Alex Anzalone “Just Got Overexcited”
September 17th, 2026
When it comes to the Bucs’ loss on Sunday, Joe wags a finger of shame at veterans playing like rookies.
Four names come to mind.
Perhaps you’ve heard of them: Baker Mayfield, Alex Anzalone, Vita Vea and Tristan Wirfs.
The Vea saga, as explained by Todd Bowles, still sticks in Joe’s craw.
Joe wrote all about Anzalone’s scary afternoon of poor tackling, shaky coverage, and a questionable effort or two. Todd Bowles offered some insight during his sitdown with WFLA-TV. It seems Anzalone didn’t operate like the seasoned pro the Bucs bought in free agency.
“[Anzalone] missed a couple of tackles, but he made some plays as well,” Bowles said. “Obviously, the missed tackles you don’t want in critical situations. And Alex understands that. He just got overexcited. And he needs to break down a little more instead of running in there out of control.”
Those four Bucs veterans — all captains — were healthy. So it seems their primary challenges were from the neck up, which is so frustrating.
If most of those guys were completely locked in on their fundamentals, the Bucs likely would be sitting pretty with a 1-0 record.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:23 am
No worries he gonna coach it better so they can play it better. He got this. It’s a Bucs life.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:23 am
I can easily forgive and forget if we can see evidence over the next couple of games that he just needed to pull his head out of his a**.
But my Fandom really needs to see it Sunday. My ILB grace period time frame has been worn very thin.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:24 am
In critical situations? How about “ever?”
Raise the standard, Todd.
Also, Anzalone look like he was on ice, and everyone else out there was not on ice.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Let’s see how long Bowles sticks with Anzalone’s washed up a$$.
I think he needs to be benched immediately for either Roseboom or Dennis.
Sticking with Anzalone is going to cost us. Hopefully not games, but definitely alot of plays.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:26 am
“Over-excited”?
Are you sure he wasn’t just “bored”.
LOL!
Oh – this franchise is such a joke ATM…
September 17th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Nope, not 1-0 Joe. Just checked and it still reads 0-1. Coulda woulda shoulda doesn’t change the score.
I was willing to give Anzalone some slack for maybe having the wrong cleats, but there’ll be ZERO SLACK for a veteran getting Overexcited. Rookie overexcitement? Maybe a little slack. Veteran overexcitement? ZERO SLACK .
September 17th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Too bad we couldn’t play Wyoming Tech or something other cupcake like colleges like to do. Theory is that first game of season serves as a breaking in period.
Suppose that is what preseason was intended but injuries concern, which is justifiable, have all but put full stop to starters getting meaningful snaps.
Bring A game this week, AA, & all will be well.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:32 am
I’ll give Anzalone a pass since it was his first game with a totally different defense.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:32 am
He def needs better cleats!!
September 17th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Todd has an issue with poor word choice. Whether or not it was true, he should have never publicly stated that McCollum was bored in the secondary. It just creates a narrative unnecessarily. Same thing here. Overexcited is just a poor choice of words to convey what he meant. It makes it sound like he’s talking about a middle school student. The guy took bad angles and obviously had an issue with his cleats. Both are correctable. And the cleat thing, if it was that, should have been dealt with in game. Game. The angle thing… The guy is a veteran and needs to get his act together.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:35 am
Vintage Bowles protecting his players. Give him credit. There is no sense sinking the player further you erode his confidence. Anzalone knows the game was bad so does Bowles and the defense. Is there any truth to his statement. I doubt it the guy has been around awhile. We will see soon enough if time has caught up to him or he just had a bad game. Funny though had Trotter had the incredible game while Anazalone had the rookie game.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Bored, overexcited, miscommunications, playing shape………Bucs are the champions of excuses.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Hmmmm… is that the same thing as being bored ?
These coaches are All “cat word”
Including the HC and GM…
Not the football coaches I remember
Puzzie footing around not wanting to call out a player for fear of the players turning on the coaches.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Yep, as positive as I try to be when responding to quotes and statements, I would never use the term over-excited for a veteran. I appreciate being a players coach, perhaps more than most, but having someone’s back and not just stating the obvious is lame. Call it what it is, Todd. Pros need to be pros and Alex let the team down during the game. Fix it and move forward.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Pretty wacky behavior for a vet, but I’m happy to give him the benefit of the doubt for one game.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:42 am
There is nobody on this thread that want’s to hear excuses for the ILB position.
I’m sure he had nerves because he felt the pressure of replacing David and living up to the hype everyone gave him about fixing that group with Trotter.
