NFL.com Predicts Award For White
July 11th, 2019
Postseason award in future?
A man who makes a living breaking down college prospects believes a Bucs rookie has enough “it” to become the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has a list of top candidates to bring home the hardware after the season. And Zierlein’s top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year is Bucs linebacker Devin White.
1) Devin White, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White might have been the fourth defensive player to come off the board (drafted fifth overall, after Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams and Clelin Ferrell), but he’s my favorite to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, thanks to his speed, work ethic and football IQ. With Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh up the middle for the Bucs, expect opposing running games to spill outside, which will play right into White’s blazing chase-and-tackle speed (he ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine). Like Colts linebacker — and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year — Darius Leonard, who led the NFL last season with 163 tackles, White has the talent and traits to fill up a number of stat columns on a regular basis, which will only strengthen his case.
Well, the way Bucco Bruce Arians talks about White, the guy can do everything but kick — and the way the Bucs have tripped over themselves time after time after time over the past five years still trying to find a competent kicker, you may as well give White a shot at kicking. He couldn’t be much worse than the stiffs the Bucs have signed (for considerable Team Glazer loot).
Linebackers rarely transform a defense as a rookie. And that’s what spooks Joe so much about White. He could still be a damn fine player but the way the Bucs have talked him up, unless he’s the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, Jack Lambert and Ronnie Lott rolled into one, it is as if the guy will be a letdown.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:08 am
That’s the Joe we know and love, take a positive article and find a way to make it negative. You are unstoppable sir keep bringing the doom and gloom as that’s what you do best, heck that’s all you do.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:10 am
The whining continues
July 11th, 2019 at 7:12 am
“Linebackers rarely transform a defense as a rookie. And that’s what spooks Joe so much about White. He could still be a damn fine player but the way the Bucs have talked him up, unless he’s the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, Jack Lambert and Ronnie Lott rolled into one, it is as if the guy will be a letdown.”
Change of heart, or a different Joe writing here? I never liked referring to Devin White as a “savior” until he gets some time. Either way, agreed…
July 11th, 2019 at 7:13 am
Agree with Ndog
This kid will never live up to joes expectations cause he is not an outside linebacker
Joe is just waiting for him not to be a probowler so he can say “I told you so”
I’m excited about devin white and I’m hoping to add his jersey to my collection in a few short weeks.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:16 am
…Not nearly as much “talking-up” as Rojo has gotten this off-season and White will actually be on the field.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:40 am
My hope for Mr. White is that in his fifth season of play here in Tampa we are not still hearing “work ethic and football IQ” like we hear about the most NFL ready QB in a generation… and we are still “waiting for it”
Excited to see this LB play this season. I fully expect that we will see his #’s compared to those players the Joe’s wanted us to draft, up until those #’s are no longer relevant. As a Dawg fan seen him play plenty against us and am excited to see him in the NFL glad he is on our team.
Go Bucs!
July 11th, 2019 at 7:40 am
I concede my prediction of the Bucs opening 6-0 to White being named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
I think we should go ahead and Franchise Tag him next year.
Wait…
July 11th, 2019 at 7:52 am
Clueless Joe strikes again
Please read up and research a 3-4 defense. It’s a scheme fueled by LB’s not defensive ends. For years this d has been shredded by Saints, Panthers and Falcons RB’s. Bucs had no answer now they do
July 11th, 2019 at 7:52 am
Sorry, Joe! I have to respectfully disagree.
The last two seasons there were two examples telling a different story: van der Esch for a franchise in Texas – can’t remeber the name of the team – and the reigning DROY Darius Leonard in Indianapolis.
Give our own guy at least the benefit of doubt and root for him.
July 11th, 2019 at 8:02 am
He plays for cowboys
July 11th, 2019 at 8:02 am
@Joe … “Linebackers rarely transform a defense as a rookie. And that’s what spooks Joe so much about White”. And there it is … THE rationale for why Joe is scared of cuddling up to Devin White. Unless he can single-handedly transform the woeful Bucs defense into a Top-10 defense, he’s obviously not worth the #5 pick. Any of the DEs available when we drafted would’ve been a much more logical pick … if you live in Joe-World that is.
NO ROOKIE can transform the Bucs defense all by himself. Not a LB, not a CB or Safety, not a DT or DE. Bucs got MUCH STRONGER last year when we added JPP, and he had a sterling year. Doubt any rookie could’ve done better. Did adding JPP keep us from surrendering 464 points on the season? Did it keep us from going 5-11 for the second year in a row? Did it save Dirk Koetter’s job? Or Mike Smith’s job?
Devin White will become an integral part of the transformation though. A key part in Todd Bowles’ new-look Bucs’ defense. Personally I could care less if he wins ROTY honors. What I do care about though is how well he does his job and helps this TEAM win. Really looking forward to watching him grow & mature as an NFL player.
July 11th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Don’t we have to sign him first before he can win an award?
July 11th, 2019 at 8:11 am
I wonder if their is hold up with contract due to his love for horses.
Now being on a horse is much different then being on a motorcycle.
