After last season's horrible collapse, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the offseason making several aggressive moves to ensure it won't happen again.

The Bucs started by replacing offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard with Zac Robinson, who had been OC for the Atlanta Falcons the last couple of years.

In free agency, Tampa brought in several high-profile additions. The Bucs signed Kenneth Gainwell after his career season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gainwell and Bucky Irving give the Bucs a potentially electric running back duo. On defense, the Bucs inked linebacker Alex Anzalone and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, both from the Detroit Lions, as well as defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson from the Carolina Panthers.

General manager Jason Licht spoke about how his free-agent signings were not just about adding good players, but players who can give the defense the edginess and nastiness it has been lacking.

Then came the draft, where Tampa secured one of the most impressive classes in the NFL. People are running out of accolades to describe Rueben Bain Jr., while Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott also look like they will have major roles on defense as rookies.

Throw in third-round wide receiver Ted Hurst, who has been turning heads at camp lately, and the Bucs may have the most impactful group of rookies in the league.

Don't forget about David Walker, either. After missing his entire rookie season with injury, last year's fourth-round pick is healthy and has been an absolute terror during training camp, notching sacks in every practice.

It's one thing to just make a lot of changes. It's another to have the changes pay off.

According to head coach Todd Bowles, the moves Tampa made this offseason have completely changed the team. Speaking to Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan, Bowles said the difference between this year's team and last year's version is "night and day."

Kaufman asked Bowles about the "overall impact" all the new faces have had on the team. Bowles responded by insisting that the changes have created a change in leadership and mentality for the Bucs.

“It’s huge. I mean, It’s night and day,” Bowles said..

“With the veterans that came in and with the rookies that’s come in, just from a leadership standpoint, an attitude standpoint, a mentality and study habits, they’ve kind of lifted us a great deal as far as mentally and being mentally tough. I mean, from [Kenny] Gainwell to [Alex] Anzalone to A’Shawn [Robinson] to [Josiah] Trotter to [Rueben] Bain, all these guys that’s come in, it’s been a breath of fresh air to see and everybody gravitates toward them. They’ve not stopped being who they are and guys understand that and they know what type of team we want to have, so it’s been good to see.”

It was a great question from Kaufman. Teams frequently spend a lot of money and bring in new players without it having the desired effect. Tampa's infusion of new talent, both veteran and rookie, looks like it is making a profound difference.

While the offense needed better health this season rather than significant personnel changes, the defense required more attention.

The Bucs' defense was a huge disappointment in 2025. Not only did it fail to meet the standard Tampa's past defenses had set, but the players were also accused of not giving maximum effort on the field, something even Bowles acknowledged.

The Bucs deserve credit for doing everything they could to improve this season. They didn't just accept what happened down the stretch last year and hope it doesn't happen again.

They aggressively attacked their issues and look to be a much better team.

Of course, the team will have to prove it once the real games start. 

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