Alex Anzalone: Bucs Defense Got High-Difficulty Grades From QB Position
June 1st, 2026
New Bucs inside linebacker Alex Anzalone.
An assertion was made last week on a high-profile national podcast that the game may have passed Todd Bowles by.
Joe wasn’t buying that.
And listening to Bucs linebacker Alex Anzalone today on Buccaneers.com, it seems like Lions QB Jared Goff isn’t buying that, either.
Anzlaone, a newcomer to the Bucs after five years as Lions captain, explained that he’s heard plenty about the challenges of the Bowles defense — from his former quarterbacks.
“The past few years I’d go to [my] quarterback, I’d be like, ‘What do you think of this defense? Is this hard for you to process? Do you know what’s going on? Can you get an early read on them?’ Anzalone said. “Just because I’m curious about other defenses around the league, and I know this [Bucs] defense has come up a lot from playing the Bucs so many times — how difficult it is to really process it and diagnose what’s going on and the looks,” Anzalone said. “It’s a defense that I feel like is complicated for the offense but in some ways it’s simple for the players on defense.”
Joe finds it interesting how Anazlone feels the Bucs defense is somewhat simple for the players in it. Many players, and ex-players like defensive back Logan Ryan, have shared that the defense is quite complex. And Bowles himself has talked about how there can be a steep learning curve for young edge rushers.
Perhaps Anzalone feeling like the defense is rather simple is a tip-off as to how successful he’ll be in it. And man, the Bucs sure are counting on Anzalone to thrive.
June 1st, 2026 at 8:44 am
To be completely fair… it’s hard to argue that “the game has passed (any coach) by” when said head coach was never top tier in the first place.
…or need I remind Buc Nation that ‘ol “Incredibly Average” Todd Bowles has never spent a day of his Buccaneers tenure outside of a midseason slump from a mediocre finish?
June 1st, 2026 at 8:49 am
There shouldn’t be a steep learning curve for edge rushers. It should be real simple, rush the passer!
June 1st, 2026 at 8:51 am
I think Todd is average at best over his career ad a DC. Below average as HC.
He surrounds himself with friends as coaches instead of the very best and brightest in the league. And if you cannot be flexible and adapt? Well, ask a dinosaur….
June 1st, 2026 at 8:54 am
Our main problem is that Bowles is unable to process his own Swiss cheese scheme.
I’ve read some over the top propaganda in my day, but this article might take the cake. “Did someone say cake” -Todd Bowles
Yes, opposing QBs are so confused by the defensive guru that they have no choice but to torch his defensive backfield for 400-500 yards regularly.
He’s the best. If only he could be the first HC\DC\OC in NFL history!!!!
Oh wait, we tried that in 2025. And he got an extension…….
June 1st, 2026 at 8:57 am
Todd just needs to be a little less stubborn.
June 1st, 2026 at 9:03 am
Anzalone has a little more between the ears than his predecessors.
June 1st, 2026 at 9:09 am
The defense only works with a couple of very very good players at inside linebacker, which we haven’t had for a couple years
June 1st, 2026 at 9:18 am
“It’s a defense that I feel like is complicated for the offense but in some ways it’s simple for the players on defense.”
So we’re clear, this about the complexity of the defense in the eyes of a QB and scheme Anzalone feels can be complex for offenses, but simple for veteran defenders like himself. I’d be interested to hear more from A’Shawn & AQM about their transition into the scheme along with how they’re coping with getting it down mentally.
June 1st, 2026 at 9:19 am
Pass rush is everything on this D. With a great pass rush, you make Mahomes look terrible in a Super Bowl. Without it, you look like most games since that night. Same coach.
June 1st, 2026 at 9:33 am
I think the defense had a severe lack of talent , especially last year. I don’t think any coach could have done much with the personnel on the defense. With that said , yes quite a bit of blame can go towards who thought the personnel used , could actually play. I mean we were told Dennis was going to be great. He was just the opposite. McColumn, the same.
When you are really short on talent other teams will beat you. I think Bowles tried to hide the shortness of talent by using diffent looks to hide the teams short comings. In doing so the defense got exposed fo what it truly was, really short on talent.
