QUESTION: When we have now third-and-28 once more on protection (hopefully it’s within the playoffs vs. the 49ers) will Rueben Bain Jr. eat?
ANSWER: Properly, that’s why the Bucs drafted Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the fifteenth total decide within the first spherical of this yr’s NFL Draft. Bain was considered top-of-the-line go rushers in school soccer final season and helped lead the Hurricanes to the nationwide championship sport with a career-high 9.5 sacks.
Bain ought to begin reverse Yaya Diaby, who’s coming into a contract yr, and that will give Todd Bowles a really gifted one-two punch in the case of his edge rushers in base protection or nickel protection. Each Bain and Diaby are bodily gamers, however Bain is extra nimble and agile and he has higher bend than Diaby. Whether or not it’s as a rookie or maybe in 2027, he must be a robust candidate to steer Tampa Bay in sacks.
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bain seemed unbelievable in the course of the rookie mini-camp, and head coach Todd Bowles mentioned he was “already in midseason form.” Bain excelled in all the drills and in 11-on-11s, exhibiting nice get-off and energy. He additionally confirmed wonderful management and professionalism by sprinting throughout the sector on the change of follow durations, and being the primary Bucs rookie to reach on the subsequent drill.
I perceive the premise of your query, because it was former Bucs – and now 49ers – large receiver Mike Evans, who overtly complained about Bowles’ defensive collapse on third-and-28 after which fourth-and-14 as Tampa Bay blew a 14-point lead with 10 minutes left to Atlanta final yr. In third-and-long conditions final yr, the Bucs didn’t get the go rush juice they’d hoped from 31-year outdated Haason Reddick, who proved to be a free agent bust.
Bain has thrived in massive sport conditions earlier than, posting a career-high three sacks at Texas A&M within the first spherical of the faculty playoffs final yr. Then he had a sack towards Ohio State within the subsequent spherical, and versus Indiana together with a career-high eight tackles within the nationwide championship sport. I’ve little question that he’ll thrive in massive sport moments in crimson and pewter for Tampa Bay for years to come back.
QUESTION: Will David Walker be 100% wholesome for begin of camp, and may he be a strong No. 3 edge rusher?
ANSWER: David Walker is anticipated to be cleared for coaching camp as he completes his rehab from final yr’s ACL damage, which occurred on the third day of camp final July. Walker, who was a latest visitor on the Pewter Report Podcast, mentioned he hopes to be cleared by the staff’s trainers to take part within the OTAs in Could, or on the very least, necessary mini-camp in June.
Tampa Bay had excessive hopes for Walker, who was the staff’s fourth-round decide final yr, and missed his go speeding potential final yr. Defensive sort out Calijah Kancey missed 14 video games as a consequence of a pectoral damage, and out of doors linebacker Haason Reddick completed with an underwhelming 2.5 sacks. In consequence, the Bucs totaled simply 37 sacks, which was the bottom by any protection in Tampa Bay since Todd Bowles arrived in 2019.
Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote and OLB David Walker – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Walker had 39 sacks in 4 seasons whereas taking part in on the FCS degree. And his return to motion, together with the additions of free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad and first-round decide Rueben Bain Jr. plus starter Yaya Diaby, ought to enormously support Tampa Bay’s go rush off the sting. Final yr when Diaby was off the sector, the Bucs actually had no go rush. Anthony Nelson had 3.5 sacks as a reserve, whereas Chris Braswell, a former second-round decide, has been an enormous disappointment with only one sack. Braswell is in severe jeopardy of not making the 53-man roster.
With Bain and Diaby, the staff’s main sacker from final yr, set to start out, Walker and Muhammad will possible battle for the OLB3 function on the depth chart. However as a result of Bowles likes to rotate his defensive position in waves like a hockey shift, Walker and Muhammad will largely possible staff up as Tampa Bay’s second-string edge rushers when Bain and Diaby want a breather on the sidelines. I believe Walker could make a severe impression this yr, and he’s loads hungry after lacking all of his rookie marketing campaign with what turned out to be a redshirt season as a consequence of his knee damage.
QUESTION: Wanting on the schedule launch this week, all NFC South groups are slated to play all of the NFC North groups which could be greatest division within the NFL. I’m considering whichever NFC South staff can handle to win essentially the most of those matchups will almost certainly win the division. Ideas on this?
ANSWER: That’s an fascinating approach to have a look at it, and also you could be proper. I believe the NFC West is definitely stronger with three groups – Seattle (14-3), Los Angeles (12-5) and San Francisco (12-5) – with 12 wins or extra together with Arizona, which completed 3-14. However the NFC North didn’t have a staff with a dropping document in that division. Chicago gained the division with an 11-6 document, whereas Inexperienced Bay completed 9-7-1 and Minnesota and Detroit completed 9-8.
In relation to soccer schedules – whether or not it’s school or professional – the primary goal must be to win the winnable video games. Don’t lose to inferior opponents. The Bucs have achieved that far too usually underneath head coach Todd Bowles. Shedding to the Panthers and Browns on the street in 2022 throughout Tom Brady’s closing season instantly involves thoughts. In 2023, it was dropping to rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans at Houston, in addition to dropping to backup QB Gardner Minshew and the Colts in Indianapolis.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In 2024, the Bucs had no enterprise getting swept by the Falcons nor ought to they’ve misplaced at Dallas on Sunday Night time Soccer to backup QB Cooper Rush. Final yr, dropping at house to rookie QB Tyler Shough and a six-win Saints staff shouldn’t have occurred, and getting outplayed by the seven-win Dolphins led by rookie QB Quinn Ewers in Miami was unforgivable. Blowing a 14-point result in an eight-win Atlanta staff on Thursday Night time Soccer final yr might need been essentially the most egregious loss during the last couple of seasons.
