Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is the latest member of the organization to publicly state that he is not buying the criticism surrounding rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter’s coverage ability.

Neither is Trotter.

No one is expecting him to become the next Derrick Brooks or Lavonte David overnight. From now until the start of the season, Bowles just wants to see him adapt and grow within the system — and Trotter is all about that.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Bowles and Trotter discussed the second-round pick’s skillset and mindset of proving himself in the NFL.

What Does Bucs HC Todd Bowles Want To See From Josiah Trotter?

The Bucs held their first day of rookie minicamp on Friday, providing the first chance to see all the incoming players out there rocking their new jersey numbers and practicing with their new team. While outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. caught much of the spotlight, Tampa Bay invested four draft picks into the defense, including inside linebacker Josiah Trotter.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Much has been said about Trotter’s game since being drafted. The front office has fielded all of the questions up until this point about him, but it was finally Todd Bowles’ turn to talk about him. Bowles was first asked what he likes about the team’s second-round pick and the progress he wants to see Trotter make over the next few months.

“[I want him] adapting to the system, number one,” Bowles said. “We know he can go downhill, we know he’s a very good blitzer, we know he’s a very good shock-and-shake guy, we know he’s a very good tackler, we know he understands zone concepts and he can play on the edge as an outside linebacker if need be, and he can play inside.

“So, just the same thing he did in college, but it’s about grasping the system and understanding what you can take advantage of. He’s got great pedigree and he’s a very smart player himself, so I just look for him to get better and better.”

Bowles alluded to the foundation Trotter has as an inside linebacker. His ability to stop the run and blitz the quarterback are both seen as positives. That gives him an inside track to see the field next to Alex Anzalone, who is more well-rounded and will take on the brunt of coverage responsibilities as a weak-side Mo linebacker.

Given Trotter’s chiseled 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame, he projects to be the downhill Mike linebacker next to Anzalone. His responsibilities will include closing run gaps, vocalize defensive calls, and serve as the defense’s quarterback.

Josiah Trotter On Coverage Ability: “Not Really Worried About What People Say I Can And Cannot Do”

Not many concerns have been raised about Josiah Trotter’s ability to check many of the boxes required to be a Mike linebacker, but the biggest Trotter detractors have pointed to his struggles in coverage. Compared to other linebackers on the board at the time the Bucs chose him 46th overall, he was not viewed as the best one looking at that aspect of the game. Given Tampa Bay’s longstanding coverage struggles up the middle of the field, fans have raised red flags about that leading to a repeat of the same defensive issues.

Except Bowles does not see it that way.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s not Derrick Brooks or Lavonte David, that’s not his style, but he can cover,” Bowles said. “They never asked him to cover [at Missouri]. I’ve seen him cover before. I’ve seen him workout probably in high school just by default being at the right place at the right time. He’s very capable cover guy; he’s a good 4.6 [40-yard dash] guy and he can hold his own and he understands angles. I’m not worried about him.”

Now, Bowles might have exaggerated about Missouri never asking him to cover. As Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo recently outlined, Trotter’s coverage skills improved as the Tigers’ season went on. It is important to contextualize that not only is his best football in front of him at just 21 years old, but it was his first season there learning the defense after spending one season at West Virginia. That is not a lot of time to pick up a whole playbook and run with it.

That is not to completely dismiss valid concerns, but it is fair to give him a chance to prove himself.

That was something Trotter addressed when asked about making the jump from college to the pros.

“Making that transition, you’re going to go against a lot of great athletes,” Trotter said. “A lot of people have a lot of things they have to say about me, everyone has their own things they have to work on. I know I can do it. I’m going to show the coaching staff, and they believe I can do it. So, not really worried about what people say I can and cannot do, because I know what I can do. Just go out there on Sundays and show it on gameday, the number one thing is [putting it] on tape and being about it, not talking about it.”

In order for him to “be about it,” picking up Bowles’ defense is needed to hit the ground running. Expectedly, that will come with rookie growing pains and going through ups and downs. Speaking about the entire rookie class, Bowles does not want to see the same mistakes.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“The biggest thing is not to make the same mistake two or three times in a row,” Bowles said. “If you can make different ones as the install grows and you get yourself in shape, you’ve got to make sure when you make a mistake you learn from it and come back from that. If you keep making the same mistakes over and over again, that kind of tells a story.”

As it relates to Trotter, grasping the playbook will allow him to realize his talent and let his instincts do the rest.

“That will help him more once he gets comfortable in the system,” Bowles said. “Obviously, the more we put in, the more he gets comfortable with, the more you’ll see his instincts make a play.”

The Bucs believe Josiah Trotter’s instincts and physicality already translate — the next step is proving his coverage concerns firmly belong in the past. Trotter is on a mission to quell those doubts and get better after every play and every day.