He is aware of something most cannot see. Yep, it’s the coach we’re talking about here. When barbecue is done at its finest, it takes time. It needs to absorb the smoke. If you want the finest possible product, you have to be willing to wait for it. Todd Bowles knows that. Antoine Winfield Jr. understands this as well. As a safety for the Buccaneers this season, he is operating under a different standard. While his stat line reads like a blank slate, he appears to be having an invisible effect.
We often take our cue from the box score, much like collectors who use a baseball card to grade a player. Two seasons prior to the current year, Winfield Jr. was a five-tool player and received All-Pro honors. With respect to the stat columns, he had earned them all. At the same time, he was the sparkplug that drove the engine. Now he is healthy again. However, his presence is quieter. And Bowles knows why. The solution is not on the chart; it is in the trenches.
Bowles’ Babysitting Detail
On December 17, Todd Bowles discussed the subject. He stated the reason why. “We probably asked him to babysit a little more doing certain things,” Bowles acknowledged. “But very happy with his play and the plays he made early in the middle of the season. Sometimes the coverage changes, sometimes the defenses changes, but he’s right where he needs to be.” That is a coach speaking up for a player making sacrifices. Winfield Jr. is covering for other players currently.
He is filling holes. He is erasing errors. Therefore, the opponent will try to steer clear of him and go after the weaker spots instead. As for the statistics, Winfield Jr. has 81 tackles this season. He has two interceptions. He has one sack. These are not All-Pro numbers. Nevertheless, Bowles sees the entire picture. Winfield Jr. is dropping into coverage areas where the quarterbacks dread being. Against Atlanta, Winfield Jr. was the leader of the team.
He accumulated 13 tackles. This was his highest total this season. Additionally, it was his most since Week 11 of 2023. Although he put forth his greatest effort, the Bucs still lost. The defense faltered in the final minutes of the game. Third and 28 turned into a nightmare for the Bucs. Bowles termed it “inexcusable.” The coverage broke down. Winfield Jr. could not save the day.
“Babysitting” comes with a price. Winfield Jr. is paying that, yet the Bucs are at 7-7. They are rapidly losing steam like a cheap t-shirt. Winfield Jr. can’t do it all. And Bowles can only coach the players that he has. Therefore, the problem is not the babysitter. The problem is the babies. Meanwhile, the playoffs are slowly slipping through their fingers.
A Silent Storm Beneath the Surface
On December 12, Gerald McCoy came forward. The former Pro Bowl defensive lineman defended Todd Bowles. He publicly scolded the players. “People ain’t doing what they are supposed to during the week,” McCoy posted. That’s disturbing. Extremely disturbing. McCoy receives his information from within. Lavonte David is his close friend. Therefore, this is not speculation. This is a red flag. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield has repeatedly owned up to the shortcomings.
Weeks earlier, Richard Sherman issued the warning. He said the Bucs are not among the top teams in the league. “I know some things,” Sherman hinted. Something is seriously rotten in the state of Florida. Antoine Winfield Jr. cannot change the culture. He can only control his assignment. He is babysitting poor coverages and covering for missed tackles. But the crack continues to spread, and losses continue to mount.
Carolina looms on the horizon. The Bucs have limited time remaining to correct their course. Previously injured players are making comebacks. But the playoff hopes are dangling by a thread.
Winfield Jr. sacrificed his stats. Todd Bowles praises him publicly. However, public praise is not enough to win a division. Performance is required. And the Bucs require more than one man’s sacrifice. They require eleven men who truly care. The clock is ticking. The smoke is becoming thicker. Todd Bowles can clearly see the problem. Is anyone else able to see it?
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