Calijah Kancey And The Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award
July 8th, 2023
Chances at award.
How good can rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey be this year? One national NFL scribe thinks he’ll be in the running for a postseason award.
Over at CBS, Chris Trapasso cobbled together a list — it’s List Season, after all — of prime candidates to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year honor. Kancey is at No. 8 in Trapasso’s top-10.
Kancey is Aaron Donald’s size — despite shorter arms, which absolutely matter for defensive linemen — with Donald-esque explosiveness and close to a Donald-type loaded arsenal of pass-rush moves. He’s in for a productive rookie season, but on a rebuilt Buccaneers defensive front, I can’t envision him getting the sack total likely needed to garner serious Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration. Voters are starting to value pressures — and pressure rate — over pure sacks, but that line of thinking isn’t widespread enough for any solely disruptive defensive tackle to win the award. Yet.
Joe winces whenever Kancey is compared to Aaron Donald just because of his size or his speed or his alma mater. That’s not fair.
Kancey also is the same size as Warren Sapp coming out of college. Joe doesn’t think anyone in their right mind believes Kancey was a sideline-to-sideline, quarterback terror that Sapp was at Miami. Let’s calm down. Again, unfair to Kancey.
(Anyone smell what Joe is beginning to smell? That Kancey is going to be killed because he’s not like Sapp? You smell that too, Gerald McCoy?)
Kancey earning Defensive Rookie of the Year means he is going to have to have at least eight sacks and a boatload of tackles for his position, Joe believes.
Expecting a defensive tackle to be a tackling machine would mean expecting teams to run the ball up the middle on the Bucs quite a bit. Last Joe checked, Byron Leftwich is not working in Atlanta or Carolina or New Orleans, so the chances of that happening are slim.
If Kancey is Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Bucs defense is sure to be quite dominant.
July 8th, 2023 at 7:41 am
(Anyone smell what Joe is beginning to smell? That Kancey is going to be killed because he’s not like Sapp? You smell that too, Gerald McCoy?)
_________
Get your nose checked out Joe, cause you’re the only one sniffing that line of BS.
Kancey doesn’t seem to be soft like your kimono-wearing, ice cream eating, comic book loving, dancing while losing cancerous teddy bear.
Kancey is gonna be really good and play with fire 100% of the time.
July 8th, 2023 at 7:56 am
You’re right Joe, McCoy was slaughtered by many Buc fans because of the Sapp comparisons…Nothing he did ever seemed to be good enough, which wasn’t fair to him at all…Two totally different personalities/approaches to the game…McCoy the goofy nice guy vs. Sapp the salty dog…
In the case of Kancey, he’s a better athlete (imo) than McCoy with an elite first step and an array of pass rush moves…What seems to get over looked with Kancey alot though is how good he defends the run…Good football players come in all shapes and sizes…Similar to Donald, Kanceys other attributes make up for the height and arm length knock…
Our defense took a step back in general last year, and a big part of that was them being on the field to long, coupled with injuries…We should be alot faster on defense this year though which is scary; I was very pleased with the defensive additions via free agency an the draft…A more balanced offense should really help keep our defense fresh and healthy…
Also, I’m not to worried about our defense facing Derek Carr, Desmond Ridder, and Bryce Young…
July 8th, 2023 at 8:12 am
Good thing Sapp never had to live up to any Selmon comparisons….
July 8th, 2023 at 8:18 am
Does Kancey collect super hero dolls?
No?
No McCoy.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Sapp comparisons?
I’m pretty in tune with Bucs things, and I do not ever remember that comparison in any meaningful ongoing manner.
I do recall McCoy talking a lot, but not really producing to the level of his talk.
Sapp talked, but produced.
McCoy ~wants~ to be memorialized as some bad-a$$ stud…but wasn’t.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:30 am
McCoy was a nice guy and a good d lineman. But in the 4 th quarter I can’t remember how many times I was hoping the D would step up and make that play to save the game. Rarely happened. McCoy being the one that did it even more rare. Nothing against him as a man. I really believe he’s a good person.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:37 am
This is definitely silly season. Kancy as DROTY? Kinda doubt it. First off, he’d have to get past a couple of other rookies named Will Anderson & Jalen Carter, both of whom were drafted far higher than he was … for a reason. And second, he’s gotta prove that he can play big in run defense at the NFL level, and my guess is that he’ll have trouble doing that because of his size.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:42 am
No Batman dolls I’m sure on kanceys bed
July 8th, 2023 at 8:53 am
@DR can’t argue will Anderson, but Kancey was better in every statistical category that mattered for DT by at least double. Carter also showed up to camp out of shape already..