Roseboom is a viable option if it continues.
He has 1 more game in my book, then he can ride the bench as a Captain.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Maaaaaaan, Anzalone looked lost in the sauce for the entirety of this game and his body language showed the opposite of excitement. You’re a captain on this team, being juiced up is a weak way to explain what he put on tape.
Also, whiffed at least twice on some open field tackles that would’ve stopped the sticks from moving. Trotter didn’t have a perfect game, made some splashes, and missed some plays but he looked a lot better than the veteran leader in that room.
September 17th, 2026 at 10:49 am
He was in position and kept whiffing
September 17th, 2026 at 10:50 am
new offensive coordinator new players on defense training camp needed to be more old school like the way harbaugh and reid runs theirs
September 17th, 2026 at 10:54 am
7 wins and then its no more Bowles……lets see if he can screw this up this week against the Clowns……would not be surprised if he does…
“We gotta coach it better”……….”We had communication issues”………
Okay Todd, whatever you say
September 17th, 2026 at 10:56 am
Vita was rusty and lacked technique
Alex was overexcited and lacked fundamentals
Baker was jacked up and lacked ball security
cmon Coach Bowles…this team has more excuses than a convict
GO BUCS!!!!
September 17th, 2026 at 10:56 am
The only issue is and always has been Todd Bowles. Even during his superbowl run. His D was giving up 26 to 30 points. It was always a shootout for Brady. Only reason they gave this chump a head coaching gig cause he came cheap. So sad
September 17th, 2026 at 10:59 am
I’m fine with overexcited. I’m less fine with under-tackled.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:00 am
If AA was consistently that bad in practice he wouldn’t even have made the 53. I’m willing to call whatever this was a fluke
September 17th, 2026 at 11:04 am
lol is this what todd is down to? overexcited?
no wonder he wants to move on to the browns game, his BS barrel of excuses is running on empty.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:17 am
A lousy team like the Browns is,always the cure. We,will get the,shell of a man Dwat. The next week Shadeur will take his job.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:20 am
Adrenalin dumps are real.
Leave you drained and heavy footed.
This is a bad team. Alex isn’t a bad LBer
He dad a bad game
Still better than the horror shows by our Oline and Dline
September 17th, 2026 at 11:23 am
Folks!
Step back and look at the big picture
The TREND is not our friend!
The Glazers, the GM have been whistling past the graveyard.
A complete top down change of attitude and culture is needed, of course we are stuck with the owners.
You do understand that once you leave the boundaries of Pewter colored glasses the Bucs are either a joke or simply ignored!
The Glazers had NO CHOICE other than pay Baker
Nothing has changed, it’s the “culture “ of don’t point me out and I won’t point you out.
Oh…. It’s not like this snuck up on Tampa Town!
Two rental Lombardi Trophies…
September 17th, 2026 at 11:30 am
And Alex Anzalone was the only Bucs defender that got 100% of the snaps
It’s obviously Baker and Wirfs got 100% of the snaps
Even Vita Vea got the most snap counts among defensive linemen
Todd Bowles continues to stick with the underperformers
And this will be his downfall, most definitely
September 17th, 2026 at 11:32 am
AA34 had a bad game. He must play better going forward. Was it his responsibility to cover the TE on most of those catches?? Geezzz I hope not!
September 17th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Sad that their all the captains and supposed to be the example to follow. They better clean it up or its going to be a long damn season.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Anzalone looks washed(hope I am wrong). If in fact Anzalone continues his under performing ways he has to be benched or cut. The disaster with Reddick last year was compounded by the utter intransigence of leaving him out there when he obviously stunk.
Leaving non performing players on the field week after week is how you go about losing the locker room.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:58 am
I have always thought the safeties covered the TE down field
I thought the ILB covered their area of a zone defense
This team always have problems with TEs
Mostly, because they try to cover him with a slow ILB
This defense confuses me, and I’m on the outside looking in
September 17th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Bowles defensive scheme has a history of making bad QBs, look good.. don’t be surprised if Watson looks like Texans Watson.. when he was a good QB.
September 17th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Why does TB not call these players out. Instead he makes excuses for them. Hold them accountable. Don’t sit there and say they need to play better we all see that ! Don’t wory about hurting there feelings. If they cannot take a chewing out when they screw up maybe they are in the wrong bussiness. Look at Chicago, Johnson called is players out last year and how did that work out, didn’t makes excuses. They now look like a tream that is accountable and playing like it.
September 17th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
“Accountability” is a hoax. Nothing to see here.
September 17th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Hate to see what happens if he gets bored.
