up-close take a look at this unit as usually as doable would serve Bowles properly.

FAB 2. Cease The Static Platooning, Play The Greatest Move Rushers On Third Down

Falcons QB Desmond Ridder and Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photograph by: USA At the moment

Todd Bowles’ annual objective is to have his protection produce 50 sacks or extra each season. The Bucs have come shut, producing 48 sacks final 12 months and likewise in 2020, and registering 47 sacks in 2019 and 2021.

But when Tampa Bay needs to get extra sack manufacturing, particularly on third downs that are apparent passing downs when groups are in third-and-long conditions, the Bucs have to have the suitable go rushers on the sphere. At exterior linebacker final 12 months, that meant Shaq Barrett and YaYa Diaby and at defensive sort out, that meant Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea.

However the best way that Bowles and co-defensive coordinator and defensive position coach Kacy Rodgers implement their defensive position rotation it’s akin to hockey line shifts. As an alternative of getting a third-and-long stress package deal, too usually the Bucs rotate their four-man unit up entrance in platoons – and that’s not placing the workforce’s finest go rushers on the sphere for these essential third downs.

When Kancey and Vea want a breather, Greg Gaines and Logan Corridor go in for a whole sequence spanning three-to-five performs at occasions. When Diaby and Barrett want a relaxation, Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka would enter the sport for a similar span.

I’m a agency believer that on third-and-long conditions Bowles and Rodgers ought to deploy Kancey, Vea, Diaby and whoever emerges as the very best situational go rusher this 12 months – whether or not that’s Tryon-Shoyinka, seldom-used Markees Watts, newcomer Randy Gregory or rookie Chris Braswell. To me it doesn’t matter if Kancey, Vea or Diaby have simply come off the sphere for one or two performs. On third-and-long, they’re again within the recreation on essentially the most essential down for Tampa Bay’s protection.

Bucs OLB Markees Watts – Photograph by: USA At the moment

Final 12 months, Watts led the Bucs with an unimaginable 23.1% go rush win price, but solely noticed 27 reps on passing downs. In the meantime, Tryon-Shoyinka had a ten.8% go rush win price and performed 303 go rush downs with Nelson enjoying 209 go rush downs and producing a ten.1% go rush win price.

That’s one thing that should change in 2024 to ramp up the Bucs’ sack manufacturing.

“Third down protection was our Achilles heel,” Rodgers mentioned this offseason, referring to the truth that Tampa Bay ranked seventeenth within the league in third down share at 38.2% final 12 months.

Scrapping the static platoons and enjoying the very best go rushers on third downs would go a great distance towards growing Tampa Bay’s success on that essential down.

FAB 3. Get To Know Jayden Daniels – Intimately

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Photograph by: USA At the moment

The Bucs’ 2024 schedule is out, and the workforce opens at house in opposition to the Commanders. Washington has a brand new teaching employees and a mess of recent gamers because of this. Maybe crucial newcomer in Washington is quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was the No. 2 general decide within the 2024 draft.

It’s essential that Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles will get to know Daniels, final 12 months’s Heisman Trophy winner, intimately. After I say intimately I don’t essentially imply that Bowles wants to seek out out which sock Daniels places on first, what time he goes to mattress or what his favourite cereal is.

What I imply is that Bowles must know what makes Daniel tick on the soccer area and what his tendencies are. Which means poring over each LSU and Arizona State recreation in Daniels’ school profession this summer season and looking for any and all weaknesses that Bowles and his protection can exploit.

Too usually, defensive coaches will say they should recreation plan for the scheme and offensive system and never for particular person gamers – even quarterbacks. There may be some reality in that, and that’s why Bowles and his employees will even want to review Kliff Kingsbury’s offense from his days as Arizona’s head coach the place he deployed a equally cellular quarterback in Kyler Murray.

However Daniels is a special cat at 6-foot-4, 210 kilos, whereas Murray is far shorter at 5-foot-10, 207 kilos.

The 2 had comparable remaining seasons in school. Murray accomplished 69% of his passes for 4,361 yards with 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and ran for 1,001 yards and 12 TDs in his Heisman Trophy-winning season at Oklahoma in 2018.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Photograph by: USA At the moment

Daniels produced comparable numbers with 3,812 passing yards and 40 TDs with simply 4 interceptions, whereas finishing 72.2% of his passes. He additionally ran for 1,134 yards and 10 scores final 12 months to assist his Heisman marketing campaign.

Bowles has had some success in opposition to rookie quarterbacks, most lately Carolina’s Bryce Younger and Tennessee’s Will Levis final 12 months. In three video games in opposition to these QBs, Younger and Levis have been sacked a complete of 11 occasions and threw two interceptions with no touchdowns as Tampa Bay gained these three outings.

However Bowles’ protection was additionally carved up by Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who set an NFL rookie document with 470 passing yards and 5 touchdowns in a 39-37 win over Tampa Bay final 12 months. So it hasn’t been an computerized win for the Bucs when going through a rookie quarterback.

But Bowles did torment Justin Fields as a rookie in 2021 when the Bucs beat the Bears, 38-3. Fields was sacked 4 occasions and threw three interceptions and fumbled twice in that recreation. And Fields’ measurement and mobility is extra akin to Daniels, though Washington’s rookie is far more environment friendly passer.

The final time the Bucs confronted a rookie quarterback within the season opener was again in 2015 when former head coach and defensive play-caller Lovie Smith was ill-prepared for Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 general decide that 12 months. Smith’s protection was “not Tennessee-ready.”

