NFL.com: Defensive Upgrades Not Enough
July 3rd, 2026
Need more impact.
Last year the Bucs had a soft, quitting defense. Thankfully, the organization saw the same thing and made a concerted effort to bring in guys with passion in their hearts and violence on their minds.
Good start.
The Bucs signed A’Shawn Robinson, Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad. In the draft the Bucs got Rueben Bain, Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott. However, will those six — half rookies — be enough to completely remake the defense and get the Bucs back to the playoffs?
Matt Okada of NFL.com has doubts. He seems to think the Bucs defense was so bad last year that the aforementioned six players won’t make enough of an impact to turn the Bucs defense around in one offseason.
Defense was clearly a focus in the draft. The Bucs landed Bain at No. 15 overall and then added defensive players with three of their next four picks. Overall, I’m not sure they made enough impact additions to change the status quo.
Joe was listening to a recent edition of Kevin Clark’s “This is Football” podcast. There, he said, when trying to make a case for a team being really good in a season preview, if you have to use three or more “ifs” to make your pitch, you’re in trouble.
Joe sees (at least) three “ifs” on the defense alone.
If Bain is all that, if Trotter is all that, if Scott is all that, if Zyon McCollum isn’t bored, if Benjamin Morrison is healthy and the biggest if of them all: If KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles has his first drafted-and-developed double-digit sacks edge rusher (Bain).
Too many ifs for Joe to be comfortable in July that the Bucs can make a Super Bowl run.
July 3rd, 2026 at 12:03 am
Many, not make.
July 3rd, 2026 at 12:13 am
This is a Super Bowl roster if not for the head coach, QB and CBs
July 3rd, 2026 at 12:15 am
And yes, this entire roster has to prove it on the field before I can even TRY to find my enthusiasm for this squad. I know that it’s not fair to the current guys on the team that last year’s group has caused me to no longer give the benefit of the doubt, but that’s what happens when I see an offense, a defense, and special teams units that were, in turns, terrible, week in and week out.
July 3rd, 2026 at 12:16 am
Todd. Bowlse.
Serial loser and regression artist.
Mike Evans knows.
July 3rd, 2026 at 1:43 am
Bucs are relying on rookies to make an immediate impact on defense. Think the defense will take awhile to gel and that the secondary is still very weak. I do not believe the defense will be very good this year. The offense has to score over 30 points a game to have a chance. Then there is the stubborn and weak DC.
July 3rd, 2026 at 2:24 am
If they fired Bowles…we’d still have Mike.
July 3rd, 2026 at 2:45 am
If Toad Bowels had been fired in 2024, Coen would be the HC and we’d have a real DC.
If we continue down this path of never ending failure and stupidity, this will turn into the lost decade 2.0.
If the current HC\DC is allowed to coach past 2026 the fan base seriously needs to revolt.
If you like 8-9 seasons and no playoffs, stick with the perineal loser that was retained despite the glaring reality that the defense is non existent.
July 3rd, 2026 at 2:46 am
This Joe get to wear the Eeyore tail.
Bain doesn’t at all seem to be an if.
The only if with Trotter is pass coverage, and the Bucs have two chances to hit. The Bucs can always sit Trotter and play nickel with Scott if Trotter is the greater liability in coverage, and the Bucs can stay in base and play Trotter if Scott is the greater liability.
And, likewise at corner back, Parrish seems solid, so the Bucs could hit with McCollum or Benjamin. And, if Benjamin and McCollum both pan out, Parrish gives you another shot at nickel corner back/ILB.
Now, that said, the Bucs should be looking for a tall corner back who is a victim of the roster cuts to get down to 53 players on the roster. And, by that time, the Bucs should at least know how great a need at corner back there is, if any.
So for the defense, I count ILB as 1/2 of an if and CB/NB as half of an if. And, one of those could be put to bed with a solid veteran CB signing like Rasul Douglas or someone a bit better.
July 3rd, 2026 at 4:24 am
Just don’t get anyone who thinks this team can make a legit SB run under todd. How many years of mediocrity does it take for someone to realize the obvious?Realize we live in a time where people willingly ignore or rationalize facts & evidence… but damn.
July 3rd, 2026 at 4:28 am
Will never understand how anyone can think the Bucs can go on a legit SB run under todd. Not sure how many years of mediocrity it takes for someone to see the obvious. Realize we live in a time where many willingly ignore or rationalize facts & evidence, but still…. Baffling!!
