Tampa Bay’s linebacker situation is looking rough, and every week Alex Anzalone is out there wearing the green dot, it makes Buccaneers fans think about what they no longer have in Lavonte David.
David walked away this offseason after a legendary 14-year run in Tampa Bay. Nobody in the building is pretending he was still in his prime at the end, either.
He had clearly lost a step in his final season. But even with that in mind, the gap between what he once gave the Bucs and what Anzalone has shown through two games is hard to ignore.
Anzalone was brought in as the supposed answer to David’s departure, with the expectation that he’d give the defense a lift in coverage and help fix one of the biggest soft spots on the roster. Instead, he’s been the team’s weakest link so far, and one of the least effective linebackers in the league.
The numbers back that up. Josh Crysler noted that Anzalone’s 35.9 overall grade ranks 68th out of 69 linebackers, his 34.6 coverage grade sits 66th out of 69, and his 29.9 tackling grade would be the lowest of his career after he posted a strong 76.8 just last year.
The tape has been just as ugly. Coverage busts, missed tackles and even a boneheaded unnecessary roughness penalty in Week 2 have piled up fast. At this point, he looks hard to trust on the field.
That’s especially problematic because Anzalone is not just playing linebacker for Tampa Bay - he’s also a captain and the defender wearing the green dot. When the player directing the defense is also the one struggling most, it creates a problem the Buccaneers can’t ignore.
Meanwhile, rookie Josiah Trotter has been the brighter story at the position. He’s outplayed Anzalone and led the team in tackles in back-to-back weeks to open his career, which only sharpens the contrast.
If Todd Bowles is serious about the accountability the Buccaneers preached all offseason, benching Anzalone would seem like the obvious move. The issue is that Tampa Bay doesn’t have an easy replacement waiting behind him.
SirVocea Dennis is the next option, but he had a rough time as a starter last season and graded as one of PFF’s worst coverage linebackers. Christian Rozeboom is more of a special teams piece than someone built to handle every-down linebacker duties.
So unless the Buccaneers somehow swing a surprise trade for a linebacker - and that doesn’t appear to be happening - they’re going to have to ride this out. And that leaves fans stuck wondering whether David should have waited just one more year.
David said earlier this offseason that he regretted not waiting one more year to play with Rueben Bain and the new-look Buccaneers defense. Right now, Tampa Bay probably feels the same way.
Well, Lavonte, we’re flashing the bat signal. The ball is in your court.
In Other News...
Bucs Usage After That Loss Raises One Big Offensive Concern
The snap counts from Tampa Bays loss to Cleveland offered a revealing look at how the Buccaneers tried to piece together their offense, and it started with the passing game. Jalen McMillan saw a limited workload, while Ted Hurst III was asked to carry more of the load and ended up with a costly drop that stood out in a game where the Bucs never quite found the right rhythm.
Bucky Irving again looked like the most important piece of the offense, out-snapping Kenny Gainwell and handling the bulk of the backfield work. On the other side of the ball, David Walker made the most of limited opportunities with his first career sack, but the bigger takeaway for Tampa Bay was how uneven the offensive usage looked in a loss that raised questions about where the production is supposed to come from next. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Draw A Much Tougher Vikings QB Test Than Expected
A week after the matchup started looking like it might come with a different quarterback story, the Buccaneers now have a clearer picture of what awaits in Week 3. Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell confirmed that Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol and will start against Tampa Bay, with Carson Wentz staying in the backup role. It gives the Bucs a far different challenge than they were preparing for, especially with Minnesota still carrying the edge in the betting line.
For Tampa Bay, the bigger wrinkle is not just the name under center, but the uncertainty hanging over what comes next. Murrays return gives Minnesota a more dynamic look right away, while the possibility that his status beyond this week is still unsettled only adds another layer to the matchup. However the Vikings handle their quarterback situation after Sunday, the Buccaneers are getting a sturdier test than they may have expected when the week began. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Already Have One Big Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Buccaneers first two weeks have left little room for comfort, and the latest setback was especially frustrating. A 23-19 loss to the Browns in Week 2 dropped Tampa Bay to 0-2, with Baker Mayfield and Alex Anzalone among the key players who struggled while Bucky Irving and Chase McLaughlin provided some of the brighter spots in an otherwise uneven afternoon.
What stands out most is how familiar the issues already look. Tampa Bays offensive line had trouble holding up, and the red zone offense again failed to finish drives, two problems that can quickly turn a competitive team into one chasing games instead of controlling them. For a group that still expects to contend, the early warning signs are getting hard to overlook. [Read more 🡒]