Calijah Kancey The Key To Defensive Turnaround
September 5th, 2026
Staying healthy the first priority.
Joe still has PTSD over the Bucs defense last year. It was that bad.
Bad enough that the defense was garbage. Even worse, they quit!
So the Bucs loaded up on defense this offseason. Lots of Bucs fans are giddy over Rueben Bain. Joe is stoked about Josiah Trotter. And most Bucs fans welcome a physical, play-making nickel corner like Keionte Scott. All three are rookies.
Then the Bucs dipped into the free agency well. A’Shawn Robinson, Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad and “Nacho” (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches).
The front-seven should be much better. But the Bucs, in a sense, are getting a proven addition that many fans have simply forgotten about because he was already on the roster.
That would be defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. Joe thinks if the guy could only stay healthy, he would be a Pro Bowl player (no, the Pro Bowl is dead but the award is not).
Like Ben Solak of ESPN points out, if Kancey can stay healthy, this Bucs defense easily could do a 180 from last year.
Remember Kancey? The Buccaneers’ 2023 first-round pick was the perfect running mate for Vita Vea through his first two seasons as a pro. Quick as a wink but still sturdy against the run, Kancey’s upfield penetration was a featured piece of Todd Bowles’ movement-heavy defensive front. When he was injured last season in Week 2 and absent every game until Week 18, the lack of pop in the Buccaneers’ pass rush was palpable.
In 2024, Kancey was 15th among all defensive tackles in pressure rate (via Next Gen Stats), just behind Vea. But it’s not about how often he won — it’s how he won. He was sixth in get-off, a measure of how quickly he got across the line. His time to pressure was 2.77 seconds (average for defensive tackles is 3.05, a big gap). Kancey is a quick winner who can make life easier on the rest of his defensive line. He’s a ceiling-raiser — if healthy.
And that’s just it. If he could stay healthy, Kancey and Vita Vea and Robinson can play up front tying up offensive linemen, which should allow Anzalone and Trotter to hunt. You know, seek and destroy.
Kancey alone could make a monster difference in the Bucs becoming feared on defense, as opposed to being jostled, mocked and robbed like last year.
September 5th, 2026 at 8:32 am
CK has All-Pro potential.
It’s unfortunate he is unable to stay healthy.
Let’s pray he can finally put in a full season – my expectations are low at this point.
September 5th, 2026 at 8:46 am
2024 – 3 games missed
2025 – 5 games missed
2026 – 12 games missed
At this point, asking for him to stay healthy is asking for a miracle…but hey I do believe in miracles.
I also believe that when good players try to compensate for bad players, the risk for injury skyrockets. We finally have good, if not great talen on defense. For the first times since the Brady era, we have more strengths than weaknesses on defense.
And I suspect our secondary will be better than most fans suspect…maybe not perfect but better.
September 5th, 2026 at 8:57 am
If.
September 5th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Ahhhh…a nod to Metallica. Mahalo Jose!
September 5th, 2026 at 8:59 am
The Bucs have the players on defense to make the Bucs scary. It all depends how healthy they can remain during 17 games. If the same players can’t remain healthy the draft will be heavey again on defense.
September 5th, 2026 at 9:00 am
I have to repost this and make a correction. I did forget about Kancy
I learned my lesson from last year. Not listening to BS from Todd and JL. Can’t blame them when they BS, what are they going to do, say their roster sucks?
I think the D is going to be vastly improved, but to keep it real, it has its short comings as a SB roster
SB D Roster:
D-line: Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston, Vita Vea
OLB: Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaquil Barrett
ILB: Devin White, Lavonte David
Secondary: Antoine Winfield Jr., Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean
2026 D-line is very much improved over 2025, with a healthy Kancey, it may be comparable to the SB roster, sure, there is no Suh, but Kancey and Via are to be feared.
OLB: Super improved over 2025. Lots of potential, but Yaya is not JPP and Bain is a rookie. If Bain is HALF the production as the SB year Shaq had, he will be D-ROTY
ILB: Improved, But not close to the level of LVD in his prime and D White before he went off the reservation. BUT I will take IMPROVED from ’25.
Secondary: Well, lol, we have SMB back… Yea, this is the reason we complain. Dean, Davis and AWJ playing like he wanted a BAG. I do not think the Bucs have one player who compares to any one of the SB DBs.
Still, the fan in me thinks this D can be a top 10 D *IF* they stay healthy. If they are, and the O stays fairly healthy, the Bucs should have a good year.