July 3rd, 2026 at 4:30 am
Joe … ‘Too many ifs for Joe to be comfortable in July that the Bucs can make a Super Bowl run.’
I would HOPE that there are too many IFs for ANYONE to be comfortable in July that the Bucs can make a Super Bowl run this year.
o Our defense is coming off a season where we surrendered 411 pts … 24.2 PPG average. Of course, the word ‘average’ is critical here, because in 3 successive games in the middle of the season (Patriots, Bills, Rams) our defense gave up 106 pts to 3 high-powered offenses all ranked in the Top-5.
o Our offense is coming off a season in which we scored 122 pts LESS than we scored the year prior. It also scored 20 pts or less in EIGHT games last season (almost half our schedule) and we went 3-5 in those 8 games. Our offense IOW wasn’t without its ‘issues’ last year. But hey, we got a new offensive coordinator so we’re good.
o Our Special Teams was in a league of its’ own in 2025 … and NOT in a good way. They gave up a blocked punt TD, a blocked FG TD, and numerous long returns on kickoffs & punts. It got so bad that we intentionally kicked it into the End Zone on kickoffs & gave it to our opponents on the 35-yd line to keep them from returning it further. But hey, we got a new S/Ts coordinator so we’re good.
So yes, there are too many IFs as of right now, BUT … those IFs don’t just fall on the defensive side of the ball. IF the Bucs are to make a playoff run this year, BOTH the defense AND offense AND our S/Ts better improve dramatically (as in Top-10 finishes in the Points Scored & Allowed category).
July 3rd, 2026 at 5:47 am
Bain was developed by Jason Taylor. There’s nothing any of the Buc coaches can teach him that Jason hasn’t already. I’m not worried about them developing him, I’m worrying about then ruining him.
July 3rd, 2026 at 6:21 am
One more big if: Can Kancey stay healthy and play the season?
That’s 7 impactful players on Defense that could/should improve the Defense significantly…,, and a healthy OLine and a productive, consistent QB.
Is that too much for Bucs fans to ask?
July 3rd, 2026 at 6:32 am
I think the Bucs will shock the so called experts next year. Biggest steal of the draft at 15 for Bain. They don’t mention Kancey returning and finally getting to get David Walker on the field. I have a feeling this pass rush is going to be relentless. If that happens as expected the entire secondary will benefit.
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:04 am
Anybody think they should make a run at Devin White as a rotational pass rushing OLB
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:07 am
Its july and Joe needs something to talk about. Bashing Bowles is something people on here love to do. Go BUCS!!!!!
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:21 am
I think the defense will be better. Dont know how much. Kancey stays healthy. Bain helps YaYa get some. Few other things. See when pads come on.
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:26 am
Red Pen,
This article is about the players on the defense. Not Todd, Not ME13SF.
Even with all of these “ifs nobody can deny the talent level on defense has been upgraded. It’s not a superbowl roster but it is better than last year’s roster and if the results aren’t better than Todd should be fired. Period. It also isn’t a finished product yet. Look for a few veteran players to be added at ILB and DB after roster cut downs. We all already know the offense will be better with ZRob and healthy Oline. The offense will be good, the defense just needs to be adequate.
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:45 am
Jason Licht doesn’t make impact signings or trades and expects the defense to be solid? Too much hoping.
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 am
Seattle and the Patriots started out with a bunch of “ifs”…
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 am
A good portion of what gets done around the league is based on projection.
/“ifs” lol
What we know we’ve done is made moves to re-fortify the interior of our offense. Added what appears to be at least 2 upgrades in terms of talent to the OLB room, while also making ourselves more flexible at nickel back.
We still have Winfield & Tykee over top.
Keionte will be used to fill the void left by Parrish playing outside while also being an asset in run defense.
Bain, AQM, Robinson, Capehart all individually compliment the talent we carried over.
Trotter imo, will be used in the same way Bowles used Devin White to lesser and greater extents. Trotter obviously doesn’t come with the speed White had, but he stacks and sheds better while being a bigger presence in the box. While also being that A-gap destroyer as a blitzer, which he was pretty elite at doing for Mizzou last year. Before you retort with sack numbers please realize run blitzes exist especially when you’re defending the option at a higher clip than you would in the NFL. That’s what the talks on Totters’ projected usage when projecting how he’ll be used because this fan base is worried about him doing what we brought Anzalone to do.
