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

This week’s SR’s Fab 5 column is devoted to the 5 issues Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles should do in 2023 to achieve success. Up subsequent Friday: 5 issues that offensive coordinator Dave Canales should do in 2023 to achieve success.

FAB 1. Todd Bowles Ought to Retain Defensive Play-Calling Duties

There’s a notion across the league that Todd Bowles could also be on the recent seat getting into the 2023 season. I don’t essentially suppose he needs to be, because the Bucs gained the NFC South division final yr in Bowles’ first season as head coach. And he was not allowed to make any adjustments to the teaching workers after inheriting Bruce Arians’ crew after the legendary head coach abruptly retired so late within the offseason on March 30.

However the information are that the Bucs completed 8-9 in Bowles’ debut, and acquired crushed at residence within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Cowboys, 31-14. Throw in the truth that the Glazers have fired Lovie Smith and Greg Schiano after simply two seasons in Tampa Bay, and it’s not out of the query to suppose that Bowles would possibly have to win at the least 9 video games this yr to bolster his job safety.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and co-DC Kacy Rodgers – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

So if this could possibly be Bowles’ final season on the job, he must act like he’s happening swinging. Which means retaining the play-calling duties on protection slightly than placing destiny within the palms of one other. On the finish of the 2022 season, Bowles stated he would possibly flip the play-calling duties over to both of his co-defensive coordinators — Larry Foote or Kacy Rodgers. He’s anticipated to make use of coaching camp and the preseason to judge each after which decide on who to tab because the play-caller – or retain the duties himself.

Bowles is a gifted play-caller and for as a lot grief as he’s taken concerning the position of the protection within the playoff loss to the Rams in 2021, keep in mind that it was Bowles’ protection that was the star of the present within the 31-9 Tremendous Bowl LV victory over the Chiefs. Protecting Patrick Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis’s high-octane offense out of the top zone isn’t any peculiar feat.

Bowles’ protection was truly fairly good final yr and didn’t expertise a lot drop off from the 2021 unit that helped the Bucs produce a 13-4 file, which was the most effective in franchise historical past. Whereas the run protection took a step again, the move protection took a noticeable step ahead, besides in interceptions.

Tampa Bay’s protection held opponents to 21 factors or much less in 10 video games final yr, successful seven of them. That’s ok to win with within the modern-day NFL. Contemplating the Bucs solely gained eight video games in 2022, the protection did its job in all however a type of victories.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and DT Calijah Kancey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have loads of new toys on protection, together with defensive deal with Calijah Kancey, who was the staff’s first-round choose. Kancey is predicted to begin alongside second-year defensive deal with Logan Corridor and Professional Bowl nostril deal with Vita Vea to type the quickest and most athletic line of defense that Bowles has ever fielded.

Bowles additionally helped draft a pair exterior linebackers in YaYa Diaby and Jose Ramirez, a promising younger linebacker in SirVocea Dennis, and added beginning sturdy security Ryan Neal in free company. That’s an terrible lot of recent toys for Bowles to play with this yr.

Bowles stated that the Bucs’ two most improved gamers final yr have been cornerback Jamel Dean and out of doors linebacker Anthony Nelson, and each re-signed this offseason, along with getting linebacker and staff captain Lavonte David again. Tampa Bay’s protection has by no means had this a lot athletic expertise and staff velocity. Not even throughout the Tremendous Bowl season.

I simply can’t see Bowles wanting to show down the prospect to play “real-life Madden” with this defensive unit and hand his PlayStation controller over to another person. Nor ought to he.

FAB 2. Get Again To Blitzing

Todd Bowles and the Bucs protection did lots much less blitzing in 2022 than they did in 2021. Was this as a result of Bowles acquired gun-shy resulting from all-out blitzing Matthew Stafford within the closing moments of the Bucs’ residence playoff loss to the Rams in 2021 when Stafford and Cooper Kupp burned them for a 44-yard achieve to arrange the game-winning area purpose? In all probability not, however for one of many league’s most aggressive defensive play-callers, it was a second the place the sting of defeat possible lingered a bit.

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett and ILB Devin White – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The rationale Bowles didn’t blitz as a lot final yr was to enhance the Bucs’ move protection, which ranked Twenty fourth within the league in 2021, permitting 245.3 yards per sport by the air. By enjoying softer protection, Tampa Bay’s secondary didn’t enable practically as many huge performs within the passing sport because it did the yr earlier than. Because of this, the Bucs’ move protection ranked ninth final yr, permitting simply 208.8 yards per sport.

Bowles properly appeared on the 2022 schedule and noticed a slew of veteran quarterbacks like Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Inexperienced Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Stafford and determined to be risk-averse along with his blitzing. Whereas that method might have been sound in principle, it didn’t internet the outcomes Bowles was in search of.

