“This Defense Fits Me Like A Glove”

March 16th, 2026

Don’t be quick to say new Bucs veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone signed with Tampa Bay because he has a year-round home and deep roots in area, including his wife being from Pinellas County.

That was Anzalone’s message on radio.

Last week, the longtime Lions captain, joined WDAE radio and was adamant his wife was ready to move anywhere that became Anzalone’s next NFL stop. He also said four NFL teams were very serious about signing him and a big reason he chose the Bucs is because of how Todd Bowles will use him.

“This defense fits me like a glove. It’s really one of the biggest factors that played into this,” Anzalone said, adding he looks forward to blitzing more than he used to.

Joe loves Anzalone’s nine official passes defensed last season. Lavonte David hasn’t had that many since 2015.

Anzalone, who turns 32 in September, should still be in his prime this season. Bowles needs to figure out how to maximize his skills in a hurry.

65 Responses to ““This Defense Fits Me Like A Glove””

  1. 813bucboi Says:

    good to hear…

    hopefully he can bring the “juice” licht, bowles and baker alluded to lol

    GO BUCS!!!

  2. Bobby M. Says:

    Sounds like we’re committed to blitzing vs developing any type of pass rush from our linemen….awesome! Can’t wait to see mediocre QBs run dink and dunk plays for career days.

  3. HeavyE Says:

    Justin Fields, just got traded to the Chiefs for a 6th rd pick, and we have Browning and a leprechaun for our QB’s JL is horrible, this qb, has every one on this team brainwashed, please don’t bring in any competition, I promise to do better, and I won’t get hurt…..then you wonder why, players are leaving!!! SAD!!!

  4. WestPhillyBucsFan Says:

    Random thought and I’m interested to know what you guys think. My biggest concern with losing Mike Evans is as a red zone target. How would you guys feel if we brought in Deandre Hopkins? He should be rather cheap, and his skill set is somewhat a mix of Mike Evans and Davante Adams. He’s only a year older than the 2. I think he could have a nice role and be a nice presence, especially in the red zone. What do you guys think?

  5. Lakeland Says:

    I like Anzalone, he’s a solid ILB
    He had problems staying healthy with the Saints
    But he’s been great with the Lions

    But l think for this defense to work
    We need a young, athletic, speedy ILB that can cover RBs in space
    And l think Pitt ILB/SS Kyle Louis is the perfect player for that role

    If we can get CB Delane or Terrell in the 1st round
    And Louis in the 2nd round, our pass defense will improve Tenfold

  6. BucsfaninOregon Says:

    Bring in ANYBODY! They can’t be worse. Look at Reddick. Would we had been better if we never signed him? Who would have been better who is currently on the roster?

    Ans. No one!

  7. RBUC Says:

    I think the Bucs are going to draft a 6’5 Tight End good blocker but definitely has hands to catch and good for YAC – could be wrong but I think they are set at WR so Tight End 3rd round

  8. Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:

    We have done so well with Pitt players. One can’t stay healthy, the other couldn’t stay healthy now cant play play to save his football life.

  9. 3.28.Evans Says:

    Bowles can certainly help him learn how to eat six bowls of pasta with heaps of sausage sauce for three or four meals a day. That’s about the extent of it.

  10. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    I thought nobody wanted to play in our defense or for Bowles, interesting.

  11. Lakeland Says:

    Scotty,

    The reason Kancey can’t stay healthy
    He’s wayyy too small for his position, he’s not a 3-4 DE
    That was a poor decision to draft him to play DE in a 3-4 defense
    He has speed true enough, but a 3-4 DE need weight, upper body strength
    And Kancey don’t have either, he’s a speedy 4-3 3-Tech at best

  12. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    “He’s wayyy too small for his position, he’s not a 3-4 DE
    That was a poor decision to draft him to play DE in a 3-4 defense”

    Literally plays 3 tech and 4i in our 4-man alignments

    also plays the 5 in our bear front with a NT, 2 DTs flanked by 2 OLBs

    which is why looking at our alignments just as what the base D, and not accounting for sub-packages is a short-sighted way to look at our personnel

  13. JohnQCitizen Says:

    Encouraging.

  14. Badbucs Says:

    RBuc
    They paid Otton and Ko. No TEs coming unless they replace Durham late or with UDFA.

