Todd Bowles & George Edwards Talk Being Consistent, Preparing For Philly | Bucs Total Access

Reporter Casey Phillips sits down with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles & Outside Linebackers Coach George Edwards after Week 3’s game against the Denver Broncos. They dive into the need to shake off last week’s mistakes and start fresh, with Bowles emphasizing the importance of not letting this game linger to the next week. Edwards reflects on the defensive gameplan, while emphasizing the consistent preparation and strong leadership from veterans like Lavonte David.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
What not three?

Speaker 2 (00:01):
What's the three?

Speaker 3 (00:05):
This these Buccaneers total access with head coach Todd Bowles.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
That the hell of the job.

Speaker 4 (00:10):
Going back, here's mate field shotgun look looks right, I'm
back to let those twarters.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Left coldball Evans at the five? Another three too?

Speaker 5 (00:21):
What touchdowns?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Have a b there you go, fire the cannons, Mike Evans.

Speaker 3 (00:25):
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Speaker 3 (00:41):
Fire the cannis now your host, Bocks Team Reporter Casey
Phillips and head coach Todd Bowles.

Speaker 7 (00:47):
Welcome into the Todd Bowles show Casey Phillips here with
head coach Todd Bowles. Man, you know, not the outcome
you guys hoped for or wanted.

Speaker 8 (00:55):
What is a game like this teach you? Teach the team?
What are the big things you feel like you can
learn and grow from a game like that?

Speaker 4 (01:03):
The biggest thing is, you know, don't let it carry
over to next week. I mean we we didn't play
well in any facet of the ball game, and sometimes
you just have to throw those out and start over again.

Speaker 8 (01:14):
What was your message to the team in the locker
room right after the game?

Speaker 5 (01:18):
Oh, it was one game.

Speaker 4 (01:20):
You know, we weren't too high when we won the
first two ball games, not too low when we lost
this one. Understand the mistakes, correct the mistakes, and make
sure it doesn't happen again.

Speaker 7 (01:29):
When you're going in to talk to a team after
a game, how much do you stand and kind of
think about what you want to convey and how much
is it just pure emotion that comes out of whatever
you're saying.

Speaker 4 (01:38):
I have to think about what I want to say,
because if I don't, I can get on the roll
pretty good. Then everything kind of comes out of my
mouth and some of the things you probably don't want
to hear. But y, you always talk to the team
about what actually happened to make sure they're not misled
about anything. But at the same time, we got to
wash it away and race it and get ready for
the next week.

Speaker 8 (01:58):
So big picture on both sides of the ball.

Speaker 7 (02:00):
Now, having you know, a little less than twenty four
hours to think about it, what were the big takeaways
of why we just couldn't get going, especially early on
either side of the ball.

Speaker 4 (02:09):
For defensively, we had two miscues early, then we lacked
pass rush up the middle to help everything. And offensively
we didn't couldn't gain any yards running the football. They
kind of doubled a couple of guys in the passing game,
and we made it tough. We made it tough. I mean,
we did a lot of things wrong on both sides
of the ball.

Speaker 7 (02:27):
I know there's always the message of twenty four hours,
and that's both for Wednesday and losses. Was there any
sense that because of the highs of the Detroit game,
were there any lingering emotions this week? Or was this
an entirely unrelated thing.

Speaker 4 (02:40):
Totally unrelated. We had a good week of practice. The
guys were ready to go. We just didn't. It didn't click.
It did not click, and for one reason or another,
we got to wash that away and we gotta get ready.

Speaker 7 (02:50):
Does your process as a head coach change whether it's
a big win or a disappointing loss, Does that change
anything about how you do your job?

Speaker 4 (02:57):
My day is the same, no matter what starts at
three thirds, It ends whenever it ends, and win, lose
a draw. You know, you do the same things every day.

Speaker 7 (03:06):
I know it's the first time in two years that
you guys have given up a couple touchdowns in the
first quarter.

Speaker 8 (03:11):
Did it seem at all like this was.

Speaker 7 (03:12):
Some injuries catching up with us when I know you
guys are always going to say next man up mentality,
But is there a point where it does start catching
up to you.

Speaker 4 (03:21):
I'm sure there's a point, but it wasn't yesterday. You know,
we had a chance to get off the field and
fourth and goal. We missed two tackles down there, and
we made it another mishap going in on the other touchdown,
so we allowed it. But it had nothing to do
with injuries.

Speaker 7 (03:35):
I know you mentioned not getting as much pressure up
the middle as you would have liked, and last week
you at least had.

Speaker 8 (03:40):
Veta for part of the game.

Speaker 7 (03:41):
Now this was the first one where you were completely
without both he and Elijah the entire game. What did
you see from the rest of the defensive line that
was a little different maybe this game than last game.

Speaker 4 (03:51):
They played hard. I mean, you can't fault the guy.

Speaker 5 (03:53):
They played hard.

Speaker 4 (03:53):
We know we're a little slow in that area, and
we got a make up for that somewhere on the
outside as well as dbats and other backers blitz him.

Speaker 5 (04:00):
But they played hard and they fought.

Speaker 7 (04:02):
Looking at the injuries both sides of the ball. Big picture,
at this point, what do you know and not know
about the chance of getting any of those guys back
before next week?

Speaker 4 (04:10):
At this point, we don't know anything right now the
status quo. But I see him moving around better in
the hallways, but I gotta see him.

Speaker 5 (04:16):
Run before I know something.

Speaker 7 (04:18):
And then take us through that near goal line stand
where you know they ended up scoring on from fourth
and one on that pitch out?

Speaker 8 (04:23):
What went wrong there defensively.

Speaker 4 (04:25):
And only had the play stop dead to right and
the guy throw a move on him and got past him,
and kJ could have laid out and went forth legs.
I thought he had a shot at him too, and
then he got in the end zone. I thought we
went too high. We could have went from his waist
on down and we probably would have got him about
the two or three yard line.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
I know.

Speaker 7 (04:42):
One of the defensive bright spots, of course, was the
Levante Force fumble. He is second among all active players
in that category. With twenty nine obviously something he's very
talented at. Why is that a stat so specifically that
he is so good at.

Speaker 5 (04:55):
He knows how to get the ball out.

Speaker 4 (04:57):
You know, he has a very good knack for punching
the ball all out him and Winfield does as well,
but he has a very good knack for punching the
ball out and seeing when the guy's going down and
he can get his fist in there and he can
make it happen.

Speaker 8 (05:09):
How about the play of the inside linebackers overall?

Speaker 7 (05:11):
I know you've got Lavonte in there and then you're
doing a bit of a rotation with Savasier and kJ
What did you see from that unit in the game.

Speaker 4 (05:17):
They had a lot of tackles, some fits we can
do a lot better, some drops we can take a
little bit more. But they got a lot better from
last week. We still got to get better. We got
about two or three more games before we round in
the form, and we got to.

Speaker 5 (05:30):
Get there quickly then.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
I know.

Speaker 7 (05:32):
As far as run defense, there was a particular forty
nine yard run by Baty and a twenty two yard
scramble by bow Nicks. What happened specifically on those kind
of bigger chunk plays.

Speaker 5 (05:42):
Bo.

Speaker 4 (05:42):
We had the five man rush and I think they
opened the gap up. Somebody went too high and somebody
didn't go high enough and he got out the pocket on.

Speaker 5 (05:49):
Us on the running the baby run. We just blew it.

Speaker 4 (05:51):
We had enough guys in the box and we misfitted
and the ball got out and that shouldn't happen.

