Rueben Bain And The Hula Hoop
June 4th, 2026
Joe remembers back in 2016 when the Bucs drafted edge rusher Noah Spence and then-defensive coordinator Mike Smith likened him to Gumby, a comment that sailed over Spence’s head like a Jameis Winston opening-drive pass.
In the last century, Gumby was a TV show and/or a toy, but he always was a bendable figure that could be twisted in all kinds of directions. Smith loved the Gumby-like way Spence rushed the passer.
“If he’s got to go underground and pop back up, he’ll go underground and pop back up,” Smith said.
Sadly, Spence was a flop after a 5 1/2-sack rookie season.
Joe has thought of Spence while watching new Bucs rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain, the Miami Mauler, flash his Gumby-like ways in practice, except he’s got about 25 pounds more muscle and power in his body than Spence did.
Above is a screenshot from a tennis-ball drill the Buccaneers have their edge rushers perform. Rushers must shed a passive block and then break immediately left and tightly around the hoop — while grabbing the tennis ball and squeezing it without, hopefully, breaking stride.
Bain always stands out for his unique blend of bend, balance and power.
Joe was told by a source that Bain has been consistently giving stud Bucs left tackles fits with his raw ability and motor. Yeah, it’s underwear football, but Bain isn’t your typical flag football performer.
We’re 71 days from the first preseason kickoff.
June 4th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
That ability to bend is going to show up on loops and stunts, not just rounding the corner on OTs. Dodging pulling guards on seal outs, chips from TEs & RBs, and should come in handy fighting down blocks and maintain the perimeter.
Can’t wait to see Bain play.
June 4th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
This is guy and Noah Spence are not in the same category. Top flight competition in college has Bain miles ahead. Bain will get his sacks! how great will he be… it’s up to him!
June 4th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
To my peers, am I remembering correctly when I think Spence was severely injured at some point? It wasn’t all that long ago, but, other than that Criss Brasswell style hyperbole…Spence was about as memorable as an ultra smelly fart. I honestly do not remember much.
June 4th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
Well if they were referring to a Wirfs, that sounds great!!However remember we heard that from so called sources who said, I can’t even remember the name, Rameriz?, was giving Wirfs fits in practice. Then he seemed to just disappear. I don’t think Bain will be like that. Licht and others say a lot of stuff I think to hype the fans and give the guys confidence. I will never get over Braswell and him shocking the world. I sure hope the best for Bain with all the hype the guy has to live up to.
June 4th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
I do remember the gumby reference
June 4th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
“…a comment that sailed over Spence’s head like a Jameis Winston opening-drive pass.”
I laughed, then cried.
Good stuff, Joe.
June 4th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
B-Rex is also a super smart player. Again, I didn’t watch a ton of him before the draft since I never thought he’d drop to us, but watching scouts talk about him, and watching highlights, man, he is quick with decision making – and mixed with his physical skills, it’s going to be a huge shock if he’s not, at least, a very very good player – and is at that level very quickly.
I really liked Kancey, and still do, and I was high on him – but Bain is even a step up from him in terms of confidence that he’ll be good (and Kancey, if he can stay healthy, is at worst a pro-bowl player with all-pro upside still).
June 4th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
We’re talking about practice??? Practice?? Not a game, practice???
Playing with tennis balls and Hula Hoops sounds about right for the Swiss cheeses defense.
No wonder we can’t even survive in the worst division in football.
Same scheme, same techniques, same HC\DC.
What could possibly go wrong…….
June 4th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Spence had a huge shoulder subluxation problem ……… sometimes that never gets fixed good enough to go 100 percent again !! A DE playing around that at 90 percent at 245 isn’t going to be near his best .
June 4th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Lynchmob seriously? Go outside..get a job..get a life. You’re pathetic existence in here is really depressing to know people like you exist.
Sad really
June 4th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
LynchMob50 Says:
June 4th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
We’re talking about practice??? Practice?? Not a game, practice???
———–
Care to tell us what game is taking place that we could talk about instead?
If it bugs you that much – then come back September 13th, because there aren’t any games that count until then.
June 4th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
I hope I’m wrong, but I feel like Bain is way overhyped.
My intuition says that he prob won’t ever get double digit sacks in the NFL.
Prob half that.
