Bucs Trying To Develop A Killer Instinct
August 19th, 2025
Learning how to shut the door.
Do the Bucs now have a killer instinct on defense since they are 2-0 in worthless preseason games?
Bucs coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t go that far, yet. But he sees good signs. The trick is, as Bowles noted, the guys closing out the games may not be around in 11 days.
Teams have to shave their rosters down to 53 on Aug. 30.
“I see us closing out games in preseason, and a lot of different people are playing, so that’s good to see,” Bowles said. “You want your main team, when you get to [the] 53[-man roster], to have that same killer instinct.
“It’s hard right now because they haven’t played the end of halves and end of games. But the younger guys have picked that up, finishing out games and closing them. Even if they make a mistake, they’re making it full speed, so that’s a start.”
Well, Joe sure hopes that the younger guys and near-future short-order cooks, truck drivers and data entry specialists sees their drive become contagious to the whole team.
Bowles is right. Just because Bucs camp meat is locking down opponents’ camp meat doesn’t mean that will be the case in the regular season.
Joe just hopes the younger guys are inspiring the veterans.