2026 Could Be Transformative For Bucs Defense
May 15th, 2026
Defensive makeover coming?
Joe doesn’t know what to expect from the Bucs defense this fall. Right now cornerback looks really shaky, unless you are referring to nickel corner. The Bucs have the market on nickel corners, well, cornered.
That’s not a good thing in a passing league.
Much will depend on the pass rush. Sadly, the Bucs defensive coordinator has never put a priority on a defense’s most important position. And “this Joe” does not expect that to change.
One thing that could change and last for a few years is how the Bucs play defense. No, the defense won’t change in how they operate. But this season could very well see a change in how the defense operates.
Veteran NFL reporter Dan Pompei of The Athletic provides Bucs fans with a hint.
The Bucs, naturally, are banking on Calijah Kancey, Tykee Smith and Jacob Parrish to be as good as they were last year or even better. (Yes, Joe knows Kancey missed most of last year with an injury. He pretty much had already established he’s a good player — when he’s on the field.)
The Bucs wanted to be much more physical, so they brought in players who are known for being physical like Alex Anzalone and A’Shawn Robinson. Add to that physical rookies such as Rueben Bain, Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott, the Bucs could have a defensive makeover.
Last year, let’s call it like we saw it: The defense was soft. With an infusion of gnarly, physical, glass-eating players, the whole DNA of this defense could shift for the rest of the decade.
May 15th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Just an FYI Joe, the link for the Dan Pompei Athletic article is invalid.
May 15th, 2026 at 12:26 am
I like what they are trying to do with the defense and the added pieces. Only time will tell if it works out.
May 15th, 2026 at 12:46 am
dont even know what kind of chemistry these guys will have
May 15th, 2026 at 12:47 am
Thanks for the update Joe
May 15th, 2026 at 12:49 am
robinson could be making love to the tree like that free agent from the redskins years back
May 15th, 2026 at 12:57 am
Thanks for the tip!
May 15th, 2026 at 1:30 am
Will Bowles finally pay attention to the pass rush or will Bowles finally have replacements for Shaq and JPP? Hmm.
May 15th, 2026 at 2:16 am
If he runs the same defense as last year, he’s cooked. If he actually embraces a pass rush, plays to players strengths, we’ll be alright. I will lose it if I hear “Oh look at how complicated and exotic this Todd Bowles defense is” from a color analyst and have the qb throw a dime on the following play.
May 15th, 2026 at 3:11 am
I wouldn’t say they are cooked because he will run exactly the same defense.
It’s not the Base defense or even different packages and how they line up.
It’s personnel and calls that have sucked.
The line did the back end zero favors last year.
I wouldn’t call Parrish or Scott Nickel corners.
Im betting Scott cross trains at outside corner anyway because we have tons of safeties.
With an effective front seven, Parrish and Scott could be outside corners and we would be fine. I bet all these guys are more effective in man than we think.
Todd knows we haven’t had a rush with 4 so why play man?
Teams would score 50 points against us if we did and the QB had all day.
Then Todd would be the dumbest coach out there and he isn’t.
May 15th, 2026 at 3:33 am
This pass rush could be Great this year Bain, Yaya, Vita, Kancey, AQM, Walker, Robinson,.NACHO, Nelly an just imagine if Braswell does.anything to make this Bucs team keep him around that will be a Scary DLine like Attitude I honestly believe Bain Jr will.raise the level of play for all the guys around him they will want to follow his lead How did we ever get so lucky to get Bain
May 15th, 2026 at 3:33 am
This pass rush could be Great this year Bain, Yaya, Vita, Kancey, AQM, Walker, Robinson,.NACHO, Nelly an just imagine if Braswell does.anything to make this Bucs team keep him around that will be a Scary DLine like Attitude I honestly believe Bain Jr will.raise the level of play for all the guys around him they will want to follow his lead How did we ever get so lucky to get Bain 2 pipe.dreams.in a row back to back years in the 1st round