Devin White No. 11
January 10th, 2020
Almost top-ten.
As it turned out, the Bucs had a good draft.
The Bucs found two corners. That’s a big help.
The Bucs may have found a kicker, but as the season ended it seemed as if the Bucs were right back in the kicker quagmire they had been for most of the decade.
(Yeah, there were reports rookie kicker Matt Gay was hurt. If he was that hurt he should have been on injured reserve and the Bucs should have pulled someone out of a flag football rec league to kick. If you are on the field — produce or get off. And stop with the wind excuse! That’s weaksauce.)
Late-round wide receiver Scotty Miller started to show up and make an impact late in the season before he too had his rookie year shut down too early with an injury.
Maybe the most high profile rookie who turned things around after a slow, invisible start was rookie middle linebacker Devin White.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently took a look at the top rookies and believes White was the 11th-best in the NFL.
White has elite speed and his playmaking skills jump off the screen when you study his game.
Yeah, White was clocked as a speedy guy when he scooped-and-scored on one of his two touchdowns this year.
What was cool about White is that he’s a ballhawk. He’s always around the ball, which makes the feat he accomplished, being the first rookie since Cecil Johnson of the Packers in 1990 to have two scoop-and-scores a neat milestone.
If White improves in his second year (and why shouldn’t he), he may just take over for Lavonte David as the Bucs’ linebacker for the third decade of the 21st century.
January 10th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Yeah he definitely has a knack for making plays. The concern was his mental game and over-pursuit, but towards the end of the season the guy seemed to be reading QB’s and knowing where the plays were going. That is super promising.
January 10th, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Hopefully it’ll continue on like a Derrick Brooks type of player
January 10th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
Way to go Devin. Looking forward to more of your great play next season!
January 10th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
way to go devin. wish I could have seen it. stopped watching my subscription because the season was over….about the time he came on strong i suppose
January 10th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
All this debate over JW is obscuring just how much our D has improved.
My major concern now is that JW’s salary doesn’t hamstring what is truly a promising defense.
Theoretically it seems to me…although I certainly defer to our capologist D.R. that with White…and all the rookies we are getting by on the cheap with them.
With Shaq, Suh, Nassib, and other veterans we have to pay. Seems like a close to 50-50 deal but I haven’t crunched the numbers.
IE Isn’t it good to have the balance between producing vets and guys on rookie contracts?
January 10th, 2020 at 3:33 pm
Joe
has beaten to death the JW QB discussions………..
………..that’s why I rarely comment anymore………it’s gotten old and sour
January 10th, 2020 at 3:34 pm
@joe
Any word on Kendall Beckwith?
May Jah bless his heart.
January 10th, 2020 at 3:48 pm
Like always though if we continue to lose White will be as obscure as L. David has been in pro bowl recognition and selections.
Bucs players have to play like supermen to get any recognition, even with our own media most the time.
Case in point, Evans (1157), Godwin (1333), and Barrett (19.5)
January 10th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
I criticized the pick when it was made & I’m not getting off that soap box.
White had a good not great rookie yr. He’s talented and all, but…As I said on draft day…You don’t take MLB’s in the top10. You take the Pass-Rushers!
So for me…It’s still a gut punch knowing the 2019 NCAA DEF Player of YR (Nagurski & Bednarik winner) UK Pass Rusher that TB had fall in lap @ #6 but passed on, came in as the #5 Rookie / #2 DEF Rookie on list & ended his rookie yr w/ 10.5sacks.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:09 pm
So I accidentally poured orange juice in my cereal, must be Jameis’ fault.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:12 pm
“My major concern now is that JW’s salary doesn’t hamstring what is truly a promising defense.”
The only way our starting QB doesn’t cost us ~$20-25M+ next year is if we don’t sign any decent FA, let Winston walk, and draft a QB to start.
This isn’t a Winston specific problem as much as it’s a situation for any NFL team that wants a starting QB that isn’t on a rookie deal.
It’s not like giving up on Winston to go after X or Y FA QB saves us $$.
So IMO either go one more year with Winston or dump him and go get your QB in the draft.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
Not to be confused with the Bucs Cecil Johnson All American LB in the 70s. Fun fact; Bucs Cecil Johnson’s brother was the drummer in KC and the Sunshine Band.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Great pick… We got tore up by RB’s in 2018 in the LB level… How easily snapperheads like catcard forget… He have the NFL sack leader in 2019!!!
January 10th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
I think White is Hardy reincarnated. Super glad to have him and David. I’m with the above comment Jameis needs to be a team friendly contract. Between his past (on and off the field) and that we need to resign the defensive line, you would think he would gladly accept 20 million per season.
And for all those who says he’s worth 30 why should he settle. How many of you could sign a contract for 100 million dollars. 20 million per year isn’t “poor Jameis”.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
“If you sign Shaq Barrett…
he is equivalent to drafting a Josh Allen
*though we will be paying $17 mil per, Gump did not lose picks from acquiring FA Shaq
What Kobe Faker is trying to say is
even a blind Gump can find his nuts to scratch”
Wise Kobe Faker
January 10th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
He had one in Tennessee that the awful refs wiped away.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
I loved the pick.
