“Classic, Old School Stack ‘Backer”
May 18th, 2026
Rookie Bucs linebacker Josiah Trotter.
What did the Bucs get in second-round pick Josiah Trotter?
For starters, they hope they got a player better than Trotter’s brother, the Eagles’ fifth-round pick linebacker in 2024.
Longtime NFL Films Xs and Os guru Greg Cosell isn’t worried about that.
Why? Because Josiah Trotter is taller and strong than his older brother. Cosell talked about the younger Trotter with reverance during a pre-draft visit to the Inside The Birds podcast.
“He is your classic, old school stack ‘backer … with heavy hands, a physical game, stack-and-shed, contact violence,” Cosell said of Trotter. “I mean, everything about this guy says he’s a mike like backer in a base 4-3 [defense]. … Now he was an excellent blitzer, as well, but I don’t think he’d start his career — even if he’s a starter right away — I don’t think he’d play in your sub [package] early on, but he’s old school. Given who is dad is, that probably doesn’t surprise anybody.”
The Bucs, of course, don’t play a 4-3 defense, but that doesn’t mean Trotter won’t fit. Joe is curious to see what Trotter’s game speed looks like. He’s a big guy, 6-2, 237 pounds, and he doesn’t have Devin White kind of speed.
Count on Trotter being tested by offensive coordinators early and often. Trotter just turned 21. The quality of his rookie season likely will be determined by how fast he learns and adjusts.
May 18th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
What are the chances Todd switches to a 4-3? Fired all of his 3-4 coaches and he’s got the pieces if he wants it…
Boom at Sam
Trotter at Mike
Anzalone at Will
Diaby at RE
Vea at DT
Robinson at DT
Bain at LE
May 18th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
This kid will be fine. He is going to prove all the negative Nancy’s wrong!
May 18th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
White 4.42 vs Trotter 4.49 is not much different. I bet Trotter will read his keys faster and make that .07 time. It’s probably best that fans have such low expectations for this kid. I think he’s gonna be better than everyone expects.
May 18th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
I wanted this…cant go wrong with this, im telling you!
May 18th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Josiah Trotter has a high football IQ
He watched a lot of film with his dad, he’s a student of the game
He’s been coached up by his dad, for most of his young life
He plays fast and violently, he attacks the ball
He will only get better with experience
May 18th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
“Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
May 7th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
We lost Lavonte, he wore the hat we signed Anzalone to wear in coverage while also being our stack LBer which is likely the role Trotter will be used in as well as wearing the green dot.
The stack LBer is the guys who shades either DT and is the force in play when it comes to fitting the run, i.e. the downhill presence from the 2nd level(5th/6th man in the box). That’s literally Trotters’ strength. Whether it’s tracking gap play, or shedding IOLmen sent to the 2nd level to get a hat on him after chipping a IDL.”
May 18th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
i think the kid will succeed…
but KJ Britt was said to be an “old school LB” as well…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 18th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Lookin forward to pounding the rock and punchn people in the mouth! Cmon man!
May 18th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Devin White has speed. Big deal. He was a flame out. He was a typical LSU player: soft and entitled. Chase. Burrow. Fournette. All hacks.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
813bucboi Says:
May 18th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
i think the kid will succeed…
but KJ Britt was said to be an “old school LB” as well…
GO BUCS!!!!
Glass half empty or half full??
May 18th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Where did someone get a 4.49 40 yd dash for Trotter? I haven’t seen that anywhere. The only 40 time I see is 4.61 and it is old.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
DW was fast that he run by ball carriers. Trotter plays under control.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Stanglassman…. Trotter didn’t run or do any physical testing at the combine or his pro day, that 4.49 is a google mistake, his brother ran a 4.81, not saying he’s that slow, Bowles is quoted as saying he thinks he runs in the 4.6s, which would be really good for his size, but he’s not close to Devin fast
May 18th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Brings back memories of White not shedding DL blocks. Or seemingly not even trying. How long till the season starts? Go Bucs
May 18th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Always have to worry about Licht 2nd round flops
May 18th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
It’s not Trotter I have a problem with, it’s that we needed a coverage backer – a which is a “will” ILb – we got a “Mike” backer and we used a 2nd round pick for him, which was high for a position we didn’t need as much as we needed that “will”.
Sounds like the plan is to take this younger Mike and develop him into a will. Maybe that will work, maybe they have different scheme fit for him (Sam?). Anzalone is a “will” – so that gets us a short-term solution, so maybe not a glaring problem this season, but there’s going to be a quality depth issue at the Will position…and Anzalone is – already on the wrong side of 30. As long as he’s healthy we should be ok.
I have a problem that we drafted a young developmental player (in coverage) with a premium pick. That’s got Devin White and Tryon-Shoyinka written all over it.
