The Bucs have acquired their justifiable share of criticism in latest months.
Since ceding the NFC South division title to the 8-9 Panthers by way of a tiebreaker, loads have pointed to and magnified Tampa Bay’s shortcomings following a 2-7 collapse and a promising 6-2 begin. Coming off an 8-9 season in 2025, that criticism is definitely justified.
But heading into 2026, there are goal causes to have optimism that the staff can flip issues round.
That’s exactly the theme of what former Tampa Bay head coach and Bucs Ring of Honor inductee Bruce Arians needed to say throughout his latest look on the Pewter Report Podcast. In an interview with Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera, Arians shared his ideas on Tampa Bay’s first-round draft choose, Rueben Bain Jr., who’s the important thing piece in rebuilding the Bucs’ entrance seven on protection, which underperformed final yr.
Bruce Arians Is Particularly Excessive On What Bucs Protection Can Do In 2026
Kicking off Bruce Arians’ look on the Pewter Report Podcast, the legendary NFL head coach was requested about his general ideas in regards to the strikes the Bucs made this offseason. Regardless of being an offensive guru, Arians wasted no time speaking in regards to the enhancements made on protection, which noticed defensive tackles A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches, inside linebackers Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom and out of doors linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad arrive by way of free company.
Then Tampa Bay added exterior linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, nickelback Keionte Scott and defensive sort out DeMonte Capehart within the draft. In all, the Bucs added 9 new gamers to bolster the expertise and the depth of Todd Bowles’ protection.
Bucs GM Jason Licht and former HC Bruce Arians – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“I thought it was a fantastic offseason,” Arians stated. “I thought Jason [Licht] and the boys nailed the draft. Love the additions in free agency and the draft, and it sounds like OTA’s went really, really well.”
Whereas the fan base was collectively pessimistic earlier than the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s exhausting to have a look at Tampa Bay’s draft picks and never get excited. A lot of that pleasure is understandably constructed round Bain, who was chosen fifteenth general and broadly thought to be the steal of the primary spherical of this yr’s draft. In Arians’ thoughts, Bain has been every thing the staff might hope for whereas additionally being on the additions made to the entrance seven.
“Yeah, I think he is everything as advertised, man,” Arians stated. “Talking to [outside linebackers coach] Larry Foote, he loves the guy. The relentlessness he brings to practice… he’s getting after them every day. He’s going to make those [offensive] tackles better, too. Tristan [Wirfs] is going to make him better. It’s a great battle.”
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. and OLBs coach Larry Foote – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
One in all Pewter Report’s criticisms of Bowles’ protection final yr was how stale the unit appeared to develop into down the stretch because the losses beginning piling up. There was an apparent lack of power and toughness because the Bucs protection morphed right into a mushy unit through the 2025 season, unable to cease the run when it mattered and never ok to successfully rush the passer.
Licht and Bowles needed so as to add extra power, dimension, physicality and psychological toughness to the protection this offseason, and on paper, it seems like they achieved that mission. Bowles’ protection in 2026 might have as many as 5 new starters consequently.
“I think what they’re doing defensively with A’Shawn Robinson, having “Nacho” (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches). Nacho, that’s a giant pickup bringing him again as a result of he brings a lot power to follow daily,” Arians stated. “Capehart, I love him. Getting David Walker healthy, Muhammad. We have a front seven that’s probably our best front seven since the Super Bowl.”
That’s definitely a giant assertion from Arians, and if it seems to be true then Tampa Bay’s retooled entrance seven may very well be the catalyst for a big-time turnaround for the Bucs franchise in 2026.
Watch Legendary Bucs HC Bruce Arians On The Pewter Report Podcast
Bruce Arians joined the Pewter Report Podcast for over 40 minutes earlier this week. Take a look at our full interview with Arians and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