*IF* healthy, we can make it to the playoffs and even win a game or two. I’d take that. That is better than all these negative nellys who predict 5 to 7 wins
September 5th, 2026 at 9:16 am
The Bucs are 10-5 when Kancey starts. At some point, “availability is the best ability” stops being a cliché and becomes the entire fricking defensive game plan. Kancey staying healthy might be the difference between “Bowles defense” and “Bowels defense.”
Vita eats double teams. Bain brings violence. Kancey brings penetration. Suddenly quarterbacks may need something Tampa hasn’t required lately: Adult QB Depends
September 5th, 2026 at 9:21 am
The first two years were calf injuries to start the year. Learned how to manage Florida training camp and it wasn’t a problem last year. Then his arm gets ripped backwards and tore a pec.
There’s a difference between injury prone and s*** happens.
Kind of like saying Chris G is injury prone when it was a cheap shot to the knee and just an unfortunate foot turned the opposite direction vs….
Carlton and Jamel, constantly a game here, two games there.
September 5th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Let’s hope he doesn’t get injured getting off the plane
September 5th, 2026 at 9:23 am
All the pieces are in place for Bowles and Baker.
It’s poop or get off the pot time for both.
No more excuses for either. I don’t want hear about injuries, new OCs, young WRs..
Prove it year for both.
This team should win 10 games or more.
September 5th, 2026 at 9:29 am
I don’t see it. The Tampa media makes this guy out to be the next Aaron Donald if he can only stay healthy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kancey will never make a pro bowl. Nice player, nothing special.
September 5th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Kancey was drafted in 2023, and the Bucs have already picked up his 2027 5th-year option as a 1st Rounder. So he’s got this year and next year to prove that he’s worth the investment. That’ll involve (1) staying healthy; and (2) getting sufficient sacks, pressures, YFL, whatever that equate to mega-millions in the future. Two years to prove he’s worth the big bucks.
In his first 3 years TOTAL, Calijah has racked up 11.5 sacks, 30 QB hits and 22 TFLs. Divide that by 3, and sorry but it’s underwhelming for a 1st Rnd pick. Projecting his historic performance (games actually played) to a full 17-game schedule, Pro-Football-Reference came up with the following annual averages for him: 6.7 sacks, 18 QB hits, 13 TFLs. That’s if he was fully healthy.
If Kancey excels this season, I think it’d largely be because of playing with 2 beasts … Vea & Robinson. Throw in Diaby & Bain as the OLBs, and 5 opposing OLinemen will have a world of trouble stopping that group. I’m really hoping that this season, Todd let’s the beasts loose so that the pressure on opposing QBs is unrelenting & constant. Also hoping that he keeps a nice rotation going with our depth players so that the big dogs can stay as fresh as possible through all 4 quarters.
September 5th, 2026 at 9:46 am
Until he can prove he can make it through a season you just can’t count on him. Licht did do a good job bringing in competent players this year if he can’t make it.
September 5th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Kancey has missed close to 1/2 the games during his career. Relying on his health is a recipe for disaster.
September 5th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Isn’t being a pro bowl award winner kind of redundant to being an All Pro?
September 5th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Thanks, Joes, for all of your efforts and great reporting!!
September 5th, 2026 at 10:20 am
BucsSiddy Says:
September 5th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Isn’t being a pro bowl award winner kind of redundant to being an All Pro?
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All-Pro is first team on the Pro-Bowl team.
September 5th, 2026 at 10:25 am
Can we get half his salary back. Warrior in a tub. Wasted roster spot every year. Another of Licht’s genius picks. Physical specimen too light for the position. Time after time after time. Licht never learns. Pick the guys that fit the position and are proven. Stop trying to prove you are a genius. Hasn’t worked by the way.
September 5th, 2026 at 10:27 am
Shaduer Sanders won’t sneak onto any All-Pro team. First and second team All-Pro are the 2 best players in football at those positions. Pro- Bowl, on the other hand, …
September 5th, 2026 at 10:30 am
“‘74 Bucs Fan Says:
September 5th, 2026 at 10:20 am
BucsSiddy Says:
September 5th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Isn’t being a pro bowl award winner kind of redundant to being an All Pro?
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All-Pro is first team on the Pro-Bowl team.”
