No Mistakes For Winfield

August 24th, 2020

Bucs rookie safety Antoine Winfield, Jr.

Very interesting take today from a colleague of Buccaneers rookie safety Antoine Winfield, Jr.

Of course, Joe expects teammates to say nice things about each other, but the level of thoughtful gushing about Winfield has really impressed a cynical cat like Joe.

It seems like Winfield is the definition of a plug-and-play rookie.

Joe asked Bucs third-year cornerback Carlton Davis about how Winfield is fitting in.

“He’s a really fundamentally sound football player, you know, he does everything right. He’s always on point,” Davis said.

“He does everything the way it’s supposed to be done. He’s always on point. He’s a head-smart kind of guy. Like you can tell he thinks the game before he plays the game. He does everything the way it’s supposed to be done. I think he has a bright future ahead of him. You know, I’ve seen nothing negative in his play. I haven’t really seen a time where I felt like, you know, he should have done this better or done that better.”

Davis added that Winfield is quick to make corrections and ask questions when necessary.

Joe is very encouraged. This doesn’t mean Winfield will be able to outsmart Drew Brees in his first live NFL game, but if Winfield can overcome a learning curve in a hurry and look like a high second-round pick, that’ll be a huge bonus for the Bucs.


For a peek at fellow rookie Tristan Wirfs working, hit the video below.

 

19 Responses to “No Mistakes For Winfield”

  1. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    You really can’t ask or expect anything more from a rookie DB…….looks like we made a great choice…..I know some other teams wanted him.

  2. ©MadMax Says:

    Winfield and Whitehead gonna hold it down!!! So stoked that Licht went with safety with our 2nd pick….thats what i was advocating for.

  3. Casual Observer Says:

    I am no expert but from the college films I saw, he was about the quickest to react of any DB I’ve ever seen. Once he identifies his target, he is like a rocket to make the tackle. I suspect he will be outstanding – even as a rookie. Great pick. And our D is looking to be great as well.

  4. PSL Bob Says:

    I sure hope all that hype-flavored Kool-Aid we’ve been drinking isn’t laced with Arsenic.

  5. Joe in Michigan Says:

    The Bucs version of the Honey Badger? Man, I hope so.

  6. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    I have a feeling the Bucs are going to cut Justin Evans in the next 12 days. I had such high hopes for him after his rookie season but the guy just can’t stay healthy.

  7. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Agreed, AlabamaBucsFan. I was actually more disappointed about Tanard Jackson than Evans, though. Evans was pretty good, Jackson was very good, he just couldn’t quit doing whatever he was doing.

  8. Miketb19 Says:

    Keep an eye on Parnell Motley as well corner out of oklahoma. That guy is getting a real buzz around camp right now. I mean Arians seems to really that kid and how that kid went undrafted after you watch some of his tape especially after just smothering Jamar Chase in there playoff game with LSU. He is definitely going to make the team and it’ll be interesting to see him on the field if one of our top 3 corners gets hurt. Motley is no joke that’s forsure

  9. Rayjay1122 Says:

    The more I think about it the more I think that the NFC South including the Saints are going to be trying to keep up with the Bucs this season. The Bucs will win the division.

  10. Joe in Michigan Says:

    I like Motley, but didn’t LSU’s Joe Burrow throw 7 TD passes in the first half vs. Oklahoma? I didn’t see the game, just the stats of how OU got torched.

  11. Gofortheface30 Says:

    Joe in Michigan, great comparison. I know everyone wanted Dobbins or even Cam Akers (including myself) but this was the correct decision and we got the best football player on board. Now frankly the idea of a ball hawk, smart, Roaming Safety like an Ed Reed, Bob Sanders (take a pick) is much MUCH more exciting and much more needed. We have Mike Evans, Godwin and freakin Gronk – no need to reach for a running back when we’re throwing 35 times a game anyway. Licht, other than his bizarre fetish for kickers – has drafted well

  12. Mark Says:

    The Honey Gopher

  13. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Gofortheface30: Yes, I wanted a do-it-all Safety over a RB in the 2nd. We’ve needed this type of player for a while.

    Chase only had 2 receptions against Oklahoma, so maybe Motley did alright. We need depth at CB, Ryan Smith hasn’t shown much at corner.

  14. Kord Says:

    I mean look at who his father is, like Licht said they were shocked when he was sitting there with the 2nd pick. Sounds like camp is going really well for a lot of guys, Bucs could be back baby

  15. Rod Munch Says:

    PSL Bob – Fun fact, they didn’t drink Kool Aid at Jonestown – they drank Flavor Aid. I know everyone says Kool Aid, but they didn’t actually drink the Kool Aid themselves.

  16. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Honey Gopher, that’s awesome, Mark!!

  17. Tampabuscsbro Says:

    I was rooting for Delpit, Delpit ripped his achilles today. So glad we took Winfield.

  18. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    Somehow, I have the feeling that we were actually targetting Winfield. We passed on running backs Cam Akers, J.K. Dobbins and A.J. Dillon as well as safeties Jeremy Chin and Ashtyn Davis.

    Of course we might have been eying several players that were already taken. We certainly appear to have lucked out at the very least with our second pick this year. Winfield should be the kind of tool that Bowles just loves to work with.

  19. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    It is nice to see Joe saying that he might have shaved a little of his cynical edge in this case. It is OK by me if a reporter holds to a hard headed realism in his general stance.

    It is when would-be fans hold that line all of the time that I get a bit aggravated. That is when I begin to call certain people “Negative Nellies” and “trolls”