Todd Bowles has been on the other sideline from Aaron Rodgers for two decades, and he did not soften the scouting report ahead of Tampa Bay’s Week 6 game in Pittsburgh. Asked what makes Rodgers so hard to pick off — and what game-planning him feels like — the Buccaneers coach went straight to the brain and the ball location.
“It’s a nightmare game planning against him,” Bowles said. “He’s difficult because he’s extremely intelligent. His football IQ is unbelievable. He’s extremely accurate with the football and he can dissect things before the play even happens. He can see it when the huddle breaks.”
Bowles said Rodgers can catch a tip most people miss, know where to go with the throw, and bait a defense into the wrong look. “He has a lot of tricks to the trade he learned over the years, but overall his intelligence, his arm, his knowledge of the game … it all ties in for being a great quarterback.” As a pure passer, Bowles ranked him extremely high — fades and back-shoulder throws included.
Mayfield status waits on the arm; Daniels’ game slows down
Baker Mayfield was not throwing during the open portion of Wednesday’s session. Bowles said nothing had changed: Mayfield is getting better, and the staff still needs to see him throw before deciding anything for this week. Asked whether a less-than-100% Mayfield could still dress as an emergency, Bowles drew a hard line. “If he’s not 100%, he doesn’t need to play.”
On Jalon Daniels’ jump from start one to start two, Bowles pointed to command — getting in and out of the huddle, delivering the play, getting out on time so the game slows down. After only two starts, he said Daniels does not look like a rookie on the mental side. “It’s just actual game time that he has to get, but the mental part of it I think has slowed down for him after two weeks.”
Bucky’s hunger, Warren’s all-around game, and Pittsburgh’s front
Bowles called Bucky Irving’s Dallas performance a career day built on hunger. “Bucky is determined to win. He’s determined to play well. He’s determined to carry everything on his back,” Bowles said. “When you have guys like that on your team that want to do that, hopefully that spreads on everybody else.” The run game, he added, remains the success formula if Tampa can keep it going every week.
On Pittsburgh’s offense, Bowles flagged Jaylen Warren as outstanding as a runner, blocker and receiver — the kind of back who takes it the distance if you miss a tackle. He called T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward not just tough but extremely smart, and he said the Steelers’ two tight ends present different problems in both the run and the pass game.
The Buccaneers head to Pittsburgh looking to build on the Dallas win with a defense that already ranks among the league’s better units and a quarterback room still waiting on Mayfield’s next throw.
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