Linebacker Help
February 26th, 2019
LB to upgrade defense.
Joe’s good friend Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report seems to be channeling Bucs fans.
Tanier seems aghast the Bucs have let stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and splashy linebacker Lavonte David all but rot on the vine with no help until last year (and since Michael Bennett was allowed to walk for no good reason).
But hey, didn’t the Bucs draft Kwon Alexander in 2015? Sure did. But Tanier believes Alexander’s play has deteriorated slowly and thinks the Bucs will let Alexander walk in free agency.
However, Tanier suggests the Bucs will reach back to Alexander’s alma mater, LSU, and draft his replacement with the No. 5 overall pick, linebacker Devin White.
Let’s kick off the Bruce Arians-Todd Bowles era by upgrading the Buccaneers defense before McCoy and David are too old to rock ‘n’ roll. Devin White is the player the Bucs hoped Kwon Alexander (a free agent) would become after his promising rookie season: a big-hitting blitzer with range and thump to take pressure off David. But Alexander has dealt with injuries, and his development stagnated. And White is an all-around better athlete.
Vita Vea, last year’s first-round pick, came on strong late in the season, so McCoy now has some help on the interior line as well. Before you know it, folks will start talking about the Buccaneers defense again. In a good way.
Yeah, how long has it been since folks have spoken with a smile on their faces about the Bucs defense instead of throwing empty beer bottles at every vehicle roaring down U.S. 19 with a black Bucs vanity plate because the defense was horrible beyond words?
Joe still believes an edge rusher is the way to go at No. 5 and Joe is actually starting to warm to this Ed Oliver at Houston. Some believe he was misused there and can play defensive end.
February 26th, 2019 at 8:04 am
He can play
We have so many holes
Is this the one we plug?
February 26th, 2019 at 8:13 am
If they come away with OL, DL, or Devin White in round 1 then I will be happy with it.
But I am on the Brian Burns train
February 26th, 2019 at 8:15 am
What’s up with Beckwith?
I haven’t heard anything.
Do they expect him 100% back?
February 26th, 2019 at 8:20 am
DestinJ right on just stay put grab this guy and let bowels let him loose in the his defense, he should have some protection up front with vea and mccoy to run sideline to sideline and make plays as well as blitzes, this guy would be an immediate upgrade over kwon
February 26th, 2019 at 8:21 am
Dave:
You haven’t heard anything for a couple of reasons.
1. Nothing has changed.
2. Players have been gone since early January.
You will likely hear something tomorrow.
February 26th, 2019 at 8:22 am
I’ll keep pounding the drum— this kid was the best overall player in college football last year. He’s the complete package. A sideline to sideline player. A thumper who has speed to drop/cover. A huge heart.
February 26th, 2019 at 8:25 am
Hindsight is always 20/20 but this reminds me of the time when we passed on Kuechly (sp) for Mark Barron.
February 26th, 2019 at 8:27 am
If I am GM, I draft Devin White at #5.
This guy can play, maybe the best LB to come out since Kuechly…and that is saying a LOT.
A bad-a$$ at MLB solves many problems.
February 26th, 2019 at 8:51 am
Combine is about to solidify the draft board for top defensive talent we grab what we can with 5 or move back for more picks in a deep defense draft
February 26th, 2019 at 8:53 am
Bosa , Williams and white are considered safest picks in this years draft.
5 is high for inside linebacker. However , Not if he turns out to next Keukly
Put in his YouTube best plays.
Kid can blitz up the middle like a freak. Fast , good in coverage and will hit you over and over again. In 3-4 defense . The middle linebacker is the engine that drives the bus
——
In perfect scenario we move back a few spots and still get him. Don’t think he will make out of top 10.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:00 am
After 5 drafts a GM shouldn’t have this many holes on a roster, cap problems and more losing than winning
February 26th, 2019 at 9:01 am
LSU!!!
February 26th, 2019 at 9:15 am
This year’s draft could be the most interesting of the past decade for the Bucs. Our #5 position puts us in a nice position to either grab one of the Top-3 elite players (if one falls to #5) OR trade down a little (with some QB-hungry team probably) and gain an extra 2nd Rnd pick OR hold fast & pick the best player available at #5 who can fill one of our many holes. No way to know which path Bucs will take until we get to the #5 pick on 25 April. Regardless … BUCS CAN’T LOSE … UNLESS Licht tries to get cute with the pick (like he’s done before) & compromises its value.
