Shilo Sanders Confesses He Has To Keep Improving
August 11th, 2025
Bucs safety Shilo Sanders claps for an incompletion. Het got a lick in on Tennessee quarterback Brandon Allen on the play.
On Saturday night, Joe noticed something he’s never seen. Prior to the game when well-connected fans and players’ families are allowed on the field during warmups, Bucs safety Shilo Sanders was playing catch with a little boy on the other side of the security tape.
And the way Sanders interacts daily with fans at practice and on his large social media following, Joe is pretty sure Sanders engages and interacts with fans more than any player in recent memory since probably Gerald McCoy.
Walking through the bleachers when fans are at training camp, Joe often hears fans hollering for Sanders. When he makes a play, there is heartfelt applause.
Yeah, Sanders is an undrafted free agent. Bucs coach Todd Bowles still says Sanders has a chance to make the team.
Team officials always want to see a player improve, make progress. Sanders has done that in training camp. Joe’s seen this as Joe hasn’t missed a practice all summer.
Last night, wearing an NFL game uniform for the first time, facing a team with a different color jersey, Sanders admitted he got nervous.
“I was comfortable before the game,” Sanders said afterwards. “I got on the field, I was like, “Dang, this thing feels real.”
Sanders said it took a few plays, once he got his head into his assignments and popped pads with dudes in white jerseys, to knock out the butterflies and settle in.
“It’s the NFL, not college,” Sanders said upon taking the field of The Licht House. “It’s Buccaneers. It’s the NFL. So that was a shock at first.”
Sanders is sort of a physical player. He can lay the wood on people. He does that in practice, too, and Sanders got a solid lick in on Tennessee quarterback Brandon Allen on Saturday.
After the game, Sanders told Joe it is hard to practice physical football in the NFL, whereas in college, solid, strong hitting in practices is encouraged.
“Definitely,” Sanders responded when Joe asked him if physicality is one of his goals. “Well, I think I left, like, a few big hits on the field.
“You can’t really be that physical at practice, that’s different [than college]. You can hit and do all that. But in the NFL, you gotta take care of your teammates.”
Sanders added that his tackling angles will get better as will being able to track down ballcarriers.
“Then I could really just go full speed [and not think] and bring headaches every week,” Sanders said.
But first things first. He has to make the team. Sanders knows he’s not a starter. So he’s focused on playing special teams.
When Joe asked what position on special teams Sanders is looking at, he told Joe, “everywhere.” He just wants to make the team and he’s ready to bust his tail wherever the Bucs may need him.
August 11th, 2025 at 6:34 am
I knew little about Shilo before he arrived in Tampa except that he is one of Deon’s sons. And knowing what we know about the other son Shekur I was not overjoyed we picked him up as an UFA. Boy was I wrong. This kid is so genuine and a very hard worker. He’s won over alot of fans including me and I’m rooting for him big time.
August 11th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Facebook is flooded with articles about him and the people in the comments all say the same thing, he’s going to be great, I hope he makes the team, they go on and on. But they don’t realize that he is the 8th out of eight safeties. He did not get into the game until the second half. Just about every safety on the roster is younger than him, faster than him, and bigger than him.
August 11th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Odds are high that the Bucs are only keeping 4 safeties on the 53 man roster.
Winfield and Smith are the starters – and coach Bowles already said Izien is on the team.
The last spot likely goes to Marshall UDFA JJ Roberts who ran a 4.41 – 40, vertical jumped 40.5″ and has turned heads ever since he got here.
Merriweather who has played in 30 NFL games and Wisdom who was with the Bucs all last year are also still ahead of Sanders on the depth chart….
Shilo probably gets a practice squad invite if he continues to play well – but his chances of making the 53 man roster initially are slim to none….
