“Mentally Being All The Way In It”

October 19th, 2019

After an illness in Week 1 and an early injury in Week 2, last Sunday was sort of a brand new start for Bucs rookie savior linebacker Devin White.

For those confused, Joe refers to White as “savior” because that’s exactly how Bucco Bruce Arians described White and his role. White would be able to come right in as the No. 5 overall pick and lead the defense, Arians said, much like Tyrann Matthieu did as a rookie with the Cardinals under Arians.

Also, fans were told White would be a heck of a dangerous pass rusher in Todd Bowles’ scheme. And White was going to a speedy and smart force covering the beasts of the NFC South like Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara.

Arians never seemed willing to entertain any public notion that White might have a significant learning curve.

White learned lessons the hard way Sunday in England. Joe hopes he’s the kind of player who makes a mistake and then doesn’t repeat it.

“A couple of people had mental errors. I had, you know, two huge ones that I wish I could have back,” White said in the postgame locker room. His biggest blunder came on McCaffrey’s receiving touchdown. White didn’t cover McCaffrey out of the backfield and said he fooled himself watching the quarterback’s eyes.

“Part of the next step of being in the NFL is like mentally being all the way in it. You know, I got caught slipping and I had to pay for it,” White said.

Sounding like a typical rookie, White added he must play faster and he needs more work with coaches and time in his playbook to do that. (You can watch White chat in the Buccaneers.com video below. )

No, Joe didn’t want to draft White at No. 5 overall. But once White put on the uniform, Joe wants him to excel, just like any player.

Joe’s holding out hope that White is a fast learner and that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will figure out how to maximize his talents. If White is the player many fans thought he was on draft day, then he should be turning a lot of heads around the league with his play in the final six or seven games.


52 Responses to ““Mentally Being All The Way In It””

  1. Buczilla Says:

    I didn’t want Eugene Marve Jr. either but I hope he starts tearing it up. He is not a good player right now.

  2. lowercaseg Says:

    He has not impressed.

  3. Tampabuscsbro Says:

    You know I didn’t want to draft him either. but I don’t know how some people hold so much against him. yeah guys white wanted to get tonsillitis and sprain his MCL. time to blame the rookie coming off a sprained MCL on defensive woes. He is still going to be a good player.

  4. Petty Officer Buc Says:

    Why doesn’t wINTston get called the savior? That’s how he was sold to us Bucs fans. You had that “Chase for Jamies” slogan running here for months and we even tanked the last game of 2014 by pulling our starters to ensure a loss.

  5. Rayjay1122 Says:

    BA said he is a savior…..too funny. So far almost everything BA says is total BS.

  6. tmaxcon Says:

    White is just another in the long list of failed first round picks from this incompetent organization. White like vh3bust was way over drafted. Bucs always try and out smart themselves but end up proving thier ignorance year in and year….

  7. Tampabuscsbro Says:

    Nah dude. there are too many problems for BA and Bowles to fix in a year here.

  8. Lamarcus Says:

    Tampa Bay Bucs…… “It’s here careers die”. Should be the slogan. RIP Devin White

  9. Petty Officer Buc Says:

    Not true Lamarcus:

    This is also an excellent franchise to take a year off while getting paid so you can rehab/relax and go back to your original team in a year or two.

    #GlazerFundedVacation

  10. tmaxcon Says:

    I love the fact the delusional optimists that live in denial have once again were made the fools by glazers. BA and his BS is bad character Lovie and the family plan all over again…. all you delusional ones posted non stop after the lovie hiring at least defense will be better…. lol how’d that work out ladies… all offseason the delusional ones have been saying we finally have coaching.. well they dont…. BA is Pee wee herman on the sidelines game days and Joe biden at the podium….

    when will you fools finally accept glazers have no intention of fielding a winner. It’s been 17 plus years since last meaningful win. the only fools are bucfans with hope and belief in glazers…. you can’t be this bad for this long without wanting to be bad…

  11. Sharthappens Says:

    We picked the wrong LB. Bush is going to be an All Pro as a rookie.

  12. FanO’Bucs Says:

    #Patience

    It’s going to take a minute to turn this organization around, let alone being able to develop rooks. Hold tight

  13. Tampabuscsbro Says:

    You Guys know Devin Bush plays on a good defense and had a predetermined hole to fill. Where we don’t have a good defense and have completely changed everything.

  14. tmaxcon Says:

    You people with hope and patience are adorable….. wake up its been nearly two decades since a meaningful win.

  15. Lubby Smith Says:

    If you pick a middle linebacker that high, he better be a Ray Lewis/Luke Kuechly/Patrick Willis type. Devin White looks like some average Joe. Not that fast, not that strong, not very good instincts.

    Only the incompetent Bucs would’ve taken him over Josh Allen, an incredible talent at a key position.

  16. Tampabuscsbro Says:

    LOL people one rookie wasn’t going to suddenly make this team good or play like Ray Lewis Right out the gate, also sure blame him for getting hurt. also yeah Tmaxipad Devin White isn’t your boy who won your team a title Jameis Winston so that means he sucks.

