The Sleeper Greg Gaines
September 21st, 2025
Star teammate defends.
Joe noticed a stray summer comment on this here corner of the interwebs that named Greg Gaines as a guy who should have been a victim of “The Turk.”
(“The Turk” is a nickname players have for the guy ordered from above to be the person informing bubble players the head coach needs to speak to them and bring your playbook, which means the player has been cut.)
Joe didn’t understand this because Joe thought Gaines was a quality backup tackle. Now, with the Bucs’ sack leader from last year, Calijah Kancey, likely lost for the season with a torn pec, Gaines becomes more valuable.
Bucs’ Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea stuck up for Gaines last week.
“Greg [Gaines], he played very well [against Houston],” Vea said. “I think Greg is also one of those guys — those sleeper guys — a lot of people sleep on.
“If you really think about it, he won a Super Bowl as a starter with the Rams. He has that type of quality to step up in that position.”
Vea is right, Gaines did play well. He’s not known as a pass rusher, more as a solid run stopper. Bucs coach Todd Bowles used Gaines to help stop Philadelphia’s tush push, and the Bucs are one of the few teams to have success against it.
But against Houston, Gaines demonstrated he can get after a quarterback. He had a sack on Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud and later had a quarterback hit along with a tackle for loss.
Joe doesn’t think the Bucs will take much of a step back against the run with Kancey gone. But the Bucs will take a major hit in rushing the quarterback, which is already a major weakness.
September 21st, 2025 at 12:26 am
Gaines looked pretty intimidating last week. I can see him having a big game.
September 21st, 2025 at 12:29 am
I’ve always thought his play deserved more snaps, but he probably isn’t good enough at dropping 30 yards deep into coverage for Todd so he sits.
September 21st, 2025 at 4:30 am
Just haters, Gaines is Chris Hovanesque!
September 21st, 2025 at 4:36 am
Gaines reminds me of Chris Hovan, always has. Built like him too. GO BUCS!!!
September 21st, 2025 at 5:43 am
‘Joe doesn’t think the Bucs will take much of a step back against the run with Kancey gone.’
Quite the contrary Joe; our Run Defense will probably improve with Gaines in for Kancey. He’s a better run defender (being 30 lbs heavier probably helps somewhat). Greg certainly has better availability too.
September 21st, 2025 at 5:56 am
That sack Gaines got is one more than Kancey got in three games. It’s one more sack than our star edge rusher YaYa has. Greg Gaines is tied with our prize FA Reddick in sacks with one.
September 21st, 2025 at 7:59 am
Nailed it Joe! Gaines cut? Replaced by? Add to wht ypu said I may be mistaken but It looks to mr like Gaines has bulked up considerably. We have some serious beef with him in the lineup. Disregard the team site listing of anyone’s weight.
Go Bucs!
September 21st, 2025 at 8:08 am
We have a lot to Gaines.
September 21st, 2025 at 8:22 am
nobody takes him serious but he’s gonna do good!
September 21st, 2025 at 9:05 am
We have two OLB’s that are supposed to get back there??
September 21st, 2025 at 9:47 am
If Big VV compliments Gaines, I’ll take it. I’ve also been reading that SVD has been helping out with run defense. True or not? It wouldn’t surprise me cos the Patriarch of the Defense alias LVD has been on him all season. Lavonte sees something in this young guy. Go Beat up Bucs, 3-0!!
September 21st, 2025 at 10:13 am
He always reminds me of the He-Man character, Ram Man, which is ironic that he won a SB with the Rams
September 21st, 2025 at 3:16 pm
Gaines can play he reminds me of Hovan