ARIZONA CARDINALS

MMQB: Bruce Arians taught Todd Bowles to coach with ‘no fear’

Aug 21, 2015, 9:09 AM

It didn’t take long for former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to find controversy in his new gig.

The New York Jets head coach faced his first hurdle as the team’s leader when now-released IK Enemkpali sucker-punched quarterback Geno Smith in the face, breaking his jaw and putting the expected starter out of commission to start the season.

However much trouble that has caused the first-year Jets coach, Bowles seems ready to handle such situations.

In a Q&A with MMQB’s Jenny Vrentas, Bowles discussed how his career path helped him develop into the type of leader ready to be an NFL head coach — and specifically how Arians played a role in developing his style.

Bowles said that Arians, who coached him at Temple, taught him to coach with “no fear.”

VRENTAS: “No fear” in what respect?

BOWLES: How you play the game. Don’t be afraid to take chances and do things. Just play the game as you see it. If you have a thought, let it go through. Don’t second-guess yourself. Just go ahead and do it, and you live with the results.

Bowles is sure to point out that Arians — and himself — aren’t just gunslingers tossing deep balls down the field and blitzing whenever possible. Everything they do is calculated, Bowles said.

And regarding Bowles’ biggest obstacle in Jets camp thus far, we find out that Arians made sure to check up on his former coordinator following the Smith-Enemkpali dust-up.

VRENTAS: Did you talk to Arians after what happened last week?

BOWLES: He texted me, to make sure I was alright. I said I was fine. He said OK, if you need to vent, let me know. I said OK.

VRENTAS: Have you taken him up on that offer?

BOWLES: No, he’s got his own team to run. You don’t do that. (laughs) In the offseason, though, I might vent to him a little bit.

It’s doubtful Arians was actually worried about Bowles.

We can probably chalk that text up to classic BA humor.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Bidwill...

Associated Press

Former Cardinals employee files lawsuit against owner Michael Bidwill for verbal abuse

A former assistant to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill filed a lawsuit against him, saying that she was verbally abused during her tenure.

10 hours ago

Larry Fitzgerald...

Damon Allred

Larry Fitzgerald praises Kenny Dillingham following ASU offer to son Devin

Larry Fitzgerald threw some credit Kenny Dillingham's way following his son's recent offer to be a Sun Devil.

18 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals is embracing change amid coaching staff carousel....

Tyler Drake

‘Part of the business’: Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon facing new challenge in Year 3

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is facing a new reality with the departures of multiple assistants this offseason.

2 days ago

A recent ESPN mock draft has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks in the first two rounds of the NF...

Brandon Cadiz

ESPN’s Matt Miller has Cardinals taking two CBs in Mock Draft

ESPN's analyst Matt Miller has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

3 days ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

4 days ago

The Jaguars are hiring former Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next QBs coac...

Tyler Drake

Jaguars hiring Cardinals’ Spencer Whipple as their new quarterbacks coach

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hiring Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next quarterbacks coach.

4 days ago

MMQB: Bruce Arians taught Todd Bowles to coach with ‘no fear’