Speaker 7 (05:57):
I know that Bo Nicks definitely had a bit of
a better than his first couple as a rookie. What
did he do better that you had seen from him
from watching on tape? How much was him making good
plays and how much was us making some errors?

Speaker 4 (06:09):
It was really the first two passes he threw. I
think the one he got on Dane and the one
he got on Zion. Dane should have bailed that and
been in covered three, and Zion just missed him at
the line because he was peeking in the backfield. After that,
I thought there were just pretty much dink and dunk
throws that didn't really bother us down the field. But
he kept playing alive with his feet and he did
a good job doing that.

Speaker 7 (06:28):
I know that you guys were able to hold them
to four of thirteen on third down which is a
pretty respectable number there. So what do you feel like
did go well there? When you know, kind of easy
to say a big picture. Oh yeah, you know, neither
side of the ball played great. That was obviously an
area that you guys were still able to make some
stands on.

Speaker 4 (06:44):
If you get him in third and four, I mean
he was getting rid of the ball quick. Once we
got him in the longer yard, we knew he would
get rid of the ball and dump and we just
had to tackle him.

Speaker 7 (06:53):
And yeah, you talked about the there was a thirty
yard thirty one yard reception by Reynolds, twenty two yard
or to sudden overall the said after that it wasn't
as many of the deep balls. So were there adjustments
you guys made or what had kind of been able
to limit.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
Some of that?

Speaker 4 (07:06):
We're in no adjustments. We didn't play the technique right
the first time. So they got the two plays out
at the beginning and they got seven points off of it.
But after that we just settled down and played ball.

Speaker 7 (07:16):
I know Tayke Smith had a nice pass breakup that
was almost an interception on one play, also had a
nice tackle for loss. What have you seen from him
in this game and then just the start of his
rookie year.

Speaker 4 (07:27):
Just smart, tough, understands the game, very durable, makes plays
all the time. We don't even think of him as
a rookie, but he's so trustworthy out there that everybody
hanging their hat on.

Speaker 7 (07:40):
And then Zion again almost another pick after his game before,
had another nice couple pass breakups as well.

Speaker 8 (07:47):
How did his game look overall?

Speaker 4 (07:48):
He competes, you know, take away the first play on
the twenty two yard of from Reynolds where he had
his eyes in the backfield. He competed the rest of
the ball game and he played well.

Speaker 7 (07:56):
Jammel Dean his play so far, the shear being kind
of your top outside orner, the guy coming back from
last year to be the steady eddy out there.

Speaker 8 (08:04):
What have you seen from his games?

Speaker 4 (08:06):
I thought the first two games he played well. Probably
yesterday not so much, Probably one of his worst games.
He'll bounce back from that. He just got to press
bail a little bit more and he's got to be
more in tune with the formations he's seen.

Speaker 7 (08:18):
And now your safeties have been without Antoine Winfield for
a few games. And if you were to order the
people on the team that maybe would have the most
impact on a game by missing it, I imagine for you,
especially on the defensive side.

Speaker 8 (08:30):
Antoine would be up there.

Speaker 7 (08:31):
So looking at how Jordan has played without him and
then Christian stepping into that spot, what have you seen
from your safeties?

Speaker 4 (08:36):
Jordan's played well, I mean, Jordan's played well for us
since the season started. Is he steps up and he's
filling in a lot of roles in a lot of ways.
So it's satisfied with his play as well.

Speaker 7 (08:46):
And then I know that the sack numbers have not
been what I'm sure you would hope for to start
this season. What are the ways that sometimes we know
sacks can be fluky, right that you can you know,
sometimes you can do all the right things, but if
they're getting rid of the ball too fast. How much
is it plays that you feel like we are leaving
on the table versus just the situations haven't lent themselves
for it.

Speaker 4 (09:05):
I think we're leaving a lot of plays on the table.
I think we can get a lot more pressure than
we're getting and we got to keep working at that
and do it.

Speaker 7 (09:12):
And then sacks, of course aren't the only measurement for
the success of a pass rush or you're outside linebacker
group in particular, what are some of the other areas
that you've been looking at with specifically your outside linebackers
and their attempt at trying to get to.

Speaker 4 (09:23):
The QB just really getting off of blocks. They're starting
to chip them more and more getting in there. We
got to understand how to play with the chip and
understand how to use the proper technique and go underneath
a little bit more, and we got to stun them
a little bit more so they don't get chipped.

Speaker 7 (09:37):
Definitely a couple crucial penalties in the game that changed,
especially one of the potential turnovers, and a few other
impactful points. How did you feel about penalties in this
game and then the season so far? Of the ones
that you'll live with and then the ones that you
definitely don't want.

Speaker 5 (09:51):
To I don't want to live with.

Speaker 4 (09:52):
Off sides and false starts. We had three off sides
on defense. One costs us to turn over.

Speaker 1 (09:57):
One.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
We had them third and behind the sticks, which would
been fourth down with a bit of about high forty
something yard field goal, and he can't have the off side.

Speaker 7 (10:05):
That's just disappoint I know, Bucky Irving was a bright
spot in the game. Seventy yards on nine carries. What
have you seen that he's really adding to this offense.

Speaker 4 (10:16):
Bucky's tough. He can make the first guy miss. You know,
we had some specialty runs in there for him which
were designed perfectly by Limb. But at the same time,
he can run with the football and make the first
guy miss almost every.

Speaker 8 (10:28):
Time and then take us through.

Speaker 7 (10:30):
Specifically his thirty two yard run, I mean, just the
fact that he's had a few of those already as
a rookie.

Speaker 8 (10:34):
To have more than thirty yard runs, it's pretty incredible.

Speaker 4 (10:36):
He had one, and it was a great play. It
was a good call by Limb. It was almost like
a college play like the old wing tea, and he
came from the side and he got through. Once he
gets through the first level, he can make a lot
of people missing the secondary.

Speaker 7 (10:48):
I know, giving up seven sacks not really going to
be the game plan that you shoot for. Hard to
win a game giving up seven sacks. So what happened
on the sacks we gave up? How many were coverage
versus is you know, breakdown of the protection some.

Speaker 5 (11:02):
With the quarterbacks, some of the offensive line.

Speaker 4 (11:04):
So we got to do a better job of keeping
Baker clean and he's got to do a better job
getting ready to football.

Speaker 7 (11:09):
What have you seen from the O line trying to
deal with, you know, missing Luke and knowing what a
unit they are, how important all that communication is and
that of any position group if you remove one, we
know that that adds a whole, you know.

Speaker 8 (11:20):
Different factor to it.

Speaker 7 (11:21):
What are the ways that they've been able to try
to handle that and some of the ways you guys
might try to handle it moving forward, depending on when
he's able to return.

Speaker 4 (11:28):
I mean, we've chipped some, but at the same time,
they got to play. They're closed nit group, They're tough,
they know how to play. We just didn't play well yesterday.

Speaker 7 (11:36):
And how about specifically the interior of the offensive line
throughout the first three games. What have you seen about
their ability that's being where the new people are on
the line, the ability to gel and to be able
to make some of the plays.

Speaker 4 (11:47):
They've gailed well, they've played well the first two games.
Yesterday I thought we have pressure up the middle and
the second half that we got to correct and we
got to get that fixed.

Speaker 7 (11:55):
Knowing when there are seven sacks, it's a little hard
for the quarterback as well. I'm sure what did you
see from Baker's game and how he was able to
try to handle things just not going the way you
guys had.

Speaker 5 (12:03):
Drawn up thinking.

