The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released their 53-man roster on Tuesday. Of the 53, 27 are on the defensive side of the ball. Out of those 27 defensive players, 11 are defensive backs. Ten is the Buccaneers’ norm, but with five cornerbacks and six safeties, the Bucs might have a unique plan for their setup with the defensive backs.
Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed the fourth-most yards through the air. Their defense did have 13 interceptions, which put them in the middle of the pack in the league. In May, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Antonie Winfield Jr. agreed on a four-year extension. In March, the Buccaneers traded Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions for a third-round pick in this past draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers filled their team with the proper personnel during the offseason, but what makes them unique?
Young And Ready
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster is very young, with 40 of their 53-man roster under 26. Eight of their eleven defensive backs are under the age of 26; Tavierre Thomas (28), Jordan Whitehead(27), and Jamel Dean(27) are the only ones over 26. During training camp, returning players and rookies were making impacts and looking to create one during the season. Zyon McCollum, cornerback for the Buccaneers, looks to turn his pass deflections into interceptions, as he tells Scott Smith back in July,
Another player who was making noise throughout training camp before being injured was rookie Cornerback Tyrek Funderburk. Funderburk is from Appalachian State. During camp, he has made plenty of splash plays and shown his ability to understand the routes of the offense. The Bucs rookie made a home for himself with his excellent skills with the defense early after arriving at Tampa Bay. Funderburk explained to Brianna Dix on his path to the NFL:
Slot And Safety Positions
Having a hybrid player in the NFL is a great asset for your team. These types of players can jump in at multiple positions and succeed. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no different; they have several young players who can go from the safety position to the slot back position. This ability allows the Bucs to place the right player at the right moment. Tavierre Thomas, Christian Izien, and rookie Tykee Smith are the three players with this ability. Tykee Smith displayed his high IQ during training camp. Tavierre Thomas gave him praise during camp, saying,
“Tykee is a rookie, but it seems like he has played in the NFL before, he knows the defense, and he played in the defense at Georgia. I know there is a difference, and everybody says the NFL is different from college but when you go to a big school like that, and you are going up against all the top guys – my thing with him is just – he is going up against the same people he has been going up against.”
Thomas was a free agent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up during the offseason. Thomas played for the Houston Texans before entering the free agency. Thomas, too, made an impact during training camp and got comfortable with the Bucs defense. Thomas wants to do what he can for the team.
“Whatever my role is, I am going to just play. So, if that is special teams, I am going to be the best special teams player in the NFL. If it is defense, I am going to go out there and help the team win. Whatever I have to do to stay on the team and continue to play at a high level, that is what I am going to do,” Thomas said.
Final Thoughts
Can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense cause problems for league offenses? We will soon find out. One thing is for sure: Every player on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team is ready for the season. Will this setup set the Tampa Bay Buccaneers up for success, or will the lack of experience with their young players come back to haunt them?
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