Kwon In Command
September 20th, 2018
Leader.
The Bucs defense isn’t reminding anyone of the 1977 Steelers or the 1985 Bears or for that matter the 2002 Bucs.
No, this defense through two games isn’t much better than last year’s horrible defense. But unlike last year, the Bucs are missing several cogs to the defense due to injury. But one constant is middle linebacker Kwon Alexander.
As one national writer typed about Kwon, “he has no brakes.” Dude plays with his hair on fire and takes responsibility on being a good teammate.
Last week against the Eagles, the defense made just enough stops to secure a win. It wasn’t pretty but when the Bucs needed a stop, they got one.
Safety Jordan Whitehead pointed to one guy as the difference-maker: Alexander. The keys to winning weren’t just Kwon’s actions and words on the field, Whitehead told Joe, it began in practice a week ago.
“Kwon is one of the best leaders,” the rookie told Joe after the Bucs beat the Eagles. “He came in every day [last week] with the same energy. He got the defense going.”
When Joe asked Whitehead if Kwon talked up guys on the field during the game, Whitehead was shocked Joe would ask that.
“He always does every play! Whitehead said. “Every time we go out there. He doesn’t stop. He goes all game.”
Defensive coordinator Mike Smith can see Kwon working from his perch upstairs during games as well.
“Kwon has done a pretty good job in his leadership role,” Smith said. “He has a good understanding and a better understanding of how people are attacking us and take information during the week and transfer that to other guys.”
When Joe asked Kwon for a reaction to this, he almost seemed embarrassed. He was proud that a rookie like Whitehead is looking up to him.
“I have been there before,” Kwon said of being a rookie. “Sometimes, you need a guy like me to just bring one or two words to say to him just to give him confidence. I told him he is a great player and to just believe in himself and as long as he can make a play he will make a play. And that’s what he did. He is going to be a great safety for us.
“I just try to do my best. I want to lead [the Bucs] to the top. Keep working, keep grinding, keep your head down and keep working and stay humble and get ready for [the Steelers].”
September 20th, 2018 at 11:03 am
The Defense is looking up!
That what being up by 2 scores will do for a D, lighten the pressure, loosen up and the DE can pin their ears back.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:09 am
when are we getting an injury update, I wonder. I thought they had to report who practiced on Wednesday, but maybe that not true when you play on Monday Night.
[Since it is a Monday night game, first injury report will be this afternoon. — Joe]
September 20th, 2018 at 11:10 am
I have always enjoyed the energy and passion Kwon brings to the team. I’m glad he is a buc. Hopefully for a long time.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:13 am
I’m sorry.. unless breaksdown some film that shows me more than 2 or 3 solid plays from LVD54 and KW58 in the last 2 games my opinion of them being over rated will not changed.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:32 am
I agree with R.O.. The LBs are making plays that any LBs make in the NFL. We have seen nothing really special from them. Beckwith played well for a stretch last year when people were hurt.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:49 am
Agree with RO as well to a certain extent. That being the last 2 games have seen more passing action and we havn’t had the opt to see the sniff out a run and go for the kill.
Do like LV pregame rah rah though. Thier very good I think, but I also think the game has been spread out the last 2 games where DB’s and safeties get more action.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:50 am
I believe the Bucs 2002 defense was better then both the Bears and Steelers defense for their time period. Just my opinion but the Bucs 2002 defense was damn special.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:50 am
I’d like to see less missed tackles but I like the kid’s fire.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:51 am
Kwon’s a liability in pass coverage. Wish he would improve but it’s been 3 years.
September 20th, 2018 at 11:59 am
thanks Joe
September 20th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
I believe the Bucs 2002 defense was better then both the Bears and Steelers defense for their time period. Just my opinion but the Bucs 2002 defense was damn special.
———————
An incomplete pass gives a QB a rating of 39.6. QBs over the course of the 2002 regular season had a 48.4 rating. Factor in the 43 sacks they had as well and you can come to the realization that the 2002 Buc defense was the greatest EVER against the pass. In three playoff games, the Buc defense gave up 2 TDs through the air vs 9 INTs and 11 sacks. That is freaking ridiculous… and it was against an all-star QB lineup of Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Rich Gannon. NOBODY can make that claim. Consider the 48 rating was a full 30 points less than the league average, the Ravens of 2000, the Seahawks of 2013, Bears of 85… they weren’t even close to those numbers.
September 20th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
^^^
2002 Bucs Def was historically among the best ever – but the 1999 Bucs Defense with Nickerson in the middle was better.
September 20th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
“unlike last year, the Bucs are missing several cogs to the defense due to injury”
Wait – what?
By this time last year we had lost Kwon, LD54, Grimes and Spence
September 20th, 2018 at 12:57 pm
“Keep working, keep grinding, keep your head down and keep working and stay humble and get ready for [the Steelers].”
.
That-a-boy Kwon
Keep that attitude and work ethic a-rollin’. You will help lead this team to great achievements. I am sure of it.
Soon enough Kwonie will be a rollin in the dough as well. This Alpha is about to get PAID – and deservedly so.
September 20th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
If we keep scoring points then having a bottom ranked defense doesn’t hurt so much. Had Jameis scored more points per game last season, then we might have at least ended with a 5oo record. Kwon looks like he’s on a mission this year!
September 20th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
I was going to say 99 too. Either way you’re splitting hairs.
September 20th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Agreed pickgrin and Brandon!
43 sacks… Man I can’t even fathom that many in a season, it’s been so long…
September 20th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
@Trench War,
And if we had ended up .500 last season, we would have still missed the playoffs, and would not have had the ammo to net 4 premium draft picks in the first 2 rounds.
So who cares at this point? The facts are that when Jameis did come back from injury last season, he was playing much much better. And this preseason he looked even sharper, with one of the highest QBRs in the league.
In fact all our QBs and our offense as whole looked really sharp this preseason… and whadaya know? It carried over into the regular season. Whenever Jameis is back, whether that’s week 6, week 8, etc., I expect him to be playing the best ball he has in his entire pro career.
September 20th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Im gonna have a little talk with some of the guys. Kwon for sure. See if I cant get them to do the old Hardy Nickerson Flex and get some of the real die hards off the couch…
#12ManRising!
September 20th, 2018 at 5:25 pm
2002 year was impressive with the defensive scores…. Among others, but that stands out to me. Sapp getting tackled lateraling for a TD. Fun to watch
September 20th, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Kwon has a sack fumble and another forced fumble and LVD has a fumble recovered. LVD has 9 solo 6 ast tkls. Kwon 11 solo 5 ast tkls. Doesn’t sound like their being over rated to me being involved in three turnovers in the first two games. Show me some LBs that have so much better numbers within the first two games.