Heavy Left Side Workload Coming For Rueben Bain
July 29th, 2026
Workload clue emerges.
Buccaneers training camp Day 1 has arrived and media and fan eyes will be locked in on first-round draft pick Rueben Bain — and to see if Vita Vea is on the sidelines eating almond butter while his teammates battle in the trenches.
So how will head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowels use Bain?
The Miami Mauler edge rusher was dynamic in college. Joe threw Bain film on again last night. He was racking up sacks from the left side and the right side, and rushing standing up like an outside linebacker. Bain was attacking quarterbacks with two hands in the dirt like an old school warrior defensive end, too.
Bain can do it all. But will the Bucs let him settle into one position as a rookie and go to work?
The late Steve White, the former Bucs defensive end who typed his Bull Rush column for JoeBucsFan.com, used to talk to Joe about how edge rushers prefer not to move around. Why? Because staying in one spot working against one tackle allows them to effectively set up pass rush moves.
It’s frustrating and challenging, White said, to be moved to the opposite edge within a game because it was like losing all the learned intel about the opponent that comes from repetitive snaps against the same player.
That brings Joe to back to Bain. Bucs edge rusher YaYa Diaby talked to the Green Light with Chris Long podcast on Monday and seemed to imply Bain will be a fixture off the left edge.
Diaby explained his working relationshiopi with Tristan Wirfs in practice, and how Bain is primed to attack right tackle Luke Goedeke when real hitting is first allowed in training camp next week.
“[Bain] and Luke have been going back and forth, so I know they’re super excited to put them pads on,” Diaby said.
He went on to call Bain “super-hungry” and note how special his “bend” is. Long, the former Super Bowl pass rusher, got into how Bain’s bend effectively negates his short arms.
Joe thinks about Bain on the left edge and has to laugh. What a massive upgrade he will be from Haason Reddick.
July 29th, 2026 at 5:10 am
Think we’ve finally got a stud OLB. More important than his stats this season, just hoping he can stay healthy and avoid a major injury, then really show what he’s made of in Yr 2 under our new DC.
July 29th, 2026 at 5:14 am
Hopefully Todd, and his assistants don’t screw the kid up. I have to believe he got better coaching from Jason Taylor in Miami.
July 29th, 2026 at 6:53 am
But how well does he drop into coverage from the left side?
Did I win? Was I the first one to say it??
July 29th, 2026 at 7:00 am
@DrunkBuc: at first, I thought you were serious, ……….well played!
July 29th, 2026 at 7:18 am
you mean left side cornerback? go todd!!
July 29th, 2026 at 8:22 am
Iron sharpens iron. Both Reuben and Luke can have special years. Camp battles should be interesting with both guys being VERY intense.
July 29th, 2026 at 8:22 am
encouraging news….
would like to see Kancey play more on the outside on 1st and 2nd down…that may keep him injury free
GO BUCS!!!!
July 29th, 2026 at 8:29 am
I get that the left side of the defense isn’t going to be going up against the left side of the offense, but somebody’s crazy for not putting Bain against Tristan Wirfs. With every ounce of respect due to Luke Goedeke (and I have a lot of it), he’s not Wirfs.
July 29th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Put him in 1 spot year 1
July 29th, 2026 at 8:50 am
So, that will put Bain against Amarius Mims in game 1. He’s a former 1st Rd pick, 6′-8″ 350-plus, and is better and knows more tricks than any tackle he saw in college. Welcome to the NFL, kid, moment coming. Shutout.
July 29th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Bain is going to excel wherever you put him. However, I feel like Diaby would be better on the left and Bain on the right, but what do I know?
July 29th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Someone ask J Taylor what side he preferred him on and Why !! This isn’t hard stuff !! Diaby should not be a factor at all !! You build around Bain !! somehow this smells of a roster shortage and trying to force him to be better at his NOT best position.
July 29th, 2026 at 9:29 am
I just can’t wrap my arms, err, mind around Bowles not dropping Bain back in coverage, on 3rd down to cover Kyle Pitts in a crucial game later this season.
July 29th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Playing with 10 guys is an improvement over Haason Reddick.
July 29th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Are the Chargers putting Akeem Mesidor on the left side ??
Maybe ? but i doubt it ?
BTW Mesidor may have been better than Bain from the left side ?
Joe ask Taylor or watch the film !! Not Hard Stuff but don’t count on Bowles to do it , they will stupidly org around Diaby !!
July 29th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Todd Bowles reading the comment section of JBF…..
“Call Jason Taylor? What a great idea! In all the draft eval, interviews and research, how did we never think to call his position coach! Good thing I read my JBF comments today.”
July 29th, 2026 at 9:47 am
What side for Walker and AQM?
July 29th, 2026 at 10:04 am
Excited??? He’s going to be depressed because the Bucs are making Baker and Vea play out the contracts they signed. Poor fellas.