In soccer, a slant route is constructed on timing and precision. The receiver doesn’t waste movement – he breaks sharply throughout the sphere into open house earlier than the protection can react. It’s easy in design, however separation is created by way of execution.
That very same strategy defines my weekly Saturday Bucs column, Slivon’s Slant.
Every week from now till coaching camp, I’ll have a look inside a special Bucs place group. The aim is to chop by way of the floor to search out the clearest path in evaluating this roster because it takes form. Then, as soon as the season begins, the column will proceed providing completely different angles for breaking down and discussing the crew. Up to now, I’ve provided in-depth profiles of the quarterback, working again, large receiver, tight finish, offensive line, line of defense, and outdoors linebacker positions.
With these positions coated, it’s time to look at the within linebackers.
Inside The Bucs Inside Linebacker Room
Cerebral Captain: Alex Anzalone
Filling the footwear of Lavonte David is not any simple job for any inside linebacker. The Bucs needed to navigate by way of David’s retirement this offseason, opting to usher in Alex Anzalone to supply a veteran voice and fill the Mo linebacker spot in Todd Bowles’ protection. Anzalone spent the previous 5 seasons serving an important position for the Lions by way of manufacturing and as a crew captain yearly. His presence has already been felt all through the Bucs’ constructing, particularly in a room that has lengthy looked for stability. Regardless of turning 32 years previous in September, he stays a high quality linebacker, primarily for his protection capability.
Bucs ILB Alex Anzalone – Picture by: Brian Collera/PR
Anzalone is ready to diagnose and skim opposing offenses properly, contributing to him all the time being near the soccer. He had a career-high 9 passes defensed in Detroit final season, including 95 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. He’s a jack-of-all-trades linebacker who is not going to enable the center of Tampa Bay’s protection to be the black gap it has been in current seasons.
Superior metrics reinforce the regular influence he makes. His general defensive grade was a 67.5 final season, rating thirty second of 88 linebackers based on Professional Soccer Focus. His run protection (65.6), cross rush (65.2), and protection (65.2) had been all strong marks. Outdoors of run protection, every grade was far and away higher than David’s degree of play in his age-35 season.
In relation to what needs to be anticipated of Anzalone, he doesn’t have to be an elite linebacker for his addition to be an improve. Even when all he does is replicate final season as a barely above-average linebacker, that will be welcomed right into a room that has lacked consistency for a couple of seasons with David on the final legs of a legendary profession and missing a reliable complement subsequent to him. That created issues however signing Anzalone is the primary reply to addressing what has been a essential concern defensively.
Future Pressure: Josiah Trotter
If Alex Anzalone was the first step in revamping the within linebacker place, drafting Josiah Trotter within the second spherical was step two. Amongst Bucs’ draft picks, deciding on Trotter forty sixth general got here with essentially the most criticism when making an allowance for that Jacob Rodriguez went simply three picks earlier to the Dolphins and the likes of C.J. Allen, Jake Golday, and Anthony Hill Jr. had been on the board. Listening to the group give its thought course of and analysis of the 21-year-old linebacker, it’s clear they’ve a plan to make the most of him and imagine in his potential to develop into a productive NFL linebacker.
Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Trotter’s calling card is his physicality. At 6-foot-2 and 237 kilos, he’s a throwback participant paying homage to his father, who was a four-time Professional Bowl linebacker within the 2000s and had a one-season cameo in Tampa Bay. The youngest Trotter thrives on making an influence on the line of scrimmage in stopping the run and has the expertise to be despatched after the quarterback greater than he was at West Virginia and Missouri. For what he can do for this protection in his rookie season, anticipate him to rack up loads of tackles as somebody who enhances Anzalone’s strengths in protection and communication as a downhill Mike linebacker.
Nobody will confuse Trotter for Lavonte David in protection, that a lot has been admitted by the entrance workplace. That side of his sport is essentially the most regarding, but it surely was one thing that improved all through his final yr in faculty. It’s a utterly completely different sport for a linebacker adjusting on the subsequent degree, so don’t be stunned to see preliminary rising pains. Nonetheless, the beginning spot could be very a lot up for grabs and Trotter’s to lose given the place the crew drafted him. Simply how a lot he hits the bottom working will say rather a lot about how a lot the place was upgraded over the offseason and within the years to come back.
Make-or-Break ‘Backer: SirVocea Dennis
SirVocea Dennis had a tough go of it to start final season, getting crushed in cross protection by Falcons working again Bijan Robinson for a 50-yard landing on the primary drive within the season-opener. That grew to become a extra frequent incidence than anybody wished, as the next week he allowed a 37-yard catch by Texans working again Woody Marks. After the Bucs waited patiently by way of Dennis’ accidents to see what he was able to for a full season, it was no shock they went in a special course — one the place he’s not thought of a full-time starter. The choice made sense, given his limitations and being uncovered in protection, however “Voss” can present worth in a pinch.
