“He’s Very Vocal With His Pads”
September 6th, 2026
How unique is Bucs inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, Tampa Bay’s Round 2 draft pick back in April?
Nobody knows completely because the season is a week away and Trotter barely played in preseason. However, Trotter stands out in one way, per Todd Bowles, because he’s a 21-year-old who won over veteran players in a hurry.
So how did he do it, Coach?
“His physicality on the field, not just his physicality, but him getting in the playbook and keeping his mouth shut,” Bowles said of Trotter on The Rondé Barber Show. “But when he’s out [on the field,] he’s very vocal with his pads and he’s always in the right place. And you’re not really carrying him; he’s carrying his own weight and he’s making an impact. And everybody’s like, ‘Whoa, this guy.’ He opened the eyes of the vets the first couple of times we were in pads, and that was kind of the end of it.”
Bowles added that despite Trotter having a “baby face,” he’s built in the mold of superheroes Thor or Ironman. That’s got to help how he’s perceived by teammates.
Joe is very excited about Trotter, but Joe will be even more excited if Trotter passes the extreme test of the Bengals and Joe Burrow next Sunday. They’re sure to attack Trotter a few times to see if his coverage skills are NFL-ready.
September 6th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
I believe our ILBs will be better in coverage than last season
It’s hard to cover a RB, TE when you have to fight off blocks
That was the case last season,
320 lbs guards were all over our ILBs before they could react
But this season with the big Dawgs upfront
Our ILBs should have more space to make plays
September 6th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Can’t wait to see what he can do.
September 6th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
One of Josiah Trotter strengths at Missouri was shedding blockers
He wasn’t allowing guards to tie him up, engage him
He would fight off blockers and make a play on the ball
We didn’t have that last season with LVD and Voss
September 6th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
I remember during the draft many Bucs fan were complaining that we should have moved up and drafted Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech. It’ll be fun to see who performs better this season.
September 6th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Looking forward to the 1st game
Bucs are going to shock the league this year!!!!
September 6th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
Can’t wait see how he covers elite backs. The rest of this is hype for your top 2 picks. Every team and GM does it.
September 6th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
Baby face. Thor body.
This kid looks like he should be asking for permission to stay out late while simultaneously separating a tight end from consciousness.
Veterans saw Trotter hit somebody twice and immediately went from “Who’s the rookie?” to “Yes sir, Mr. Trotter.”
September 6th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Hopefully more Thor than Ironman. lol
September 6th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
^^^^^^
He could also turn out to be more like He Man’s good buddy, Fisto.
Kinda the Rod Munch of superheroes.
September 6th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Ugh. I will say Trotter’s tape got me very interested but once I saw his injury history and coverage deficits relative to other ILBs on the board and he came off my list early. Bowles has already sardonically noted himself that Trotter finally caught a ball. I want to see his hips tell me they can flip in coverage. I’d like him to consistently hit proper depths in zone. I fear he may be symbolic of Bowles failure to evolve with the game. I’m still pissed at this pick- a two down ILB with 2 repaired knees.
I hope he lights it up but I’m glad that fella #46 is behind him in the photo. He is no pass coverage whiz either but he has a faster 10 yard split than Cassius Howell. I know he isn’t even officially back on the PS yet but Fordham is more depth in addition to the pair of FAs. It’s nice having some security at the ILB position for a change.
September 6th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
AI predicting a loss to the bungals but it’s not the start it’s the finish!
September 6th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
I personally don’t think he’s going to be that good, I’ll believe it when I see it. Iv been a Buc fan for a long time, this young man has to prove himself. Iv been coming to Joebucsfan for many years and Iv never changed my screen name here. Iv learned not to anoint rookie players right out of training camp.
September 6th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
He was rated as a good run stopper, but stiff in the hips and unable to cover running backs on screens. He was said to lack zone awareness, is slow to react, and gets turned around. So I guess we will find out against Burrow. It’s going to be a long day if Burrow has time to pick on him I’m afraid. Let’s hope the Dline is up to the task.
September 6th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
The Bucs plays mostly zone defense
The MIKE LB suppose to cover the middle of the field in a zone defense
He don’t just cover a RB or TE
Whoever comes into his zone of the field, he’s responsible for them
That was one of the Bucs biggest problem on defense, being out of position
When KJ Britt was the MIKE, the middle of the field was always wide open
I believe Josiah Trotter is disciplined enough to stay in his zone
It’s ok to allow completions, but it’s not ok to miss tackles
Missed tackles really hurt us last season
I believe Josiah Trotter will be ok in pass defense
He’s a really good tackler, and he’s disciplined enough to stay in his zone
We know he’s stout against the run, he shoot gaps, really good
He shed blockers, and he has a high football IQ
September 6th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
I’ll be rooting for Trotter. C.J. Allen was there for the picking…will be interesting to see who has a better career.
September 6th, 2026 at 7:20 pm
He is listed on depth chart as the backup not even sure how many snaps he will get. Joes have glazed him more than a Krispy Kreme donut. Im afraid they set the expectation way too high for this kid.
September 6th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
@Winny this will be an interesting selection to watch. Not only was Allen available but so were J-Rod & Anthony Hill Jr. Here’s to hoping Licht & Bowles selected the right LB.
September 6th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
I don’t care how rah rah this guy is, means nothing on the field. If he produces well that’s all that matters. More interested in seeing bain and walker going to work!
September 6th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
I’d have taken Anthony Hill Jr. who had a sack, an INT and 7 tackles with none missed in his first real preseason work but I can’t discount how Trotter popped in my first views of him. Hill Jr. still isn’t the Flaming Thumbtacks’ green dot starter but methinks he will be soon.
I can see how Bowles using Anzalone and Scott as dual overhangs and Trotter as an extra DL can be effective and who knows what else but this kid is limited. Awesome for sure but but so dag-gum limited.
September 6th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
@OldBuc, you should read the article again. Or actually just read it for the first time, no where in it (or in the HEADLINE) does it say any about him being “rah rah”. It’s actually the opposite…
@Hope I was in the Hill boat too, I don’t think anyone actually had them taking Trotter. However, Trotter is a Buc now so here’s to hoping Licht & Bowles were the correct ones
September 7th, 2026 at 12:56 am
There is zero chance an interior offensive lineman should, would or could prevent an interior linebacker from properly covering the pass. Any properly lined up inside linebacker that isn’t showing blitz will always be off the ball…so much so that these linebackers are often referred to as off-the-ball linebackers.
The only way any interior offensive lineman can disrupt the coverage of an off-the-ball player is if they are illegally downfield. I’m not sure what lakeland saw to influence the initial commenting in this thread. What is described shouldn’t happen and if it was allowed repeatedly, should result in a meeting with the head of officials at the very least. A formal complaint to the league if allowed to go unchecked game after game.
Now, if we had interior linebackers constantly fooled by play action to the degree they created contact at the los…well, that’s embarrassing once, benchable twice and unforgivable thrice…IMO.
September 7th, 2026 at 3:17 am
“Today, We Talk With Our Pads – YOU TALK WITH YOUR HELMET!!!! EVERY MOMENT. The Cinderella Story Is OVER, Man.” – Dan Lanning
September 7th, 2026 at 3:25 am
@ PanicTime×TooLegit2Quit – 💯 couldn’t be stated any clearer than that. All over it. Every angle of it covered just perfectly.