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INTRO: Here’s hoping you have a safe, fun and great Memorial Day weekend. And that you take the time to remember and reflect on the members of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and the American way of life and to defend our country. God bless America, and enjoy this SR’s FAB 5.

FAB 1. Rashad Johnson May Be Bucs’ Most Important Assistant Coach

You feel much better about the Bucs’ defensive front now, don’t you?

Tampa Bay added an ass-kicking defensive tackle in A’Shawn Robinson, an energetic defensive tackle in Rakeem Nunez-Roches, a high-motor edge rusher coming off an 11-sack season in Al-Quadin Muhammad and a very good coverage linebacker in Alex Anzalone in free agency.

Then the Bucs drafted a nasty, tone-setting alpha edge rusher in Rueben Bain Jr. and a mean, physical Mike linebacker in Josiah Trotter in the first two rounds.

Bigger bodies, more physical players, tougher dudes, better pass rushers.

But you still have concerns about the secondary, don’t you? Especially the cornerback position where Zyon McCollum absolutely must bounce-back from a poor 2025 season and cornerback Benjamin Morris absolutely must become into the player the Bucs think he can be as a second-round pick.

Cornerback Jacob Parrish must continue to ascend and reach his vast potential, while rookie Keionte Scott, this year’s fourth-rounder, must develop quickly and be a big-time contributor this season.

You agree with that, right? Do you know what this means?

It means that new cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson is the most important assistant coach in Tampa Bay this season. Johnson, who spent the last four years working with former cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, takes over a room that has the most riding on it this season.

Bucs CBs coach Rashad Johnson – Photo by: Matt Matera/PR

Johnson’s goal is to turn what potentially could be the Bucs’ weak link into a team strength. I’d settle for the cornerbacks being slightly above average – just as long as they aren’t a weakness on defense.

Think back to the Gravediggers secondary that helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV in 2020 and win a franchise-record 13 games the next year. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting never sniffed a Pro Bowl, but they were competent playing behind a star-studded defensive line that featured Pro Bowl edge rushers Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett and a pair of dynamic defensive tackles in Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh.

That’s what McCollum, Parrish, Morrison and Scott have to be this year – at least competent, not relentlessly picked on.

Johnson, a former NFL safety who played under Todd Bowles when he was the defensive coordinator in Arizona, is fully aware of the task at hand. The cornerback play must improve from a year ago, especially with the departure of the unit’s best player, Jamel Dean, in free agency.

“It’s simple and plain in those situations – we’ve got to be better,” Johnson said. “Third-and-28, fourth down – you know explosive plays on the defensive back end. You know those things can’t happen. You know those things lose games. You know the standard here is to make it to the playoffs, and then once we get in the playoffs, obviously to win a Super Bowl.

“So you know we’re still pushing towards those goals. Didn’t reach those goals at all last year, and we’re not going to sugarcoat that. We weren’t good enough on the back end and my job is to help the guys get better to make sure that we can correct those mistakes.”

For McCollum, who signed a lucrative three-year, $48 million contract extension last August, he must play with more consistency and confidence. He needs better eye discipline and must maintain his fundamentals down in and down out, game in and game out.

Johnson said that McCollum doesn’t need to feel the pressure of being Superman out there and that he “doesn’t have to wear the cape every down.” McCollum needs to be focused on the task at hand at all times and Johnson plans on pushing him to get better at one different thing every day in practice leading up to training camp, and then ultimately the start of the season.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Eagles WR AJ Brown – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With Parrish, whom Johnson says has an “elite skillset,” it’s effectively cross-training him to play both outside cornerback and still playing studly inside at the slot position in nickel defense. Bucs legend Ronde Barber is often thought of as the prototype nickelback, but he only moved inside on obvious passing downs and third-and-long situations. Barber played outside on first and second downs back in the day.

That’s what Parrish must be capable of doing in Tampa Bay in 2026 as he and Morrison will vie for the right to replace Dean opposite McCollum. Johnson said that Parrish must “manage the complexity” of playing both positions, but notes that one of his two interceptions came from playing outside cornerback during the season finale in the win over the Panthers. Parrish played outside cornerback at Kansas State, so that experience should help his continuing transition to playing outside in Bowles’ scheme.