MLB is the heart of a D.
Ask the Kitties how important Keuchly is, and IMO White has much more upside and flexibility than Kuechly, and that is saying a lot.
White is a physical freak of nature.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:25 pm
Stanglassman Says:
January 10th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
Not to be confused with the Bucs Cecil Johnson All American LB in the 70s. Fun fact; Bucs Cecil Johnson’s brother was the drummer in KC and the Sunshine Band.
Enjoyed your fact. Thanks.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:32 pm
Who cares what other teams picked…
Our defensive picks of Devin White, Jamal Dean, and SMB all look like they can be way better than average NFL players. That was a good haul for this team. Even Mike Edwards as a rookie seemed to have a decent clue.
Nice way to build. I think there are some guys that replied in these comments that last year wanted us to pick Darrell Henderson in the 3rd round but instead we traded that pick to the LA Ram and got both Dean and Edwards.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:33 pm
“LOL
Once again
Naive Gullible easy to mislead sheep listening to others instead of rereading Kobe Fakers commentary and analysis
LordCornelius Says:
January 10th, 2020 at 4:12 pm
“My major concern now is that JW’s salary doesn’t hamstring what is truly a promising defense.”
average starting QB is $23mill. Lets even say $18-20 Mill per
WHAT THE HELL IS THE DIFFERENCE OF LOUSY $10 MILLION PER???
*Over 75% of the teams have over $10 mill under the annual salary Cap
*There is not enough good Free Agents to sign among 32 teams each year
*This is why every year FAs are ridiculously overpaid BECAUSE
TEAMS HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THERE ARE FREE AGENTS EVERY YEAR!!!
the annual QB salary hampering a team of winning and playoff bound is a fallacy created by the posters of JBF
I demand my daily posts be stickied on top of the site”
Kobe Faker
January 10th, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Thinking the operative word is “over.” 🙁
January 10th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Good getting rid of Kendall Beckwith gives the Buc’s an extra few hundred thousand to someone like Suh. His cap hit was $934,000 this year.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
The “Draft Gods” wouldn’t have shined down on our Bucs if Gay was injured causing the misses….you should be thankful, Joe.
As for Devin White……..I don’t know how you can rank players from totally different positions as to success……but.
He is already a great player……could be a very good draft…..thanks to BA & Bowles.
January 10th, 2020 at 5:03 pm
Derrick Brooks had that knack for always being around the ball too. Some guys just have “it” and I hope that Devin keeps it up.
January 10th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
Good job Devin!
I think you’re going to be very good in our new defense.
And Joe……
If you are on the field — produce or get off the field.
I agree, but didn’t a Joe use the injury excuse to protect the Soiled Messiah a little while back?
January 10th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Great Job Devin. You played well and the sky is the limit
also Kobe Faker ffs stop grinding your axe over your boy Winston Devin Played great. issue people have is giving so much money to a man who pisses away games.
January 10th, 2020 at 7:07 pm
I was thinking earlier about how Kwon will be playing in the Playoffs this week.
What if we had Resigned Kwon Alexander, cut JPP, and drafted Josh Allen?
We would have Kwon and Allen as opposed to JPP and Devin White.
I think while the contract figures would’ve been similar, would the leadership?
I mean Devin White is a different kind of dude, an Alpha who had not been around losing. Also JPP brings that dog mentality and that get your job done grit. Would Josh Allen have been able to provide that?
So while many B!tchhh and moan about not getting Allen, ask yourself would we have been better off as a team and culture with Kwon and Allen or JPP and White?
January 10th, 2020 at 7:22 pm
Jameis will get around 26 million per year if he isn’t franchised.
January 10th, 2020 at 7:31 pm
Matt Gay will be fine.
January 10th, 2020 at 7:50 pm
bucsince79 aka bumaneer ….
I’ve been a Bucs fan since 1976…From Spurrier’s 0-14 and McKay’s witty remarks trying to keep from crying…to crying my own eyes out over losing Ricky Bell…to fuming over the idiocy of the Bo double-cross…to crying my eyes out again after realizing dreams come true moments after Gruden’s miracle SB winning season came to a resounding end…to watching another decade of depression & yearning for BA to be lured to the Bay area…I’ve stayed true.
Don’t question my loyalty or snapperhead insights! 🙂
I openly conveyed displeasure then…Offering my opinion on a MLB solution for the 4th/5th round that would have filled the role nicely, had the FO went OLB-Edge @ #6.. Mack Wilson / ALA….Would have rolled the dice on talent in the 4th!
I also believe you build a roster starting in the trenches, on both sides of the ball….But target game changing pass-rushers, pass-catchers & franchise QB’s & RB’s over TE, MLB’s & Slot Corners, all day – every day…. Especially when they fall in your lap in the draft!
Yeah, I called for a OLB/DE @ #6 & evidently ruffled feathers… I also pleaded for Mizzu QB Drew Lock or KSU RT Dalton Risner @ #39, when both slid into the 2nd & were setting there to be taken…I stand by my opinions on all three being future all pros.