Speaker 4 (12:05):
Initially, I thought he's pulling the ball down too fast
and trying to make plays, so he calls a couple
of them. Then the second half they were getting through
the middle of the middle of the line. He had
no choice but to try and run. But you know,
we gotta keep him clean, gotta keep him clean.

Speaker 8 (12:19):
And what happened on his one interception.

Speaker 4 (12:21):
Thought he lobbed it up there. I thought the guy
made a half of a play he shouldn't have been
thrown was covered pretty good, and we wish we had
that one back.

Speaker 7 (12:29):
I know that Chris Godwin again the leading receiver, that
it's just got to be nice to know that, even
when again, like you said, very little is going the
way you want in the game plan, that this is
a guy who just continues to be able to show
up consistently. What did you see from his game and
then his touchdown specifically.

Speaker 4 (12:43):
He's gonna be the same guy every week. He's gonna block,
he's gonna go over the middle, he's gonna go outside.
He's gonna do whatever needs to be done, all of
them do. I think they had extra covers on Mike.
We got to get him involved a lot more, especially
early in the ballgame.

Speaker 5 (12:55):
But Chris, Chris is steady Eddie for us. He was
one of the few bright spots in the ballgame.

Speaker 7 (13:00):
Hasey Phillips here with head coach Todd Bowles.

Speaker 8 (13:02):
I know Kate Oughton.

Speaker 7 (13:04):
I know he did have a fumble in the game,
which I'm sure he would like back, but otherwise had
a career high in receptions, including a thirteen yarder which
I think ended up being one of our longer passing
plays of the game. So what was working well that
you mentioned how they were really trying to stop Mike
and had some eyes on those other guys. What worked
really well to get Kate as many targets when he'd
really hardly been targeted these games before.

Speaker 4 (13:25):
Well, Baker was getting the ball out of his hand
that Kate was the one open, he was making the
most of it. I think he fought for too many
extra yards when he fumbled the ball on the play,
but he's been pretty reliable, and then.

Speaker 7 (13:35):
I saw Payne Durham got an eight yard reception. What
do you see is his potential as a receiving tight end.

Speaker 4 (13:41):
I got a huge frame and a huge catch radius.
He's not going to run away from you, but he
can make the catches and tough catches if you throw
it to him. And he's very trustworthy that way.

Speaker 7 (13:51):
I know that when it comes to them focusing so
much on Mike, you know, there's the saying, like you
mentioned earlier, of trying to get him involved earlier, But
then there's also the idea of are you forcing it
to him in certain ways? Why how do you try
to balance that as you know he's going to be
a focal point, but you also know you want to
get him involved.

Speaker 5 (14:08):
We got to design it better. We got to get
him touches early.

Speaker 4 (14:10):
I mean, they go and double team, and we know
that he's been double team his whole career and he
still makes those type of plays. So we just got
to make sure we get ways to get him open.

Speaker 7 (14:18):
And then I know you guys tried to go for
it on a couple of fourth downs. What didn't seem
to work quite as well on those plays?

Speaker 4 (14:24):
In this game, whether it was protection, whether they had
a covert right, or whether we just missed it.

Speaker 5 (14:30):
I mean we were off. We were off. We were
to take off all day.

Speaker 7 (14:33):
And then I know that special teams also ended up
being a part of the game that I know. Punting wise, especially,
there was a booming pun at one point, one that
was maybe a little bit shorter than he would have liked.
What did you see from the punting side.

Speaker 4 (14:46):
He got off a great punt, the first one I'm
very happy about that. He had a good one in
a fair catch. He had one that he kind of
missed that rolled into a good punt, and then there
was one that wasn't so well. So he's got to
be better than that. He knows that, and it's been
since pre seas. You got to get out of a slump.

Speaker 8 (15:02):
And then what did you see from your different coverage units?

Speaker 4 (15:05):
The one covers they had, the pump was real far
and they got some yardist on that. We didn't tackle
well on that play. Everything else they didn't really have
to cover as much, so they protected and didn't get
anything blocked. But we didn't change the game either.

Speaker 7 (15:17):
Three games in any initial thoughts on the new kickoff rules.

Speaker 5 (15:21):
Not at this time.

Speaker 4 (15:22):
I mean, twenty five to the thirty is pretty much
not worth the risk of kicking it all away and
letting somebody return it at this point.

Speaker 7 (15:30):
And then now going into this Eagles game, how familiar
do you guys feel with them now that you have
faced each other?

Speaker 8 (15:36):
It feels like.

Speaker 7 (15:36):
A lot of times for a non division opponent at
this point, and knowing also that you guys are essentially
to them what the Lions were to you all last week,
of knowing that you're the team that ended their season
last year, how do you try to use the familiarity
and then the attitude of knowing how often you guys
have had to face each other.

Speaker 5 (15:56):
I mean, it's different.

Speaker 4 (15:56):
The people are the same, but they have different coordinators
on both sides of the football, different stakes, different things.
At Steak, they're a different team. We're a different team.
So we're trying to find our way to get to
three and one. They're trying to find their way to
get to three and one. As far as familiarity, I
think it's only in people only. Schematically, they've changed some
and we've tweaked some things, and we've changed some on

(16:17):
the offensive side. As well, so it'll be an interesting
test match.

Speaker 7 (16:20):
All right, So let's talk about Jalen Hurts. Tell me
what is challenging about facing a guy like that and
even what you've seen over his years now of what
he's grown.

Speaker 5 (16:28):
Into, he's gotten very much.

Speaker 4 (16:33):
More in tune with when he can run and when
he can't run. He's always dangerous when he runs, but
he used to take off all the time. Now he
looks to throw and runs only if he has to run,
which makes him even more dangerous. He's a very good
pastor in the pocket, He's very good rolling to his
right or left, and he understands the offense a lot more.
So it's gonna be tough playing them.

Speaker 7 (16:55):
I know at the time of us recording this, we
don't know all the injury information for them either, in
they had you know, at least Lane Johnson go down
for a bit, so it'll be interesting to see what
all of their offensive line is available. I think another
one of their guys went down a bit. So tell
me looking at a healthy version of their offensive line
now without Jason Kelcey, how much of the change have
you seen and game plan or strategy for them? Knowing

(17:17):
how much they've loved that tush push play.

Speaker 8 (17:19):
In the past.

Speaker 7 (17:19):
What are the ways that they are still a formidable
front and the ways that maybe they've changed a bit
since the last time you saw them.

Speaker 4 (17:25):
Well, they're huge, and they still have the tush push
and they're still very good at it. But they can
run the ball from a lot of the Johnson They
got all the guys in between back then playing guard.
Now who's a huge player. I have a great offensive
line coach. They can still run the ball. They got
Saquon Now with the weapons they have outside and the
runner that they have in the backfield, they gives them
a two headed monster.

Speaker 8 (17:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (17:46):
Saquon Barkley definitely had himself a game this last week
as well. What has he looked like now into this
offense and the ways that it could change some of
the dynamics when as you talked about, you already have
to worry about guys like Jalen using their legs.

Speaker 5 (17:59):
He's scary. He's scary.

Speaker 4 (18:00):
He can break one and bring it to the house
at any time. He saw him running sixty five yard
against the Saints last week. He won the first game
overseas against Green Bay, and you know he's a tough player.

Speaker 7 (18:12):
I know aj Brown Devontae Smith. Again, we don't know
all some of the injury potentials. But if those two
guys are able to go, what do they end up
meaning to that offense?

