Elijah Roberts played more than expected during his rookie season out of necessity. Entering his second season, Roberts will have more competition to carve out a similar role along the Bucs’ defensive line. Brought in as a fifth-round pick in 2025, the SMU product flashed the ability to be a contributor, even if he admittedly was in his own head at times.

This summer, Roberts, who is up to 305 pounds after playing last year between 275-290 pounds, is ready to roll under new defensive line coach Marcus West, who is helping him unlock his best in 2026.

Elijah Roberts Shares How Marcus West Is Helping Him Become Faster

A philosophical shift in energy has been felt along the Bucs defensive coaching staff, with an exodus of veteran coaches over the offseason. Zyon McCollum spoke about how that has helped the cornerback room, and it has done the same for the defensive line. Elijah Roberts remains close with former defensive line coach Charlie Strong, who was let go after last season. Strong was an experienced coach of the laid-back ilk.

One could day Tampa Bay brought in the exact opposite hiring Marcus West.

More than any other position group, the trenches demand high energy and controlled insanity. That has rubbed off on Roberts, who spoke about West’s early impact on the Pewter Report Podcast recently.

Bucs DL coach Marcus West and DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Coach West, he’s been great,” Roberts said. “He’s just a ball of energy, man, every day. That’s how he is in the meeting room as well. How he is on the field is how he is in the meeting room as well, but that’s in a good way. He’s a player’s coach. He’s always trying to see how we feel about something, or he always wants to hear us talk it out as players first before we just throw something in. On the field, he’s a hundred miles per hour.

“He’s in a full-blown sweat; we once had to stop and get him water [laughs]. He went the whole practice no water, no nothing, and he’s out there full-on sweating. He’s moving to the next drill and he’s the one trying to give the look. You can always have the young guys up doing looks but he’s doing it giving a look, talking it out with every single player. He’s really trying to get every person in the room better, and that’s something really stands out to me, and I’ve only had him for about a month. He’s been great.”

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Having West has felt like a welcome addition, and his energy has been noticeable on the days Pewter Report is on hand to watch practice. Under his tutelage for only a month or so, Roberts has more of an understanding that his switch must always be on and ready for battle.

“As a D-lineman, it’s kind of an easy job,” Roberts said. “Every day you have to turn it on; turn on that switch and tell yourself, ‘It’s time to go.’ Every single day, every practice, every game as a D-lineman. Then you roll with the next few guys, and then the next group has to be able to do it as well. That’s what Coach West is kind of preaching, he doesn’t really put guys in a box.

“He wants everybody to be able to do a bit of everything. Everybody has their own set of skills, everybody is good at one thing, and he wants you to master that one thing as well. He does want everybody to be ready to roll and that’s been his mantra.”

Elijah Roberts Wants To Be More Explosive And Record More Sacks In 2026

Elijah Roberts entered the NFL with one of the strongest points on his resume being his ability to get after and bring down the quarterback. Roberts led the nation in quarterback pressures and sacks during his final two seasons at SMU, displaying a promising set of moves.

Bucs DL Elijah Roberts – Photo by: IMAGN Images

In 17 games (nine starts), Roberts only had two sacks and thinks about his missed chances when going over his tape.

“The ones I actually missed and could’ve had, it should have been at least about four or five,” Roberts said of what his sack total should have been. “Just watching the film and being a competitor, every time you have a one-on-one as a D-lineman, you feel like you should win that. Just trying to win more one-on-ones is what I’m focusing on, and I know I have the ability to do so.”

As mentioned, Marcus West is lending a hand in taking his game to the next level. Thinking slower will allow him to play faster.

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“His thing for me has just been – he wants to see the things that got me here,” Roberts said. “Playing fast, not thinking as much. He said, he kind of hit it on the head when he talked to me the first time we met, ‘Man, I could tell that you love the game, but you were kind of in your own head last year.’ It was a long season, I was overthinking everything and if I’m doing good enough, if I’m doing enough… You lose the love of the game when you put so much stress behind it, so that’s been what he’s kind of helping me with.”

Sharing a defensive line room with Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and A’Shawn Robinson means Elijah Roberts will have to earn every snap of playing time. That will come by aiding West’s advice and recognizing his skillset is one that the Bucs pass rush can use every bit of in 2026.

“Being more explosive,” Roberts said about his ultimate goal for this season. “I feel like I have a lot of twitch, I have a lot of speed to my game, and I wasn’t really able to show that. When you think a lot, you are playing a little slower. Being able not to think as much, I feel like the game has slowed down a bit for me. I’ve learned a lot already with the veterans and Coach West. Next year, just playing faster and everything else will come. Technique has to be up to par but just playing faster, being explosive, and being disruptive.”

Watch Bucs DT Elijah Roberts On The Pewter Report Podcast

Pewter Report enjoyed having Bucs defensive tackle Elijah Roberts on the show earlier this week. If you have not yet, be sure to check out everything he had to say by clicking on this link or by watching it below: