Todd Bowles said Alex Anzalone will need to be cleaner after a rough Sunday for the Bucs, describing the veteran linebacker’s issue as a case of getting “just got overexcited” in a loss that exposed a few key mistakes.
On Sunday, the Bucs dropped to 0-1, and Anzalone was part of the criticism after missing a couple of tackles. Bowles addressed the performance during his sitdown with WFLA-TV, saying Anzalone “missed a couple of tackles, but he made some plays as well.”
The larger concern, though, was the timing of those misses. Bowles said, “Obviously, the missed tackles you don’t want in critical situations,” a point that fits the frustration around a game the Bucs felt they could not afford to let slip.
Bowles also made clear that the issue was more about control than effort. “And Alex understands that. He just got overexcited,” Bowles said. “And he needs to break down a little more instead of running in there out of control.”
The comments are notable because Anzalone was brought in by the Bucs in free agency and is being counted on as part of the veteran group. That makes the missed tackles matter beyond one game, especially with Bowles already framing the loss as frustrating because the veterans were healthy.
For Anzalone, the message is straightforward. The Bucs do not appear to be questioning his effort or his ability to make plays. They are asking for better discipline in the moments that matter most, and Bowles suggested the next couple of games will be important as he tries to clean that up.