Speaker 4 (18:20):
Talented, very talented, gives them a lot of options.

Speaker 7 (18:24):
And then looking at Dallas Goddard as well, that he's
a guy that especially in this last game, holy cow,
he went off. I mean, those numbers for a tight
end were wild. What are some of the things that
he can do that maybe would surprise people.

Speaker 4 (18:36):
He's one of the best two wave tight ends in
the league. He can block and he can catch it.
He can catch a shallow, he can catch a deep.
He can hurt you in a lot of ways.

Speaker 7 (18:43):
And then how about their defensive front? What do you
see from them this year? Knowing the especially in years past,
that's been a.

Speaker 4 (18:48):
Strength, it's still a strength. Huge inside, they get a
lot of penetration.

Speaker 7 (18:52):
And then how about their secondary what are some of
the things that you notice about them?

Speaker 4 (18:56):
Very good man, the man corners with sleigh, and then
they drafted the one from Toledo. Outstanding players, a loud
of speed.

Speaker 7 (19:03):
So if you were to say this game a key
that you would want to see, especially based on how
last week went.

Speaker 8 (19:09):
What's something on each side of the.

Speaker 7 (19:10):
Ball that would tell you you guys were able to
put it behind you and move on. What would you
want to see, especially maybe early in the game.

Speaker 4 (19:17):
Well, no penalties number one, the all sides and the
false starts got to be number one, and we got
to be able to run the ball and get some
more yards and stop the run.

Speaker 7 (19:25):
Well, coach, thank you as always for spending time with us.
We really appreciate it, and good luck the rest of
this week preparing for the Eagles.

Speaker 5 (19:31):
Thank you.

Speaker 7 (19:31):
Coming up on Buccaneers Total Access, I'll be joined by
outside linebacker coach George Edwards.

Speaker 8 (19:36):
Brought to you by Advan Health. This is Buccaneers Radio.

Speaker 3 (19:39):
Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by advent Health.

Speaker 6 (19:42):
Shotgun Look Jared Goff, Bill High snapped here, kept a
pressure pe.

Speaker 1 (19:45):
Sacked to the back fielding the thirty one yard line.

Speaker 2 (19:48):
Levante David shoots like a rocket and got it Bill
High after rocket.

Speaker 3 (19:52):
Now more with Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips.

Speaker 9 (19:55):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by
Advan Health.

Speaker 8 (19:58):
First half of the show, we had head coach Todd Bowles.

Speaker 7 (20:01):
Now I'm so excited to be joined by outside linebacker
coach George Edwards.

Speaker 8 (20:04):
Coach, thanks so much for.

Speaker 1 (20:05):
Being with us, Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Yeah.

Speaker 7 (20:08):
And you know I said to you before this, you
drew the short stick having to come on after that game.
I appreciate you still being willing to do it. And
I imagine you know, in the days after a game
like that is it is tough with the guys going
over the film all of that. Now that you have
had a chance to look back at it a bit,
what are some of the big picture takeaways from a
game like that?

Speaker 2 (20:26):
Well, anytime a game gets to that point, I mean
you start looking at the things you were asked to
do and you were asking the players to do, and
you want to go back and make sure from a
fundamental and technique standpoint that those things didn't come into play.
And sometimes, I mean in this league, through this journey,
I mean there are days that you just have bad days,

(20:47):
and you know the circumstances of that game, I think we,
you know, didn't get our best. As far as I
don't think it was a lack of effort, I just
think with the way that the game went, we didn't
handle some of those situations from really what.

Speaker 7 (21:01):
Did Denver's offense do well versus what was maybe some
self inflicted wounds.

Speaker 2 (21:06):
I think they ran the ball effectively against us, and
that we had a lot of mistackles, which I think,
you know, we can improve all. I think protection wise,
they won a lot of a lot more seven man protection,
which they haven't shown that much, but and a quarterback
being able to scramble in the pocket and run and
those kind of things were all things that were key

(21:26):
to them keeping us alf balanced throughout the course of
it in the certain situations in a game.

Speaker 7 (21:31):
I know, like you mentioned, you've been in this league
a long time. You've been there for the highs and
lows of multiple different teams and situations. I know teams
always like to say the twenty four hour rule and
then you put it behind them.

Speaker 8 (21:41):
But I look at games like the Lions.

Speaker 7 (21:43):
And how much of a high that was and the
kind of emotional high of that of especially how last
season and it didn't feel like there was any emotional
whiplash kind of coming out of that game, and then
now to this one, and how you guys try to
deal with that.

Speaker 2 (21:54):
Well, you know, it's an H asked that question because
I get answered. You know, every week you think ready
to go?

Speaker 1 (22:00):
Do you think?

Speaker 2 (22:01):
I mean, it's so hard to tell every game and
situations differently. What you try to do is be consistent
with the preparation, be very specific in what the expectation
of what the standard is, and hold guys to that.
And then on Sunday. You know, like I said, every
game there's a lot of things you can control and
there's things you can't control. So you've got to do

(22:23):
a good job of managing the things that you can't control.

Speaker 7 (22:25):
I think a lot of people ask coach bowls about
things like getting the team ready or you know, motivating them,
things like that. I almost imagine that maybe you guys's
position coaches have even more to do with things like
that than a head coach. Of you guys are the
ones that are really with particularly your players all the time.
Do you feel like that is a part of the
position coach's job, is the mentality aspect or is it

(22:46):
more of an x's and o's purely thing for you?

Speaker 2 (22:48):
No, it's definitely, you know, a part of it. At
the end of the day, but it's just like raising
a kid, it takes a village. So I mean, everybody's
got to be on the same page and be speaking
the same language. I think coach Bowles does an excellent
job to get that point across and echoes down between
all of US's position coaches.

Speaker 7 (23:06):
And how about for your group as outside linebackers in
this game in particular, what stood out to you from
their performances throughout For each of those guys, Well.

Speaker 2 (23:13):
We had two penalties that I wasn't planning on us
having that.

Speaker 8 (23:16):
I love how you phrased it. I wasn't planning on
us having those.

Speaker 1 (23:19):
I like that that kind of came out of there.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
And then, you know, critical situations and in games like
that where everything gets magnitude that you're trying to, you know,
come back with momentum and get those things done. It's critical.
And then you know, to have you know, a chance
to have a sack and not be able to get it,
and then another chance to have a sack and mess
him and he scrambles for first down. You know, those

(23:42):
are things that you know, you look at and look
to improve upon from week to week.

Speaker 7 (23:47):
And then we're talking outside linebacker coach George Edwards here,
how has it affected you?

Speaker 8 (23:52):
Guys?

Speaker 7 (23:52):
Your position group in particular has not been the one
that has been the walking wounded like these others these
last few weeks of where it was DB's and defensive linemen.
But did those injuries affect what your position group either
could do or was asked to do in terms of
that you're playing kind of alongside some different people than normal.

Speaker 2 (24:09):
Yeah, I mean, it's always good when you can keep
everybody healthy and go, but injuries are part of it
from week to week. And the thing you try to
emphasize the players is that the standard's not going to change.
Of course, it's a big difference when you've got Veta out,
you got Collaja out up front, especially in a pass
rush game and those kind of things. But the guys
we had in there were a lot of them played

(24:30):
the second half of you know, when those guys were
injured last week, So that's never an excuse. So it's
the next man up mentality, and guys got to realize
that and they know that, and the expectation and the
standard that we expect from week to week does not change.

