Pick Artist
May 12th, 2020
Baller.
Joe must admit that while watching a fair amount of B1G games last fall, new Bucs safety Antoine Winfield didn’t come across Joe’s radar until the Outback Bowl in January.
The night the Bucs drafted Winfield, Joe started watching YouTube video and one thing entered Joe’s mind: This guy is a baller!
Two plays jumped out: one against Fresno State. Winfield bit on a halfback option. The halfback threw to a receiver in the back of the end zone and Winfield, realizing he’d been had, made an incredible recovery not just to get back into coverage but to make a circus-like, behind-the-back pick on the endline.
Another play was on the road against Fresno State, Winfield was playing center field and seemed to shade left when a pass was thrown down the left seam into the end zone. He smelled an interception all the way, racing in and picking off the ball off to seal a Gophers win.
It looked just like Ed Reed playing center field.
Kevin Seifert of BSPN has a hunch Winfield is going to be one of the most disruptive safeties in the NFL.
“Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. will challenge for the league lead in takeaways,” Seifert said. “Last season at Minnesota, Winfield combined exceptional instincts with a lifetime’s experience as the son of a former NFL cornerback to intercept seven passes and force two fumbles. Playing in Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme will give the second-round pick plenty of opportunities.”
Also granting Winfield plenty of opportunities should be the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense returning with a front-seven intact.
What team is going to want to beat its head against the wall trying to run the ball on the Bucs and not try to test a young secondary that includes a rookie safety? That’s why Seifert’s reasoning makes sense.
May 12th, 2020 at 10:17 am
Buc coaches seem to like picking players who play in bowl games in the Tampa area…..I guess the familiarity helps in the decision making process…..
May 12th, 2020 at 10:24 am
Pablo thinks Joe should stop watching highlights on YouTube and actually watch game film.. don’t forget Winston & Josh Freeman have highlights as well
May 12th, 2020 at 10:31 am
What better complement to our young secondary. A ball-hawking safety?!
If he can do it at the NFL level, what’s not to like?!
May 12th, 2020 at 10:43 am
I really like the film on this guy. Center fielder mentality. But when he decides target a runner (especially behind the line), he is like a heat-seeking missile. No chance to block that blur. Wow.
May 12th, 2020 at 10:54 am
Loved this pick then and love it still now. If Wirfs meets expectations at OT, we could have 2 future pro bowlers out of this draft class. Not too shabby if that pans out.
May 12th, 2020 at 11:10 am
AWII will be the second best pick ever made by JL
May 12th, 2020 at 11:17 am
There was plenty of competition brought in …Javon Hagan is hotter as well and seems to be able to make a play or two …with much better size than Winfield!!
May 12th, 2020 at 11:19 am
Winfield is a rookie, playing with a bunch of second and third year guys. He may challenge for league lead in takeaways among rookies, but no one should expect him to have 9 or 10 picks as a rookie.
May 12th, 2020 at 11:29 am
Excellent value where the Bucs drafted him. I may be in the minority, but I felt the Bucs made the right decision using their 2nd round pick on a safety (Winfield in particular) rather than a RB. IMO the drop off in talent and/or NFL readiness in this draft was larger at safety than it was at running back.
May 12th, 2020 at 11:33 am
Was really hoping for a RB in 2nd round, but once CEH and Swift were gone, this was the right pick. Not ready to put him in Canton yet, but just don’t see how this guy doesn’t become an above average player at the very least.
May 12th, 2020 at 11:42 am
Looks great but ima hold up the expectations… let’s see if he makes it thru camp
May 12th, 2020 at 11:48 am
Have a feeling this kids gonna be special for us…
May 12th, 2020 at 11:51 am
kid has great bloodlines…papa winfield was a baller…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 12th, 2020 at 11:55 am
I remember this potlicker from Clemson what was named Daquan that was pretty special in college as well….hope this turns out better
May 12th, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Some of them highlights were amazing plays but what stood out to me is at least two of his picks from my memory came on the last drive for a game winning play. This guy is clutch in huge moments!!! And don’t sleep on Bunting cause he came through a couple times for us in clutch situations.
And this defense is setup for the secondary to make big game changing plays. Gotta believe Windield will see a lot of chances……..If you remember we dropped a ton of INTs too and the coaching staff was not shy about harping on it. I’m certain they think Windield can make the team better in that area and will be putting him in prime position to cash in.
I’m very excited for this pick.
May 12th, 2020 at 1:32 pm
813bucboi Says:
May 12th, 2020 at 11:51 am
kid has great bloodlines…papa winfield was a baller…
Yes his Dad …. was a tackling machine… what he didnt have in height he more than made up for in precision tackling, heart and grit…. daddy taught him well
May 12th, 2020 at 1:40 pm
Remember that we have two of the best PD CB in 2019. Guy can play all over and can see deflected passes falling into his hands.
May 12th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Holy Sombrero! Welcome back Pablo!
May 12th, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Holy Hype Train!
9/10 rookie mentions is about the Bucs’ safety smurf being a pro bowler right out of the box. Put the kool-aid down. The dude is only a rookie. Proper expectations should be learn the defense by mid-year, take good angles, and stay healthy.
May 12th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Coaching staff and FO pulled two of the best rookie DB last year with Dean and SMB. I’ll stay hyped about an all over safety Bowels chose in the second round.
May 12th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
The Bucs lucked into one of the top Safeties in the draft. Bowles will know how to use him , not he just needs to hit NFL speed.
I will be great if he makes it, it has been a long time since we had a safety that can make good, consistent plays.
May 12th, 2020 at 6:36 pm
Kids with pedigrees tend to do exceptionally well in the NFL. I suspect Winfield will make a huge impact the first year. He has starter material written all over him. I expect him to be one of the top safeties after a few years.
May 12th, 2020 at 7:18 pm
Granted highlight film. Nose for the ball ( field awareness) is what stands out. Honey badger 2.0
May 12th, 2020 at 9:00 pm
lol at everyone who is like, “I’ll hold off on my expectations until we see him play.” Uhhh, what did you think this article was about—an uncovered gem in this kid’s bio about an affinity for banjos?! Why did you click it?!
Every. Article. During. COVID-19. Is. About. What. Might. Happen. In. The. Season. Which. Hasn’t. Started. Yet.
That means EVERYTHING is about potential or possibilities. If you are reading this site for something other than that, do you just loathe having your expectations met?!
“You guys are putting him in Canton”—joly jalapeños (as the very much missed Pablo might say)—we are just excited about literally the only football we have right now. What in God’s Green Gronkowski are you expecting to see on a fan site in the offseason?!
May 13th, 2020 at 6:13 am
Yea Winfield can catch poor Carlton Davis has hands of stone. He can cover but he can’t catch. That’s why Davis gets breakups instead.