Jason Licht: Rueben Bain’s Short Arms “Never” A Concern For Bucs
April 28th, 2026
“What short arms?”
Joe tends to add more weight to a guy’s tape playing football than measurements.
For example: When edge rusher Khalil Mack was coming out of Buffalo in the draft in 2014, Joe spoke with an NFL front office suit at the combine who told Joe, “If he’s on the board when we’re on the clock, I’ve got a tough decision. The analytics scream bust but his tape screams star.”
As we all know, Mack became a star, maybe a Hall of Famer.
Mack was considered small coming out of college. Playing in the MAC didn’t help his case, either.
Today, appearing on WDAE-AM 620/WDAE-FM 95.7, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was asked by host Tom Krasniqi how the measurements crowd frowned on Bucs first-round pick Rueben Bain because he had short arms.
Licht said the tape told him that was just distracting chatter.
“Trust me when I say we watched every snap of his career and the short arms never were a concern for us,” Licht said.
Ah, the tape over analytics. Imagine choosing a good player for his production and not what a tape measure reads.
Short arms aren’t much of a concern with Licht.
Consider this offseason, Licht was pumping up outside linebacker David Walker as a guy who will go Tasmanian Devil on offenses. Walker’s arms are a whole one-inch longer than Bain’s.
(Joe knows what a difference an inch makes and it has zero to do with arms of a pass rusher.)
Also remember when Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke came out of Central Michigan. Behind the scenes, Licht scoffed at people who brought up Goedeke’s short arms (32 1/4 inches).
Goedeke turned out just fine.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Can’t wait to see this guy on the field. I’m so tired of seeing all the almost sacks and half sacks that never get the QB to the ground. Hopefully he has enough talent to overcome the defensive scheme.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
When will the Short Arms banter end? I know I know…..
April 28th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
There’s nothing wrong with the defensive schemes
The players in the scheme has been the problem
No scheme will work if everyone is not doing their job
But we’re getting players that want to play football
And we’re getting rid of the weaklings, the loafers
April 28th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Bain went up against some the best offensive tackles in college football. The short arms didn’t seem to hurt his play. I’m happy he’s on our team. I’m also happy about Trotter this team has been missing something on defense for quite a awhile now.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon had long arms ..2 studs
April 28th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Reuben and Keionte will bring intensity and a winning attitude to the defense.
The Bucs defense needs more accountability. Hall is gone since he didn’t want to play two-gap, while Braswell (I don’t want to drop in coverage) and McCollum (this is boring) may be sent packing too. OTA’s and camp should tell us if Morrison is the real deal so that McCollum can be traded.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
LOL until some Hot Shot NFL Qb burns him right over his arms.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
licht also said if bain didn’t fall to 15 he still would have said we got our guy
April 28th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
This comment is the best and most realistic one he has made. Don’t jinx him by saying he is going surprise people ala Kancy.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Lakeland Says:
April 28th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
There’s nothing wrong with the defensive schemes
The players in the scheme has been the problem
No scheme will work if everyone is not doing their job
But we’re getting players that want to play football
And we’re getting rid of the weaklings, the loafer.
==================================
Agree that Bucs have a lot of inept defenders. Hopefully, many will be gone with the new influx of talent. Don’t agree that Todd Bowles schemes had much merit. He plays a full time variation of a “prevent” defense that has consistently prevented winning. Successful defenses always bring pressure. Bucs rarely did and they seemed in a constant state of confusion; hence, 3rd and 28.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Any drunk in a bar could have made the Bain pick. It fell in his lap.
Once he actually started working he whiffed big time.
We should have traded up for J-Rod, or at least grabbed CJ or Hill.
And likely missed a much higher caliber of WR than what fell to us in the third.
I’m just shocked we didn’t draft a kicker.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
It’s like the kid walked on stage with baby doll arms coming out of his suit and all of America was aghast! What are we even talking about here 2-3 inches!? Good god man, to parrot Joe that deficiency only matters in one department as a man.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
We got 3 in 1.
À ferocious defensive leader at OLB who will fight on every snap. Like JPP.
A pass rushing DT for third down.
And a psycho who will ignite everyone around him.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
I’d bet the “short arms” talk just really pi$$es him off…
April 28th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Need To see Bain cross reps with Tristan Wirfs this summer. What Bain doesn’t have in arm lengths, he makes up for having the natural leverage advantage in terms of height, the ability to buff that with good bend, and a motor that runs hot. What matters most, is if Bain isn’t thinking of his arm length at all and he’s staying locked in on what is/can work for him.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
@LynchMob50
I think they’re gonna regret passing on Kyle Louis.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
BUCS OL WILL BE THE BAINE OF BAINE’S EXISTENCE
Baine gets to camp with that chip on his shoulder.
1st Assignment – Goedeke
Baine lines up against Goe in camp. You can’t slap away Goe’s hands and bend around the corner. You can’t bullrush him. Goe outweighs him by 50 lbs and is the strongest guy on the team … possibly all time.
Result: Goe absolutely manhandles BRex. Multiple pancakes in the run game.
2nd Assignment – Mauche
Cody is healed, 3rd year, and ready. He’ll stonewall Baine.
Result: Baine might get a little push but Barton will clean that up in a hurry. Zero success.
3rd Assigment – Wirfs
They might try him out on the left after getting repeatedly throttled on the right. It will last two snaps and bot will go really really really poorly for the young man.
Result: Baine starts contemplating life after his rookie contract.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
I’m sure Joe’s girlfriend knows what a difference an inch can make too.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
Short armed guys are usually the strongest when it comes to upper body strength.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym in my life – it’s always the thick guys with short arms that are benching the most weight.
I’ve watched enough of his tape and seen zero reason for concern. His punch is powerful, he has multiple moves, a great motor, sheds blockers etc etc etc.
This guy could be the steal of the draft and a key reason (1 of several) that our D gets it’s mojo back 👍🏼
It’s taken a few years post Brady to get our cupboards restocked with QUALITY players on defense (we obviously focused on offense for a few years) but we’re getting there.
Happy that Todd has more to work with.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
What I want to know is if short arms work just fine against the best tackles in college, why will they not work in the pros? Let’s play a few snaps.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
I think we can put that one to bed. Shoulda been in bed after the draft.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
I don’t ever want to mention the length of his arms again. It’s ridiculous. Watch the film.
I am here for some other reason…
Ahmad Moten DT @ The U. 6’3 325 run stuffing beast who pushes the pocket backwards.
Buccaneers need to start looking at him for next year‘s draft.