Speaker 7 (24:44):
What are the things that you like about coaching alongside
coach bowls, both from a scheme standpoint of what you
like about it for your position, and then also just
what it's like to coach alongside him. When you have
highs like last week, when you have lows like this week,
what are the things that.

Speaker 8 (24:59):
Stand out to you about a guy like well, I think.

Speaker 2 (25:01):
Like anything else, he's pretty even keel with everything, and
that you know the players can see that, and you
have to be able to be even killing this lead
because like you said, there's natural housing, there's natural lows,
but the expectation of what we are here together to
try to get accomplished. You can't lose focus on that.
And one bad game does not define you or your position,

(25:25):
group or your team. So our emphasis is, all right,
what can we learn from this and go move forward
and get better from it and keep encouraging our players that, hey,
this is the way life is. It's no different than life.
There's gonna be ups and downs. There's gonna be things
you can control, things you can't control, but you got
to make the most of it. And your mindset's got
to be there to be able to move on from

(25:45):
it and learn from it and put it in your
rear view era.

Speaker 7 (25:49):
You don't strike me as a yeller and screamer. Is
that accurate or even known to occasionally? And I just
haven't witnessed it.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
No, I'm not a big I look at our job
is where teachers there are things that emotionally do get
involved in time where it requires that or it happens.

Speaker 1 (26:05):
So you know, I will never say never yes.

Speaker 7 (26:10):
So for you, when you look at your room, do
you feel like you have to approach each guy differently
or do you have one kind of way of coaching
that works in general or is it like man, I
got to coach each guy a little differently.

Speaker 1 (26:22):
Yeah, every person is different.

Speaker 2 (26:24):
So every player is different and different guys are motivated
by different things. Different guys have different abilities what you
ask them to do. So collectively, like I said, as
a group, we set a standard for what it is
that we want to go get accomplished, and then you
hold everyone to that standard as you go. As far
as a preparation from week to week and what we

(26:46):
expect from every opportunity we get out to go.

Speaker 7 (26:48):
And play and what are the biggest things expected of
you guys specifically in coach Bowl scheme that I know
there's some unique things, particularly for outside linebackers where maybe
a lot of times it's not something they've always been
asked to do before.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
Yeah, I mean, schematically, we're very multiple, a lot of
different you know, combinations of players, a lot of combinations
of of just different things to try to handle the
things the offensives put out there against us each week.
The thing that's unique about this was a skill set
of the players in the room. They're asked to rush,
they're asked to drop. I mean, they're asked to do

(27:23):
a collective you know, things that you know, they have
to be in tune to and be able to process
those things within the different packages and be able to execute.
So that makes it a lot of fun I mean
to me as a coach, being able to you know,
have guys that physically are able to do that and
then the mental aptitude to be able to adjust to it.
I mean, we've had some rookies come in here and

(27:44):
they really have never dropped before. You know, they've got
in here and they come in but they they realize
their expectation and you know, go to work at it
and improve in those areas. So it's always fun to
see them. You know, come in, start learn and then
go from there. And you know, seeing where a lot
of them have come from and where they are now,
you know, we just got to keep pressing the envelope.

Speaker 7 (28:05):
Is teaching them to drop the hardest thing typically to
teach them.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
Some of them, I mean, they have the ability to
do it. It's just that they don't have experience. And
that's what we always try to emphasize. You've got to
become uncomfortable with being uncomfortable when you're asked to do
things that you haven't been comfortable with. But they all
like the challenge, they accept it, and they go to
work each day. So that's that's been good.

Speaker 7 (28:29):
And then for you looking at particularly, yeah, yeah, I
feel like there was something that almost seemed like it
clicked for him part way through last season.

Speaker 8 (28:36):
Is that how it felt to you guys?

Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah, I think with the multiples and the complexities of
what we do. Defensively, it's a lot when you're coming
in depending on your background from college, you know.

Speaker 1 (28:47):
It's still a lot.

Speaker 2 (28:48):
It's a total different game in college and when those
guys get this league, just how offenses try to attack
you and just a different landmarks as far as drops
and just rush angles and all those things. So it
is a process to do, but he embraced it, and
like I said, he became very comfortable with being uncomfortable
with a lot of things that we ask him to do.
You know, from his first year coming in Now it's

(29:11):
like an old hat. He feels a lot more comfortable
doing those things. But Chris Braswell, who's a rookie this year,
it's really the same thing. He's been asked to do
a lot of things that he hadn't or hearing things
for the first time, and then all of a sudden,
you know, he's got to take those experiences and learn
from them and continue to get.

Speaker 8 (29:27):
Better with all those things you mentioned they have to learn.

Speaker 7 (29:30):
I feel like across the NFL we always hear this
expectation of year one to year two jumps for players
when it comes to outside linebackers.

Speaker 8 (29:39):
Is that typical as well?

Speaker 7 (29:40):
And if so, in what areas specifically do you typically
see the biggest jump.

Speaker 2 (29:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think them being even more comfortable
it's not the first time that they've done something. From
year one to year two is the biggest thing. And
especially when they come in they're so concerned about what
it is that they have to do from an assimon
an aliment concept, where now they can really focus on Okay,

(30:05):
so how are teams trying to attack us because they
feel a little bit more comfortable with what we're asking
them to do stramatically and it's not the first time.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
That they've done it.

Speaker 7 (30:14):
And then going into camp this year, what did you
think were your expectations of Yah? Yah the things that
you thought, all right, this year, this is who I
think he can be, This is what I want to
see from him as compared to even as well has
he finished last year.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
I think you could see, you know, before the injury,
he was really moving fast, and you know, the process
has sped up for and he's always been a physical,
heavy handed player as far as the run game goes.

Speaker 1 (30:39):
And then just his you know.

Speaker 2 (30:40):
Get off and his pass rush and those things he's
really worked this offseason and diligently get better at that.
You can just see his comfortability and being around the
guys that he's working with. I mean, you know, just
whether it's running games or running stunts or whatever, that
is having a complete understanding of what we're asking him
to do.

Speaker 1 (30:58):
He really now.

Speaker 2 (31:00):
Doesn't have to spend as long, you know, thinking about
those things.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
He can just go out and react and play.

Speaker 7 (31:06):
What were your reactions when he got hurt in camp,
when you saw him go down before you knew what
it was gonna mean?

Speaker 2 (31:11):
Uh, it was until you know. I mean, I've learned,
just like with anything else, you kind of gotta just
wait and see and then find out the time and
those kind of things. The one thing you can always
count on, Yahya. He is gonna give everything he's.

Speaker 1 (31:26):
Got to get back out there to be able to.

Speaker 2 (31:28):
Play, and he's gonna exhaust every means to get better,
to stay healthy, to work out, to be arearey to go.
So from that aspect of it, I had a deep
sigh and then I was like, Okay, there's a sigh
relief that we'll get him back before the start of
the season.

Speaker 8 (31:42):
Well, that's funny.

Speaker 7 (31:43):
My next question was gonna be how he handled rehab,
and it sounds like based on that that with as
as best you possibly could.

Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah, I mean he's gonna attack everything for both to
be able to get there and be accountable to his
players and be able to be there for them.

Speaker 1 (31:56):
You can bank on that.

Speaker 2 (31:58):
With everything from the time he spends training in the
off season. I mean he's here all the time. I
mean he's gonna it won't be because he didn't, you know,
invest in himself and invest in that time and be available.

Speaker 7 (32:10):
All right, We're going to take a quick break here
on Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Advan Health.
Talking to outside linebacker coach George Edwards. This is Buccaneers Radio.

Speaker 3 (32:18):
You were listening to Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bowles and Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips, brought to
you by ad Van Health.

