Reason To Mope
February 21st, 2026
Bucs defense triggers reporter.
Each season every NFL team gives fans a reason for hope and a reason to break out in the shivers.
And Matt Verderame of SI.com tried to address both issues for the Bucs. Yesterday Joe offered up Verderame’s reason for Bucs fans to smile. It was the offense.
And now, Verderame gives Bucs fans a reason to gnaw on their SirVocea Dennis jersey. And Verderame thinks the Bucs’ defense is a reason to keep fans up at night.
Mope: The Buccaneers’ defense ranked 19th in yards and 20th in points permitted, and the front seven doesn’t have any substantial young talent to build around.
Well, Joe gets where Verderame is coming from and he’s not exactly wrong. The defense was dreadful last year and someone at One Buc Palace needs to inspire change there. Do they have the muscle to do so?
Joe won’t exactly pile on Calijah Kancey. He’s a damn good player. Yeah, Joe gets why fans are upset with him. He cannot stay on the field. You could be Warren Sapp II and it doesn’t matter if you’re watching the game in street clothes.
Aside from Kancey and maybe an aging Vita Vea, the front-seven of the Bucs (sans Lavonte David) is damn barren of production.