Intensity
June 28th, 2026
New attitude?
The kindest word Joe can think to describe the 2025 Bucs defense is “soft.”
Too many Bucs defenders (and frankly, one is too many) quit on Bucs coach Todd Bowles last year. Recent remarks from Bowles himself seem to confirm Joe’s previous stated suspicions dating back to last year.
Not every defensive player threw in the towel or played passive ball. But there were enough to help torpedo the defense.
This offseason, the Bucs focused on bringing in more physical, violent players. Hey, the players may not be Pro Bowlers, but they probably won’t dog it.
Dan Pompei of The Athletic pointed out while the Bucs defense may or may not improve, it shouldn’t lack passion.
Whether the Bucs will be better remains to be seen, but they almost certainly will be more intense. General manager Jason Licht made an effort to acquire players with an edge, including Rueben Bain Jr., Alex Anzalone, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and A’Shawn Robinson. The newcomers, along with an emphasis by head coach Todd Bowles and his staff, impacted how the Bucs practiced in the offseason. One of their practices that was supposed to be non-contact was a little too intense for the NFL, which docked the Bucs one offseason practice. The team is counting on the enhanced attitude making a difference, especially late in the year, after the Bucs D faded in the final stages of the 2025 season.
Well, the Bucs believe guys playing with intensity and passion and, perhaps, violence on defense is contagious. So, the Bucs reason, holdovers from last year that may not have given 100 percent just might catch the violence bug.
Joe doesn’t disagree with that philosophy. But you know would motivate guys as much if not more? Winning.
Win some games and avoid the annual midseason swoon, and watch how players (on both sides of the ball) react when the wins begin piling up and it seems as if something could be brewing in January.
June 28th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I had serious concerns about Todd Bowles after last season. I wasn’t happy with the direction of the defense, and I said so. But I’m not emotionally invested in being right, I’m invested in seeing our Buccaneers win football games. If Jason Licht identified the problem and built a tougher, more physical defense, then let’s get behind it and see what this group can become.
Are You??
LFG!!
Ring Me Please
June 28th, 2026 at 11:33 am
No matter the attitude on defense, I still believe the Bucs are not playing with a full deck. No matter how intense this defense is, the secondary is still a weak point from a player perspective and from a defensive play calling standpoint. All the intensity in the world can’t help guys that are out of position, can’t communicate, and lack the skill set. Licht needs to find 2 good veteran CBs before the start of the season. As far as Bowles,it is what it is this season. lol.
June 28th, 2026 at 11:40 am
I like the players JL brought in and drafted. My concern as always is Bowles. We have had him as the HC for enough seasons now to know who he is. I think he is soft and ineffective as a leader and the players know this. I think those players are gone now, but that doesn’t excuse Bowles inability to hold people accountable. Getting pissed off and cursing during an interview at everyone after months of mediocrity doesn’t get you there either. You have to set a standard from the beginning and hold everyone accountable. I get these players are men now, but they are still young men that need direction and leadership. You can’t be hands off and then blame the players for not being accountable, like Bowles did recently. There is team accountability (HC owns this) and individual accountability (Players own this). I don’t see Bowles taking accountability and thus why I only see him as a follower. He is no Bruce Arians!
June 28th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
It’s a finesse game played by personal brands promoting themselves on Insta-Tok but it’s still being sold as 1970s steel workers banging heads with western steer rustlers.
Intensity will not win a title.
June 28th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
I think the defense had a defeated attitude and honestly it was the coach who was responsible for that. He let the defense have days off in training camp etc. instead of getting these athletes better trained. He still does that. Bowles has many year in this league with a less than mediocre record to show for it. I like what we did in the off season but Bowles will find a way to squander his good fortune like he does every year.
June 28th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Enough with the cut and paste articles!