  15. Lakeland Says:

    I get all that Warren Brooks Lynch

    But the “Ideal” 3-4 DE is 6’4 310 lbs
    Kancey is 6’0 280 lbs

    The only package that fit Kancey is a 4-3 defense
    His best fit in a 3-4:defense is OLB at best

  16. Badbucs Says:

    Good attitude now…….

  17. Lakeland Says:

    You stand Kancey next to A’Shawn Robinson

    Kancey looks like a CB stand next to A’Shawn

  18. adam from ny Says:

    where is lavonte…

    and what’s up with the radio silence

  19. StormyInFl Says:

    “Lakeland Says:
    March 16th, 2026 at 11:33 am
    I like Anzalone, he’s a solid ILB
    He had problems staying healthy with the Saints
    But he’s been great with the Lions

    But l think for this defense to work
    We need a young, athletic, speedy ILB that can cover RBs in space
    And l think Pitt ILB/SS Kyle Louis is the perfect player for that role

    If we can get CB Delane or Terrell in the 1st round
    And Louis in the 2nd round, our pass defense will improve Tenfold”

    Won’t help at all without a pass rush. Secondary gets better when QBs don’t sit in the pocket all day, with enough time to order a pizza.

  20. StormyInFl Says:

    “Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
    March 16th, 2026 at 11:59 am
    I thought nobody wanted to play in our defense or for Bowles, interesting.”

    The fact that his wife is from here and he has a home here was a bigger factor. He has to say all the right things right now, and he knows it.

  21. Badbucs Says:

    No reason not to move Kancey to edge. They need one anyway and he can’t be worse than Reddick. He might need those cornerback skills though Lakeland.

  22. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    “But the “Ideal” 3-4 DE is 6’4 310 lbs
    Kancey is 6’0 280 lbs”

    Well Kancey was drafted to play 3-tech in 4-man alignments, not 3-4 DE.

    The ideal 3-4 DE in our system is just a DE in name.

    Our OLBs are the ones that set the edge, and play contain.

    Kancey is a gap shooting DT.

    Guys like Gholston, Hall, and now Roberts are 2-gappers. The fit 3-4 DE physical mold, but we also play them in aligments with 4 defensive linemen the OLB.

    Pretty certain that’s how A’Shawn Robinson will be used, he’s not going to be asked to set the edge, because our OLBs do that.

    Same way Bowles did it with Calaias Campbell and Tommy Kelly in AZ who also shared a field with Darnell Dockett.

    Did the same thing in NY with Sheldon Richardson AND Leonard Williams in NY. Tried to get it out of Akiem Hicks here, best example of taking a guy who’d be a 4-3 DE otherwise and playing him inside is Will Gholston. So when you hear of our fronts being hybridized, that’s part of it.

    Vita lines up over OGs, he’s listed as an NT, but also plays under and over given the alignment. It’s simple, yet complicated apparently

  23. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    “The fact that his wife is from here and he has a home here was a bigger factor. He has to say all the right things right now, and he knows it.”

    I listened to the interview, that’s part of it, but not ALL of went into his decision and Anzalone said as much.

  24. Lakeland Says:

    I read that Miami signed Charlie Heck

  25. Rod Munch Says:

    I don’t know about this guy, the more I read, the less I like. The issue is speed, and more and more I see people, who like him, say he’s clearly lost a step and can’t keep up with RBs and TEs.

    Also the fact that Lions fans were pretty mixed in their response of him leaving is another concern. About half of them said good – he was able to cover guys and was missing tackles, and the other half just said generic stuff like they’re sorry he’s gone, he was a good leader, all the nonsense that doesn’t really matter. When you sign a guy and get 100 puff pieces on him, you want the opposing team fans to be really angry and upset that player left, and saying they’re going to cancel their season tickets, etc – and I literally haven’t seen a single comment saying that.

    Not saying I’m down on the signing – and I’m not going to just look for him to screw up once so I can say “TOLD YA,” but having some balance is OK, not everyone we get should be the greatest signing every.

  26. Bee Says:

    The defense always fits like a glove until the “miscommunications” happen. He doesn’t seem like a sideline to sideline guy or else he wouldn’t have been available so he’s probably just a guy. Which makes sense for the Bucs cause thats all they can afford right now, just guys.

