Horrible Defense On Backs Catching Passes
July 8th, 2025
(Lack of) pass coverage.
Wonder if K.J. Britt and J.J. Russell will get blamed for this.
Joe knows the problem with the Bucs last year was pass defense. Actually, it’s been the last two years when the Bucs ranked fourth-worst.
And Joe finds it borderline appalling that a defensive guy like Todd Bowles has had the Bucs’ pass defense ranked between 20th and 30th in the NFL since 2019 with the exception of one season. How? Why?
Inexcusable.
It may help if the Bucs learn how to stop running backs catching passes out of the backfield.
The Bucs were downright horrible when running backs were the target last season. Per Sharp Football Analysis 2025 Preview, the Bucs ranked No. 29 defending running backs in the passing game.
What puzzles Joe is Bowles is so smitten with outside linebackers dropping into pass coverage, shouldn’t the short passing routes (running backs) have been flooded with defenders?
That stat alone should be enough evidence for Bowles to knock off dropping so many outside linebackers back into pass coverage and instead have them rush the passer.
Either that, or someone is doing a pretty s(p)itty job coaching up the outside linebackers on how to defend the pass.
This spring, Bucs defensive assistant Larry Foote returned to coaching outside linebackers.