I’d be ecstatic if Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams or Josh Allen fell to us at #5. All three appear to be generational players & any of them could help our defense tremendously for years to come. IF we stay at #5 though & those 3 are gone, Devin White would be my choice over Oliver. We simply have to improve in the middle, against the run AND against the pass. White’s fast, can cover, is a great tackler with excellent size & can blitz well. Bucs also desperately need LEADERSHIP in our defense & that’s another of White’s strong suits.
That notwithstanding, if the Bucs get the opportunity to trade down (assuming that the Big-3 are gone), a couple of spots & still pick up an extra 2nd Rnd pick, I’d say go for it. There’s a ton of defensive & offensive talent available in these top rounds this year, and that extra pick could be HUGE. Can you imagine still picking up Devin White say at #7 (after trading out with Jags so they can get a QB), then still grabbing a Tackle AND a DE in the 2nd Rnd. Follow that up in Rnds 3 & 4 with a RB & a Guard and we could fill a lot of potential holes.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:17 am
I agree with Joey. Brain burns will be an absolute stud at the next level perfect outside rush linebacker. If we could trade back and get devin white along with burns…. lookout.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:19 am
If the Bucs are thinking about White then I would trade back if possible & he would still be available. If not him there will be a really good player available.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:25 am
Wow. That kid can play.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:26 am
I haven’t been to concerned about what licht does with the first pick in the draft except last year and the vh3 pick at 9. Lady years haul at safety will be a waste and busted draft if you have to go out and get honey Badger when you could have just drafted James. Something just tells me licht is going to screw this pick up
February 26th, 2019 at 9:36 am
I’m warming up to Devin White considering the talented RBs and how they are used in our division (Kamara, McCaffrey and Devontae Freeman). His talents and strengths would be extremely valuable to our defense to pair with Lavonte David as an ILB in a base 3-4 look. I like Ed Oliver as well but if he checks into the combine as rumored at 6’2″, 270lbs, then I’m all out on him. If we keep and sign Kwon, then Josh Jacobs after a trade down would be my target for our 1st rd pick.
Free Agent wishlist (updated):
Tyrann Mathieu (S)
Anthony Barr (Edge LB)
Morris Claiborne (CB)
Roger Saffold (G)
If we could pull this off while finding a starting RT in the 2nd – 3rd and some Dline depth (Loaded position) I would place a considerable wager in Vegas we’d break our deacde-lomg drought of missing the playoffs!
February 26th, 2019 at 9:37 am
lots of players “development stagnated” under dirk and smitty…..
imo we have to get GMC’s replacement now….and when i say now, im meaning 1st round…..we cant afford to wait and see…..
Ed Oliver would be a great pick in the first round….his versatility would allow him to be on the field regardless if we’re running 43 or 34…..and as joe mentioned Houston had him playing somewhat out of position…..
LB’s can be found in any round….LVD, Kwon and beckwith are perfect examples…..
an LB to watch for is Vosean Joseph from UF……kid hits like a mack truck, can blitz and runs side line to side line…..he’ll be there in the 3rd round….
first 2 rounds have to go to the trenches….point blank period…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 26th, 2019 at 9:38 am
We can trade back and still get White. Just gotta stay in front of Cincy.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:46 am
“Kobe is hoping Jason Gump’s work is finished already. Gump did his part and brought in BA….just smile and nod
Kobe is hoping Gump is just a pretty face and the 2 men behind the draft and FA is BA and Bowles
*BA promised Bowles alot to come to def coord the worst defense than going to Chicago.
BA doesnt need much for his offence to work. All the draft and FAs will be heavy on the defensive side with Bowles approval”
Kobe Faker
February 26th, 2019 at 9:46 am
Hindsight! If we drafted Derwin James (as I wanted also), we still would’ve missed the playoffs…we wouldn’t have Vita (talk of a 3-4 would be almost unfathomable)…..which means we wouldn’t have even considered letting McCoy walk (though we’re not). We would be pegged for an interior defensive lineman (Dexter Lawrence at NT if 3-4)…and Devin White wouldn’t be in the discussion. Kwon would have a little more leverage (unless Beckwith is healthy)….overall we’d be worse as a team, options and salary cap flexibility (let Kwon and Hump walk imo!!)
February 26th, 2019 at 9:57 am
Fixing the defense will take a whole lot of work. Fixing the OL, and fixing the scoring offense, and fixing the rushing attack, and helping Jameis, and helping the defense, and winning can all be done by DRAFTING OL. Replace (thru draft) the right side of the OL and get an RB, and the Bucs will instantly be a much better all around team.