Speaker 9 (32:27):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by
Advan Health. We were here with outside linebacker coach George
Edwards right before the break.

Speaker 7 (32:34):
We were talking about Yah Yah and coming back from injury.

Speaker 8 (32:36):
How do you feel like he has looked since coming back?

Speaker 7 (32:38):
Is he back to his full self that you mentioned
he was prior to that?

Speaker 8 (32:42):
Are still working to be there?

Speaker 2 (32:43):
I think he's a lot more comfortable where he is
right now. I think the first week out, you know,
just on the ankle and moving and you know, his
timing of getting off on his rush and those.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
Kind of things.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
I think he was still feeling his way, but now
I think he's completely back and feeling pretty good.

Speaker 7 (33:00):
And so for him, what are the biggest things that
you're still working on with him to see him take
that next step?

Speaker 2 (33:05):
I think just or the things that change from week
to week from offense, that the way that they try
to attack us, from what we're asking him to do,
from alignment an assignment, his pass rush. Still continuing to
work on his pass rush and that aspect of it.
But like I said, there's something every week that we
try to get improved on, just from this pass ball game,

(33:28):
not chasing the down block and stepping across and taking
on a flash when it comes back. So there's always something.
I mean, nobody's perfect. Nobody's going to play a perfect
game each week, so we'll always have something we can
improve upon.

Speaker 7 (33:39):
Are there things he can do thanks to his athleticism, size,
physicality that other people can't. What is that like for
you as a coach to have someone like him that
is just this I mean looks like this action figure
walking down the side of the hallway.

Speaker 2 (33:52):
Yeah, I mean it really is. I mean the power
and explosion that he plays with. I mean, you look
at his background, where he was handing the dirt, playing close.

Speaker 1 (34:01):
You know, from a three technique to.

Speaker 2 (34:02):
A far eye on a tackle to now he's out
in space and being able to use his athleticism and
it's get off and his power. You can see the
power and explosion that is. I mean, he really is
a unique athlete. And like I said, he trains to
get the most out of his ability from day to day.

Speaker 7 (34:17):
What do you think is his best move at this
point for a pass rush move?

Speaker 8 (34:21):
What's his what's his best one you think?

Speaker 1 (34:23):
He asked me.

Speaker 2 (34:24):
I think the best thing he does is the long arm,
I'll bet if you ask him.

Speaker 8 (34:27):
But straight power, No, he said, his long arm.

Speaker 7 (34:29):
Actually, we had him on our show and he says,
look at that. He's been listening to you. He probably
enjoys the power even.

Speaker 2 (34:35):
Yeah, he does, and he did a great job at
that last week. This week was not so much of
a power rush game. But you know, he's getting a
lot of seven man protection. They're starting to put a
lot of tight ends over there to chip him and
just working through the agitation of that right now.

Speaker 1 (34:49):
But yeah, told us a good thing. That's a part
of it.

Speaker 7 (34:51):
Yeah, I can see how that would be irritating. Let's
talk a little bit about Joe tryon Shrinka. I feel
like this season he's looked really great. That he looks
like even in some games and things aren't going well,
this looks like it's been a good start to the
season for him, especially, you know, looking at some recent
years and stuff. Looks like he's getting some production even
when things aren't going great overall. What are the biggest
things that stand out to you that he's been doing

(35:13):
well so far these first few games.

Speaker 2 (35:15):
I really do think Joe has approached to it, has
really been strong this all season, you know, and preparation
for it. But I just think his physicality coming off
the ball and using his hands, using his length, I mean,
his athleticism and space and all those things. He's really
grabs that and really is getting the most out of his.

Speaker 1 (35:34):
Ability with that right now.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
I mean the pass rush wise, he's been getting off
the ball and not widening and you know those kind
of things get back down at the quarterbacks.

Speaker 1 (35:43):
So he's done a good job so far.

Speaker 8 (35:45):
What are the biggest things that you're still working on
with him?

Speaker 2 (35:48):
I would say, just with Joe, the big thing is
being consistent with it you know where he doesn't change
his plan of attack, you know, from one week to
the next. I mean, I think showing consistently that he's
going to be able to rush that way and play
with that physicality, which he has done. I thought he
did it last year, but even more so this year.
You can see from the start of it it's in

(36:09):
his mind that way and he's playing that way.

Speaker 7 (36:11):
What's sort of your idea of his I don't know,
potential ceiling still at this point of where is he
in terms of maxing out his abilities?

Speaker 2 (36:19):
Well, I never want to put a limitation on anybody
that they can't continue to get better, because I think
we can all get better from day to day. The
more that we learn, the better we're going to be,
the more comfortable we are in the setting of what
we're asked to do. But I think Joe, with his
athleticism and speed and his power, I think this guy's.

Speaker 7 (36:36):
A limit for And then I know, losing Shack from
the team, both as a player and a leader, has
to be quite a blow for you as a coach,
like that into the whole room when you knew he
wasn't going to be coming back. What came to your
mind of just the overall effect that this could have
on your team and your room from again not just
a production standpoint on the field, but as having a

(36:58):
guy like that that's such a leader in the locker room.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
Yeah, there's any time you have somebody that number one
has the experience within this organization, within the system defensively,
and he's got ten thousand reps at it. I mean,
anytime you lose somebody with that kind of experience facing
the different offenses and offensive coordinators from week to week
and what he bought to the table with that, you're

(37:21):
gonna miss that in your room. But I think a
lot of the guys that are back kind of took
that personal. They're all I mean, he's the guy that
everybody's going to remain friends with for a lifetime. Just
seeing him come at it and the way that he
approached the work every day and how he got you know,
the experience and the experience that he bought to the
meeting room and all those things. I think even guys

(37:42):
they still reach out to him, stay in contact with
him from that aspect of it. But just a great
guy to have in your meeting room. And just like
I said, with the experience that he's had here and
experiences that he had within the system went a long
way for us as a position group.

Speaker 1 (37:57):
And now you know, we've.

Speaker 2 (37:58):
Got a lot of guys that doesn't I don't have
as much experience in it, but like I said, we're learning.

Speaker 1 (38:03):
From day to day, We're working through it from day
to day.

Speaker 2 (38:05):
I think between Anthony Nelson and Joe, they probably have
the most experience in the system, and you know, using
them as examples and you know, just drawing on their experiences,
I think healthy young guys along.

Speaker 7 (38:17):
We're talking out sidelinebacker coach George Edwards, have you specifically
tried to ask anyone to step into that leadership void
to fill it where you're going to wait and see
how people handled it? How do you approach that even
as a coach in that moment you.

Speaker 2 (38:30):
Talk about it, you know, from the aspect of, okay,
we lost a big voice in our room, and I
think guys are coming into their own. I mean every
year is different from that aspect of it, and I
think guys bring different things to the table, and just
as they continue to grow, I think their voice continues
to grow in the room, and a lot of it

(38:52):
comes through their actions. I mean it's gonna come through
their actions on the field, what they're able to do
on Sundays, what they're able to do from day to day.
As I said, this journey's long journey, and what you
display is not what you say, it's what you go
out there and you do every day. Shaq was able
to do that over a long period DWN and sustain
that competition at a long different over a period of times.

(39:12):
So a lot of these guys are still, you know,
working through that process of it. And I just say,
we're gonna take every day, learn, keep growing, and just
keep continuing to get better.

Speaker 7 (39:23):
And I know for you guys, while sack numbers aren't everything,
they're one of your probably favorite numbers, no doubt to have.