~~~
That is incorrect. The Pro Bowl team is selected by NFL rules, with votes to fans and the league itself. It’s divided into two conferences, so you have an NFC and AFC Pro Bowl team.
The All-Pro team is selected by the media, AP I believe, and is only one team. It’s truly the highest honor.
September 5th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Well, then we have no chance because the guy could barely stay on the field. He and Morrison oughta take up an infirmary for frequently injured NFL players.
September 5th, 2026 at 10:49 am
A lot of Buc players could potentially be all pros. For that to happen they have to play like that every snap of every game. Few if any will rise to that level. Last season showed how easy it is for a player to quit on their team when things are moving south. New season, new team!
September 5th, 2026 at 11:09 am
Get some glasses Hodad.
Can’t believe a lot of you guys. Yes, Kancey has been a disappointment based on his availability. When he’s healthy for us, he is arguably our best player on D.
Who was posting stats saying they are underwhelming? You think you just miss a bunch of time, miss a bunch of reps and when you are healthy enough to get on the field your game is the same? Smarten up.
Go watch the playoff game vs the Commanders. If Cousins is the QB and not Daniels. Kancey had 4 sacks that game, he was in the backfield all night. When he is full strength, not first 2 games back after 2 months off, he is constantly penetrating.
If Calijah is healthy all year, he will be our defensive MVP.
September 5th, 2026 at 11:16 am
If Schrauth could become a guy that can come in and play a game or three without major drop-off, I think the Bucs are in great shape. He’s just now *finally* getting healthy.
September 5th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Sorry fanbuc but all the ” pieces ” have to stay healthy!
September 5th, 2026 at 11:28 am
You better hope not. He hasn’t finished an entire season in his career. Bet on Vita, Bain, Trotter but not this guy
September 5th, 2026 at 11:28 am
Saskbucs … ‘Who was posting stats saying they are underwhelming? You think you just miss a bunch of time, miss a bunch of reps and when you are healthy enough to get on the field your game is the same? Smarten up.
Hey Saskbucs, I’ll stand by my earlier assessment … ‘In his first 3 years TOTAL, Calijah has racked up 11.5 sacks, 30 QB hits and 22 TFLs. Divide that by 3, and sorry but it’s underwhelming for a 1st Rnd pick.’
Sorry, but AVAILABILITY is a big part of a player’s value. There are no awards for sacks in the hot tub. In his 3 years here, Caljah has averaged roughly 4 sacks, 10 QB hits & 8 TFLs per season. Newsflash: JTS came very close to that; in his 4 years with us, he averaged roughly 4 sacks, 9 QB hits & 5 TFLs per season. Were you overwhelmed with his stats as a 1st Rnd pick? Or were they ‘underwhelming’ to you?
The big difference however is that JTS only missed 2 games in his 4 years as a Buc. Kancey has already missed 22 games in his first 3 years here. No question in my mind that Kancey is by far the more valuable player. However, if a player can’t stay on the field, they’ll find someone who can.
September 5th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Seems like a lot of pressure to put on rookies. Maybe it’s the coaches defense that’s antiquated if the defense sucks.
September 5th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Not “redundant.” It’s a secondary award to All-Pro for sure, but not “redundant.”
September 5th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
It’s funny that this blog keeps pumping the idea that the Bucs defense quit on the team at the end of last year – but ignores the numbers and personnel that say otherwise.
Assuming you mean the Bucs ‘quit’ in the last 5 games, when they gave up an average of 22 points and 321 yards per game.
That implies they were ‘playing hard’ in the first 12 games they gave up an average of 25 points and 344 yards per game.
Lets say you didn’t mean stats but you meant players. When at the end of the year the Bucs were giving snaps to a group of players that included:
CJ Brewer (out of football)
Hassan Reddick (out of football)
Deion Jones (out of football)
Nick Jackson (out of football)
Adam Gotsis (out of football)
Jason Pierre-Paul (out of football for good)
Kendall Vildor (Patriots PS)
Chris Braswell (Do I need to say anything?)
Elijah Roberts (3rd string)
Greg Gaines (3rd string in Buffalo)
Lavonte David (retired too late)
SirVocea Dennis (burn specialist)
..and the list goes on.
If the Joes here want to call this group quitters, then they’re implying that they were actually decent players who were capable of shutting down opponents had they not loafed. If you’re saying that as a joke it’s hilarious, because it’s the only way it makes any sense.
September 5th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Quick reminder.
The Panthers only ran for 18 yards when Kancey started.
