Every Sunday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trot out Alex Anzalone as their green dot linebacker is a painful reminder of what the team is missing in Lavonte David.
David retired this offseason after a legendary 14-year career in Tampa Bay, and as beloved as he is by the fan base, there’s no denying he was losing a step in his final season.
Anzalone was signed in free agency as the supposed Lavonte David replacement with the expectation that he could provide a significant upgrade in coverage and help shore up one of the roster’s biggest weak spots. Through two games, it’s becoming increasing clear that even on David’s worst day, Anzalone can’t hold a candle to what the Buccaneers had in their longtime linebacker.
Alex Anzalone has become a liability for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Anzalone has been the Buccaneers’ worst player through two games. In fact, he's been one of the worst linebackers in the NFL.
The grades match the eye test for Bucs LB Alex Anzalone.
— Josh Crysler (@josh_crysler) September 21, 2026
🤢 35.9 overall grade ranks 68th out of 69 LBs
❌ 34.6 coverage grade ranks 66th out of 69 LBs
📉 29.9 tackling grade would be the lowest of his career. He had a strong 76.8 grade just last year. What happened? pic.twitter.com/r3wZKrI650
His coverage lapses, missed tackles, and even a boneheaded unnecessary roughness penalty in Week 2 are starting to add up. He simply looks unplayable.
That’s a major concern for the Buccaneers, as Anzalone is a team captain and wears the green dot as the quarterback of the defense. Having your worst player wear a “C” on his chest works to undermine the leadership of the team.
Anzalone is being thoroughly outplayed by rookie Josiah Trotter, who frankly looks more worthy of leading the defense after leading the team in tackles in back-to-back weeks to start his career.
The Buccaneers preached accountability all offseason long, and if Bowles is serious about it, he’d bench Anzalone. There’s only one problem: They have nobody to bench him for.
The only other linebackers on the roster are SirVocea Dennis, who struggled as a starter last season and graded as one of PFF’s worst coverage linebackers, and Christian Rozeboom, who is more of a special teams contributor than an every-down linebacker.
Unless the Buccaneers pull off a surprise trade for a linebacker—and they won’t—they’ll have to find a way to overcome Anzalone’s struggles for the remainder of the season.
Unless Lavonte David wants to come out of retirement and put his hero’s cape on for one more season, that is.
David said earlier this offseason that he regretted not waiting just one more year to play with Rueben Bain and the new-look Buccaneers defense. Tampa Bay is surely wishing he waited, too.
Well, Lavonte, we’re flashing the bat signal. The ball is in your court.
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