For Morrison, Johnson believes he too has an elite skillset and that he’s long and twitchy. The key for Morrison is staying healthy, which Johnson can’t really control. Morrison struggled with hamstring issues all last year, which cost him a month in training camp, all of the preseason and seven games during the regular season.

Yet Morrison played in 10 games, including three starts, and Johnson said he’s healthy and looks good in the offseason program. So it’s just pure development and gaining more experience and confidence at this point.

With Scott, it’s teaching him his role in Tampa Bay’s defense, which will be to play nickelback during his rookie season. In Bowles’ scheme, that’s a mix of coverage responsibility and blitzing, which fits Scott’s skillset perfectly.

Bucs DB Keionte Scott – Photo by IMAGN Images – Jeff Romance

Johnson called Scott an “aggressive player who can wreak havoc” and a good tackler who is fully engaged mentally and loves football. He spent the last couple of seasons as the primary nickelbacks coach where he got three different players – Christian Izien, Tykee Smith and Parrish – all ready to play the position during their rookie seasons.

Johnson will continue to coach the nickelbacks as well as the outside cornerbacks this year.

Coaching matters. Just ask Barber, who credited a young Mike Tomlin, who began coaching the Bucs secondary in 2001 as Herm Edwards’ replacement, for putting him on a Pro Bowl path and a Hall of Fame trajectory back in the day.

Johnson doesn’t have to be the next Tomlin in Tampa Bay, but there is a lot riding on him being a capable cornerbacks coach this season as he takes over the room from Ross, who needed to be let go. Johnson’s not going to bring any new ideas to the table for Bowles – nor does he have to. He just needs to do what his job requires him to do, which is develop the players in the room.

The Bucs cornerback room has a lot of question marks in it right now, but if Johnson can provide the necessary answers, his players will be able to pass every test that comes their way on gamedays. And that could help Bowles’ defense quickly transform into a very formidable unit in 2026.

FAB 2. Bucs Cornerbacks Must Be Ready For An Aerial Assault In 2026

Rashad Johnson better have his cornerbacks ready to go in Week 1 because the Bucs drew a hell of a season opener on the road at Cincinnati. That’s where Tampa Bay will face Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow, one of the game’s most prolific passers, and a dangerous duo at wide receiver with Pro Bowler Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

The Bucs cornerbacks will have their hands full this season facing a 1,000-yard receiver – sometimes two – nearly every week.

Week 1: Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase
Week 3: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
Week 5: Cowboys WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens
Week 6: Steelers WR DK Metcalf
Week 7: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan
Week 8: Falcons WR Drake London
Week 11: Lions WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams
Week 12: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan
Week 13: Chargers WR Ladd McConkey
Week 14: Ravens WR Zay Flowers
Week 16: Falcons WR Drake London
Week 17: Rams WRs Puka Nacua and Davante Adams

Bucs CBs Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

And this list doesn’t include some first-round talent that is capable of producing a 1,000-yard season like Chicago’s Rome Odunze and New Orleans’ Jordyn Tyson. And while the Packers and Bears don’t have 1,000-yard receivers on their roster right now, quarterbacks Jordan Love and Caleb Williams have each taken their respective teams to the postseason early in their careers and lead prolific offenses.

Not only must Tampa Bay’s pass rush be revved up and ready to go this year, but Zyon McCollum needs to reach his potential and become a No. 1 cornerback capable of shutting down one side of the field. And second-year cornerbacks Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison must avoid a sophomore slump and continue to ascend.

Otherwise the onslaught of talented receivers the Bucs will face in 2026 will have a field day.

FAB 3. New Bucs Coaches Bring Much-Needed Energy

The Bucs defense got a very needed attitude adjustment with the addition of several nasty, edgy players this offseason, including defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Al-Quadin Muhammad and inside linebacker Josiah Trotter.

Tampa Bay also got a very needed energy upgrade on the Bucs defensive coaching staff. After a very disappointing 8-9 season, Todd Bowles made several adjustments to his staff, and it was literally out with the old and in with the new.

Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, who is 64, was fired and replaced by assistant cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson, who is 40. Safeties coach Nick Rapone, who is 70, was “retired” by Bowles, who replaced him with assistant safeties coach Tim Atkins, who is 46.