The Bucs’ interception complete fell from 17 in 2021 to only 10 picks final yr by enjoying too comfortable and never bringing sufficient strain. Even worse, that method didn’t assist the Bucs win video games. Tampa Bay was 2-5 in opposition to these quarterbacks.

The Bucs blitzed 45.4% of the time and had a strain fee of 28.6% in 2021. Final yr, the Bucs blitzed 28.3% of the time and had a strain fee of 21.9%.

With extra velocity on the sector this yr defensively, particularly upfront with two quick, athletic defensive tackles in Logan Corridor and Calijah Kancey, Bowles ought to get again to blitzing extra typically. Blitzes don’t all the time imply that the blitzer or blitzers would be the ones getting the sacks.

Typically the blitzer, whether or not it’s an inside linebacker or a security or cornerback blitzing from the slot, would be the one who’s picked up by an offensive lineman or a decent finish. And that creates a sudden, winnable one-on-one for an outdoor linebacker off the sting or a defensive deal with up the center.

Bowles has two of the league’s finest blitzers in inside linebacker Devin White and security Antoine Winfield Jr. White had a career-high 9 sacks in 2020 and has 20.5 in his 4 years in Tampa Bay. Winfield already has 9 profession sacks in three seasons, together with a career-high 4 final yr.

Bucs ILB Devin White and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

As Bowles and his defensive coaches look on the upcoming 2023 schedule, it appears much more favorable on the quarterback place. The likes of future Corridor of Famers like Rodgers, Mahomes and Jackson final yr have been changed by the likes of Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins, New Orleans’ Derek Carr and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence this yr. Essentially the most completed quarterback the Bucs protection will face is Buffalo’s MVP candidate Josh Allen.

However the 2023 slate has Bowles matching wits with loads of very younger, less-accomplished quarterbacks, together with Chicago’s Justin Fields, Dertoit’s Jared Goff, Inexperienced Bay’s Jordan Love and Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder (twice). And there’s a likelihood the Bucs might face all 4 rookie QBs who have been drafted within the first two rounds this yr in Bryce Younger (twice), Houston’s CJ Stroud, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson and Tennessee’s Will Levis.

But dealing with younger or inexperienced QBs doesn’t all the time assure success, as Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams wrote about final yr in an article referred to as Bucs, Bowles Have Spotty Success vs. Rookie QBs And Backups. The Bucs misplaced to rookie quarterbacks in San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett and Ridder, along with fourth-string QB PJ Walker in Carolina.

Nonetheless, younger and inexperienced signal-callers sometimes don’t deal with strain in addition to veterans. So Bowles must take extra possibilities and dial up extra blitzes to carry extra strain this season.

FAB 3. Play Extra Press-Man Protection Exterior

Ought to Todd Bowles blitz extra in 2023, he ought to marry these blitzes with extra press-man protection on the surface with cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean. And even when he’s not bringing strain, enjoying extra press-man needs to be dialed up in 2023 as a result of Davis and Dean thrive in that kind of protection.

Davis and Dean are each lengthy, 6-foot-1 corners which might be well-built at 206 kilos and bodily on the line of scrimmage and down the sector. They’ve the perfect traits and fearless mentality to play extra press-man. So why not allow them to do what they do finest?

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and WR Olamide Zaccheaus – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles needed to restrict huge passing performs down area by enjoying extra off protection in 2022 and erasing the probabilities of balls flying over the heads of his defensive backs. That method labored as Tampa Bay allowed 37 fewer passing yards per sport final yr, and the Bucs move protection improved from the Twenty fourth-ranked unit in 2021 to the ninth-best in 2022.

However enjoying extra conservative protection led to far fewer interceptions. By placing the Bucs cornerbacks in place to be nearer to the receivers with extra press-man protection, they’ll have a greater likelihood of making extra move breakups and hopefully extra picks. Dean had simply two of the Bucs’ 10 complete interceptions and Davis had just one.

Jamming receivers on the line of scrimmage may also disrupt the timing of passes going throughout the center. That might result in opportunistic interceptions from the likes of safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal and linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White.

Taking part in press-man protection extra typically married with blitzes up entrance must also trigger quarterbacks to hold on to the ball longer if executed correctly. That ought to result in extra sacks, and hopefully extra sack-fumbles, as QBs should wait a second extra for receivers to attempt break freed from Davis and Dean’s grasp on the surface off the road of scrimmage.

Bowles’ cornerbacks don’t have to play press-man on an each down foundation. Blitzing extra will result in extra single protection and fewer security assist as it’s. However Davis and Dean are two of the higher island cornerbacks within the league and each make over $12 million per season. Allow them to earn their cash by placing them in place to make extra performs on the ball.

