BSPN: Bucs “Perfect Landing Spot” For Rueben Bain
May 10th, 2026
Usage comes to light.
Ever since the Bucs drafted the Miami Mauler edge rusher Rueben Bain at No. 15 in last month’s draft, Joe has been trying to figure how the Bucs will use him.
Bain is a ferocious defensive end in a 43 defense. KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles runs a 34 defense.
At least with the eyeball test, Bain doesn’t play or even look like an edge rusher/outside linebacker in Bowles’ defense. Joe cannot picture Bain dropping back into pass coverage on a semi-regular basis. But former NFL safety and current Chicagoland high school coach Matt Bowen, typing for BSPN, is of the belief Bain may not have found a better landing spot than with Bowles and the Bucs.
And for Joe, that is a real headscratcher. Bain was a beast as a 43 defensive end. He took over games. How could Bain landing with a team to play defensive end in a four-man front not have been better?
Bowles can get the most out of Bain, Bowen thinks.
Why he fits: Bain’s rugged play style fills an immediate need for the Bucs on their defensive front. He can set edges versus the run game (54 tackles on designed rushes last season); he combines power and flexibility to turn the corner as a pass rusher (five sacks in the College Football Playoff).
In coach Todd Bowles’ defense, look for Bain to seize one-on-one opportunities, be used on loops/stunts and create interior matchups as a nickel/dime defensive tackle. This is a strong fit in Tampa Bay.
Again, Joe has wrestled with how Bain fits in Bowles’ defense. Perhaps the Bucs will make Bain their newest version of Ndamukong Suh.
Now Joe doesn’t know if that is fair. Suh should be a Hall of Famer and he just dominated the league. Suh was past his prime with the Bucs and he was still ragdolling people (hi Aaron Rodgers!).
Bain will be Bowles’ next Suh. Joe would still rather see Bain just pin his ears back on passing downs and make a beeline to the quarterback. But yeah, Joe can see Bain playing up and down the defensive line just like Suh did.
May 10th, 2026 at 8:09 am
We’ll get more out of him if he plays like Shaq Barrett did. Except he can flip inside to DT/DE on certain plays where Bowles gets the itch not to blitz from his OLB position. Mostly I think we will run a 4-2-5 and just send him on every down.
May 10th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Joe says, “But yeah, Joe can see Bain playing up and down the defensive line just like Suh did.”
That was then, Bowles utilizes Edge rushers a both linemen and DBs. Hopefully Bain has good cover skills.
May 10th, 2026 at 8:11 am
Bain is an edge rusher Todd knows what to do. Bain will make everyone better. The Bucs need him to make Todd Bowles defense work. Let him do his job
May 10th, 2026 at 8:21 am
This Joe thinks that Todd Bowles is a well equipped defensive coordinator and has been dealing with a team that has invested heavily in offense the past several years. Add the fact that they came out of pay it forward purgatory and I believe the Bucs have a very real chance of getting closer to a balanced team. The Joes on this site seem to want a mea culpa from the team and just aren’t accepting two new coordinators, new coaches and a focus on defense as enough of an admission that last year’s formula didn’t work. I’m hoping that they’ve done enough and we’ll see the Bucs back in the playoffs.
May 10th, 2026 at 8:46 am
…
May 10th, 2026 at 9:01 am
My greatest fear with Bain it that Todd Blows square peg, round holes him, or tries to ask him to do too many things and has him thinking more than playing to his strengths. The best coaches ask “what doors he do well?” Then put them in a position to do that.
May 10th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Very observant Matt. Bowles deploys a 4-2-5 quite often.
May 10th, 2026 at 9:25 am
People bit**ing about Bowles putting lineman in coverage is old and stupid cause every team does it. The man had no talent and injuries to work with so he had to try to be as creative as he could to manufacture some type of pressure while still defending the receivers and backs, there just weren’t the players needed to do the job. Hopefully he has identified the quitters and they are gone and with an influx of good talent he will be able to field a better defense. He will use his personal correctly.
May 10th, 2026 at 9:40 am
People keep comparing BRex to Sapp and now Suh?
I watch a lot of college football. Sapp and Suh are the top most dominant DT and defensive players in my life. Baine was above average.
