Lone Standout: Safety Tykee Smith
September 26th, 2026
Ex-Buc evaluation.
Joe has written about how the Bucs’ big-money players have let the team down through two games.
Start with defensive captains Vita Vea, Alex Anzalone and Antoine Winfield, Jr. They’re playing nowhere near their big salaries.
On the offensive side, Baker Mayfield joins them in the basket of disappointment.
Buccaneers legend Rondé Barber seems to agree.
On his WFLA-TV streaming show, Barber talked a lot about the Bucs lacking an identity and not looking like a team with strong leadership. He also noted a defensive player who can stand tall.
“The best player on defense right now is Tykee Smith. Period,” Barber said. “Makes impactful plays, tackles for loss, runs through blockers to make tackles, he has a physical presence.
“I’m looking for leaders to right the ship. Right? Somebody’s got to put the captain hat on and go be that guy. It hasn’t been Antoine [Winfield] yet; he just hasn’t really shown up yet. It hasn’t been Alex [Anzalone], you know, because he has the glaring missed tackles. Hasn’t been Vita [Vea], it hasn’t been YaYa [Diaby], even though YaYa’s had some great opportunities. He just can’t finish still, It hasn’t been Rueben [Bain].”
The Bucs have many talented players performing below their ability. Whatever is holding them back — motivation, coaching, lack of accountability, whatever — it’s got to stop Sunday against the Vikings.
If not, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht needs to start considering shipping out a body or two or three for draft capital.
September 26th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Overall the defense isn’t that bad
11th in Total Defense
4th in Run Defense
But, l see the play of 4 players that’s slacking
Alex Anzalone
Yaya Diaby
Rueben Bain
Antoine Winfield
Vita Vea haven’t been great at pressuring the QB
But we’re a 4th ranked Run Defense, and Vea is a major reason for that
We’re ranked 11th in Total Defense, but there’s room for improvement
September 26th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Vita Vea has been horrible
So lit should be 5 players slacking on the defense
September 26th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
A’Shawn Robinson is the answer to the question imo. When he finally blows his top, guys will listen up and get in line. But that might be week 15 or not at all.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
Lakeland … ‘We’re ranked 11th in Total Defense, but there’s room for improvement’.
The only Total Defense stat that really counts Lakeland is POINTS ALLOWED. Yes we’re 11th in Yards Allowed, but that’s virtually irrelevant because Yards don’t win or lose games. Only Points count.
And in POINTS ALLOWED, this Bucs’ team is ranked #24. That’s the lowest we’ve ranked since Todd Bowles first year (2019). And it took Jameis Winston’s SEVEN Pick-6’s to make our defense rank that bad.
Come to think of it though, Baker is almost on-track to break Jameis’ turnover record. His 3 fumbles & 1 INT in just 2 games projects to 34 turnovers per regular season. That’s very very close to equaling Jameis’ 30 INTs & 5 fumbles lost (35 total turnovers) in 2019. It’s good to have goals.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Tykee and Parrish are both Dawgs
September 26th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
Are they really talented Joe? I keep hearing how talented we are, but talented teams don’t go 2-9 in their last 11 games. Overrated, over hyped, yes, talented no.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Defense Rules
Sometimes the offensive turnovers has effect on points allowed
September 26th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
I’m just looking at things on the bright side
September 26th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
It’s easy to be ranked 11th in Total Yards Allowed when you give the opponent the ball on your side of the field.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Can’t remember another season of prepping for draft talk and demanding a new coach after week 2.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Our defense has given up 7 FGs and 4 TDs
That’s not as bad as people make it seem
September 26th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
‘If not, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht needs to start considering shipping out a body or two or three for draft capital.” – no kidding Joe, several of us said that earlier in the week. Licht is not RoH material.
Ronde is sounding more like a GM than Licht ever has.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Trade Winfield for a decent return. Get rid of his salary. His been chunks since getting paid.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
In fact their whole salary is burned up by guys not earning half of it. Godwin, Baker, Wirfs, Winfield, Vea and Zyon. Im sure I’m missing someone else not contributing
September 26th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Lakeland I agree to a degree about Vea and the run. However when he’s getting 33 milly, you got to show at least some flash with the pass rush.