  17. NOLES Says:

    Josh Allen was the pick. Pash rushers are hard to find & what do you know, we don’t have a pass rush… lichtbulb strikes again. We could all hang at a sports bar together pounding beers on draft day & pick a better team just listening to Mel Kiper… what a joke organization as mentioned in an earlier post, you have to want to he bad to SUCK for this long… Well done Glazers you SUCK… you should hear how desperate their ticket sales guys are when they call you to try & get you to buy tickets to see these clowns.. hahaha…. good luck boys…

  18. #1bucsfan Says:

    All you cray baby’s especially T M A X I P A D go rub some dirt on it an get over it nobody an I mean nobody cares what any of you cry babies think or care about your opinions.

  19. Brandon Says:

    Would’ve much rather had Josh Allen but he’s a Buc now and I hope he becomes a Hall of Fame LB.

  20. DB55 Says:

    Dude is worse than Teflon kwon and Teflon kwon was a 4th round pick. I’m just glad they didn’t draft a RT or RG or DE or the best CB available. Mlb at 5th overall, it must be something in the water.

  21. Easy Says:

    @tmaxcon

    I think the best thing this organization can do get purchased by competent owners and move the team outta Tampa Bay. The Glazers absolutely make me sick.

  22. Rayjay1122 Says:

    I will have hope and patience with a new GM and better yet new ownership also. Until then we are being held hostage to total futility.

  23. NPRSageBoy Says:

    I’d wager White make it to the Pro Bowl before JayMiss. Unless, of course, JayMiss buys a ticket.

  24. Deminion Says:

    Hope he starts to flash… I’m
    Not surprised tho the organization is crap and BA and Bowles gotta fix a lot… The CB’s are terrible put the youngsters in… Nassib has been on a milk carton out LB’s are decent but how many more good yrs does lavonte have left ? We need a RT bad Cappa played solid as the RG Peyton B is meh Jones needs to start… OJ isn’t used right and he doesn’t get open why have they ever split him outside 1-1???????? Jameis has to playeout of his mind just to get the franchise tag we all know he not gettin a new deal
    I’ve been the biggest supporter of him… Evans is good he just looks tired of losing rant over

  25. TOM Says:

    Remember folks we could have had Kuechly & we wouldn’t be having this White discussion. Worst run organization in NFL. But you all keep buying your tickets, wasting Your Sunday’s & lining the Glazer’s pockets.

  26. Defense Rules Says:

    Big difference between a rookie DE & a rookie MLB. Josh Allen had an excellent game against Tennessee (2 sacks, 2 QB Hits, 2 TFLs) but beyond that he’s doing about average for a rookie DE playing on a reasonably good defensive team. Devin White’s played in a little over 2 games in the middle of a not-as-good defensive team. I guess I’m one of those ‘delusional optimists’ who say ‘give him time’. Perhaps evaluating someone based on 2 games is rather narrow-minded?

  27. Tampabuscsbro Says:

    ^Pretty much but to a good chunk of the people in here think Jameis Winston is a bum that shouldn’t be on this team and their poor play is actively screwing Winston over.

  28. tmaxcon Says:

    D r

    Much respect…. we disagree but at end of the day want to see this franchise win consistently not just another fluke one year wonder team like the underachieving has beens mistakenly labeled legends by desperate low standard bucfan were

    #1bucsfan tell mommy its nap time…

  29. Bobby M. Says:

    I think he’ll be fine and start showing flashes after mid-season. He had some set backs from a health standpoint, that can happen to any player. The defense is going to need him or someone else to put pressure from a different angle on the QB because teams have locked in on our DE. If we can get one more player to splash, it might keep the opposing offense under enough pressure to give our secondary some help.

  30. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Well, I guess White is a bust…we should go ahead and cut him now. (Sarcasm)

  31. firethecannons Says:

    not looking for a pro bowl season out of white, just hope he plays well, learns a ton and stays healthy, he is cornerstone, he wont be a loser like jameis, vh3 and all of the cornerbacks that licht ever drafted

  32. Clean House Says:

    His horse dying, f’d him up

  33. Son of Kobe Faker Says:

    Lovie Smith 24
    Tampa bay Bucs 23

  34. JP_09 Says:

    Don’t forget to tune in Oregon vs Washington. Herbert vs Eason, one could be a Buc next year

  35. Christopher Schiefen Says:

    BucZilla with the Eugene Marve reference!

    The thing is, Devin Bush is having no such problems. But White was 1A in the draft rankings between the two, so if you’re an astute talent evaluator (like, the Steelers) and you were in the Bucs spot, you trade down and let Bush slide to you (IF you hit on Spence, and if JPP wasn’t a jackass off the field, and if you knew Shaq was gonna be good). Otherwise, damn, maybe Josh Allen was the pick (I still ask though, so we’d go with Kevin Minter next to LVD?)

  36. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    I am not surprised he is getting schooled… however he’ll be fine and get better with each game!