    Be honest. Unless the Bucs sign 11 future HoFers on defense, it won’t matter. The league has Bowles figured out.

  27. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    “He doesn’t seem like a sideline to sideline guy or else he wouldn’t have been available so he’s probably just a guy. Which makes sense for the Bucs cause that’s all they can afford right now, just guys.”

    Anzalone has been rated as on of the better coverage LBs the last few seasons, and was literally brought in to help us improve in that regard. It’s literally one of the first things that comes up just googling his name

  28. Baking with Robinson Says:

    By reading all the comments it looks like the defense is

    RINSE AND REPEAT FOR 2026

  29. Bokeh Says:

    Talk is cheap

  30. Badbucs Says:

    He’s 31. Of course he has lost a step. This is the age you start letting guys go – not acquiring them. Like the smart teams, managing their caps with rookie contracts and young guys who are not overpaid. Cutting or trading their older guys while they can still get value. We’re stuck in this old guy rental system from cap mismanagement. 33 mil for CG. Wanted to pay ME 20. No wonder we can’t have nice things. We keep our guys until they’re cap liabilities you can’t trade. JL has us screwed.

  31. LynchMob50 Says:

    Swiss cheese defense fits like a glove?

    Got it. We’re doomed.

    2-15

    #SuperBowles

  32. EOS Says:

    I would say we keep our top players and resign them when they are aging and start being injury prone. Had Godwin, Goedke and Evans been able to play healthy all season, even with the he horrid defense they would have been able to win at least 2 more games. Mayfield hurt too.

    The u s are one of those teams that had 2 many players that were resigned just as they were starting to become injury prone.

    That is why you don’t throw a bunch of money at players over 30 or even give them 3 or 4 year contracts when they are past 28.

  33. HC Grover Says:

    This means he is Dyslexic. Must be a nut job.

  34. Rod Munch Says:

    Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
    Anzalone has been rated as on of the better coverage LBs the last few seasons, and was literally brought in to help us improve in that regard. It’s literally one of the first things that comes up just googling his name

    ———–

    Correct, over the last ‘few’ seasons he’s been considered a good short area LB in coverage – meaning he’ll get burned if he’s asked to stick with guys, but in short areas he’s a good coverage guy.

    Until last year.

    That’s why it’s concerning that the Lions let him walk, combined with a ton of comments from fans, and even beat reporters, saying he clearly lost a step last year. A lot of fan comments say he went from being a good coverage LB, to getting beat by every other teams TEs and RBs – and he went from being a solid tackler, to missing a bunch of tackles.

    It’s not universal, but it’s like 50/50 with fans. With beat reporters, more scout level reviews, they’re a bit more positive than the fans, which is good (since most fans are morons) – but still, the trend is clearly down, and it sounds like he didn’t play all that well last season.

    Again, not down on the signing, just the puff pieces kill me in general. I want to know what guys do well, what they don’t do well, etc. This isn’t a homerun signing in any case, it’s a risk due to his age and the idea he might have lost half a step – but again, it’s not everyone saying that, so they could be off base.

    The only thing that makes me a bit concerned is the fact these same guys thought KJ Britt was an NFL starter, when a simple eyeball test told you he was too slow. With this guy, I hope they’re looking at the player they’re getting and not a guy from a couple of years ago. And he’ll get the benefit of the doubt from me in any case.

  35. Warren Brooks Lynch Says:

    “The only thing that makes me a bit concerned is the fact these same guys thought KJ Britt was an NFL starter, when a simple eyeball test told you he was too slow.“

    To be fair, Britt wasn’t supposed to be a full-time starter and the plan was to have SVD work in behind him on passing downs/scenarios, but he got hurt.

    Don’t think we’ll paint ourselves into that corner this time around. Now as it stands we have Anzalone, Dennis, & Nick Jackson on contract. I think we’ll have at least 4 in rookie camp

  36. Tom Petty Says:

    “Swiss cheese defense” 🍷

    The favorite phrase of the I don’t really understand defense crowd.

  37. #99 the big fella Says:

    HC Grover Says:
    March 16th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
    This means he is Dyslexic. Must be a nut job.

    the pot calling the kettle black?
    You have the dumbest responses I have ever seen.

