Logan Hall On Bucs Defense: “We’re Going To Be Feared”
June 30th, 2025
Expects big improvement.
A lot of Bucs fans are focused on the Bucs’ pass defense this year. Understandably so. It has been bottom-five in the league the past two years.
When your head coach is a defensive backs specialist, having been a safety in the league once upon a time, such a dismal stat is unacceptable.
One area of the defense Bucs fans don’t need to lose sleep over is the defensive line. Vita Vea is an absolute stud. Calijah Kancey, despite what the PFF tribe hollers, is a damn good player about to turn the corner if he can escape training camp healthy.
Then there is Logan Hall. Bucs fans groan about Hall but he’s really improved the past two years. He may not be a star but he’s not a sieve, either.
Hall last year had the third-most sacks on the team (5.5), tied with Lavonte David.
Hall got rave reviews from Bucs coach Todd Bowles and Bowles is not a guy prone to heap empty praise on an unworthy player.
“Logan, quietly, [along with SirVocea Dennis] probably had the most productive offseason that I’ve seen,” Bowles said as underwear football ended. “He’s quicker. He keeps his head down and works and he’s kind of unsung with [Calijah] Kancey and Vita [Vea] down there.”
Bowles even bragged that Hall has some pass rush moves that may be unleashed this fall.
(Joe’s reaction to that statement is: What are you waiting for?)
So Joe asked Hall about how the defensive line is shaping up. He likes the addition of third-day draft pick tackle Elijah Roberts (“He’s doing really good.”) And Hall thinks the interior defensive line could do damage this fall.
“We’ve got some pieces,” Hall told Joe. “Everyone has been here (through underwear football). Everyone has been putting in the work.
“I think the battle sense is coming back.”
How well is the defense coming together? Well, if the secondary improves like the Bucs think it will with Antoine Winfield now healthy and the additions of second- and third-round draft picks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, Hall believes the defense may steal some sunshine from the high-octane Bucs offense.
“People are talking about the offense, rightfully so,” Hall said. “You know, [the Bucs’] defense is coming along.”
And if the secondary improves?
“We’ll be nice this year,” Hall said. “We’re going to be feared.”
Having an old-fashioned Bucs defense that makes opponents sweat before they exit the locker room would be a nice throwback.
June 30th, 2025 at 7:33 am
The DL will be interesting to watch this year. How good is Charlie Strong as a DL coach? (Bowles can pick OCs well, can he pick DL coaches?) Reddick is passing along pass rush moves to the DL. Roberts is known as a pass rusher and could spell Hall on passing downs. Hopefully Kancey and the trainers figure out his calf challenges and he starts the season fast for once. Last year, Vita started off darn near skinny but gained weight through the season, was that intentional? A strong pass rush up the middle will help the secondary and produce more INT chances.
June 30th, 2025 at 7:33 am
I sure hope the Defense improves, the only people that feared the Bucs defense last year were Bucs fans.
June 30th, 2025 at 7:39 am
I am from Missouri so show me something.
June 30th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Joe … ‘One area of the Bucs defense that Bucs fans don’t need to lose sleep over is the defensive line.’
I’m convinced that this year’s defense has a very good chance to end up in the Top-10 PROVIDING that it can stay reasonably healthy. If I had to pick just ONE position though that I wish we had better depth at it’d be at Nose Tackle. I like Gaines as a ‘chess piece’ along the DLine, but I’d really like to see us add another NT beast to rotate in with Vea. A Dline of Vea, Kancey, Hall, Gaines, Roberts PLUS a NT beast would be ideal.
June 30th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Logan just needs the same protein powder that the rest of the league is on . I mean the rays have to be 10 percent better than the Yankees just to overcome the Yankees supplement program . You ever watch a rays/ Yankees game and see the difference, it’s pretty apparent………. Helllllll even the Yanks manager had to get braces !!! Let’s Go Bucs !!
June 30th, 2025 at 7:51 am
The D line is looking better. The interior is deep. If the edges can put some pressure on the QB often, then this season will play out the way you the fans want it to!
June 30th, 2025 at 8:03 am
If we can find a 6-7 man rotation on our front where we’ve got personnel combos that can have no drop off with subs and still be formidable w/o blitzing we’ll be cookin with gas. I like the pairing of Logan Hall & Elijah Roberts as they help with the versatility we can present up front.