June 28th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
The deficiencies on D last year started with talent and ended with character. Starting a RD5 player and fan favorite vet that was done at ILB was crushing. And outside of VV, who was there up front – nobody. Hall, Gaines, other low round picks and UDFA’s. Those guys may be able to start but only in Tampa. And the guys that packed it in? Reddick. Winfield. McCullough. (Though I see McCullough as short on talent AND a “bag” man who just took the $$$). We’re looking better on paper, but the wholesale changes in players wasn’t because of coaching. Talent and character. And we still have work to do.
June 28th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
3rd and 28
4th and 14
2-7
Kirk’s Cousin is a Hall of Famer against Bowles
Defense, Offense, Special Teams All Sucked
Those are indeed some intense facts.
June 28th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
We had 4 starters on the front 7 who had no business being on the field. Only one of THOSE is still in the league. Quitters or no, that’s a recipe for losing
June 28th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
For me, the lesser goal this year would be to have the defense be able to stop teams from marching down the field after Baker throws a pick. They failed to do that last year.
Even the best QBs throw picks. They win because the defense can stop the other teams from scoring, or can get the ball back.
My greater goal is to see the defense get better as the season goes on, so they can make a difference in the playoffs.
I do not expect the Bucs defense to play light’s out this year. They didn’t even do that when Sapp was drafted. It took a year.
So just achieving the lesser goal would be great. Make the other teams fear them. Be the top 9-12 Defense.
June 28th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Show Me Your TDs Says:
“Enough with the cut and paste articles!”
This is a blog. Joe shares what interests him. You think it is easy drumming up content for 8-10 posts per day?
Personally I love Joe’s original articles, but I also like that he shares things other people say…because I do not have the time to track them down on other websites.
And he always attributes the quotes.
June 28th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Can’t be a 1st rate D when you’re playing back up and over the hill talent.
Who was it calling for Reddick last year ?
June 28th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Let’s see, this article has nine paragraphs. One of those paragraphs is an excerpt. So that leaves eight paragraphs Joe typed based on his own intel, his own observations, his own critical thinking and his own mind.
Who exactly is cutting and pasting?
June 28th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
3.28.Evans Says:
June 28th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
3rd and 28
4th and 14
2-7
Kirk’s Cousin is a Hall of Famer against Bowles
Defense, Offense, Special Teams All Sucked
Those are indeed some intense facts
Here is the king of cut and paste⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️
June 28th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
I think Reddick and Dean were the worst offenders as far as slacking. Both are gone and we cut Dean’s pay too. David and maybe Voss too were involved. The LBers played awful. I didn’t see any evidence from the safeties or other corners to indict any of them for being involved.
With all the injuries it was just a mess of a year. I think we should stop focusing on it and move on now. I see much greater and happier times ahead!
June 28th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Special Teams coverage and blocking cannot be worse than last year.
These four guys: Rueben Bain Jr., Alex Anzalone, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and A’Shawn Robinson do not loaf. They are ass chewers. The four they replaced did loaf and were tired.
Gainwell. Upgrade.
All of the WRs want to be here.
So — on paper — an upgrade.
I at least have to give Bowles and Licht some credit for not standing pat.
June 28th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
“We have a front seven that’s probably our best front seven since the Super Bowl.”
Bruce Arians
June 28th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Matt hit it on the head. Riddick, Dean (McCollum, SVD?) weren’t playing to win.
This year will be interesting, especially with rookies like Bain, Scott, and Trotter getting many? snaps. So we have maybe 3 defensive starters hitting the rookie wall? Oh s*&t.
Combined with the Rookie Wall is the Bye Effect, where Bowles’ teams start out the season fast, then crater after the bye. I haven’t EVER seen an explanation for Bowles’ Bucs cratering after the bye EVERY season.
June 28th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Hello from HC Grover….most moderated Buc Fan since 1976….I am so moderated no one can compete. Also so accurate. !00 percent proven. right OH Well. I am auto moderated in case I say something off script….
June 28th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
After watching this team for 50 years all my opinions must be ‘moderated’ in case they vary from ‘The Narrative’…No worries. it does not matter. The proof will be in the start of the season….
