LVD had 114 comb tkl, 61 solo, and 53 assists with 8 TFLs, 6 QB Hits, 3 PD, 3 FF, 3.5 sacks and 1 INT in 17 games.
Anzalone had 96 comb tkl, 52 solo, 43 assists with 4 TFls, 6 QB Hits, 9 PD, 0 FF, 2.5 sacks, and 1 INT in 16 games.
Again, Anzalone isn't that big of an upgrade even with LVD in the twilight of his career. Other than pass defense Anzalone is just about more of the same if he is taking over the money backer spot.
opposing running backs had finished with 79 catches, the 10th-highest total in the league."
"Those 79 receptions resulted in 860 yards allowed, the most in the NFL."
"opposing tight ends latched onto 100 catches against the Bucs. Only seven teams yielded more."
Ignoring the facts as usual to push a narrative:
Good grief. Everything is. not some conspiracy or narrative.
The "narrative" is that the Bucs LB corp was one of the worst in the league in 2025? I DONT SEE YOU DISAGREEING?
You said this
"Bucs Diaby and Nelson are not suited to defend RBs and TEs in the flat why are the ILB taking flak for this? Every single ILB that has started in Bowles scheme is catching strays for things they do not control since 2019."
Maybe you're the one pushing the narrative? No one said OLBs done drop as blitz and that doesn't play a part, but that stats are TE receptions, touchdowns and RB yards in the flat. In the 2025 Falcons game a pas s was thrown in the flat to an RB in the flat and it went for a 52 yard TD . . the LB there who had zero chance . . SVD.
Anyway, HERE IS THE POINT
Anzalone 2025 coverage grade: 65.3 grade
LVD 2025 coverage grade: 45.1 (69th out 88)
SVD 2025 coverage grade: 30.5 (maybe dead last?)
Anzalone had a 88.8 passer rating allowed in 2025, LVD was 132.2.
So if you wnat to defend YOUR position that Anzalone is NOT an upgrade . . . you might not concede the OBVIOUS point you did IN BOLD:
Other than pass defense Anzalone is just about more of the same
LMAO, wtf? Other than pass defense? Talk about pushing a narrative . . the Bucs defense is not bad against the run and its pretty easy to draft ILBs to stop the run. Britt was decent against the run, SVD too. The tougher thing to find . . . coverage ILBS
@alldaway - say Anzalone is himself on the decline. That might be a better argument, but obviously its hard to say that if you are defending LVD as equal or better.
any rational human being with eyes can see the bad play of our LBs. Literally why a ILB tops many Bucs mock drafts
Coverage LBs are easy to find. Seattle had Cody Barton but they let him walk and also with Brooks shortly after. The Seahawks used a combination of the draft, trades and free agent signings to fix the LB position under Mac. Also, Mac uses his DBs with a lot of shallow robbers to defeat teams passing in the middle of that defense. Their boundary CBs do not play a lot of off coverage either. Bowles stopped using robber midfield since the last 3 seasons and it shows.
And for fairness lets throw in Dennis too: 101 comb tkl, 66 solo, 35 assists, 10 TFLs, 7 QB hits, 5 PDs, 1 INT, 3 sacks and 0 FF in 16 games. The fact that Dennis who did play poorly in stretches and probably missed more tackles than LVD or Anazalone should send alarm bells off for people to realize what is going on. The fact that LVD and Anzalone if you look objectively at the stat lines are not that much better than Dennis to me indicates schematic issues more so than "talent".
l
Anyway, HERE IS THE POINT
You are missing the point grades are subjective based on scheme and whatever else is going on. Can't keep blaming every new ILB that starts for this defensive scheme. Bucs also had a chance to trade or sign LBs with "superior" grades before and during the season and chose not to or even trade for some players.
Okay, Anzalone not an upgrade and our ILBs are good they are just "catching strays" because of Bowles . . . that includes our 36 year old LB . . who was an All pro and SB champion under Bowles . . its not his age. He is not slower.
I didnt see SVD missing tackles last season . . . that was the scheme too. Catching strays
so Anzalone even if better, younger, fasterr is not an upgrade because the scheme will bring him down too
10 minute mark hits the bullseye.
Bucs have Anzalone 32 and LVD comes back he is going to form a very old 1-2 LB duo.
Licht confirms LVD is welcomed back if he wants.
10 minute mark hits the bullseye.
HUH?
He doesn't address Anzalone versus LVD he just makes the point I said you couldve (Anzalone old too). But IMPORTANTLY, he does so in the context of saying that ILB a TOP priority to improve ("younger and better"). Your post suggest that Bucs dont need an upgrade at ILB because the ILBs are just "catching strays" from Bowles system failures (ie edges dropping in cover)
Anzalone is 100% an upgrade over either 36 yrs old LVD or SVD, but they will very like draft that "younger and better" player too, right?