July 8th, 2023 at 9:02 am
@Cobraboy
I have to admit the goofy samurai super hero thing with McCoy was annoying, but when healthy McCoy had his dominant moments…The problem was we were never good at any point during his career here…Letting Michael Bennett walk when we could have resigned him for peanuts really hurt McCoy imho;
I didn’t understand Dominics logic in getting rid of someone that could have freed McCoy up to make more plays…
The bottom line is; Selmon helped us go from winless to playoff contenders, Sapp helped us go from the outhouse to Superbowl champions, McCoy??? Sadly that’s his legacy as a Buccaneer…
It’ll interesting to see how Kancey’s career unfolds…
July 8th, 2023 at 9:11 am
I sense a certain prejudice when it comes to evaluating Defensive Linemen and LB’s.
People seem to believe that being a total arsehole off the field, (Sapp) has anything to do with how one plays ON the field.
There have been plenty of gentlemen who were as effective as jerks like Sapp.
Of course here in Tampa TBBF has already mentioned one of them. Leroy Selmon! Think jerk Sapp is ever going to have one of our major highways named the Warren Sapp Expressway? Bwaaahaaaa.
Merlin Olson was also a terrific human being and along with Deacon Jones anchored the “Fearsome Foursome”.
And of course there is the Ordained Minister who carried that moniker onto the field..Reggie White..”The Minister of Defense”!
July 8th, 2023 at 9:15 am
McCoy’s main issue was optics. Take away the apology to Big Ben and all of the silliness with kimonos and comic books and you’re left with a good but not great player who is likely not nearly as vilified. That said, I do hope that Kancey fulfills his promise as a heat-seeking missile wrapped in a small DTs body.
July 8th, 2023 at 9:17 am
Weren’t we seeing similar hype about JTS a couple years back…we all know how that went.
July 8th, 2023 at 9:18 am
Please…. Hasn’t had a snap yet and #99 didn’t flash as a rookie
July 8th, 2023 at 9:19 am
“(Anyone smell what Joe is beginning to smell? That Kancey is going to be killed because he’s not like Sapp? You smell that too, Gerald McCoy?)“
Nope. Most of us didn’t “kill” McCoy because he wasn’t Sapp. We’re smarter than that. We killed him because A: defenses got worse wherever he went and B) he always talked about being a leader but never seemed to lead. Real leaders don’t tolerate the on field crap of Shaggy Baker types. Seriously. If Baker played with Sapp, he wouldn’t have lasted long at all, yet Sapp wasn’t running around telling everyone what a leader he is. He just lead. McCoy talked about being a leader but didn’t actually lead when it was needed.
July 8th, 2023 at 9:21 am
Does Kancey help QBs off the turf and apologize for it?
July 8th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Well for me Kancey has Super Star written all over him. That may blow up in my face but I’m not betting against him. His technique is well advanced coming in as a rookie. Watched his power with my own lying eyes. And he is CONSTANTLY advancing his knowledge base looking for more. HE’S THIRSTY!
He truly does remind me of Donald in the way he constantly trains while trying to invent new types of techniques on his own.
I really believe we got us an actual winner for a change in Kancey. And I believe he will compete heavily in the DROY..
He’s special. And If ANY of the previous 1st pics actually wake up its (at this point) icing on the cake.
Kancey is special and we’ll all realize that soon enough
Go Bucs
July 8th, 2023 at 9:32 am
I gotta admit, I’m a little concerned about Kancey vrs the run.
July 8th, 2023 at 9:35 am
Well our most recent high pick d lineman have been bust
Let’s see if this cat changes the trend
July 8th, 2023 at 9:39 am
The guy is way undersized for the position but dudes from south fla are just different.
We usually get a guy every 3rd draft
Let’s up this is the every 3rd draft guy
July 8th, 2023 at 9:55 am
There was deff knocks on McCoys game but it’s a team sport. He as the lone man on the dline that got all the attention but he made enough plays to consistently get into the pro bowl on a garabage team that no one took notice of so that does say something haters going to hate people get mad at him bc he would help the other team up. That’s just good sportsmanship just goes to show some of y’all just don’t have any.
