Bruce Arians Expands On Devin White’s Struggles
January 12th, 2022
Those watching games have seen savior Bucs linebacker Devin White regress this season. The numbers don’t lie and neither does the film.
Are the hip and quad injuries to blame? Bucco Bruce Arians insists White is healthy.
Is Lavonte David missing five games a major factor? Maybe.
Was Todd Bowles adjusting White’s role because of injuries to defensive backs an issue? Perhaps.
Was White distracted by buying a new house and moving in December? Could be.
Arians was asked to explain White’s recent shortcomings on the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday.
“Just trying to make plays that aren’t there,” Arians said. “Just rushing the passer sometimes and doing things that he don’t normally do. Just overall, he can play better. We’ve seen him play better and I know he will.”
“Devin, I think is trying to do too much in Lavonte’s absence.”
The “rushing the passer” quote from Arians sure raised Joe’s eyebrow. Feel free to speculate there.
Regardless, Joe just hopes White can flip a switch and recapture his playoff glory from last season. If not, that’s ok. Joe believes the Bucs can survive if White can just play a little better, and his first forced fumble or interception of the season would be a nice bonus.
January 12th, 2022 at 8:34 am
Needs David!
January 12th, 2022 at 8:45 am
White is super talented and athletic but has also enjoyed the fruits of having JPP, Shaq, Suh, Vea, and David….its easy to look great with all that around you. This is year 3, he should know how to function out there on his own.
January 12th, 2022 at 8:46 am
Needs to run into the quarterback, not past him.
Needs to fight through blocks and be in his gaps.
Make better reads.
Like JTS, the film shows lots of running around without getting into the play.
Bucs have to start swarming to ball carriers. There are simply too many missed tackles and bad angles. The Bucs drafted White #5 overall, its time for the guy to start living up to his billing. Its critical he makes plays for the Bucs to stay in the playoffs.
January 12th, 2022 at 8:51 am
What Bojim said
January 12th, 2022 at 8:54 am
He believes his own clippings rather than becoming a student of the game , IMO
January 12th, 2022 at 9:03 am
I think all the armchair quarterbacks and psychiatrists need to slow their roll a bit on Mr. Get Live 45… to channel TB12 some, let’s see what the play looks like “when it really matters, which is, you know, in January and February.”
January 12th, 2022 at 9:06 am
We sure are gonna need him this Sunday to slow the Eagles running game down.
January 12th, 2022 at 9:18 am
I also tend to believe he’s in love with his press clippings. Don’t get me wrong, I like him as a player and thought he was the right selection. But I think he’s a bit too enamored with being a superstar. He needs to be a star consistently first.
January 12th, 2022 at 9:26 am
I’ve watched him miss a lot of tackles as well. Even if David is out, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Do we need to get Barrett Ruud in here for some 7 yard tackling drills???
January 12th, 2022 at 9:39 am
The meaning of great, is being good every day!!
January 12th, 2022 at 9:50 am
SBLV has it right. White thinks he’s the best in the game and isn’t putting in the work. He might have the best ability at the position but PFF rank #80 tells you he’s not doing what he’s supposed to.
January 12th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Eaglesare the best rushing team in NFC. When Lavonte plays, the Bucs are the best rushing defense. If David plays we win. If he doesn’t, we might lose
January 12th, 2022 at 10:59 am
Probably very true. White is trying to overcompensate for the loss of David. Trying to hard to do things David did. But it is a fact, He plays better when David is in there. Lets hope David recovers.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:01 am
Need Lavonte bad–for himself, and his big brother influence on Devin.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:05 am
As a whole the entire defense has not tackled well lately. The good news is that we know they can tackle better as a unit. Hopefully they come to hit and wrap up on Sunday.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:11 am
Put 45 on Hurts & don’t let him run on us…
January 12th, 2022 at 11:21 am
He plays best when he commits and turns on the jets. No thinking, no hesitation. Just go.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:33 am
something is going just not sure what.
He cannot get off blocks and he rushes like a wild man, out of control and the QB just side steps him like a rushing bull.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:34 am
Saw a lot of super-fast LBs in the National Championship game.
Speedy LB in Round 2-3?
January 12th, 2022 at 11:44 am
If I’m not mistaken, we were missing LVD from the wk 6 game we played the Eagles. Saw a lot of Minter on the field. Except for a few early missed run fits, we plugged their run game. The keys were JPP and Shaq not allowing the edge to get abused.
In recent subsequent games, I’ve noticed DWhite doing a little “ad lib” from gap assignment to “make a play” only to guess wrong. I agree w/ BA, be discipline within your gap and allow the play to funnel to you and make your play. If DWhite does that, he should play better w/ better stats.
January 12th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
He is turning into Kwon and not Luke Kechly and Kwon was a really bad LB while he was here
January 12th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
When White’s aggressive, he tackles well —but he also then speeds time in the penalty box…
After BA got on him for penalties, he dosen’t draw the flags—But he dosen’t get his job done..
January 12th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Nakobe Dean will be gone when we pick and I don’t think Anderson is eligible for the NFL yet so if you are talking about them forget it.
January 12th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Devin is a huge concern to me. Playing terrible. This “captain” is hurting the team weekly w his play.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Devin White may not have the splash plays he had last year but he once again leads the team in tackles and it’s not even close. I believe he is 16th in the league in tackles this year.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:59 pm
Dusthy
Unfortunately I completely agree with you….
Get Live 45 playing like the Red Rooster….
January 12th, 2022 at 5:02 pm
@Ed- spot on, well said!
@SB and Steven007 – this is 100% part of it. I’ve been saying the same thing since the end of last year. Kid got way too cocky way too fast.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:18 pm
In many ways his play is much like JTS. Fast, but runs past tackles. No gap discipline, poor decision making, cant shed blocks.
My only logical conclusion is his helmet has gotten too tight after reading his press clippings. Thy only way he can salvage this year is make a major contribution in the playoffs.
January 13th, 2022 at 3:27 am
I don’t need pff and their nonsensical grades to tell me that White has been way off this year. I believe that Bowles said earlier in the year that White had different responsibilities while trying to cover for our hurt/horrible secondary. Losing David is also a factor since those two compliment each other extremely well. I’ve seen White dominate on the field, so he definitely has it in him. Hopefully he figures it out against the eagles and he’ll have to if he wants to be considered an elite player.