Speaker 8 (39:31):
I know the number is probably not.

Speaker 7 (39:32):
As high as you would like for it to be
after three games. Tell me, I know sometimes sacks can
be a pretty fluky thing. But what to this point
that is under your control. Do you feel like you
guys haven't done as much as you'd like to see
or what has been the reasoning behind maybe having smaller
number in that stat than you'd like at this point
through three games?

Speaker 2 (39:49):
Well, I think the way the first three games have gone,
We've hit the quarterback, we've pressured a quarterback, but we
haven't finished on a quarterback. And that's the big thing
that we're trying to do now is just continually work
on finishing at the top of the rush on the quarterback.
And like everything else, everything's tied together from a schematic

(40:09):
standpoint to it takes everybody to be in those positions
to get it. And just guys, really, we've got to
turn it on to in those critical situations, whether it's
third down or you know, second and long, to where
we get opportunities to go rush that we've got to
get the most out of those opportunities.

Speaker 7 (40:28):
What percentage of you evaluating your guys is sex like,
how much of that is an indicator to you of
how your guys are playing versus some other numbers and
stats and other contributing factors to their game.

Speaker 2 (40:40):
Well, number one thing I always look at are we
affecting a quarterback? Are we making them throw it on time?
Or are we making him get off the spot and
a rush? I mean those are as critical as anything
when you look at us situationally, whether it ends up
being third down, whether we're pressuring or we're asked to
drop whatever those things are. I try to keep it
in that perspective because not everybody's gonna go out there

(41:03):
every week and have ten sacks. I mean they kind
of come and clunks, just like the rest of it does,
so just like turnovers. So the big thing is we
emphasize it. We try to work put ourselves in a
most advantageous position from week to week in the situations
that we get, and just keep striving to get better
at it.

Speaker 7 (41:20):
And then I know Anthony Nelson, I'm sure he'd love
to have that fourth and one goal line play back
a little bit, But I thought about the fact that, man,
I mean, we just don't ever really hear negative much
about him out there when he's playing it. That was
so rare to feel like it was a hearing someone
say like, oh, you know Anthony Nelson is because I
feel like Coach Bowles especially always calls him the steady
Eddy of the group. So other than that play, maybe

(41:42):
tell me also just about Anthony Nelson and the contribute
the contributions he has when I feel like he is
someone that sometimes doesn't get the notoriety as people list
the outside linebackers. Sometimes he can get forgotten in that list,
but he has been a guy that has been here
for so long and contributed a lot, no doubt.

Speaker 2 (41:59):
I mean again, and like you were talking about Shaq,
Anthony has a lot of experience within the system. Defensively,
he's been there for a while. A lot of guys
leaned to him for advice. I mean, he's really helped
out like Chris braswell as he's worked through this offseason,
training camp and even now into camp. Especially when he's
out there, they all feel like they can ask Nelly

(42:20):
anything at any point in time and he's going to
be able to give him the right answer. So I
mean that's a credit to him and the way he prepares.
It's a credit to him in the time that he's
been studying, you know, from each opponent from week to week.
And you're going to tell he's one of those guys
when you talk about a leader in the room, he
is one of those guys that lead.

Speaker 1 (42:38):
In the room.

Speaker 2 (42:39):
And it's like I said, his steady Eddy. He's going
to be consistent and guys can count on him. He's
going to be accountable.

Speaker 8 (42:46):
It's a big deal.

Speaker 7 (42:47):
And what do you remember about Chris Braswell tape from college.
Maybe as you guys were looking at drafting this guy,
what stood out to you about his college days where
you thought that he could fit well here.

Speaker 2 (42:56):
Well, I thought his power and explosion in the run
game really showed up by I mean, he did quite
a bit at the University of Alabama and Knick system defensively,
so he's dropped, he's rushed, he's you know, was able
to play the round a certain way that we expect,
and so I think the transition has been pretty good
for him now. I think from a technique standpoint and

(43:18):
a fundamental standpoint, has been a lot of new things
that he's had to add to his toolbox. And from
a rush standpoint, but I think he's grasped it pretty good.
And I think guys have rallied around him to note
that we need him, you know, to bring him along
pretty quick, and I think he's grafted it. I thought
he actually rushed the best that he rushed, you know yesterday.
I mean, he had a couple of hits on the

(43:38):
quarterback yesterday. So I think it's coming. I think he'll
continue to improve as we continue down his journey and
look for him to get there fast.

Speaker 7 (43:47):
What are the biggest ways you feel like you've already
seen him grow or come out of his shell? B it.

Speaker 2 (43:52):
I think for him when things are good and bad,
he's mature enough that he is pretty steady, and his
reaction is he doesn't get on the pendulum of going
up and down, up and down.

Speaker 1 (44:05):
Guys have you know, taught him.

Speaker 2 (44:07):
How okay, how all right, we're all on Tuesday, but
you still got to get work done and just all
the things that a rookie goes through. And I think
he's grassed from their advice that, Okay, this is how
you have longevity in this league, and this is how
you go out and produce on Sundays.

Speaker 1 (44:22):
So I think he's.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
Been a big, you know, learner from them and listening
to their advice on how to approach things. Just so
yah yah went through it last year and they're all,
you know, talking to him. You know, everybody talks about
the rookie wall and all those kind of things. So
this is how we got to push through it. This
is how we got to work through it. So I
think he's learned a lot through the process. But he

(44:45):
has been willing to listen and learn and go out
and play fast.

Speaker 7 (44:50):
All right, we have one more segment coming up here
on Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Advent Health
with outside linebacker.

Speaker 8 (44:56):
Coach George Edwards.

Speaker 3 (44:57):
This is Buccaneers Radio Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bowles. Now continues brought to you by ad Van Help.

Speaker 8 (45:04):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access.

Speaker 9 (45:06):
I'm joined by outside linebacker coach George Edwards.

Speaker 7 (45:10):
So tell me about guys like Jose Ramirez and Marquis Watts.
What did you see from him that made you guys say, yeah,
this guy has earned a spot on the fifty three,
even in this unconventional manner.

Speaker 2 (45:20):
A credit to Wat so I think, you know, like
he came in here as a tryout during a rookie
mini camp and really stood out. You can see his athleticism,
you can see has been done as a rush and
from that point on, I mean, it's the same thing.

Speaker 1 (45:33):
He came in.

Speaker 2 (45:34):
He worked very diligently at everything that we asked him
to do. And you know, he got a good off
season this past offseason, working getting a lot more reps
and you can see what's getting it. So seeing his
jump from year one to year two. Just what being
comfortable with all the things we ask him to do
has has has been good and I think.

Speaker 1 (45:53):
He approached it.

Speaker 2 (45:54):
And we always tell young guys, you've got to be
able to be good on special teams, to be able
to contribute on a special teams and do that, and
he's kind of done that and carved his niche that
way as far as making this football team. But now
Watts has really come a long way. We're excited about
where he's at right now and look for him to
continue to grow.

Speaker 8 (46:13):
And then how about Jose Ramiro. The same thing.

Speaker 7 (46:14):
I know he was on the practice squad all last year,
earned a spot on the fifty three this year, and
particularly on that practice squad and the way he was
developing to then now feel like he earned that spot a.

Speaker 1 (46:24):
Lot of the same process.