September 17th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Lakeland
Will be glad when the next HC returns the Defense to a 4-3. Mr. Derrick Brooks was great at covering the center of the field. Granted, he was special…
September 17th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
The long time Vet Anzalone got over his ski’s? Bull@sh….
Vita Vea is playing slow and uninspired? Of Corse he is. HE HASN’T FORGOTTEN LAST YEAR AND EVEN GREED AND THE MONEY ISN’T ENOUGH TO LIGHT HIS FIRE. He has a broken heart….
Wirfs has Forgotten his techniques and is “confused in a rusty sort of way” LMAO!
And the Glazers…. BLOW IT! They DO NOT KNOW IF THEIR ARE COMING OR GOING!
And there in lies “The Problem”.. They should have either continued the colapse and GONE FOR THE #1 QB in ALL OF COLLEGE.. OR.. they Should Have in the FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS the VERY NEXT DAY (far far sooner in reality), GOTTEN RID OF “THE PROBLEM” IMMEDIATELY and Supported THE PLAYERS AND FANS!
They have done neither and both. And OfCourse, IT’S ULTIMATELY A VERY BAD IDEA!
You either tank OR you go all out. Welp… You CAN’T go all out because YOU… The RIDICULOUS glazers first order of business was to BLOW UP EVERY OUNCE of good faith with the player and the fan by FORCING A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE!
Would anybody like to guess who THAT square peg IS? Or is the answer to THAT question Bleeding All Over the Walls at One Buc?
The glazers have destroyed all that WAS good and working like a charm when the force the failed ex head coach onto THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION AT THE TIME IN ALL OF FOOTBALL unto its players and Entire Fandom.
I’m very very sorry for ALL of us fans and for the broken and UTTERLY uninspired players, and Of Course MYSELF for having such BAD LUCK as these absentee owners as whom we have to follow OFF THE CLIFF!!!
The glazers maybe nice people. For that matter Todd Bozo Bowles “maybe” a very nice guy. But this is the WORST POSSIBLE COMBINATION in ALL of Pro Sports I’ve EVER, EVER, seen. The glazers ACTUALLY NEED TO sell the team to someone who AT THE LEAST KNOWS WHAT DIRECTION they are going. I’m Already Sick of this and the “players feelings on the matter” ARE WRITTEN ALL OVER THE WALL!
Something… SomeOne…. STINKS WORSE THAN it ever did in Denmark! I’m GOING TO GO WITH “Occum’s Razor”
September 17th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
“I have always thought the safeties covered the TE down field
I thought the ILB covered their area of a zone defense”
Depends on the call
“This team always have problems with TEs
Mostly, because they try to cover him with a slow ILB”
Not always the case, but these last few years it has been because we’ve gotten older at the position(LVD) & less talented overall at the position when we lost White and had no real backup/succession plan for him outside of Britt & SVD.
Anzalone is the primary Mo LB in our defense(yes he wears the mic), which is what Lavonte was out of necessity last year. Mike is the trigger man in terms of being the 5th/6th box defender and lines up on the strong side.
You’re Mo is the player we line up weakside/away from the TE and the only time he’s got direct responsibility of the TE is man coverage especially defending 12 personnel. Other than that his cover responsibilities are mostly to trail RBs and taking away the underneath while also staying at the 2nd level in zone to protect hooks/curls around the hashes. Motions and things like that can cause instant role reversals on the fly for our ILBs especially with move TEs and/or RBs
September 17th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
What is very worrisome, and what I posted at the time we signed him, was the mixed reaction from Lions fans losing him.
Half of them were celebrating that he was finally gone, talked about how he was getting beat in one-on-one coverage, couldn’t keep up, and kept missing tackles. The other half was sad to see him go because they liked him, but they said he had lost a step and kept missing tackles.
Based on that game… it’s almost like the fans might have been on to something.
Hopefully Bowles is correct and Analzone can show he’s not a complete bust of a FA.
September 17th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Browns +8.5. Free Money.
September 17th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Naaahhhh,its almost the fans have something here ….NOT!
September 17th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
A lot of these dudes on this team now are just here for a paycheck. Let’s be honest. Back in the time when Brady was here and a true leader you wouldn’t see guys loafing and putting in some half ass effort. Brady would have chewed them a new one.
September 17th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Complacent Todd. “Ah no big deal he just had jitters.”
How does one play slow and have barely any reaction time if overexcited.
Bulls@@@. Bowles lackadaisacal excuse is why this team has no discipline at times.
