In football, a slant route is built on timing and precision. The receiver does not waste motion – he breaks sharply across the field into open space before the defense can react. It is simple in design, but separation is created through execution.

That same approach defines my weekly Saturday Bucs column, Slivon’s Slant.

Each week from now until training camp, I will take a look inside a different Bucs position group. The goal is to cut through the surface to find the clearest path in evaluating this roster as it takes shape. Then, once the season begins, the column will continue offering different angles for breaking down and discussing the team. So far, I have offered in-depth profiles of the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, and outside linebacker positions.

With those positions covered, it is time to examine the inside linebackers.

Inside The Bucs Inside Linebacker Room

Cerebral Captain: Alex Anzalone

Filling the shoes of Lavonte David is no easy task for any inside linebacker. The Bucs had to navigate through David’s retirement this offseason, opting to bring in Alex Anzalone to provide a veteran voice and fill the Mo linebacker spot in Todd Bowles’ defense. Anzalone spent the past five seasons serving a vital role for the Lions in terms of production and as a team captain every year. His presence has already been felt throughout the Bucs’ building, especially in a room that has long searched for stability. Despite turning 32 years old in September, he remains a quality linebacker, primarily for his coverage ability.

Bucs ILB Alex Anzalone – Photo by: Brian Collera/PR

Anzalone is able to diagnose and read opposing offenses well, contributing to him always being close to the football. He had a career-high nine passes defensed in Detroit last season, adding 95 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. He is a jack-of-all-trades linebacker who will not allow the middle of Tampa Bay’s defense to be the black hole it has been in recent seasons.

Advanced metrics reinforce the steady impact he makes. His overall defensive grade was a 67.5 last season, ranking 32nd of 88 linebackers according to Pro Football Focus. His run defense (65.6), pass rush (65.2), and coverage (65.2) were all solid marks. Outside of run defense, each grade was far and away better than David’s level of play in his age-35 season.

When it comes to what should be expected of Anzalone, he does not need to be an elite linebacker for his addition to be an upgrade. Even if all he does is replicate last season as a slightly above-average linebacker, that would be welcomed into a room that has lacked consistency for a few seasons with David on the last legs of a legendary career and lacking a competent complement next to him. That created problems but signing Anzalone is the first answer to addressing what has been a critical issue defensively.

Future Force: Josiah Trotter

If Alex Anzalone was step one in revamping the inside linebacker position, drafting Josiah Trotter in the second round was step two. Among Bucs’ draft picks, selecting Trotter 46th overall came with the most criticism when taking into account that Jacob Rodriguez went just three picks earlier to the Dolphins and the likes of C.J. Allen, Jake Golday, and Anthony Hill Jr. were on the board. Hearing the organization give its thought process and evaluation of the 21-year-old linebacker, it is clear they have a plan to utilize him and believe in his potential to become a productive NFL linebacker.

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

Trotter’s calling card is his physicality. At 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, he is a throwback player reminiscent of his father, who was a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker in the 2000s and had a one-season cameo in Tampa Bay. The youngest Trotter thrives on making an impact at the line of scrimmage in stopping the run and has the talent to be sent after the quarterback more than he was at West Virginia and Missouri. For what he can do for this defense in his rookie season, expect him to rack up a lot of tackles as someone who complements Anzalone’s strengths in coverage and communication as a downhill Mike linebacker.

No one will confuse Trotter for Lavonte David in coverage, that much has been admitted by the front office. That aspect of his game is the most concerning, but it was something that improved throughout his last year in college. It is a completely different game for a linebacker adjusting at the next level, so do not be surprised to see initial growing pains. Still, the starting spot is very much up for grabs and Trotter’s to lose given where the team drafted him. Just how much he hits the ground running will say a lot about how much the position was upgraded over the offseason and in the years to come.

Make-or-Break ‘Backer: SirVocea Dennis

SirVocea Dennis had a rough go of it to begin last season, getting beaten in pass coverage by Falcons running back Bijan Robinson for a 50-yard touchdown on the first drive in the season-opener. That became a more common occurrence than anyone wanted, as the following week he allowed a 37-yard catch by Texans running back Woody Marks. After the Bucs waited patiently through Dennis’ injuries to see what he was capable of for a full season, it was no surprise they went in a different direction — one where he is no longer considered a full-time starter. The decision made sense, given his limitations and being exposed in coverage, but “Voss” can provide value in a pinch.