Speaker 2 (46:25):
I mean, he came in last year, like you said,
he put him on a practice squad, and the one
thing he did day in and day out is he
went out and gave those offensive guys a good look
and he worked. And that's the thing we try to
emphasize those guys is that you're not just taking reps
like a car. You're out here improving your craft and
working on those things from day to day, and he

(46:46):
did that last year, and I think the work that
he put in this all season was tremendous. I mean
you could just see his whole framework changed. And so
just looking for him to continue to grow and learn
and work and those kind of things, it's going to
be a blessing I think for him to just you know,
he'll get the benefits of the work that he's put

(47:06):
into it.

Speaker 7 (47:07):
What did you see about the way that your guys
going against our offensive line in the offseason in training
camp has helped them grow or things that you've seen
them learn from going against them?

Speaker 1 (47:17):
I think yeah.

Speaker 2 (47:19):
I mean you always learn a lot from each other
while you're out there as guys are working on their
craft and improve especially in a past rush of just
different moves and things to add to your toolbox. I
think it's tremendous to get the opportunity to go, especially
like you mentioned Tristan, I mean to see him and
just how his past sets are and how big he
is and athletic he is at the top of the

(47:40):
rush and making us work at the top of the rush.
So all of those things are very beneficial to them
getting better from day to day.

Speaker 7 (47:47):
And how about for Tristan and Luke both on that outside.
I know we've been missing Luke the last couple of weeks,
but what have you seen of going against them, especially
the growth that Luke experienced.

Speaker 1 (47:57):
Yeah, I think that's the big thing. I think.

Speaker 2 (48:00):
I think that confidence just grows through the experience that
he's had. I know it's a change of scheme and
you know, a change of some of the things he's
probably has to do, But being able to adjust to
different things from week to week is a part of
this business and he's done a tremendous job with it.

Speaker 7 (48:13):
And now looking ahead, we're talking to outside linebacker coach
George Edwards. The Eagles game coming in hot here. We
are to them how the Lions were to us last week.
We're the ones that ended their season. Knowing that they're
going to come in maybe want a little bit of
revenge the way we did last week. For you, when
you guys have faced the Eagles in the past and
then looking at it this year, what are the main
things that stand out to you about their offense?

Speaker 2 (48:34):
Well, the big thing offensively that has changed. They changed
the offensive coordinator since offseasons. So Kellen Moore is their
offensive coordinator. It just so happened was with him in
Dallas and coached against him for years that he was
in Dallas. So systematically it's a little bit different. The
philosophy of what they're trying to do offensively really hasn't
changed that much. The head coach is still an offensive guy,

(48:55):
and he still has certain things he likes to do
in certain situations of a culmination of all of those
things at the end of the day. So from just
looking at them on tape that briefly, I've had some
time to spend on them. I mean it's a lot
of first I mean, I think Jalen is getting into
the swing of what they're asking him to do from
from the different offenses perspective, and just you know, it's

(49:20):
changed there. So for us, I think, you know, we
just got to prepare for what has changed and what's similar.
I mean, there's a lot of carry over to but
it's about us really focusing on us as we get
ready to get prepared for this game.

Speaker 7 (49:33):
This week, and looking at a guy like Jalen Hurts
and his running ability, how much more complicated does that
make an outside linebacker's job where maybe you're a little
less likely to be able to just feel.

Speaker 8 (49:44):
Like you can pin your ears back and go, oh,
it's a pan, But that's a technical football term.

Speaker 1 (49:49):
Point.

Speaker 2 (49:51):
No, anytime you got a quarterback that can move in
the pocket and still be able to complete the ball
down the field, it really makes us.

Speaker 1 (49:57):
Have to, you know, force ourselves to don't rush too high.

Speaker 2 (50:01):
I mean to make sure that we keep the pocket
squeezed to where you know, hopefully he can't step up
to our to drive into the drive throws, but yet
if you go past him, he can escape through the
b gap up inside. And unfortunately, we've played three quarterbacks,
will have been three quarterbacks when we get to him
that have that ability to scramble. So we got to
make sure we're disciplining in our rush lanes and you know,

(50:23):
make him have to step up and get pressure in
his face.

Speaker 7 (50:26):
And of course we do focus a lot on pass
rush for you guys, disrupting the quarterback, but it's not
like you're not involved in the run game for sure.

Speaker 8 (50:33):
So Squon Barkley, what an addition for them?

Speaker 7 (50:36):
Tell me again, you've got a lot of familiarity being
from that Cowboys background. You you just can't get away
from this man. So tell me what it's like facing
a guy like Saquon Barklay.

Speaker 2 (50:44):
Well, he's he's a very strong back, I mean, and
he's really fast. I mean, guys don't give him enough credit.
I think sometimes just how powerful he is when he
runs between the tackles, and then the speed to be
able to get out on the perimeter, and then the
athleticism that hes plays and open space, so he's a
complete back all the way.

Speaker 1 (51:03):
So we all have our hands full.

Speaker 7 (51:04):
And then also Dallas Goddard that they have, who got
this guy ten catches in one hundred and seventy yards
this last week.

Speaker 8 (51:09):
That's absurd for a Titans.

Speaker 7 (51:11):
And when it comes to titands that have that ability,
how much does that affect you, guys and what you're.

Speaker 8 (51:17):
Trying to do.

Speaker 1 (51:17):
Yeah, it does.

Speaker 2 (51:18):
I mean it does whether we're in coverage or whether
we're Russian or just depends on the situation that we're in.
But it does affect us, especially someone with his athleticism
and space and those kind of things, keeping leverage on
him and coverage, but then also in the run game,
you know, being able to set an edge and keep
the edge of the defense up.

Speaker 7 (51:38):
What are the things that you feel like you most
want to see out of your group this week, either
based on just what your goals are for them all season,
or based off last week what happened and what you
want to see in terms of a turnaround to know
they put it behind them moving forward, what would.

Speaker 8 (51:51):
Tell you that they did that.

Speaker 2 (51:52):
I think the biggest thing is the control on the
things that we can control, which is, in a run game,
we need to set the edge on the defense, go
check things that we're not seeing, and then against the
pass game, being disappointed our pass rush as far as
our lanes and being able to pre able to keep
the quarterback in and not let them out.

Speaker 7 (52:11):
And finally, maybe a couple keys to this game in
particular of what you would say, all right, if we're
able to do this and this as a defense overall,
that's going to give us the best chance to win
the game.

Speaker 2 (52:23):
In terms of what we can control on defense, well,
I think though, like coach Bowles always says, I mean,
the number one thing is controlling a run, stopping a run,
and then being able to pin our years back and
passing situations. I mean, just starting on them today, I
mean I would say that that would be my mindset
going in now. As we keep working through the week,

(52:44):
I'm sure those goals here over the next forty eight
hours will become a lot more apparent.

Speaker 7 (52:48):
And then finally, your guys, what would you say is
your big goal for them? Maybe stat wise? Is there
something that you're wanting some of your top guys like
Ayayana Joe to accomplish throughout the rest of the season.

Speaker 8 (52:58):
That is something you're giving them to look at.

Speaker 2 (53:00):
Like I said, from week to week, I think you
kind of set those goals going into a game depending
on matchups and you know what type of offense you're playing.
And then I just looked for them to improve from
day to day and from week to week, go out
and be able to show those things on Sunday, and
you know, as we keep progressing through this, you just
want to see it's keep continuing to have success.

Speaker 7 (53:20):
Well, coach, thank you so much for taking the time
out to talk to us on a week that I
know you have a lot going on, so we really
appreciate it anytime. Thanks all right, and that's going to
do it for us here on Buccaneers Total Access brought
to you by Advent Health.

Speaker 8 (53:29):
This is Buccaneers Radio.