The New Bucs Defensive Star
January 19th, 2021
Big Devin White fan.
Like every red-blooded American male, popular sports radio and TV host Adam Schein was glued to the tube this past weekend.
Four strong games in two days. What’s not to like?
So after watching football all weekend long, Adam Schein typed his weekly column for NFL.com and knighted a young player the NFL’s new defensive star.
That would be Bucs inside linebacker Devin White.
Buccaneers linebacker Devin White is a certified star.
Oh, you better believe it. It’s an undeniable fact. And this is why I had him as a first-team All-Pro on my AP ballot. It was beyond absurd that White didn’t make the Pro Bowl after stuffing the regular-season stat sheet with 140 tackles, 16 QB hits, 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four passes defensed and a forced fumble. And then, he was the best player on the field in Sunday Night’s 30-20 Divisional Round win at New Orleans. The guy was everywhere.
White missed the Bucs’ wild-card round win over Washington after testing positive for COVID-19. And yes, there was a tangible difference in how the defense looked in that playoff game vs. the most recent one. White and fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David are the heartbeat of this unit.
As former NFL wide receiver and NFL Network analyst Steve Smith said Sunday night, White needs to be “snubbed” for a Pro Bowl each week if this is how he is going to respond.
About the last time Joe saw a Bucs linebacker take over an important game the way White did Sunday was when Derrick Brooks terrorized Michael Vick in 2002, when the Bucs hosted the Dixie Chicks.
Yes, that’s how impressive White.
Joe has the hunch the Bucs will need the same kind of play from White against the Packers in order to win the NFC title game.
January 19th, 2021 at 8:09 am
Defensive beast/MVP Devin White unanimously won the “Angry Rounds”, as in playoff round, segment on Good Morning Football this morning. He and Big Red Ryan Jensen were both nominated. Can’t wait for the NFC Championship on Sunday…..LETS F&$KING GO BUCS!!!!!!!
January 19th, 2021 at 8:23 am
Beasting!!!
January 19th, 2021 at 8:24 am
HE played like his hair was on Fire…. because of that it elevated everyone else to the next level…. gotta keeping going one more game and where in…. just like Brady coming in and elevateing everyone to the next level they can do IT !!
January 19th, 2021 at 8:24 am
Actually I think kwon taking over the Atlanta game after his brother(?) died was the last time.
January 19th, 2021 at 8:24 am
100% was a D Brookseque performance by D White this week along with winfield and smb they need to step it up another notch and against arod this week. Maybe shaq barrett can earn his paycheck this week too
January 19th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Actually I think Kwon in Atlanta after his brother(?) Died was the last time.
January 19th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Given the 38-10 first game, watching the New Orleans game, can you imagine how much D White is in the head of Aaron Rodgers and Mike Pettine’s heads?
January 19th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Still would rather have DE Josh Allen?
January 19th, 2021 at 8:37 am
Devin White takes the scepter “Angry Runs” with Ryan Jensen on the ballot as well on the NFL Network
January 19th, 2021 at 8:42 am
This defense shows flashes of greatness. Can we talk about how with the exception of the line they’re all for the most part young, hungry, affordable, and should (hopefully) continue to improve?
January 19th, 2021 at 8:47 am
Wouldn’t say “new”….he’s been a stud. What shocked me is the INT. Man that was sweet! Does that mean he’s getting better in coverage. THAT would qualify him as an ALL around stud as it’s been his weakness. It was a beautiful surprise!
January 19th, 2021 at 8:54 am
I agree but we just not going to mention the job that Carlton Davis did by making Michael Thomas disappear. Devin White play a great game and with him back in the lineup the defense went to another level.
January 19th, 2021 at 8:56 am
bigbuc$
I agree….we have a LOCKDOWN CB(when he’s focused)…….
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 19th, 2021 at 8:58 am
I remember how many coveted Devin Bush…….no way!!!
Devin White….”Savior Grisly”
January 19th, 2021 at 9:06 am
That was a total defense team effort which allowed White, David & SMB shine. Suh was in Brees & Kamaras face all night. I understand Bucs pounded GB earlier this year but remember what Saints did to Bucs. Redemption is sweet and it’s GB that wants redemption. Roger’s can throw past 20 yards and when he’s on very few are better. This team is better than the Saints so don’t let up. One more game to the promised land.
January 19th, 2021 at 9:19 am
Just looked back at Game 6 win against Green Bay & noticed something: Devin White was on fire in that game also. Against the Saints he had 10 solo tackles (plus 1 assist), 1 FR, 1 INT, 1 PD & 1 TFL. Against the Pack he had 9 solo tackles (plus 1 assist), 1 sack, 2 QB Hits & 3 TFLs. IOW … Devin was on fire in both games, and he was a major factor in us being able to hold to very good offenses in check.
