Beware Of “Trot”
August 10th, 2026
Changing the defense?
Joe remembers some commenters to Joe’s practice notes early in training camp starting to grumble.
“Where is Josiah Trotter?”
The second-round pick rookie wasn’t much of a factor at inside linebacker when the Bucs were still in underwear football mode.
KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles told inquiring members of the local pen and mic club to give Trotter a few days. He’ll show up when the pads came on, Bowles predicted.
Boy, Bowles was on the mark.
It was the second practice in pads, at night practice in the Glazer Shed. There, you could see a young man taking over the mentality of the Bucs defense. Trotter was playing physical ball not seen by a linebacker since Lavonte David’s early years or flashes from a young Devin White. He basically sparked a fight with his physical play. And when the two sides were separated and Trotter went back to the defensive side of the line, he let the offense know he was still coming and they best buckle their chin straps.
That moment could become the turning point for the Bucs crafting the defense they sought to build in the offseason.
Trotter said he was raised by his Pro Bowl dad to play football one way: violent. He has no plans to change and disgrace his family name.
“It’s just how I was raised, just to be myself when I’m out there, rookie or not,” Trotter said about being physical. “When you’re on the football field, nobody cares if you’re a rookie.
“It’s, ‘Are you making plays or are you not?’ At the end of the day, I just know who I am out there. I’m just trying to be myself; to be the guy [the Bucs] brought me in here to be.
“Just go out there, just compete at the highest level. I respect all those guys over there, the guys that I got at my side.”
Trotter is a good dude off the field. There, he is Josiah. But put him between the white lines and Trotter morphs into a different sort of beast, as Joe noted last week.
“When I come out here, I try to separate the two as a player and person,” Trotter said. “I just know when I put these pads on, Josiah is out the window, I just become ‘Trot’ now at that point.
“I’m just trying to bring that mindset of everything that my dad instilled in me from a young age. I’m just here trying to set the tone, just be me, be a playmaker at the end of the day, do my job, try to compete and get better at the end of the day.”
That reminds Joe of Antoine Winfield. He learned football in the lap of his dad, the former Vikings corner. That upbringing did wonders for him, and the Bucs.
Joe senses the same thing playing out with Trotter. In other words, beware of the “Trot.”
August 10th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Good stuff. Go BUCS!
August 10th, 2026 at 7:31 am
Love it. Set the tone! Take no prisoners! Go Bucs!
August 10th, 2026 at 7:32 am
The scouting report coming from Missouri seems accurate so far: a downhill thumper who’s a liability in coverage. Bucky and Gainwell are catching balls everywhere with no mention of Trot on passing plays. I HOPE he can cover and I HOPE he’s not the next SVD in coverage. I’ll be watching him in the worthless preseason games.
August 10th, 2026 at 7:38 am
Beware of the trots, too!
August 10th, 2026 at 7:48 am
Browns did pretty good with their 2nd Round LB last year. Let’s hope it’s our turn
August 10th, 2026 at 8:47 am
JimBobBuc Says:
August 10th, 2026 at 7:32 am
The scouting report coming from Missouri seems accurate so far: a downhill thumper who’s a liability in coverage. Bucky and Gainwell are catching balls everywhere with no mention of Trot on passing plays. I HOPE he can cover and I HOPE he’s not the next SVD in coverage. I’ll be watching him in the worthless preseason games.
This kid will be fine. ! Between his dad and brothers he knows football
August 10th, 2026 at 8:58 am
JimBobBuc Says “I’ll be watching him in the watching him in the worthless preseason games”
LOL!!! so why do you waste your time watching worthless preseason games?
August 10th, 2026 at 8:59 am
JimBobBuc Says “I’ll be watching him in the worthless preseason games”
LOL!!! so why do you waste your time watching worthless preseason games?
August 10th, 2026 at 9:09 am
This brings a smile to my face. Let’s Go!
August 10th, 2026 at 9:19 am
This makes me want Vita even more. Keep this young man free
August 10th, 2026 at 10:38 am
From this point forward is when we’ll start seeing more serious injuries. Just hope it can be kept to a bare minimum.
