2-Level Conversion: Playoff Loss Reveals That Bucs Want Killers On Protection | Pewter Report

It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ 2-Level Conversion post-game column, which options two statements, two questions and two predictions based mostly on the most recent Bucs recreation.

Tampa Bay’s 2024 season got here to finish on Sunday night time with a 23-20 loss to Washington within the NFC Wild Card playoffs. The Bucs offense made a few crucial errors within the fourth quarter, however as soon as once more it was Todd Bowles’ protection not having the ability to get off the sector or create a takeaway that doomed the staff down the stretch. The Bucs ran simply 44 performs on offense in comparison with the Commanders, who had 69 performs and managed the clock for 11 extra minutes.

2 BIG STATEMENTS
STATEMENT 1. Playoff Loss Reveals That Bucs Want Killers On Protection

With the end result of Sunday night time’s Wild Card recreation hanging the stability with the rating tied at 20-20 with 4:41 left in regulation, Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles trusted his protection do one thing they’ve not often been ready to do that yr.

Get a key cease and stop a game-winning scoring drive.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Picture by: USA At this time

Bowles’ protection didn’t cease the Falcons offense from kicking a game-tying subject purpose on the final drive of regulation in Week 5, and didn’t cease the game-winning landing in time beyond regulation in Atlanta. Tampa Bay’s protection additionally didn’t cease Kansas Metropolis from getting the game-winning TD in time beyond regulation on Monday Evening Soccer a couple of weeks later. Proper earlier than the bye week, the protection didn’t get a cease on San Francisco’s game-winning subject purpose drive.

Solely in time beyond regulation in Carolina in Week 13 did the protection make a play to cease an opponent from a game-winning rating when outdoors linebacker Anthony Nelson stripped Chuba Hubbard of the ball when the Panthers received in subject purpose vary.

When the Commanders acquired the ball with 4:41 left, I knew that they’d drive down the sector and kick the game-winning subject purpose and that Bowles and his protection weren’t going to have the ability to cease them. You most likely knew it, too.

Tampa Bay’s incapability to get off the sector on protection, which has been a problem all season it appears, was on full show within the 23-20 Wild Card loss to Washington. The Commanders have been capable of convert 8-of-15 (53.3%) third downs and 3-of-5 (60%) fourth downs, and naturally, the Bucs couldn’t take the ball away.

Excuse my language, however Bowles’ protection has completely sucked at creating takeaways this yr. Eighteen whole takeaways – barely one per recreation. Seven interceptions and simply 11 fumble recoveries. Bowles’ protection had the seventh-fewest takeaways within the league.

To place that quantity in perspective, Minnesota and Pittsburgh led the league with 33, and 9 groups had 20 or extra.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

So why on earth did Bowles have sufficient religion in his protection to get a cease with 4:41 left? Why not attempt to go for a primary down on fourth-and-3 as a substitute of kicking a subject purpose? Going up 24-20 would power the Commanders to no less than get a landing to win.

I’ll let you know why Bowles received conservative and went for the game-tying subject purpose. He nonetheless believed his protection may – and would – get a cease.

Name it vanity or ignorance.

However when the Commanders took over on offense with just below 5 minutes left, this recreation was over due to the dearth of killer intuition on his protection.

This protection doesn’t have any killers, and by that I imply drive-killers.

Guys that may be counted on to get the strip-sack, make the interception, break up the cross or hit the QB to power an incompletion and a punt on third down or a turnover on downs on fourth down.

Antoine Winfield Jr. was that superhero for the Bucs final yr, however accidents have robbed him of his superpowers this yr. Prior to now in his prime, it was Lavonte David. This yr, it hasn’t been anybody.

Exterior linebacker Yaya Diaby, who ended the season sizzling for the Bucs with 2.5 sacks within the final three common season video games and had a 3rd down sack worn out attributable to a penalty versus Washington, desires to be that killer. However in simply his second yr, he’s not there but.

Nonetheless, Diaby is aware of that this protection wants a couple of assassins shifting ahead.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I feel like guys do have the killer instinct, but when things aren’t going your way certain guys will get down on themselves,” Diaby stated. “If you are a killer you are always going to bring it. You are always going to bring it now matter what. If they knock you down you are always going to bring it. I feel like everybody needs to look at themselves in the mirror this offseason. Man, we have a hell of a team. I honestly, truly believe we can beat every team in the league. If guys really look at themselves in the mirror and know what we truly need to do to improve we’ll be just fine.”

