Is Rueben Bain Ahead Of The Curve?
June 30th, 2026
Bucs DL Rueben Bain.
Joe sometimes gets frustrated (not at all toward fans) when fielding questions about underwear football.
For example: Yesterday Joe spoke with a hardcore Bucs fan, the first time Joe spoke with him since minicamp ended, and he wanted to now how certain players and the offensive line looked.
Joe replied, “[Name of fan], Can’t say for sure because it is underwear football. They’re not remotely practicing football, it’s flag football with helmets. Any answer is as much misinformation as information.”
A comparison would be if the Rays, before spring training, participated in slow-pitch softball practice for a week. They aren’t practicing baseball, they’re practicing slow-pitch softball. Two totally different things except both use a bat.
So it is unfair (with linemen, grossly unfair) to try to apply what a guy did playing flag/underwear football to how it will be when the players put on the pads.
When someone says Rueben Bain looked good in underwear football, you have to remember he can’t hit anyone nor can anyone hit him. How can anyone honestly or responsibly judge a lineman if he cannot absorb or dish out a hit?
Over at ESPN, they had NFL reporters file snippets on how each team’s top draft picks are faring. It seems, per Jenna Laine of ESPN, Bain’s intelligence stands out.
The Bucs were ecstatic that Bain fell to them, and that excitement has only grown as they’ve seen not only his power, his bend, his leverage and his violent hands up close — but also his instincts for the position. During the first team period of the first day of mandatory minicamp, Bain batted down an outside-the-pocket throw from quarterback Baker Mayfield. “For me, it is his intelligence, his understanding of the game,” coach Todd Bowles said. “There are some things that you cannot teach, and he does not learn like a normal rookie, and he does some things that a three- or four-year guy can do.”
It’s great and promising that Bain seems smart and is mentally ahead. But Bain tossing around a tackling dummy or playing “Ring Around the Rosie” really doesn’t mean anything when it comes to (real) football. Allegedly, Noah Spence could bend, too.
If a guy looks good doing jumping jacks or push-ups, does that mean he will be a beast on Sundays? No. Same applies to a guy who spins around a plastic ring or manhandles a tackling dummy. So Joe’s waiting for the pads to come on before making any sweeping observations.
June 30th, 2026 at 7:17 am
They’ve been re running some college games lately, a lot of Miami games. When watching now I focus in on Bain. He’s the real deal, pro ready. One play I watched he sniffed out a screen play, and blasted the ball carrier for little gain. His awareness on that play was on full display. He shows power, speed, bend in his pass rushes. What really stands out though is his smarts. He is rarely fooled. We got a good one, who’s already been coached up by a HOF player. Hopefully Bowles doesn’t drop him in coverage to often, but I don’t even think Bowles can ruin this kid, he’s just that good.
June 30th, 2026 at 7:45 am
All those things stood out to me as I watched him last year as well. The guy was a top 5 if not 3 talent.
June 30th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Not worries about Bain at all…..wouldve liked to hear more about K.Scott…he’s going to have a huge role on the defense…
GO BUCS!!!!
June 30th, 2026 at 8:14 am
“Allegedly, Noah Spence could bend, too”. Classic, LOL! I literally almost spit my coffee out when I read that.
June 30th, 2026 at 8:27 am
IIRC Spence did bend and did play tough his first year. After that, not so much.
June 30th, 2026 at 8:33 am
“Joe sometimes gets frustrated (not at all toward fans)…glad you cleared that up Joe! I was this close to taking my ball and going home.
June 30th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Bain has a couple of live oak tree trunks for legs. OL will have a tough time stopping his leg drive.
June 30th, 2026 at 9:13 am
Gotta love that he’s got a chip on his shoulder. If he gets 8-10 sacks and raises the level of those around him it’s a huge win. The DL was absolute trash last year.
June 30th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Shoulder injuries did him in.
June 30th, 2026 at 9:23 am
NO! Not at fans. Not at readers. Not at all!
Joe’s frustrated with himself! Joe knows guys who read this site daily and they often ask Joe about underwear football practice. So Joe is doing a bad job of describing that it really isn’t football what they are practicing, not what folks think of as football.
The Bucs won’t let us film anything other than warmups and position drills so Joe cannot use video to let people know what we (media) are seeing. That’s what frustrates Joe. He’s not doing a good enough job explaining this to folks if daily readers still ask Joe about it like it’s an 11-on-11 full-hitting scrimmage.
And Joe has read other reports from other teams try to say a lineman “looked good” in underwear football — that’s just irresponsible if not a lie when hitting is forbidden.
June 30th, 2026 at 9:25 am
He’ll be playing with a large chip on his shoulder this year.
June 30th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Daily article where Joe says “Im not giving Bain any props” other than writing about not giving him props every single day. The archives are easily searchable so you can see that you’re comment is off base. –Joe
June 30th, 2026 at 9:36 am
“So Joe is doing a bad job of describing that it really isn’t football what they are practicing, not what folks think of as football.”
It is football though. Everything those guys do before putting on the pads factor into how they move and play when the pads are on. It’s simulated reps, so instead of seeing the full 22 guys on the field compromising their collective physical well being, you guys lined up simulating their get off or simulating their reps.
The fact they aren’t hitting is what takes the gladiator type spirit out of what we see in games, it’s not as easy to sell. Pretty sure if teams allowed footage of film sessions it’d be viewed as less attention grabbing as practices without pads. Doesn’t mean it matters less or isn’t as important as 2 player making a loud pop during contact periods, even if it is equally important.
June 30th, 2026 at 9:55 am
still confused. yesterday someone was fawning over how there was a ‘report’ that Mike Evans was unguardable in practice and today we are back to “They’re not remotely practicing football, it’s flag football with helmets.”
June 30th, 2026 at 10:30 am
No Doubt Bill! We’ll see ,they’re all great out of the gate! New season new faces and healthy! Knock on 🪵 Go Bucs!
June 30th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Watch his film bain is different you can see his play recognition and the bend is next level you can bicker about hope all you want joe bain is gonna ball better lucky then good sometimes bucs really got lucky the draft fell the way it did. Hearing joe go on and on about the pass rush and then the bucs lucked out and got one of the best if not the best pass rusher in the draft and he sounds like a deflated balloon kinda of a let down after all the rants.
June 30th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Noah was derailed by two horrific shoulder injuries. He had a promising rookie season let’s recall, and played with a strapped shoulder.
June 30th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Do fans and Joe really understand what “underwear football” is about? It is about installs with the defense and offense! It is about technique, learning the playbook,
learning another position, different schemes, adjustments and many other mental things. What on earth makes so many fans think it is a waste of time. I am confident that every player who plays will be in the playbook when camp starts or they will be down the road quickly!
Anyone who thinks “underwear football” is a joke is not terribly smart!
June 30th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
As a non-coach I can imagine it’s difficult to project just how good someone is going to be just from watching drills. I can totally understand that. The best thing you can probably do (and Joe clearly does this) is seek out the opinions of coaches and players from what they are seeing. And Mauch already said Bain looks great so that’s a good start as far as I’m concerned. I trust the opinion of the best run blocker on the team. Ronde too.
June 30th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
“There are some things that you cannot teach, and he does not learn like a normal rookie, and he does some things that a three- or four-year guy can do.”
So Todd thinks he’ll be on the same page as YaYa from day 1. More ceiling of course.
June 30th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Thank you JOE. I think you do a phenomenal job. I like to poke fun at ya with a few things but it’s all in fun. Keep up the good work
June 30th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
The Bowles effect is a quantum anomaly. The curve actually folds back on itself and is the source of the great regression phenomenon he is so expert at instilling in his players.