Bucs Defensive Rookies Shining Too
November 19th, 2025
Impact.
When folks think of Bucs rookies, clearly Emeka Egbuka is the first to spring to mind. Joe doesn’t think it is a stretch to suggest without Egbuka, the Bucs right now wouldn’t be in first place in the woeful NFC South.
Then there’s Tez Johnson. The seventh-round pick has really stepped up due to so many injuries to Bucs wide receivers. He currently has four touchdowns which is tied for third among rookies.
Well it isn’t just the offensive rookies that are getting the job done for the Bucs. So too are a pair of rookies on defense,
Per the Bucs, slot corner Jacob Parrish and defensive tackle Elijah Roberts are the only pair of rookie defenders who have both multiple sacks and at least three passes defended.
The fact that a rookie defensive tackle has three passes defensed in four starts (Roberts has played in 10 games) is pretty impressive.
So yeah, while Egbuka and Johnson get the headlines, the Bucs are getting pretty significant contributions from rookies on both sides of the ball.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:02 am
Well, Morrison could not be worse
November 19th, 2025 at 1:46 am
Incredible draft class
November 19th, 2025 at 4:23 am
@LJ Says
I think he’s rushed into the line up to quick. Had a major injury last year, needs some time to get back up to speed and NFL might be too fast for him right now. Next year he will be solid. More worried about McCollums decline since he got paid.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:28 am
Seems like Licht did well in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th rounds as Joe has mentioned but sadly, Benji Morrison has been pretty much useless as he has been hurt for most of the year and has been detrimental to the defense when he has played in the past 2 games. What aggravates me is that Bowels actually put Morrison in to get reps while a then healthy Jamel Dean rode the pine while Morrison got boat-raced and now that Dean is hurt again, Bowels will probably still put Morrison out there even if one of his bench CBs or Jacob Parrish would do a better job. So far Morrison is yet another 2nd round bust from Licht.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Shame we didnt get to see what David Walker could do this year.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Imagine how good Roberts would be if he lined up as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense? That’s what he is, same with Logan Hall. Both were successful college D ends. Bowles moves them inside, because they’re to big to drop in coverage from the edge. We’d have a four man rush if we played Roberts, and Hall as D ends. Instead we have Nelly, and YaYa covering receivers 50 yards down field. We have personal on defense that’s badly miss used. Roberts would lead the Bucs in sacks in a different scheme.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:51 am
“The fact that a rookie defensive tackle has three passes defensed in four starts (Roberts has played in 10 games) is pretty impressive.”
It may be impressive for Roberts, not for the fool who is putting him into coverage.
This is what is wrong with this team. Was it Parcells who said, ‘don’t tell me what a player cannot do, tell me what he can do’. What does this mean exactly? To put the player in the best situation to make him shine, and that makes the team WIN!!
Is having our best pass rusher who is 250+lbs defending a WR 40 yards away from his NATURAL POSITION going to make him shine? is it putting the team in the best position to win?
Is having Vita Vea dropping into coverage the best thing for the team?
Is having the most complex defense known in the NFL going to help the team “play fast” (as they like to say about simplifying systems) or is it going to cause “communication problems” as has been the excuse for YEARS.
You made a good point the other day Joe. 3rd and 2, then 4th and 2 and calling for a punt was not just a dumb call, it was pure ego. T defense can stop Josh Allen bc I will confuse Allen with my genius play calling (even though my genius play calling is causing my team to get its azz kicked all day long).
Week before vs Dolphins, Bills scored 13 points. vs Todd Bills got 44. The Bucs got 3 TOs. The Bucs offense scored 32 points. Who is the genius Bowles?
As your predecessor Lovie used to say, ‘simple like that’
November 19th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Other than AWJ n Ali, Donovan was ok, Lichts 2nd round picks have been horrible
November 19th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Egbuka, Parrish, Roberts & Tez.
And hopefully Walker is a stud.
Haven’t given up on Morrison
What a draft class!!!
November 19th, 2025 at 8:42 am
Yes agree Roberts has been impressive. The defense sorely needs an influx of talent and we are starting to see the rookies emerge. I think Morrison will come around with time. Yes hoping Walker will pan out next year. This year it is too late for this defense. We are missing to many key pieces to be effective and the offense to banged up. Yes then more concerning as it appers the defense was not to bothered about being manhandled by Buffalo’s offense. Talk about killer instinct.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:17 am
Roberts and Parrish have been impressive…
neither should come off the field imo…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 19th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Morrison didn’t get training camp nor preseason games, he’ll be fine
November 19th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Roberts and Parrish are both studs.
Great draft picks and look like they will be cornerstones of this franchise for years to come.
When Kancey comes back, he’ll have to take Logan Hall’s position or we’ll have to make Roberts the starter in Hall’s position. (And Hall isn’t terrible by any means). Roberts is just that good.
November 19th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Roberts has more sacks than Abdul Carter.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Beeej Says:
Morrison didn’t get training camp nor preseason games, he’ll be fine
^^^^^^
Agreed.
I don’t understand the quick cancel culture of Joe Bucs Fans. They claim to be Bucs fans for decades but can’t remember year to year or even game to game. They are going from the NCAA and playing against kids that just got out of high school to elite WR with 5, 8, 10 years of NFL experience.
CB is a tough position for rookies. Some say the hardest. Aqib, CDIII, and Dean all had very difficult rookie years. They ended up being pretty good.
November 19th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Morrison is on a similar path as a rookie quarterback thrust into the starting position and getting trounced. He’s completely lost confidence. Will he get it back j? We’ll see.