Feedback on new blood.

Joe doesn’t know how many fans saw the last five or six Bucs practices. If any did, they may have witnessed the transformation of the Tampa Bay defense.

As Todd Bowles correctly predicted, Josiah Trotter awakened when the pads came on. Rueben Bain already was beasting, as was Alex Anzalone.

But when the pads came on, the front seven of the Bucs defense all of a sudden had a new attitude. Instead of taking it, they dished it out.

The turning point may have been the first of two hassles at the night practice in the Glazer Shed. Trotter was in the middle of it and when referees and coaches broke up the fight, Trotter stood near the line of scrimmage, barking and pointing at the Bucs offense while they walked back to the huddle.

It was a far cry from when the Bucs saw the soft, quitting defense roll over for Quinn freaking Ewers and the tanking Dolphins.

One guy without any quit to him was Tykee Smith (thought Joe saw Smith’s gaffe in Miami). If the Bucs had 11 Tykee Smiths starting on defense, they would have made fans much more proud.

After practice last week Joe spoke with Smith about the new defensive attitude.

“No, you’re definitely not wrong,” Smith told Joe. “I think the biggest thing is being on the same page, the communication. Everybody is getting lined up and playing fast.

“And I think we have been playing with a little more physicality.”

Physicality is what the Bucs sought in the offseason. The team has not been quiet about how it wanted news guys who played with passion and maybe a little violence.

The Bucs may have succeeded. And Trotter is just one example.

“I knew he would come in with grit,” Smith said. “He’s got the same attitude I have. So I’m real happy with that pick.”

Smith also knew what the Bucs had in Bain.

“Rueben is being Rueben,” Smith said. “He’s been the same since he’s been in college. And I think he will continue to do that.”

Joe also asked Smith about KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles saying the real Trotter would come out when the pads came on. Smith said that applied to the defense as a whole.

Putting the pads on “showed our physicality,” Smith said. “We were able to run around and hit and get hands on people.”

Joe has no idea how good the defense will be. Joe has a hunch it will be better and certainly shouldn’t be pushed around.

With the addition of guys like A’Shawn Robinson, Bain and Trotter, Joe doesn’t think there will be many defenders asking opponents, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?” like last year after the bye.