Spreadsheeter Has Surprising Strength For Bucs
July 7th, 2026
Really, BSPN?
If you asked any dude in the bar or any guy who watched Bucs games last year what the Bucs’ strongest position group is, Joe thinks the vast majority would agree: receiver.
Yes, even after losing Mike Evans, what position group has the depth the Bucs have at receiver? Hell, the Bucs even got solid production from a rookie seventh-round draft pick when injuries began to stack up.
But Mike Clay of BSPN, a spreadsheeter, is shockingly looking at the defense for his position strength. And it is, of all places, the defensive line!
Biggest strength: Defensive front. This is a balanced roster, so it was tough to pick a clear strength, but we’ll give a nod to a good-looking defensive front. It starts with Vita Vea, who is 11th among interior linemen with 23.5 sacks since 2022. Calijah Kancey (7.5 sacks in 2024) returns after missing all but 91 snaps last season due to injury. Veteran A’Shawn Robinson was a strong offseason addition.
Joe can’t go there. Yet. Vita Vea is good, no question. Calijah Kancey could be good if he could stay on the field. Joe likes the signing of A’Shawn Robinson, too. But still, Joe cannot shake how Carolina, which had a turrible defense, let him walk.
Clay might have a better argument if he included Rueben Bain, despite being a rookie. Joe is curious to see how KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles uses Bain. Joe sees Bain as more of a Ndamukong Suh-type than a Shaq Barrett-type in Bowles’ defense.
July 7th, 2026 at 7:12 am
I am hoping the A’Shawn Robinson pickup will be the make-up for our letting Michael Bennett walk all those years ago.
July 7th, 2026 at 7:26 am
The Putrid Pass defense of the recent past can only improve with all these additions and subtractions of the dead Weight Aka LVD and SVD and Dean. Go Bucs!!
July 7th, 2026 at 7:34 am
What about the Bucs O-line?
If (and when) healthy it is our strongest unit on this team.
IF and WHEN…
July 7th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Marine Buc. Yep.
July 7th, 2026 at 7:46 am
“Geno712 Says:
July 7th, 2026 at 7:12 am
I am hoping the A’Shawn Robinson pickup will be the make-up for our letting Michael Bennett walk all those years ago.”
Great call back, I’d even add AQM to that too.
July 7th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Roberts played well too.
Plus Nacho.
Not star players but quality and depth. It may be our best position.
The o line has to prove it can stay healthy because depth just isn’t there.
July 7th, 2026 at 8:20 am
@ Oldschool
“The o line has to prove it can stay healthy because depth just isn’t there.”
I agree.
However – our depth will be improved from last season.
– Chukwuma will be improved (and hopefully will be cross-trained at G)
– Skule is not great but a solid swing T – better than what’s his face from last year
– We drafted a solid OG in round 5 who will be better than any back-up Gs we had last season
– We still have Feeny/Haggard/Klein who will battle for the final OL spots
To me that is as good as “depth” gets in the NFL…
July 7th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Bain more like Suh?…put that cheap whiskey down Joe lol…
this kid needs to wreck shop on both edges…same with CK94, who should be playing more on the edge
GO BUCS!!!!
July 7th, 2026 at 8:27 am
@ OLDSCHOOL1976: Good point but I respectfully disagree about the depth on the O line. Ben Chukwuma showed a ton of upside as a swing tackle last year. The on field coach Justin Skule is back after starting several games for Minnesota last year. Billy Schrauth, 2026 draft pick is still an unproven guard but he did wear the C on his chest while playing for the Knute Rockne’s last year. I would submit that the depth is much improved over last year.
July 7th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Oh snap! USA men’s team was bounced! Crap.. Im feeling troll like,was it the strikers fault for the red card? Was it the striker for missing tens of thousands of shots he missed since he was 6? Or was it the striker who turned the ball over tens of thousands of times since he was 6? How bout the coach who was picking food out of his teeth on the sideline ,or was it the waterboy, high quality H20 is very important !! Wait! It was Mayfield, for walking the sidline….etc
July 7th, 2026 at 8:28 am
After we drafted David Walker last year, I watched all the film I could find on him. I’m gonna go outside and finish my chores, come back in and watch him again. We might just have us a diamond in the rough. Of course, making it through a padded practice is gonna be the first requirement so I’ll try not to be too excited.
July 7th, 2026 at 8:40 am
@ Steve
“USA men’s team was bounced! Crap.. Im feeling troll like”
WTF is this $h1t?
LOL!
Who cares if the US hockey team lost – This here be an American football site!
Go back to Pro-Football-Talk dot com and hang with that little rat.
July 7th, 2026 at 8:42 am
Carolina might have let dudes like A’Shawn walk because they splurged $120 million on Phillips (is he much better than Diabbi?)
July 7th, 2026 at 8:49 am
Awww you must be merchant marine buc,my 2 sons are marines and they and all the other service men/ woman that i know were very interested in the cup tournament! Make sure those sea crates are strapped down ! Lord knows there’s enough trash in our oceans!
July 7th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Depth and health are concerns. Bucs can go two-deep at receiver and there’s not that much of a drop off.
Starting-five on o-line very good.
July 7th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Joe ,if your not pumped about this team ! You need heart meds!
July 7th, 2026 at 9:00 am
@ Steve
To you I say “LOL! – all good man”
To your brave and awesome sons I say “Semper Fi! – maintain the standard!”
July 7th, 2026 at 9:04 am
@ Kenton
“After we drafted David Walker last year, I watched all the film I could find on him. I’m gonna go outside and finish my chores, come back in and watch him again. We might just have us a diamond in the rough.”
Man I hope you are correct @ Walker.
It would be so sweet to finally have a fully stocked OLB room again…
July 7th, 2026 at 9:27 am
SteveVnix must take its brain out to play with. The photos on the front page are all the reasons any objective fan knows it’s all about 2027 with a new head coach who will modernize the team and scheme.
July 7th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Thank you Marine ! Semper FI ! To you!
July 7th, 2026 at 10:08 am
328! don’t you have a date with evans?? I know you like to ware his jock on your head!
July 7th, 2026 at 11:11 am
@ Joe
I agree.
However – I still feel our depth is improved over last season.
Skule > Heck
Chukwuma 2026 > Chukwama 2025
Billy Schrauth > Klein/Haggard/Jordan
Just my 2 pennies.
I might be premature on Billy bur I like what I see on film so far…
July 7th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Let’s hope so…