The Bucs protection may’ve used inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis this yr. The second-year defender was simply coming into his personal as a protection linebacker and a blitzer earlier than a season-ending shoulder harm occurred in a Week 4 win in opposition to the Eagles. Dennis, who had a sack of Jayden Daniels within the 37-20 season-opening win versus the Commanders, is aware of that the protection wants extra of a killer intuition subsequent yr.

“In this game you have to have that mentality no matter what,” Dennis stated. “You always have to have that, especially on defense. On offense, it is what it is, but on defense you have to stop that guy across from you. If you want to be a great player or a great defense you have to have that mentality – kill, kill, kill. We need more of that.”

The Bucs’ best defenders of their prime had the power to make game-changing stops or get well timed takeaways. Corridor of Famers like Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Warren Sapp, and Bucs legends like David, Simeon Rice, Hardy Nickerson, Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, Donnie Abraham in addition to a couple of others have been absolute killers on protection.

Tampa Bay wants so as to add a couple of extra on protection within the offseason. Jason Licht wants to search out some ballhawks, and the Bucs want higher assistant coaches to coach and develop some in-house killers like Diaby, Dennis, Calijah Kancey and Zyon McCollum.

In any other case the Bucs will proceed to be a lopsided staff subsequent yr with the high-powered, Tremendous Bowl-ready offense being the superhero and the protection being the sidekick.

STATEMENT 2: The Finish-Round Was Not A Unhealthy Name By Liam Coen

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Commanders ILB Bobby Wagner – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

I’ve seen and heard some Bucs followers criticize offensive coordinator Liam Coen for “getting too cute” with the fourth quarter end-around that led to a fumble on the trade between quarterback Baker Mayfield and rookie extensive receiver Jalen McMillan. Commanders veteran inside linebacker Bobby Wagner recovered the unfastened ball and Washington transformed that right into a go-ahead landing 4 performs later.

There was nothing unsuitable with the play. The one motive it turned out to be a massively unfavorable play for Tampa Bay was due to poor execution.

The top-around is a staple in Coen’s offense. The Bucs have run an end-around 15 occasions this yr with their extensive receivers and even a couple of occasions with operating again Bucky Irving in Detroit again in Week 2. Sterling Shepard had eight end-arounds this yr for 69 yards, which is an 8.6-yard common. McMillan ran 4 of them this yr for 43 yards, a median of 10.8 yards per pop. His longest achieve of the yr was 17 yards, and Shepard took one for twenty-four yards.

It’s a handoff.

Sadly it was fumbled. And sadly it was inside Tampa Bay’s personal pink zone.

However whether or not it was on the Tampa Bay 15-yard line or the 50-yard line doesn’t make a “cute play.” Coen was on the lookout for an enormous play to catch Washington off guard and it simply didn’t work out.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1: Is This Jamel Dean’s Final Recreation In Tampa Bay?

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Commanders WR Terry McLaurin – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

It very effectively may very well be. The Bucs group is down on Jamel Dean for 2 causes – his failure to remain wholesome and his failure to make massive performs on protection. Dean gave up a 35-yard catch to Terry McLaurin within the first half after which re-injured his knee and didn’t return within the second half.

That pressured the Bucs to make use of second-year cornerback Josh Hayes as his substitute, and Hayes gave up a 5-yard landing to McLaurin on fourth down and a 21-yard catch-and-run by Dyami Brown on third-and-6 – each within the fourth quarter. These two performs have been completely enormous, and occurred as a result of Dean was on the sidelines.

Accidents aren’t normally a participant’s fault. No participant desires to be injured.

However some gamers are extra injury-prone than others. Fellow beginning cornerback Zyon McCollum hasn’t missed a recreation over the past two years, whereas Dean missed 4 video games in 2023 and 5 this season. To make issues worse, Dean solely has one interception over the previous two seasons.

It was that questionable combo – the shortcoming to make performs on the ball and the shortcoming to remain wholesome – that led to the Bucs buying and selling away beginning cornerback Carlton Davis III final offseason. Tampa Bay would possibly do the identical factor to the 29-year previous Dean, who has a wage cap worth of simply over $15.1 million in 2025. The Bucs have been fortunate to discover a commerce accomplice within the Lions for Davis. They might not be so lucky with Dean, who most likely doesn’t have a lot commerce worth.

