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 let you know 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 concentrate on stopping the Commanders offense, which is orchestrated by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

However that’s not totally true.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: USA Immediately

Daniels is a exceptional expertise and needs 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 came upon of their 37-20 season-opening win, Daniels’ scrambling capability 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 menace capability is what makes Daniels harmful. However Bowles dialed up a recreation plan that turned out to be a defensive masterpiece final January in a convincing 32-9 Wild Card win over Philadelphia.

The Eagles had their very own twin menace QB in Jalen Hurts, who together with Philly’s floor recreation, was neutralized by Bowles’ five-man line of defense 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 point has been the center of the Bucs protection the place the staff’s inside linebackers and safeties have been picked on on account of lackluster go protection.

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

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

It’s Tuesday as I write this and the Bucs haven’t practiced but, so I’m not giving freely any potential recreation plan info – 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 take into account working if I’m Bowles.

Bowles blitzed Daniels an terrible lot again in Week 1 and that’s definitely his tendency as a play-caller. One of many seems I might draw up can be a 5-2-4 scheme with five-man defensive entrance consisting of outdoor 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 the perfect exterior linebacker in protection and the perfect 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 doubtless trigger Washington to depart in a working 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 robust 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 Grew to become A First-Poll Corridor of Famer

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

Bucs huge receiver Mike Evans has lengthy been ignored as one of many recreation’s finest 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 loads 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 another 1,000-yard season, Evans will transfer as much as No. 17 on the all-time listing, 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 completed sufficient to be a primary poll inductee.

Anytime the sentence begins with “the NFL document holders are Jerry Rice and…” nicely, the “and” man is fairly particular. And the “and” man is Mike Evans. Don’t be shocked 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 – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Sure. Yaya Diaby has proven a ton of enchancment this yr when it comes to dashing the passer and producing pressures. In reality, he completed ninth amongst edge rushers with a career-high 65 pressures this yr, in line with Professional Soccer Focus. For the third straight recreation Diaby obtained 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 staff 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 did not document a sack within the Bucs’ two playoff video games final yr. And he solely recorded 4 complete 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 robust end to the common season.

QUESTION 2: Can The Bucs Finish Their Primetime Hunch?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA Immediately

They’ll have to 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 may very well be an ominous signal as Tampa Bay is ready to host Washington within the NFC Wild Card recreation on Sunday Evening Soccer on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The Bucs’ first primetime look this yr got here on Thursday Evening 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 obtained the ball because the Falcons scored a landing on their first possession in time beyond regulation. Up subsequent was a Monday Evening Soccer recreation in opposition to Baltimore by which 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 Evening 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 quite than attempting to win it with a two-point conversion. That may show pricey 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 staff’s destiny in a 26-24 loss on Sunday Evening Soccer in Week 16, ending the Bucs’ four-game profitable streak. Now the staff has an opportunity at redemption in primetime with a house playoff recreation in opposition to the Commanders.

What may very well be signal is the truth that the Bucs had by no means gained a recreation by which they didn’t rating first. Tampa Bay was 9-1 in video games by which 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 Evening Will Be A Shootout

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

I can see the Bucs vs. Commanders recreation being a shootout. Maybe the final staff with the ball wins. Bear in mind, a extra cohesive, skilled Bucs staff 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 go and the Commanders wrestle to cease the run. The staff with the perfect defensive efficiency doubtless wins, in addition to which staff wins the turnover battle.

It needs to be a really entertaining playoff recreation for positive. 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 – Picture 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 acknowledged that they need 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 possibility to play for the New England staff he grew up following may very well be powerful to show down if he will get an interview and finally a proposal. 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 may have loads 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 by which 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.