As a long time fan…Second guessing Bucs FO moves is a baked in & a right of passage…So, I may be jaded by being let down time & time again…But 7-9 in 2019 & still having major QB, Pass-rush & RT questions left to be answered this off-season…Kinda speaks for it’s self, when a little more creative thinking would have made 2 of those 3 very cost effective problem solvers to the 2020 roster.
January 10th, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Since Joe and the board seem to be obsessed with sacks…and apparently the league as well.
Reality is that Allen led the Jags to how many more sacks than us?
Uh that would be NONE. We tied the Jags and Pats with 47 sacks which was good for 7th place. Uh…that would be top ten but apparently many did not get the memo that the Bucs defense improved bigly this year including sacks. Top 10 is not shabby.
Meanwhile I DO NOT CARE WHAT VOTERS SAY. How many points did Allen score for the Jags? How many ints? How many forced fumbles? How many times did Allen use his 4.64 40 speed to run sideline to sideline..as opposed to Devin White’s 4.42 time. Did you guys read that? Speed kills. Allen looks like a college player speed compared to White.
Allen is a one trick pony. If you lined up White as an edge rusher like Allen he would easily get ten sacks….it’s not his job. One is a great athlete the other is great specialist. I do not get this crazy love for one stat! Especially when the Bucs TIED the Jags for 7th in the league in sacks. We did not need Allen!!
January 10th, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Let Joe get this straight: In a post about Devin White, which has absolutely nothing to do with Jameis, you invoke Jameis’ name and complain Joe writes too much about Jameis therefore you do not comment as much?
🤦♂️
January 10th, 2020 at 8:59 pm
If White improves in his second year (and why shouldn’t he), he may just take over for Lavonte David as the Bucs’ linebacker for the third decade of the 21st century.
Man, I’m not sure what you’re saying there Joe but Devin White looks really good. I’ll drink to that….No, seriously. I’m drinking to that as I type this.
January 10th, 2020 at 9:15 pm
It’s interesting that in all the comments about Devin White, I can’t remember seeing the word ‘LEADER’ come up once. And yet, when folks talk about Luke Kuechly being a great MLB, the words ‘LEADER OF THE PANTHERS’ DEFENSE’ are constantly used.
Folks can go back & check the JBF annals if they want to, but I was totally in favor of drafting Devin White from Day 1. Reason? His LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL even more-so than his physical talent. Bucs have been desperate IMO for a ‘Hardy Nickerson-type LEADER’ for more years than I can remember. The type of player that an entire defense can rally around. Devin White is THAT player. We saw the start of it last year. Can’t wait to see our 2020 defense kick ass.
January 10th, 2020 at 9:27 pm
so if you pick 5th and that player is the 11th best, is that a bad pick yet?
White seems probably better than 11th. Come next year he may be #1 when looking back at that point. Time will tell.
January 10th, 2020 at 9:36 pm
DR, I think he will be that guy. Devin White is very raw but owns every intangible and athletic asset you could want. With experience he will be more vocal and confident in how he speaks with everyone. It’s hard for a young man to come into a room full of grown men and demand respect. I think he’s earned a lot, after a tough start with the knee and the flu, he really started to come on and show that sideline to sideline ability.
High hopes for this defense if we can keep the band together.
January 10th, 2020 at 11:50 pm
That reply from joe to Bucs anthem might be best comment I’ve seen in 3 years lol
January 11th, 2020 at 6:57 am
Couldn’t agree more Bucco!
January 11th, 2020 at 6:58 am
*Bucup *
January 11th, 2020 at 7:20 am
I was super high on Devin White coming into the season as a top tier leader akin to Earl Thomas with Patrick Willis speed. White looked lost the first quarter of the season probably because his nagging injuries. As soon as the brace came off it’s like he flipped a switch into savage mode. White is arguably a top 3 hardest hitter in the league, when runners collide into him they get stone walled. He does have short arms and that can make it difficult to get off blocks. If he takes aikido lessons in the offseason or trains with Nick Bosa (incredible hands got a rookie) he will be a perennial Pro Bowler. He absolutely would be a double digit sack artist and would remind everyone of Junior Seau if he was.
Nick Bosa is #1 of all rookies and it isn’t close, he looks exactly like Reggie White 2.0.
January 11th, 2020 at 9:36 am
Everyone talks about locking Godwin up with a new contract which is more than justified but the bucs need to sign L. David to an extension. He will make D. White better.
January 11th, 2020 at 10:18 am
TheBucsAnthem Says:
“Joe
has beaten to death the JW QB discussions………..
………..that’s why I rarely comment anymore………it’s gotten old and sour”
~~~~~~~~~
It’s sort of ironic that you posted this on an article about….
Devin White.
January 11th, 2020 at 7:35 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
January 10th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
“If you sign Shaq Barrett…
he is equivalent to drafting a Josh Allen
*though we will be paying $17 mil per, Gump did not lose picks from acquiring FA Shaq
What Kobe Faker is trying to say is
even a blind Gump can find his nuts to scratch”
Wise Kobe Faker
______
Effing tee-rarded. You must be the most picked on 5th grader in your elementary school. Is there anybody on the planet that doesn’t think that you’re an idiot?