Coaching Changes for Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense
The Bucs have made some coaching changes to bring back another member of their Super Bowl 55 championship defense. Mike Caldwell, who previously coached inside linebackers in Todd Bowles’ defense, is returning to his old job, the club announced Friday.
Return of Mike Caldwell
After a successful playoff run in 2020, Caldwell was hired as the Jaguars defensive coordinator. He spent two seasons with the Jaguars and then moved to the Raiders as the run game coordinator/linebackers coach in 2024.
Other Coaching Changes
Larry Foote, the Bucs co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach last season, will now coach outside linebackers and add the title of run game coordinator. George Edwards, who coached outside linebackers the past two seasons, has been named defensive pass game coordinator.
Defensive Line Coaching
The Bucs also welcomed former USF head coach Charlie Strong as the defensive line coach, replacing Kacy Rodgers. Under Caldwell, the defense excelled, allowing only 82.5 rushing yards per game, ranking first in the league.
Summary and Outlook
The coaching changes aim to address the struggles of the linebackers in the past season. The outside pass rush has faltered, and the team is looking to make improvements to their defensive strategy.
Conclusion
With the return of Caldwell and the reshuffling of coaching staff, the Bucs are gearing up for a strong defensive performance in the upcoming season.
FAQs
Q: What prompted the coaching changes for the Bucs defense?
A: The poor performance of the linebackers in the past season led to the shake-up in coaching staff.
Q: How did the Bucs defense rank in sacks in the NFL?
A: Tampa Bay tied for sixth in the NFL with 46 sacks, relying heavily on blitzes.
