Returning Defensive Players Will Be Challenged
March 26th, 2026
“Mr. Glazer, wait til you see Muhammad get after it in practice. If he gets in Chris Braswell’s grill, we’re cool with that.”
Joe loved hearing Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht talk about how the Bucs defense is about to feel a lot different.
Bucs fans know well that the defense needs an attitude adjustment.
And it’s arrived.
That was Joe’s takeaway from Licht’s comments yesterday on three free agent defensive signings: defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammed and inside linebacker Alex Anzalone.
(New inside linebacker Christian Roseboom wan’t mentioned, so perhaps Licht’s take to Buccaneers.com was recorded on Monday.)
Licht re-shared that he’s always in favor of signing “nasty, mean, aggressive” players, but this time he called it a necessary component.
“That all is part of being a good teammate: challenging others, bringing a lot of energy. I think the guys that we signed this year, especially on the defense, kind of epitomize that,” Licht said.
Licht also added that free agent special teams ace Miles Killebrew brings the kind of energy, leadership and attitude that uplifts teammates.
Killebrew was an All-Pro on special teams for the Steelers, and Licht said new special teams coach Danny Smith was “knocking down my door since he first got here” to sign Killebrew, selling his attributes.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:15 am
You need nasty, mean, aggressive players on both Lines
I don’t see that on our O-Line, we really need to upgrade our O-Line
We have to face the reality of the situation
We have 3 starting offensive linemen with a bum knee, another with concussion issues
Depth at this position is a top priority, it need to be addressed
March 26th, 2026 at 10:15 am
Jason Licht talks and I just hear: Blah, blah, blah, gaslight, deflect, lie, blah, blah, blah…
Prediction: All 3 of those over 30, cast-off, “nasty, mean, aggressive” players will be on the IR before the bye-week.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:18 am
lol a lot of you complaining about age remind me of Little red riding hood.
“This players toooooooo old”
“This players toooo young”
“This one is jusssstttt right”
Hard to please a Bucs fan I guess
March 26th, 2026 at 10:23 am
“Deeboooo Says:
March 26th, 2026 at 10:18 am
lol a lot of you complaining about age remind me of Little red riding hood.”
That’s Goldilocks, fool.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Bowles needs an attitude adjustment too. If he calls the plays for defense again, he’d better come up with a different plan.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Well Joe, talk is cheap. Licht told us last year Braswell was going to shock the world . Licht likes to talk up his picks. However, currently we have 2 awful starting corners, maybe the worst in the league. We still have no edge rush and we need 2 more starting LBs. He can’t get all that in the draft. So frankly I don’t get what they are doing with this defense. So talk is cheap and I have seen no real action. It is the same old stuff, rotatationals players on short deals. Licht and Bowles appear to have high hopes for Walker someone who has not even practiced. High hopes on McColumn, who was worse than awful, and Morrison who could not stay healthy and when he was on the field, he was abused by other teams. So yes the defense will be challenged all right, as it appears they are going the wrong way. I still say it, No WONDER EVANS LEFT
just hard to be a fan. Hopefully the offense can score 40 points a game and play ball control to keep the other teams’s offense off the field. Maybe that is the current plan.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:26 am
This year’s defense promises to be dramatically different than what we’ve seen in the past couple of years. Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen (I’m cautiously optimistic though).
The only returning starters on defense with MORE than 1 year in their current starting position (as a Buc) are Winfield, Vea, Kancey, Diaby & McCollum. Tykee Smith also started last year at Safety, and Parrish started last year at Nickel. Morrison has some starting time, but 359 def snaps is still not a bunch.
Other than that, we’ll have a number of new starters, including 2 new ILB starters, 1 new DT starter & 1 new OLB starter. Three of those last 4 new starters could turn out to be rookies. Looking like our defense is now a geriatric-and-kids combo. Can’t wait to see how Todd Bowles makes this combo work within his usually complex scheme.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:26 am
I am so over fans who think Licht is a bad GM. Is he perfect? No. Did he build the roster that Tom Brady wanted to join? Yes.
and by the way, the one time he got to pick a coach it was Bruce Arians
March 26th, 2026 at 10:28 am
That was an odd video the Bucs put out with Licht. The Casey Phillips videos are normally a bit lighter and more polished than that. This one seemed strangely edited and had a weird energy about it. I think Mike Evans leaving has a had a huge effect on Licht. Maybe they had to reshoot the video or edit out a bunch of stuff but it just kind of started and ended very abruptly. Licht doesn’t have a good poker face and his expression at the end just seemed like a very pissed off man.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:37 am
There should be competition at all 3 levels of the defense. Not just for starting jobs, but we’ll need to figure out who’s good enough as depth to see the field more often/when necessary.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:38 am
ROTFLMAO
Jason is definitely on something delicious and should share with the fans.
Nothing is going to be different about the defense and sober fans know exactly why.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:42 am
It seems like Licht should have learned a lesson from Marpet, Jensen
It wasn’t that long ago, when they walked away, because of injuries concerns
And we’re still waiting for Licht to properly replace them
I guess some people just can’t see the Forest for the Trees
March 26th, 2026 at 10:43 am
lol dude doesn’t know Goldilocks from little red riding hood. 😂
Anyway yeah good This is the right approach. You need some A-holes and fire starters on your side. You need dudes who are going to lead the charge to shut down an O. You can’t all just be passive leaders. Need those too, but it’s not a substitute for a fire starter.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:59 am
I dunno seemed like a pretty meh offseason and bowels is still the defensive coordinator so what is exactly gonna change from a coach who said it was everyone elses fault they can’t understand the scheme everyone says it’s complicated but word from Todd I know you are but what am I.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:02 am
The Bucs fired several coaches. New coaches could have inside knowledge on players that could improve the Bucs particularly on the defensive side. like linemen who apply real pressure on the quarterback and disrupt play.
Jason Licht and his team have done well on the offensive side. Edge rushers are difficult to find and develop. At some point they will find one who could change the Bucs into real contenders. Make it happen Jason.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Same Charmin Ultra Soft HC/DC.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Too many players on the Bucs have played for mediocre NFL teams. Two guys from Carolina are new but what kind of attitude did Canales bring? Killebrew and Danny Smith from Pittsburgh at least played for Tomlin and bring some intensity (but not winning). AQM from Detroit saw the fire of Dan Campbell and was part of a winning team the last few years.
The vets with the Bucs have forgotten the intensity of Brady and they’re Sleepwalking With Bowles with no intensity or high standards. No wonder Evans left.
Hopefully Smith, Killebrew, and AQM can raise the intensity standards but I’m not optimistic.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:13 am
– Licht has done a good job strategically improving the front 7 in FA. Now we need to focus on o-line depth, a corner, and backers (inside and outside) in the draft.
– Every team has holes. At least we aren’t blind to it (except maybe o-line depth).
March 26th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Think Ryan Jensen….