“Some Guys Are Meant To”
September 12th, 2015
Intense praise for the Bucs’ 21-year-old middle linebacker
Only one college man received the high blessing by the defensive gurus, wizards and personnel chiefs at One Buc Palace over the past two years.
And Lovie Smith showered him with a great compliment yesterday.
Speaking in a published-early, pregame video on Buccaneers.com, the head coach explained it’s a no-brainer that 21-year-old rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander was given a leadership role.
“Some guys are meant to give out, you know, give the rest of the defense the calls, and to be out in front of the huddle every play,” Lovie said. “In order for you to get in that position, you have to first off be a hitter, you know, and just have some leadership ability. Kwon Alexander definitely has that. He’s going to help us win a lot of games.”
It’s going to be fun to see if the Bucs nailed their pick of Alexander, their only defensive draft pick in two years.
What a coup it would be if Alexander can play like a solid, Tampa-2, middle linebacker this year, and be the hitter Lovie says he is. Fans saw the way he mauled Cleveland’s Josh McCown in preseason.
Joe will say this about Alexander, after talking to him a few times since May. Alexander’s confidence is unflappable, and he’s a got swagger to him. He’s very much like Jameis Winston, minus the big personality.
September 12th, 2015 at 9:15 am
……..watch out now
JOE…..your love for Kwon is pissing Jameis off
September 12th, 2015 at 9:24 am
It’s reason to celebrate!!! We hit on a mid round pick once every 7 years. It looks like this could be the year. It’s sorta like the Olympics but it’s not every 4 years it’s every 7
September 12th, 2015 at 9:24 am
Genghis Kwon will destroy all in his path.
September 12th, 2015 at 9:25 am
One hit on a less-than-steller quarterback does not make a guy an instant star…
September 12th, 2015 at 9:43 am
The amazing thing will not be Kwon calling the plays. The Middle Linebacker must call plays, as it is one of the Lovie’s Tampa2 10 commandments!!! It cannot be any other way!!!
The amazing thing will be if he can know the Defense in 1 rookie offseason!!! When that mountain of a task takes everyone else over 1 year!!!! Ee will see how far along he is in a little over 24hrs!!!
September 12th, 2015 at 9:46 am
@tom
It’s not that hit in McCown that’s got everybody hyped up. Kwon has been all over the field and in on many plays. And not in the ‘Barrett Ruud, I’ve got him five yards down field’ kind of way.
KA has been meeting guys at the line of scrimmage and laying the boom. If you have the chance, go back and watch a few of the defensive series to start the games these past few weeks. Guy has got instincts and it’s great that the team is able to pair him up with guys like Lavonte and Lansanah.
Joe, myself and others are hyped up because there hasn’t been much to be hyped up about. The Bucs season this year is all about hype. Jump on the train and hopefully we can start building on the journey off into the playoff sunset. Haha.
September 12th, 2015 at 9:51 am
6 posters in front of me, 5 of them negitative. Whats up with you guys? Kwon has been a bright spot all preseason. Give the guy some love, its just preseason but he has earned a little bit.
September 12th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Add one more positive. BucDan slipped in front of me.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:00 am
Amazing that Alexander was still available and the other teams overlooked him in this high scrutiny NFL.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:04 am
As McCoy said before many defenders last year where trying to do to much and leave their gap assignment which created holes/weak spots on the defense.
Rhonde and Brooks have talked about the same issue before.
Hopefully KA has watch last year’s film and stays discipline.
With addition of players with experience in Tampa 2 we should see a big change on our defense. This is really the norm for the Tampa 2. The first year has slow progress and things pick up on the 2nd year.
All is right on track.
In Lovie, Licht, Koetter and Wins-Ton I TRUST!!!
September 12th, 2015 at 10:05 am
I do not get too upset with negative commentators. We all have our own individual personalities and some of us are more optimistic than others. I would say that other than a few trolls that most people on this site are at least Bucs fans, so we have that in common at least. Now, I am of the belief at this point that we drafted the best QB and LB in the draft. I think Kwon will prove to be stellar and a huge steal from the 4th round. He may actually be better than LVD which is saying something. If our LB’s can avoid injury, I believe we will have one of the best LB corps in the NFL and for sure the best in the NFC South. Sure Kwon’s NFL sample size is small at this point but the guy has shown to have a nose for the ball, instincts, toughness and confidence as well as appearing to be pretty fundamentally sound in his techniques. I actually think he will be a contender for accolades come seasons end.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:08 am
@BucDan, yes, I agree, looking good in the preseason is better than not looking good at all. BUT, please remember the kid is a rookie and will make mistakes. He certainly looks better than what the team has had for a long time.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:23 am
@rayjay1122
Kwon better player period? Or better because LVD is caged and limited in Lovie’s defense???
September 12th, 2015 at 10:25 am
Yes, the hit on McCown wasn’t “just” a tackle. I’m sure everyone who watched it said the same thing. “WOW”! That kid must’ve been doing 90 when he hit him.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:29 am
Joe, myself and others are hyped up because there hasn’t been much to be hyped up about.