June 1st, 2026 at 9:42 am
Anzalone v. SVD is like comparing NASCAR to a dirt track.
Huge upgrade even if Anzalone is not what he was in 2023.
June 1st, 2026 at 9:58 am
It’s just the opposite Alex. Easy for opposing QBs to decipher, and very difficult for the defense to execute. Let’s hope you’re not stricken with paralysis by analysis much like the many that have come before you.
June 1st, 2026 at 10:03 am
I’m excited to see the impact that Anzalone can have on this defense.
LD54’s coverage skills fell off a cliff last year with the knee injury – and Sir Dennis was even worse in coverage.
5X defensive captain Alex Anzalone comes in as one of the best coverage ILBers in the league – He played 1003 snaps last year (including 174 snaps from the slot and 38 at CB) and had a career best 6.9% missed tackle rate…. (By comparison – David’s missed tackle rate in 2025 was 15.5% and Dennis’ was 13.9%)
So hopefully, with Scott playing most snaps at slot and Anzalone covering the middle from the weakside spot – the quick and easy pass plays over the middle(that too often turned into big plays after a missed tackle) are a thing of the past……
June 1st, 2026 at 10:23 am
Bowles is a defensive scheme genius. Fans that never played football a day in their life have a million reasons why he isn’t. Keep remembering those glory days in high school you losers
June 1st, 2026 at 10:40 am
Nice analysis Pickgrin, and I also think that Anzalone will have a significant impact on this defense. What I’m NOT sure of is how Todd Bowles will use Parrish & Scott.
IF McCollum & Morrison succeed as our outside CBs, we end up with both Parrish AND Scott pretty much vying for the same ‘slot’. I’ve read analyses saying that the Bucs played 5-6 def backs someplace between 65% – 70% of the time on defense in 2025, and 70% – 75% in 2024, with Nickel of course being predominant by a long shot. That’s actually quite consistent IMO. It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
June 1st, 2026 at 11:06 am
DR – its a good “problem” to have – this question of what to do with Parrish and Scott….
From my perspective – Scott is a natural for that slot position – he can cover – but he’s a guy you want close to the LOS because he will be making a ton of plays in the backfield and is also quite good at effecting the QB on blitzes.
And as of the last we saw, Parrish is our best pure CB – inside or outside. So in my mind Parrish starts at one spot outside and its between Morrison and McCollum for the other outside spot. Zyon is getting paid quite a bit of $ so he likely gets the nod unless Morrison is clearly outplaying him.
June 1st, 2026 at 11:07 am
We’re weaker at CB than last year. Anzalone is only a small upgrade at LB. One injury and we’re significantly worse. That gaping hole in the middle of the D has not been addressed seriously. Adding Rozeboom and a rookie who can’t cover is just a gamble. Hoping on vast improvement from Morrison and McCollum is another gamble with no Dean.
So we’re still short on talent and whether the defense is too complicated for the players is clear by the results. It wasn’t too complicated for the offense – ask Cousins or Shough or the rookie from Miami.
June 1st, 2026 at 11:10 am
Well, now that we’ve several glaring holes in that defense we should be at least a little bit better.
June 1st, 2026 at 11:19 am
The consensus is that Todd Bowles defense is complex.It is complex, just for the players. Too many responsibilities and checks. The same goes for the edge rushers. Rather than streamline the scheme and keep it simple for the players so they can fast, Bowles wants to do the same thing year in and year out. The opposing QBs likes it just fine, just look at the numbers.
June 1st, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Agree with @pickgrin
GO BUCS
June 1st, 2026 at 12:36 pm
I think Goff’s actual comment last year was something along the line of “I don’t always know where the pressure will come from but I can feel where the void is going to be…”
June 1st, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Simple or not players are expected to know it. Keep studying relentlessly because that is their job. As the expression says Practice makes perfect. The Bucs are building depth. That’s a good thing. Starters are being pushed to keep their job. Either produce or sit on the side line.
June 1st, 2026 at 1:43 pm
It’s obviously very simple for QBs given how many throw 22/25 against it every week. Rookies too.