“Quicker And Craftier” Greg Gaines
September 17th, 2025
The Bucs got an old school sack on Monday night. It was a four-man rush and the dude beat his man and ran down a mobile quarterback.
Glorious!
That was 29-year-old Greg Gaines, who won a Super Bowl starting at defensive tackle alongside Aaron Donald with the Rams before becoming a Bucs backup in 2023.
Gaines has the admiration of his head coach/defensive coordinator.
“He just keeps working, “Todd Bowles said of Gaines on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “He doesn’t look like the ultimate sack guy, but he’s quicker than you think and you know, he is craftier than you think and he always finds his way back there.”
Bowles got a little overexcited. Gaines isn’t “always” in the backfield; his takedown of Texans QB C.J. Stroud on Monday was the third sack of his Bucs career.
Regardless, Gaines is a player who will have a much bigger spotlight on him with Calijah Kancey now lost for the season.
Gaines made three starts last year and played 395 snaps. Joe hopes he’s up for increased action.
September 17th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Just maybe he’ll have a Pick-Six soon!
September 17th, 2025 at 11:45 am
He played really well against the Steers.
September 17th, 2025 at 11:54 am
For what Gaines doesn’t post on the stat sheet, he makes up for it by beating the crap out of interior o-lineman and he’s a stout fella.
September 17th, 2025 at 11:56 am
“Always back there” is certainly hyperbole, but he has as many sacks this year as Kancey, Diaby and Reddick combined. So, there’s that.
September 17th, 2025 at 11:56 am
Next man up!!!
September 17th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Todd Bowles is being optimistic
September 17th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
And he’s not hurt.
September 17th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
With Kancey out they really should resign Gholston.
September 17th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Gotta a feeling weather will factor in this one. It will favor the Bucs. They are getting ready to play Jets, and who knows how Bowles’ past experience will factor into this one? Go Bucs, 3-0!!
September 17th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
he is a steady eddy. much needed
September 17th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Gaines is good. He’s been miscast a little as Vea’s backup, as he’s not big enough to be a great nose tackle. He’ll be fine playing more. The Bucs will be strong against the run. They need one more guy for the rotation, but mostly they need the OLBs to step up and start getting some sacks. Diaby is frustrating. I expect nothing from Braswell at this point. Nelson is just okay. Reddick is the only real hope.
September 17th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Hopefully elajiah Roberts turns into something, these injuries have already been pretty brutal.
September 17th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Is he the Culpepper to Kancey’s Booger or is he the Chartric Darby?
September 17th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Gaines will be decent probably end the year as our leading sack guy.. hopefully not. Hope it’s Reddick, or even Diaby.. but Diaby has been disappointing he gets pressure but never finishes. Hopefully we make a move for someone if not.. maybe Robert’s will step up.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Was wondering when Gaines’ sack was gonna come up. Old school is the correct term for it he plain bulldosed his man and got after it. Hall? you listening? Ya Ya, Reddick?
Go Bucs!
September 17th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Didn’t he voice the character Mater in Cars?
September 17th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
I’m fine with Gaines being our leading sack guy as long as he has like 14 sacks. LOL
September 17th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Give him the load, he will make a mess with VV next to him. I’m optimistic he’ll be any day better than the last 3 years of Will Gholston. Too much rotation is also not a good thing. If he’s got stamina let him play and get himself going.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
garro … Our OLBs depend on our interior DLine causing major disruption (and forcing the QB to maneuver) far as I can tell. The success of our blitzes also depends on our interior DLine creating a nice path to the backfield. Vea obviously has the capability to do that very well because of his size, strength & quickness. Gaines is the only other DLineman we have who’s even over 300 lbs, and I’d hope that he can get some ‘push’ in there periodically.
But the reality IMO is that everyone else feeds off Vea. Sometimes he goes balls-to-the-wall and no one can stop him. But the big guy can’t do that every play as we’ve seen, and especially against double-teams. Vea played 84% of the def snaps Monday night (highest percentage I can remember him playing). Thankfully Houston only had 46 running & passing plays (Vea actually got 41 def snaps, and he’s had considerably more than that before). Thankfully Houston only had the ball for a tad less than 23 minutes.
I can’t tell what defense Bowles is calling anymore because I often see what looks like 9 up near the LOS & 2 back prior to the snap (I don’t think anyone really uses a 9-2 defense, but TB might be considering it). I saw us rush 4 & have 3 LBs defending short (and yes I saw Reddick back there as an LB more than once). Personally I don’t have a problem with that since I’d prefer us using the 4-3 in more situations, and Reddick is a undoubtedly a better ILB than any of our other OLBs. And at 6’1″ & 240 lbs with 4.52 speed in the 40-yard he has real nice size & speed for covering the middle & edges.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
The Texans have one of the worst offensive lines in the league, and were dealing with injuries on top of that, so I wouldn’t get too excited. Still, Gaines was brought in from the Rams as a guy who had a good rep of getting pressure (4.5 sacks and 4 sacks in previous two years) and not just being a space eater. If he can end the year with 5 sacks with a lot more snaps, that won’t replace the 10 I had penciled in for Kancey, but it will certainly help.
September 17th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
But can he drop back in to pass coverage???
September 17th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
@Hc Grover
Are you being sarcastic or just dumb ?
September 17th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
Gaines had grit and determination. I see’em out there huffin and Puffin. He never gives up on a play. We need you this Sunday Bro.
September 17th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
HC Grover Says:
September 17th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
But can he drop back in to pass coverage???
——–
If Vita can do it, I’m sure Gaines can.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:15 pm
GoneGator
“Are you being sarcastic or just dumb ?”
Perhaps just uniformed GG since I see that remark all the time around here.
AGAIN….From AI not me…OLB’s are supposed to be able to drop into pass coverage in a 3-4 defense.
In the NFL, outside linebackers (OLBs) play pass defense, but their specific responsibilities vary significantly based on the defensive scheme. Some are primarily pass-rush specialists, WHILE OTHERES SPEND MORE TIME DROPPING BACK INTO COVERAGE! Depending on their physical attributes and the system they play in.
OLB pass defense in a 3-4 defense
In a 3-4 defense, the outside linebackers are often the primary edge rushers, responsible for generating pressure on the quarterback.
Blitzing: They line up close to the line of scrimmage in a “two-point stance” (standing up), but their main task is rushing the passer, similar to a defensive end in other schemes.
Coverage (occasional): WHILE THEIR MAIN JOB IS RUSHING, 3-4 OLB’S ARE ALSO ATHLETIC ENOUGH TO OCCASIONALLY DROP INTO PASS COVERAGE TO CONFUSE THE OFFENSE! THIS CREATES VERSATILITY AND UNPREDICTABILITY!
The Ravens and the Steelers are two teams besides the Bucs who frequently drop OLBs into coverage. Why do so many here act like it’s asking AW JR to play NG…THAT would be out of position. But would we be shocked if Todd has AW blitz after lining up on the edge? Perhaps mildy surprised? Whatever if AW didn’t get the sack the critics would be here saying look at stupid Todd blitzing his safety.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Quick pressures are better than no pressures or even regular pressures
September 17th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Robert’s will also get more snaps now with kancey out and should help speed up his development. Next man up. Deff a huge blow to lose kancey