“10 Toes Down The Hardest Worker”
May 4th, 2026
Joe loves learning more about Bucs first-round pick Rueben Bain.
The more Joe learns, the more Joe realizes the Bucs’ edge rush/outside linebackers coach better be ready to step up his coaching game from Day 1. Todd Bowles, too.
Joe has heard multiple interviews and read several articles about University of Miami assistant coach Jason Taylor, the Hall of Fame defensive end who coached Bain in college. That’s got Joe wondering how it might affect Bain if he thinks his new position coach is a step down from his old one.
That could be a challenge for any player in any sport or, frankly, any worker in any field.
Taylor told CBS Sports that Bain and his college teammate, Akheem Mesidor, are all about being coached to the extreme.
“Their commitment to being coached and allowing you to coach them, you know, coach them with the carrot and with the rod sometimes,” Taylor said. “They are the hardest workers in the room. When you got guys that are your best players and your harderst workers in the room that you can coach the hardest, and demand the most out of, you’re cooking with gas.”
“…Some guys get money because they love what ball does to them, and they turn into different people. Bain has never been that person. He’s always been 10 toes down the hardest worker. Violent. He is not just physical, he is violent and we talk about violence in this building a lot. We’re going to be violent in everything we do — on the field, within the rules.”
Joe sure hopes the folks at One Buc Palace have talked to Taylor to understand exactly how Bain was coached. That might help the Bucs pin down exactly why they felt compelled to spend the offseason focused on adding more toughness to the Tampa Bay roster.
May 4th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Rookie camp this weekend? Is it open to the media Joe? Looking forward to seeing our new class on the grass.
Yes, this weekend. Really nothing more than a semi-worthless underwear football session. No pads –Joe
May 4th, 2026 at 9:59 am
Where is the talk about bringing in Jason Taylor? This Bain is going to change the whole Vibe of this Team. He is the STUD rusher that we have been waiting for to help our Putrid Pass Defense. Now let’s get ‘Born Again” Baker signed to a long term deal and even Todd might not be able to screw this up. Go BUCS!!
May 4th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Wait for the slew of walk through practices. Nothing teaches how to play fast and tackle hard like going through the motions at 10%.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Not since Keith McCants has the hype been so high
May 4th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Last night I saw a man heroically carrying a mother, her babies, the cat, and a goldfish in a goldfish bowl out of a raging house fire.. it was Bain
May 4th, 2026 at 10:49 am
Jason Taylor didn’t develop Rueben Bain as a pass rusher
Rueben Bain was developed by Jube Joseph, Miami Central DC
Joseph was the DC for 3 of Central 4 consecutive state championships
Roland Smith retired, Joseph was promoted to HC
Central won their 4th consecutive championship, and a national title
Rueben Bain had 29.0 sacks as a senior, 29.5 sacks as a junior
He was a pure pass rusher before he got to Miami
He was the best pass rusher in high school
He didn’t need Jason Taylor, or the Miami Hurricanes
May 4th, 2026 at 11:01 am
Well let’s freakin Hire June Joseph then!! Bill Castle is unavailable
May 4th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Jose, the rookie camp has value in players getting to know the coaches and practice format, Xs and Os. It’s practicing practice. Now considering our defense at times last year looked like they did not practice, you could have a point.
May 4th, 2026 at 11:18 am
3.28.Evans Says:
May 4th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Wait for the slew of walk through practices. Nothing teaches how to play fast and tackle hard like going through the motions at 10%.
±++++++++++++++++++
No padded practices at Rookie Camp.
Joe even posted it.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
But are those ten toes on the line?
May 4th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Lakeland….
Is that correct??? Did I just read that Bain had TWENTY NINE SACKS in his senior year? Da@@! And 29 and 1/2 in his junior year?! Is that a common occurrence in college football?
Now THAT’S impressive….. 29… I think we finally hit the lottery. I realize that it college BUT he WAS playing against the BEST O lines and the VERY LARGEST GUYS with some of the VERY BEST TALENT that the planet has to offer and was able to pull that off…
I just don’t focus in on stats as much as some do so I rarely do the research in those type of programs. I let my eyes do the walking and all the research I need. To be Perfectly Honest, I don’t “place bets” on any normal basis concerning pro sports. OR I WOULD. I just “try” to enjoy the games. But to hear those numbers! I’ve got to admit… Shocking!
How could we not feel like we Really got a winner in Bain. 29 huh? Wow…
Btw, does anybody know what the record IS for sacks in the college season?
May 4th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Defense Rules
Yeah Reuben Bain had 29.0 sacks as a senior with Miami Central
And he had 29.5 sacks as a junior with Miami Central.
He had 77 total sacks during his 4 seasons at Miami Central High School
As they won 4 consecutive State Championships
Including a national title as a senior
May 4th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
I’m saying that Rueben Bain was a beastly pass rusher
Before he met Jason Taylor
May 4th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
3.28 can you “teech me how to foootball?”
