Rueben Bain Wins With Power, Inside Or Outside
May 3rd, 2026
Bucs DL Rueben Bain.
Ever since the Bucs drafted Rueben Bain, Joe has been trying to figure out how he fits in with Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ defense.
Bain is a perfect 43 defensive end. Bowles is a 34 defense kind of guy, through and through. And he ain’t changing.
Watching Bain play for Miami, Joe just doesn’t see him performing all the duties of an outside linebacker, which is an edge rusher (in theory) in Bowles’ defense. Joe typed “in theory” because Bowles hasn’t had an edge rusher since Father Time tapped on Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett’s shoulder.
Joe cannot picture Bain dropping back into coverage to take out tight ends, running backs and the occasional receiver.
But Bain is a powerful man. So that leads Joe to believe Bain will be used inside as much or perhaps more so than outside.
In an article for BSPN where Matt Miller typed his favorite draft picks (he had three Bucs in his top-46 draft picks), Miller seems to think like Joe, that Bain will be used often inside.
Bain wins with power and leverage while being a relentless pursuit player once he gets into the backfield, notching many second-effort pressures and sacks. Drafting Bain and signing Al-Quadin Muhammad were two big moves to boost the pass rush. Tampa Bay rolled the dice in 2023 on another undersized pass rusher in Calijah Kancey, whose fifth-year option was recently picked up, and Bain could be used in a similar inside/outside role. It’s easy to see a pathway to early playing time for the rookie.
Joe gets what Miller is typing but has Kancey been used outside that often? Yes, yes, yes, Joe can see the one-liner coming down Central Avenue. Kancey hasn’t been on the field enough to know how he’s used. OK, got it.
But when Kancey was played, he didn’t play outside that much. You could argue he should have (on pass rushes only) because he’s so damn quick.
If Bowles gets creative, he could dial up so many different formations and stunts with his current personnel, he could keep offensive line coaches up at night.
At times, Bowles has used a five-man front. The win over the Eagles in the playoffs three years ago is a good example. The Bucs actually have better personnel now to pull off a five-man front than they had in 2023.
So it seems Bain will be a hybrid for the Bucs. At least, as long as Bowles is here.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:13 am
Don’t put B-Rex in coverage. He can’t catch with those 18 inch arms.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:21 am
Give it a few, 3.28.Evans , lynchmob50 and the Sesame Street Grover
Will give you the every post bashing of Todd Bowles
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:37 am
@99 The Big Fella,
Has Bowles ever given anyone a reason to believe in his product? Just give me a sample please.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Let’s just prey Bowles utilizes Ruebin Bain correctly. I have no faith in this coach, I see a 6-11 season coming. I do however trust licht and his drafting
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:47 am
The Denver Broncos fan website recently decided to ban trolls:
“Reminder: Trolling of any sort, especially going to rival sites and trolling, is expressly against the rules. If you do it, you’ll most likely be permanently banned.”
People still disagree, but it’s more fun without the constant negativity and attacks on other posters.
Since Aqualung came back with a sock puppet and an acolyte it’s getting pretty ridiculous.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:52 am
It appears that Bain has really strong legs and I can see him playing inside at times. However dropping back into coverage not so much. The first time Bowles does the jokes will be non stop.
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:06 am
Move Bain around on the line looking at the best matchup – just as long as he doesn’t drop in coverage.
With Bain and AQM joining the team, YaYa is likely to be the 4th best pass rusher. Last year, Elijah Roberts had a better sack rate (adjusted for snaps) than YaYa. YaYa has said that he was given extra blocking attention but I don’t buy it. He’s a great edge setter but he’s a very average pass rusher.
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:12 am
I want to see A’Shawn and Vea in the middle and Bain Kancey and YaYa on a 5 man rush.
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:16 am
Bonan Says:
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:37 am
@99 The Big Fella,
Has Bowles ever given anyone a reason to believe in his product? Just give me a sample please.
I never said Bowles should be our coach
It would be nice if we could focus on the positives of the draft
If you are defending these trolls then you are one as well.
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:41 am
Jcs cycles, that’s interesting. I don’t think Joe would do that here. Though he’s threatened to close down the whole comment section. Which I think would be a terrible decision. Offers good engagement. But obviously more than a few bad apples. And they recycle as noted. Sometimes I reply to them with their former names.
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:51 am
Bonan Says:
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:37 am
@99 The Big Fella,
Has Bowles ever given anyone a reason to believe in his product? Just give me a sample please.
—————-
Bucs beat Brees, Rogers, and Maholmes to win the Superbowl. Remember that?
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:00 am
Defense was pretty good in playoffs against said Brees, Rogers, and Maholmes.
