Don’t Pigeonhole Mike Edwards
July 28th, 2019
Honey Badger-like.
Is Bucs rookie safety Mike Edwards a strong safety or a free safety? Yes.
Yesterday after practice Bucco Bruce Arians was raving about his rookie safety and noted he is so versatile, he’s working as both a free safety and a strong safety.
“We are teaching him both,” Arians said. “He is really such a versatile player. That first day, I don’t know if you saw the interception he had the first day of rookie school. He’s got great ball skills.
“We want to see him play the middle. We know he can play down [and] play nickel, so can he middle? We can do a lot of things defensively.”
Arians likes Edwards enough that he said Edwards has similarities to a Pro Bowl safety he had in Arizona. That would be “Honey Badger,” Tyrann Mathieu.
“He really does [remind me of him],” Arians said. Edwards “has those instincts. I think he is a couple tackles away from being the all-time leading tackler in Kentucky history – that’s [includes] pretty good players.
“We know he can tackle, but his ball skills really amaze me.”
Again, it is way early. The Bucs haven’t yet put pads on (that happens today). But so far in the first two practices, it appears the Bucs’ rebuilt secondary is not just fast, but deep.
And one big reason why is rookie defensive backs like Edwards.
July 28th, 2019 at 10:36 am
I have a good feeling about this kid.
July 28th, 2019 at 10:40 am
So far, seems like the Bucs nailed it on the draft.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:28 am
Mike was a football, baseball, basketball and track star back in Cincy. He’s a super athlete. The Honeybadger comparisons are warranted.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:29 am
Only thing is his combine numbers are all a little better than Tyrin’s. Just saying.
July 28th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
The only question at safety IMO is who’ll start opposite Mike Edwards. Most seem to think that Justin Evans has the spot, but I don’t. Jordan Whitehead has a excellent chance to unseat him, as does Kentrell Brice (he actually had a fairly decent year last year with Green Bay). I still think there’ll be a 5th Safety … MJ Stewart or Isaiah Johnson (Bucs re-signed him in April so BA & TB must’ve seem something in him to warrant that).
July 28th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
DR, that will be Jordan Whitehead. Bank on it. These dudes appreciate high level of physicality. Jordan more than checks that box.
July 28th, 2019 at 1:12 pm
This guy has his head screwed on right and is 100% a football player.
He was stout as hell in college.
Let’s see if he can take it to the leauge.
I’m betting he can