But owners /GMs want players to be as safe as possible when not on the football field
They don’t even want them to participate in charity basketball events (ex : Conner Barth a few years ago )
July 11th, 2019 at 8:23 am
Somebody get Joe a supervisor.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:07 am
“Linebackers rarely transform defenses as a rookie.”
The winner of last years recipient of the reward in question, as mentioned by you in this post… was Darius Leanord a linebacker. And the 2 runner ups were Leighton Vander Esch, and Roquan Smith, 2 more linebackers that made a huge impact on their teams as well.
Stop ignoring the facts Joe. Let your biases go about a pass rush being the only way to win in the nfl. All of the numbers show that teams with elite coverage units are more success in so far as more of then reach the post season.
The Broncos had one of the best pass rushes in the league last year and didn’t make the playoffs or even win 2nd place in their own division. Pass rush is still important no doubt but it’s not the single thing that makes or breaks a defense any more. If you cant cover your defense is going to stink period. And the numbers back that up if you do the research.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:34 am
The only person saying that he’ll be a disappointment if he isnt All Pro as a rookie is you, Joe.
You were against drafting him and you will hold that against him until he undoubtedly proves you wrong.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:48 am
If he’s not three of the greatest defensive players rolled into one he’s a let down? Seriously Joe?! If any one of three names you mentioned were in this draft as rookies and we already knew what their careers would look like they would all be the top pick. So to say White would be a let down if he wasn’t all three rolled into one is one of the most ridiculous statements I’ve ever read on here.
July 11th, 2019 at 10:05 am
I feel White will be fine, the BS coming from the Bucs I don’t believe is the Ronald Jones nonsense. He’s obviously too stupid to pick up the playbook and he appears to be a huge, ahem, cat.
July 11th, 2019 at 10:12 am
Will go down as the best LB to have ever put on a jersey in Tampa. No disrespect to double nickel, but it will happen!
July 11th, 2019 at 10:19 am
even though his head is shaped a little bit like ET…i think he will do just fine joe
#ETphoneHome
July 11th, 2019 at 10:21 am
I do not expect ANY single Buc to turn this team around with the possible exception of JW. He’s the franchise QB and right or wrong…fair or not…he’s the guy who will be judged on our record this year.
As far as individuals…We could start a list of “transformative” players like ME, Godwin, OJ and others on offense.
How about Suh, Vea , LVD…and one or two of the new guys combining to transform this defense.
As far as the personality of the defense it has changed dramatically with two additions. White is far better than Kwon.
Suh is better than GMC…and both of these guys have dramatically different attitudes than previously displayed around here.
It’s not just GMC…love LVD but he’s not a real leader…just a great player. Kwon was good not great but he too was not one to lead this D.
July 11th, 2019 at 11:36 am
Technically, he didn’t sign yet. Can we get an update on the delay of such a thing? The money is already structured based on his draft position, what logistics are needed to finalize this thing?
July 11th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
he’s got a good chance to win it….i wouldnt doubt him….
time to move on joe….your starting to sound like @realist whining because you didnt get what you wanted…..neither did i but im glad white is a buc and i believe he’ll make a huge impact…..
give the kid a chance….
GO BUCS!!!!!
July 11th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
TORA TORA TORA – that should be the theme for the 2019 Bucs D
July 11th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Anyone that thinks he has to be LT to be worthy of the 4th pick in the draft is an idiot.
At the same time I expect him to step right in for Kwon and really not miss much of a beat. He’ll have some busted plays I’m sure – and with those young DB’s behind him he’s going to have the same issue the Bucs front 7 have had for years – but I fully expect him to wow people overall. That’s literally what every scouting report I saw on the draft said, and it’s why those same reports said he’s the safest guy in the draft.
So while he’s not going to be LT, they don’t even play the same position, if he develops into the next Hardy Nickerson in the next few years then the Bucs hit a home run.
July 11th, 2019 at 5:56 pm
From White’s universally recognized potential the Joes slouch into a kicking slight and then LB shaming. Joe, joe, joe… hopeless.
July 11th, 2019 at 8:48 pm
I’m on here screaming about positive thought all the time.
But I do understand Joe however. He’s got battered Buc syndrome. Kinda like battered wife syndrome for Buc’s fans.
We’ve been through an awful lot with this team!!!!
That will just make 2019’s winning record even more satisfying.
July 11th, 2019 at 11:41 pm
I think White might just be the exception.
But you guys are misreading Joe. All he is saying is that traditionally, Rookie LBs do not transform a defense. He did not say White would not do so.
Heck, Joe is 100% right…as far as he goes.
Personally, I’m cautiously optimistic in regard to White. I hated seeing Kwon go, but I do believe White could be a better player for us.
July 12th, 2019 at 1:44 pm
He’ll only be a letdown for you Joe, and frankly it appears as if you’re hoping for it with the way you keep talking about him…and the savior moniker. You tout and tout….now you’re adding the future kicker moniker….being facetious I know, but its frustrating to keep seeing this and thats why I dont visit or participate much anymore.