Mariota set an NFL document for many touchdowns in a half of a debut by a rookie quarterback with 4. He accomplished 13-of-15 passes for 209 yards (86.7%) and an ideal 158.3 QB ranking in a 42-14 victory over the Bucs, which additionally ruined Jameis Winston’s debut in Tampa Bay.

Ex-Bucs HC Lovie Smith – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

The beatdown was so dangerous that Mariota sat out the fourth quarter of that recreation. It was apparent that Smith solely watched Titans preseason footage of Mariota and didn’t spend any time watching Oregon movie the place Mariota and the Geese offense used a ton of RPO (run-pass possibility).

Mariota RPO’d the crap out of Smith’s protection that day. And that was the start of the tip of Smith’s tenure in Tampa Bay as he was fortunately fired on the finish of the season.

Bowles wants to make use of a myriad of disguised coverages and unique blitzes to confuse Daniels and deal with him just like the rookie quarterback he’s. The frequent denominator in all three of the Bucs’ NFC South championship seasons over the previous three years is beginning off the season with a win. That should occur once more within the 2024 season opener.

FAB 4. Remedy The Puzzle That Is Jared Goff

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photograph by: USA At the moment

The fantastic thing about having the NFL schedule out is that groups can gameplan for the primary couple of opponents all offseason. Whereas the Bucs would like to lastly beat the 49ers after struggling two straight losses at San Francisco during the last two seasons, Tampa Bay doesn’t host Brock Purdy and Co. till Week 10.

That’s means too far out to begin learning 49ers movie and placing in a recreation plan. Who is aware of which San Francisco gamers is not going to go well with up as a consequence of damage by the point November 10 rolls round?

However carefully learning early-season opponents like Washington in Week 1 and Detroit in Week 2 makes loads of sense for Todd Bowles and his employees. We’ve already talked about the necessity to get a soar on watching movie of Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who spent final season with Lincoln Riley as an offensive assistant at USC.

The truth that the Bucs have their rematch versus the Lions in Week 2 at Detroit additionally affords Bowles the prospect to actually put some extra time in attempting to resolve the puzzle that’s Jared Goff. Not a lot will change with the Lions from final 12 months to Week 2 of the 2024 season due to the continuity of the teaching employees and Detroit’s roster.

Lions QB Jared Goff – Photograph by: USA At the moment

In a 20-6 win at Tampa Bay final 12 months, Goff accomplished 30-of-44 passes for 353 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked thrice however accomplished 68.2% of his passes. Then within the postseason, Goff put up almost similar numbers in opposition to Bowles and his protection, which had no reply for him in January.

Within the 31-23 playoff win at Detroit, Goff accomplished 30-of-43 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked simply twice and accomplished 69.8% p.c of his passes in opposition to Tampa Bay.

The Lions are one of many groups to beat within the NFC if the Bucs wish to really contend for one more Tremendous Bowl any time quickly. Determining a option to decelerate Goff and successfully stress him into errors is one thing Bowles must spend some additional time this summer season determining.

Week 2 and the much-anticipated rematch with the Lions might be right here earlier than we all know it.

FAB 5. Todd Bowles Wants To Self-Scout His Use Of Timeouts

I can’t keep in mind all the cases by which Todd Bowles ought to have referred to as a timeout final 12 months, particularly within the first half of video games, which was a rarity. However I do keep in mind him seldom calling first half timeouts and taking all three into halftime too usually.

Then there was the failed utilization of his remaining timeout on the finish of the playoff loss at Detroit, which was a gaffe and drew the ire of loads of Bucs followers and justifiable criticism from the media.

One in every of Bowles’ greater errors was not utilizing a timeout strategically and discussing a clock administration error with the officers on the finish of the Houston recreation, which might have produced a really completely different final result in recreation by which his protection was the perpetrator, letting the Texans rating a landing with just some seconds left to win the sport.

Pewter Report had some enjoyable at Bowles’ expense when he truly referred to as a uncommon first half timeout in Tampa Bay’s 21-18 house win over Carolina.

And we puzzled aloud on social media if Bowles was going to make use of any timeouts within the first half within the Bucs’ 34-20 win at Inexperienced Bay.

Coaches hate burning timeouts to keep away from delay of recreation calls and the five-yard penalty that comes with it. I can’t recall Bowles doing that a lot in any respect final 12 months as Baker Mayfield did an excellent job of managing the clock.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA At the moment

I imagine Bowles wished to maintain his first half timeouts till across the two-minute warning in case he had an opportunity to save lots of them for his offense to make a last-minute push for a rating earlier than halftime. That’s comprehensible, however that solely occurred a handful of occasions in 2023 and there have been different cases when he might have saved extra time for the two-minute drill by calling timeouts earlier within the second half.

For some purpose, Bowles appeared to gather timeouts like little youngsters acquire rocks and put them of their pocket. He must spend a full day this summer season in his workplace simply poring by final 12 months’s video games and searching for cases the place he ought to have referred to as timeout, however didn’t, and analyze why that didn’t occur.

Six timeouts are given to move coaches every recreation for a purpose. Too usually, Bowles didn’t name them sufficient. A part of his development as a recreation supervisor this 12 months must be higher timeout utilization.

BONUS: Don’t Miss The Newest Pewter Report Podcast Episode With Bucs GM Jason Licht

For those who’re searching for one thing to do over Memorial Day Weekend, be sure to watch the most recent Pewter Report Podcast from Thursday with particular visitor Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht, who joined me and Adam Slivon for an hour’s price of Bucs discuss and dialogue concerning the 2024 season.

Licht even broke some information on the Pewter Report Podcast, so test it out and go away a touch upon our PewterReportTV YouTube web page.