Some Love For Akeem Spence
November 29th, 2015
Let’s hear it for the birthday boy, Akeem Spence.
The Bucs’ starting defensive tackle turns 24 today, and Tampa Bay’s defensive fortunes turned positively when he replaced injured captain Clinton McDonald a month ago.
Joe’s not trying to make a case that Spence is better than McDonald, who turns 29 in a few weeks. But Spence has proven that he’s at least a capable starter. And considering Spence is coming off August back surgery, his return has been damn impressive.
Recently, Joe talked to Gerald McCoy about Spence, and there’s a lot of respect there. McCoy noted how Spence started and played 16 games as a rookie in 2013, and that Spence is “built for the position” at nose tackle.
Given that Spence got a late start to this season, his play should be on the rise. Joe will be watching for that today. The Colts’ offensive line is hardly impressive.
The Bucs are lucky to have Spence, and he’ll be around another season on the cheap, thanks to his rock-bottom rookie contract as a fourth-round pick of former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik in 2013. Remember, Greg Schiano said publicly, after the Jaguars signed former nose tackle Roy Miller in free agency, that he wanted to keep Miller.
November 29th, 2015 at 10:20 am
Prince Akeem is the sole heir to the throne of Zamunda….When I tell ya the boy has got his own money….THE BOY HAS GOT HIS OWN MONEY!!!!!
November 29th, 2015 at 10:43 am
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Thanks for the laugh!
November 29th, 2015 at 10:48 am
Akeem is from my hometown. I know his parents. Solid kid, solid family, solid player. Florida panhandle football is really starting to be a force at the next level. Happy birthday Akeem!
November 29th, 2015 at 10:52 am
305 now that was funny😄.
November 29th, 2015 at 11:47 am
I like Akeem a lot but McDonald is critical in the locker room as well as on the field. McDonald doesn’t commit brain dead penalities at the end of a game where we have a chance…before the penalty.
What I’m seeing though is the chance to take two DE’s with our first two picks!
If we draft two DE’s with our 1 and 2 it doubles our chance of finding a franchise DE and if they both work out we gain depth and solid rotations to keep everybody fresh.
In Walter Football’s mock Bosa goes 4th and Nkemdiche 13th, Deforest Buckner goes 15th. We won’t be picking that high unless Licht/Lovie really have a hard on for one of these three and package some draft picks and MG 8 as trade up bait.
If we stay in our spot we might be able to get Michigan State’s Shalique Calhoun. I remember stating my disappointment in Bosa’s play against MSU and TBBF remarked…maybe we should be looking at the Spartans anyway…they have a great defense!
Shaq Lawson is playing for the top ranked Clemson tigers…he’ll probably be available…Carl Nassib of Penn State..Jonathan Allen Alabama..
If we get two of these guys imagine our DL!!! It would immediately rival our OL for talent and depth.
Right now it’s hard to not be excited as a Buc fan.
And YES JOE it’s because we finally have a franchise QB which makes all the other moves relevant once again.
November 29th, 2015 at 11:54 am
Great insight Pete.