Introspective Calijah Kancey

June 4th, 2024

Calijah Kancey

Beastly second-year defensive tackle Calijah Kancey doesn’t sound like a guy who played in 14 regular season games last season plus two good playoff performances.

Today, Kancey actually was talking about feeling guilty for misssing games in his rookie campaign. And Kancey implied that maybe he didn’t appreciate football enough until he hurt his calf — first in 2023 training camp and then reaggravating the injury on opening day.

Asked what will be the key to playing more snaps this season, Kancey sounded introspective after a spring practice at One Buc Palace.

“Just being able to just utilize my abilities, being able to just strain every play I’m out there. Not to take any play for granted. I kind of felt a little bit of that guilt; when I got hurt, I kinda wanted to be out there very bad,” Kancey began. “And now, me being able to be fully recovered, now I know just not to go out there and take any play for granted. So if that requires extra abs or training, whether it’s running or anything like that, working extra moves to have my pass rush arsenal 100 percent, then that’s what it will be.”

It’s easy to love Kancey’s attitude. It seems like all he wants to do is wreck games and be the best he can be. And none of it seems like empty chatter. Kancey is all about greatness.

He spoke a lot today about how he needs to improve a multitude of little things in his game because, per Kancey, they add up to more sacks. And Kancey talked about his obsession with watching endless videos of sacks by other defensive tackles around the NFL.

Kancey added that he plans to seek retired Aaron Donald’s guidance this offseason. Perhaps Donald’s former Super Bowl teammate, Bucs defensive tackle Greg Gaines, can help make that happen.

19 Responses to “Introspective Calijah Kancey”

  1. D-Rok Says:

    Give me 22 starters with attitudes like his and I’ll show you a Super Bowl champion.

  2. RBUC Says:

    I seriously doubt Kancey needs any help from Greg Gaines communicating with his Big Brother Aaron Donald from their Pittsburgh years.

  3. Hodad Says:

    Don’t forget to get with Suh if possible.

  4. Buc1987 Says:

    D-Rok …start counting.

  5. ModHairKen Says:

    This dude is a bada$$

  6. Leighroy Says:

    A svelte Vita Vea bulldozing for Kancey’s leveling up in year 2. LFG!

  7. Buccos Says:

    Kancey reminds me of Sapp

  8. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Brass Monkey 🐒

    That funky Monkey 🐒

  9. Debbie⁴ Says:

    Need a great defense to get a third Lombardy. Right attitude to increase sacks. Maybe a sword emblem on Ds jerseys for every sack. Put fear in the eyes of the opposition qb.

  10. Travis Says:

    I got high hopes for this year. Something like 8 sacks 17 TFL’s are my expectations.

  11. drdneast Says:

    I don’t think I have ever heard JTS express those feelings. I know I never heard Devin White talk like that. All White ever talked about was making more money that he didn’t deserve.

  12. heyjude Says:

    Love Kancey’s honesty about everything. It is from the heart. He has made a goal to do as many workouts as possible, watch endless tapes, and have additional guidance to make sure he is at 100%. Can’t get much better than that! He is going to have a sensational season.

  13. garro Says:

    This suggests that maybe Kancey was never 100% last season.

    Wow! If he was only 90% last year?

    Go Bucs!

  14. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    LFG

  15. SlyPirate Says:

    Jayden Daniels gets Vea, CK, Yaya, LVD, and AWJ in his first NFL game.

    Good luck!

  16. rrsrq Says:

    yeah, but he hasn’t study #99 tapes, that needs to be rectified in a hurry. because he has quickness like Sapp.

  17. Proudbucsfan Says:

    I agree with Buccos, CK reminds me of sapp also, hopefully he can bust out with over 10 sacks his sophomore year.

  18. Proudbucsfan Says:

    I agree with Buccos, CK reminds me of sapp also. Hopfuly he can breakout with more than 10 sacks his sophmore season

  19. Steve Says:

    Love how he says “Then that is what it will be” not that’s what I will have to do.