If Kancey can stay healthy, we can have a top 10 defense.
I’m still mourning the loss of Pyburn, but it’s time to move on.
He ranked 8th in the country last year at run defense for an edge player.
In the SEC! He has elite strength. And he has the warrior face and bone structure I like in à football player.
Fordham ran a 4.67 at his pro day. KJ Britt was 4.75.
September 5th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Go watch the last game of the season against Carolina. If you didn’t see him, you wouldn’t know he played. Did nothing during a must win game. That happens all to often, where he has no, or little impact of the game. Nice player, nothing special. Just like Walker, and so many other overrated Bucs who’ve done nothing with their careers, but are gods to clueless Buc fans.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Thanks for the clarity on All Pro vs Pro Bowl.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Defense Rules, apologies for coming at ya. I agree that he has not lived up to his draft status based on availability. Using the stats from his games played and expanding them to a full season doesn’t paint an accurate picture of the impact he can have based on what I said about reps.
Hodad makes my point in the comment above.
Haha Hodad… the guy missed the entire season, of course he’s not gonna strap up in week 18 and be the player he can be. Cripes dude, this is professional sports, he’s not working a shovel! Guy had next to no play strength, didn’t have his timing down. Sure he played at close to 100% health but no where near 100% of his ability.
If you think it happens to him often it’s because of the time he missed, not because he’s a mediocre player. Does Godwin suck cause he didn’t do much last year? No… he has missed a ton of time with injury and it takes time to get back to the level we expect.
Absolutely absurd, the standard set by some of you fans without understanding professional sports and what they require from your body. You are the reason players don’t wanna come back in week 18 after missing 4 months to injury. They wanna be there for the team but dummies will pull the tape from that 1 game and say see he’s not worth so and so. Unbelievable.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Hodad let me hit you over the head with this…
You are an all pro.. you tear your pec muscle and are out for 4 months. Can’t push weight cause of that tear for a long time. Can’t take proper reps getting off the line, can’t hand fight.
You feel good enough, healed enough and maybe you have pushed a bit of weight and got some reps the last 2 or 3 weeks but not live reps against other guys, so a must win game you wanna give them what you got.
You think you just step on the field after all that time and limited practice and can play like your all pro self!?
And you call others clueless.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
To WBL and the guys pulling stats to defend the D against how the Bucs offense turned sour and killed the Bucs… here’s a stat for you.
Bucs ranked fifth in EPA per drive through the first nine weeks. They ranked 28th in the same stat over the second half of the season as the sloppy and undisciplined defense bottomed out.
Talk about PPG all you want. Offense had the ball less in the 2nd half of the year. Quinn Ewers, Tyler Shough and Bryce Young were too busy chewing clock.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Teacherman Says:
I’m still mourning the loss of Pyburn, but it’s time to move on.
He ranked 8th in the country last year at run defense for an edge player.
Fordham ran a 4.67 at his pro day. KJ Britt was 4.75.
***********
Agree that Pyburn should make a good situational run defender, but he’s not going to cut it as a pass rusher.
Speaking of 40 times, the playing weight for each LB when they were tested –
Fordham’s 4.67 at 220 pounds
Britt’s 4.75 at 240 pounds
Pyburn’s 4.76 at 260 pounds
None of them will ever be confused for a freakish athlete, but Fordham in particular is incredibly slow for a player as light as he is.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Saskbucs Says:
To WBL and the guys pulling stats to defend the D against how the Bucs offense turned sour and killed the Bucs… here’s a stat for you.
Bucs ranked fifth in EPA per drive through the first nine weeks. They ranked 28th in the same stat over the second half of the season as the sloppy and undisciplined defense bottomed out.
***********
See my list above for who was on the field generating those stats. Then come back and talk about your expectations.
September 5th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
He’s an undersized DT, that’s why he hasn’t held up. When he loses his quickness he’ll be out of the league.
September 5th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
It’s legitimate. If you have a game wrecker up front it makes the rest of the defense rock stars.
Kancey has that game wrecking ability. As far as talent goes it’s impossible not to see what he does.
Cannot stay healthy.
September 5th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Kancey, Bain, Roberts, Yaya and Walker need to be the difference, collectively. I doubt any are going to be All Pro this year but f they can all stay healthy and all play like their hair is on fire the pass rush will be very good, imo. Muhammad and Nelson are good insurance. Vea, Robinson, and Nacho will be good against the run.