Buccaneers HC Bowles Praises Josiah Trotter’s Debut, ‘Childlike Nature’

Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren't able to start the season off with a victory on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, that doesn't make rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter's performance any less impressive.

Visit betsport.cv for more information.

The second-round pick had a debut for the ages, becoming the first player in NFL history to record both a pick-six and a sack in his first-ever game.

In a game where the Bucs' offense lost four fumbles and the defensive line struggled to generate much pressure on Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow, Trotter did everything he could to keep his team within striking distance.

In the end, Trotter's Herculean effort wasn't enough on Sunday. However, if his showing is a sign of things to come from Trotter, Tampa's defense should become a force to be reckoned with.

While most eyes were focused on how much first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. would dominate, it was Trotter who stole the show. Bain's career got off to a slow start, registering only a single tackle, and the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year took a backseat to Trotter, as did everyone else on the field.

On Monday, head coach Todd Bowles spoke with the media. Among a myriad of topics, like cornerback Jacob Parrish's injury and quarterback Baker Mayfield's need to take better care of the football, Bowles was asked about Trotter's debut and couldn't stop gushing about the rookie.

"Childlike Wonder"

When asked about Trotter's performance, Bowles raved about his poise and intelligence. He also talked about the pure joy the Missouri product shows in being on the field.

"It was amazing. I mean, he handles himself so well. You can tell he's a rookie in terms of how much, I guess, a childlike nature he has, you know, like a giddiness about him…Like, he's definitely joyful when he's out there on the field. He's a thinker, he's really, really smart, and it's his background, too. It's the way that he approaches it. He also wants to compete with his brother (Philadelphia Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.) a little bit. So, him making plays, I mean, it's only the beginning for him."

Both Josiah and Jeremiah Jr. are the sons of former Philadelphia Eagles four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. 

That linebacker bloodline was easy for his teammates to notice during training camp, leading defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches to call the rookie an "alpha amongst alphas."

Bowles was also asked specifically about Trotter's pick-six. He talked about the rookie having a chance to make a similar play in practice, but reacted a bit too late. 

It was not a mistake that Trotter would make twice.

"He read it [perfectly]. I mean, we all kind of covered down, and it was a play that he had gotten in practice, and he was a little bit late on it. He told me afterwards that he was late on it in practice. He was going to make sure that he was never late on it in a game, and he wasn't."

Final Thoughts

Being drafted by the same team as Bain allowed Trotter to fly under the radar all offseason. Not just in Tampa, but around the NFL.

After Sunday, it is fair to assume Trotter has earned the attention of the entire league. 

It looks like Bowles has found his long-term replacement for Bucs legend Lavonte David at inside linebacker. David retired in March after 14 Hall of Fame-worthy seasons in Tampa. Filling his shoes will be no easy task.

However, Trotter appears up to the challenge. He gets a chance to build on his tremendous debut next Sunday against the lowly Cleveland Browns, who were manhandled in a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Trotter's encore performance may now be as anticipated as Bain's debut was.

Read full story at source