Todd Bowles Explains How Calijah Kancey Is Growing Up
December 4th, 2023
Beastly rookie season.
Joe often hears that in the NFL once the calendar turns to December, rookies who start are no longer rookies. They’ve played in enough games to know what they are doing.
Bucs first-round pick Calijah Kancey is developing into one helluva defensive tackle. He got a late start missing virtually all of training camp with a calf injury, and all of the worthless preseason and most of the first four games to begin the regular season.
Kancey had a handful of plays in the season-opener at Minnesota but reaggravated his calf in and didn’t see the field again until the Detroit home game in October.
So given his aborted start, Joe isn’t sure the NFL cliché on rookies applies to Kancey. Still, Kancey is becoming a beast and Bucs coach Todd Bowles spoke on that today in his day-after presser.
“He’s figuring out how they try to block them, you know, that’s big for him,” Bowles said. “Usually, you just do your job when you come in, try to learn the scheme. Once you learn the scheme, then you start adding your play to it, becoming more explosive, because he is seeing everything faster. That’s really helping him out a lot.”
This guy Kancey is going to be a terror for quarterbacks, mostly from the inside. He had two quarterback hits yesterday.
Kancey has 10 tackles for loss this season, third among all rookies. And remember, he’s only played in nine games.
Combine Kancey’s numbers with fellow rookie YaYa Diaby, that’s two key pieces to the defensive line puzzle the Bucs added in the draft. Guys who should be with the Bucs for years.
December 4th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
This feels like ground hog’s day……how JTS was all hyped up after he was drafted……and look at JTS now……
I hope this Kancey kid is different……like game changing different. If he’s atleast 50% better than GMC…..then I think we struck gold in the draft!!!!
December 4th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Calijah is strong and explosive.
And he wants it bad.
But hes 5’10”, 280lbs.
Playing at that size, he will always be over matched.
Hope Im wrong, but injuries may be frequent, and soon cumulative.
Thats just too small to play Dline in the NFL.
again, I hope Im wrong, and the young man has a great career.
But in Vegas, where the BS stops, when the cash drops- Id bet against it.
December 4th, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Is he more a DT or a DE?
December 4th, 2023 at 3:37 pm
You can definitely see this kids potential…..
Logan Hall is doing better too
December 4th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
What does Todd Bowles know? #FireTodd
December 4th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
@ Capt Tim
No way a DT in the NFL is 5’10……that’s way too tiny for an NFL DT….he’s atleast gotta be 6’0 or taller.
December 4th, 2023 at 3:49 pm
Definetly DT, but the Bucs do use him on the edge occasionally
December 4th, 2023 at 3:51 pm
would love to see the Bucs go back to using a 4-3 defense again. Kancey, Vea, Yaya with one more decent DE would be fun to watch.
December 4th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
HEIGHT
6’ 1’’
WEIGHT
281 lbs
ARM
30 5/8’’
HAND
9 1/8’’
December 4th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Props to our GM…
Kancey, Mauch and Diabi all appear to be very solid picks.
I know Mauch has struggled this season but he is developing nicely and after a full off-season he will add some much needed size and strength.
December 4th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Kancey is not too small for the modern NFL. In fact he is the same size as Aaron Donald (Donald is actually leaner at 260-265). Donald just has longer arms and insane strength. Kancey has flashed but he’s got a long way to go before becoming a consistent force. Some of his play has been encouraging especially as a pass rusher but he still gets washed in the run game too much for my liking. It’s basically he either penetration on the line or gets washed out. No consistency yet.
December 4th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Kancey looks like a keeper. I think the defense played well enough to be 2 games over .500 this year. The D would look even better had the offense played up to it’s talent level. The offense is playing under it’s talent level due to that most important position Qb. Hopefully we correct that in the off season. If not we get more of the same. Which is less.
December 4th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
His speed is just special – give him some more time and scheme him correctly
December 4th, 2023 at 4:35 pm
It seemed like he was blowing up a guard on every play.
December 4th, 2023 at 4:43 pm
I have had enough of Bowles and his statemnts. No longer interested in anything he says. Just irritating.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:06 pm
Kancey is about the same size as Warren Sapp. I met Sapp and shook his hand and I don’t think he is 6’ tall. Maybe 5’11”
December 4th, 2023 at 5:28 pm
My big question for the week is..Can we put it all together and beat the Falcons in Atlanta come Sunday/ We need to do this desperately.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Kancey is the same size as Aaron Donald and seems to have the same motor, he’s not too small for the job, dude is explosive.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:22 pm
If we had this D with Jaymiss, its likely we would have been able to Win-some more games.
In fact, Jaymiss would not have been forced to put the ball up in desperation mode as often as he did. Which would have meant less INTS.
Baker is the MAIN Problem with this team HANDS DOWN. Not the coaching, not the D and most certainly not the WRs (as the Baker apologist would have you believe).
#StartTRASKnow
December 4th, 2023 at 6:35 pm
I’d rather hear from Calijah about how w bowels is not growing up.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:52 pm
if only he played corner
December 4th, 2023 at 6:57 pm
WiseCrack Says:
December 4th, 2023 at 6:22 pm
If we had this D with Jaymiss, its likely we would have been able to Win-some more games.
—-
Munsch you don’t have to make up other usernames to post under. You already shot this username’s rep with
“Not the coaching, not the D”
yeah uh-huh both those two are great…lolololol
December 4th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Chop Robinson would look good paired with Calijah
December 4th, 2023 at 9:41 pm
Looking at his draft profile he is almost a carbon copy of Warren Sapp’s draft profile.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
he’s explosive and slippery…
i’ve never seen a slippery DT…but the dude is slippery af…
yeah he slips away from OTs and is in the backfield fast
December 4th, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Whoever the next coach is will be able to develop him better, faster.
December 5th, 2023 at 12:50 am
Too bad Todd has the credibility of Rich Kotite.
December 5th, 2023 at 1:54 am
Teams double team Kancey a lot, if he have a threat at the edge they won’t be able to double both.
December 5th, 2023 at 3:57 am
Not listening to dead man walking BS anymore. 7 snaps for Watts Sunday!
Go Bucs!
December 5th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
Pittsburgh listed him at 5’10”, 280lbs.
Ive seen him close enough. 5’10.
Warren Sapp played 20 years ago, when Offensive centers and guards werent all 6’5”, 320lbs like they are today.
Arron Donald is unique. Like the guard we signed from Minnesota many years ago. I think it was John Randle. Also a 5’10” destroyer.
Kancey may turn out like that. I hope so
December 6th, 2023 at 7:01 am
You keep forgetting to mention Izien in this draft class.
We got 4 starters. That’s insane.
Izien- starting DB. Nickle plays more than 50% of the snaps.
Mauch. Goedeke and Mauch are starting to merge and play as 1.
I watched them closely against the Panthers. They are two tough guys playing together.
I’m happy they can grow together.
Defensive Ends are becoming scared of Goedeke. He hits people hard. Again and again and again.
Burns thought he was punching Goedeke.
Mauch and Goedeke are becoming brothers in arms. Literally.
Great picks Licht.
They are ornery and smart!
We just need a first round center next year to complete our line.
Extend Stinnie. He’s doing great!