February 26th, 2019 at 9:59 am
@813bucboi: 100% agreed on the perspective of finding later rd Lbs and the obvious examples used. The trenches are the priority (per Bruce Arians), but unfortunately its our right side of the Oline that needs to be fixed and I wouldn’t want an all-rookie right side no matter how good they are. A vet in one of those positions is needed but a 1st rd talented Olineman would be a great idea (Cody Ford or Jawaan Taylor).
And GMCs replacement will be selected this year! I hope our front office isn’t that absentminded to not address that! I got my eye on Jerry Tillery out of Notre Dame to be there in the 2nd for us to pluck to replace GMC, perhaps start opposite GMC (DE) in a 3-man front (Vea at nose).
February 26th, 2019 at 10:03 am
If he runs a 4.5-4.6 then maybe.
But a top 5 pick for a MLB?
Do you guys see him as an equal to Urlacher or Patrick Willis or Keuchly?
Is a 240 pound MLB that runs a 4.65 the future?
Or a 4.4 MLB?
February 26th, 2019 at 10:09 am
“All we need to do in our offensive line is replace Benenoch
Kobe has said and he will back it up
The offensive line looked and was bad solely on Klueless playcalling and offensive line coaching
Mark my words. BA is going to bring in dependable 1 or 2 vets on a minimum salary, but the Offensive line overall will look like a different line both run and pass
Pertaining to the offensive line, scheme and coaching is the utmost importance in obtaining a cohesive UNIT and success”
Kobe Faker
February 26th, 2019 at 10:22 am
Yep, thats who I want…..then sweat if we can move back into the first.
February 26th, 2019 at 10:48 am
My biggest fear is that we pass on a huge talent for more picks then realizing what could have been later in the season, seeing teams reap the benefit of our greed to fill to may holes. I’d rather have that guy that makes an immediate impact than 2 or 3 that look like jags in the season.
Every move has it’s risks, I just hope we make the right choice with who is available before we decide to trade back, if we do at all.
February 26th, 2019 at 10:59 am
ncbuc
i agree….the right side of the oline has to take priority….get a FA G and i would have no problem getting J.Taylor, Cody Ford, or greg little in the first round….. then coming back in the 2nd to get GMC’s replacement….
this is a very deep dline class with great quality….jerry tillery, gerald willis, daylon mack, I. buggs and plenty other players would be a great addition…..
what do you think about wester and liedtke?…..depth or could they be starters….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 26th, 2019 at 11:02 am
The last good defensive game was when they curb stomped the Seahawks offense a few years ago. The highlight though was watching Richard Sherman whine and kavetch the whole game. Russell Wilson was completely shut down.
February 26th, 2019 at 11:09 am
Stop saying “a pass rusher” at number 5. Unless Bosa or Allen fall there is no Edge Rusher at 5. Be more specific…. c’mon!
February 26th, 2019 at 11:19 am
Please Please don’t draft another Clemson DE!
February 26th, 2019 at 11:30 am
Defense Rules Says:
“picking up Devin White say at #7 (after trading out with Jags so they can get a QB), then still grabbing a Tackle AND a DE in the 2nd Rnd. Follow that up in Rnds 3 & 4 with a RB & a Guard and we could fill a lot of potential holes.”
I like that plan. But would prefer to substitute DT for RB in the 3rd/4th rd. as there are likely to still be some “steals” available due to the depth of the position in this year’s draft. Depends on who is available when our picks come obviously…
1st Rd – Devin White
2nd Rd – OT or DE
2nd Rd – DE or OT
3rd Rd – OG or DT
4th Rd – DT or OG
February 26th, 2019 at 11:59 am
Agree @Defense Rules and @Kobe
LIcht better not f*ck this up lol. I defended him early here, but Mark Dominik made Licht’s decent drafts look a lot better than they really were. I can admit I was off.
He’s still 3X the drafter of Dominik, but he’s not a top drafting GM. He’d need to draft 2 all pros and a probowler this year while seeing rojo/davis/spence all pan out to even try to make that argument.
In general I’m torn between wanting the trade down knowing the depth of OL/DL in rounds 2/3 and getting an extra starter/body, and getting a safe guy like White at 5.
As of now I’m in the top 3 dudes or trade down group. 2 QBs go top 4 somehow then we’re not moving back. Otherwise there should be a trade down market.
I agree with Kobe that the only gaping hole on the OLine is RG and that Koetter was part of the failures. At least to be come average or better than average immediately in both pass/run.
IMO R2 / R3 is the sweet spot this year for an immediate new starter at RG. Unless we move to like 15 in the middle of R1 and take Jonah Williams because he falls.
