Kwon Alexander And Jameis
February 26th, 2016
The “Jameis” of the defense. Dirk Koetter talks Kwon.
A rookie who seems to be flying under the radar is Bucs linebacker Kwon Alexander.
The guy willed himself into the starting lineup in training camp and was a big reason the Bucs made a playoff run until collapsing in the final four games.
A big reason for the collapse was Alexander’s absence. He was busted for a PED during a training camp whiz quiz and claimed the culprit to be an energy drink.
(This, in Joe’s eyes, was a key element in why Lovie was fired. The Bucs knew in training camp Alexander tested positive, knew he would be suspended. Yet with all that time to prepare, Lovie couldn’t figure out a way to compensate for Alexander’s loss in December? That’s really bad, just like how ill-prepared the defense was on opening day for a rookie quarterback that Lovie researched and scouted for four months.)
Alexander was headed for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors before the suspension. With so many folks rightly gushing over America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, left tackle Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet, Alexander, maybe because of the suspension, is often overlooked.
So Joe asked Bucs coach Dirk Koetter at the NFL Scouting Combine this week about Alexander and what he means to the team.
JoeBucsFan.com: Obviously, one of your most important players last year was Kwon Alexander. What kind of ceiling does that guy have? How much more can he do?
Dirk Koetter: I think the sky’s the limit for Kwon. You know, just his speed, his toughness. He reminds me of the Jameis Winston version of offense. I mean, he loves to play and he wants to win. And we need those kind of guys. We need a lot of those kind of guys.
Joe agrees with Koetter. The Bucs need more players that would rather eat glass than lose a game. Guys that don’t care about stats more than wins. Guys with a passion to excel.
This is not the first time Joe heard a Bucs type comparing Alexander to Jameis. It’s the mentality he brings. It has been well-documented how the losing eats Jameis up. Just tears him apart.
The same with Alexander. And like Jameis, Alexander is a vocal leader, and we all love the way he blasts opponents.
Hopefully, while Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht interviews prospects this week, he discovers like-minded players.
Joe’s only advice is players stay away from energy drinks not previously approved by the NFL.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:48 am
I am glad he hasn’t gone unnoticed…Kwon has been mentioned everywhere on football sites..
This young man has become one of my favourite Bucs..love him!
February 26th, 2016 at 10:53 am
I still do not get the “energy drink” fiasco. First of all there are the rookie symposiums hosted by the NFL. Isn’t that where Talib got into his first fight?
Secondly the Bucs training staff had to meet with players to warn them of what’s on the list and how sometimes innocent looking drinks and supplements actually contain the banned substances.
I don’t suppose these things stay in the body that long. IE I don’t imagine he drank a red bull before reporting to the Bucs and then tested positive.
The entire episode is just bizarre to me.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Ditto, why all the secrecy as to the substance supposedly ingested?
February 26th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Joe, So if you want players on the team that don’t care about stats and want win, why are you constantly defending Gerald McCoy by using stats?
February 26th, 2016 at 11:09 am
Gut feel is that Danny Lansanah won’t be back next year, but that Bruce Carter will. It’ll be interesting to see whether Mike Smith chooses to use Alexander or Carter at MLB (or possibly bring in someone else to play MLB). It looks to me like both Kwon and Carter can play any LB position, so our DC should have plenty of flexibility there.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:12 am
StPete – I would guess it is HIGHLY likely that a pre-workout drink is to blame. Since This happened before the season started but only reported on and faced the consequences later on, it makes sense that he was fighting it until he realized the the pre-workout had a banned substance that he overlooked. I highly doubt he is referring to a Monster, Rockstar or Red Bull.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:26 am
Guy who would rather lose than eat glass = GMC
February 26th, 2016 at 11:49 am
I love Kwon and all, but none of you seriously believe he got popped because of energy drinks, do you? Use just a tiny bit of common sense on this one.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:51 am
@Bryan,
How exactly do you know about what McCoy thinks? Are you a close personal friend? Are you a body language expert? If so, where did you get your education? What exactly qualifies you to judge someone it’s safe to say wouldn’t recognize you if you were wearing a shirt that had your name on it?
