Winning Without Greatness From Devin White
October 15th, 2021
Joe is so encouraged by the Bucs’ 5-1 start, despite savior linebacker Devin White looking like a mere mortal and little like the force he was in the playoffs last season.
Joe never could have imagined a healthy White opening this season with zero picks and zero forced fumbles or sacks through six games. White’s tackle numbers are down, too.
It’s hard to believe.
White is hungry and working and it’s just not happening for him they way it once was. Joe puts a some of it on Todd Bowles, but White has to bear the brunt of it.
Regardless, it’s damn exciting to think of how the defense might hit a new level — and it’s been damn solid the past three games — if White can start making plays.
Joe knows White will keep grinding and focusing. He will not relent. If the numbers don’t come, then maybe Bucs fans will have to consider him very good and not great.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:01 am
The defense is in complete shambles & we’re still 5-1
October 15th, 2021 at 1:02 am
agree with all of Joe’s take on White–he is a great player who is playing good. Will get there.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:06 am
White is going when he’s running forward. White isn’t as good when he’s asked to play zone or run backwards.
Blame Bowles for not releasing him that often, and when he does, he’s really dumb about it, blitzing White from 5 yards deep when teams are just throwing nothing but short passes.
Once we get some NFL-caliber corners back on the field, or even just dam the WRs at the line, and blitz from the line, that’s when he’ll start racking up some stats.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:09 am
White’s always been good to very good, not great. His performance in the playoffs was largely due to right place right time stuff.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:26 am
no need to worry about the offense with tb12 running the show…
the d is a different story…even though it’s “sort of in shambles”, it’s also sort of coming together…at least that’s how i see it…the past 3 games they are definitely tightening the screws…
it’s really a work in progress that just needs to slowly get all their pieces back, one by one, and build from there to a strong finishing unit…lot’s of time to get the defense fully up to speed – and to hopefully hit their stride big time in december – and prep for a big playoff run
#EazyFoSheezy
October 15th, 2021 at 1:34 am
I’m all for bashing the defense, to some extent, but come on, this defense has only 1-NFL caliber corner, and Dean doesn’t even look right – they were playing without their top two corners, their best safety, and best LB. In the last three they’ve only given up 17, 17, and 22 points. Honestly, that’s amazing. Now, while the final points aren’t that bad, the way they got there has been very shaky. But again, you’re down a bunch of starters and they’re not giving up 500 yards and 35 points like you might expect. In that regard, give them credit.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:44 am
Swampbuc – 100%
He started racking up sacks cuz they were blitzing him a lot bc JPP and Shaq weren’t producing as much with Vea out.
And he picked off Brees because Brees threw a bad pass to Kamara.
Many don’t want to admit it, but it’s the truth. I like the kid, but he got a little too high on himself after last year it seems.
October 15th, 2021 at 2:19 am
This type of article doesn’t help with the perception you have something against Devin White. I mean seriously, where were these type of articles when Donovan Smith was stinking it up with his effort. Or when Jaboo-boo was giving the football away like it was Halloween candy?
“Yes but he threw for 6000 yards!”
What good is 12,000 yds in a season if you throw 60 interceptions?
“Yes, but he never misses a game.”
What good is availability if you can’t be depended on to give effort?
Could Devin be playing better? Yes, but name me one player other than Vita Vea on defense, where this isn’t the case. If you have serious concerns about Devin, why aren’t the Joes or Ira asking BA, Bowles or coach Caldwell what’s going on with Devin during their media availability? Or even better, have the stones to broach the question with Devin himself. It’s getting to a point I’m wondering what Donnie Smith & Jaboo-boo did to get your unconditional admiration and what Devin did other than not being Brian Burns?
I’d ask what you are smoking, but I have feeling you are drinking the bong water.
October 15th, 2021 at 2:34 am
Wish we could. NFL won’t let beat reporters have one-on-one interviews with players or access to the locker room because of The Sickness protocols.
Todd Bowles has been asked about Devin White already and he just waves off the question and gives some generic answer how they like his play.
October 15th, 2021 at 2:37 am
Lavonte David (when he was healthy) and Shaq Barrett to name two.
There is, or at least there should be, a different standard for White. He was a No. 5 overall pick. A very, very high and expensive investment. The standards and expectations for White are far different than, say, Jamel Dean or Jordan Whitehead.
With major investments comes major expectations.
We’ve seen what White can do when he plays at a high level. And it is extraordinary. We haven’t seen that play from him since the Super Bowl.
October 15th, 2021 at 2:41 am
He needs to step the f*** up or he’s headed towards Kwon Alexander territory…
a ton of money from some other team and zero results.
Let’s go Devin!!!