February 26th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Anything will help the defense but im afraid kwon has been held back by bad coaching.
February 26th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Even though it’s not our biggest need, it’s another question mark for this defense so, I wouldn’t be terribly upset with the pick. The kid’s a good player. We need good players.
February 26th, 2019 at 12:25 pm
How many years yall think Dotson has left? The man isn’t even that good and is on his last legs. Only hole is at RG?! They couldn’t run the ball in any direction near the redzone. Pressure on the QB from every angle. The guys were getting outright beat up all year
February 26th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
@BucEmUp 7:
Coaching has not “held Kwon back.”
Alexander is responsible for himself. Because he is tiny by MLB standards he plays largely out of control.
Yeah, he makes an occasional “splash” play. But if you understood what to look for in football, you’d see the horrible pursuit angles, technical mistakes and how easy it is to block him out of a play like he doesn’t exist, unable to shed blocks at 225.
Chest-thumping, that “look at me” mouth and red hair may impress the casual fans, but not those who understand the game.
Passion is a fine trait, but talent comes first.
Alexander would make a better OLB, but he is no way as good a player as David.
I won’t even get into his knee issue.
February 26th, 2019 at 12:39 pm
Kaon is also looking at a year long suspension, if he were to get popped for PEDs a second time.
February 26th, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Ed Oliver as a DE in a 3-4 and a DT in a 4-3… Very Interesting
February 26th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
draft White hes a good linebacker that has speed and range. We need help her, let Kwon go.
February 26th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
Spot on, Cobraboy. It would be a mistake if the Bucs signed Kwon Alexander. The fans that are clamoring for him are those that like the energy and enthusiasm. They remember the splash plays. Most importantly, he’s injury prone.
He’s not a special talent. Time to move on.
February 26th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
This dude can play. 10 year LB
February 26th, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Kwon is replaceable on DAY 2-3 of the draft….Go look at scouting tape on Jordan Jones ( SR – WLB – Kentucky)…. Will show up in Indy @ 6’2″ – 230-235lbs, put up 20+ reps & run a 4.5-40….(However, SO-JR yr Off Field / Maturity concerns will limit him to a day 3 pick – though he made MAJOR strides as a SR…What really matters is all the physical/play traits are there!)
February 26th, 2019 at 3:07 pm
If he is the best player on the board when we pick then we select him. It doesn’t matter what position group as long as they are between the 1st and 5th best ranked player on the board. Problem is rankings are subjective. So I say keep your own evaluation on theses players at the combine. Let’s see if the cream will rise to the top. Heck, the best #1 player on the board could be a “kicker” lol.
February 26th, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Have Alexander get down to 215-220, put him on a speed program and take a look at him at SS.
February 26th, 2019 at 3:48 pm
“LC,
Kobe is not a big position coach kind of guy
But i think pertaining to the offensive line its a must and importance. They have to work as a unit. The timing and helping out of the whole line has to work together
Pats i believe started back to the superbowl run when they brought back the oline coach again? They let solder go to the giants and the oline is even better?
Kluless had the oline run block when the whole defence knew they were going to run into the middle 1st and 2nd down. Those 3rd and longs? The oline was always going against a defence playing downhill”
Kobe Faker
February 26th, 2019 at 3:49 pm
Quite a few pundits have Devin White ranked right up there with Bosa, Allen and Q. Read one guy say he might be the best player in this class.
If Todd Bowles thinks this guy will be a All-Pro Linebacker I’m all in. In fact I aren’t even considering a trade if they think D.White is that much better then the rest.
Call me crazy but we sure could use a legit impact play for this D.
February 26th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
Jimmy jack,
Very interesting stuff. If Devin White is the next Bobby Wagner- pull the trigger.
I would love to see BPA, and hopefully a trench player.
February 26th, 2019 at 4:04 pm
If this kid is as good as many of us think, we will see a huge uptick on our D’s performance. I think the poor linebacker play has been overshadowed the past few years by at times our D line, and last year by our secondary. White can be the center spoke of our Defense, and I think as long as we add a few other pieces we will improve and get younger and healthier at the same time.
February 26th, 2019 at 4:13 pm
devin white is nice but we’re not 1 MLB away from being a elite defense….we’re not like the bears defense who were a MLB and DE away from being elite….if we dont tighten up the dline, devin white will be getting blocked by olinemen all game…..
LB’s can be found all thru out the draft….tre lamar and vosean joseph can be had in the 3rd round….not to mention kevin minter who played under bowles in ARZ….
the first 3 rounds have to go to the trenches….LB and RB can wait….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
February 26th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Everyone on this site knows what positions the team needs to improve.