Outside of the CB shuffle, I think we’ve improved where in spots where it can make some of the other uncertainties at corner a little less significant.
July 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 am
I will always believe the reason ME13 walked was the Toad…he is Jeff Fisher reincarnated…just a .500 guy for life
July 3rd, 2026 at 8:00 am
Well, looking at the comments I must admit that Bowles is certainly still a sore spot for our team. Ok. I get it. We are stuck with him for another year. That said, we have to deal with the coaches and players we have. Not the ones we wish we had. Looking at it logically, a returning offensive line and a healthier Baker and a better offensive coordinator should get us back closer to 28 points a game again. I said closer. Now that front 7 simply ought to be much better. Especially at linebacker. Bain is stout enough to play OLB or DE. Sight unseen, he has to be vastly superior to Hall or that other old fart we signed last year from the Jets. Forget his name. I don’t care enough to look it up. Anzolone and Trotter almost have to be better than a worn out David and a disappointing Dennis. Where I worry is that secondary. We lost our best corner. Winfield isn’t quite what he used to be. I simply do not like Tykee Smith at all. Lazy. Will McCollum decide to actually earn his money? Will Morrison play at all? If Licht doesn’t sign anyone at all that secondary is truly going to stink.
July 3rd, 2026 at 8:56 am
Defensive upgrades will never be enough until they upgrade at defensive coordinator.
July 3rd, 2026 at 9:07 am
Ask the Glazer nerd boys – if Daddy Malcolm was still with us, would Todd still be in charge to harpoon this team’s progress?
July 3rd, 2026 at 9:11 am
Defense Rules, I’m glad you mention special teams because they’re not getting nearly enough blame. Putting the defense in a hole before they even walk onto the field is extremely tough. This accounts for a lot of the additional points scored against us because they were basically defending half the field. Even when the D was able to get a stop, the offense would take over at the 10 yard line. Very frustrating for the entire team.
July 3rd, 2026 at 9:40 am
Joe, it would be nice if you listed the credentials of these touts. Some appear to be high school dropouts who couldn’t,t pick their noses. Did any of them pick Seattle to win the super bowl or New England to win the AFC and 13 games. And by the way, the NFC South was not the worst division in football and the Buccaneers were 3-1 against the NFC West, a division that sent 3 of 4 teams to the playoffs
July 3rd, 2026 at 9:49 am
Agreed on the “IF’s”. This team is guilty of mediocrity until proven otherwise of being a good team.
July 3rd, 2026 at 10:06 am
The never ending IFS from the Media is such a FRAUD. Most of the media hasn’t a clue about the Bucs because they only follow Main Stream. Most of them haven’t watched teans like the Bucs (secondary tier teams).and are incapable of any honest accessment of teams like the Bucs.
The Bucs were slammed with an inordinate amount of injuries last year. The key for success is to keep Mayfield healthy. He’s style of playing recklessly is a two edge sword.
This year is both a new year and a new Team. Last was run by a first time OC and he didn’t know how to adapt. Fast forward today we have an experienced OC in Robinson from the McVeigh Tree.
Let’s see how 2026 goes before passing judgment on what happened last year Joe, can you find something else to say about the Bucs. Use your head and come up with something new other than the same old diatribe.
July 3rd, 2026 at 10:23 am
Fred what were you watching. Tykee was probably the best player on defense last year.
July 3rd, 2026 at 10:31 am
Retained. Mike knows.
July 3rd, 2026 at 11:08 am
Woodman
Fred isn’t the only one..plenty of times Tykee standing waiting fit the ball carrier to get to him.. or doing the Joggin Joe Tryon maneuver.
July 3rd, 2026 at 12:13 pm
How many great defensive players do we need to overcome bad coaching? I don’t think we have enough yet. However, there is a second option . . .
July 3rd, 2026 at 12:18 pm
The main defensive upgrade we needed to make was at Defensive Coordinator/Playcaller, and we didn’t do it.
So, our D will most likely be bottom-half-of-the-league again.
July 3rd, 2026 at 2:26 pm
What team doesn’t say if in July?
July 3rd, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Bucs will be better than last year we just don’t know how much better.
July 3rd, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Defense bad.
Offense not a problem.
All Todd’s fault. Players don’t matter.
Ok, got it
July 3rd, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Simpleton loves 32nd ranked red zone defense.
Todd is a genius. A defensive guru.