Strong Praise From Todd Bowles
May 29th, 2020
Antoine Winfield hype building?
Joe heard Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles let loose with a four-letter word Thursday that you don’t often hear from NFL people.
The word is “rare.” And no, it had nothing to do with Bowles’ preference of how steaks are prepared.
When you hear football folks describe college players or rookies, a word rarely heard is “rare.” In fact, Joe can only recall hearing “rare” used for them a handful of times.
Who were the players? Reggie White, Mean Joe Greene, Lee Roy Selmon, SnoopDogg McPlaybook, and Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian talking about Isiah Simmons throughout this year’s draft process.
(And as a dishonorable mention, Joe will add Rondé Barber breaking down Vernon Hargreaves after his second season.)
The word “rare,” when used in football vernacular, means seeing something maybe once a decade or generation.
So yesterday when Joe was listening to Bowles in a Zoom video conference chat with the local pen and mic club, Joe heard Bowles drop that “rare” word when asked about rookie safety Antoine Winfield.
“He’s smart and he’s a tough football player,” Bowles said. “The ball finds him. That’s rare for a ball to find safeties in college these days.”
In other words, Winfield was a supreme ballhawk while playing at Minnesota.
Joe never saw a full Gophers game last year so Joe didn’t get a huge read on Winfield. But highlights show Winfield always seems to be where the ball is (a trait Joe always noticed when watching Lavonte David with Nebraska).
Joe remembers watching YouTube clips of Winfield and thinking, “Whoa, this guy is a baller!”
Look, yesterday when Joe heard Bowles drop the word “rare” reference on Winfield, let’s just say in that instant, Joe became fully ready for Bucs football.
Man, Joe is stoked AF to see this Winfield on the field.
May 29th, 2020 at 8:24 am
I was so happy when the Bucs picked Winfield instead of a RB in round 2. He’s a young rookie, so I’m sure there will still be some learning in the NFL school of hard knocks for him, but he looked like one of those guys who has what it takes to be successful at the NFL level. I just hope he stays healthy, it seems to be a Bucs rookie curse lately (Vea’s rookie season, then White’s last year). It almost feels like the Bucs just might have a stud DT, a potential stud LB, and hopefully now a stud S…sounds like a familiar Bucs D recipe from a couple decades ago?
May 29th, 2020 at 8:25 am
if he is anything like his dad…. lookout…. TNT on defense
May 29th, 2020 at 8:26 am
if he is anything like his dad … lookout … TNT on defense !!
May 29th, 2020 at 8:39 am
Any way to get big storm beer shipped to Ontario, Canada?
May 29th, 2020 at 8:47 am
He has a center fielder’s approach. And lightning quick reactions. Should fit in quickly and effectively. Great pick, imo.
May 29th, 2020 at 8:58 am
Health is a major concern with Winfield as he could only play 2/4 years for Minny! Browns took Delpit one pick ahead and they will be linked because of that. Delpit when healthy (junior year) was best safety in the country. Winfield had the better senior year when their health was reversed. Due to time crunch with Brady’s age, I would have preferred signing veteran safety in FA and drafting a stud rb in second round (probably trading up 10 spots). But in 3 to 4 years, Winfield will be a potential all-pro so I am not going to complain too much about the pick!
May 29th, 2020 at 9:26 am
Great Bloodline usually turn out well….
May 29th, 2020 at 9:33 am
The only strike against Winfield is those disappointed that we didn’t draft a RB instead…….as far as the pick itself, it appears to be solid.
We needed a Safety and picked one……that’s the bottom line.
May 29th, 2020 at 10:06 am
Pedigree, and this kid is going to be good. We need a guy with a nose for the ball 🏈, especially to feast off the our pass rush creating hell on opposing QBs.
May 29th, 2020 at 10:29 am
It’s funny because I was talking up AW Jr. for months before, and leading up to the draft (I’ve stated repeatedly he was my personal favorite Player in this entire draft of non-first rounders), and almost NO ONE was bringing this guy’s name up (good or bad), then we draft him and everyone is saying his happy they are we got him and how he’s a baller.
Why did hardly anyone talk about him before we drafted him and now realize he was a great pick? Antoine Winfield Jr. is and has been a stud…
And @ the Joe(s)…to say you didn’t know much about him because you didn’t watch any Golden Gophers games, is not much of an excuse fir not knowing how good this guy is. In the age of YouTube and almost any CFB you want to watch on there, you just didn’t do your research. Because I’m sure you “researched” numerous others. If you’re into the draft and you don’t at least watch take on the perceived top 50-100 players in some fashion, that’s on you.
Really glad we got the guy as I wanted him the most, but why did hardly anyone talk about him, unless brought up as a topic by someone else?
Did the majority of Bucs fans get so tunnel-visioned over RB’s that you completely neglected everything else?
Welcome aboard Antoine Winfield Jr. fans, but don’t act like you been there the entire time, all of a sudden :p At least Joe admitted he wasn’t
May 29th, 2020 at 10:29 am
So he didn’t actually call Winfield rare did he?
May 29th, 2020 at 10:36 am
Winfield solves the question “do we need to pick a safety this year” for years to come
May 29th, 2020 at 10:44 am
You want Joe to lie and say he watched every Gophers game?
There are a lot of guys out there who will have you believe they watch each and every college game known to man. Joe’s not a con artist like that.
Joe would think you or any reader would find it refreshing for the candor to admit you cannot give an honest critique on a player because Joe didn’t see enough of his games.
May 29th, 2020 at 10:48 am
I been reading comments for months & y’all no a little something SUPER BOWL & @joe u a B!tch always hating on something Buccaneers got going on😂‼️
May 29th, 2020 at 10:48 am
Anyone know if Justin Evans is coming back? Depth!
May 29th, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Hopefully his dad gave his some pointers at getting up to NFL speed. The Big Ten is not an ungodly fats conference, the NFL is.
When he gets up to speed and the plays slow down for him, he will be a good one.
Something we really needed.
May 29th, 2020 at 1:58 pm
Anyone that wants to see Winfield in action, watch the Minesota – Penn State game from last year.
May 29th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Winfield is going to be a stud and was worth passing on the RBs. The middle or our defense is the best it’s been in close to 20 years. All 3 levels have playmakers.
May 29th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Funky
Agree! Our offense is getting all the run right now and understandably so. They might be putting together something special.
But as your post suggests our defense might be on the verge of something special as well!
May 30th, 2020 at 1:57 pm
@ Joe, you do a great Job of giving us your honest opinion about the buccaneers
You don’t sugar coat anything when you think the team needs improvement in any areas and your insight is better than most fans. These trolls and some regular hater’s here on Joe Buc’s fan don’t understand the objective Of this site.
Iv been coming here for years and I will be here for years to come.
Keep up the good work.
May 30th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
Big thing with him is health. The guy had one healthy year in 3 so hold your breath since we already have one star young safety still in mothballs with Evans. He’s a great player but let’s pray he stays on the field. If so he’ll be great. He’s definitely has the pedigree.
May 31st, 2020 at 8:04 pm
I think that the Bucs did another thing that is rare. Picking two players from the same team. Now that is rare. I think both of those fellas are lucky to be on the same team to start their careers and I think both will be productive as time goes on. It really is a very unique move on the Bucs part and to me the best move in the draft. Go Bucs. BTW you shouldn’t call Joe horrible names like that because he provides us with such great joy with this site. perhaps a little respect towards Joe is warranted, just sayin’. GO BUCS!!!