“This Guy Is Ready For The NFL”
May 1st, 2026
Can Rueben Bain be another Ndamukong Suh?
When is the last time a Bucs defender actually scared an opposing offense? It’s been a while, but not too long ago.
Oh sure, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks scared teams. Probably Rondé Barber, too. Those guys not only scared opposing teams, but changed games by themselves.
The last guy Joe can think of that actually scared opponents was Ndamukong Suh. He not only had significant influence on the rest of the Bucs defense, but offenses feared him.
Look how Suh’s physical play helped the Bucs beat up Aaron Rodgers in the regular season in 2020, or even Pat Mahomes later that year in the Super Bowl.
Joe remembers former Bucs guard Ian Beckles say Suh was so good, he actually changed defenses. Think about it: Did Suh ever play on a lousy defense? A soft defense? He turned around not just games, but the defensive makeup of his teams almost by himself.
To hear former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger talk on NFL Network, that describes new Bucs rookie defensive lineman Rueben Bain.
Baldinger attended Miami practices and saw how Bain thrived under his position coach Jason Taylor.
And Baldinger said in the national championship game against Indiana, despite Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza being picked No. 1 overall, there was no question who was the best player on the field that night: Bain.
“This guy is ready for the NFL,” Baldinger said of Bain. “In the national championship game against Indiana, he was the best player on the field and he was the most disruptive player, making those kinds of tackles for losses.
“He’s going to fit in perfectly [with the Bucs]. I just think that when you get a player like this, other players gravitate around [him]. He’s going to make other players better.
“And when you put [Bain] in Todd Bowles scheme, where he’s going to pressure in a variety of ways, he’s going to get a lot of one-on-one pass rushes this year.”
Joe sure hopes Baldinger and all the other sophists are right about Bain blowing up in Bowles’ defense. Not many rookie edge rushers do.
Joe is thinking if Bain can get eight sacks, that will be a good rookie season.
.@Buccaneers @CanesFootball @ruebenbainjr is a Buc….Jason Licht said there was a 1% chance he would be there at pick #15…#BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/yfTA1euZOw
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) May 1, 2026
May 1st, 2026 at 12:11 am
I seem to remember Vita being feared around the league. Guards and centers from playoff teams have been saying it for a while. And those are the ones that you hear in the news.
Regardless, I’m ecited for the Bainiac!
May 1st, 2026 at 1:06 am
Latest nickname iteration: “TRueRex!”
May 1st, 2026 at 2:04 am
Nickname idea: Knightfall Bain, Pirate of Pain!
May 1st, 2026 at 2:08 am
I like it — “Pirate of Pain: TRueRex!”
May 1st, 2026 at 2:42 am
Pirate Bain bringing the Buccaneer Pain!
May 1st, 2026 at 3:44 am
I might just watch a few games before I give him a nickname. I’m willing to put up with a few less sacks if I get a ton of TFL. Only a few less, mind you. 8 sacs as a rookie with an equal number of TFL would impress me greatly.
May 1st, 2026 at 3:51 am
I also notice that he has a fairly clean injury history.
May 1st, 2026 at 4:48 am
His name is Bain.
He doesn’t need a nickname!
May 1st, 2026 at 5:57 am
Suh!
May 1st, 2026 at 6:32 am
Rueben “The Assassin” Bain
May 1st, 2026 at 6:33 am
I vote we give Bain the jersey number 1.
Thoughts?
May 1st, 2026 at 6:54 am
Better give him a uniform number you don’t mind retiring.
May 1st, 2026 at 7:00 am
“And when you put [Bain] in Todd Bowles scheme, where he’s going to pressure in a variety of ways, he’s going to get a lot of one-on-one pass rushes this year.”
May 1st, 2026 at 7:00 am
Thats the part that scares me. Variety of ways. Just let the kid play and stop effing everything up
May 1st, 2026 at 7:13 am
Joe, petty but, one buccaneer defenders nam that you left out who struck fear over the middle of our defense…Lynch. Or was that intentional because he stole Evans?