June 28th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
“For me, the lesser goal this year would be to have the defense be able to stop teams from marching down the field after Baker throws a pick. They failed to do that last year.“
We allowed 37 points of 15 giveaway last year. 8 of those 15 giveaways resulted in a short field. Of the 15 giveaways by our offense the defense allowed 3 TDs, 5 FGs & 7 stops.
Also, we had 5 instances of the defense recording a turnover, just for the offense to turn it right back over via giveaway, and punted it back 5 times in the exact same scenario. Only scoring 4 total TDs off 23 takeaways and that 4 is split 2 a piece between offense and defense
Our takeaway-giveaway problems last year were a dark, cavernous rabbit hole. Your concern is valid, but with all the talk of quitting and other bits of fan ficition, it’s easy to lose sight of or not consider that little performance issue at all.
June 28th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Stpetematt Says:
June 28th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
I think Reddick and Dean were the worst offenders as far as slacking. Both are gone and we cut Dean’s pay too. David and maybe Voss too were involved. The LBers played awful. I didn’t see any evidence from the safeties or other corners to indict any of them for being involved.
With all the injuries it was just a mess of a year. I think we should stop focusing on it and move on now. I see much greater and happier times ahead!
^^^^^^^^
For real dude, do you even watch the Bucs games? Dean was good last year, playing for his next contract, yes, but he was good. Please watch the games this year. Thanks!
June 28th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Stpetematt: McCollum was the biggest offender, everyone knows it except you. Please watch the games, son. 🙄
June 28th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Is Todd making the scheme to complicated? I heard this past year by Rhonda Barber some players needing the scheme to be more vanilla.
Maybe those player’s that Tod lost mentally can’t handle the load. You have to wonder. Because when you have David admitting he was loafing it makes you wonder what he saw to feel deflated by while playing for Todd. Did he saw players not having a clue of their assignment?
So if the scheme is the issue don’t be surprised by another
RINSE AND REPEAT SEASON BY THE DEFENSE
SMH
June 28th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
We haven’t had any player to jump off the screen at you, in a very long time. Offensively, OR Defensively. Makes total sense though, when you realize that it has now been OVER 5+YEARS, since JL has drafted a single “Pro-Bowler.” And, it’s not like HE has signed any through free agency, either. Winfield Junior has either lost a STEP, or INTEREST. Maybe, a little bit of both, since he’s been PAID. He morphed into ED Freaking REED and single-handedly, SAVED Bowles and Baker’s JOBS in 2023 (of course COEN did in ‘24). It will be interesting to see if he has can return to who we thought he was… These first 2-years of his ‘big-$’ deal, have been a total WASTE. Hopefully, he’s having a GREAT season leading up to the trade-deadline. If so, then HE could become VERY valuable. Especially, if there are a few teams ‘bidding’ for his services. If he’s having another “ALL-PRO” type of season this year, then it’ll actually be a BOOST to his overall trade value, by having that ‘extra year’ of control available. Cause, surely, most of it (if not all of it), will not be fully-guaranteed. He could be a total game changer for a team looking to make a strong Playoffs/Super Bowl push. IF he can return to his 2023 form. And, they get him back for another YEAR!!!! The Bucs just CAN’T screw this up (IF and WHEN) the time comes.
June 28th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
Emeka Egbuka or Bucky Irving didn’t do anything for you, huh?
June 28th, 2026 at 3:58 pm
It’s all about the Jimmie’s and the Joe’s, I believe someone once said.
June 28th, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Dean was one of the best corners in the league last year.
June 28th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
So, the defensive coordinator “lost” the defense? They tuned him out?
Licht should have started with a new defensive coordinator.
