Don’t Fret If Beckwith Starts
August 31st, 2017
Starter?
If there is a story that resonates from training camp and preseason, it is the play of rookie linebacker Kendell Beckwith.
The LSU product had his knee blown up against the Gators last November and made a miraculous recovery as he missed all offsesaon workouts because he was rehabbing his knee. Since training camp opened, he has blown up.
Beckwith, provided middle linebacker Kwon Alexander is healthy enough to play at Miami, will very likely be the starting strongside linebacker, a remarkable move forward from where he was just a few shorts months ago.
Early in the final preseason games Thursday night, Beckwith had five tackles, a sack, three quarterback hits and had a tackle for a loss. Not shabby at all.
WFLA-TV, Channel 8 sideline reporter Dan Lucas, caught up with Beckwith after the game.
“I would hate to be in their seats right now,” Beckwith said of depth the Bucs have at linebacker and the tough decisions Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter will have in the coming hours when they need to trim the roster to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday.
“This is all about playing fast and giving great effort. I just go out and compete everyday. I try not to think about [difficulties] and just go out and do my job.”
And while Beckwith has been doing his job, so have other backup linebackers like Adarius Glanton (who had eight tackles, an assist and two tackles for loss Thursday night) and Cam Lynch. Injured Devante Bond is expected back this season, maybe sooner than later, and he looked like he would have been the starting strongside linebacker until he sprained his knee earlier in August.
Could the Bucs actually keep six linebackers? All depends on special teams.
In a recent edition of the “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” Joe offered that Beckwith has played so well, Joe’s not sweating if Beckwith has to start at middle linebacker in case Alexander can’t go at Miami, Sept. 10.
Now it’s ridiculous to say Beckwith as a rookie could play as well as Alexander. But how many people expected Alexander to be a force as a rookie when his first NFL training camp started?
Linebacker is so deep with the Bucs, Joe isn’t losing sleep if (when?) Beckwith start like it appears he will a week from Sunday in South Florida.
August 31st, 2017 at 11:13 pm
I think Beckwith will be just fine, but just a reminder that this was a 4th preseason game against 3rd and 4th stringers for the most part, not even 2nds. Still it’s a good sign that he did well and the big thing to me is how much he improved in the preseason, in game 1 against Cinny he didn’t look that good, he missed at least one tackle and seemed out of place on a couple of other times, but each game you could see his play improved, and that is what you certainly want to see from a rookie.
August 31st, 2017 at 11:43 pm
Give me any LSU LB’s..they are beastazoids..love them!
September 1st, 2017 at 12:02 am
how does LSU ever lose???
wow
September 1st, 2017 at 2:17 am
Beckwith is a difference maker. Hes shown already that, like Kwon, he is a playmaker.
We are a better team, with him on the field. Great, great draft day steal. This guy shoulda went in the first round.
September 1st, 2017 at 5:08 am
Well I sure will enjoy him being another LB steal. Maybe Licht should let someone else make the pics on other positions though. Justin Evans in the 2nd and he won’t even start. Meanwhile Alvin Kamara is a beast yet 3rd on the depth chart. Im tired of 1 steal sprinkled amonst pure busts. Plus JJ Wilcox has looked absolutely lost. Neither new addition at safety will start. Im over the hard headedness of our GM.
September 1st, 2017 at 5:15 am
And while I’m at it, Jamies is onviously the key. Tom Brady wins Super Bowls all the time without great RBs. However after watching this team have 4 yards passing through 3 quarters, if Jamies gets hurt, we will be battling the Jets for the 1st overall pick next year. Sorry, but that is asinine to me.
September 1st, 2017 at 6:38 am
The dude can ball. And he missed all preseason action. Hadn’t played in months cause of surgery. He is physical and has nose for the ball. Just wait until he gets his feet under him. They could run more 3-4
September 1st, 2017 at 6:41 am
Since Licht took full control ,the overall talent on the team has steadily improved.
Appears to be serious competition at running back,linebacker,and wide receiver
to make team.I think we are going to have let some pretty good players go for a change.
September 1st, 2017 at 7:29 am
Beckwith blowing up without the ones, he should be even better hooked up wit Kwon and and lavonte david. Dude is soliid
September 1st, 2017 at 8:12 am
LD54, Kwon, Beckwith, Bond, Glanton – There’s 5 who will very likely make the team unless Bond goes to IR.
Our 6th LB (Lynch, Bullough) is almost certainly a better NFL player than our 9th DL player. But with all the injuries last year and so many of our DL players being historically injury prone – there’s really no way to go light up front to keep better talent at the 2nd level.
Would the Bucs dare to keep a 6th LB over a 6th CB? I seriously doubt it. Josh Robinson is for sure a better/more valuable special teams player than Lynch or Bullough – and Ryan Smith, Elliot, McClain aren’t going anywhere…
Bucs have apparently already committed to carrying 3 QBs again and I’m pretty sure they want 4 RBs (minus Martin for 3 weeks) on the roster as well as 5 TEs – and likely already only keeping 5 WRs.
So where would that 6th LBer spot come from. Which other position do you steal from in order to keep a 6th LBer?
Is Lynch (or Joe Dirt) more valuable to the team than Alan Cross or the potential that Jeremy McNichols represents? I doubt it.
The final spot or 2 may well come down to who the team feels has the best chance of clearing waivers and making it back to the Buccaneer practice squad.
September 1st, 2017 at 8:45 am
Beckwith was another steal in this year’s draft, especially considering that they were not expecting him to start this season.
September 1st, 2017 at 9:23 am
I like our LBs! I think it would be cool too if we played NS57 at that SAM spot on passing downs with our 4-3 Over look and let him blitz off the edge. I feel as though LVD and Kwon can match up in coverage well enough to get it done against some personnel groups.
Can’t wait for September 10th.
Let’s Go BUCS!!!.
September 1st, 2017 at 9:49 am
As Yogi Berra used to say…it’s deja vu all over again. Remember a few years ago when a 4th round pick from LSU blew up and made the starting lineup at middle linebacker? Let’s hope Beckwith works out as well as Kwon.