“Throwback” Rueben Bain Was Talk Of Predraft NFL
April 28th, 2026
Hardcore NFL fans saw that somehow ex-Bucs quarterback Chris Simms of NBC was an invited guest at the exclusive annual poolside head coaches drinking extravaganza at the NFL annual meeting in Phoenix a month ago — a month after he talked to dozens of prospects, coaches and general managers for NBC at the NFL Scouting Combine.
So Joe took note when Simms said on PFT Live today that Buccaneers first-round pick Rueben Bain, the University of Miami edge rusher, was on football people’s mind everywhere before the draft kicked off.
“He’s a throwback,” Simms said “You couldn’t go through the [pre] draft and not talk to people and hear, ‘Oh, my God. I love Rueben Bain. I love Rueben Bain.”
Simms continued: “His power is elite. His bend is elite. His first step and speed is deceiving because he’s got these big long, thick legs and the long strides, but it’s covering more ground than you think.”
Simms interviewed Bain at the Combine and remembered how Bain was the rare guy who didn’t care about what number he’ll wear or anything other than raw football. The physicality and relentlessness of Bain strikes Simms most, he said.
“He will jump in front of the train,” Simms said of film showing Bain in compromised position hurling his body at running backs. “Physicality. … Petal to the metal, play as hard as possible. And he’s awesome in the run game, he has a chance to be an elite pass rusher.”
Joe keeps hearing and reading about how Bain has all the uncoachable inate traits of the greats.
Now he’s got to do the hard part: produce.
April 28th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
As long as Todd DOESNT drop him in coverage!!!!!
April 28th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
And he’s only 21.
April 28th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Dwight Freeneys’ football reincarnation
April 28th, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Wow so much hype!!!. First he was B Rex now he is the best player in the draft.
Let’s just let the guy show up and play then the talk about how great he is or isn’t can begin . Presently he is a rookie who got drafted.
Hopefully he is what the Bucs ordered and then some.
April 28th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Can’t wait to see him cover a tight end 20 yards down the field
April 28th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
More Lipstick!!
April 28th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Said it perfectly Joe. Go produce. Madmax I guarantee he will drop back into coverage a few times. I know people hate it but it worked with JPP it worked with Shaq shoot I remember in the NFC champ game at GB Veas 1st game back from a broken leg. Bowles had him drop and guess what it worked. Vea unloaded on the dude and forced an incomplete pass. I want Bain to just rush the passer like Joe and most but sometimes it’s a wrinkle and catches the offense off guard. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. That’s football
April 28th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
put him in position to win and he will WIN every rep!!!!!!
im not opposed to dropping DL in coverage, i just hate when we do it so often…that eliminates the element of surprise imo…
i can vividly remember vita, JPP and Shaq dropping in coverage and producing an INT or PBU….it definitely can be effective but if we over utilize it, it becomes predictable for OCs & QBs which result in BIG/EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
with that said, BAIN is a shark and sharks dont swim backwards lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 28th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Boelezo Bucs ‘Same as it ever was’ get more lipstick….sell those tix to the suckers!
April 28th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Someone please tell Bowels to let this kid just rush the passer. He is no CB
April 28th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
As Buc fans knowing the Putrid Pass Defense was/is this team’s Achilles heel-one can’t help but be encouraged of how the Pass Rush should be vastly improved this year. I know I know. No where but up!!
April 28th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Been watching his college tape more in-depth and it appears Bain has Reggie White’s famous “hump” move down to a science. Combined with Jason Taylor’s tuteledge, the Bucs might have just had fate smile on the future of their non existent edge rush.
April 28th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
All OLB drop in coverage
The problem comes when they drop too far in coverage
They don’t belong 15-20 yards down field
They should drop 5-10 yards at most
April 28th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I think he is going to be a pro bowler by year 3 but… I want answers as to why he dropped as far as he did when so many think he is great.
The arm length just doesn’t cut it. I think it’s ridiculous. In ways I think it actually helps him with leverage and power getting inside on a tackle and shoving him back.
Was it that the accident where the girl got killed? To me it must be that but just a basic background check shows he did nothing wrong, it was a pure accident.
No drugs or alcohol involved, the kid is heavily rooted with a strong family support system.
So this does not seem to cut it for an explanation either
The only other possibility is teams filling needs at other positions… which doesn’t fly with me when you are picking a receiver or a running back or a backup quarterback ahead of what you view as an elite pass rusher
So again, why did he drop?
April 28th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Lakeland if you’re in zone and a pass is completed, your job instantly switches to pursuit and tackle. Even if they run downfield.
April 28th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Gerald McCoy blasted Baine’s short arms pre-draft. He said Offensive Lineman love going against guys with short arms. Bain won’t be a great NFL DL.
I wonder if GMac was secretly working to engineer his drop to the Bucs.
April 28th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
He dropped primarily because other teams prioritized tackles and wide receivers- something I thought might be possible but unlikely.
April 28th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Yawn. Wake me in August, or perhaps the end of July.
April 28th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Stpete,
I know they run downfield to make a tackle
But my point is all OLB in a 3-4 defense will have to drop in coverage
And Rueben Bain will not be an exception
That’s part of an OLB responsibility in a 3-4 defense
Just as a MIKE LB covering a RB/TE at times
Every linebacker has to spend time in coverage
April 28th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
Bingo!
April 28th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
In a 3-4 defense, every outside linebacker must drop into coverage — no exceptions — and their primary zone responsibility lands squarely in the flat and curl windows at 5–10 yards depth.