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

For his noted struggles in coverage, Dennis improved as the year went on and had a stronger finish to the year than most give him credit for. On the season, he recorded 101 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks. That included closing out the year with tackles for loss in each of the final three games, as he is a solid run defender who finds ways to get through the line of scrimmage to wrap up the ballcarrier. Add in his blitzing chops, and there are things he does well enough to stick around.

In what remains a passing league, it is hard to trust Dennis on a regular basis. Pro Football Focus is right on the money grading his performance last season. His 73.6 pass rush grade ranked seventh among 43 linebackers, while his 68.2 run defense grade ranked 41st among 93 linebackers. Those are respectable marks, but with a 30.5 coverage grade that was 79th among 81 linebackers, it was clear that Tampa Bay needed reinforcements.

Unless he finds a way to drastically improve in that area, Dennis projects to begin 2026 as the third linebacker. His long-term prospects with the team are less certain, but should an injury arise, he is a capable spot starter for a game or two.

Veteran Value: Christian Rozeboom

To hedge against the bets made at the top of the linebacker depth chart, the Bucs chose to replace veterans Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr. on the bottom of the depth chart. With both entering their age-30 seasons and showing signs of decline, Rozeboom is an upgrade over them as someone with recent production to back that claim up. Starting his career as an undrafted free agent, he carved out a role as a core special teamer with the Chiefs and Rams. It was not until his third season that he saw playing time defensively. In 2024, his role increased, and he responded with 135 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception.

Bucs ILB Christian Rozeboom – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Bob Donnan

Parlaying that into a deal with the Panthers, his 2025 numbers looked similar, with 122 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. With gaudy tackle numbers, he is a fine option for a team just looking for someone who consistently finishes tackles. There is a reason Rozeboom had to settle for a veteran minimum deal to be a depth option, and that again goes back to coverage limitations. He is not the most agile linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, and that limits him in passing situations and speaks to why he did not see the field more over the years.

As a fourth linebacker in Tampa Bay, he will not be relied upon to see the field much unless the situation gets dire. In that situation, Todd Bowles can trust he can hold the fort down better than other reserve players the team has had in recent years. Given his special teams background, perhaps Rozeboom can carve out a role on Danny Smith’s unit. Regardless, he will help round out the room as a value signing.

Practice Squad Project: Nick Jackson

Nick Jackson spent much of last season on the Bucs practice squad behind-the-scenes. While Jackson did not get as much playing time as he likely hoped for, the 25-year-old gets another chance to showcase his talents this summer. A decorated college player at Virginia and Iowa, he tallied 555 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks across six seasons. His production in the college ranks was a product of his experience, but this season will be a test in whether his experience learning the pro game has any carryover.

Bucs ILB Nick Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Given the dire situation Tampa Bay had at the inside linebacker position in 2025, Jackson started the Week 15 game against the Falcons, playing 18 snaps. With that brief playing time in mind, what he can be is up in the air to a degree. There is a chance he continues developing on special teams. Even still, there is a reason he went undrafted last offseason, and that stems from him being more of a thumper than a well-rounded player.

If Jackson sticks on the 53-man roster, it will likely be because he proves indispensable on special teams first and earns defensive opportunities later. He’ll have to beat out John Bullock and undrafted rookie free agents Javin Wright and Caden Fordham for that to be a possibility.

Closing Slant

The Bucs inside linebacker position has needed a serious talent infusion for a couple of seasons now. That talent infusion should have come sooner. Tampa Bay instead chose to address other positions while neglecting the middle of its defense. That changed this offseason, when the team was forced to do something with David’s retirement.

Signing Alex Anzalone made a lot of sense in adding stability and leadership up the middle. Expecting Anzalone to provide steadier play than the late-career version of David is realistic, but the level of play the unit receives from the other linebacker position is critical. Josiah Trotter does not have to become a star as a rookie. He simply has to avoid becoming the coverage liability that has plagued the position since Devin White’s post-Super Bowl decline.

When the inside linebacker position clicks, it is one area where Todd Bowles’ defense really shines. The heights of 2020 and 2021 should not be expected, but my slant on the room is that it is the best overall group of linebackers Bowles has had since becoming the team’s head coach in 2022. If that proves to be correct with multiple players contributing respectable play, that would be a major win.