Coach Todd Bowles Reveals Reason for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Biggest Defensive Deficiency in 2025

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made strides offensively in 2024 under then-offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Tampa Bay finished third in passing yards (250.4 pypg), fourth in rushing yards (149.2 rypg) and third in total yards (399.6 ypg).

But it was the defense that oftentimes let the team down, which is disappointing considering the head coach is also the defensive coordinator.

Specifically, it was the secondary who let the team down most often, and it appeared that the corners were playing too far off their receivers ... over, and over, and over again.

During an appearance on the PewterReport.com podcast, Bowles was asked why he likes to play his outside corners so far off the ball. His response was eye-opening. 

“Honestly I do not,” Bowles said. “That’s something we’re working through right now and that is not required by the staff. The communication that we have and the situations that these guys got to understand that they have to move up more and we’ve talked about it probably all year. I would like to see them up as well. I will see them up a lot more, there’s only a few instances where you will see them back and I’m on the same page with you so I certainly understand.”

Bowles also showed excitement for the secondary with the additions of Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison in this year's draft.

"I think this year with the additions of [Benjamin] Morrison and [Jacob] Parrish along with Zyon and obviously [Jamel] Dean, I think we can do some things like that and match up personnel because they’re kind of all interchangeable in certain man coverages,” Bowles noted.

Bowles mentioned the coverage deficiencies were due to poor communication. That sounds like it's on the coaching staff. Whether they're coaching the guys to play off the ball or the players are not receiving the message clearly, it's still on the coach and the coaching staff.

And it's something that has to be cleared up before next season.