Is it possible that Todd Bowles’ coaches struggle with his defensive system?
Joe is too drained by an 0-3 season start to think deeply about the ramifications of that potential reality. If the coaches’ heads are spinning, what about the players?
Joe brings this up because Bucs defensive line coach Marcus West went there this week on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
West lauded the football IQ and knowledge of Vita Vea. He also said the Bowles’ system is a massive undertaking to master.
> “Yeah, Vita’s my coach sometimes and I shouldn’t say that out loud,” West said. “I mean, the playbook is so, so, so huge. And, um, sometimes, we’ll go back to something we did in training camp the first day, or we hadn’t even put it in yet. And I look at Vita like, ‘that’s right?’ … But he’ll look at me like, yeah, you’re good. You’re right.”
West spent the prior four seasons as a Bills defensive line coach for defense-first head coach Sean McDermott. Interesting.
He continued to laud Vea.
> “His intelligence is incredible,” West sadi. “I mean, he’s played a lot of ball. So the things he hears sees and does on that field. It’s unmatched. You cannot walk a single soul in the door today and get that wisdom that he has. He can line up on the field; by the third quarter, he’s got everything. He’s got their protection, he’s got their snap count, he’s got their blocks, their IDs, and he knows in the third, fourth quarter how exactly how you’re gonna block him when he puts his hand in the ground. … incredibly smart and instinctive he is.”
West isn’t the only seasoned newcomer to arrive in Tampa and note how complex the Bowles defense is. And Bowles himself has said the defense is a tough adjustment for edge rushers and others.
Perhaps it needs to be simplified so players can think less and play faster. Perhaps.