Casillas The Leader
April 18th, 2014
Jonathan Casillas
An interesting nugget dropped by lean-looking Mason Foster to media this week referenced his fellow starting linebacker from 2013, Schiano-man turned Lovie-man Jonathan Casillas.
Casillas is healthy now after minor knee surgery last fall, and Foster explained Casillas is currently the lead dog in the Buccaneers’ linebackers room.
You can catch the entire audio below, via 620wdae.com.
Joe will say this about Casillas: the guy is a commanding presence. He’s 26 years old and often comes off like a mature 40 year old. He’s a neat story of a New Jersey kid who was undrafted out of Wisconsin and is entering his sixth NFL season. He’s one of only a few Bucs players with Super Bowl rings (New Orleans).
Casillas is no superstar, but nobody questions his toughness. It’ll be interesting to see how he may blossom in this defense, which represents a change from what he’s played in previously. Clearly, the new regime opted to keep him for a reason. Right now, Casillas appears penciled in as the starting strongside linebacker.
April 18th, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Casillas appeared on the verge of being a real solid contributor prior to the injury. It’d be great if he blossoms. You can’t have enough good LBs.
April 18th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
When we signed him last year I was excited after watching him shutdown Tony G and Graham while he was with N’awlinz. This guy is very good in coverage and a solid tackler. Glad we resigned him, Im expecting a cpl defensive TDs from him this year.
April 18th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
He’s a very solid SAM and was a an under the radar guy in N.O. as well. I love our starting linebackers right now and we’re going to build some depth, hopefully, soon.
April 18th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Good story here. I didn’t realize he is just 26.
This guy seems tailor made for the T2 because he can run to the ball and hit too. He was a big upgrade over Watson IMO.
April 18th, 2014 at 4:12 pm
he will be one to watch for sure. healthy, fast and smart… I like that. Plus he is a special teams beast.
April 18th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
I’d take watson over casillas. Lets hope he can stay healthy
April 18th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
I saw enough of Casillas playing SLB last year and he may be a good leader in the LB room but he is no more than a good flexible backup LB and a great Special Teams player. Foster needs to be moved to SLB if you want to see that position played at a Pro Bowl Level this year, because Foster can do it this year because he played that position in college and was the top OLB in the draft when we picked him. What he isn’t is a top Tampa Two MLB because he will not be able to cover passes deep down the middle. That is why Lovie needs Mad Max from Michigan State at 6’3″ and 160 lbs in the middle because he is an Urlacher clone that Lovie is used to. He also shut down the top RB in this draft from undefeated Ohio State until Mad Max and Michigan State lowered the boom on them and beat them.
April 19th, 2014 at 7:55 am
Hey owlykat,
6’3″ 160 lbs hope that is a typo.
April 19th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Casillas was undrafted because he blew out his ACL and NFL teams knew he couldn’t contribute his rookie year. Before the injury, Casillas was known as an undersized Will-type run and chase LB that could really really run that was expected to be drafted in the 3rd round area. It’s no surprise that he has been successful.
April 19th, 2014 at 9:46 am
owlykat Says:
That is why Lovie needs Mad Max from Michigan State at 6’3″ and 160 lbs in the middle because he is an Urlacher clone that Lovie is used to. He also shut down the top RB in this draft from undefeated Ohio State until Mad Max and Michigan State lowered the boom on them and beat them.
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You clearly don’t know what it means to be a “clone”. Urlacher was a physical freak of nature that stood nearly 6’4 260 lbs and ran a 4.59 40 at the Combine. Bullough is an inch shorter, 10 lbs lighter, and ran a 4.78 at the Combine. Bullough is seen as a 2 down run stuffer… I don’t know how in the hell you think Bullough could cover the middle of the field, he’s stiff, he’s slow, he isn’t agile.
April 20th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
“Casillas appeared on the verge of being a real solid contributor prior to the injury. ”
You can say that for about four years of his six-year career. His injury-prone nature is why the Bucs should look at some young bodies in the middle rounds.