September 26th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Kancey besides a pressure or two has pretty much been non existent
September 26th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Gotta get that pressure up the middle!
September 26th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
Todd thought Jacob Parrish played good last week, at least that’s what he told Casey Phillips in his interview today.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Well, it’s a fact that none of our players making the big money are earning it! This team has underperformed and disappointed so much! This is what happens when you stick with a coach who has a mediocre record. It is obvious the players do not believe in him and have quit on him already this year just like they did last year.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
My two standouts are Baker and Analzone, both for standing out for being complete pieces of garbage tanking their respective offenses and defenses.
I still can’t get over how big of a screw up Analzone has been – I mean that moron managed to not only miss the tackle on Boston, but to also trip and take out both Winfield and Smith on the same play. Truly an outstanding play for the Browns – completely changed the game.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Tykee is so good
September 26th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Speaking of Winfield, I finally got around to watching the Bucs 50 years Fire the Cannons documentary and finished the last episode last night.
You know admitted they completely blew that last coverage vs the Rams in the divisional round? Antoine Winfield. Said so himself- he was on Cooper Kupp, and got caught watching the QB instead of his man…
The series also really really really makes you realize just how much Evans meant to this team, in case you were somehow not already aware.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Been saying this every week, but every single Bucs player who got a fat contract in recent years has massively regressed:
Winfield
Vea
McCollum
Wirfs
and now Baker too
September 26th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Anzalone is washed up and every fan can see it . Anzalone has to be benched or cut to bring accountability.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Lakeland, here is what your point is missing. Bowles is a defensive minded head coach (not offensive) He is/was considered one of the top 5 in the entire NFL! Guru and specialist have been used his entire career with the Bucs. Anyone who follows football in general can tell you great coaches can take good players and make them great average players and make them good. The Bucs are 4th in run defense because there is no need to try when the D is second to last in pass coverage.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Lakeland while I’m in moderation I will ask who’s in charge of this cluster? No need to point fingers any longer. After everything including firing assistant coaches, bringing in new talent, drafting top ranked players, new offensive coordinator, scheme changes, there is only one common denominator left…the head coach!
September 26th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Bambozled by Reddick, and now Anzalone! Jury is still out on Muhammad.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
The truth is if the highest paid player only played average we’re 2-0.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
And say what you want, but Evans not being out there changes the way defenses play us. Played good in that stretch without him last year, but overall he forces certain coverages.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Shipping out a body or two for draft capital?
Which players (not on a rookie contract) even have trade value? What team would be willing to take on these massive contracts based on current play? Wirfs and maybe Goedeke?
September 26th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
I’ve said it before on here and I’ll reiterate it again. If you have a coach that doesn’t motivate players or hold them accountable, this is what happens in this heavily player paying league:
1) They know as a group they don’t have a chance at a Super Bowl (Mike Evans)
2) If they have a winning attitude, they flee (Evans, Rashaad White)
3) High paid vets are happy to have a coach who doesn’t push them, so they just lazily play out the contract and try to avoid injuries, so they can retire happy and healthy. (Vea, Winfield, Wirfs, Zyon, others)
4) Rookies learn from the high paid vets to give it your all for the first few years, secure your “bag”, then kick back. Tykee and Parish fit this mold. They will be joined by Trotter and Bain.
5) They all highly favor and love their coach, saying nothing but great things about him. Why? Because what other coach would allow them to, see number 3 and 4.
That has been the state of the Buccaneers since Tom Brady walked. He was the last one to hold the players accountable.
September 26th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
This Buccaneer team under Todd Bowles, makes the most “on field business decisions” as individual players, than any other team does in the entire NFL.
September 26th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Bucnjim
The Head Coach is in charge of the football team
And he has to answer to the GM
And the GM answers to the owners
But it seems no one is holding anyone accountable
September 26th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Lakeland… don’t forget a biggy…the players answer to the coaches!! Or are supposed to. Lol
September 26th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
infomeplease,
Todd Bowles is not holding the players accountable
Jason Licht is not holding Todd Bowles accountable
The owners are not holding Jason Licht accountable
No one is held accountable
September 26th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
Nobody will take Anzalone right now- that much I can tell you!
That guy needs to fix his angles (and cleats?) and wrap up some people. Sheesh!