The demise started with Shaq’s achilles… JPP and Suh were aging. Hard to replace guys like that. I feel like we’re close now. We’ll see.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:07 am
Just a dumb move honestly. The guy can rush the passer. Let him do it. I just want to punch this coach on his face sometimes. Its really not that complicated Todd. Let him do whst u drafted him to do which is hint the qb from the outside. Its ridiculous.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:14 am
Bowles should adjust to his personnel, not the other way around. He is probably the only person who can stop Bain.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:19 am
Sad that our x factor is our coach and his poor chess skills. Would anyone fear playing that guy in actual chess? Go Bucs
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:27 am
Coach, maybe time to rethink your drink? Sometimes change is okay!
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:28 am
These players need to play one position on this team
All of this cross-training, moving around, is taking them away from their strengths
Like the old saying …a Jack of all trades…..a master of none
Rueben Bain will be trash, if he’s moving around on the defensive line
Calijah Kancey and Reuben Bain should play their natural positions
You can’t move a Third baseman to Shortstop and get the same production
Football is no different, every sport is based on production
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:43 am
Lakeland, I would say the only exception to that would be in the defensive backfield. Nice to know that Tykee can play the nickel as well as safety. Scott is probably being groomed for something similar. Aside from that, I agree, play your position. The only other place we’ve gotten away with that is on the offensive line. With results that were hit and miss.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:54 am
Steven 007,
Keionte Scott is a true Rover
Which is a hybrid SS/LB/CB, similar to Troy Polamalu
And Tykee was a Safety at Georgia
They only played him at Nickel, because of Whitehead
But let these play in a position of their strengths
Instead of putting them in a position to fail
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:58 am
Tykee Smith was a hybrid at Georgia SS/NB
So he’s not technically playing out of position
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:01 am
Tykee was a Hybrid SS/NB at Georgia, so he’s playing his natural position
I’m talking about Luke Goedeke, Ghraham Barton, Sirvocea Dennis, Logan Hall etc
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:13 am
I would like to think Bowles is aware of this and will do whatever he needs to maximize the potential of his 1st round pick who is the biggest key and best chance at finally having a consistent pass rush which obviously makes life for the rest of the defense alot easier. I think that even a stubborn Bowles finally found out that u cannot rely on getting constant pressure on the qb without having that legit passrusher. He thought he could make up for it by scheming up blitzes which u cannot rely on consistently and is why we got burned so much last year. Ur taking a gamble when u blitz.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:14 am
Bowles will figure out a way to stop Bain. Opposing teams want have to worry about Bain
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Joe … ‘But Bain is a powerful man. So that leads Joe to believe Bain will be used inside as much or perhaps more so than outside.’
Oh how I hope that you’re wrong Joe. Putting the 6’2″ & 263 lb Bain inside against some of these beastly NFL guards who’ll outweigh him by 50-60 lbs (and be twice as strong) will almost guarantee that Kancey will have a new tub roommate.
Bain is a DE or OLB, not a DT. We now have the monsters to play inside (Vea, Capehart, Robinson, RNR); Bowles needs to let the lighter guys like Bain & Diaby (and yes, Kancey) play further out.
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:00 pm
@Defense Rules
I’ve been saying for awhile that they might want to consider moving Kancey to DE.
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Our defense is a 5-2
Yaya
Kancey
Vea
Robinson
Bain
We play 5 linemen. Our OLB are EDGE players. Not really “linebackers”
We played 2 LB last year. David and Dennis.
We need middle linebackers who are sideline to sideline speed demons.
When we rush 5, we need two linebackers who can cover a lot of ground!
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:22 pm
An athlete like that ,you should move him around,getting the best match up..
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Everyone needs to stop referring to the SB season as a feather in Bowles cap.
We acknowledge that most coaches can win games with a stacked roster.
Todd was not the HC for that run. It appears his head is too small for 2 hats.
One could argue that the Bucs had luck on their side for that run.
GB – end of half Hail Mary for a TD and a couple timely turnovers otherwise Bucs probably lose.
NO – heading towards a loss, defense reeling then we get a peanut punch on Juwan that saves the game.
KC – decimated OL. 3 backups in for them, Mahomes would have been running for his life with the ghost of Haason Reddick and Logan Hall out there.
If Bowles is the HC and we don’t have Arians kicking butt on the sideline trying to light fires… I can almost guarantee the Bucs don’t own 2 rings.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:37 pm
I dont care who was coaching, they beat the best team in football then,after losing to them in the season
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Biggie 99 Can you imagine Baker in Pitt?? Very cool!
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Someone tell saks that luck is a big part of the game please!
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:35 pm
Sasks — Actually the team that played the 2022 champions the toughest was Washington.
May 4th, 2026 at 3:24 am
Hey Joe,
I actually would like to see Bain’s idea of press coverage. You know, see him pick up a TE and throw the TE into the backfield to see if he can take out the QB and the RB with one shot. What could be better? Or, line Bains up on one of those quick little slot guys and have Bain just stab him in the chest protector with one of his paws and see how many times the guy bounces.