Mike Edwards, The Smartest Defender?
January 20th, 2022
Intelligence.
It seems like in almost every win, Bucs safety Mike Edwards makes a big play. The guy is a damn ballhawk.
(Quick, name a team with three better safeties than the Bucs’? Joe dares you.)
To hear defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, there is a reason for that. Bowles believes Edwards is able to make so many plays because he’s that smart.
“Mike is a very instinctive player,” Bowles began. “He’s our most cerebral player. He has a feel for zones, a feel for routes and can see what one route is and determine what the other one is going to be, probably better than anybody we have underneath, when we go underneath coverage. He can see the field very well.”
Well, if you can read plays, that gives you a step to jump a route or make a play.
That may have been what happened Sunday. Edwards made a helluva play when playing centerfield and caught a pick from Jalen Hurts right before the ball fell in the arms of DeVonta Smith at the goal line.
It was beautiful. And to hear Bowles, Edwards makes plays like that because of his smarts.
.@M__Edwards7 came out of nowhere for the pick. 😯#SuperWildCard | #GoBucs
📺: #PHIvsTB on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/3UGqHWWk2G— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2022
January 20th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Like Edwards. He got a nose for the football.
January 20th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
The amount of impact plays vs playing time with him is truly impressive.
January 20th, 2022 at 4:35 pm
The Bucs safeties are all very good and its nice to see them get everyone on the field to maximize their use.
January 20th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Perriman still not practicing. John Brown any good?
January 20th, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Fun fact: in games when Mike Edwards has an interception, the Bucs are undefeated! Go Mike Edwards! Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
So we’re just not going to talk about WTF Dean was doing on play?
Great job by Edwards coming over to help but Dean has got to do better than that. Smh I like the kid but for a corner he has some of the stiffest hips I’ve ever seen.
January 20th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
Will …
Designed play. Dean blows coverage to make Hurts think the WR was open, so Edwards can sneak in for the INT.
Remember, cerebral.
January 20th, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Dean slipped and fell on the play, not too complicated. Happens to the best of em from time to time.
January 20th, 2022 at 6:59 pm
Pirate
Lol guess it’s better to be lucky sometimes.
Buc You
Yes you’re right just Dean slips often and I’m not gonna lie I use to think he was out there in lala land just not paying attention.
Defense has got to show up huge this week. I believe they will
January 20th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Will u are right, Woozie Dean is in la la land, hence the nick “Woozie Dean.
Gravediggers 🤔 if we are to repeat, they better get their shovels.
January 20th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Will
I agree, Dean hips are stiff. Fast he is but at times he play timid, stiff, confused, n clumpsy. I’m still not sold in him.
January 20th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Love Edwards. Dean is the luckiest player on the team.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:41 am
Daryl Green — some bigazz shovels!
January 21st, 2022 at 2:16 am
Edwards had been a ballhawk. As much heat as they take from ignorant fans, I love the secondary. Davis and Dean ate great at tight coverage. SMB is really good at zone. Winfield is fantastic. Edwards has been a ball hawk. Whitehead lays people out. The rookie Delaney has shown some good tight coverage skills and a lot of promise.
They all contributing creating turnovers.
I expected a big jump this year but it didn’t happen because of injuries. Next year should be great for them.
January 21st, 2022 at 8:57 am
I want to see Bowles scheme to have Edwards on the field more and SMB less.
January 21st, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Also, since Dean knew Edwards had the back end of the play, that freed him up to be super aggressive and go for the INT by jumping the route underneath.