The Tampa Bay Buccaneers couldn't have asked for a much worse start to the 2026 season. After dropping two winnable games and falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2014, one of the greatest players in franchise history isn't particularly pleased with what he's seeing.
Hall of Fame cornerback Ronde Barber discussed Tampa Bay's struggles during his WFLA show this week. His comments were first relayed by JoeBucsFan before NBC Sports' Mike Florio picked them up, and Barber didn't sugarcoat the atmosphere surrounding his former team. "The mood is not great," Barber said.
That probably isn't surprising, given how the first two weeks unfolded. Tampa Bay lost four fumbles in its 33-27 season-opening loss to Cincinnati, then returned to Raymond James
Stadium and fell 23-19 to Cleveland despite having a chance to win the game on its final possession.
Barber's concerns weren't limited to the Bucs' record. He pointed to mistakes, busted assignments, poor execution, and what he believes has been a lack of urgency from a team that hasn't established much of an identity through two weeks.
"Week 2 can't be the fifth preseason game," Barber said. "At some point you have to start hitting your stride. And it doesn't feel like they're in their stride right now on either side of the ball."
Tampa Bay's defense drew additional criticism from Barber, particularly the secondary. Rather than simply blaming the talent in the defensive backfield, Barber questioned whether players have become so focused on understanding their assignments that it has affected their ability to execute them once the ball is snapped.
Those concerns aren't coming from somebody unfamiliar with playing defensive back in Tampa Bay. Barber spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the Buccaneers, won a Super Bowl with the franchise, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. When he starts questioning what's happening in Tampa Bay's coverage unit, his perspective carries some weight.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone was another player Barber discussed. Anzalone joined Tampa Bay this offseason after spending the previous five seasons in Detroit, but his transition into the Bucs' defense hasn't gone as smoothly as hoped.
Barber didn't pretend to know exactly what's causing Anzalone's struggles. He mentioned several possibilities, including understanding his role, taking the proper angles, and potentially not getting enough tackling work during the preseason, before saying that "something is hamstringing this defense in critical moments."
The timing of Barber's criticism makes it even more notable. Tampa Bay's problems extend beyond its first two games of 2026, with the Bucs going 2-7 over their final nine games last season after beginning the year 6-2. Combined with this year's start, Tampa Bay has now won just two of its last 11 games.
Todd Bowles knows his team has to find a way out of it. After the loss to Cleveland, the Bucs head coach acknowledged that his team has to correct its mistakes and move in the right direction, a task that becomes increasingly urgent with each loss.
Minnesota now comes to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday with a 2-0 record, giving Tampa Bay another opportunity to finally put together a complete game. The Bucs have been close enough to win each of their first two contests, but turnovers, penalties, missed tackles, and other mistakes have prevented them from finishing.
Barber's criticism ultimately comes back to execution. Tampa Bay hasn't been getting blown off the field every week, but being competitive doesn't mean much when the same types of mistakes continue showing up, and the losses keep accumulating.
The Bucs still have plenty of time to change the direction of their season. After a 2-9 stretch over their last 11 games, however, Barber isn't the only person waiting to see when Tampa Bay will finally start looking like a team ready to turn things around.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs legend calls out team's mistakes after disastrous start