Bucs assistant DBs coach Rashad Johnson and CB Josh Hayes – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Defensive tackles coach Charlie Strong, who is 65, was replaced after one season by Marcus West, who is 42 and previously coached the Bills defensive line. Of the Bucs’ position coaches on defense, inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell is now the oldest at age 54.

During the rookie mini-camp, it was obvious that the new assistants were bringing plenty of energy, led by West, who was praised by Bowles.

“[He is an] outstanding teacher,” Bowles said. “I think he sweats out there and works harder more than anybody out there. I love him as a teacher. I told him I don’t know CPR, so I can’t give him mouth-to-mouth if he passes out, but he does a very good job explaining the game to those guys and he’s been a great surprise.”

When he was asked at his recent press conference about trying to bring energy to his defensive line unit, West was almost offended by the question.

“You said ‘try’ and that threw me off,” West said. “[Try] is a word I don’t use. The energy I bring is what I owe to the players, it’s what I owe to my guys, it’s what I owe to the profession, it’s what I owe to the mentors I’ve had. It’s innate.

“I bring it every day – every day – and I tell them to match my energy. A mentor of mine told me this: they’ll go and they’ll follow as you go.’ That’s what he said. They’ll follow as you go. So it’s my job to bring it every day.”

Bucs DL coach Marcus West – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs defense has been criticized for lacking energy, most notably during last year’s late season collapse. If you think that professional football players should be self-motivated due to their big salaries and shouldn’t need coaches to energize them, you’re wrong.

Football players are human too, and a 17-game season on the heels of training camp can be long and grueling – both physically and mentally. The role of assistant coaches is to develop their players’ talents and get those players to perform up to the best of their abilities.

And it also requires them to be motivators.

“It’s a big part of it,” Johnson said. “You know we’ve gotten younger at different positions – D-line, secondary as well. But just bringing energy to the guys and making sure that we can match their energy, push them, keep them going on the field.

“You know this is a game that takes a lot of longevity, takes a lot of energy, takes a lot of guys that are all in. It’s long days. It’s a long season. So just to being able to continue to bring that energy, keep these guys going because they’re going to need to be motivated throughout the year.”

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and CBs coach Rashad Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles is known for his calm, stoic demeanor. He’s a tactician and a teacher more than he is a motivator – just like former Bucs head coach Tony Dungy. But Dungy had a lot of energetic coaches on his staff, including Herm Edwards, Monte Kiffin, Rod Marinelli, Mike Tomlin and Joe Barry, who would bring the energy that Dungy couldn’t.

It feels like Bowles has made the right moves by getting some of the older, low-energy, stale coaches off his staff and replace them with younger, high-energy teachers.

“It’s not my job to slow down,” West said. “It’s my guys’ job to speed up. And hopefully, ultimately, we’ll see it. We’ll see it when we line up and play.”

FAB 4. Danny Smith Is Here To Fix The Bucs’ Not-So-Special Teams

The one area of the coaching staff where the Bucs actually got older this year was on special teams where senior citizen Danny Smith replaced 53-year old Thomas McGaughey. But Smith acts more like a 27-year old coach than a 72-year old coach on the field.

That was apparent when Smith took the field during the rookie mini-camp and brought a ton of energy to his unit during the special teams portion of practice. Smith was loud and was coaching his players at a frenetic pace.

“I don’t know anything but,” Smith said. “I need competition and preparation. I need it. I need it in my life. I need competition and preparation and that’s why I do it, and I love it.”

Bucs ST coordinator Danny Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Yes, Smith is 72, but he is the outlier in this profession – an exception to the rule – and shows no sign of slowing down when most people are either retired or contemplating retirement. Smith begins his 31st year of coaching in the NFL, and comes to Tampa Bay after spending the last 13 seasons in Pittsburgh on Mike Tomlin’s staff.

After last year’s disastrous special teams in Tampa Bay – outside of Chase McLaughlin’s kicking – the Bucs are in dire need of his experience and his expertise.

“I don’t know what the issues were and the teaching methods or practice methods or those kind of things,” Smith said. “All I know is there are some things that need to be fixed and I’m here to fix them.

