Tough Bucs debut for linebacker Alex Anzalone: ‘I didn’t get it done’
Alex Anzalone sat at his locker on Wednesday reflecting on a Bucs debut that left him with more plays he wanted back than ones he cared to remember. He missed a few tackles and looked lost at times in zone coverage in the 33-27 defeat to the Bengals last Sunday, an uncomfortable start for a linebacker expected to help fill a void in the middle of Tampa Bay’s defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Alex Anzalone had a challenging debut in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Anzalone missed several tackles and struggled with his coverage, particularly in the zone defense, in a 33-27 loss to the Bengals. He was assigned additional responsibilities of communicating with his teammates during plays, similar to the role his predecessor, Lavonte David, filled before retiring.
Despite the rough start, Anzalone acknowledged that his individual efforts were present, but the unit needed to gel better. The Bucs' defense faced difficulties due to poor field positioning, exacerbated by the Bengals' aggressive strategy. Anzalone, who signed with the Bucs as an unrestricted free agent, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that he "didn't get it done" during his first game with the team.
Head coach Todd Bowles described the rookie's performance as "rusty," but expressed confidence that Anzalone would improve in future games.
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