The Wrath Of Kwon
August 11th, 2015
Rookie Kwon Alexander making a big push to start at MLB. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Be on the lookout, Bucs fans. It seems a new middle linebacker may be pushing his way into the forefront of your Bucs viewing pleasure.
And his name is Kwon Alexander.
A rookie drafted out of LSU, Alexander was sought to push if not replace outside linebacker Danny Lansanah. However, with Alexander nipping at Lansanah’s heels, the UFL refugee plunged himself into his work and was flying around so much in underwear football and the first couple of practices of training camp, Bucs coaches decided to unleash Alexander at middle linebacker.
Alexander has been so impressive, per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, that Bruce Carter, penciled in to start at middle linebacker, may be usurped.
“It’s proved to be the right thing to do,’’ defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said of moving Alexander. “Once we sat him down and told him, ‘This is what you have to concentrate on,’ we’ve seen growth with him. He’s been flashing out there, so we’re anxious to see how he keeps coming. We’re all intrigued with him. We thought we got a steal in the fourth round when we got him, and so far he hasn’t disappointed.
“We’ve really been impressed with how hard he studies and the way he prepares. And he’s a good athlete. He’s got good range. The thing that’s impressed us most is his ability to play man coverage.
“He’s not just a guy who can drop in zone. We think we’ll be able to match him up against tight ends and running backs as well, and that’s always a plus the way teams spread you out in today’s NFL.”
This is nothing but good news. Let’s say Alexander does win a starting spot. That means the Bucs are OK with depth at linebacker. Carter is a helluva backup, if that is the way it is meant to be.
The biggest problem with the Bucs was, aside from so many holes in the starting lineup, outside of defensive tackle and maybe running back, this team had no depth. Whether Alexander or Carter is starting against the Titans, it sounds as if the Bucs are building needed depth.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:01 am
Joe, you deserve props just because of the Trekkie line!
August 11th, 2015 at 9:04 am
KWOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!
August 11th, 2015 at 9:05 am
I hope he earns the starting MLB spot. I like Carter better at OLB anyway.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Unfortunately, injuries are a fact of life in the NFL. And the Bucs for some reason seem to have been particularly hard hit over the past few years.
If we can keep building depth with guys like Kwon Alexander, maybe our days of pulling guys off the couch and plugging them into the starting lineup later in the season will be over.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:11 am
And now that I’ve read the article, I’m even happier.
When Jason Licht admitted that he would handle free agency and Lovie would have more influence in the draft (as most head coaches do in order to build their vision), I was pleased.
Jason Licht tends to bring in veterans that have huge injury histories, and Bruce Carter was the biggest gamble of them all. I know people were excited over his signing, but I was not because he was slated to be starter…and I know his body cannot handle it.
That lack of depth you mention, Joe? That’s what I’ve been concerned about. When you have injury prone starters, depth is hugely important. And we had none.
Tony McDaniel is a good depth signing, even though he is also injury prone (only 3 of 9 complete seasons; but 2 of the completed were the last 2). I wouldn’t want him starting, but I know that is exactly what will happen at some point this year (due to injury).
But Bruce Carter has been my biggest concern. I’ve wanted to draft a MLB the last 2 years and did not get my wish. If Kwon Alexander turns out to be starting a caliber MLB WITHIN LOVIES DEFENSE, then that is huge!
Because outside of DE, I feel MLB is still our greatest weakness because of the injury probability.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:12 am
@Dick2111
I’m with you 100 percent.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:18 am
Keep Kwon as a backup to start the season. If Carter struggles or Kwon keeps improving, he can take over later. He still needs to make sure he has the nuances of the defense down, and our starting LB corps certainly isn’t lacking talent. I see him being the starting MLB next season though with Carter moving to the outside.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:34 am
kwon is a stud… if you watched any of LSU games last year he was all over the field especially blitzing he reminded me of lvd and or derrrick brooks… seems small to play in the middle.. but w the bucs dline maybe its ok…if you get a chance watch his play on sec network
August 11th, 2015 at 9:41 am
although the move gives us depth and a future at MLB, commiting Kwon to the middle makes us pretty darn thin outside. who exactly is backing up David and lansanah then?
August 11th, 2015 at 9:45 am
I kind of doubt this. Carter was most likely gifted the job and wont lose it unless he’s injured, then probably still wont.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Alexander the Great.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:04 am
We have Greene too. We have great LB depth
August 11th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Considering most of our backups on defense will get chances to start this year…I hope Kwon does really well at MLB. I don’t expect Carter to make it past game 8.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:15 am
It’s early but a 4th round steal could be an understatement. LSU does consistently turn out very good talent as the entire SEC is known for (Go Gators!). Kwon will be a starter sooner than most think.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:23 am
With my last breath I spit on thee.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:29 am
Eric,
You gotta print the whole quote, lol – it works in football:
“To the last, I will grapple with thee… from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!”
August 11th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Kwon is young, very young. The big gripe in draft profiles is that he gets fooled too easily by misdirection, which is deadly at the pro level. Lets see how he does with his extended playing time in preseason before we anoint him a starter.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:37 am
@Louis Friend:
Thanks for being a voice of reason…….does everyone want a rookie starting at such a key position?
August 11th, 2015 at 10:55 am
Well let’s see Couch………Carter has experience Kwon don’t plain and simple. Carter has not proven he can’t start Kwon has not proven he can. He has to take it if he wants it badly enough. It’s obvious the do want Kwon to take it. Young stud with coverage skills and speed? Beautiful combination! It’s funny how you and your buddy dullBuc run off at the keyboard with one thing and you just run the same ol schtick all the time. Of course Lovie gifted MCowned because he had experience and history with him. You tell me what coach in the NFL doesn’t gift a free agent he really wanted on his team. There’s not one. They all do it. So what get over yourself and your incessant need for each and every position has to have so called competition.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:58 am
The early indications are that 2015 was a hell of a drafting success by L&L.
Winston, D. Smith and Marpet are all obvious starters. If Kwon becomes a starter which sounds inevitable, Bell wins the slot receiver job and Clay wins the return job – then that means 6 starters will have come out of this draft. That doesn’t happen very often.
August 11th, 2015 at 11:18 am
What better role model to have on the team than BEAST LVD. He can definitely show him the way to be a young successful LB in the league.
August 11th, 2015 at 11:38 am
Pickgrin, I’ve made the same comment in the past. Don’t forget starting FB in round 7!
August 11th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Kwon Alexander has the same size, and he have the same speed of Sheldon Quarles. But he is a better athlete than Sheldon Quarles. I believe he will be the starting Middle Linebacker before the season is over.Bruce Carter is a better fit at the Sam position, we have some good linebackers.
August 11th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Nice!! (note: 2 exclamation pts)
August 11th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Of course Lovie gifted MCowned because he had experience and history with him.
———————
A competent coach will not hand out a starting job to a 12 year career back up without even so much as a competition. Its ridiculously stupid. But your blind to that fact cuz your head is so far stuck up Lovie’s…. well you know.
August 11th, 2015 at 3:54 pm
I love how this article title has brought the inner Trekkie out in so many here. +1 Joe(s).
I approve