Interestingly, also noticed several very pronounced similarities between those 2 games:
o Bucs used a very BALANCED ATTACK in both games. We ran the ball 32 times (127 yds) against the Saints (excluding 3 kneel-downs) & passed 33 times (completing 18 for 199 yds) … excellent run/pass BALANCE (48.5% run-pass ratio). Against the Packers, we ran the ball 33 times (158 yds) excluding the 2 kneel-downs & passed 28 times (completing 17 for 166 yds) … another excellent run/pass BALANCE (54.1% run-pass ratio). And in BOTH games we kept the opposing defenses very much off-balance.
o Turnovers played a HUGE role in BOTH games. Bucs had ZERO giveaways in either game, while the Packers had 2 critical giveaways (INTs) & the Saints had 4 critical giveaways (3 INTs). Monstrous impact on the game outcome.
Of note, Fournette didn’t play in the Packers game, and neither did Antonio Brown. ME13 had minimal impact (2 targets with 1 catch for 10 yds). And of course Vita Vea had already been lost due to the injury in the Bears’ game. IOW, Bucs SHOULD actually better off this time around against the Packers. We got this.
January 19th, 2021 at 9:32 am
“We got this.”
I share your optimism D.R. but I fear the weather. Perhaps it’s an unfounded fear. Brady is the straw that stirs this drink and considering where he spent virtually his entire career…24 degrees and snow flurries is a balmy day.
Hopefully he’ll get the weather out of the Floridians heads.
January 19th, 2021 at 9:43 am
In the past two years Carlton Davis has become a number 1 corner. Look at how he went against Julio in 2019 in two games. Week 1 vs Thomas he took him away. The down side to Tampa’s secondary height at Safety if matched up with the tight end that is solid at catching. Now lets not think for one second that they would run the same defensive scheme against Green Bay. Tampa knew and dared Drew to throw deep because they knew he couldn’t. He didn’t even show he could. So I’m interested in how the game plan for Sunday will be. This game Sunday gives me flashbacks of Sapp and Farve going at it. Its now replaced with Suh and Rodgers.
January 19th, 2021 at 9:49 am
“I can’t believe the Bucs wasted a draft pick on an ILB with the #5 pick.”
Where are those people these days?
January 19th, 2021 at 9:51 am
Both the Saints and the Packers run their versions of a West Coast Offense.
If we run the ball, and play Man Coverage, we will beat the Packers.
If we revert to that stupid soft zone, Rogers will eat our lunch, if he has time.
January 19th, 2021 at 9:53 am
I want every snapperhead that dissed White when he was drafted at #5 to come forward on Joebucs & confess that they were wrong…
January 19th, 2021 at 9:58 am
He also says the Bucs have no chance against green bay.
January 19th, 2021 at 10:39 am
Devon White is a great young player in the Bucs tradition: on defense. He is also getting great coaching on and off the playing field. LVD is grooming him to be his successor alongside Bowles. LVD will play his best Sunday, and this fan will be rooting for him! Go Bucs!
January 19th, 2021 at 10:49 am
But but but but but but but but J.Allen!
January 19th, 2021 at 10:59 am
“They are not even playing and positioning DW in the correct way to be most effective
They need him to blitz and pass rush more than 3 times what he is doing right now
DW is absolutely impossible to block
barely 5 11′, he is impossible to find and block at that angle. A prototype 6 5′ pass rusher needs to bend the corner to escape the hands of the Olineman. The Olineman cant get their hands to slow down DW. the combination of 240lbs of strength, speed and quickness in a 5 10′ body of muscle is unstoppable
This year we have an ineffective pass rush.
DW must be used as a pass rusher to defeat the packers
I hope Todd Bowles is reading Kobe Fakers posts”
Kobe Faker
January 19th, 2021 at 11:11 am
Wasn’t the Joe who is obsessed with staking a cheerleader mad that we got White? ha ha ha ha guess that clown should just stop commenting about the team
January 19th, 2021 at 11:29 am
Devin was a beast Sunday and in the previous Packers game the guy can be that week end and week out IF Todd Bowles allows him to be. After the GB game watch Devin’s interview he said that he begged Coach Bowles “let me lose” I’ve got no idea why a DC wouldn’t want his team to feast when he’s got the type of talent we’ve got. We’ve got corners that thrive in press and don’t run a zone that well granted it’s something you have to do and they’ve got to get better at it but they always talk about playing to strength and putting guys in the best possible position to win. With that I’ll say it was a great game plan Sunday night even with the one bone headed TD we gave up when Jameis came in. I’m sure I wasn’t the only fan saying it’s a trick play when he lined up at WR. Glad that play wasn’t the winning play we’d be getting BASHED in the media this week.
January 19th, 2021 at 11:38 am
My favorite thing about Devin was every time he ran the ball he punched someone in the face. So did SMB