No Jameis Plan For Kwon Alexander

August 24th, 2015
Rookie starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander

New quarterback of the Bucs defense Kwon Alexander, per Lavonte David, is traveling a road different from that of the No. 1 overall pick.

The philosophy of preparing Kwon Alexander to start as a rookie middle linebacker seems to be a lot different from what’s going on with America’s Quarterback, rookie Jameis Winston.

Lavonte David explained.

With Jameis, per offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, the team is doing everything it can to overload his brain. Various offensive players have echoed that claim and stated their amazement of how quickly Jameis has picked things up. But David said coaches are staying simple and methodical with Alexander, the fourth-round pick.

“The coaches are doing a great job with him,  you know, not force-feeding him,” David said of Alexander on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week. “Just staying with the basics, the fundamental things that he has to learn and stuff.”

Perhaps the Bucs are proceeding patiently with Alexander because he’s playing a position new to him? Maybe there’s no “force-feeding” because Alexander doesn’t have the intelligence level of Jameis?

There could be all kinds of factors.

Interesting here is that Lovie hasn’t had rookie middle linebackers to develop as starters.

Brian Urlacher was an entrenched Pro Bowler when Lovie arrived in Chicago, and linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was there, too, He was the guy who replaced Urlacher when an injury cost him 15 games in 2009.

15 Responses to “No Jameis Plan For Kwon Alexander”

  1. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    See ball go get ball…

  2. Ben the GA Buc Says:

    That the Bucs would prepare two separate players playing two separate positions two separate ways is indeed a stunning development.

  3. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    During the Mariota-Fameis debate it was frequently stated that Fameis is NFL ready. He’s also known as a football junkie. He was ready to have them dump it all on him and being the football fiend he is I suspect he loves it.

    Kwon is learning an entirely new position!!! This only makes sense!

  4. Bucs Fan #7423 Says:

    All Lovie will do is call Cover 2, it’s not hard to learn how to call one play the whole game!

  5. Casual Observer Says:

    I have a hunch, Nole said it most succinctly. Get the basics down – then it is all instinct. I suspect that Kwon has that speed and ability. Will be fun to watch him develop. He may be a special player – a real draft steal.

  6. Pickgrin Says:

    Wow – the coaching staff teaches young players with different capabilities at different positions via different means? What a concept.

    Adapting to the best ways of developing what you have to work with is actually happening at OBP now?

    Hmmm. Who’de a thunk it with a coaching staff that is so “incompetent”. “Realist” can tell you all about it….

  7. Lakeland Buc Says:

    I don’t know why people keep saying that Lovie is teaching Kwon Alexander..Hardy Nickerson is teaching Kwon the MIKE position, Nickerson was one of the best Cover 2 MIKE Linebackers to play the game.

  8. Pawel Says:

    Ball, you, ball, you, ball. GOT EMMM

  9. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Excellent point Lakeland Buc.

    Lovie will obviously do “some” coaching and teaching but I agree with you that Kwon’s major advantage will be having Hardy Nickerson to both coach and mentor him.

    I know it was that great draft that brought us both Brooks and Sapp and but IMHO the actual change from the Sucs to the Bucs started with HARDY NICKERSON. He brought the swag and he brought the toughness and the demand to win and not play poorly. Hardy is the man who really turned around the culture of losing. Sadly he was too old to reap the benefits of the SB team but I’ll always be a giant Hardy Nickerson fan.

  10. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    @lakeland – Lovie is calling the plays on defense and therefore your statement is actually incorrect. The article states that they are not overloading him with the entire playbook. It doesn’t refer to his technique or things that the linebackers coach is in charge of.

  11. cover deuce Says:

    GA Buc makin me do a spit take over here lol. That had me cracking up so hard my dog is over here looking at me like I lost my mind. Thanks for the laugh, and go Bucs!

  12. Destinjohnny Says:

    [Multiple usernames. If you use another one, you are gone. Joe’s cracking down. — Joe. ]

  13. Destinjohnny Says:

    Bro I only have the one I swear
    I think i hit the button twice

  14. RustyRhinos Says:

    Totally, agree with your whole post Stpetebucsfan.
    ” Hardy is the man who really turned around the culture of losing.”
    Your post also Lakeland Buc
    I am very comfortable with Kwon learning to play the mike, from Mr. Nickerson.

  15. RustyRhinos Says:

    Where ye be? Ben in GA I sail the Lake Lanier shores.