Todd Bowles Facing His BIGGEST Challenges Yet As Bucs HC

Phew.

In case you want time to catch your breath, that’s comprehensible because the previous 24 hours have been fairly the whirlwind.

Think about how Bucs head coach Todd Bowles feels.

Heading into this offseason, Bowles had the problem of addressing the protection on a participant personnel facet because the crew should add an inflow of expertise this offseason. With the information that Kacy Rodgers is heading to the Lions to change into their defensive position coach and Larry Foote could be heading with him to change into Detroit’s defensive coordinator, Bowles may also must make some defensive teaching modifications.

That’s not even mentioning that offensive coordinator Liam Coen is leaving the crew to change into the Jaguars head coach in a shocking flip of occasions Thursday evening.

What does this all imply for the person in cost?

Todd Bowles in for his largest problem but.

One other Yr, One other OC Search For Bucs HC Todd Bowles

Bucs HC Todd Bowles, OC Liam Coen – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

For a day or so, it appeared all was calm within the seas with the information that Liam Coen was staying in Tampa Bay because the Bucs offensive coordinator. After Coen turned down the Jaguars’ head teaching job, it meant that Todd Bowles and basic supervisor Jason Licht wouldn’t must seek for an offensive coordinator for the third straight 12 months.

A lot for that.

Jacksonville then fired basic supervisor Trent Baalke and ramped up its pursuit for the younger offensive playcaller, who went behind the Bucs’ group’s again to satisfy with them and is about to take their head teaching job. Whereas it stings, Bowles and Licht haven’t any time to take a seat and replicate on what has transpired. As an alternative, they might want to begin placing one other listing collectively of offensive coordinator candidates – once more.

Though that is removed from the specified final result, it is going to be a gorgeous place that has shortly was a head teaching pipeline in current seasons with Dave Canales and now Coen each touchdown gigs. There isn’t a scarcity of potential candidates, each internally and externally, as Pewter Report has already reported. Nonetheless, the seek for one other offensive coordinator won’t be straightforward, they usually have been an extended course of every of the final two years with the Bucs interviewing quite a few folks earlier than deciding on somebody.

The offense was the intense spot of the crew final season as they put up historic numbers below the steerage of Coen. Now, it stands as the largest problem for Bowles to seek out yet one more candidate who can do comparable issues with the unit.

There may be loads of expertise on that facet of the soccer with a top-10 quarterback in Baker Mayfield, a run sport constructed round All-Rookie Bucky Irving, vast receivers Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan [and likely] Chris Godwin, in addition to a top-five offensive line anchored by All-Professional left deal with Tristan Wirfs and continues to be younger and enhancing. That makes it simpler, however there may be extra strain on the top coach to discover a prime offensive thoughts, together with addressing the defensive teaching workers, too.

Todd Bowles Might Be Compelled To Overhaul The Defensive Teaching Workers, Too

The information of the Bucs dropping co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers was shortly amplified with the follow-up that co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote might be subsequent to go – to the identical crew.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles & Co-DC Larry Foote – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Shedding Liam Coen hurts, however for Bowles, seeing his prime two defensive assistants and finest associates doubtlessly go away from below him to the NFC juggernaut Lions is one other problem — and must be a wake-up name. Together with discovering the following offensive guru, he must now do the identical on protection. What’s left of the defensive teaching workers is a bunch of veteran coaches who led underwhelming place rooms.

Rodgers was the brightest spot, as he coached up a defensive position room that was stout in run protection and possessed three of the crew’s prime 4 main sackers in Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, and Logan Corridor. Foote was the cross sport coordinator and inside linebackers coach, and whereas these areas struggled, he’s nonetheless seen as a brilliant, assured defensive coach who continues to be simply 44 years outdated.

Now, what’s going to Bowles do?

Matt Matera and I mentioned a few of the veteran defensive coach’s choices on one among Pewter Report’s three podcasts on Thursday.

Would he hand over the defensive playcalling reins and rent only one defensive coordinator?

Might Foote stick round and be that defensive coordinator?

Would Bowles implement the same system like he simply had in place – or clear the deck of all his remaining defensive assistants and usher in youthful defensive minds?

All of those choices are on the desk, however the clock is ticking. The information of his prime defensive assistant coaches leaving in an exodus makes his job quite a bit more durable, and he might have to rent a secretary to schedule all of his upcoming interviews.

The Bucs Protection Will Additionally Want To Be Improved And Coached Up

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and LB Lavonte David – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Whereas Todd Bowles now has to fill out key teaching positions on offense and protection, he additionally has the problem of revamping and training up incoming participant personnel. Bowles’ protection was the weak hyperlink of the Bucs final season, and there are wants throughout it.

At a minimal, the unit might use two starting-caliber inside linebackers, a cornerback, and a security. The one inside linebacker who’s a lock for subsequent 12 months is SirVocea Dennis, who has struggled to remain on the sector. Whether or not cornerback Jamel Dean comes again or not, the place wants so as to add a younger playmaker with eyes (and fingers) for the soccer. At security, the group might use somebody to doubtlessly take over for Jordan Whitehead and supply younger depth.

These positions should add younger expertise, as they can’t depend on observe squad gamers filling in throughout a playoff push like they did this previous season. Bowles has to determine the right matches in free company and the 2025 NFL draft for his system, and for the gamers who’re sticking round, he might want to add coaches who can get probably the most out of them and preserve a watchful eye on their progress.

Todd Bowles is somebody who wakes up extraordinarily early within the morning, however he could have some stressed nights forward of him till he figures out learn how to clear up all of the challenges he has shortly been saddled with. This offseason shall be make-or-break for him and the crew if he needs to point out sufficient progress to stay the top coach within the coming years.