Tykee Smith Can Be Even Better
July 17th, 2026
Underrated dawg.
A player growing on Joe is Bucs safety Tykee Smith.
He showed flashes as a rookie in 2024 but last year Smith demonstrated he can hang in the NFL. And Joe believes Smith hasn’t hit his ceiling.
As a rookie Smith was banged up and only played in 13 games. He missed only one game last year. However, Joe was told over the summer Smith was hurt a whole lot worse than he was letting on or that the team ever acknowledged.
In fact, Joe had heard there was at least a three-game period last season where Smith couldn’t raise an arm above his shoulder, yet he started and gutted his way through games.
Man, it’s awfully hard to play defense in the NFL, much less guard receivers downfield, when you can’t raise an arm above your shoulder.
Last year Smith led all NFL safeties with 13 passes defended. How many more would he have had if he didn’t have a busted wing?
If Smith can stay healthy, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Smith has a Pro Bowl-level season this fall.
July 17th, 2026 at 1:32 am
No doubt Bucs got a 3rd round stud, nice job by Licht & Co. Can see him taking the reins from Winfield in a few years, if not before. He’s definitely still ascending.
July 17th, 2026 at 2:39 am
Smith played better than Winfield a good bit of last season.
Hopefully they both have very good years in 2026.
Winfield is past due – hasn’t had a good year since the Brinks truck backed up to his door…..
An improved pass rush should have both these guys in good position to make some big plays this year.
July 17th, 2026 at 5:02 am
‘Joe was told over the summer Smith was hurt a whole lot worse than he was letting on or that the team ever acknowledged.’
Is no one else seeing a trend here? Tykee, Baker, LVD, and heaven only knows how many others … guys not just playing hurt, but playing seriously hurt to the point that it adversely affects performance. This roster was badly beaten up last year.
But it’s so much more fun to go with the conclusion that they all QUIT ON TODD BOWLES. Of course, in the process of accepting THAT, fans need to recognize that also means that they QUIT ON EACH OTHER. Players ‘taking plays off’ I can accept because that happens on every team every game. But it’s a lot harder to accept players QUITTING ON EACH OTHER IMO.
July 17th, 2026 at 5:40 am
So he was banged up his rookie year, and apparently seriously injured last year.
But we have cupcake training camps and only walk through practice in season…
Hmm…
July 17th, 2026 at 5:43 am
Great points Defense Rules. Hopefully we can stay healthier this year. All teams have players playing banged up but last season was as bad as I’ve seen it in a long time.
July 17th, 2026 at 6:05 am
This will be his second year playing safety. If healthy, he and Winfield will terrorize offenses.
July 17th, 2026 at 6:40 am
Given that football is a contact sport and these guys have played it for years, I would expect that they play “hurt” every year. It sounds more like they are using “injuries” as an after the fact crutch to explain what happened when it is more likely something else.
July 17th, 2026 at 6:49 am
So are we going to say how he should have sat himself for a few games even though he was cleared to play? That’s what some people expected our qb to do.
July 17th, 2026 at 6:52 am
DR, welcome to the NFL. I think you know better that this isn’t just happening with the Bucs? I believe every starter, hell every player in the NFL is as banged up as we’re being told our Bucs are during the season. How can they all not be?
July 17th, 2026 at 6:54 am
When you’re hurt like that, you know that you just don’t have it in the tank to make the comeback or make that important play. You’re playing on hope instead of confidence.
Sometimes it is better to get a healthy backup in there instead of a wounded veteran. Coaches are control freaks and, it seems to me, they are more scared of a healthy young guy who does not know everything than of a veteran who is broken down. Remember Gruden’s love of broken down QBs? Lots of other examples out there.
July 17th, 2026 at 7:20 am
“It sounds more like they are using “injuries” as an after the fact crutch to explain what happened when it is more likely something else.”
People see what they want to see. If you are a negative person, you see the glass is half empty. You must be a blast at parties….
July 17th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Tykee was a bright spot on the defense last year. Him and Parrish. With our receiving room, and our young guys on defense, we are building quite a core of youth. And the real reason that the Bucs didn’t offer Baker a blockbuster deal, Jaylon Daniels.
July 17th, 2026 at 8:42 am
if so many players were that banged up then i can see why the glazers gave todd another crack at it…and if thats the case, JL has to take the bulk of the blame..not having quality backups is a huge no no
Out depth seems to be better this year minus CB & QB
GO BUCS!!!!
July 17th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Tykee is elite. But he doesn’t have elite speed.
He belongs in the box. He’s a future moneybacker.
Side by side he’s the same size as LVD.
I hope he will convert to LB/SS.
We need more safeties covering the middle of the field in this defense.
I said it last year. And they didn’t listen.
I want more safeties playing LB on dime packages!
I want dime packages without any slow linebackers on the field!!
Give me more moneybackers! I’m tired of getting destroyed in the middle of the field!
Our defense is essentially a 5-2.
Our EDGE players are always lined up on the line of scrimmage.
So… we need two middle linebackers/moneybackers who can run sideline to sideline and cover backs, tight ends and slot receivers!
We need more speed on 3rd down!
July 17th, 2026 at 9:38 am
@teacherman, tykee is listed as 5’10 205ish on Google. A mite small for a linebacker. 4.46 is listed as his 40 time so he’s plenty fast enough. I didn’t know he was hurt. Still, that’s why we need backups. I don’t see much in the way of backups. Do you? Licht needs to fix that.
July 17th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Why do you think we drafted Keionte Scott, Teacherman? The Bucs seem to be planning to run more nickel and dime on passing downs. We have the safeties to do it.
July 17th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Smith gets even more respect from this fan. Thanks Joe!
Shades of Jack Youngblood playing on a broken leg. Florida Gator and a five time All Pro!
Go Bucs!
July 17th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Injury definitely impacts performance to some degree, they’re trying to play hard and protect themselves from further injury at the same time which doesn’t work or the injury feels better before the game and then in game it gets a jolt and then self protection kicks in. Mentally that’s not quitting, when you don’t hustle that’s taking plays off and quitting. Some plays guys are just gassed simple as that or they may be out of position to make a play so it depends on the scenario.
July 17th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
DR totally agree. Of Winfield can get back to his all pro self and tykee takes another step forward this will be huge for the defense. Now imagine the Dline getting after the QB and I like you can see this defense getting back into the top 10.
July 17th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Sounds like to me he loves the game ,sure sounds familiar, yeah like 90% of all players don’t really want to say how banged up they really are..You know it’s the opposite of you “fans” calling in sick when your really not ,or hungover,sounds like human beings are playing football now a days mmmmm