They seem to be just as he is … O no big deal Todd’s gonna say its ok.
Gtfoh. Trade Bolodne Anzaloneee to the Browns. He sucks
September 17th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Whole team like O its ok Todd dont care he aint gonna do nothing. Whatever
September 17th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
I’ve been trying HARD to think of at least ONE THING I can appreciate out of this disaster. I finally figured it out.
About the ONLY positive that I can “see clearly” coming down the road is my ability to aquire legendary jerseys for PENNIES on the dollar at…. THE THRIFT STORE thanks to two to three parts of this LEGENDARY DISASTER (and THAT my friends is saying A LOT when it comes to the Buccaneers history of being the losing est… team in ALL of pro sports) that the “ownership and management” and their Seriously BAD IDEAS of who and how a “pro team” should operate and who should be calling the shots..
So I appreciate ALL the basically “For Free” jerseys of my heroes that have been forced out, that once was. So I appreciate the Huge Selection to chose from. Thanks glazers.
September 17th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
Yeah, okay. He wasn’t the only guy not “Cincy ready”. Lovie Bowles doesn’t deserve the job he has, simple as that.
September 17th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Hmmm… a veteran over excited. Why?
I am beginning to lean toward the camp that preseason games are not worthless. First string Veterans do benefit from real game reps. Especially, if they’re playing for a new team or a new coordinator.
September 17th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
It’s so common in the game to see these lbs, corners and safetys run 100 mlb to the ball carrier with little thought on breaking down so the runner doesn’t just make a quick cut for an easy big gainer.
Very frustrating to watch. And he did it several times.
September 17th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
maybe chalk it up as week one jitters or something…
or maybe they actually went into the game thinking it was week 4 of preseason games……lol 🙂
they’ll come around…the first few weeks of the season are always a bit off…
by week 4 to 5, you start to get into the meat and potatoes of the season…
these first few weeks are drinks, appetizers, and hosing down the toilet seat at you favorite eatery, when on a bathroom break
September 17th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Obvious One + Melvin = same poster
September 17th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Both write books Max.
September 17th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Its one game shut the hell up mister perfect
September 17th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Seriously….he got overexcited? Isn’t he an accomplished veteran? I wonder what excuses Todd will have if we lose to the Browns.
September 17th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Obvious One … ‘And there in lies “The Problem”.. They should have either continued the colapse and GONE FOR THE #1 QB in ALL OF COLLEGE.’
For those of us who’ve been Bucs’ fans for awhile, we did exactly THAT back in 2014 when we went 2-14 with Lovie at the helm, and we succeeded: we won the #1 pick in the draft.
Whooppee!!! And the grand prize was … Jameis Winston.
September 17th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
None of them played anything meaningful in preseason. Vea was loafing for a new deal and Wirfs was still healing from a procedure during preseason. Everybody wants to cry about “worthless” preseason, but did you watch the games Sunday? Sloppy everywhere. Wirfs and Vea were rusty, might take another game or two to get back to Pro Bowl, Baker did his “yeah, well hold my beer and watch this!” thing while doing something cool and following it up with a Fail Army clip, and Anzalone might be a watt and see
September 17th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Overexcited 😂😂😂 stop it. If you Believe that, I got a 12 story hotel apartment condo in London I wanna sell ya
September 17th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
And it’s the same style….but all good, don’t have time or the want to, to filter through so much repetitive drivel….
September 17th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Alex has pretty hair.
September 17th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
For those of us who have been fans for a while…
Alright DR… Have you had your feelings hurt? Well that’s too bad. For those of us that HAVE been fans for Well Over 30 Years…. Buddy.. you’re not telling me nothing I don’t already know And You Already Know That…
But You…. you have my attention. You’ve been flup flopping around quite a bit of late. Confused as of your direction..
One minute, you see that Bowles needs to GO… The next, you’re back to bowles is your hero… Getting hard to take you seriously if you’re gonna flip flop around. Especially with your desperate attempt to act like you know more than a 30 year fan. You Don’t..
You ALSO KNOW that it was Licht’s ONLY OPTION at the time. Why are you playing a fool with me? Exactly (in hindsight Of Course) what would you have done in Licht’s shoes? With the limited knowledge of the inner instructions from the owners that is?
Whoopie? I expect So Much More from you than that weak attempt at futility.
You don’t think that we deserve THE BEST QB we can possibility get? As much as I actually appreciate and love the action Baker brings to the table, he’s Really Starting to look EXACTLY LIKE that only option Winston. SCARY how similar the two ARE! Well, WE HAVE OPTIONS THIS YEAR THAT DIDN’T EXIST THEN! You DO realize THAT… Right?