That would make discovering a starting-caliber cornerback the Bucs’ high want in free company and/or the draft this offseason.

QUESTION 2: Can Deion Jones Assist The Bucs At Inside Linebacker In 2025?

Bucs ILB Deion Jones – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s attainable – we’ll see. The Bucs signed veteran inside linebacker Deion Jones as one among 17 gamers signed to a future contract on Tuesday, January 14. He spent a number of weeks on Tampa Bay’s apply squad and was elevated to the sport day roster 3 times on the finish of the season. He noticed essentially the most enjoying time with the Bucs in Sunday’s Wild Card loss to the Commanders with 23 snaps. Jones performed six snaps versus the Saints and 9 in opposition to the Panthers the 2 earlier weeks.

Jones, a former second-round decide of the Falcons in 2016, simply turned 30 and nonetheless has sufficient velocity and athleticism to contribute – plus starter expertise. The Bucs may have a urgent want at inside linebacker subsequent yr as Okay.J. Britt is slated to be a free agent and will not return. And naturally the legendary Lavonte David turns 35 later in January and will or could not resolve to retire.

“Small sample size, but we liked what we saw,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles stated of Jones. “He’s very athletic, he’s very good in the pass game. He tackled okay. He did some things well. I’d like to see more of him, so we’ll see what the future holds but he’s a guy in hindsight that I’d like to have back.”

The Bucs have SirVocea Dennis, who was beginning to come earlier than a season-ending shoulder harm occurred in Week 4, slated to probably begin in 2024. J.J. Russell can be a restricted free agent and Tampa Bay additionally re-signed apply squader Antonio Grier Jr. However the extra competitors the higher in 2025. Jones hasn’t been a full-time starter since he left Atlanta in 2021. He spent the 2022 season with Cleveland and the 2023 marketing campaign with Carolina – totaling 5 begins mixed between these two groups.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS
PREDICTION 1: Liam Coen Will Keep In Tampa Bay

Bucs OC Liam Coen – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

I’ve gone on file in saying that the Glazers and normal supervisor Jason Licht will discover a solution to hold offensive coordinator Liam Coen in Tampa Bay. It may very well be by convincing him to remain on with head coach Todd Bowles and making Coen the league’s highest-paid offensive coordinator with a hefty pay increase. If Coen agrees to try this, it may imply that Bowles will stick round for the 2025 season – maybe with the stipulation that he make some modifications to his defensive teaching employees.

But when Coen, who has a job interview this week with Jacksonville for the staff’s vacant head coach place, will get supplied the Jaguars job or will get heavy curiosity from Tom Brady and the Raiders, who’re on the lookout for a substitute for Antonio Pierce at head coach, search for the Glazers to spring into motion. Ought to this occur, I believe that may very well be the catalyst for the Glazers and Licht to maneuver on from Bowles and promote Coen to the position of head coach.

With Coen turning the Bucs offense right into a juggernaut this offseason, the staff can’t afford to let him go – and it received’t. He may very well be the league’s subsequent Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan.

PREDICTION 2: John Spytek Will Be The Raiders’ Subsequent Normal Supervisor

Bucs assistant GM John Spytek – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

I did a Pewter Pulse video on Saturday the place I checked out the way forward for offensive coordinator Liam Coen and assistant normal managers John Spytek and Mike Greenberg. Spytek simply received a second interview request with Tennessee for his or her open normal supervisor place and now comes a report that I had forecast within the Pewter Pulse of Las Vegas eager to interview Spytek for the Raiders’ vacant G.M. spot.

Spytek and Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady have been teammates on the College of Michigan and each received Tremendous Bowl LV right here in Tampa Bay. The Raiders want a extremely good personnel man and Spytek is the most effective within the enterprise. I believe the Bucs find yourself retaining Greenberg, who interviewed with the Jets, however they lose Spytek to Brady and Las Vegas. If that occurs, good for Spytek, who deserves the possibility to run his personal staff. Las Vegas may have the sixth total decide and the second-most wage cap room within the NFL this offseason.

As for Greenberg, don’t be stunned if Spytek departs that Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht will get elevated to staff president with Greenberg getting a promotion to normal supervisor. Then, Licht and Greenberg may promote administrators of participant personnel Mike Biehl and Rob McCartney to the roles of assistant normal supervisor to stop Spytek from taking both with him to Las Vegas.