October 15th, 2021 at 2:46 am
Joe never thought and never bought in to the narrative so many people had that Donovan Smith was the worst left tackle in the NFL. That’s why you never read that. Joe explained this many, many times over the years on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast.”
Joe is sorry if it bothers you that Joe is not seeing the same level of play from White that the Bucs had last winter. Numbers back up what Joe is seeing as well. Joe doesn’t think he is typing anything out of line or remotely inaccurate. Are you OK with a No. 5 overall pick playing average? You shouldn’t be.
October 15th, 2021 at 3:43 am
I dont thinbk Devin White is much of a concern. Hes been solid and I have 0 doubt he’ll return to regular form. The real concern is…the secondary….we might not even have 11 guys to lineup on defense next week with 1/2 of a healthy corner on the roster.
October 15th, 2021 at 4:07 am
Joe (LDK),
I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Wish I was familiar with the block quote syntax for posting here, as I would respond, but will save my responses & further inquiries in hopes of continuing this over a Bromosa or Tropic Pressure at Big Storm sometime this season. #GoBucs #LFG
October 15th, 2021 at 6:23 am
White’s success, along with everyone else on defense, is directly related to the play behind him. If you’re Bowles, how much risk do you take with your best DB being Dean back there? The guy who is the 3rd best DB!
You don’t. You keep White patrolling the middle so that you don’t get gashed.
The numbers will come, IMO,once we start returning healthy DBs.
Credit teams for exploiting our weaknesses. They get paid too, you know.
October 15th, 2021 at 7:22 am
I’m not sure what game Joe was watching, but White was very, very good out there last night…perhaps his best all-around performance of the season. He was a factor sideline to sideline. Let’s me honest like Byron, there are times when Todd decides to call some VERY questionable plays. White, along with the OLBs can get caught up in things like the zone blitzes, etc. With that exception of two long bomb PIs and an inexcusably bone-headed call on 4th down (after a TO too), the D under White was solid.
October 15th, 2021 at 7:38 am
White is leading the team in tackles, so that’s a positive, but I saw that he was out of position on a lot of plays, particularly getting swallowed up at the line on the TD run by Hurts.
October 15th, 2021 at 7:53 am
Nothing is wrong with white. He might even be playing near the level of playoffs. But he’s just not going to have a monster stat sheet when the teams are just throwing it. They will either be incompletions or tackles for the cornerbacks most of the time
October 15th, 2021 at 8:04 am
Get Live for the Saints Game
October 15th, 2021 at 8:21 am
Some players just don’t use the final gear til big games and Devin is looking like that kinda player. It’s nice to know he has it.
October 15th, 2021 at 8:26 am
White was good last night, I’m sure Joe agrees. Like me Joe thinks White should be great, he’s not. That’s just a fact. I expect Ray Lewis from White, not Ray average. He obviously has the tools, I’m beginning to think it’s the computer above the shoulders. Watching inside the NFL for years, I loved listening to Lewis break down plays. The guy was a coach on the field when he played. It wasn’t just physical ability, he was the smartest player on the field. Brooks was the same. Maybe White should reach out to both, and let them break down his film.
October 15th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Not all the time do you need Devin to be the hero sometimes you just need him to stop freelancing so much and stay on his assignments. Seems like he is looking to make that hero play and gets off his assignments and it puts him in very bad situations.
October 15th, 2021 at 10:24 am
Teams have him marked Joe. His splash plays will come. He’s already proven it time and time again, but for some reason you like forgetting that if he doesn’t get sacks or forced fumbles for a couple of games. R-E-L-AX….
October 15th, 2021 at 11:41 am
I thought DW played well last night. Not great, but certainly not average. This feels like an overreaction and I agree it seems Joe has had a hard on for Devin since day 1.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:02 pm
Joe needs to watch the games. White is blitzing less/covering more and teams are running less. Of course his numbers are down, that doesn’t equate to poor play
October 15th, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Not suggesting he is playing “poor.” What Joe is doing is pointing out he’s not having near the impact that he has demonstrated in the past to be capable of. There’s a big difference between “poor play” and “impact.”
October 15th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Hurts was running for his life last night. Thats a good sign, even if he busted a few big runs and made some completions on the run, flushing these quarterbacks, forcing them to use their energy as an escape instead of looking downfield, is a very good way to disrupt the passing game, even without the sack.
Aikman mentioned some of his overthrows and inaccurate passes but failed to note that on 2 of them I watched, Vita Vea was pushing his offensive lineman directly into where Hurts could not step into his throw.
Any quarterback is going to be inaccurate trying to throw a 20 yard out from inside the hash marks to the sidelines with their own offensive lineman being shoved into their throwing arm, preventing any follow through.
October 16th, 2021 at 8:16 am
Defense is doing great considering its all practice squad secondary. Guys will come back. They’re 5 and 1. No undefeated curse . Right on track.