The Football World Agrees:
1. Sapp and Suh were 1st team All Americans
2. Sapp and Suh unanimously won Bronko Nagurski Trophy
(Best Defensive Player).
3. Sapp finished 6th in Heisman voting and Suh finished 4th. That’s CRAZY for a DT.
Baine didn’t win anything. People barely heard of him until the playoffs. He wasn’t even an All American. He won ACC awards which is like a participation award. If the best DL came out from the BIG10, Baine would have dropped farther.
May 10th, 2026 at 9:48 am
It will be interesting to see what Bowles and new DL coach Marcus West come up with for Bain. I think West is bringing in some new ideas and maybe Bowles will use them. They need to treat Bain as a DL and not OLB. I love the idea of moving guys around the DL to find the best matchup each game, especially Bain and a healthy Kancey. If Bowles wants to blitz, move Trotter along the LOS to pick a gap behind a 3 or 4 man front so that there are 4/5 rushers and the OLB doesn’t drop in coverage. Scott and Anzalone can cover the RBs and TEs.
May 10th, 2026 at 9:55 am
I’ve heard that Miami ran a 4-2-5 defense as stated above and believe we run that quite a bit. Would like some stats on that. Either way, I want him with a hand in the dirt, not standing up. Dude is a handful regardless. Looking forward to hearing about him in the weight room with Wirfs and Godeckie.
Bain’s low profile bend is his best move imo but his strength is awesome too – as are his hand chops and moves.
Really excited about this dude!
May 10th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Suh seemed like he hated Karen Rodgers personally. I loved it!!
May 10th, 2026 at 10:15 am
Slypirate- Bain is a lot better than you think he is.
May 10th, 2026 at 10:30 am
My question for Joe would be how often is Bowles’ defense in base? Bowles has mentioned he wants a 4-man rush to put more pressure on the QB, and Bain seems like a perfect fit to make that happen.
May 10th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Stpetematt is spot on
Switching him between DE and DT, even throwing him back with delayed blitzes as a “LB”
The point is to confuse the opposing QB. It’s too easy when you know what’s gonna happen. Why LVD got tore up in coverage last season. He was #1 target when his coverage tell was tipped off to opposing QBs
May 10th, 2026 at 10:35 am
SirVocea Dennis II.
May 10th, 2026 at 10:56 am
He came to learn how to cover running backs and tightends
May 10th, 2026 at 11:18 am
How about asking Bowles directly what he intends to do with Bain?
Bowles already has talked about this on SiriusXM NFL Radio (and Joe wrote about it). He intends to use him all over the line and will figure it out as time goes on. –Joe
May 10th, 2026 at 11:23 am
The 3-4 is our based defense
But, we can always move the OLBs closer to the LOS
And they can rush from a 3 point stance, similar to TJ Watt
We can throw many different defensive looks at the offense
We have the defensive personnel to deploy different schemes, and formations
We will not be a predictable defense
May 10th, 2026 at 11:39 am
How to use him? Hell Bowles will probably having him drop off in coverage against Tight Ends. What edge rusher? TODD DONT USE NO STINKING EDGE RUSHERSLOL N LOL LOL LOL!!!!
May 10th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Move him around to get the best match up,besides Bowles has all this expertise here on this forum!
May 10th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Joe … ‘Again, Joe has wrestled with how Bain fits in Bowles’ defense. Perhaps the Bucs will make Bain their newest version of Ndamukong Suh.’
Bain gives away 2″ & 50 lbs to Suh, plus a LOT of strength & experience. Moving Bain into the interior DLine is a wonderful way to get him injured. A 6’2″ & 263 lb OLB being double-teamed by a 6’5″ & 320 lb Guard & Center. Brilliant strategy to provide Kancey with a tub-mate.
Bucs have brought on several nasty beasts to play interior DLine (Robinson, RNR, Capehart) in addition to Vea, Kancey & Roberts. The last thing we need is to give away 50 lbs in any of these interior positions. Let the beasts do their thing.
May 10th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Yaya, A Rob, Vea, Kancey. Where’s Bain in the 4-2-5?
