Kwon The Best Linebacker?
October 9th, 2016
Quietly among NFL elite.
Now Joe isn’t trying to throw Lavonte David under the bus here.
David is a fantastic linebacker and Joe loved how Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith described him as a “run-and-hit” linebacker. But is he the best Bucs linebacker?
Well, one can make an argument that middle linebacker Kwon Alexander is playing at a higher level. Consider this response from Buccaneers.com multimedia maven Scott Smith on a mailbag question that asked whether Alexander could make a Pro Bowl this year.
Right now, Alexander is the only player in the NFL who has at least 30 tackles plus two sacks and an interception. It won’t stay that way, however. Alexander will need to add to those sack and interception totals to stay on voters’ minds, because simply racking up the tackles (while important to the Bucs’ efforts) won’t draw enough attention.
Joe wasn’t aware of this but, damn, where would the Bucs defense be without Alexander? Wow. It sure seems Smith’s defense, along with Alexander’s passion and hard work on and off the practice field, has really paid off for the second-year LSU product.
Just last week on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Dirk Koetter lauded Alexander for his drive to improve. Koetter said that with the possible exception of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, no Bucs player arrives to One Buc Palace earlier and stays later than Alexander. Koetter reminded the listening audience of how Alexander all but demands to have private meetings with Smith and linebackers coach Mark Duffner in the wee hours of the morning daily, often before the majority of Tampa Bay residents are yet out of their beds.
There is a reason why the Bucs, both players and coaches, like to call Alexander the “Jameis of the defense.”
So is Alexander the best Bucs linebacker currently? Well, Alexander hasn’t laid a goose egg in a game yet this year.
October 9th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Joe – What happened to your joeraysfan blog? Nothing has been posted since August 2nd. You were plugging it on this site.
October 9th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Browns are making both Joe Thomas and Joe Haden available at the deadline.
October 9th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Rojas, might as well offer a second rounder for them. After all, we just throw them away at non justifiable players year after year.
October 9th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Watching the Buccaneers of the North right now. On their fifth QB in their 5 th game
October 9th, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Lol, agreed. We moved up into the 2nd to draft a kicker who would of been there in the 4 round maybe 5th. Wouldn’t mind either player seem like a upgrade at both positions and,D Smith can learn from Joe Thomas. Also Haden and Vh3 duo is just a dream that won’t come true. Wishful thinking
October 9th, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Maybe Jameis is the “Alexander of the offense”.
October 9th, 2016 at 3:49 pm
I am glad that Bucs players are being recognized for their individual accomplishments, but I (and maybe the players?) would much prefer team wins. As many longtime fans know, we’ve had a lot of great players on some really bad teams.
October 9th, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Part of why Lavonte’s numbers are down is because he has Kwon to make plays as well….one of the best LB corps in the NFL!!
October 9th, 2016 at 4:23 pm
@chris
Tomorrow we will see the worst team in the nfl
We will not be competitive
You will witness the most stupid gameplan and playcalling
***jon robinson is going to build a superbowl team. Great talented FO exec. We should have gave him the keys of 1 buc place. We left a HOF GM and all we got was forrest gump and unsold leftover beer
October 9th, 2016 at 4:31 pm
Ahhh Kobe, the Licht apologists will tell you what a juggernaut he’s built with his head scratching drafts and multiple FA busts. Nahh, Clevelands got us beat for worst, but we are up there
October 9th, 2016 at 4:34 pm
Meanwhile Matt Bryant’s 9-9 on field goals, didn’t he use to kick for…………
October 9th, 2016 at 4:39 pm
What i HATE about tampa football right now is the favortism, because of money, or what good he does outside but vjax should not be out there
He is killing this team because he is the weakness and jameis is stuck finding open recievets…but this coach/gm wont replace this sulking bum
October 9th, 2016 at 4:46 pm
I know I agree with the commish. If you’re not going to play Verner, cut him, same with Jackson. Send a damn message to the team about sub par play or quitting on the team
October 9th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
Sucks butler is waived for a linebacker…thank god we have great depth we can move up and draft a kicker
Nice gameplan by atlanta. Run inside denver soft middle instead of going against denvers great pass coverage. Jacquizz should have had 20 carries vs denver
Watch koetter now run jacquizz against carolina stout front 7 instead of attacking carolina putrid secondary
Im predicting total meltdown
October 9th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Paxton looks horrible this game, too bad it couldn’t have come against the Bucs
October 9th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Dumb for Bucs to waive Butler.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Hopefully we can sign him back to the PS
October 9th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Why in the world would a team like the Bucs, would waive a solid receiver like Jeremy butler. Just to promote a linebacker like Corey Lynch to the active roster. While already knowing that we have no speed or outside threat besides mike Evans?? Vincent Jackson has really regressed and decline this this year and opponents shows no respect towards our receivers on the roster besides mike Evans. As a diehard Bucs fan I’m sick of bonehead coaching decisions and lost after lost! I’m tired of hearing excuses without seeing any actions
October 9th, 2016 at 6:47 pm
Dak Precott looks amazing
October 9th, 2016 at 7:13 pm
LVD and McCoy have grown accustomed to all the losing and really don’t care cuz of their undeserved fat contracts. Hope Kwon is not influenced by those 2 losers.