  37. Son of Kobe Faker Says:

    “Devin Bush is a nice player and Devin White will be fine but

    Both will never be elite because of their physical limitations

    most notably their size and arm length

    they cant continuously fight off lineman with their alligator arms

    BOTH ARE TOO SHORT!”

    Son of Kobe Faker

  38. Son of Kobe Faker Says:

    “LOL what timing

    Want to see the best player from last year’s draft?

    He will be activated this week and will personally show us next week in Tennessee

    Mr Jefrey Simmons”

    Son of Kobe Faker

  39. Dom>Licht Says:

    Give the kid time, I mean if Winston gets 5 years to reach his potential and stop turning the ball over I say we give White to at least his 2nd contract to evaluate him.

  40. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    He is also playing with a knee brace!

  41. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    A little disappointed in White to this point, but far too early to throw in the towel.

  42. tmaxcon Says:

    Alvin Scissors Harper Says:
    October 19th, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    A little disappointed in White to this point, but far too early to throw in the towel.

    it’s never to early to throw away a buc season much less a draft pick…

  43. DB55 Says:

    It’s obvious you guys don’t know what you’re watching.

    You drafted a mlb #5 overall who can’t read offensive plays, lineman or backs out of the backfield. He don’t know if he should have the back, the TE or cover the run.

    Most time he just stares at the qb hoping the QB runs. Maybe one day this year he’ll get thru on a blitz and tackle a QB.

  44. Jeffbuc Says:

    TMax that is just lazy thinking. Blaming it on the owners. What more can they do. They have hired every different kind of coach. Fired had to still pay them while paying a new coach. They have spent big bucs in free agency. You want them to be like jerry Jones and draft players and bring in free agents. We hired a defensive coach an offensive coach a players coach. Two who have had success one coached a super bowl and the other a two time coach of the year. What more can they do. It’s the gym who is ruining this team. I know for a fact of me and a couple other logic’s posters in here ran the draft the last 5 years we would have some talent. We would have two starting competent corners. A stud safety and a pass rush. If this class ends the year as bad as they are now then they need to fire licht immediately. If they do t then I will say they are hindering this team not the sole problem but one of the problems for allowing the biggest problem to run another draft.

  45. Bculaw Says:

    Everyone was writing off Vea this time last year. Now he’s a legitimate beast in the middle of the defense. Give White some time. He may not ultimately pan out, but it’s way too early to get down on him.

  46. Proudbucsfan Says:

    After Mcaffrey stiff armed and ran passed White he went to the bench and they put the cameras on him and his face was filled with lost confidence. That is hard to come back from. I hate to be that guy but I don’t think he turns into the player the fans want.

  47. Sappattack Says:

    You guys are F’ing hilarious.

    Dude has had a lot of obstacles to overcome just to get on the damn field and none of them were his fault. He’s going to come into his own. Give the kid a minute Christ

  48. Go Bucs 72 Says:

    The amount of stupidity in this thread is astonishing. The dude has not played enough games to make any kind of determination on how of a player he is or isn’t going to be. I don’t know why there’s so much hate going his way, of yeah LSU kicked the Gaytors asses 42-28 last week. Suck it Haters.

  49. OneBuc55 Says:

    I see a lot of Bucs fan posting here are in classic form, calling a guy a bust after 3 or 4 games played… hilarious

    I still love the pick, I think he’ll be fine…I noticed he started making alot of plays after the embarrassing stiff arm he got from McCaffrey on the TD run…

    All this team needs to do is regroup, cut down on the mental mistakes on both sides of the ball, fully commit to the running game, use the TEs a little more, and crying out loud, please please please, stop putting Hargreaves on the #1 receiver…

  50. BUCLUV55 Says:

    Enough with the stupid azz nick names for everything. You are almost unbearable to read.

  51. Lakeland Steve Says:

    No matter who you thought should have been drafted at #1 makes no difference now. Devin White was the pick. The guy has tons of talent but that does not necessarily translate into success in the NFL. However, he is on a bad defense (at least against the pass), he is having to make all the defensive calls and adjustments pre-snap. He also is trying to play a pivotal, extremely difficult position on defense. He’s played like one complete game and half of you knuckleheads are trying to crucify him. Let’s give him a season under his belt and then see how he rates. I don’t know if he is going to be a good, great or hall of famer or a bust. But give the kid a chance to play and learn how to play the position as well as lead the defense. Then all you former NFL players who judge him can tell us how good or bad he is and how yall did it when you played in the NFL. That’s right none of you guys played the in the NFL did ya? I’ll bet most of you didn’t even play High School ball, but somehow you are all experts now.

  52. Barack's Crack Pipe Says:

    Proudbucsfan Says:
    “After Mcaffrey stiff armed and ran passed White he went to the bench and they put the cameras on him and his face was filled with lost confidence.”
    .
    .

    C’mon, Man! That’s a bit over dramatic. Everyone who has ever played defense has experienced being stiff-armed. It happens. He will be fine.