August 10th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Yep! I knows what I see’s 🙂 GJ Jason!
August 10th, 2026 at 10:58 am
I imagine at this point in his development as a player, Trotter won’t be asked to man up on RBs and TEs or carry routes beyond the 2nd level. Let him get comfortable dropping into zone windows and patrol the short-intermediate routes while keeping things in front of him to get his feet wet.
I feel Trot is rangier than his dad, might be a better athlete, but what makes the difference will be the football IQ and that’ll come in even bigger play once he puts some bad tape out and can lean on his father to help correct/improve that area of his game.
I personally look forward to seeing him carve out his niche in this defense.
August 10th, 2026 at 11:44 am
The budding of a dynamic duo linebacking team of J Trott and D Walk
August 10th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
This has been Trotter’s mentality going back to high school. He played for St Joe’s Prep just outside Philly and got the same comments and praise from writers and coaches.
If any Bucs defenders decide to loaf and he finds out – I pity them. He just doesn’t care that he’s a rookie and won’t defer to someone else if there’s something he can do to improve the team attitude. He might not be an All-Pro pick in his career, but there’s a lot more to the game than accolades.
August 10th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Well, he’s much better at speaking than LVD ever was so hopefully that translates to no more “communication errors” that were a near yearly occurrence under the greatest beta ILB, LVD.
August 10th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
DoooshLaRue Says:
August 10th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Well, he’s much better at speaking than LVD ever was so hopefully that translates to no more “communication errors” that were a near yearly occurrence under the greatest beta ILB, LVD.
^^^^^^^^^^^
I’m sure it was 100% Lavonte’s fault and not just a crappy defensive scheme. It was totally Lavonte who had Major Anthony Nelson trying to cover James Cook and S. Dennis trying to cover Bijan. LVD made the CB’s play at least 10 yards off the LOS. I’m sure the soft practices were LVD’s fault, too. I mean it was his defense, he was the HC/DC for crying out loud.
August 10th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
guess Morrison didnt get the same treatment
GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
I’d love to see this guy play running back, until we get a new defensive coordinator. Then he can go back on defense! I bet hes be a mean runner.though!
August 10th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
I 1,000 percent love violent football…but a part of me is concerned about the refs this year. The Bucs are making it known they will be very physical and violent, and that will mean the refs will be ready to keep a close eye on them.
I guess we just have to hope the NFL tells them to let us be that way.
August 10th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
BucEmUp Says:
“I’d love to see this guy play running back, until we get a new defensive coordinator.”
You do realize that this will be the first time Bowles has had good defensive talent since the Superbowl team right?
It just might be possible that he does well this year.
Personally, I’m hoping he at least gets us to the NFC championship game…hoping that will be enough for him to retire on.
August 10th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
They were too busy drafting nasty players instead of need. They had their choice of.2 LB that were far better in coverage. Another year of watching the linebacker burned and in chase mode
August 10th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Babygrace Says:
“LOL!!! so why do you waste your time watching worthless preseason games?”
Speaking for myself…because they are football after a long off season. That said, by the second or third one I’m tired of watching backups.
Still…I suppose seeing new talent play can be kind of sort of fun? A little?
August 10th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Yeah, all the positive comments are right and good. Hopefully, this guy works out BEYOND his first contract (Winfield)…
There’s only one potential issue…
What will bowles say and do to get the team to reject him this year? Quit on Him…again?
Well, the good news is Trotter will likely play out of his mind REGARDLESS of coaching buffoonery because he seems smart enough to realize that there’s life after the bozo show and you MUST stay sharp and aggressive so that he can get “His Bag” (first Real contract) Whether that be for tampa or somewhere else. He…. still needs to show out!
The ones who left already got there first or even second bags and had the luxury of NOT having to take the insults and likely back stabbing, the round hole/ square peg coaching misalignment from beginning to end, and the dark shadows we’re ALL still waiting to hear about so that SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN “WHY” ALL OF THE LEADERS ON MY TEAM GAVE THE “YOUR NUMBER ONE” SIGN WITH THEIR MIDDLE FINGER, to “Start With” in the first place!