July 8th, 2023 at 10:11 am
No worries for me regarding Kancey’s skills, strength, n knowledge of the game. Contrary to Georgia’s Carter n Bama’s Anderson, Kancey is a one man wrecking crew who does not come from a supporting defense that consist of multiple 1st n 2nd round draft picks. Kancey is just a natural at being a student of the game. I’ve watched him on multiple occasions explode with violence through n over OL,OT, n rb. He’s knocked over linemen that out weigh him by 30 lbs. As a matter of fact, for a man his size, he has demonstrated agility, n his ability to juke n evade blocks from linemen exceeding him by 50 lbs. U can’t block what u can’t touch. I’m all in. “Kance touch that”
July 8th, 2023 at 10:18 am
McCoy got all of his sacks in the first half of games. Maybe in the 3rd quarter if he was lucky. He usually disappeared during crunch time. No knock against McCoy but… yes it was. My bad
July 8th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Due to their draft positions, McCoy was compared to Suh more than to Sapp, by Bucs fans and national media. Suh liked to stomp on quarterbacks and go to Super Bowls. McCoy wasn’t as good.
July 8th, 2023 at 10:56 am
Show us what you got, rook.
McCoy was good, not great, and he never inspired teammates to greatness.
He was the Bucs tallest midget.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:01 am
McCoy was a great player and received so much slander due to him coming to Tampa where we were spoiled to have HOF at the position, I think vea will help propel Kancey to have a good season. If Kancey can just do half of what vea does they’ll make joe and Barrett pro bowlers this season.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:02 am
The reason McCoy disappeared in the 4th Quarter was because he had no help. He was a one man D line playing with a bunch of fools on the defensive line. I don’t get all the hate for McCoy.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:05 am
Because it’s true. Had an NFL suit tell Joe this. And this guy did the research on it (for edge rushers only).
Guess who told this source of Joe’s. Bill Belicheat. The guy didn’t believe it until he spent 10 days in an offseason researching it himself.
Since Lee Roy Selmon — a lifetime ago — can you name many top shelf pass rushers who weren’t a little off? Hell Reggie White used to “bless” quarterbacks when he sacked them. Simeon Rice had a, well, different personality. LOL
There is definitely a connection between a “unique” individual and being an excellent edge rusher.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:07 am
But McCoy played on bad teams. Great players make those around them better McCoy didn’t. Selmon and Sapp came to lousy teams and made them much better. Every team McCoy ever played for got worse, including the Bucs. McCoy didn’t totally suck he just never lived up to his draft stays, his own self opinion or that of the Joe that loves to poke Buc fans that are objective.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:13 am
This is all fair.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:33 am
Will be interesting to see if Bowles concocts some crazy fronts to free up Kancey to be as disruptive as possible. His quickness of the snap is freakish.
July 8th, 2023 at 11:37 am
“(Anyone smell what Joe is beginning to smell? That Kancey is going to be killed because he’s not like Sapp? You smell that too, Gerald McCoy?)”
No, Sir. First whiff I have ever smelled of any of this type of sad to hear support for our Rookie DT. Is what you typed above JOES. I guess it could be just a pre-amble to what is to come…
GO!!!!!KANCEY!!!!!
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
July 8th, 2023 at 11:41 am
People are comparing him to Donald unfairly. I do not think it’s just because of the speed and college. Watch the two college highlight films side by side. They play with a similar style. The athleticism and playing style are very much alike. Donald’s strength and hands are what separates him. I see a lot of Ed Oliver in Kancey too. I liked Oliver a lot coming out and he went 9th overall so it appears like the Bucs got great value at 18. I don’t think he will be Donald good but I do believe he will fall somewhere in between Oliver and Donald and do it looking a lot like those two. Can’t wait for TC.
July 8th, 2023 at 12:14 pm
@Joe
“There is definitely a connection between ALa “unique” individual and being an excellent edge rusher.”
It’s funny you say that Joe, Charles Haley was the definition of your post…Excellent Pass-Rusher, Complete Nut Job 😅…
July 8th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Who brought up that fool McCoy anyways?
July 8th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
“You smell that too, Gerald McCoy”
My bad it was Joe….
Figures.
July 8th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
A Bucs Fan … ‘Carter also showed up to camp out of shape already.’
Somehow I’m thinking that Philly’s coach Nick Sirianni & their defense aren’t gonna abide that very long. Just another reason though that I never expect much out of rookies.
July 8th, 2023 at 1:51 pm
We just have to go to 4/3 sometimes….have to, instead of 3/4
Kancey Big V and our new DT (cant think of his name) along with Hall will start tearing stuff apart.
July 8th, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Brutal comments, to bad we all can’t suit up n play some smashmouth split your sh t football. Go bucs 2024 the whole team
July 8th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
to bad we all can’t suit up n play some smashmouth split your sh t football. Go bucs 2024 the whole team
July 8th, 2023 at 4:16 pm
If Lancet has the same stats as Sapp his rookie year, the experts on here will say he is a bust and to trade him for a 4th round pick! They also would have done the same with Barber and Lynch
July 8th, 2023 at 4:17 pm
*Kancey
July 8th, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Joe Says:
“Because it’s true. Had an NFL suit tell Joe this. And this guy did the research on it (for edge rushers only).”