No one said the Bucs don't need to improve the ILB room. The point everyone is making and I tried to show you that whether it is Dennis, LVD, Britt, Russell, etc it does not matter if they are fast, agile or big and lumbering no ILB has really thrived this scheme. Not even D. White for most of his career with the Bucs as he was big and fast and an athletic freak.
Bowles does not put it an emphasis in his scheme for ILB for coverage he designs his ILB to go downhill. That is how Dennis was able to generate such TFLs, QB hits and sacks despite being "bad" and very comparable to Anzalone. Even old man LVD shows this too despite showing he lost a step last year.
The fact that LVD is welcomed back means Bowles is okay with this and does not view these issues with the ILB in coverage. He didn't fire Caldwell he fired Ross the DB coach.
@alldaway - you’re not wrong, but it also has to do with the type of ILB we draft. Bowles likes his ILBs getting downhill, yes. But a guy like LVD was able to do it all and had great LB instincts.
Dennis is a smaller and slower version of D. White. Both are great at getting downhill, but neither is good playing in space, and have horrible instincts. Both are “catch” tacklers. They’d prefer to catch a guy from the side or behind rather than meet a runner head up or in a hole. That’s what scares me about rookie ILB, Rodriguez. Although he plays much better in space and can cover, he is a “catch” tackler as well.
No one said the Bucs don't need to improve the ILB room. The point everyone is making and I tried to show you that whether it is Dennis, LVD, Britt, Russell, etc it does not matter if they are fast, agile or big and lumbering no ILB has really thrived this scheme. Not even D. White for most of his career with the Bucs as he was big and fast and an athletic freak.
I dont know how you come to that conclusion and then shoehorn that into "Anzalone is not an upgrade?" I guess by saying the ILB position doesnt matter? Thats just strange.
If anything the problem for Bowles is FINDING someone who can fill LVD's "money backer" role and that should be obvious just by following the Bucs where LVD's once LEGENDARY coverage ability has dropped off and they tried to put SVD in that role and he failed. I mean they spect a 5th pick on White because of his speed. Both LVD and White (and SVD) apply their speed down hile BUT they alos apply it covering TE and RBs.
Maybe we are watching different football games.
#1 thing the Bucs could do to improve their existing defense (with Bowles as a HC) is to get better pass rush form the front 7
the #2 thing is easily BETTER ILB play, not against the run as much as against the PASS. Its LITERALLY while those two positions - edge and ILB- are almost interchangeable on many mocks.
And, respectfully, this is such a weird conclusion to reach (in bold):
The fact that LVD is welcomed back means Bowles is okay with this and does not view these issues with the ILB in coverage
Or, it means the guy is a HOFer . . . just like we "wanted to keep Evans." If your conclusion is correct they dont pick up Anzalone or anyone at ILB for that matter, right?
I mean, did you watch the Bucs defense in 2025 or 2024? is LVD to you a top ILB in the game TODAY? Is he even close to his 2020 ability and speed?
Dennis is a smaller and slower version of D. White. Both are great at getting downhill, but neither is good playing in space, and have horrible instincts. Both are “catch” tacklers. They’d prefer to catch a guy from the side or behind rather than meet a runner head up or in a hole. That’s what scares me about rookie ILB, Rodriguez. Although he plays much better in space and can cover, he is a “catch” tackler as well.
I get what you're what saying, but Rodriguez is much better at diagnosing the play than the other two. He doesn't have those horrible instincts. Meaning, he would "catch" the opposing player much earlier in the play.
@biggs3535 - don’t get me wrong, I like Rodriguez, but I like his value in the 3rd or 4th round. Some on PR are saying maybe we should trade back into the bottom half of the first and grab. That is horrible value. And having Rodriguez and Anzalone is like having two Will LBs. We need a true MLB.
@biggs3535 - don’t get me wrong, I like Rodriguez, but I like his value in the 3rd or 4th round. Some on PR are saying maybe we should trade back into the bottom half of the first and grab. That is horrible value. And having Rodriguez and Anzalone is like having two Will LBs. We need a true MLB.
Prior to the offseason, I would have agreed that he was a 3rd/4th as I had questions about his athleticism. But he had a great Senior Bowl and did very well at the combine, having the 4th highest athleticism score amongst all Linebackers - to go along with his excellent game tape. He aced his job interview this offseason. He made him some money and shot his draft projection up a lot of people's boards.
I'm not sure he's a late-first, but I would be surprised if he lasted the until the 3rd round at this point.
And having Rodriguez and Anzalone is like having two Will LBs. We need a true MLB.
if not Rodriguez who would be another top draft candidate for that role?