“I Like To Make Guys Feel Me”
August 21st, 2015
A Bucs veteran dared to compare MLB Kwon Alexander to Ray Lewis.
Accolades for Bucs starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander continue to flow in, and the rookie’s name was spoken quite a bit yesterday as SiriusXM NFL Radio broadcast their three-hour Bucs training camp special from One Buc Palace.
A slew of coaches and players made appearances to chat with co-hosts Zig Fracassi and former Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland. And yes, Joe will bring you a slew of the interview highlights over the next few days.
One player interviewed was Bucs defensive tackle Clinton McDonald. The veteran has been so impressed with Alexander, he even dared to invoke the name of Ray Lewis in describing Alexander.
“As a rookie, well, a lot of guys don’t expect a lot from rookies,” McDonald said. “[Alexander] brings a lot of excitement. He brings a lot of action. He loves to hit.
“One [time] I was talking to him and he said, ‘I love to go out there and make guys feel me. I like to make guys feel me.’
“He made a play on Saturday when we played the Vikings. It was like a play 30 or 40 yards down the field. It reminded me of a clip of Ray Lewis running down the field his first year. He ran a guy down 30 or 40 yards to get to the play and there was never a break in stride. When you see a guy with that much passion and that much heart that wants to hit and wants to be physical, you know it’s kind of hard to deny the guy.”
Man, the way the Bucs are raving about Alexander, it sure sounds like they may have found a steal. You can’t tell Joe they had Alexander, a fourth-round pick, rated that high or otherwise, the team would have found a way to, say, get a third-round pick and select him.
To already tag a fourth-round draft pick as a starter after just one game, especially when you paid good money to a free agent to fill that hole, well, that is extraordinary.
As much as has been typed about “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet, could Alexander be the biggest impact player of them all?
August 21st, 2015 at 6:26 am
I still cant help but remembering the highlight film of this guy and it was like he was scared to make one on one hard hits with the ball carriers. Hopefully thats not the case but thats was what stood out to me.
August 21st, 2015 at 6:37 am
We’re so used to lousy drafts that a 4th rounder showing up is like Christmas in August. If we keep drafting gems in the next few years we should be consistent contenders.
August 21st, 2015 at 6:41 am
This is great. Bucs haven’t hit on mid round picks in forever. A key in drafting. Maybe we turn the corner now. Worst to first!!! 🙂
August 21st, 2015 at 6:48 am
Licht is getting it right in the draft!
August 21st, 2015 at 7:40 am
The Buccaneer’s uniforms are terrible. Please change them. Please.
August 21st, 2015 at 8:30 am
The Wrath of Kwon states “I like to make guys feel me.” NOW, I can accept aunt geraldine helping opposing rb’s up with a smile on his face…Knowing that THIS GUY^^^ put em there. I’d be smiling too if my team had just drafted a rookie that is coming into the league with a Hardy Nickerson/Ray Lewis mentality….THATS what true Bucs fans have been SCREAMING FOR on our D since Sapp left. David is just like Brooks flying from sideline to sideline and everywhere in between but #55 never brought the nasty like #99….BRING THE NASTY Wrath of Kwon….OH PLZ PLZ BRING BACK THE NASTY and GO BUCS!!!
August 21st, 2015 at 8:38 am
@Kevin
I know. I keep wondering if that’s the same guy everyone is talking about.
I also remember Barrett Ruud making a ton of tackles…waaay downfield.
August 21st, 2015 at 8:54 am
This has the potential to be the Buc’s greatest draft. I emphasize potential!
The draft that brought us Sapp and Brooks and eventually a Super Bowl will be hard to ever match. But if we just snagged a genuine franchise QB and also a franchise MLB in one draft that’s YYYYUUUUUUGGGGEEE!!!
In fact if ASJ could learn to catch the ball and stay healthy and Sims continues to improve and if these two rookie OL turn into starters you can already crown Jason Licht as the greatest Bucs GM ever! Sorry Rich McKay.
If the past two year’s draft choices continue to improve at their current trajectory this could be a two year run of draft picks that the Bucs will never forget.
Once upon a time the Pittsburgh Steelers were the jokes of the NFL. Yeah sadly I”m old enough to remember that growing up. Then they hit a few years of great drafts and the franchise was made. We CAN do the same thing. In fact we may have just pulled it off. Time will tell.
August 21st, 2015 at 9:20 am
LOVE how everyone gets WAY ahead of themselves. Nice to see potential in players but such optimism is foolish. Of course, it is the season of optimism, right? Lets see how things flush out after a few real games.
August 21st, 2015 at 9:27 am
I’m Buc bonkers over Kwon too. It’s a bit early to see how good he will be, from all the talk what a nice pick this can be. As far as comparing him to Lewis, I prefer not to. That guy just creeps me out, for what went down in Atlanta and my belief that the league helped cover up the extent of his involvement.
August 21st, 2015 at 9:47 am
@BUC4LIFE
LOL… Although, I agree with you 100%.
August 21st, 2015 at 9:52 am
Reason this year draft is better because they brought in director of scouting Robinson, i read lots of good things about him and his past success. He has an eye for talent.
August 21st, 2015 at 10:10 am
Maybe now people will quit crying about how we could of drafted Overrated Kuechly.
August 21st, 2015 at 10:21 am
Seems like we hit on our two 2nds 4 and 5th which is good to see.
Takes the sting out of missing with our 1st pick
August 21st, 2015 at 10:36 am
Who you telling Couch. Now that’s some real talk.
August 21st, 2015 at 11:01 am
@ Bucco Brice
The Bucs haven’t missed on one lately is more like it. The Bucs have had 11 4th to 7th rd picks over the last 3 years. 10 of them are on this team and one is playing for the Ravens. If you go back a year before that and you see Tandy (6th) and a year before that and you got Stocker (4th). No super stars have emerged except Alexander but solid mid to late round drafting.
August 21st, 2015 at 11:29 am
@ Ray Rice
I knew u would bruther, and I know WS99 agrees wholeheartedly too.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Such an unfortunate headline.
August 21st, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Kwon Alexander could be a good MLB like Ray Lewis, he was a Strong Safety converted to Linebacker. When Ray Lewis was at Kathleen High in Lakeland, he was a 185 lb RB. He also returned kickoffs and punts, and played Middle Linebacker on defense. He got bulk up in the NFL, but he still maintain his 4.6 speed. Kwon is lighter and he have more speed that Ray had as a rookie.
August 22nd, 2015 at 2:52 am
Man now if we can take this same path to offensive lineman and let Marpet be the opening day starting center and save this offensive linen I think Donovan Smith will be great as well but he must get in NFL shape to succeed at that left tackle position. Quite honestly I think once Dotson is healthy then we should start him at Left tackle instead and groom Pamphile, Edwards and D.Smith but Smith is coming along faster than expected as well so hes earned that starting left tackle position and I think Pamphile will earn right tackle by preseason’s end as well. Hes been a gamer from the jump since he started against the saints the last game of the year and played well too. Edwards needs to continue to get healthy though as imo he develops for the starting lineup as well in the future.