  38. #99 the big fella Says:

    HC Grover Says:
    March 16th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
    This means he is Dyslexic. Must be a nut job.

    You really are a very annoying human
    Some of the dumbest responses I have ever heard.

  39. 3.28.Evans Says:

    Tom Petty, ya the defense is great! Yay Todd, defensive genius. Forget anything about performance, results, adjustments. Game plans, correcting repeated mistakes. Naa. The defense is perfect. Bowles is great.

  40. Defense Rules Says:

    Rod Munch … ‘Over the last ‘few’ seasons he (Anzalone) has been considered a good short area LB in coverage – meaning he’ll get burned if he’s asked to stick with guys, but in short areas he’s a good coverage guy. Until last year.’

    I see exactly the opposite Rod when looking at Anzalone’s Advanced Defense stats on Pro-Football-Reference. His Pass Completion Percentage Allowed has been very consistent over his career (right around 70%) UNTIL last season. Then it went DOWN to 58.2% last season, an excellent performance by an ILB. He was targeted 55 times in his 16 games, and allowed only 32 completions for 310 passing yds & 2 TDs. And oh ya, he had a career-best 9 PDs on the season.

    No, Anzalone wasn’t the problem with Detroit’s defense. They allowed 413 pts to finish ranked #22, slightly BEHIND us. This is the year of the ILB, and the Lions are surely looking to get younger (and less expensive). I’m enthusiastic about what Alex still brings to the table in terms of performance AND leadership. Bucs had to get bigger, meaner & nastier. We’re doing pretty well at that thus far.

  41. Tom Petty Says:

    Aqua – didn’t say the defense is great.

    What I said is people (like you) who trot out the old Swiss cheese line have never shown themselves to have anything more than a very basic understanding of football and specifically defense.

    And nobody calls Todd a genius here other than the daily whiners who think middle school sarcasm makes them look witty.

  42. Defense Rules Says:

    Baking with Robinson … ‘By reading all the comments it looks like the defense is RINSE AND REPEAT FOR 2026.’

    And THAT’S why it pays to do your own research & analyses. Many comments are pure emotion, just feeding off what someone else says. Kinda like taking a rumor & spreading it around the room 1 person at a time & seeing what it comes back sounding like. Everyone adds their own ‘interpretation’, and chances are you wouldn’t even recognize it.

    Yes we signed some older players, but we also got rid of some older players (Reddick & Dean & very probably LVD on defense?). Bucs desperately needed to get bigger, stronger, nastier & more ‘high energy’. I think we’re in the process of doing exactly that, and that the draft will polish it off.

    I’m becoming more & more convinced that Bowles’ defense does MUCH better when he has bigger, stronger, nastier veterans up-front to ‘press the attack’. He hasn’t had that since after the 2021 season when Suh & JPP left. The guys we’ve signed fit that mold much better IMO. HOPEFULLY that continues in this draft & we stay focused on DEFENSE. Still though, the draft ultimately is Jason Licht’s call.

  43. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Tom Petty

    Pretty easy to see Sirvocea running to the end zone while Jalen hurts runs up behind him.

    Pretty easy to see that we absolutely DO NOT TACKLE.

    Pretty easy to see we have no pass rush, and let DBs play some ridiculous zone.

    Pretty easy to see 3rd & 28

    Somewhere, somehow, somebody musta kicked you around some

  44. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Not much mention but I think we have a desperate need at CB…..with Dean gone, we have Zion & Morrison……very questionable…..
    We should probably make a CB pick in rounds 1 or 2….with the other being LB.

  45. Defense Rules Says:

    Lakeland … ‘I like Anzalone, he’s a solid ILB. He had problems staying healthy with the Saints But he’s been great with the Lions.’

