TAMPA, Fla. — All is not yet lost for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. At this point, stats are inconsequential and the doldrums are just a state of mind.

What the Bucs could really use is a playmaker at safety. A headhunter who terrorizes receivers and puts running backs in their place. The kind of player you’re always looking for on third down and in the fourth quarter.

Someone like Antoine Winfield Jr.

It would also help if the Bucs had a presence in the middle of the field. A big body that changes how offensive coordinators attack. The type of defensive lineman you wouldn’t mind investing in with a big contract extension.

Someone like Vita Vea.

Or course, it would benefit the defense greatly if the Bucs had an elite edge rusher. If they devoted a top draft pick on a college player certain to get in the quarterback’s face and occasionally put him on the ground.

Someone like Rueben Bain Jr.

Turns out, it’s not pedigree the defense is lacking, it’s performance.

When was the last time the Bucs got a big moment from one of their stars on defense? A game-saving turnover or sack or open-field tackle? I’m not asking for heroics on a weekly basis but an occasional oh-my-gosh play would be helpful.

The Bucs have been tied or had a lead in the fourth quarter of seven of their last 10 games. That’s a pretty good ratio. That says the Bucs are not getting blown out. They’re not getting overwhelmed. They’ve had a legitimate chance to win most of those 10 games. And yet they’ve somehow gone 2-8.

Sometimes, the offense deserves a portion of the blame for failing to hold on to the ball or to put extra points on the board. Sometimes, the coaching staff could be faulted for choosing the wrong defensive calls in the clutch.

But, at some point, players need to make plays on defense. And that ain’t happening.

“We’ve got the guys, we’ve got the right group. It’s just a matter of putting it together,” said linebacker Alex Anzalone. “In my experience, you hit adversity at different points in a season and we’re hitting it early. We’ll see where it goes.”

Winfield was a walking highlight reel in 2023 with six forced fumbles, six sacks, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 17 games. Months later, the Bucs signed him to a four-year, $84 million deal that made him the highest-paid defensive back in the league at that moment.

He’s played 28 games since then and has one forced fumble, three sacks, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups.

Those are not splashy numbers for beaucoup bucks.

But Winfield is not alone. The Bucs invested in the defensive line with Vea’s contract extension, a No. 15 pick on Bain and a couple of free-agent acquisitions, yet the pass rush is still mostly a rumor.

Your eyes are not deceiving you when it comes to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Joe Burrow was sacked five times by Houston on Sunday. He was sacked once by Tampa Bay in the season opener. Deshaun Watson was sacked five times by the Jaguars. He was sacked twice by Tampa Bay.

That’s a problem. And maybe the schemes of head coach Todd Bowles have not adapted to current passing attacks, but individual responsibility still matters.

If there’s one thing Tampa Bay fans know, it is good defense.

You’ve seen Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice wreak havoc on the line. You’ve seen Derrick Brooks covering plays from sideline to sideline. You’ve seen a safety like John Lynch coming up to make big hits. You’ve seen a cornerback like Ronde Barber making gave-saving plays.

And now?

Anzalone, who was supposed to be the steady influence in the middle of the defense to replace Lavonte David, leads the NFL in missed tackles with six, according to Pro Football Reference. Bain has been on the field for 76 defensive snaps and has been credited with one tackle and zero quarterback hits. Vea, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Calijah Kancey have been similarly quiet.

Eventually, if this continues, Bowles will pay the price with his job. And based on the current trends, that would be entirely justified.

Still, this is not all on the head coach. General manager Jason Licht shares responsibility. So does the offense.

But there are a handful of players on defense who are cashing big paychecks and not providing much in return.

You might look to see what kind of body language they have this week.

Of course, you’d have to notice them first.

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