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It’s Year No. 8 for the Todd Bowles defense in Tampa.
A bunch of Bucs have several years in the defensive system. It should matter. It should help guys play faster and think less, and be utilized more to feature their strengths.
That kind of continuity on an NFL defense is rare.
As TheAthletic.com noted this week that 14 teams made changes at defensive coordinator this offseason. That’s nearly half the league. Those coaches had to study their players and craft a system and playbook accordingly. For nearly all of them, it will be a work in progress.
For Bowles, well, his defense should have an edge because he’s got guys all over the field who know exactly what he wants. Bowles can lean on those veterans to help bring along newcomers.
Will it matter? Joe can’t go there with any certainty.
All that seasoning under Bowles didn’t matter much for the defense last season. And every other NFC South defensive coordinator has returned this season, even in Atlanta where there was a head coach change.
That written, Joe is very excited by what seems like an inevitable upgrade in play at inside linebacker. Tykee Smith’s second season at safety should bear fruit. And adding edge rushers Rueben Bain and Al-Quadin Muhammad also looks like a huge upgrade, even if those guys simply play solid ball and rackup up a dozen sacks combined.