“They Got To Feel Me Through The Tape”
August 7th, 2026
Rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter has two personalities.
Joe cannot emphasize enough how Bucs second-round pick linebacker Josiah Trotter seems like a real-deal, hit-the-ground-running rookie who will perform this season beyond his 21 years on the planet.
Trotter seems hard-wired to be an NFL player. The pads came on at Bucs training camp early this week and the real Trotter emerged.
He’s a polite, well-mannered and well-spoken guy off the field. On the field, he’s got an alter ego.
“When I put the pads on, Josiah’s out the window, I’m just become ‘Trot’ now at that point,” Trotter said today after practice.
Age makes no difference on the field, Trotter said, so he’s there to set the tone and play with an edge. He sees it as his duty as a linebacker.
“I feel like that’s everywhere I’ve been within college, little league, whatever the case is,” Trotter said. “That’s just how my dad brought us up, having that edge, having that mindset. You know, as a middle linebacker, you got to bring that. It’s only going to come from the linebacker, and that’s where it starts. I feel like trying to be that edge, that piece that comes in. When [opponents] see, when they watch film, I want them to know. They got to feel me through the tape. I feel like that’s the biggest thing I want to bring to this team, to this defense and whatever role that is.”
Of course, Trotter’s dad is four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.
Six years ago Bucs fans saw this kind of mindset from Antoine Winfield Jr., their second-round pick in 2020. Winfield stepped in and balled out, and his father was a Pro Bowl cornerback. Josiah Trotter seems ripe for the same future this fall.
As a bonus, Trotter, who seems destined to start alongside free agent linebacker Alex Anzalone, said he trained with Anzalone this offseason in Tampa. Their bonding goes back months, not just a handful of practices.
Joe sees Trotter as a serious upgrade from SirVocea Dennis, and Anzalone as a major upgrade from shell-of-himself Lavonte David. The Bucs defense should have a very different feel this year. Hopefully, it’s unrecognizable from the 2025 edition.
August 7th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
What a huge lift it would be if Trotter is the stud LB we have needed for so long, AND right when David retired.
Let’s GO!
August 7th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
What’s one hell of a quote when taken without context
August 7th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Bain, and Trotter are going to be a big reason this defense turns around this season.
August 7th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
LOL Hunter…stilll a great quote nonetheless
August 7th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
This defense is stacked……..Dline, Linebackers, Safety……..perhaps a question with CBs…..but lots of depth throughout….new blood….attitude.
Really good draft picks…..Bain, Trotter, Scott….
I am optimistic.
Just look at the additions at OLB…….Bain, Walker, Mohammed…added to Ya Ya and Nelson. We should be much improved.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Go Bucs! Different team this year. Nothing wrong with being excited before the season. See so many people commenting with “we do this every year”. No crap man. That’s sports. Cheer for your team and hope for the best.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Careful Joe. Gushing about Bain, Scott, Walker and Trotter sounds like someone stoked about an improved defense. I sure hope so and yes, I’m familiar with the dangers of hope.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Once we draft pir next David/Brooks, we’ll have the best ILB duo again
August 7th, 2026 at 6:35 pm
Our draft this year was nailed by JL
August 7th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Young Alvin Mack, if you know you know.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
and Anzalone as a major upgrade from shell-of-himself Lavonte David.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I understand what you mean, but damn, ………..that was hard to read!
August 7th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
@tampa bay Bucs fan
You are right man. We have added crazy depth.
We look really deep at every position except CB.
I thought Elijah Roberts and Elijah Simmons looked good last year as rookies.
Robinson, Nacho and Capeheart were great additions to replace Hall and Gaines.
If we just had 2 more experienced outside corners, I would be totally satisfied with our defensive roster.
Rozeboom was also a solid signing at MLB.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
It’s hard to tell how good Trotter’s coverage is. Hopefully, he’s not another SVD in coverage! BYW, Dennis is still getting lots of snaps with the first team. I went to a couple of practices and didn’t see him making any plays.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
LFG!
August 7th, 2026 at 7:04 pm
Imo we should have several of these guys in the stable.
Don’t waste a top pick but 2nd etc rounder. No one should be better at lb than us. Lavonte. Derrick Hardy and lynch..4 hofers w little draft capital.
I just dont understand us ever getting this wrong
August 7th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Jeremiah Trotters son by all accounts can hit, but you don’t learn cover skills in three weeks!
August 7th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
Please excuse me if I don’t believe much yet. I hope Trotter Bain and Scott play through the roof. However last year we all heard the hype about Dennis, McColumn and the defense. However once the season started the whole thing looked well not to good. The team doesn’t have Vea and I see problems with that. The Bucs do have McColumn and I see even bigger problems with him. It would be nice to have Vea and not McColumn. I want to see some real games before I get excited about this alleged defense.
August 7th, 2026 at 8:31 pm
The front D line “seems” like a Real possible strength. I’ve got HIGH HOPES that we’ve Finally taken the defense seriously (sort of) once again. I certainly prefer a far different D coach (a little more traditional type). Let’s just say “one that KNOWS the difference between chat and shinola”. One that Excels in knowing how to put a round peg into a round hole, would be Perfect!
Besides that I’ve noticed that many are practicing speaking on the subject while excluding OUR GREATEST D WEAPON… You see guys, without THAT nose tackle that DOES move two to three Large men Backwards “All at the Same Time, it doesn’t compute quite as well.
Let’s smoke some Hopeium and maybe pray we get Vea back on the punishment train. Because if Licht doesn’t decide to STOP SCREWING AROUND with our BEST defensive weapon… And ESPECIALLY WHEN that live action match happens and the GLOVES COME OFF… Well, With Vea… WATCH OUT!!! Without Vea… ummm, the magic 8 ball says “Not So Much”! AT ALL…
Keep in mind that Bozo, Lint, and the Glimmer boys, SCREWED IT UP between management and player! Somebody (at least 2 out of 3 is the TRUTH) did “Something so Heinous” that a Football Team Quit! I think it’s TIME that Licht WAKES UP and STOPS rocking the boat in regards to our best weapons!
Vea… IS A SERIOUS WEAPON! There isn’t a team out there that wouldn’t grab him up in a heartbeat! But then… if you’re actually trying to tank… Well, you need to get rid of, your best weapons. Perhaps I’m ONLY looking at this through winning goggles and I’ve been dismissing the possibility of a plan to blow it all up….
August 7th, 2026 at 9:15 pm
I just hope Todd doesn’t want to turn him into a corner or something.
August 8th, 2026 at 2:52 am
Love this young man’s demeanor.
August 8th, 2026 at 3:13 am
SirVocea Dennis played pretty physical last year. Didn’t make him a good LB sadly.
August 8th, 2026 at 5:15 am
So many fans were disappointed with this pick. I hope some of those people are starting to come around now. I think this guy is the real deal.
August 8th, 2026 at 7:42 am
🤞🤞🤞🤞
August 8th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
Bro be a dog its football