Every single draft expert, GM, media member and network talking head agree that this draft is exceptionally deep with quality defensive lineman and also a solid if not above average, in terms of quality and quantity, of offensive lineman.
So far the opinions vary little among jbf posters about what the draft needs to produce for it t7o be considered successful. The strategy is what , so far, is the proverbial trade down to get an extra 2nd and 3rd round picks.
Here’s the odd part. There’s a lot of different individuals on this site , whose opinions vary greatly depending on the topic. But the draft topic is not one of those topics that are divisive.
Everyone is on the same page. There’s the problem.
The problem is there’s zero and I mean absolutely zero creative solutions being offered up to address the teams needs with the prospects this draft is offering. Problem solving is the over arching theme, creative solutions is the point . The teams problems are established and agreed upon.
I’m suggesting that to be successful or increase the probability of success there’s got to be a more creative solution than stay at 5 or trade down..I know there’s plenty of jbf posters who were repeatedly critical of lovie, dirk, smitty, on and on about how they weren’t creative, weren’t innovative, relied on outdated schemes, and couldn’t adjust. Yet these are the same people who have zero creative thoughts and solutions on the draft, they can’t seem to adjustart to the talent pool in the draft and are relying on outdated schemes to proceed into the draft.
Ironic, hypocritical or just a huge lack of self awareness isn’t the point, it’s just a humorous side note, but it’s these people I’m interested to hear from. Although lack of self awareness means the guy looking back in the mirror is not me!
February 26th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
This should be the pick in Round 1. He’s a stud and future star in this league and from what I understand he’s a good dude. Lock him up and build around him.
February 26th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
@813bucboi … “LB’s can be found in any round….LVD, Kwon and beckwith are perfect examples”. Yes bucboi, those were good examples of Rnd 2, 3 & 4 picks. But look at some of our OTHER LB picks in the last 10 years (going back to 2009): Cichy (Rnd 6), Bond (Rnd 6), Goode (Rnd 5), Foster (Rnd 3), Watson (Rnd 7). Starters typically come out of the Top-4 Rounds it appears, and more specifically out of the Top-3 Rounds.
By the way, looking at those draft picks … 8 LBs drafted in 10 years out of 70 total picks … makes me want to cry. The LB position group represents about 25% of the defensive roster. Yet since 2009 look at what we’ve drafted to fill that position group:
o Rnd 1 … 10 picks … 0 LBs
o Rnd 2 … 14 picks … 1 LB (LVD)
o Rnd 3 … 8 picks … 2 LB (Beckwith, Foster)
o Rnd 4 … 8 picks … 1 LB (Kwon)
o Rnd 5 … 10 picks … 1 LB (Goode)
o Rnd 6 … 9 picks … 2 LB (Bond, Cichy)
o Rnd 7 … 11 picks … 1 LB (Watson)
Sorry, but that’s not the way to build a championship T-E-A-M.
February 26th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
Tre Lamar.
February 26th, 2019 at 7:48 pm
When your best draft picks are average and you have to overpay average players to keep them then you arrive at the situation the Bucs are in. We have two or three possible superstars one we traded for last year. The Bucs overplayed their weapons for Winston project and ignored important parts of the defense. The LB Corp in general is slightly above average. Again when you spend BIG MONEY on average players mixed with below average coaching you get the cellar trophy every year. We have accumulated plenty of those awards so please please stop rewarding average like it is excellence.
February 26th, 2019 at 7:59 pm
This guy flies around the field. While Kwon had some nice qualities, this kid is light years better. As much as I am all for fixing both sides of the line, this guy looks like he will be the BPA when the Bucs pick at 5.
February 26th, 2019 at 11:44 pm
Hmmm, I was the first to call for Marpet, I remember it well….one of the first if not the first to call for Vea last year, remember it well. And here we are again….I wasnt seeing White getting mention as our first until a post i made 2-3 months ago.
It must be true, great minds think alike! Lets get it done Mr. Licht! Snatch this kid up then find a way to move back into the first for Sweat 🙂
February 27th, 2019 at 12:01 am
Yeah, we better take him at 5…..other teams fans are clamoring for a trade back like us and getting him at 7-10. he’s 4.49 40 speed and it shows.
February 27th, 2019 at 12:12 am
I can picture him chasing down Drew Brees and throwing Kamara to the ground, seeing Cam Newton get shoulder dived into the turf, Matt Ryan getting chased to sideline or in the backfield throwing it up for grabs. Ready for Devin White for our first pik.