FAB 4. Put Carlton Davis III On WR1 Extra Usually

Carlton Davis III has been referred to as a “shutdown cornerback” at instances throughout his 5 years in Tampa Bay. However he actually acquired an opportunity to shine and earn that moniker final yr in opposition to Bengals Professional Bowl broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase in an epic Week 15 showdown. The Bucs raced out to a 17-3 halftime lead, however misplaced, 34-23, resulting from 4 premature turnovers by a Tampa Bay offense that epicly imploded within the second half.

In a uncommon second the place Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles determined to have his high cornerback shadow Chase and observe him everywhere in the area, Davis rose to the event. Chase was focused eight instances, however Davis blanketed him and solely allowed three catches when matched up in opposition to the star receiver, permitting simply 32 yards. Based on Subsequent Gen Stats, Davis compelled 5 tight-window throws and got here away with 4 move breakups and an interception in opposition to Chase and the Bengals.

“He competed,” Bowles stated about Davis’ efficiency on Chase after the sport. “He did loads of issues nicely – two or three issues, we may help him out with or he can do higher. However he competed, he didn’t quit the deep ball. He’s heard all of it week. Chase has made nice catches and runs on everyone – he’s an important receiver. Carlton competed and he made some performs for us.”

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Davis, who typically performs left cornerback whereas Jamel Dean performs proper cornerback, loves being challenged like that. Bowles ought to deploy him like that in opposition to a high receiver extra typically in 2023 if Davis goes to show in additional tour de drive performances like that. Davis just lately spoke about his battle with Chase in a unbelievable article by Tyler Dunne titled “Carlton Davis Bows To No Man.”

“So after I f–okay folks up, and you’re taking the stats, that’s all off the power of my approach and respect,” Davis advised Dunne in his unique. “You ask different gamers who’s the most effective nook, they most likely gained’t say my identify as a result of I don’t have the clout and the hype behind. However after they come and see me or for those who ask offensive coordinators — What do you consider him? — no matter what they are saying, the movie’s going to indicate I f–ked them up.

“They don’t win reps in opposition to me. They don’t catch passes in opposition to me. They don’t get the identical common yards in opposition to me. The f–cking folks on Twitter are f–king mad at me as a result of their f–king fantasy factors have been shitty this week. In the event you had Ja’Marr Chase in your fantasy staff? You’re mad! Who’s accountable for that? I adopted him the entire sport.”

With Dean getting into his fifth season and third as a full-time starter, he has sufficient expertise to do the identical factor and observe a No. 2 receiver everywhere in the area when Davis is charged with shadowing an opponent’s major weapon. It doesn’t need to be an each week staple in Bowles’ protection, however Davis needs to be used as a shutd0wn, shadow defender a number of instances all year long.

And given the truth that Davis has struggled with accidents prior to now and has by no means performed a full season since getting into the league in 2018, why not use Davis on this method when he’s wholesome, after which revert to extra zone protection when he’s not obtainable?

FAB 5. Rally The Troops

The Bucs have been dismissed and disrespected all offseason. From being forecast close to the underside of most offseason media NFL energy rankings to having a Prime 10 choose subsequent yr in way-too-early mock drafts, most individuals have counted out the Bucs earlier than the season has even began. As Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams wrote this offseason, The Bucs Want To Notice No One Believes In Them.

Head coach Todd Bowles must circle the wagons round his Buccaneers. Bowles will need to have his staffers accumulate each little bit of negativity and pessimism from ESPN and NFL Community clips and each Web story geared in the direction of the boys in pewter and crimson and use it to encourage his staff this season.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: USA Right this moment

Baker Mayfield has already responded to the doubters this offseason, and Bowles might take a cue from his new quarterback. A part of being an efficient soccer head coach is enjoying the position of staff motivator. That doesn’t all the time have to return within the type of yelling and screaming and cussing guys out.

The low-key Bowles has been criticized by followers for not being as animated as his mentor and predecessor, Bruce Arians. Whereas Bowles has acquired to remain true to himself, it wouldn’t harm to amp up his swagger and play the disrespect card this yr. Gamers and staff sometimes get motivated when there’s a chip on their shoulder. It’s Bowles’ job to routinely level out that chip and ensure it stays there on their collective shoulders all season lengthy.

Practically the whole NFL media group has given Bowles loads of ammunition to load up for his staff this offseason. Now, all Bowles and the Bucs need to do is fireplace away come September – and show the doubters fallacious.

There’s all the time a staff or two that comes out of nowhere and surprises the league yearly. Final season it was Jacksonville, Detroit and Seattle. Maybe Bowles’ new offensive coordinator that he imported from Seattle, Dave Canales, can carry some Seahawks mojo with him to Tampa Bay, and the Bucs may be this yr’s shock staff with out Tom Brady.

Why not? Three-peating as NFC South champions isn’t as far-fetched because it appears for Tampa Bay, particularly within the downtrodden NFC South – a division that’s nonetheless up for grabs.