Pretty crazy all this hubub over a player who MIGHT make the practice squad…
August 11th, 2025 at 7:35 am
Christian Izien is not a good safety to me
I believe he’s a lot better Cornerback than Safety
These other guys are better safeties, but can’t play corner
But JJ Roberts played CB in college, converted to safety
He can play FS, SS, Nickel and outside CB, Special Teams
Merriweather was their highest graded Safety last season
According to PFF, and he’s a good special team player
It will be interesting who makes the roster
Roberts and Izien are both DBs
The rest are Safety or CB… I think Shiloh goes to the practice squad
August 11th, 2025 at 7:37 am
My concern with Sanders is his vocal pop. If he feels his progeny did not get as fair of a shot as Pop thinks he should have gotten. Pop will be filling another $100 million lawsuit against the Buccaneers and the NFL…
Since he has been here, he has done well of what is on his plate… That he is 8th out of 8 Safeties on our expanded roster, says he does need to make himself be visible during “Game time”… If not Practice Squad here he comes.
I hope he does well, and makes a name for himself with the Buccaneers. But realistically this is his NFL shot….
GO!!!!!Saunders!!!!!!
GO!!!!! BUCS!!!!!!
August 11th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Rooting for Shilo all the way. Practice squad is good. He will play and his heart is in it and with the Tampa Bay community.
Whenever a family member of another player, coach, and others entering the field, there is a lot of hype. It’s what they do with that hype that matters. So far I see all positives with Shilo.
August 11th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Shilo looked good on the blitz but nothing else stood out. Let’s see how he plays in the next two games…. I’m betting he could make the practice squad or Bucs media team.
August 11th, 2025 at 8:14 am
You gotta like guys who think, talk and act like that. I’m rooting for him.
August 11th, 2025 at 8:55 am
I’m rooting for Shilo. I live in Denver and got to watch him play regularly with CU. He hits!! Not something Pops was known for. He always seemed to be around the ball. Sounds like he’s working hard.
August 11th, 2025 at 10:04 am
“My concern with Sanders is his vocal pop. If he feels his progeny did not get as fair of a shot as Pop thinks he should have gotten. Pop will be filling another $100 million lawsuit against the Buccaneers and the NFL…”
The villainization of Deion Sanders needs to be studied. Man has 9 toes and just went a few rounds with cancer and is the head of an improving CU team.
This villainization got one of his sons, w/o doubt a day 1-2 worthy talent in this past draft class to get picked up in the 5th round.
Now fans are scared because they think Sanders is going to have the time to micormange his kid, as if the NFL works that way for ANYBODY! C’mon maaane
August 11th, 2025 at 10:50 am
He sounds like a good kid. We definitely got the better attitude Sanders.
Our Secondary is tough this year, gonna be tough to make the team.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Shilo
August 11th, 2025 at 11:09 am
I am no player evaluator, but I noticed his effort. He was around the ball a lot. I think he will be a valuable asset to the team if we keep him. He seems to have heart and ability.
August 11th, 2025 at 11:12 am
Better attitude? Pfft. Sounds about white.
August 11th, 2025 at 11:59 am
I was on the sidelines for the game and right next to where he was playing catch with that kid. Interestingly, Bridgewater was doing it at first and then Sanders took over. It seemed odd for so many fans to be shouting for him when he had never played a game for us but after watching him play, I was completely surprised and now I’m a Shilo fan as well.
August 11th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Headache Gang! Very happy to see him get love from some of the fans. Keep working hard and smiling Shilo!
August 11th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
I believe Shilo will become a great player, but because we have so many talented players in the defensive backfield, he may have to spend some time on the practice squad. But there is still time for 28 to improve before that decision is made. I know Coach Bowles will make the best decision for Shilo and for the Buccaneers.
Go Bucs 2025 !!!
August 11th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Sanders needs to learn how to finish a tackle and be able to wrap up, his physical style worked in college but this is the NFL now, these bigger RB WR know how bounce off a big hit /tackle.
I love his physicality and his potential to make the 53 or at least the PS.
LFG BUCS!!!!
Fire them CANNONS