The Saints have one of many league’s best schedules and face three groups that had Prime 10 picks within the Cardinals, Raiders and Giants. I believe that’s noteworthy in an NFC South division the place the winner has solely prevailed by one sport – or a tiebreaker – relationship again to 2022. I nonetheless assume the Bucs have essentially the most gifted staff within the division on paper, and I mentioned my reasoning in Friday’s SR’s FAB 5 column. However whichever staff finally ends up faring the very best inside the division will possible win the NFC South as a consequence of its aggressive nature.
QUESTION: Relating to the schedule launch, do you will have any needs for the Bucs?
ANSWER: My preliminary want is for this staff to not lose three video games in a row – and I’m positive that’s echoed by Bucs followers in all places. That’s occurred each season since Todd Bowles took over as head coach in 2022. And for the reason that 2023 season, Tampa Bay has truly misplaced 4 video games in a row yearly. Throughout final yr’s disappointing 8-9 season, the Bucs had a three-game dropping streak and a four-game dropping streak as a part of a 2-7 collapse after a 6-2 begin heading into the bye week.
I additionally like when the Bucs have their season opener on the street and their season finale at house. Bowles and the Bucs have began off every year 2-0, and that features going 6-0 on the street and 2-0 at house in the course of the first two weeks of the season since 2022. Beneath Bowles, Tampa Bay is 3-1 in season finales, successful the final two at house versus the Saints and Panthers, whereas successful at Carolina in 2023 and dropping at Atlanta in 2022.
There’s a Bruno Mars live performance at Raymond James Stadium on opening weekend, so which means the Bucs will begin on the street once more this yr. And that’s truly a blessing for Tampa Bay followers, as Ray-Jay is a scorcher in September with ridiculously sizzling and humid climate early within the season.
I’d additionally like to see the Bucs even have a home-field benefit for as soon as for the sake of the staff’s season ticket holders. Beneath Bowles, the Bucs have gone 4-4 at house yearly, together with final season, aside from the 2024 marketing campaign the place Tampa Bay completed 5-4 at house. Nice groups sometimes have a really robust home-field benefit, dropping perhaps 1-2 video games at house at most. The Bucs completed with a 7-1 house document in 2021 once they gained a franchise-best 13 video games.
Pewter Report shall be internet hosting a particular primetime version of the Pewter Report Podcast, our Bucs 2026 Schedule Launch Present, on Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. ET. Remember to be a part of us as we analyze Tampa Bay’s schedule – and convey your feedback!
QUESTION: Do you see the staff bringing in an even bigger again to assist full the rotation or is the staff content material with Sean Tucker or Josh Williams filling that function?
ANSWER: I don’t assume so, I believe the Bucs could be achieved signing operating backs heading into coaching camp. But Tampa Bay’s entrance workplace will proceed to maintain its eyes open for out there expertise all the best way up till the season opener. Bear in mind, the Bucs signed operating again Leonard Fournette in September after he was launched by Jacksonville previous to the beginning of the 2020 marketing campaign.
The Bucs simply signed New Mexico State operating again Kadarius Calloway after he efficiently competed as a tryout participant throughout final week’s rookie mini-camp. He’ll compete with Josh Williams and Owen Wright for the RB4 function this summer season. At 211 kilos, Calloway is the second-biggest again on the roster behind Wright, who’s 5-foot-9, 217 kilos, and at 5-foot-11, Calloway is the tallest again in Tampa Bay. The staff had an even bigger again final yr in reserve Rachaad White, who was 6-foot and weighed about 220 kilos.
Bucs RB Kadarius Calloway – Picture by: IMAGN Photographs
I don’t assume the Bucs essentially have a necessity for an enormous runner weighing 220 kilos or extra, though I desire having a very good massive again on the roster. I grew up watching Redskins operating again John Riggins as a toddler rising up in Virginia, and Chiefs operating again Christian Okoye as I received older whereas residing in Kansas. Tampa Bay followers have all the time beloved a very good massive again too, whether or not it’s been Ricky Bell, James Wilder Jr., Mike Alstott, LeGarrette Blount or Fournette via the years.
Vast zone scheme backs should be capable of have the imaginative and prescient to see cutback lanes develop whereas operating laterally, after which have the agility and acceleration to hit these holes. That’s why Rachaad White wasn’t going to be an ideal slot in Robinson’s large zone runs as a result of he was extra gradual and deliberate hitting holes. And that might be the case for many greater backs, which is why I believe Tampa Bay has opted for smaller and shiftier runners on this yr’s roster.
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum, GM Jason Licht Be a part of The Pewter Report Podcast This Week
Remember to be a part of us this week when Tampa Bay cornerback Zyon McCollum and basic supervisor Jason Licht are the featured friends on the Pewter Report Podcast on Monday, Could 11 and Wednesday, Could 13, respectively. Each reveals start at 4:00 p.m. ET on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