I’m NOT interested in seeing that again from my teams management FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! Not only is it the Most unprofessional clap back that I’ve EVER SEEN BEFORE IN PROFESSIONAL BALL OF ANYKIND, IT’S EMBARRASSING! It brings to mind the Most Losing Pro Franchise in ALL OF SPORTS!
Going forward I EXPECT a far more careful handling of the players that represent this team. If anybody actually believes that the rest of the players LEAGUE WIDE aren’t taking notice, then you might just be even dummer than you already look..
This episode that will carry a stench FOR YEARS “Must Be” rectified and they (bozo (coaching disaster), Licht (management disaster), and goober glazers (ownership malfeasance) HAD BETTER…. DO BETTER! Starting With this new group of draft picks!
So far so good. But then, this IS the easiest these rookies will Ever have again because the gloves come off Real Soon…
August 10th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Slacker, except we have good secondary now. Scott is going to be a beast.
August 10th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
And have No Doubt….
WE NEED A HERO!
August 10th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Last year this team lacked a DOG on defense. Between the draft and FA, they got a lot of DOGS. Now can they just stay healthy.
August 10th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
How has Trotter been in coverage? Again, that was the big question for me with him. I have zero doubt in a traditional 4-3 defense, with him as a MLB, he’d be extremely productive right out of the gates. But the reason everyone whined and complained about Devin White was that he couldn’t cover — yet he was the best coverage LB not named David we’ve had in the Bowles years, and yet people still demanded that he be ran out of town. KJ Britt couldn’t only not cover, he was too slow to be in an NFL game and would be beat all the time in the run game. As for last year, again, Dennis wasn’t as bad as people claim in coverage, but he certainly wasn’t good. Trotter, watching him in college, he just looks like a natural run stuffing traditional MLB – and that’s not what Bowles asks from his ILB’s.
None of this is to say I don’t think Trotter can be awesome, and it all sounds like it’s been great so far – but I just haven’t read much about how he looks in coverage, and that’s what has gotten the last 3 ILBs ran out of town. Just wondering if it looks like he can keep up with RBs and TEs or not.
August 10th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Very few people can keep up with Bijan and especially Jahmyr Gibbs. Hopefully Keionte Scott is covering them most of the time.
August 10th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
Stpetematt Says:
August 10th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Very few people can keep up with Bijan and especially Jahmyr Gibbs. Hopefully Keionte Scott is covering them most of the time.
———–
Well, sure, those guys have exceptional speed and pretty much any LB is going to have a hard time keeping up – although it’s amazing how David, with a 4.64 40 at the combine, was always able to keep up with guys who tested much faster than he was (same with Brooks who single handedly kept Vick in check for years).
But you’ve got plenty of run of the mill RBs and TEs who you’re expected to be able to cover, and that’s where people threw hissy fits with the previous guys, including White who had exceptional speed and could keep up with guys like Bijan (no LB is keeping up with Gibbs, however).
Just curious to see how Trotter handles things – and if Bowles will make any changes to use him better if he does struggle in coverage yet is excelling elsewhere.
August 10th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Works for me.
Let’s win some games!
August 10th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Just watch film and be in the right spot.You don’t have to run with anyone.Blow the ball carrier up !! Snotbublers!
August 10th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
Steve V Says:
August 10th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Just watch film and be in the right spot.You don’t have to run with anyone.Blow the ball carrier up !! Snotbublers!
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In general, yes – but it also depends on what the scheme is and what you’re asked to do. In Bowles God-awful version of zone, it means standing around flat footed while you wait for something to happen – but for LB’s can also mean needing to chase TEs running drag routes and having defensive lineman cover RBs in man-to-man coverage 45 yards down the field.
August 10th, 2026 at 9:06 pm
Deff like what I’m hearing about trot. This defense has sorely missed having a thumper and a bad attitude. Miss the days when we would watch John lynch , brain Dawkins , ray lewis and urlacher just lay the wood.
August 10th, 2026 at 9:23 pm
Ok let’s first win the preseason, then move on to the regular season for more of the same. 23-0 Bucs
August 11th, 2026 at 11:16 am
@ Rod..A Ray Lewis only comes once every 100 years..