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This may be the only time that Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. can be compared with a former undrafted free agent it wouldn’t be disrespectful.
In a recent appearance with “The Drive with TKras” on 95.7 WDAE, former Buccaneers’ head coach Jon Gruden compared Tampa Bay’s first round draft pick to James Harrison, who won a NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and a Super Bowl Championship.
"I think he can be a double-digit sack guy," Gruden said. "If you look at James Harrison, who played a long time for the Pittsburgh Steelers, very similar length and playing style. Coach (Larry) Foote on the Bucs staff, I think I heard him mention James Harrison's name, and Harrison was not even drafted, but he would kick your ass week-in and week-out. That is what I think Tampa Bay has, their version of a young James Harrison."
Bucs fans are in for a treat if Bain ends up with a career like Harrison’s. The peak of Harrison’s career came in 2008, when he won DPOY and produced one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history in a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Harrison was more than a one-year wonder, as he has made four All-Pro teams, earning first-team honors in 2008 and 2010, and made the Pro Bowl every year from 2007 to 2011.
Foote, now the Bucs’ run game coordinator/outside linebackers coach, mention Bain in the same breath as his old teammate during OTAs a couple of months ago.
"Off the film, if you had to bet, he's going to be a star," Foote told reporters in late May. "The way he plays the game, he's explosive, plays with great leverage and it's hard to block those guys.""Back in my Pittsburgh days, I played with a guy, James Harrison. You just couldn't block him," Foote said. "(Bain) has that trait, has that ability."
Harrison isn’t the only guy Bain has been compared with. NFL draft guru Daniel Jeremiah compared Bain to Melvin Ingram, who made three Pro Bowls with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-2019. Bains' draft profile at CBS Sports mentioned Dwight Freeney, a three-time first-team All-Pro with the Indianapolis Colts.
Thinking more outside the box, Bain compared himself with former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson. One of the biggest question marks surrounding Bain is his arm length (30 7/8”). The average arm length for an NFL defensive end is roughly 33 inches. Bain responded to his critics by mentioning Tyson.
"Like Mike Tyson … he wasn't the tallest guy. He wasn't the longest-limbed guy. But when you felt him, you felt him. You kept your distance," Bain told the NFL Network in March.
Bucs fans are ready for Bain to make his NFL debut.
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In a recent appearance with “The Drive with TKras” on 95.7 WDAE, former Buccaneers’ head coach Jon Gruden compared Tampa Bay’s first round draft pick to James Harrison, who won a NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and a Super Bowl Championship.
"I think he can be a double-digit sack guy," Gruden said. "If you look at James Harrison, who played a long time for the Pittsburgh Steelers, very similar length and playing style. Coach (Larry) Foote on the Bucs staff, I think I heard him mention James Harrison's name, and Harrison was not even drafted, but he would kick your ass week-in and week-out. That is what I think Tampa Bay has, their version of a young James Harrison."
Bucs fans are in for a treat if Bain ends up with a career like Harrison’s. The peak of Harrison’s career came in 2008, when he won DPOY and produced one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history in a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Harrison was more than a one-year wonder, as he has made four All-Pro teams, earning first-team honors in 2008 and 2010, and made the Pro Bowl every year from 2007 to 2011.
Foote, now the Bucs’ run game coordinator/outside linebackers coach, mention Bain in the same breath as his old teammate during OTAs a couple of months ago.
"Off the film, if you had to bet, he's going to be a star," Foote told reporters in late May. "The way he plays the game, he's explosive, plays with great leverage and it's hard to block those guys.""Back in my Pittsburgh days, I played with a guy, James Harrison. You just couldn't block him," Foote said. "(Bain) has that trait, has that ability."
Harrison isn’t the only guy Bain has been compared with. NFL draft guru Daniel Jeremiah compared Bain to Melvin Ingram, who made three Pro Bowls with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-2019. Bains' draft profile at CBS Sports mentioned Dwight Freeney, a three-time first-team All-Pro with the Indianapolis Colts.
Thinking more outside the box, Bain compared himself with former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson. One of the biggest question marks surrounding Bain is his arm length (30 7/8”). The average arm length for an NFL defensive end is roughly 33 inches. Bain responded to his critics by mentioning Tyson.
"Like Mike Tyson … he wasn't the tallest guy. He wasn't the longest-limbed guy. But when you felt him, you felt him. You kept your distance," Bain told the NFL Network in March.
Bucs fans are ready for Bain to make his NFL debut.
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...