May 1st, 2026 at 7:28 am
Bain, Trotter, Scott, are going to make a difference on defense this season. Combined with the FA moves, I believe Licht has given Bowles plenty to turn this defense around. Whether you believe Todd is the man for the job, or not, it will be squarely on his shoulders.
May 1st, 2026 at 7:38 am
Give him number 100 so him and yaya can go zero to 100 real quick
May 1st, 2026 at 7:47 am
Where is Grover the Muppet to say he sucks?
May 1st, 2026 at 8:07 am
Suh was the real #93.
May 1st, 2026 at 8:32 am
Bain really is the best can’t miss player the Bucs have drafted in a while.
We even had worries about Wirfs because he was still the 5th OT taken I believe.
People wanted Derwin James instead of Vita Vea and that was a wash IMO.
Now 2 years in a row, the 1st round pick is a true starter.
Bain might literally follow Parsons trajectory with around 13 sacks a year beginning his career. Who Knows? He could end up breaking the all time record for sacks. Who Knows?
What I do know, is that none of that will happen if even half the injuries Kancey has had, hit Bain. Please God let our guys stay healthy this year.
This is why Walker needs to be real also. Finally getting some depth at D Line and CB will help tremendously this year. 1st round pick next year better be DT again unless Roberts and Capeheart are true studs.
Last point, I still think Bowles is on a leash. Maybe he should be, but after this draft, if you really want to compete, you sign Baker to a 4-5 year contract and free up some money to make a few more moves. We need a veteran CB. Period. Not sure we can afford Trevon Diggs without making some moves.
Not sure what he is looking for or how much he wants, but he would fit in great with his play style. Our CBs need some dawg in them.
May 1st, 2026 at 8:40 am
You are going to feel my Bain!!!
May 1st, 2026 at 8:48 am
cant wait for TC
GO BUCS!!!
May 1st, 2026 at 8:56 am
No jinx. No jinx. No jinx.
May 1st, 2026 at 9:01 am
JPP wasn’t exactly Mary Poppins either. I think the difference between he & Suh as far as the difference in their temperaments, was JPP would let you know he’s kicking your butt whilst kicking your butt.
May 1st, 2026 at 9:11 am
Maybe Bowles won’t put him in coverage because of short arms. ?
May 1st, 2026 at 9:19 am
If Bain can get just 8 sacks (yes, that is a good, realistic number for a rookie), that is more than 3 times the number of sacks Reddick got last year.
That should allow less attention to blocking Yaya and maybe Yaya gets 12 sacks? That is 20 sacks from just those 2 players which is more than double the production of Reddick and Yaya from 2025.
And if Bain and Yaya can produce like that, that creates more one on ones for the rest of the D – for VV, Kancy and A’Shawn Robinson.
The addition of Bain creates a very potent front line: Bain, Robinson, VV, Kancy and Yaya. Man, I love that
May 1st, 2026 at 9:25 am
“That would be very painful…for you.” Heh
May 1st, 2026 at 9:32 am
This whole dline rotation the bucs have now has me pretty excited for this upcoming season still incredible bain fell let’s freaking go.
May 1st, 2026 at 9:58 am
Well let’s hope Baldy is correct, he usually is. Second absolutely love the coment, maybe Bowles won’t put him into coverage due to his short arms!!, absolutely brillant. Yes Todd please see this column, Bain’s arms are to short to be in coverage, don’t go there.
May 1st, 2026 at 10:30 am
“Can Rueben Bain be another Ndamukong Suh”. Whichever Joe reached far enough to write this, I’ve got the answer for you. NO.
May 1st, 2026 at 7:40 pm
8 sack?! That would be a great freaking season probably come with a fumble or two
May 1st, 2026 at 11:39 pm
B-Rex will be assigned the task of bringing Bowles 8 sacks of cheeseburgers every day. That’s how he’ll be known for 8 sacks.
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:11 pm
one of the best player personnel moves Licht ever did was get rid of Mr. Nice Guy and picking up Suh to take his place. The defensive tenor changed overnight.
May 2nd, 2026 at 9:14 pm
Gerald McCoy may be the only DL in the history of the NFL to apologize to a QB for hitting him.