Pair that with the talent in the OLB room and how guys like Yaya/Nelly can push inside on top of anchoring the edge, I can see Bowles doing alot of tinkering finding different sets of 4 between both rooms. That helps with matchups, can help with cushioning the blow of injuries that’d take away from the rotation, as well as keeping our guys fresh from the first and final whistle.
June 30th, 2025 at 8:19 am
I for one am super excited about this defense. Although not a huge fan of Coach Bowles, primarily due to his conservative nature, I do give him credit for not being stubborn this off season. It seems I’ve read more than once on this here corner of the interwebs that Coach Bowles has recognized, admitted to and seemingly corrected the defensive issues. He moved Tykee Smith to safety, moved Coach Foote back to his natural area of expertise, and had the corners playing closer to the receivers in practice. Collectively, these changes will amount to a much better defense me believes.
June 30th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Defense Rules Says:
Joe … ‘One area of the Bucs defense that Bucs fans don’t need to lose sleep over is the defensive line.’
I’m convinced that this year’s defense has a very good chance to end up in the Top-10 PROVIDING that it can stay reasonably healthy. If I had to pick just ONE position though that I wish we had better depth at it’d be at Nose Tackle. I like Gaines as a ‘chess piece’ along the DLine, but I’d really like to see us add another NT beast to rotate in with Vea. A Dline of Vea, Kancey, Hall, Gaines, Roberts PLUS a NT beast would be ideal.
———————————————————————————
I’m excited about this defense and agree we have a good chance to be Top-10.
I agree we need better depth at NT. I imagine that Licht and his staff are evaluating any prospects they could acquire before the start of the season, either via trade or free agency after teams do their final cut-downs on their rosters.
June 30th, 2025 at 10:34 am
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times. Just a middle-of-the-pack D will add 2 wins (12-5) to the season. We had several close games last year, and the main culprit (e.g., see the Commanders game) was not being able to get the opponent off the field on 3rd downs.
June 30th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Sometimes, a player takes a few years to really come into his own. Last year, and I wish I remember the game, he had a series where he had a sack and then just kept mowing people down. Controlling his space.
If he turns it up, SirVocea comes back strong, Diaby improves, and add Reddick, with a healthy Winfield and at least three new contributing DBs, and this will be a much stronger Defense.
That’s why this team will be SB caliber. Eagles will regress. So will Detroit.
They can’t see what’s about to happen.
June 30th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Hall was one of the most improved Defensive players since the Broncos game last year.
Agree with his assessment that if Bucs’ D remains healthy, they will be “feared”.
June 30th, 2025 at 10:56 am
If Vea and Kancey can stay on the field together, along with Hall, Dennis, Bras, & Yaya turning the corner and breaking through with strong seasons, then I really like our chances. That should open it up for our secondary to be ballhawks and make some big-plays!!!! They have to create TURNOVERS this season in order to take it to that next level.
June 30th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Defense has to show us, the offseason is just talk
It’s all talk until they do it
June 30th, 2025 at 11:09 am
Hall = Gholston…..nothing wrong with that. Plays his role very well, great in locker room, stays out of trouble, glad to see he’s evolved into a solid contributor. They can’t all be superstars.
June 30th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Smarter than Joe Says:
Defense has to show us, the offseason is just talk
It’s all talk until they do it
——————————————————————
It’s not ALL just talk. They added an elite pass rusher. If that was the only change, it could dramatically improve the defense if he stays healthy. But aside from any of his personal production, he’s acting as another coach as well, teaching our young pass rushers who are picking his brain.
And they clearly upgraded our secondary via the draft. Our 2nd round pick is a 1st round talent. And our 3rd round pick will be an upgrade should be an upgrade, starting at nickel on day 1 or very early in the season.
June 30th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Always enjoy watching Vea drop back into coverage trying to cover a short out route by a TE or a receiver dragging across the middle of the field….You have to wonder why Bowles does this tricked up play. Does it ever work?
June 30th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Limit the injuries and D line improves? Yeah, we could be dangerous. Improving the secondary will be paramoount. Not worried about AWJ but everyone else? Not so much. Rookie secondary guys tend to be up and down, and the guys who were here last year did not show this fan much, with the exception of McCaolum.
Go Bucs