Baker is starting to creating his own noose REAL FAST! And I’ve been a STAUNCH supporter of his. I STILL support him. But I’ll be calling a spade a spade as I chop down weeds growing in my football garden fella. And to be PERFECTLY HONEST, I once apon a time figured you for wiser than this new flip flop version of you. In fact I’m STUNNED that you would actually have that attitude towards a potential HOME GROWN HALL OF FAME/DYNASTY potential, opportunity type of qb for our team.. Unless you’re a Baker Only boi… interesting…
Youve been Much More a gentleman through time than a cheap shot type of guy towards fellow fans.. The childish back biting thing really doesn’t suit you well and it’s “hasn’t been” your style… Apparently the frustration of the Truth is getting to you. Welcome Back to the something POSITIVE needs to happen club. Its not mine or the THOUSANDS OF OTHERS fault. We’re just telling the Truth AS IT IS bud. It is what it is.
Perhaps you could mention that attitude to the glazers though Im Quite Sure that they don’t know if they’re coming or going. If you think it through, and the Puzzling moves they Are and Aren’t making in two step forward, two steps back, AND THEN to make counter moves to what they JUST DID, back in the Other Direction, is it ANY WONDER WHY you’re so frustrated like the rest of us? The Players?
Think it through. You’re a clever man and at least “have kept yourself above the fray” You’ll figure that out.
Remember however…. If you jump in the mud…. You Already KNOW the rest..
Respectfully…Obvious One
September 17th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
By week 7 it’ll be from Bowles “we’ve done all we can as coaches, it’s out of our hands, now it’s up to the players”
September 17th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
Bucs fans are the problem
Weve got to fan it better – recline it better – watch it better – drink it better – scream it better
September 17th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
Good one, Redzone!
September 17th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
They won’t bench him Then they would have to admit they should have signed him.
September 17th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Shouldn’t
September 17th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
The biggest disappointment: Vea. And I don’t mean his size.
September 17th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Agreed JOE but if baker doesn’t fumble 3x and Bucky once we would have overcome the others deficiencies. Shoot if baker only fumbles twice we win. The most important position gave the ball away like he was Winston
September 17th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Defense Rules Says:
Whooppee!!! And the grand prize was … Jameis Winston.
———
The grand prize was building a top tier offense — which is the entire reason that Tom Brady came here.
With no Winston, there’s no Brady, and no 2nd Super Bowl.
September 17th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
Overexcited!! Todd Bowles…Mr. Excuse! Got one for everything and everyone!
September 17th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Old and slow. Overpaid!
Between he and Trotter neither can cover their own shadow. They can fill the gap, hit the hole, tackle the ball carrier as long as they are in front of their pads. It’s not good, they are Dennis with a different numbered jersey
Perhaps we can use the Chicago game plan: score 50 points and see how it works out.
September 17th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
So excited for the win Sunday against a vastly underrated Browns team with a stud QB and great defense. And Monken knows offense. All cylinders, let’s go!!!!!
September 17th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
This team always has the best excuses. Bucs are always get the special players. Excited, rusty, he needs time, lol
September 17th, 2026 at 10:53 pm
Most definitely, the league hates the Bucs and conspires against. In a fair system, Bucs would win a Super Bowl more often, especially with this coach.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:12 pm
Most definitely, the league hates the Bucs and conspires against. In a fair system, Bucs would win a Super Bowl more often, especially with Coach Bowles. He’s known as the defensive genius for good reasons.
September 17th, 2026 at 11:46 pm
If they beat the browns and look better ,than ok let’s see if you can carry that over to the next game . I dont think the browns are a push over .it’s the nfl any team st this level can have a game even if the rest of the season is not good. Gotta prove it !
September 18th, 2026 at 2:36 am
Defense Rules Says:
September 17th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Nope, not 1-0 Joe. Just checked and it still reads 0-1. Coulda woulda shoulda doesn’t change the score.
I was willing to give Anzalone some slack for maybe having the wrong cleats, but there’ll be ZERO SLACK for a veteran getting Overexcited. Rookie overexcitement? Maybe a little slack. Veteran overexcitement? ZERO SLACK .
——————————————————-
Having the wrong cleats? Are you serious? This is a seasoned, highly paid, professional, veteran NFL footbally player. Not some young 10 year old kid playing in his first Pop Warner game. This wasn’t his first rodeo. At this point if he does not know what equipment to wear and how to prepare himself before he gets on the field he does not deserve to even dress for the game.