    I like him too Lakeland, although I think it’ll take him a few games to transition to Bowles’ 3-4 hybrid defense. Detroit ran a 4-3, and their ILBs were rather large compared to ours:

    o Alex Anzalone: 6’3″ & 234 lbs – 16 games/1004 def snaps
    o Derrick Barnes: 6’0″ & 240 lbs – 17 games/940 def snaps
    o Jack Campbell: 6’5″ & 246 lbs – 17 games/1097 def snaps

    Now look at the Bucs last season:

    o Lavonte David: 6’1″ & 233 lbs – 17 games/1023 def snaps
    o SirVocea Dennis: 6’0″ & 230 lbs – 16 games/910 def snaps

    The weird thing about the 3-4 is that you really end up (most of the time?) with 3 linebackers, it’s just that 1 of them is ofttimes an OLB falling back into coverage. I guess if done well, the opponent doesn’t know which OLB will pass rush & which will fall back into coverage.

  46. Defense Rules Says:

    TBBF … ‘We should probably make a CB pick in rounds 1 or 2….with the other being LB.’

    I’m admittedly torn there. I REALLY want MORE BEEF in the interior DLine, and quality beef. There are several DT/NT this draft who’d quality (still prefer Kayden McDonald). But the best one’s (if still there) will be Rnd 1 picks. And can’t go beyond Rnd 2 to draft a starting ILB to paid with Anzalone. So that kinda relegates CB to Rnd 3 (maybe even Rnd 4).

    And for that reason, I’d love to see us draft a CB there (Rnd 3 or 4), but sign a quality, starter-capable veteran to push McCollum and/or Morrison.

  47. 3.28.Evans Says:

    BEEF is the only way. Center cut unvlockable penetrating meat.

  48. Stan says Says:

    Come on Rod, how is this not Bakers fault. 3 and 28 come on Rod. You letting us down.

  49. Tom Petty Says:

    @Jmarkbuc

    What’s your point ?
    I just pointed out that the soft/Swiss/ridiculous zone (Todd trolls) crowd doesn’t know much about football details…. You’re only proving my point with your comment.

    Yeah, we all saw those 2 plays.
    And we all saw SOME missed tackles and zone coverage.

    Do you know what zones we were in, or if we were even playing man on either of those plays you mention ? Which zone coverage is the ridiculous one ?

    Maybe you think, like Rod, that we should be playing man to man all the time 🙄

  50. Capt.Tim Says:

    The Defense fits Alex like a glove!
    Because he lives in Tampa!
    And they play this defense in Tampa!

    Fits like a Glove!

  51. Doug Carter Says:

    Hope he can explain it to the other defense. They seemed clueless sometimes

  52. Tony Says:

    @BadBucs

    I’ve been saying that’s what they should consider doing with Kancey. Maybe move him to DE & then it’ll be him & Yaya.

  53. Tony Says:

    I’m surprised anybody fits this D.

  54. Rod Munch Says:

    Defense Rules Says:
    I see exactly the opposite Rod when looking at Anzalone’s Advanced Defense stats on Pro-Football-Reference.

    ———-

    I’m going based off beat reporters and some current scouting profiles. They did say he HAD been good, but fell off quite a bit last season. But they also said while he was good in coverage, it was covering guys in the flat or across the middle, he wasn’t tasked much covering deep, and he didn’t have the speed to keep up down the field. They weren’t saying he was slow – but if asked to extend coverage, that’s when he ran into issues because he lacks speeds (they make it sound as if he’s more quick than fast – but is fast enough). I saw that in a few places, basically saying the same thing – in the flat, and across the middle, he uses his smarts to be in the right place at the right time and has very good instincts, which to some degree make-up for limited speed, and he was considered to be a good tackler, but that also took a hit last year. Again, these are SOME of the stuff I read, not everyone agreed.

    I’m not down on the pick-up, I’m just pushing back a bit against the narrative that it’s a homerun pickup and he’s going to step in and change things instantly. Perhaps he does that, but there are also some red flags worth keeping an eye on.

  55. Will Says:

    So happy about this signing. He’s stoked to be here and so are most fans. David slowing down a lot, and he’s missing in action. Maybe he is really retiring. Hoping Dennis gets the boot 🥾

  56. Badbucs Says:

    ” I’m surprised anyone fits this D.”
    Tony,
    It’s not designed to fit the players you have. Todd doesn’t even draft the guys that do fit his system. Hence all the tweeters and “athletes ” instead of football players. I’d love to see Kancey tried at OLB.

  57. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Petty

    What I think is we should have a DC.

    One that actually teaches and coaches defense, and holds people accountable.

