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#2 Their defense is declining
When Peyton Manning lost his arm strength, it was Von Miller and the Broncos defense that carried them to a Super Bowl victory. While the Buccaneers' defense has been strong in the past, they've shown signs of wear in that area of late.
Many veterans who are rumored to be returning are arguably past their best. Ndamukong Suh is one example. He will be 35 years old at the start of the season. Steve McLendon, meanwhile, is 36 years old and Jason Pierre-Paul is 33.
A lot of the defensive responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Vita Vea and Devin White, but they can’t do it alone. A Todd Bowles-coached defense will always be well-drilled, but with him moving into the role of head coach, there is a possibility that the defense will show signs of decline.
The margins in the NFL are small and such a change could knock a couple of key plays out of the Buccaneers’ defense, which in turn could cost them vital wins.
#3 Adjusting to a new coach is challenging
Bruce Arians wasn’t an all-thinking, tactical-wizard. However, Tampa Bay didn’t need that. It was his force of personality that made the difference and he was able to communicate and inspire veteran players. As previously mentioned, his retirement has opened the head coaching doors for Todd Bowles.
Bowles had a really difficult experience in charge of the New York Jets. He wasn’t blessed with a talented roster, but you can only judge someone as a head coach based on their previous results and his were inarguably poor.
Furthermore, his style of coaching is more focused on honing skills on the practice field. He is very much a coordinator first and a man-manager second.
This isn’t a bad thing, as it can often help teams gain an edge. Just look at Bill Belichick’s work in New England.
However, the dramatic shift from life under Arians will be difficult to adjust to. Many of the better players are veterans who don’t need or want to be coached under such close scrutiny. Bowles might find this a problem.
If this adaptation period doesn’t occur quickly then Tampa Bay will have a problem. Early games can be tough and a poor start may well lead to a snowball of defeats that kicks them out of playoff contention.