Exactly BucDan! Using the old glass half full or half empty analogy some obviously focus on the half empty others like me focus on the half full.
I think it might even be fair to debate whether the glass is half…3/4 full or 3/4 empty…but if you think the glass is totally empty you are even crazier than me for predicting 10-6.
Again remember human nature. There is a strong strain of belief that goes if I don’t get my hopes up then I won’t be disappointed. And I certainly understand and respect Tom E’s warnings to keep some perspective. But if you are already disappointed then what’s the point? Some believe they would rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed…as Forrest Gump said…AGAIN. 30-70 will do that to fans. But if you follow that logic all the way through that means optimists like me at worse face POSSIBLE disappoinment this year.
If you are already disappointed and we play well you will have wasted months of disappointment for no reason at all. It’s all good guys…franchise QB who at minimum will be exciting and entertaining…an MLB who “could” be at least Kuechely good.
BTW to answer how the NFL let Kwon slip…he’s far from the first to slip…Aaron Rodgers immediately comes to mind..Tom Brady in the 6th and the LB with the record for most consecutive games London Fletcher went totally undrafted.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:30 am
@Dreambig Says:
“6 posters in front of me, 5 of them negitative. Whats up with you guys? Kwon has been a bright spot all preseason…”
It’s just the way they are wired. They call it a “realistic” view of where we are. But “realistic” should include both what is good, and what is bad about the team. Unfortunately for them, nothing is good, not even getting 4 starters in this years draft (very rare), a potential franchise QB, Evans last year, nothing…
September 12th, 2015 at 10:35 am
I guess my reading comprehension isn’t that good.i thought I only saw one negative post above, and that was more skepticism than pessimism. What Buc wouldn’t be excited about a 4th round rookie earning a starting job and looking like a future stud.
September 12th, 2015 at 10:42 am
StPete – I don’t think fans like me are predicting a bad season because we don’t want be disappointed. We look at the roster and last years performance and try to logically assess how good or bad the team will be next year. While Jameis, Kwon, and the rookie o-lineman give us hope long term, they just have too many holes and growing pains right now to make us optimistic about ’15.
September 12th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Coincidence that Kwon becomes our starting MLB the same time his own theme song “hit the quan” hits the radio???
I’ll be listening to that on the way home from the stadium!
September 12th, 2015 at 11:46 am
It’s the constant negativity that I believe most refer too, I like many of you have been Bucs fans since the days of the YUCs reference and we as a whole have been sadly disappointed since Gruden was ran out of town. However, with said and experienced, I am forever positive because I choose to key my shot glass half full… GO BUCS! And CHEERS to those of you who are a lot like me, half full kinds guys. It sure as shit beats the energy and health risks associated with being Negative all the freaking time. Go BUCS! Oh and while most feel Ruud was the 5yard down feel tackler, they so forget he was a 130+ tackle a year MLB… It’s never about the one, it’s a team effort.
September 12th, 2015 at 11:52 am
Strange I can’t seem to find a single video interview with him as a Buc? You would think he would be in demand with his meteoric rise. Maybe he can’t string two sentences together? Whatever the case, once he produces on the field as expected we could have a monster defensive year.
September 12th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Nevermind found one guess Google let me down!
September 12th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
If Kwon turns out to be as good as initial indicators point to – then this defense will be improved significantly. A smart, tough enforcer over the middle with speed and ball skills to cover 20+ yards down the field is an important element in successfully running the the Tampa 2.
You need a Hardy Nickerson or Shelton Quarles type player back there in order to be great – and the Bucs think they have found him. Time will tell – but this kid has obviously made quite an impression to rise through the ranks so quickly and be given the starting job to start the season. Especially considering that Carter who has plenty of experience is no slouch at LB (5 ints last year).
If Kwon is able to play at a high level week in and week out as a rookie – The Bucs will have the best 4 man LB unit in the whole NFL.
September 12th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
One of my recipes for happiness: UNDER-promise and OVER-deliver.
As far as drafting four starters, please remember that the Bucs picked up five waiver players, implying that other teams castoffs were deemed better than our backups. We also jettisoned our starting left tackle, and right guard, as well as our starting QB. So having rookies replace those players in the starting lineup doesn’t necessarily equate to those players becoming solid long-term starters, let alone future Pro-bowlers. “But we were 2-14” which I have yet to hear Lovie say.
tickrdr
September 12th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
King Kwon is just what this defense needed. He brings the speed and swagger. Kwon and LVD in nickel situations will be sick. Can’t wait to start this season!
September 12th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
tickrdr…brilliant post!
September 12th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
KILLA KWON!!!!!!
September 12th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
Some may have the coin, but they’ll never have the Kwon.
– Rod Tidwell
September 12th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Kwon will be > or = to Kuechly, eventually, IMO. Maybe even this year…
September 12th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Kwon and David
With McCoy ….
Just get a DE who get double digit sacks and this Defense is on the verge of being a force !
September 12th, 2015 at 11:39 pm
Defensive ROY – Kwon
Offensive ROY – JW
How cool would that be?
It is a possibility