The Bucks, who allowed 26.6 points per game, 28th in the league, and allowed 255.4 yards per game with the league’s 29th-ranked pass defense, are considering personnel changes.
That’s what head coach Todd Bowles said Monday when asked about possible changes at the middle linebacker and cornerback positions. The play at both of those positions was very disappointing in Sunday’s 31-26 loss to the Falcons.
“We review personnel changes every week and think about what’s best for our company,” Bowles said. “Sometimes there’s nothing you can do [due to injuries] But we’re doing everything we can this week to get guys on the field that are going to help us get better and move forward from there. If we don’t have them, we don’t, but if we have them on our team, we definitely try to get them in there. ”
Bucks could aim for Vi Jones platoon with KJ Britt
According to Pro Football Focus, starting inside linebacker KJ Britt has the worst pass coverage grade on the team. Britt gained 226 yards and caught 20 of 24 targets (83.3%), resulting in an impressive coverage grade of 32.3. PFF ranks Britt as the 146th-ranked inside linebacker in the league with a 37.7 overall grade.
Bucks ILB KJ Britt and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Bowles has pointed out Britt’s weaknesses in pass coverage the past two years. Even when Britt replaced Devin White as the starting middle linebacker last year, he platooned both linebackers. Britt played on early downs and short yardage situations, while White, who excelled in coverage and blitzing, played on third-and-longs and obvious passing downs.
That platoon system carried over into the 2024 season, with second-year linebacker Servosia Dennis taking over for White. But even after Dennis lost his season in Week 4, Britt remained on the field and struggled in coverage.
Bowles ignored suggestions that J.J. Russell could replace Britt in pass coverage, instead saying that practice squad linebacker Vi Jones was the ideal candidate to platoon with Britt. said.
“There’s probably only one. [player] He can do that and he has to get up to speed,” Bowles said of Jones. “He just wasn’t up to speed at the time. All the other guys were Mike linebackers or pretty much the same from an athleticism standpoint, but KJ was the smartest of them all.”
Jones, who spent last year on the Bucks’ practice squad, showed enough talent and promise in the preseason to remain on the Bucks’ practice squad in 2024. In the preseason, he earned a PFF overall rating of 68.4 and a coverage grade of 64.3. He was able to catch 5 of 7 targets (71.4%) in pass coverage, but only gained 33 yards in the preseason.
Bucs ILB Vi Jones – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Jones totaled five quarterback pressures and one quarterback hit in the preseason, as well as 11 tackles, including a lost tackle. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Jones is a faster linebacker than Britt. Jones ran a time of 4.52 seconds at North Carolina State University and Britt ran a time of 4.76 seconds at Auburn University.
Britt’s poor coverage has been an issue in Tampa Bay, but he’s not the only one struggling to cover the middle of the field. Fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David also gave up a completion percentage of 83.3% (35 of 42) for a team-high 357 yards and two touchdowns. However, unlike Britt, David has an interception to his credit, in addition to forcing two coverage incompletions and breaking up four passes.
Interestingly, when Dennis was placed on injured reserve after Week 4, the Bucks promoted rookie Antonio Grier Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster instead of Jones. This probably indicates that Jones hasn’t mastered the defense well enough. Will still be a pass coverage factor for Bowles.
The Bucks could also bench Tyreke Funderburk at cornerback.
Falcons WR Darnell Mooney and Bucs CB Tyreke Funderburk and ILB KJ Britt – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Tampa Bay undrafted free agent cornerback Tyreke Funderburk gave up a 30-yard touchdown pass to Darnell Mooney and missed a tackle on Kyle Pitts’ 49-yard scoring 31-31 against Atlanta on Sunday. He went to the bench at halftime of the game, which he lost 26. Funderburk replaced injured starter Jamel Dean in the team’s 51-27 win over New Orleans and made his first start in the Bucks’ 41-31 loss to the Ravens.
But head coach Todd Bowles said Funderburk is now a potential replacement.
Josh Hayes, the team’s top gunner on special teams and a 2023 sixth-round pick, replaced Funderburk in the second half and took 11 coverage snaps against the Falcons, according to Pro Football Focus coverage. It received a grade of 72.4. Hayes allowed just one catch for eight yards and was targeted just once.
“Yeah, he’s definitely an option,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said when asked if Hayes is a candidate to start at cornerback opposite Zion McCollum until Dean returns.
Bucks CB Josh Hayes – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
After Sunday’s game, Coach Bowles discussed Hayes’ performance.
“I know he fought hard and didn’t give up too much.” [completions]” Bowles said. “He’s a tough kid and played well as far as I know. We’ll watch the tape and see.”
In three games on defense during his rookie season, Funderburk allowed 11 of 12 (91.7%) targeted catches for 146 yards, one pass breakup and two touchdowns. He earned a coverage grade of 55.3, according to PFF.
Another option the Bucs could consider at cornerback is Keenan Isaac, who performed well in the preseason and was signed from the practice squad to the active roster.
Bucks want Tykie Smith from Kansas City
Bucks DB Tykie Smith and CB Tyreke Funderburk – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Buccaneers expect starting nickelback Tykie Smith to return next Monday night against Kansas City. Smith suffered a concussion two weeks ago against Baltimore and missed the game against Atlanta.
“He’s progressing,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “We’ll see how he feels this week. It’s a little early right now.”
The team’s third-round pick is one of the best pass defenders in Tampa Bay. He caught 27 of 38 targets (71.1%) for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Smith, who earned the starting cornerback job thanks to a great training camp and preseason, has a PFF coverage grade of 70.1, the fifth-highest on the team.