October 9th, 2016 at 7:57 pm
Without Kwon this Bucs fan would be singing the blues. Did anyone notice all of the clearly evident holding on plays today on televised games that went uncalled? Blatant holding too many times to ignore. Holding on every play was the norm today. As far as Vjax, he did catch at least 3 passes in the last game that I remember.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:15 pm
“I wanted to be drafted by the tampa bay bucs and play in front of poster Kobe Faker”
Sterling Shepard
October 9th, 2016 at 8:16 pm
Why are pinning our own linebackers against each other here? Isn’t it great that David finally has some help from a fellow linebacker? Geez joe.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Where would the bucs defense be without alexander? We would still be last in the league for points scored against. Pretty dumb point to make there joe.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
So you advocate getting rid of him?
October 9th, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Why do you guys who hate this team so much even read this site? I mean Jason Light is not perfect but you act like his drafts have sucked. I mean Marpet, Smith, Jameis, Evans, Kwon, VH3, and hopefully Spence, Aguyo, and R Smith because something. I mean why do you hate him so much cause he didn’t nail ever draft pick in 3 years? If that is your criteria then every GM in the league would be fired. Also he brought in McDonald, Ayers, Grimes and Anger who are all productive free agents. But don’t let the facts get in the way.
October 9th, 2016 at 8:26 pm
If he is so “solid,” how come he can’t stick with a 1-3 team that needs a receiver?
October 9th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Ndog knows.
October 9th, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Love me some Kwon Joe but I question your direction in the larger scheme with this article. I don’t have emoji capabilities or I would have a “Huge Confusion Face”
October 9th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Joe Says:
October 9th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Ndog knows.
………………………….
I sat second row 30 yard line right behind the Bucs bench for 0 and 26. I will sit through 1 and 15 on my LazyBoy here in Montana if it occurs and still be Diehard next yr. Yes ndog gets it. This is not necessarily a Chicken little scenario.,……….Unless we lose tomorrow night.
October 9th, 2016 at 10:31 pm
haha, love it ndog. Great points!
October 9th, 2016 at 11:02 pm
Just because Licht isn’t Ted Thompson, (yet) is Completely the reason why we are 1 and 3! Oh wait……Maybe it is Koetter,…..Smith?……..GMC?……..Gremlins?………….
Continuity is can not be achieved without some kind of continuum .
October 9th, 2016 at 11:34 pm
I love Kwon, but regardless of stats he is nowhere near the best…yet.
October 10th, 2016 at 7:19 am
Ok here comes the hate for saying this, but maybe LVD is just a good linebacker and not great. Has he been the best player on our defense since getting here? Yes. Considering guess poor or defense had been, that isn’t really saying much. Paul Worlow lead the falcons in tackles last 2 years. He’s on the bench replaced by a rookie. We talk about three lack of talent on the bottom of this roster. Maybe the top of our roster is suspect too. But I do think that Kwon is good enough to eclipse most linebackers in the league.
October 10th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Tackles are a misleading stat. A good defense gets off the field, thus has fewer plays, which also means fewer tackles.
October 10th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Lavonte gets tackles, but what counts is his tackles for loss and “stops” those are huge plays, that as good as a sack, but don’t get the bills paid.
Lavonte was voted by his peers to be one of the best players in the league. And now you dumbmofos want to call him some average LB. Go pound sand you wannabes. Maybe watch the games and see what he does for yourselves instead of relying on stats to guide your opinion.
October 10th, 2016 at 6:26 pm
PLAY BALL!! Get a win, and let’s see who wants to be here next year! Put R Smith at Safety, he should play on at least 15 plays on defence tonite! It’s time to and I quote “COACH THE LOVIE OUT OF THEM” 12 more games to play with 8 more games to win to show improvement over the last REGIME!