But again, I hope I’m wrong about that and I hope he turns out to be great.
June 4th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
Giving the LT fits like former All-Pro Jose Ramirez?
Oh, how about Cam Gill getting double digit sacks in the UFL? Don’t say Bowles never developed a pass rusher!
June 4th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Bain is going to be fun to watch! He was a beast at Miami and is going to be a legit D End for the Bucs!
June 4th, 2026 at 6:43 pm
Erik with Clean Athletics™ Says:
June 4th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
I hope I’m wrong, but I feel like Bain is way overhyped.
——-
I know going into the draft, based on what I had read, I felt he was a safe but limited pick – but again, I didn’t pay a ton of attention since I didn’t think he’d fall to the Bucs.
But man, go watch tape, go watch scouts break down his tape, and just watch his highlights. He, to my eye, looks like a guy who could have played in the NFL last year. He’s not a developmental guy, he’s super smart, he doesn’t seem like a guy who should struggle early as he learns.
I could of course be wrong, and perhaps he’s more of a typical rookie – and at EDGE and DL, they generally don’t do a lot their rookie years. But the more I see about him, the more I like – and I’m not a homer when it comes to picks and just say everyone is great.
But I’ve been watching football for over 40-years now – and seem a ton of college football as well – and a lot of times, you can weed out guys who dominate at college but you can just by the eyeball test tell they won’t be good pros. B-Rex is not one of those guys. You watch his moves, his instincts, his power – he looks NFL ready, and I’ll legit be shocked if he doesn’t turn out to be really good.
June 4th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
I’m not worried about Bain as of yet. “Jason Taylor” molded Bain. Not some unreliable, “current” Bucs edge rushing coach who could care less about rushing the passer “WITH EDGE RUSHERS”! EVEN THOUGH the “person” whom designs the plays, has the D line covering and the small defensive backs “in the back feild” rushing the passer as ANY backup QB easily picks apart because of the GIGANTIC HOLES to throw to and through.
You know… the highly unsuccessful “BIZZARRO WORLD sorta ~ kinda quasi strategy” otherwise known as the “Round hole/Square peg..Oops style strategy” we’ve been embarrassed by for many straight seasons in a row now by.
Can’t Wait to get a “Real Life” and dedicated Defensive Coach whom KNOWS HOW to use a defense in a Incredibly Stellar, Traditionally EFFECTIVE way..
Now THAT WOULD BE exciting! Soon. Very Soon……
June 4th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
You know what I really like about Bain? It’s his “man handling”, Pure Power he hits these guys with instead of finessing his way in there.
They’ll have No Choice But To double and triple team the guy.
And his MOTOR! Man… the guy Don’t Stop! That’s why it’ll get into triple teams. Not Only because HE’S REALLY SO VERY STRONG. NO…. HE KEEPS COMING, AND BLASTING, AND BEATING DOWN multiple guys! The dude IS A DIESEL!
He truly IS Scary. “In some ways” he reminds me of SUH!
It’ll Truly be a weird shame if Bowles does Dumb Things and trys to send him into coverage. It JUST NOT A BAIN THING!
June 4th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Also excited for padded practice and what Bain looks like versus Wirf and Geodeke.
Remember the picture of those two juggernauts from two articles ago? “If” he’s able to push those guys around…. Now THAT’S A TRUE TEST! And if he can… WE HAVE A WINNER!
June 4th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
On his first miss tackle the loons on this site will start looning about his short arms. It will happen just wait and see.
June 4th, 2026 at 7:20 pm
I wish he could wear the Justin Tuck facemask.
The one he picked is solid still… but the Tuck one that was banned was just crazy.
Would look great on him!
June 4th, 2026 at 7:24 pm
If only we could use practice drills to accrue sacks in real games…we’d have all world defensive lineman/linebackers…Lol
June 4th, 2026 at 7:27 pm
We need to try to sign Jason Taylor next year.
Make Jason Taylor the highest paid D-line coach in NFL history.
Teacherman has spoken.
Who could disagree with such a brilliant idea?
Defensive lines win Super Bowls.
Like Seattle last year. Our D-line with Sapp and Rice. Our D-line with Suh, Vea, Barrett, JPP and Vea.
Like the Giants beating the Patriots.
Make Jason Taylor an offer he can’t refuse.
Go Bucs!