We’re not against the kid, we’re against the strategy of picking a stack-backer at least a round, too early, when actual coverage backers were readily available (CJ Allen, Jake Golday, and Kyle Louis).
I hope Trotter proves me wrong. I like him, just not the position he played in college and the spot we drafted him (which are not his fault).
May 18th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
He plays significantly faster than 4.61. Especially has elite forward burst that helps him catch runners in the backfield. The Bucs used Microsoft Vision on game film and it will tell them how fast he actually was if he didn’t run when he was here. I think we will see him making plays all over the field.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Stanglassman Says:
May 18th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
White 4.42 vs Trotter 4.49 is not much different. I bet Trotter will read his keys faster and make that .07 time. It’s probably best that fans have such low expectations for this kid. I think he’s gonna be better than everyone expects.
————–
Where do people keep getting this mythical 40 yard dash time for Trotter, he didn’t run at his pro day or the Combine. Did somebody just make it up and everyone ran with it or what?
May 18th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
@White Tiger
Former Detroit Lion Alex Anzalone will take over David’s role as the Bucs’ “Mo” or weakside linebacker role. Both veteran acquisition Christian Rozeboom and fourth-year player SirVocea Dennis will compete for the “Mike” or middle linebacker role in Todd Bowles’ defense.
“Alex is in position to be the Mo right now and we will see,” said Bowles. “Rozeboom can play the Mike, Voss can play the Mike but all three have to learn both spots anyways. Right now, I see Alex as my Mo.”
“Mike” is likely where Trotter will compete w/SVD & Rozeboom “Mo” is Anzalone for the time being, but we’ll likely hear of Trotter learning both so when coverage flips neither has to move and they just trade off assignments pre-snap in response to a formation shift/motion/matchup. Not a strength of Trotter backed by a bunch of splash plays, but there is film of him lining up and sinking into his zones effectively.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Ai made it up.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
@Brandon Welcome to ” I know everything about anything who ate cherries or oatmeal!” You’ll read some crazy sh!× here ,whats really crazy is that Joe’s been around for a lot of years and hes blessed by this crybaby buc nation To defend nationwide! Its just a game!
May 18th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
He got the friends and family deal from Todd. Just like Morrison, drafted too early cause dads are friends with Bowels. Hope he plays well but I believe CJ Allen should have been the pick at that spot.
May 18th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
99
half full
the kid has talent and at the very least we’ve added quality depth to that position..
GO BUCS!!!!
May 18th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
“Will,Mike ,Mo ,cowbell etc…Lol penetration from the Dline and just make the tackle will mike Harry jim tom who cares at this point im sure a 10th of a second insures weather you live or die!
May 18th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Domingo raises an interesting question and I’d be impressed if Todd made that big of a change to mix things up. I think it’s extremely unlikely Todd will deviate too far from what he’s cooked up every year of his career though.
May 18th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
If he can hit like a truck then just let him do that. Hit everyone all the time!!!
He’s a second round pick so we know how Licht usually does with those.
I reman skeptical until proven otherwise.
Not sure how anyone can trust Bowles after the last two seasons.
May 18th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
With the personnel we have, perhaps Bowles should switch to a 4 3, at least on some plays
May 18th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Damn Lynchmob50,
That’s the best comment I’ve seen from you in ages. It’s a skeptical but reasonable opinion.
I doubt it will continue but credit where credit is due…. 👍🏼
May 18th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
So we drafted an old school LB to stop old school RBs like – Alstott and Czonka? Today’s LBs need to cover in space or else. You can be sure Bijon Robinson can’t wait to face Trotter in coverage on first down.
May 18th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Brandon…when you google Trotters 40 time, the AI says he ran a 4.49, which is false
May 18th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
White had 4.4 feet and a 6.0 brain.
May 18th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
Yeah….
But can he play in the New School pinball wizard NFL ?
May 18th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Bucs don’t play a 4-3 defense. Yet they drafted two players who excel in that scheme. Maybe next season with a new HC, and DC.
May 18th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
Cobra, I believe you’re giving White too much credit.
Trotters going to end up strong for us and to be perfectly honest, it would behoove Somebody to play to the strengths of the 4/3 men that have been drafted for a much faster transitional success. I highly doubt somebody will since he’s convinced that it’s his preferred way or the highway. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS TO POUND THAT ROUND PEG INTO THAT SQUARE HOLE and NO MATTER THE COST…
If he didn’t learn that his ancient strategies were figured out and Well Conquered over two years ago “With Out” adjusting to the inevitable, and Continued trends to beg for 4/3 friends, kids, and Wrong fits for what he insists is the Best Idea’s, as Old School 1976 has pointed out, then he likely hasn’t learned his lessons. And unfortunately for the fans, we won’t see a “large enough change” within himself to notice a True Difference on the grid iron.
