Bucs HC Todd Bowles’ Defensive Adjustments vs. Falcons

According to Pro Football Focus, Reddick generated eight pressures, one sack and 25.0% pass rush win rate. Reddick just missed at least one other sack. But his presence also gave more opportunities to Calijah Kancey (four pressures) and Yaya Diaby (four pressures). Diaby had a sack of his own called back due to a penalty.

But the Bucs defense was making Penix consistently have to go to quick hots and prevented him from pushing the ball down the field consistently. He only managed one attempt of 20+ air yards.

If Reddick can continue to bring this kind of juice, Bowles' is showing he is willing to use his exotic blitzes from a more creative place than one of necessity. And creative is exactly what Bowles was with his blitz packages. Where he kept his blitzes to just five rushers 88% of the time last year, against the Falcons Bowles used six or rushers on 58% of his overloads.

Bucs Coverage In Atlanta

The world wanted Todd Bowles to run more man coverage. And he delivered the goods.

Sports Info Solutions has the Bucs running Cover 0 or Cover 1 on 38% of their coverage snaps – 38! That's more than twice their rate last year. And the back end of the defense was up for the challenge.

Strong safety Tykee Smith had the most challenges allowing four catches for 57 yards on five targets. But the corners really played well in man. Jamel Dean – yes, that Jamel Dean – Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish combined to allow just two catches for five yards in one-on-one situations.

Bowles was able to accomplish this change without tipping his hand from a structural look staying exchanging one single-high coverage for another. But that wasn't the only coverage wrinkle Bowles trotted out. He leaned heavy into back end rotations paired with mugged up bails leading to interesting assignments for defensive stalwarts.

Whether it was the front or the coverage Bowles trusted his defense to do things he has not trusted them to do in the past. More rotations, more man coverage, less blitzing. The players responded with six forced incompletions including four from Dean. They largely kept Drake London in check, holding Atlanta's leading receiver to just eight catches for 55 yards on  14 targets.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. controlled the deep zones while Tykee Smith worked with him to fill in the run game from depth. Parrish, Dean and Zyon McCollum all played physical and balanced in coverage near the line of scrimmage and gave Michael Penix Jr. few outlets for big plays.

If Bowles' players can continue to come through for him, he can continue to build more layers and lean into his creativity. One game into the 2025 season and the future looks bright.