Zac Robinson is getting a daily lesson in what Todd Bowles' defense can do, and he says that work is helping him grow as an offensive coordinator.
During training camp, Robinson said the Bucs got a lot of great work against Bowles' group and that the back-and-forth was a sign of a good team. He added that practicing against that kind of defense forces an offense to be ready for everything at all times.
Why Bowles' defense is such a test
Robinson said the challenge comes in a few different areas. It makes quarterbacks work through problems they might not face until Week 12, and it also puts stress on protection. He said it can be difficult to run the football, too, because of how sturdy Bowles' defense is up front.
That is part of why pass-defense rankings can be misleading without context. If an offense cannot run effectively, it often has to throw more, which can make the opposing pass defense look more vulnerable than it really is. Bowles has been known for intricate blitzes, and the criticism that follows those looks is not always fair when the run defense is also doing its job.
Since Bowles came to Tampa Bay in 2019, the Bucs have averaged a top 5 run defense. That matters here because it gives the defense a foundation that can make the entire unit harder to handle, especially in practice.
What Robinson said the daily reps do
Robinson said facing Bowles' defense every day gives the offense a chance to see a ton of defense and a ton of different looks. In his view, that repetition helps both sides. The defense brings juice, the offense gets sharper, and the competition helps make each group better.
He said he was certainly glad once the team was done practicing against them for training camp, but he also noted that the work had value. Now that the team has moved on to cards and scout-team work, Robinson said it eases the mind a little bit. Still, his point was clear: going against Todd Bowles every day is not easy, but it is exactly the kind of challenge that can sharpen an offense before the season begins.