May 10th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
He will absolutely be asked to drop into coverage at times. Do any of you watch football, or am I talking to a bunch of fantasy football gm’s? He is going to play olb/edge opposite Yaya, and he will, at times, run with a, slow, blocking TE, or a FB, or maybe just drop into the flat (that’s the area around the line of scrimmage from about the hash mark to the sideline). Easy stuff so they can blitz other players. That’s how it works. You’re welcome.
May 10th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Peeps please stop saying he’s dropping into coverage, you’re depressing me.
May 10th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
I understand some of the head coach criticism, but I don’t get the continual sniping at how he uses outside linebackers. When he had the horses, the outside linebackers got plenty of sacks, and oh, lest you forget, we won a Super Bowl. If the d line stays healthy, it will be much improved this year.
May 10th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
BadBucs; If they’re looking for more size, Kancey comes out. If they want quickness, A Rob sits. It all depends on the situation. Hopefully, with all these good DL’s and OLB’s, they’ll be able to have a solid rotation so it doesn’t matter.
May 10th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Ballwasher61 Says:
Completely agree with your post!!
May 10th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Speed kills! D rules sounds like his mommy didn’t let him play!
May 10th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Bain is going to terrorize all opposing quarterbacks. Immediately!! What a great acquisition for the Bucs Defense!!
Go Bucs !! Go Bucs !!
May 10th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
Bain will terrorize all opposing quarterbacks!! Can’t wait to see the new Bucs Defense with an edge rush !!
Go Bucs !!
May 10th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
I initially thought the same thing when I wanted Bain even before this years draft. I didn’t think he fit Bowles scheme, so silently hoping the Bowles will give up the play calling and hire a defensive coordinator
May 10th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Dtownva,
What you’re missing is that “when he had the horses”, HE WASN’T THE HEAD COACH!
Sorry to say but Arians KNEW what he was doing and Arians had a Red Pen for the offense AND the defense… You may have missed that fact like many do but sad to say, IT’S TRUE! Think about it. When “Arians” was in charge we HAD DE’s that played like well, you know, DEFENSIVE ENDS! When Bozowles took over, DE’s disappeared!
It’s the Plain Truth… Go back and watch. Bibles out wits himself CONSTANTLY… And yes, for a little while it worked because it was So Disjointed and was So Very “round hole square peg” that it was so ridiculous that yes it work for a time.
As witnessed ALL of last season, the “jig is up”. The entire dog and pony show has been figured out and now Defeated over and over again that it Should have Been OBVIOUS that he NEED TO ADJUST! He Did Not. He literally had No Other strategy that quite frankly got figured out THE SEASON BEFORE LAST!
So unless Bowles has decided to get a Fresh Education and New Strategies, then WE WILL MOST CERTAINLY SEE MORE OF THE SAME! If we see the same approaches and strategies that Bowles has been uss for the Last 4 Years Straight, then I CERTAINLY HOPE that the last few of you in the “Rosey Colored Glasses club” WILL FINALLY FIGURE OUT THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO BETTER FOR OURSELVES THAN Todd Bowles and the dog and pony show as they feature the “round hole square peg act” is PLAYED OUT!
If it a requirement in Every position to be a Pro Bowler/ Nuclear scientist to figure out how they can “untangle” Bowles mess just so they can make an Average play…… then ANY “And I MEAN ANY COACH” will do! Successful coaches do something called “TRAIN” the ayers to “PLAY BETTER”… Bowles can’t even get THAT FAR! “HIS DEFENSE” HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST AVERAGE TO POOR PERFORMING SINCE HE WAS GIFTED THE JOB! FACTS!
Let’s “HOPE” that Bowles DOESN’T WASTE ANOTHER DE, just like he’s “RUINED” ALL THE REST! WORST COACH BAIN COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH AS A DE! AND BAIN KNEW IT! AND “THAT’S WHY” HE YANKED THAT HAT OFF THE STAND! Why do you think Kancey promised to show him where ALL the bars were in the area?
