Rookie OLB Rueben Bain.
Though all of this is a bummer, it doesn’t shock Joe.
Sooner or later, Bucs rookie Rueben Bain will get the hang of things. The guy is just too talented to vanish.
The overly-hyped Bain has been a non-factor. The Miami Mauler hasn’t mauled anyone. Yet.
In three games played, including two starts, Bain has three tackles and nothing else. No quarterback hits. No hurries. No sacks. No passes batted down. No nothing. Goose egg.
But he’s a rookie.
Rookie edge rushers/outside linebackers rarely dominate. Yeah, YaYa Diaby had 7.5 sacks as a rookie but his numbers have gone downhill since.
Is Bain in the right fit? Joe has doubts. Is Bain being used right in KitKat-eating Todd Bowles’ defense? Joe has even more doubts.
Joe chalks a lot up to Bain being a rookie. Though he was a defensive tackle, Warren Sapp only had three sacks his rookie year. He turned out OK.
The sad thing for Joe is, Bain isn’t going to work out his issues and learn by watching on the sidelines. Right now, Bowles and his staff really can’t afford to wait. Everyone at One Buc Palace needs wins now. And that means putting your best players who give you the best chance to win on the field. Bain is not currently among that group.
David Walker has shown he’s the outside linebacker that gives the Bucs a better chance to win. If that means Bain has to watch from the sidelines whiel Walker plays more snaps, the Bucs may need to do that.
Joe doesn’t think the Bucs can lose to Pittsburgh recover for a playoff run from 1-5. If it gets to that point, you may as well play Bain full-time, production or non-production.
All 34 Rueben Bain snap from Thursday Night.
2/3 of his snaps were Run D or Coverage, 29% in coverage.
Not a lot of clean rush opportunities with some nice wins towards the end of the cutup.
What do you see? pic.twitter.com/gXlVtZglH5