Nacho: The Buccaneer who dares to trash-talk Tom Brady

TAMPA, Fla. - Nacho is the perfect nickname for Rakeem Nunez-Rouches because you can always hear where he is on the field. 

"He be on the field, you're going to hear Nacho,” said Jason Pierre-Paul. "That's a player that you need right there. He's going to give you his all. Nacho is one of my good friends."

Nacho is always talking and usually it's to get in the opponent’s ear.

"He’s the best trash-talker we’ve got on defense right now,” said Bruce Arians. "Some of the DBs, but Nacho (Rakeem Nunez-Roches) does the best job over there.”

“His energy has been unreal,” agreed Bucs right guard Alex Cappa. "He’s having so much fun, he always brings energy [and] he’s always talking. It’s just fun, really. It’s just fun to compete against a guy that if he’s doing good or bad, he’s talking. If he makes a play or not, he thinks he made the play. He’s always having fun [and] he’s always high energy, so it’s fun to have a guy like that.”

But this former sixth-round pick wouldn't dream of talking trash to another former sixth-round pick that just happens to be Tom Brady. Or would he?

‘‘Oh yeah, I’m trash talking to Brady,” Nunez-Roches said. ’‘I told him (Sunday), ‘I see you struggling over there, No. 12.’ ‘He said, ‘I love it, Nacho!’ And I was kind of like starstruck. I was like, ‘Tom Brady is talking to me?’ Sometimes, you forget that that’s your teammate, because you compete so much."

Nacho is more than talk. In fact, Bruce Arians says he's had a heck of a camp and Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles couldn't agree more. 

“Right now, in a week and a half, he’s been the most improved player,’' Bowles said last week. ’‘I think he’s changed his upper body — he looks more stout and he looks quicker. He’s more explosive, he looks more powerful right now and he’s adapted to the scheme and understanding things well. He’s taking advantage of the situation.”

If Nacho's game can equal his gift of gab, the Bucs’ defense will have a plenty to talk about.