“We’ve got to be better,” Smith said. “In one sentence – we’ve got to be better. Our field position has got to be better for the offense and the defense. We’ve got to be a factor in the outcome of the game in a positive way. You know places I’ve been we’ve won the game on special teams, and I expect to do so here.”

Smith has already gotten rave reviews from the players, from Todd Bowles and from general manager Jason Licht. His enthusiasm is infectious, and Smith helped bring a couple of his core special teamers – safety Miles Killebrew and running back and kick returner Kenneth Gainwell – to Tampa Bay from Pittsburgh.

Bucs ST coordinator Danny Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Smith has been a seamless fit alongside other high-energy assistants like defensive line coach Marcus West, cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote among others.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for our staff,” Smith said. “I do. We’ve got good coaches, we’ve got good teachers, we’ve got good energy, we’ve got good knowledge, we’ve got good experience. And I think that’s what you look for in a staff. I’ve got a lot of respect for what Coach Bowles has put together here over the last few years – you know four out of five division championships. There’s a lot of people looking for one out of 10 in this world.

“I just have a hell of a lot of respect for him and the coaching staff, and I’m really proud to be a part of it. I’m really looking forward to this season. I’ll probably need an IV [after] our first game because I promise you, I’ll be ready.”

FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• Bucs cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson takes over the cornerbacks room for the first time this year after spending the last four seasons assisting Kevin Ross. But Johnson got his first taste of leading a room at this year’s Senior Bowl where he coached the American team’s defensive backs.

“It definitely helped,” Johnson said of the Senior Bowl experience. “I got my opportunity to just to step in and own the room, have a chance to install, talk to the guys, learn the different personalities and just flow on the field. You know I’m a guy that loves football, so once we get out there on the grass that feels like I’m at home. It’s just a chance to take the next step.

“It wasn’t something that was a necessity in order for me to feel comfortable here. I’m comfortable when I’m coaching, I’m comfortable playing ball, I’m comfortable coaching football. So just really excited about getting back to my guys after being with those young guys. And being able to add the great piece of Keionte [Scott], who didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl, but I am looking forward to that opportunity by getting him on the back end. Super excited about it now.”

Bucs CBs coach Rashad Johnson – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• New assistant coaches Marcus West and Danny Smith raved about head coach Todd Bowles and the Bucs organization during their press conferences this week.

“He’s very genuine – a pleasure to work for,” West said of Bowles. “We say this in our room – we want to make him successful. When you have a person like that at the top of it, you come to work to make them successful.”

After spending the last 13 years in Pittsburgh, Smith said the entire Tampa Bay organization has made quite a first impression on him.

“This organization has done a great job with the culture,” Smith said. “I’ve been in several organizations and none of them been bad. But what has been very impressive to me here is from the top down, really from ownership to administration to coaches, the culture that is here is special. And I feel it, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

“The attendance, in [offseason] sessions like this, with all the things that these young men have in their lives today – as you well know as long as you some of you’ve been covering this stuff – to have everybody in attendance like that here is not natural. It’s a culture that’s been developed, again through ownership through administration through the coaching staff. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

• Aside from a myriad of 1,000-yard receivers the Bucs defense will face in 2026, Todd Bowles and Co. will also go to battle with several of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. The NFC South will face the AFC North this year, and that means Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers are on the schedule.

Additionally, the NFC South also plays the NFC North teams, which means the Bucs will square off against Detroit’s Jared Goff, Green Bay’s Jordan Love and Chicago’s Caleb Williams. Throw in Dallas’ Dak Prescott and both Los Angeles QBs – Matthew Stafford and Justin Herbert – and Tampa Bay’s defense is in for quite a challenge in 2026.

Hey, at least Kirk Cousins can’t hurt the Bucs anymore. Cousins went 3-0 as a starter in Atlanta over the last two years, but he’s playing in Las Vegas this year and the Raiders aren’t on the schedule.

Former Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs OTA Coverage Coming Next Tuesday

The Buccaneers begin their OTAs (organized team activities) next Tuesday and Pewter Report will be there to chronicle all of the action. Be sure to read our practice reports on PewterReport.com and watch our Bucs Begin OTAs Pewter Report Podcast at 4:00 p.m. ET on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.