June 28th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
@ Joe Says:”Emeka Egbuka or Bucky Irving didn’t do anything for you”
I already knew that ‘someone’ would bring up both of those two LoL. And, the answer is… NOPE. EE was exactly who I thought he was after watching over 30+ of his games in college. HE doesn’t “JUMP” right off the screen to me. I think he has “Pro-Bowl” upside (which, SOMEONE has to make a “Pro-Bowl” team nowadays). I think he made some very nice plays! I think he’s a PRO and a great locker room guy, person, and ALL OF THAT. But, an “ELITE” #1 though, NOT YET, and I don’t believe he will be. I believe he will be a ‘solid’ #1 on a lot of teams, but NOT truly an “Elite-#1” on a Championship Team, that is Offense-dominant. And, for Bucky… REALLY!? Our 4th-ROUND Pick!? Just NO. He had a nice season and made some REALLY NICE plays! But, again… “ELITE!?” Just “JUMPS OFF THE SCREEN” – Noooo. He doesn’t have the speed, & etc. Again, he had a great season… Good enough, to at least make an argument (albeit for very short lived), that HE was a Top-10 RB for that season, BUT NO. And, EVEN EE… Would NEVER had been a 1st-Round PICK, even IF he had been fully healthy and left school early for the previous year’s draft, AND “HE” was never even a #1-WR for throughout all of his time, while at Ohio State. Again, I think they are BOTH very nice players! But, Bucky cannot carry a full load as a TRUE #1 Back. And, I think EE is a VERY NICE player… Though, I believe he is WHO we thought he was (kind of hard to HIDE at Ohio State). I think he’s mostly, an already finished and complete prospect, with not a TON of upside. He’s SOLID. And, he will have a long great career because of it.
June 28th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Joe, you change a word here or there and post the same, exact article(s) time after time. It’s blatantly obvious. Actually, your comment is blatantly ridiculous. –Joe
June 28th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Joe Says: “Dean was one of the best corners in the league last year.”
Yeah, I agree. Every time I see these comments (obsession?) about Dean… I don’t understand it!? Well, the other Joe thinks Dean improved last season but was not among the best in the league, and considering he only got a one-year guarantee on his Steelers contract, perhaps others agree. He did get hurt again when the biggest games arrived. Dean having another special season in him at 30 years old feels unlikely. –Joe
Hell, he was one of our BEST players last season, and had a GREAT YEAR. I think they just never changed up their opinions (hate?) from prior seasons, to adjust to the present day time, or something!? But, yeah… I wondered if they watched, too!? Cause, I don’t get it.
June 28th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
But, NO. None of those guys have jumped off the screen at me, where I said, “YES, THAT GUY!”
June 28th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
I see EE as a Chris Godwin like clone, who is better at playing on the ‘outside’ than what Chris is/was. Probably, more ‘polished’ at this age, and has a little bit more “UPSIDE,” with a higher-ceiling. BUT, I’ve always thought that Chris could be a #1 type too, on a lot of teams. Both, really nice players! Cornerstones, that you NEED. Team Captain, Good Locker-Room Guys! LEADERS.
June 28th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
“he only got a one-year guarantee on his Steelers contract, perhaps others agree.”
Yeah. Now, I never said, that “I” would’ve locked HIM DOWN with a bunch of guarantees, either LoL. Definitely NOT at his age with his injury history! BUT, he had a very solid season for us and was the very least of our problems last season. I DID notice him ‘falling-off’ towards to end of the season, along with Lavonte, and the rest of them. It was hard to figure-out! They looked they were almost in a trance, and just totally LOST interest. Gave Up.
June 28th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
This defense has come together and looks good on paper, I’ve heard. I think if we keep qb on his arse or on his toes and remember how to stop an offense a few times a game we have a pretty good chance if all goes well, to dig into the playoffs. Let’s Go Bucs!!!! Bain, I believe!!!!
June 28th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Stpetematt will say anything he can to obfuscate the fact that Bowels is the worst HC\DC in the league.
As if the players weren’t hand picked for Todd’s lousy wide open soft as butter pee wee league caliber Swiss cheese scheme.
Mix and match all you want. The same results await in 2026. Epic failure.
My prediction: Pain
June 28th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
I don’t see any dog in Zyon or Morrison. Licht still needs to bring in a veteran for the secondary.