Skip to content Replacing a franchise icon usually invites disaster, yet Buccaneers linebackers Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter have turned middle-of-the-field pass defense into a genuine strength. When Lavonte David departed Tampa Bay in the offseason, head coach Todd Bowles had to reset the second level of his defense with two completely new starters. Nine weeks into the season, those moves are delivering surprising dividends against the pass.
According to coverage evaluations from Pro Football Network, Anzalone and Trotter both rank in the top 10 at their position across the league. Anzalone sits fifth with an 86.9 coverage grade, while Trotter is tied for 10th at 83.2. For a 3-6 team searching for bright spots during its Week 10 bye, having two coverage stoppers in the middle provides a clear foundation to build on.
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How Buccaneers linebackers stack up against NFL leaders
PFN’s coverage leaderboard features some of the league’s most established off-ball defenders, yet Tampa Bay holds two spots near the very top. Anzalone trails only four players across the entire league:
- Patrick Queen (Pittsburgh Steelers) – 91.5
- Devin Lloyd (Carolina Panthers) – 89.1
- D’Marco Jackson (Chicago Bears) – 88.6
- Trenton Simpson (Baltimore Ravens) – 88.4
Anzalone’s 86.9 coverage mark sits well above his 74.1 overall Impact grade at PFN. That split makes pass prevention his strongest graded skill set by a wide margin through nine outings. Across that span, Anzalone has tallied 43 tackles and four interceptions, showing an uncanny knack for reading quarterbacks and jumping throwing lanes.
Trotter cements his role in Bowles’ scheme
While Anzalone’s veteran presence settled down the room, Trotter’s emergence as a rookie has accelerated Tampa Bay’s defensive rebuild. Drafted to inject youth into the middle, Trotter already owns 75 tackles, seven quarterback pressures and an interception in eight appearances. Those numbers support an 81.8 overall Impact grade, which ranks 21st among all linebackers on PFN’s board.
Bowles has shown zero hesitation in testing the rookie’s stamina and processing speed. Against Chicago, Trotter logged 59 of Tampa Bay’s 61 defensive snaps, accounting for 97% of the plays. Managing that heavy workload while keeping an 83.2 coverage grade demonstrates how quickly he has adapted to NFL passing concepts.
Why coverage grades matter for Buccaneers linebackers
Modern NFL offenses constantly isolate interior defenders against shifty slot receivers and athletic tight ends. If your inside linebackers cannot carry routes into space, your entire scheme cracks open. Having two reliable Buccaneers linebackers who hold up in passing downs changes how Bowles can structure his blitz packages and secondary disguises.
Tampa Bay entered its bye week with a frustrating 3-6 record, but the middle of the field is no longer an open target for opposing passers. The front office gambled on sweeping changes at inside linebacker, and the initial returns suggest they found the right tandem. Anzalone and Trotter return to action after the Week 10 bye when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers resume their push to salvage the second half of the season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
