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In his four seasons as the head coach, Todd Bowles has led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to three NFC South Division titles and a playoff win, but as of yet, has not been able to put together an elite defense during his tenure.
A trend USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz believes might continue in 2026. In an article ranking all 32 of the NFL defenses heading into next season, Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked the Buccaneers at No. 21.
“Things look mostly solid for Tampa Bay, which addressed its glaring concern of subpar second-level athleticism by bringing linebacker Alex Anzalone aboard,” he said. “But it won't take much to send Todd Bowles' group to another disappointing finish.”
Since taking over as the head coach in 2022 after serving as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2019-2021, Bowles’ defenses have ranked near the bottom of the league in yards allowed three of his four seasons and have finished in the top 10 in points allowed just once—finishing No. 7 in 2023 allowing 19.1 points per game.
In the past two seasons Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed an average of 339.5 yards per game and 23.4 points per game to opposing offenses.
This season the defense lost future Hall of Fame linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Jamel Dean, but drafted Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and cornerback Keionte Scott in the fourth round. Along with Anzalone, the Buccaneers signed linebacker Christian Rozeboom and drafted linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Middlehurst-Schwartz said a key for the Tampa Bay defense will be improving on registering just 37 team sacks and a quarterback pressures per dropback rate of 19.8 percent.
“If rookie Rueben Bain Jr. can't propel the pass rush, things could come unglued for a collection of players that repeatedly lost their composure in the red zone, finishing with a league-worst conversion allowed rate of nearly 70 percent,” Middlehurst-Schwartz said.
Although Bowles’ defense regressed in yards allowed per game and points allowed per game last season, the Buccaneers jumped from No. 18 in total takeaways (18) in 2024 to No. 9 in 2025 with 23.
Bowles remains on the hot seat heading into the season, but former head coach Bruce Arians recently praised the team’s new-look front seven with the addition of Bain.
"The relentlessness he brings to practice -- he’s getting after them every day. He’s going to make those (offensive) tackles better, too,” Arians said on a recent podcast. “Tristan (Wirfs) is going to make him better. It’s a great battle.”
Tampa Bay will open its 2026 training camp with rookies reporting to AdventHealth Training Center on July 27 and veterans reporting on July 28.
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A trend USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz believes might continue in 2026. In an article ranking all 32 of the NFL defenses heading into next season, Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked the Buccaneers at No. 21.
“Things look mostly solid for Tampa Bay, which addressed its glaring concern of subpar second-level athleticism by bringing linebacker Alex Anzalone aboard,” he said. “But it won't take much to send Todd Bowles' group to another disappointing finish.”
Since taking over as the head coach in 2022 after serving as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2019-2021, Bowles’ defenses have ranked near the bottom of the league in yards allowed three of his four seasons and have finished in the top 10 in points allowed just once—finishing No. 7 in 2023 allowing 19.1 points per game.
In the past two seasons Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed an average of 339.5 yards per game and 23.4 points per game to opposing offenses.
This season the defense lost future Hall of Fame linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Jamel Dean, but drafted Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and cornerback Keionte Scott in the fourth round. Along with Anzalone, the Buccaneers signed linebacker Christian Rozeboom and drafted linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Middlehurst-Schwartz said a key for the Tampa Bay defense will be improving on registering just 37 team sacks and a quarterback pressures per dropback rate of 19.8 percent.
“If rookie Rueben Bain Jr. can't propel the pass rush, things could come unglued for a collection of players that repeatedly lost their composure in the red zone, finishing with a league-worst conversion allowed rate of nearly 70 percent,” Middlehurst-Schwartz said.
Although Bowles’ defense regressed in yards allowed per game and points allowed per game last season, the Buccaneers jumped from No. 18 in total takeaways (18) in 2024 to No. 9 in 2025 with 23.
Bowles remains on the hot seat heading into the season, but former head coach Bruce Arians recently praised the team’s new-look front seven with the addition of Bain.
"The relentlessness he brings to practice -- he’s getting after them every day. He’s going to make those (offensive) tackles better, too,” Arians said on a recent podcast. “Tristan (Wirfs) is going to make him better. It’s a great battle.”
Tampa Bay will open its 2026 training camp with rookies reporting to AdventHealth Training Center on July 27 and veterans reporting on July 28.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