.
.
Didn’t Deion Sanders recently say that he likes to recruit guys who grew up without a daddy to play on the defensive line?
July 8th, 2023 at 5:39 pm
In 10 drafts have we gotten any d lineman other than VV?
He was a high pick.
Wait is his 2nd best pick jTS ?
July 8th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Kancey can’t be any worse the JTS or Logon Hall.
July 8th, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Good point bama fan as both don’t have the chops
Same with hainsey and Godoke and Darden and Britt
Sorry I got on a roll
July 8th, 2023 at 7:23 pm
AlabamaBucsFan … ‘Kancey can’t be any worse the JTS or Logon Hall.’
I never expect much out of rookies, and so I’m rarely disappointed by their performance as rookies. I’m still convinced that Hall was miscast as a DT, and should’ve been used further outside, at least until he adds some beef & gets stronger. His coaches surely had him put on some muscle this off-season I would think, so I’m guessing that he’ll do better inside this year.
JTS flat wasn’t ready for the NFL his rookie year, in more ways than one. Sitting for the year prior to the draft certainly didn’t help, neither did coming out with only 2 years of college ball. He did get considerably more snaps in 2022 than 2021 (843 vs 560) and I thought his overall stats were better (only 4 sacks, but his 14 QB hits was 2nd on the team). I’m really hoping that experience helps & that he breaks out this year.
I don’t know how well Kancey will do in his rookie year, but I’m hoping that he’s good enough to give us around 500-550 snaps inside. I’m expecting that we’ll probably keep Vea, Gaines, Kancey, Hall, plus Senat or O’Connor as DLinemen, with Shaq, Nelson, Diaby, JTS & maybe Gill or Ramirez (total of 10-11). Out of those 10-11 I’m guessing that we’ll need to get 5000-6000 defensive snaps. Here’s hoping everyone stays healthy (and that Gholston & Nassib & maybe even Hicks stay in condition).
July 8th, 2023 at 7:48 pm
Dunno.
July 8th, 2023 at 7:48 pm
It’s fairly clear that the real good defensive rookies normally show what they got right out of the blocks.
It’s not learned at this stage. They have ‘it’ or they don’t.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:12 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“Here’s hoping everyone stays healthy (and that Gholston & Nassib & maybe even Hicks stay in condition).”
.
.
Suh.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Deion Sanders recently say that he likes to recruit guys who grew up without a daddy to play on the defensive line…
Here it is from Feb 17 in ON3.
July 8th, 2023 at 8:23 pm
The thought police didn’t like his comments very much. LOL
July 8th, 2023 at 8:46 pm
Cobraboy Says:
Sapp comparisons?
I’m pretty in tune with Bucs things, and I do not ever remember that comparison in any meaningful ongoing manner.
———
The dopes commenting here were saying Vita was going to be the next Warren Sapp. Everyone always says that, if you never seen it before, it’s only because you missed it, which is nearly impossible since so many idiots here think if you’re not a first ballot HOFer, you’re a bust.
July 9th, 2023 at 12:08 am
Rookie of the year!?!?
I really dont think he is gonna get enough snaps on first down to even qualify.
Go Bucs!
July 9th, 2023 at 2:45 am
The disrespect to McCoy is Unreal! Dude was 2nd best DL in the league behind Suh for a good 6 years, on some really bad Bucs teams. I loved #93 an still due. You fake Bucs fan doggin him need to go back and watch the tape.
July 9th, 2023 at 11:17 pm
HOPE THIS GUY IS A STUD OF A PICK
ITS A BUCS LIFE
July 9th, 2023 at 11:23 pm
NO DISRESPECT TO GERALD MCCOY, THOSE WERE SOME TOUGH YEARS FOR BUCS FANS AND BACK THEN I NEVER WOULD’VE THOUGHT WE’D GET BRADY
I THINK THE BUCS NEEDED SOMEBODY TO BE THE FACE OF TEAM BACK THEN, AND MCCOY WAS PUSHED AS “THEE GUY / THEE PRO BOWLER” TO SELL TICKETS
SO TIL THIS DAY MCCOY IS LOOKED AT AS SOMEBODY THAT NEVER GOT IT DONE FOR THE BUCS…
THAT WHOLE ERA WAS TOUGH … MCCOY AND JAMEIS WINSTON
ITS A BUCS LIFE THO
July 10th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
@TBBF – Well said as usual . Sapp had Selmon over his shoulders the first few years until everyone seen that Sapp was one of the greatest of all time. Go Bucs