Dallas Cowboys scouting report: Breaking down the Buccaneers defensive scheme

Todd Bowles is going to present quite the challenge tonight.

The Cowboys have been hitting their stride lately, thanks in part to some above-average play from their offense. But they’ve faced some of the league’s worst defenses over the past four weeks, which has helped. That won’t be the case this Sunday night when they go up against the Buccaneers.

Head coach Todd Bowles calls the defense for Tampa Bay, and he’s established himself as one of the better defensive minds in the game. In fact, Bowles may be the most underrated defensive coach in the NFL. To this day, he stands alone as the only coach whose defense has beaten Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

Bowles was the defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers when they faced Kansas City in the Super Bowl during the 2020 season. While much of the focus was on Tom Brady leading Tampa Bay to a ring in his first year with the team, it was Bowles’ defense that held Mahomes and the Chiefs offense to just nine points. The Chiefs didn’t score a single touchdown, and Mahomes threw two picks.

Two years later, Bowles was promoted to head coach after Bruce Arians retired. Bowles, who had been a head coach before with the Jets, chose to retain defensive play-calling duties. That’s proven to be a wise decision, as Tampa Bay has remained one of the top defensive teams in the league.

So what does a Bowles defense look like? Well, he primarily hails from the Bill Parcells school of defense. In fact, Bowles coached defensive backs for the Cowboys under Parcells, overlapping for two years with Mike Zimmer. The two veteran coaches don’t have much in common schematically, though.

Bowles predicates his defense on physicality, first and foremost. He prefers big, physical defensive linemen that can clog up running lanes on their way to the quarterback. He also relies heavily on press man coverage and closing off the middle of the field in coverage, though Bowles has shifted somewhat towards more two deep safety shells as league trends have gone that way.

Looking at the Buccaneers personnel, they have the guys to run the scheme perfectly too. Vita Vea is the big name upfront, in many ways; at 347 pounds, he’s one of the largest players in the league. Greg Gaines, at 312 pounds, also adds heft on run downs. Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall, both around 285 pounds, man the B gaps for Bowles.

Cornerbacks Jamel Dean an Zyon McCollum are both 6’2” and weight right around 200 pounds. Last year, Dean ranked among the top 20 corners in passer rating allowed in man coverage. Meanwhile, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has blossomed into a star. He earned his first All Pro nod last year and inked an extension before this season that made him the highest paid defensive back in the league.

Bowles is also a big fan of blitzing. This is where he and Zimmer share some philosophy. Much of Bowles’ scheme is built around creating negative plays early to bring up third and long, and then digging into a deep bag of third down blitz calls to wreak havoc on the offense. Bowles is blitzing on 34.9% of all dropbacks right now, fifth-most in the league, but his third down blitz rate is a sky-high 43.3%. In case you were wondering, that’s the highest in the league; Dallas isn’t too far behind, with a 38.3% third down blitz rate.

Whereas Zimmer almost exclusively uses his signature double mug look to trick offensive lines, Bowles has a wider variety of pre-snap looks for his blitz packages. Case in point: six different linebackers and defensive backs for the Buccaneers have 25+ blitz plays on the year, with three of them having 75+ such plays.

Philosophically speaking, Bowles primarily blitzes with the intent to create pressure up the middle. The idea is to force quarterbacks outside the pocket and make them throw on the run, which is usually not a great idea for offenses. He’s changed this approach up when facing players like Mahomes or Josh Allen, but that approach would seem to be a nightmare for someone like Cooper Rush.

Having said that, the Buccaneers have been inconsistent in the pass rush this year. They’re only 15th in pressure rate and are tied at 24th in sacks. A big part of this is that quarterbacks have adopted quick passing games when facing Tampa Bay this year. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 2.55 seconds per throw, fastest in the league, against the Buccaneers. They’re also giving up the most average yards of separation at the catch, a byproduct of the quick passing game.

Rush has been a very quick trigger all year, with his 2.54 seconds to throw second behind only Tua Tagovailoa. If the Cowboys have any hope in this game, it’s here: Rush needs to be quick and decisive, and CeeDee Lamb and the rest of this skill group needs to create after the catch. It won’t be easy against such a defense, but there is room for success.

BREAKING: Jets 25-Year-Old Superstar Reportedly On Trade Block

The New York Jets are in a tailspin, and star wide receiver Garrett Wilson did nothing to halt the growing trade rumors.

A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Wilson hit the ground running, recording 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns during his first year in the league while winning Rookie of the Year honors.

Now on pace for his third 1,000-yard campaign in as many seasons, Wilson will soon be eligible for a contract extension. Recently, the wide receiver addressed his immediate future, and his language suggested a trade could be on the table.

“I don’t know, man,” Wilson said, via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I just go about my day…If they [extend me], that would be a blessing. It would be awesome. I love the Jets. At the end of the day, they were the ones that believed in me. But, yeah, I can’t be worrying about that.”