Same Ole song and dance in the end. Somebody makes it just too easy to bet against our defense, year over year. And it’s just the latest cover story to blame it on the talent that, that Somebody KEEPS ASKING FOR and Yet can’t develop!
However, with the correct leadership We Got Some FINE Weapons to deploy! That would Include Trotter and his “particular” skill set. Trotter “could be a Truly Devastating role player”! And I mean More Than occasionally… In the “Right System”, WATCH OUT! This guy Will Hurt You!
In the end, WE’LL SEE what cooks up. Though I believe it’s Very Possible that the Glazers are attempting to pole position for a different idea this year, and Quite Possibly hoping for That same ole song and dance to aquire Another LONG SOUGHT DREAM of the team… Somebody makes it too easy to bet against this defense.
May 18th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
Todd’s not switching to a new scheme just because of new talents college scheme.
He’ll continue to run a hybrid defense with multiple front looks including 4 down linemen and 4 rushing.
He’ll also continue to blitz a lot but now he should be able to do it more successfully and pick his shots instead of being forced to in order to manufacture pressure.
CLEAR talent upgrades @ ILB, OLB, and D-line will make a difference folks…. Wait and watch 😎
May 18th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
I’m more curious that our first 2 draft picks both excel in a 4-3 system… but we run a 3-4…
May 18th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
Ha, Hodad I was just saying the same exact thing…
May 18th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Domingo … ‘What are the chances Todd switches to a 4-3?’
There are a bunch of JBFers who’d love that, but I can’t see Todd going that route 100%. That’s just not him. In actuality though, he runs a hybrid 3-4, meaning (to me) that he modifies the heck out of every defense. Seems like the 4-2-5 Nickel is the variation he uses most often though, and that seems to usually consist of 2 DLinemen, 2 OLBs, up-front. After last season’s 37 sacks & 132 pressures, got a hunch Todd’s come to the conclusion that doesn’t cut it.
Also got a hunch we’ll see that change this year, and we’ll be seeing more 3 DLinemen plus 2 OLBs to provide a greater pass rush, with less blitzing. Just an opinion, but we now have the beef & talent to create a much better pass rush than we’ve had in the past several years. I have to believe those up-front changes were very intentional, and that’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
May 18th, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Great draft.
Except for this kid.
Refused to run at combine.
Refused to run at pro day.
His film tells his story. He’s a slightly slower KD Britt.
Would he work in a different system?
Sure.
But not a prayer of playing in Bowles system.
It should be a state law. Jason Licht should not be allowed in the draft room, during the second round.
May 18th, 2026 at 10:41 pm
That “old school linebacker” crap should be extinct already.
Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis each played right at:
– 57% of their snaps in Pass Coverage
– 34% of their snaps in Run Defense
– 9% of their snaps Rushing the Passer.
Obviously, the greatest need is to be good in pass coverage.
Trotter just does not have the skills to successfully man up and defend deep down the middle of the field in coverage like Derrick Brooks did in days of yore. And, he does not have adequate sideline to sideline speed. And, he has a history of producing very few turnovers.
But, Trotter tackles well and racked up 13 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 pass defended last year, he has a high football IQ, and, so long as he stayed in zone coverage, his pass defense improved tremendously in the second half of last season at Missouri.
Anthony Hill, Jr. is faster, a bit bigger, has true sideline to sideline speed and in 3 years at Texas (2 in the SEC) produced 17 sacks with 4 in 2025, 4 passes defended with 1 in 2025, 3 interceptions with 2 in 2025, 31.5 tackles for loss with 7 in 2025, 8 forced fumbles with 3 in 2025 and 2 fumbles recovered with 1 in 2025.
But, according to replies from the Pewter Report Staff to readers’ comments, the Bucs didn’t think that Hill had the “instincts” or “toughness” the Bucs were looking for. As, to take their word for it, he didn’t deliver such production with “instincts” or “toughness”, I guess that he must eat Lucky Charms for breakfast before every game.
So, the Bucs having passed on Hill, hopefully Trotter will take his instincts and toughness and improved zone coverage and limited athleticism out there every Sunday or Monday or Thursday and show how much more Bowles and Licht know about choosing linebackers than I do. We just won’t count Britt and Dennis.
I like the idea of the Bucs getting bigger and tougher, specially up front. And, I guess that the Bucs think that Trotter have boatloads of instincts and toughness which, to be fair, can somewhat make up for a areas of less than stellar athleticism. But, given that the Bucs ILBs bled yardage all season in pass coverage, I think that I would have taken the guy with
May 18th, 2026 at 11:15 pm
Capt..Tim there you go again saying a player sucks before he even hits the field just like said two years ago about Tykee Smith . How stupid you look now? I bet you never seen the kid play and you will be wrong just like Tykee mark the Tape.