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
For his famous struggles in protection, Dennis improved because the yr went on and had a stronger end to the yr than most give him credit score for. On the season, he recorded 101 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks. That included closing out the yr with tackles for loss in every of the ultimate three video games, as he’s a strong run defender who finds methods to get by way of the road of scrimmage to wrap up the ballcarrier. Add in his blitzing chops, and there are issues he does properly sufficient to stay round.
In what stays a passing league, it’s onerous to belief Dennis regularly. Professional Soccer Focus is true on the cash grading his efficiency final season. His 73.6 cross rush grade ranked seventh amongst 43 linebackers, whereas his 68.2 run protection grade ranked forty first amongst 93 linebackers. These are respectable marks, however with a 30.5 protection grade that was 79th amongst 81 linebackers, it was clear that Tampa Bay wanted reinforcements.
Except he finds a option to drastically enhance in that space, Dennis tasks to start 2026 because the third linebacker. His long-term prospects with the crew are much less sure, however ought to an damage come up, he’s a succesful spot starter for a sport or two.
Veteran Worth: Christian Rozeboom
To hedge towards the bets made on the prime of the linebacker depth chart, the Bucs selected to switch veterans Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr. on the underside of the depth chart. With each getting into their age-30 seasons and exhibiting indicators of decline, Rozeboom is an improve over them as somebody with current manufacturing to again that declare up. Beginning his profession as an undrafted free agent, he carved out a job as a core particular teamer with the Chiefs and Rams. It was not till his third season that he noticed taking part in time defensively. In 2024, his position elevated, and he responded with 135 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception.
Bucs ILB Christian Rozeboom – Picture by: IMAGN Photographs – Bob Donnan
Parlaying that right into a take care of the Panthers, his 2025 numbers regarded related, with 122 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. With gaudy deal with numbers, he’s a high-quality choice for a crew simply in search of somebody who persistently finishes tackles. There’s a motive Rozeboom needed to accept a veteran minimal deal to be a depth choice, and that once more goes again to protection limitations. He’s not essentially the most agile linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 230 kilos, and that limits him in passing conditions and speaks to why he didn’t see the sphere extra through the years.
As a fourth linebacker in Tampa Bay, he is not going to be relied upon to see the sphere a lot until the scenario will get dire. In that scenario, Todd Bowles can belief he can maintain the fort down higher than different reserve gamers the crew has had in recent times. Given his particular groups background, maybe Rozeboom can carve out a job on Danny Smith’s unit. Regardless, he’ll assist spherical out the room as a worth signing.
Apply Squad Venture: Nick Jackson
Nick Jackson spent a lot of final season on the Bucs observe squad behind-the-scenes. Whereas Jackson didn’t get as a lot taking part in time as he possible hoped for, the 25-year-old will get one other probability to showcase his abilities this summer season. A adorned faculty participant at Virginia and Iowa, he tallied 555 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks throughout six seasons. His manufacturing within the faculty ranks was a product of his expertise, however this season will probably be a take a look at in whether or not his expertise studying the professional sport has any carryover.
Bucs ILB Nick Jackson – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Given the dire scenario Tampa Bay had on the inside linebacker place in 2025, Jackson began the Week 15 sport towards the Falcons, taking part in 18 snaps. With that transient taking part in time in thoughts, what he may be is up within the air to a level. There’s a probability he continues creating on particular groups. Even nonetheless, there’s a motive he went undrafted final offseason, and that stems from him being extra of a thumper than a well-rounded participant.
If Jackson sticks on the 53-man roster, it should possible be as a result of he proves indispensable on particular groups first and earns defensive alternatives later. He’ll should beat out John Bullock and undrafted rookie free brokers Javin Wright and Caden Fordham for that to be a risk.
Closing Slant
The Bucs inside linebacker place has wanted a severe expertise infusion for a few seasons now. That expertise infusion ought to have come sooner. Tampa Bay as a substitute selected to deal with different positions whereas neglecting the center of its protection. That modified this offseason, when the crew was compelled to do one thing with David’s retirement.
Signing Alex Anzalone made loads of sense in including stability and management up the center. Anticipating Anzalone to supply steadier play than the late-career model of David is real looking, however the degree of play the unit receives from the opposite linebacker place is essential. Josiah Trotter doesn’t should develop into a star as a rookie. He merely has to keep away from changing into the protection legal responsibility that has plagued the place since Devin White’s post-Tremendous Bowl decline.
When the within linebacker place clicks, it’s one space the place Todd Bowles’ protection actually shines. The heights of 2020 and 2021 shouldn’t be anticipated, however my slant on the room is that it’s the finest general group of linebackers Bowles has had since changing into the crew’s head coach in 2022. If that proves to be appropriate with a number of gamers contributing respectable play, that will be a serious win.