I Don’t think I could dislike Bowles anymore as a coach than I already do, but If he uses Bain CONSTANTLY in the wrong position AGAIN, just like ALL the others, he’ll find away for me to find a New Level of disdain for HIM.. He SUCKS! Could he possibly suck worse? The answer is an perplexing YES! DO NOT FORGET, HE LOST THE ENTIRE TEAM AND IT’S LEADERS AS LITTLE AS JUST 5/6 MONTHS AGO!
You Better Check YO Sheet!
May 10th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
I’m in agreement with several posters here that Bain fits as a DE much better than as a OLB…But what scares me is that Todd has a tendency to get too cute with his play calls & asks DE types to drop into coverage like true OLB’s while sending a CB / S or ILB on blitz packages in a very predictable manner.
No one wants to see pass rushers dropping out to cover a RB or trying to take away a slant route….We all want to see QB rib protection getting put to the test.
The other concern I have is how Todd deploys his “OLB” corps…Yaya, Bain, Muhammad and Nelson are all better suited for hand-in-the-dirt 4-3 DE’s…Walker, Braswell, Kamara & Ryburn are Jack OLB’s…But for the life of me – I do not see a true 3-4 SAM OLB on the roster.
Which is why I think Bowles rarely uses true 3-4 looks anymore and goes hybrid 4-2-5/3-3-5 with a “Star or Rover” Safety/Slot Corner more often than not.
May 10th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Bowles was the DC under Ariens,im sure Bowles will play Bain to his athletic abilities,
May 10th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Maybe he should be renamed Reuben PAIN?
May 10th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Looks like somebody’s starting to get jacked up on liquor again 😭
May 10th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Obvious One for the win!
People defending Bowles as DC should not be forgiven!! Just 3 months ago EVERYONE FINALLY realized what many of us with eyeballs knew for years; as DC Bowles inhales vigorously! His “D” has been figured-out and he cannot make adjustments! (See K. Cousins’ success against Bowles’ “D” as exhibit 1. If you want more, ask me, I can give them to you, ALL DAY!).
However, I will share only one now, my very favorite all-encompassing “Bowles Blows” stat, as I have before: Since Bowles became the DC for the Bucs, the highest his pass-defense ever rated was #15! Fifteen! Fif-fricken-teen!
Bottom half of the league in “D” can be achieved without a “genius”! And please, please stop it about the dominating defense in the SB. The Chiefs we’re missing 2 starters from their o-line. Do you think Mahomes gets into the end zone once or twice, if he has a little more time? All QBs suffer w/o o-line starters, Brady & Mahomes included!
So, Bowles will Bowles and have pass-rushing specialists dropping back into coverage, just as we insist on drafting cover corners to play them in the softest zone coverage known to man (WAO-Wide A$$ Open defense) and draft run-stuffing LBs to cover backs & TEs down the middle of the field. He really does out-think himself!
Who gets better under Bowles?
May 10th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
I guess Ariens sits back with blinders on and let’s todd ruin the team!
May 10th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
DR, couldn’t agree more. I cringe when I hear move him inside on passing downs. Great, finally get a true edge, D end, and Bowles wants him rushing inside.
May 10th, 2026 at 10:10 pm
It hasn’t been said lately.
Bowles sucks.
May 11th, 2026 at 8:42 am
The low IQ football fans do realize that Lawrence Taylor, Andre Tippett, Derrick Thomas, Pat Swilling, and Cornelius Bennett all played almost exclusively in the 3-4, right? Kevin Greene… Joey Porter… Terrell Suggs… please stop with the insanity.
May 11th, 2026 at 9:24 am
You would think the Kancey experience of being in the tub every year might clue Todd into realizing playing undersized players on the interior line is not a genius move. Now he’s thinking about using a guy 20 lbs. lighter as DT? Good thing Bain and Kancey are buddies – they can hang out on the sideline in their T-shirts on IR. If anything, Todd needs to be thinking of moving Kancey outside, not Bain inside. Bowles outsmarting himself again.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Hey Jack,
I wrote some nasty stuff. And then I realized what’s going with your Obsession with me… So I erased it and chose just to say this and ask you to stop stalking me before I tell my better half of your intentions…….
Look Jack, I know you’re flirting with me and all but it’s best you stay right where you are safest. You know what I mean? Besides, I’m in love with the “Woman” I have.
Have a good one. GO BUCS!