There’s a different sound coming from inside the Bucs building this offseason. It’s louder, sharper and more urgent.
And it’s not by accident, either.
The Bucs made a clear effort to reshape the tone of their defense this offseason, and early insight suggest those new additions haven’t just filled roster spots — they’ve raised the intensity level across the board. No longer will Tampa Bay’s defense go through the motions and accept mediocrity. That matters for a defense that, at times last season, lacked a consistent edge.
And that’s where the new additions will make their biggest impact.
Bucs Brought In “Edgy” Players
That started with bringing in inside linebacker Alex Anzalone and it continued with the signings of defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, edge rusher Al-Quadin Muahmmad and then another recent signing of inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
Whether it’s along the defensive front or in the linebacker room, there’s a renewed push to play with some more nastiness on Todd Bowles’ unit. The demeanor needed to be shaken up, and Tampa Bay believes it has found that with some new additions. It’s also creating something the Bucs desperately need – depth with teeth.
Bucs DT A’Shawn Robinson – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Bob Donnan
Too often last season, the drop off by the defense was noticeable when reserves had to come in the game. They would get embarrassed by opponents in different ways. It doesn’t feel like that will happen again this year. Early signs suggest a more competitive group of Bucs players coming in this year who want to bring the fight to opposing offenses. The plan is for that kind of relentlessness within the roster to translate to wins on Sundays.
Tampa Bay has been criticized before about taking too many nice guys – high-character players – and not be willing to draft players that could be more of an on-field disruptor with attitudes. They course corrected in that arena this offseason and found the right mix of players to accomplish that objective.
“We’ve never said that we don’t want those kinds of players,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said recently. “We stressed some high character, football character, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t want some nasty (player) when they get on the field. When we had the chance to get those kind of guys and the energy that they have, when we had A’Shawn and Al-Quadin in the building, it definitely raised the level of intensity and it’s going to be a lot of fun I think because they definitely are nasty pricks, so looking forward to that.
Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
“It was a bonus, we have made it a little of a concerted effort to find the right blend of high character when it comes to team and being teammates – football character, but also edgy.”
Can Bucs Defense Get Back On Track?
Of course, offseason intensity doesn’t guarantee regular-season production. Every team looks better and faster in shorts. Every defense talks more in April than it might in December if the season has gone off the rails. But there’s a difference between manufactured energy and organic competition. What’s happening with this Bucs defense feels like the latter.
And if it holds — if that urgency carries into training camp and translates into more consistent pressure up front, tighter coverage on the back end, and better situational execution — it could be the difference between a good defense and one that actually dictates games. That’s been the missing piece. The Bucs don’t need a complete overhaul on defense. They need sharper edges. More consistency. More disruption when it matters most.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today
Tampa Bay’s defense run, by Todd Bowles, will likely be the main factor for whether or not the team has a successful season this year. The Bucs have enough talent, but it’s about the mentality of this team that will determine everything.
It appears that the new additions are going to provide exactly that. Not just with what they do, but with how they’re making everyone else respond.
And that might end up being the most important upgrade of all.