    There are certainly more gaffes than the couple I mentioned, of course. Having watched LITERALLY every single defense the Bucs gave ever fielded, I’m confident in pointing out that the defense that Bowles has constructed here is pitiful in both form and function.

    The team as a whole performs almost as badly. In the case of Special teams.. even worse.

    Our GM is a poser and our coach is incompetent.

    The Bucs have always been about DEFENSE, and while the game has changed, there’s no reasonable excuse for the garbage that is currently on the field.

    That’s my point.

  58. 3.28.Evans Says:

    He’s talking about a baseball glove.

  59. Paco Says:

    Jmarkbuc
    While I appreciate your opinion I just don’t see how it has anything to do with the original reply and subsequent follow ups.

    Try reading my 1st comment (that you replied to) again, and the next one too, and reply to what I actually said instead of making a speech maybe?

    I stand by my original comment

  60. BucEmUp Says:

    When was the last time this team has a SOLID defense. Not just one that showed up for one or two games. A consistently good , well coached defense?

    Lovie was a crap show and songs this. When will it end? I dont care what players come in, who is drafted. When you have defensive tackles dropping back into coverage to cover a wt or a tight end regularly you shouldn’t be coaching

  61. 3.28.Evans Says:

    Tom Petty was a great musician. His legacy is tarnished by an apologist who think fans shouldn’t be allowed to state obvious criticisms that many professionals in the business (like Ronde Barber) have called out. Keep apologizing and free falling.

  62. Defense Rules Says:

    Rod Munch … ‘I’m not down on the pick-up, I’m just pushing back a bit against the narrative that it’s a homerun pickup and he’s going to step in and change things instantly. Perhaps he does that, but there are also some red flags worth keeping an eye on.’

    I personally look at Anzalone as a replacement for SVD (and before him KJ Britt). Both of them IMO were disappointments in the very middle of our defense. That said, Anzalone could stand there like a Cigar Store Indian all day and still be an improvement over those two.

  63. Defense Rules Says:

    BucEmUp … ‘When was the last time this team has a SOLID defense.’

    Go back and check the results for our 2023 season & you’ll find the answer to your question. Bucs’ defense ranked #7 that year, allowing only 325 points. That was the LOWEST number of points allowed by a Bucs’ defense since 2008 under Monte Kiffin when they allowed only 323 pts.

    One of the interesting stats about that season is that our Run Defense ranked #5 and our Pass Defense ranked #29. Compare that to our 2025 results when our Run Defense also ranked #5 and our Pass Defense ranked #27. Similar rankings, but very different results (325 pts allowed in 2023 versus 411 pts allowed in 2025).

    So what was the big difference then? Two things IMO. Our 2023 Red Zone TD defense (42.6% allowed – ranked #3) was infinitely better than our 2025 RZTD defense (69.8% allowed – ranked #32). Monstrous difference when it really counted.

    I’d contend that it was our ILBs who made the difference. Back in 2023 we had LVD & Devin White. Lavonte played in 15 games, had 134 tackles (86 solo), and allowed 78.8% completions & 2 TDs. Devin played in 14 games, had 83 tackles (49 solo), and allowed only 67.4% completions & 1 TD.

    Fast forward to 2025 when we had LVD & SVD as our ILBs. Lavonte played in 17 games, had 114 tackles (61 solo), and allowed 73.3% completions & 7 TDs. SVD played in 16 games, had 101 tackles (66 solo), and allowed 85.0% completions & 3 TD.

    So in 2023 our ILBs allowed 3 TDs and in 2025 they allowed 10 TDs. They also missed 28 tackles (LVD & SVD) in 2025 as compared to LVD & White missing 15 tackles in 2023 in more games. Yup, I love the Anzalone signing, and really really hope that we draft TWO starter-capable ILBs in this draft.

  64. Kenton Smith Says:

    DR. It’d be something if we could get McDonald and Rodriguez. That would sure turn this horse cart around in a hurry.

  65. Tom Petty Says:

    3.28.Evans Says:
    March 16th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
    “BEEF is the only way. Center cut unvlockable penetrating meat.”

    I think they have apps (and bars) for finding that kind of thing dude.
    Good luck in your search for love but wrong forum 😘🤣