A deep dive into Todd Bowles' blitz-heavy scheme and the players poised to make the Bucs a defensive powerhouse.
We put the Bucs' defense under the microscope, exploring the evolution of Todd Bowles' scheme, the impact of adding pass-rusher Haason Reddick, and how young players like Calijah Kancey, YaYa Diaby, and Zyon McCollum are poised to take the next step.
Can this defense become a top-10 unit and carry Tampa Bay deep into the postseason?
In this episode, we talk about:
* How Head Coach Todd Bowles is evolving his blitz-heavy defensive scheme for the upcoming season.
* The massive impact new edge rusher Haason Reddick will have on the entire defensive line.
* The young, ascending talent in the secondary, including Zyon McCollum and rookie Benjamin Morrison.
* The critical veteran leadership of foundational pieces like Vita Vea and Lavonte David.
* Whether the Buccaneers have the firepower and depth to become a legitimate top-10 defense in the NFL.
—
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro: The Famous Creamsicle Uniforms
1:28 - The Todd Bowles Philosophy: A Deep Dive into the Bucs' Defensive Scheme
4:47 - Defensive Line: How Haason Reddick's Arrival Unlocks Everyone Else
7:15 - Analyzing the Interior Threats: Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall & Vita Vea
10:20 - Linebackers: The Critical Role of Veteran Lavonte David
15:15 - Secondary Breakdown: Can the Young Talent Step Up?
17:50 - The New-Look Nickel Position with Tykee Smith & Jacob Parish
22:05 - Strengths vs. Weaknesses: Why Pass Rush Stats Didn't Equal Success Last Year
24:30 - The Biggest Concern for the Bucs' Defense This Season
26:55 - Final Verdict: Can This Defense Make Tampa Bay a True Contender?
—
» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!
MatchQuarters is a reader-supported publication. So, make sure to subscribe, like, and share articles.
—
© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com