Larry Foote Explains Why He Was Impressed With Rueben Bain’s Mentality
May 21st, 2026
OLB coach Larry Foote.
When Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote spoke about Rueben Bain earlier this week, he remarked that physical Bain reminded him of his old Steelers teammate James Harrison. Mentally, Foote said Bain had the focus of Lavonte David.
Pretty impressive comps.
In a follow-up, Foote was asked to offer something specific where Bain showed his focus. Foote brought reporters inside the Bucs’ interview room where coaches and personnel types sat down with Bain.
Foote said the Bucs put Miami film up and had Bain break down plays. Bain knew everyone’s responsibility on each play, not just his own.
“He knew everything on the tape,” Foote said. “He knew everybody’s responsibility and he was just an above-the-neck guy.
“He told you what the linebacker had, the guys on the inside. He knew the coverage. He remembered the plays. It was very impressive.
“As soon as he left, everybody stood up and just shook your head, [yeah].”
If the Bucs weren’t sold on Bain’s tape — and they very much were — Bain fully sold the Bucs during his sitdown with the personnel guys and coaches.
May 21st, 2026 at 7:27 am
But, But, David Walker is how you win a Superbowl Baby. . .
May 21st, 2026 at 7:38 am
let the hype train roll on lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 21st, 2026 at 7:40 am
I like the comparison, but can we wait until the season starts before comparing him to anybody? There are 10 Braswell’s to every one Sapp. Let’s see how this one plays out.
May 21st, 2026 at 7:43 am
Someone ask Foote about his ridiculous outburst after the David Walker pick again please.
We have zero idea what Bain can do in the NFL. It’s entirely speculation.
Maybe stop anointing players as elite before they even see the field.
Players fall in the draft for a reason, outside of character issues.
The league was built on its ability to weed out players that weren’t good enough to stay.
Pump the brakes. Depending on rookies to rescue the defense tells you everything you need to know about the Bowles regime.
May 21st, 2026 at 7:59 am
Around draft time, rumors surfaced that Warren Sapp had a relationship with weed. Subsequently, he fell to the Bucs. I remember him crying he was so mad. He kept that anger throughout his career. Lets hope Bain does the same.
May 21st, 2026 at 8:31 am
With the clueless stat nerds in this place, I can see a world where Bain gets 7 sacks, plays the run fantastically and helps others like YaYa and Kancey get more sacks..and some dork hater will complain that Bain “only had 7 sacks”.
May 21st, 2026 at 8:32 am
But what about his short arms?
May 21st, 2026 at 8:46 am
Good post Joe. If Bain is anything like James Harrison then the Bucs have a monster in the fold. love it!
May 21st, 2026 at 8:46 am
Braswell! Walker! Kancey!
Now Bain.
All we hear is what a great player he is, who he compares to, how smart he is, his fire, his demeanor.
We have heard it before. And then seen nothing but injuries and bench warming.
All talk. No stats.
Some reporter pointed out how pedestrian the Bucs’ performance was under Licht without Brady. Very eye opening.
Licht and Bowles are basically.500 without Brady.
Not buying hype anymore. Or one hit wonders like Devin White. Or guys who disappear after contracts like Winfield and bored Zyon.
May 21st, 2026 at 9:26 am
Yes agree on the hype. however, without seeing any football play at this level Bain appears to be the real deal. On the other hand a lot of hype period by all the coaches. I think they are trying to build confidence. I mean we are also being told Morrison is elite. So I ask a simple question has Morrison demonstrated anything other than injuries and ability to be beaten soundly by receivers. Yes we have seen plenty of that. Then yes last year Dennis was elite. We saw just how elite he was right. This year Dennis had plays last year that what was the word wowed?. I admit I did see last year plays that were really bad, so yeah they “wowed” ,but not in a good way. Then we have McColumn, who suddenly after playing as bad as any corner in the league, now has changed and he is ready to use his elite skills. I hope non of this applies to Bain and I hope he is the next Sapp . However, we really can’t believe what we are hearing about the new players yet. Today they are all pro and we should be excited. However, let’s keep it in perspective, they have not been on an NFL field.
May 21st, 2026 at 9:34 am
Shows Bain was well coached and took his own preparation serious enough to know not just his job, but the jobs of the guys he’s sharing the field with. That’s a good thing in terms of his commitment and being someone who’s likely holding his teammates responsible. When people talk about leadership qualities that’s apart of it.
May 21st, 2026 at 9:38 am
Like all of us, Sapp is entitled to his opinion. I think he probably knows better than most how this kid’s skills translate to the NFL. Too many people pretend to know “stuff” they don’t know. Nothing wrong with being optimistic but I understand some of you have a lot of frustrations. It’s all just talk and speculation until the real season starts.
May 21st, 2026 at 9:38 am
Every team in the league drafted the players they need to win the Super Bowl. This is how teams sell tickets. Bain was good in college. Will he be good in the pros? I dunno, but I’m tired of reading about him. Not Joe’s fault. This is the boring time of year.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:11 am
Call it hype call it whatever you want I’m so excited about Bain about the revamped dline the push from the interior is going to let the outside pass rush feast that hasn’t happened since the Superbowl run the exotic blitzes are going to be less predictable cuz Todd isn’t going to have to solely depend on them to try and generate pressure which will make them more effective.go bucs.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:22 am
Sapp had a really good segment as a guest on the Ronde Barber show recently. Sapp and Barber shared quite a few “behind the scenes” tidbits on their old team and about themselves.
Very good show – must see if a Bucs fan!
May 21st, 2026 at 10:37 am
^ PS: Joe covered it in an article a few ahead of this one. Good job, Joe!
May 21st, 2026 at 11:15 am
If he goes out in coverage during training camp then you know what this defense will look like this year
May 21st, 2026 at 11:18 am
Not going to give the Joe’s grief for an article hyping Bain, it’s freaking late May. They’re going to have to write about existing players before they do anything in 2026. They post multiple articles a day and have to keep us reading something until the next mini camp.
Just good to know that Bain has a high football IQ + cares enough to know all the assignments. Also shows he has an awesome memory, way better than what I have.
More examples showing his love for the game and professionalism is a good thing.