May 4th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
JOE I’m sure you and Ira could talk to some of the office peeps maybe even hall of fame ronde barber and figure out how to get Jason Taylor here and coaching all yhe edge rushers. That could take yaya to the next level. Just imagine if yaya gets 10 sacks then Bain jumps in with 7 or 8 AQM drops 11 again vea gets his kancey gets his Scot comes in with 6 or 7 I mean QBs will be hospitalized. Let’s goo
May 4th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
HOLD ON Lakeland….
You had me going! It felt a bit Large Because that was actually NOT the numbers…
The “Actual” college record for sacks in a season IS…. 24
And that record was set by one Terrell Suggs..
Thanks for the excitement though. But it was a little too thick
May 4th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Obvious One, Lakeland was talking bout Bain’s High School numbers
May 4th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Bain had 20.5 sacks in 38 games..
HOWEVER…
Bain Led the FBS in pressures with 83 during the 2025 season.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
O.. high school. Well, then that’s A LOT
May 4th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
I said he did that at Miami Central during their 4 consecutive championships
Miami Hurricanes haven’t won anything in 30 years.
And l said he did it before he got to Miami U, before he met Jason Taylor
May 4th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
You know, being that Bain was a man among boys in high-school, he must have been quite surprised that he wasn’t as effective (in sacks) when the competition Got Bigger and Badder in college.. With that said, watching his highlights, he WAS Pounding away, Relentlessly trying to break that wall. And HE GOT GOOD AT IT! The highlights are clear and bear that out…
What it indicates is that Bain likely won’t be breaking sack records his first year BUT he’ll POUND THAT WALL until he Finally figures out how to Break it Down! THAT bears out as well concerning Him.
A good sign but a Clear indicator of the “Reality”… It’ll take him a good year and a half or two before he’s truly effective. And THAT depends on his co workers as well. The better the teammates, the More Success. The timing will GREATLY depend on who he’s got beside him, and on the other side of our line. Is Ya Ya going to get it done? Is HE READY for His breakout? The sooner YaYa breaks out (or someone else) the sooner Bain breaks out. It looks like the spread varies from 1 1/2 years to 3 years is the timeline for Bain. Or pretty much Anybody “with talent” that is… the others never breakout.
May 4th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
I see it now Lakeland. I didn’t pick up you speaking of his high school records. You Did let that roll out for a little while though… It’s all good. I’m just grateful we finally have a guy on our team who WILL BE a surefire STUD, sooner than not.
Thanks for taking the time to get me and I’m sure a few others excited about the coming future. It’s still appreciated
May 4th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
I just want to know if #4 is available 🤙🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👊🏾
May 4th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Lakeland
“He didn’t need Jason Taylor, or the Miami Hurricanes”
Now that he is a Buccaneer, does he need Larry Foote?
May 4th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Joe … ‘That’s got Joe wondering how it might affect Bain if he thinks his new position coach (Foote) is a step down from his old one (Taylor).’
Nice sneak-in of one of your ‘What IF’ scenarios Joe (or should we call it ‘chumming the water’?). Foote was a good but not exceptional LB; Taylor was an exceptional DE who won a lot of accolades & wound up with just shy of 140 sacks in his 15 years.
Would I rather have a Jason Taylor coaching our OLBs than Larry Foote? Oh yes, but that’s irrelevant (Todd & Jason never even asked for my opinion). In terms of teaching TECHNIQUE, my guess is that Taylor would be much better. In terms of applying the various OLBs’ talents in games to accomplish what the DC wants his OLBs to accomplish, Foote’s probably a bit ahead since he’s been with Bowles for so long.
Of course, there-in lies the problem for so many: it always comes down to what tasks TODD BOWLES wants his OLBs to accomplish. George Edwards was our OLB Coach from 2023-2024, but got replaced in 2025 by Larry Foote. Our OLBs had their worst year under Bowles in terms of production (only 14 sacks for 7 OLBs on the year). Might not be a bad idea to hire Jason Taylor (or even JPP) as a ‘consultant’. Heck, I’d be in favor of doing the same with Ndamukong Suh to ‘motivate’ our DLine.
May 4th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Just met a waiter who had 45 sacks in 8th grade. Nothing predicts NFL success better than some intermediate school statistics.
May 4th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Doesn’t matter Jake Browning had like 250 TD,s a million miles passing in HS..Hes a backup…
May 4th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Bowles and violent don’t belong in the same sentence together.
Bain vs Wirfs? Who wins?
May 4th, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Wirfs vs Bain? Who wins? Tristan Wirfs. In fact, good point you make. I hope Wirfs doesn’t slap the dawg out of our new kid. He might be so dejected by trying to beat NFL tackles off the edge that we have to substitute Braswell in for him. Never know.