In a Thursday column on PewterReport.com, two Pewter Reporters will debate a Bucs matter with completely different viewpoints. Which Pewter Reporter wins the controversy? You get to resolve within the feedback part beneath.
This Week’s Matter: What Should Be Higher – Bucs Move Rush Or Secondary?
Level: If Bucs Dominate The Move Rush, They Dominate The Sport
There have been many issues to repair on the Bucs protection, however the primary begin needed to be Tampa Bay’s rush. The 37 sacks recorded by the Bucs final yr was the fewest quantity they’ve had underneath Todd Bowles since he’s been calling the defensive performs. It goes additional than that, too.
The last word purpose of the protection is to get to the quarterback and take him down for a sack. However that’s not going to occur on each play, so constant strain and moving into the face of the passer can be essential. That Bucs didn’t do this both. What number of occasions did a quarterback have all day to throw final season? What number of occasions have been quarterbacks capable of escape the pocket and lengthen performs or run for large performs? The reply is means too many.
And that’s as a result of the Bucs didn’t have the horses within the secure. Since Calijah Kancey was injured after week two, there grew to become a reliance on two gamers – nostril deal with Vita Vea and out of doors linebacker Yaya Diaby. And that’s as a result of no person else was getting it accomplished. The shortage of a go rush put stress on the remainder of the defensive items at linebacker and the secondary.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and NT Vita Vea – Picture by: USA In the present day
Positive, there have been massive performs allowed Zyon McCollum and rookie nook Benjamin Morrison, however that needed to spend extra time masking. When a group solely has to deal with one or two guys up entrance, it’s simpler to recreation plan for.
This gained’t be the case this season, although. The Bucs are effectively outfitted to beat an damage or two on the line of defense at defensive deal with and out of doors linebacker. It’s the latter of these positions that generates probably the most pleasure. Bucs followers are nonetheless leaping for pleasure over the Rueben Bain Jr. decide at fifteenth total within the draft. He has the power to be a cornerstone piece for Tampa Bay.
The addition of the Al-Quadin Muhammad coming off of a 10-sack season can be a giant transfer. It offers the Bucs the required depth required to maintain a constant go rush. Plus, David Walker attending to play this yr is nearly like an additional draft decide, and if he offers something for the group this yr it’s an enormous bonus. The quartet of Diaby, Bain, Muhammad and Walker is a gaggle that shouldn’t be ignored and might convey the noise.
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In terms of defensive deal with, the headline remains to be going to be the well being of Calijah Kancey and the way a lot Vita Vea can hold enjoying at a excessive degree for. But when Kancey can go, it makes this protection a critical problem for opponents. Including a vocal chief like A’Shawn Robinson is necessary, plus the Bucs have youthful depth ready within the wings like Elijah Roberts and rookie DeMonte Capehart.
This go rush, which could have loads of blitzing as effectively from linebackers and defensive backs, will probably be so significantly better this season. It must be to ensure that them to succeed in the playoffs once more. They’ve it in them, they only want to point out it. And when this go rush will get going within the second half of video games when the Bucs have a lead, it’s going to be a possibility for this group to tee off on their adversary.
By Matt Matera
Counter-Level: Bucs Secondary Can not Afford To Be A Legal responsibility, Has To Create Large Performs
By Adam Slivon
One may see the title of this week’s Level-Counterpoint and easily say – each. That may not be unsuitable, and making the argument for one over the opposite may actually go both means. Nonetheless, whereas Matt Matera laid out why the go rush is necessary, the secondary has to carry up much more.
Bucs S Tykee Smith and CB Jacob Parrish – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Whereas the group’s sack complete dipped from 46 sacks in 2024 to 37 sacks in 2025, the protection as an entire nonetheless had loads of room for enchancment. The most important kryptonite for Todd Bowles’ protection has not been the lack to strain and produce down opposing quarterbacks; it has been stopping them from getting into a passing circulate state. Want proof? On nearly a weekly foundation lately, missed assignments and blown protection has been a recurring theme on the backend. From Josh Allen to Kirk Cousins, nearly each signal-caller discovered success and did what they needed.
That has to vary, however the way it occurs is a much bigger query mark. The cornerback room didn’t convey anybody new in, as an alternative counting on Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison taking the subsequent step and hoping Jacob Parrish could be impactful on the skin. Shedding Jamel Dean stings, as when he was on the sphere, he was productive and had a profession yr. After I have a look at McCollum, he needs to be constant and video games just like the one he had final yr in opposition to Rams huge receiver Davante Adams merely can not occur. Morrison has to remain wholesome and put it collectively. Competitors brings out the most effective in gamers, and being pushed by Parrish ought to make for an entertaining coaching camp battle.
Much more than simply the cornerback place, the safeties have to supply assist and be ballhawks. Tampa Bay is spoiled with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith being the 2 starters, however the manufacturing needs to be there. Winfield was paid as a high security however has been extra “good” than “great” since his otherworldly 2023 season.
Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
That won’t lower it in 2026, particularly with the Bucs dealing with the likes of the Bengals, Packers, Cowboys, Lions, Chargers, Ravens, and Rams. Every of these squads has arguably a high 10 quarterback who can air it out and stretch the sphere. The strain is on Winfield and Smith to every document a number of interceptions, commonly deflect passes, and sometimes knock the ball unfastened.
The go rush and secondary work hand-in-hand, and a group can not have one with out the opposite. Given Bowles’ defensive background as a former security, it’s clear how a lot he emphasizes high quality secondary play. That has been missing for some time, because the Bucs have struggled stopping passing yards, rating twenty ninth, twenty seventh, and twenty seventh in that class over the previous three seasons. For as a lot because the go rush has to get residence, the secondary can not afford current developments to proceed.
That begins with the gamers making performs, however the teaching employees has to welcome new concepts to the defensive scheme. How a lot Bowles sticks to the established order over listening to the enter of cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson and safeties coach Tim Atkins will say lots about what sort of strides are made this season.