Garrett Wilson Trade Rumors Grow After Confusing Non-Answer
Reading between the lines, it appears that Garrett Wilson would welcome an extension, but the Jets have yet to engage in talks.

Assuming New York uses the fifth-year option on his contract, Wilson will hit free agency following the 2026 season. While the Jets don’t need to extend him any time soon, it’s weird that they seemingly haven’t discussed it.

Wilson is one of the league’s better young players and plays a premium position, so his cost will only rise as his career progresses.

With no long-term answer at quarterback, the Jets could trade Garrett Wilson for as much draft capital as possible. The 2025 quarterback draft class is a weak one, so New York could use extra picks to trade up and land their potential savior.

Every team in the league should be interested in landing a young playmaker like Wilson, but these five teams make the most sense.

Possible Landing Spots
New Orleans Saints
Despite firing head coach Dennis Allen, nobody expects the New Orleans Saints to rebuild in the offseason. Infamous for restructuring deals to kick the can down the road, General Manager Mickey Loomis believes he can build a winner with the current roster, which means Derek Carr and company will be back for another season.

However, their salary cap turmoil means they can’t afford to add expensive talent in free agency. Garrett Wilson still has two years on his rookie contract, so the Saints could trade for him and work on an extension to keep his 2025 and 2026 cap hits low.

Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders have the biggest competitive advantage in football: a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract.

Second-overall pick Jayden Daniels is the real deal, as the LSU product has guided this once-lost franchise to a 9-5 record while ranking near the top of most efficiency metrics.

The foundation is in place for success, now it’s time for Washington to build a legitimate contender. Terry McLaurin is a great receiver, but this passing attack needs another dangerous threat. McLaurin and Wilson could form one of the league’s most dangerous duos and could put this team in the Super Bowl next year.

Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have the best record in football, but that’s primarily due to absurd luck in one-score games. While nobody will ever bet against the elite combination of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, this team needs younger, reliable weapons.

While it’s too late to add Wilson for the 2024 campaign, he could be a crucial part of the 2025 offense. With Rashee Rice’s future uncertain and the jury still out on first-round pick Xavier Worthy, Wilson could be the much-needed WR1 for one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have solid wide receivers in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, but they lack a true difference-maker at the position.

Franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson is one of the best in the league, but the two-time MVP could use more help to compensate for a defense with several holes that probably cannot all be addressed in one offseason.

Baltimore’s offense is already difficult to slow down, but adding Wilson to the mix could make it unstoppable. Jackson is an elite dual threat, Wilson can consistently beat single coverage, and Derrick Henry can dominate light boxes. No matter how opposing defenses play Baltimore, they will be at a disadvantage.

Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers found a great young player in second-round pick Ladd McConkey and he should have a bright future with Justin Herbert. However, the rest of the depth chart needs some serious work.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to win with defense and a strong running game, but he’ll have a hard time saying no to this potential pairing.

Dallas Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs could miss 2025 season, will undergo bone graft surgery

Diggs to miss at least eight months with knee injury

offseason plans as he recovers from injury
NFLMicah Parsons rallies behind alma mater Penn State ahead of CFP clash with SMU
Dallas Cowboys standout cornerback Trevon Diggs has unfortunately seen his season cut short for the second consecutive year. The setback occurred following the team’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on December 9. Cowboys Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones addressed the media regarding Diggs’ condition, describing the injury as “significant” and revealing it to be a “cartilage issue.” This type of injury will require an estimated eight-month recovery period, sidelining the star cornerback for the foreseeable future.

Although a surgery date has not yet been scheduled, additional information about the procedure has begun to emerge. According to reports from the Dallas Morning News, Diggs is expected to undergo bone graft surgery on his left knee. This particular procedure involves a longer recovery timeline but is considered “the best course to stimulate growth and strengthen the area.” While it’s a challenging road ahead, this approach is aimed at ensuring Diggs returns to full strength once healed.

Trevon Diggs confronted a reporter who criticized him on social media
The injury is undoubtedly a tough blow for both Diggs and the Cowboys organization, especially as they navigate a competitive season. Known for his exceptional skills in the secondary, Diggs has been a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense, consistently delivering standout performances. Losing him for an extended period will require adjustments from the team as they strive to maintain their defensive edge.

What it means for the Cowboys’ season
Jones’ comments shed light on the severity of the situation, but they also reflect the organization’s confidence in Diggs’ ability to recover and return stronger. He emphasized that while it’s a significant injury, the team is committed to supporting Diggs throughout his recovery process. “It’s a tough situation for Trevon and for us as a team,” Jones stated. “But we’re focused on making sure he gets the best care possible.”

The news comes as the Cowboys face mounting challenges, including injuries across their roster. As Diggs begins his recovery journey, his absence will undoubtedly be felt both on and off the field. However, with a clear plan in place and the organization’s support, there’s optimism that he’ll make a strong return next season.

While fans and teammates alike will miss his presence on the field, all eyes will be on Diggs’ recovery process in hopes that he can reclaim his role as one of the league’s premier defensive players.