The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Cleveland Browns 23-19. After another ugly performance, questions are piling up around Alex Anzalone.
Anzalone is not simply another linebacker on this roster. He is a captain and the player trusted to wear the green dot.
That makes his struggles considerably more concerning. It also makes Todd Bowles’ response to those struggles even more frustrating.
Bowles Offers No Real Answers
Following the loss, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman asked Bowles about Anzalone’s struggles. The Buccaneers coach responded by spreading the responsibility across the defense.
“He wasn’t the only one to miss a tackle. We had a few guys miss tackles in the second half that led to some plays. We’ve just got to tackle better.”
That answer might be technically true. It also completely avoids the central question.
Anzalone was struggling. The question was whether Tampa Bay needed to consider reducing his role.
Bowles was then asked whether Anzalone’s responsibility as the defensive communicator makes it more difficult to remove him. His answer was even more frustrating.
“If you put somebody on the bench for messing up, then everybody’s on the bench.”
That is not an answer. It is a deflection.
Anzalone Was Given Significant Responsibility
The problem is that Anzalone was not randomly handed these responsibilities. Tampa Bay specifically brought him in to help replace the leadership presence left behind by Lavonte David.
He was then voted a captain by his teammates. Bowles also entrusted him with the green dot and the responsibility that comes with it.
That makes Anzalone’s performance a legitimate organizational question. It also makes Bowles’ unwillingness to directly address the situation more difficult to understand.
If the player entrusted with leading the defense is struggling, the coaching staff has to confront that problem. Pointing out that other players also missed tackles does not solve it.
This Goes Beyond One Bad Game
The bigger issue is not simply whether Anzalone missed tackles against Cleveland. The bigger issue is whether Tampa Bay made the right decision putting him in this position.
Bowles and General Manager Jason Licht made the decision to bring Anzalone into the organization. The coaching staff then elevated his responsibilities.
Now, after two games, those decisions are being questioned.
That does not mean Anzalone deserves all the blame for Tampa Bay’s defensive problems. Football is far too complicated for that.
But when a player is struggling in such a prominent role, accountability has to start somewhere. And the people who put him in that role cannot simply point toward everyone else.
The Bigger Problem Is Bowles’ Defense
This is where the Anzalone situation becomes a much larger indictment of Bowles.
The Buccaneers defense has not exactly established itself as a dominant unit under Bowles. Tampa Bay has struggled to develop consistency, and now one of its most important defensive leaders is becoming a major concern.
That raises an uncomfortable question.
Which defensive players have actually developed significantly under Bowles?
Now compare that list with the players who have failed to improve or have seemingly regressed.
That comparison is not going to make the Buccaneers feel particularly comfortable.
The Buck Stops With the Head Coach
Bowles cannot control every missed tackle. He cannot personally make every defensive player execute an assignment.
He can control who plays. He can control responsibilities. He can control how the team responds when players repeatedly make mistakes.
Most importantly, he can determine whether a struggling player continues receiving the same responsibilities.
That is why the Anzalone situation matters.
The issue is not whether Bowles should publicly embarrass one of his captains. The issue is whether he is willing to acknowledge problems honestly and make difficult decisions when necessary.
So far, his response sounds like anything but accountability.
The Buccaneers are 0-2 after another disappointing performance. Their defense has significant questions, and Anzalone has become one of them.
Bowles helped create the situation by entrusting Anzalone with an enormous role. Now he has to decide whether continuing down this path makes sense.
Because saying everybody is making mistakes does not make Anzalone’s mistakes disappear.
It only makes the Buccaneers’ lack of answers even more obvious.
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