Should the Buccaneers Rethink Alex Anzalone’s Role?

The Buccaneers remain high on Alex Anzalone despite his disappointing start to the season. However, that should not prevent Tampa Bay from seriously evaluating his role on defense.

Fortunately, the Buccaneers already have potential answers on the roster. The coaching staff simply needs to determine whether using them would improve the defense.

Anzalone Has Not Delivered

The Buccaneers are 0-2 after a dismal loss to the Cleveland Browns. Linebacker Alex Anzalone has been a significant part of the defensive problems through two games.

The missed tackles, coverage breakdowns and lack of splash plays are becoming impossible to ignore. It is especially disappointing because Tampa Bay signed Anzalone to fill a critical role after Lavonte David retired.

The Buccaneers gave Anzalone a two-year, $17 million contract to become an important piece of the defense. That contract is not outrageous by NFL standards, but Tampa Bay still needs considerably better production.

So far, that production simply has not been there.

The Green Dot Complicates Everything

The biggest problem with reducing Anzalone’s role is his responsibility as the green-dot linebacker. He communicates defensive calls from the headset and helps get teammates lined up correctly.

That means Tampa Bay cannot simply bench him without considering the consequences. However, removing the green dot would not necessarily require removing Anzalone from the defense entirely.

Anzalone can still move well and has enough athletic ability to contribute in certain situations. The Buccaneers could instead begin mixing SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom into the rotation.

Tampa Bay Has Options

Rozeboom brings considerable experience, even though he has not played in Todd Bowles’ defense. He has played in multiple defensive systems and understands the responsibilities required from a linebacker.

Dennis has been in Tampa Bay’s defense throughout his career. He also provides more value against the run, although his own tackling issues cannot be ignored.

Rozeboom offers more versatility and can contribute against both the run and pass. He may have a lower ceiling, but his experience could make him useful in a larger role.

The point is not that either player suddenly becomes the answer. The point is that Tampa Bay needs to determine whether different combinations can produce better results.

Bowles Cannot Ignore the Problem

Todd Bowles was asked about Anzalone when he spoke with reporters Monday. His response essentially suggested that benching players for missed tackles would mean benching everyone.

There is some logic behind that argument. Every defender will make mistakes, and removing every player after an error obviously is not realistic.

However, there is a difference between occasional mistakes and repeated breakdowns becoming a pattern. The Buccaneers cannot ignore significant problems simply because other players have also made mistakes.

That has become a larger concern with Bowles’ approach. He often appears willing to wait for problems to correct themselves instead of making changes quickly.

By the time those changes happen, the damage can already be done.

Who Takes the Green Dot?

That brings the Buccaneers back to their biggest problem. If Anzalone’s role changes, Tampa Bay needs someone else to handle the green dot.

The natural choice would be another linebacker, but Josiah Trotter is a rookie. It is fair to question whether Tampa Bay wants to immediately place that responsibility on him.

Rozeboom could potentially handle the assignment, but that would likely require him to play extensively. Dennis knows the defense, but handing him the responsibility creates another set of questions.

AtoZ Sports floated Antoine Winfield Jr. as a possible green-dot option. However, Winfield already has plenty of responsibility within a young secondary.

Adding another significant communication responsibility could create another problem instead of solving the existing one.

The Buccaneers Need a Plan

The green-dot situation should not prevent Tampa Bay from honestly evaluating Anzalone’s role. The Buccaneers cannot continue accepting poor linebacker play simply because changing the rotation creates complications.

Tampa Bay does not necessarily need to completely remove Anzalone from the defense. Instead, the coaching staff could experiment with a rotation involving Anzalone, Dennis and Rozeboom.

That would give the Buccaneers an opportunity to determine which combinations actually work. It would also prevent the team from simply continuing with the same approach and expecting different results.

The Buccaneers invested heavily in Anzalone because they believed he could stabilize the linebacker position. Two games into the season, that stability has not materialized.

Now, Tampa Bay needs to determine whether Anzalone can still provide it. If he cannot, the coaching staff needs to find another solution before the season gets away from them.