February 26th, 2016 at 11:54 am
Follow Kwon on snapchat : kwon004
GMC:geraldini405
Antonio Brown : ab84official
Wish mike Evan or Jameis used it
February 26th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
I think Kwon Alexander is better than the credit you are giving him, Joe. How good do you think the Panthers defense would be if Luke Kuechly went down with an injury or a suspension for four games. That “next man up” quote coaches are fond of saying is only valid up to a point. There was a drop off in skill and ability at the MLB position when Kwon was suspended.
Couple that with the fact that the Bucs offense averaged 17.75 ppg over the last four games, compared to 22.5 ppg for the first twelve, you basically had a team that fell apart. For all the (deserved) praise Dirk Koetter is getting for turning the offense around no one should forget that “Dirk’s offense” was pretty crappy those last four games as well.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Before anyone gets it twisted I’m not saying Kwon Alexander is as good as Luke Kuechly. What I’m saying is the idea of “next man up” is fine for the average player but not the top players on your team, which Kwon is.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Maybe Kwon should have poured the drink out and eaten the bottle instead.
The energy drink “out” sounds like it was conjured up in the bowels of Washington D.C..
PEDS are PEDS… but the spin-meisters at OBP don’t want to soil Qwan’s reputation as being a cheater.
February 26th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
D-Rome
the loss of VJax in those m4 games proves your next man up point.
February 26th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
don’t know what the failed substance is.But guarana is a banned stimulant substance
in sports drinks.It is also dangerous Shyte,and one of the ingredients in the metabolife products that caused heart and stroke like symtoms.
February 26th, 2016 at 4:11 pm
This kid…. KWON…. will be exposed in the next two years….. double-digit I.Q. no “8s or 9s” … did ANYONE watch his tapes from college ???
February 26th, 2016 at 4:44 pm
What Kwon did and put on tape last year was VERY impressive for a rookie drafted in the 4th round. Kwon’s talents on the field were certainly not “overlooked” by Bucs fans or anyone within the organization.
Sam – your contention that Kwon is not smart would seem to be easily disproved by the fact that he was trusted to make all the Defensive calls and adjustments from the field starting from day 1 of the season.
February 26th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
One of the great things is that both #3 and Kwon are from ‘Bama and share that heritage with pride. How cool is it that our Offensive QB and our defensive QB are sympatico?
February 26th, 2016 at 10:33 pm
I dont really know what kind of effect KWON’s PED can have on a player, but he doesn’t seem like the type who’s gonna fall off the ledge cus he stop drinking the juice. At least I hope he doesn’t. Much love KWON. Go Bucs 2016!!!
February 26th, 2016 at 11:14 pm
Joe,
The more you try to justify Lovie’s firing the more ridiculous your post. Why Lovie was fired we may nerve know, but his firing has nothing to do with his coach ability. Let it go already because you cannot convince yourself of what you write.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Pickgrin…you may be right…it may not be intelligence at all. I do like his fire. But his college tapes show him constantly out of position….. coaching ???
February 27th, 2016 at 12:32 am
Sorry joe, but you are wrong. They had Bruce Carter ready to step in and in game one he did and did a good job. The problem is he got hurt.
February 27th, 2016 at 12:44 am
It’s amazing the tards that think the Bucs would be better off without one of the best DT’s in the league.
February 27th, 2016 at 10:11 am
I don’t get the idiots that bash on GMC, he is arguably the best DT in the league that consistently puts up 7-9 sacks a year with absolutely NO HELP around him. U expect the guy to be Warren sapp with a bunch of scrubs around him. The reason sapp was so good was he was surrounded by other good players. I can’t wait to see what G-MAC does with a real edge rusher and hopefully we draft a fellow DT that can rush the Passer for once. He is highly respected around the league by other players and coaches but not by BUC fans. Lol what a joke.