Bill Polian: Best Has Yet To Come From Devin White
September 9th, 2022
Next step: Elite.
A Hall of Fame NFL executive is a big fan of Bucs linebacker Devin White, but…
Former Bills, Colts and Stinking Panthers shot-caller Bill Polian raves about the fourth-year Bucs linebacker’s skillset, but dang, if he could only wrap up consistently. That is the gist of what Polian said when discussing White with co-host Bill Lekas and special guest Ira Kaufman on an edition of “Late Hits,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Polian at times gushed about White but in a nutshell, Polian suggested what is holding White back from being truly elite is he tries to hit too many home runs and instead whiffs on ballcarriers.
In discussing the Bucs, Ira mentioned to Polian that he didn’t think White has reached his potential. Polian took it from there.
“I would agree with that,” Polian said. “To me the biggest problem is, wrapping up and being a super-sure tackler. He’s blessed with the ability to blow people up. And that’s like the ability to hit home runs.
“When you swing for the fences, you strike out an awful lot. And that’s what happens with him from time to time. He will miss when he’s going for the knockout shot.
“He can really run. He can run any running back down. In the passing game, he is a dynamite blitzer. Tremendously talented guy. So I would like to see him be more of a finisher and a surer tackler. But other than that, he’s a weapon.”
Last year, ironically, was White’s first Pro Bowl season despite last year being his worst in the NFL. That’s how much respect White is building.
But yeah, Joe agrees with Polian. If White relied more on the fundamentals of tackling, White would be absolutely a superior linebacker, maybe better than Lavonte David.
If White can just channel his 2020 postseason self, he would be a complete and total gamewrecker.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:02 am
Absolutely
September 9th, 2022 at 11:05 am
This is his year to shine. DW is gonna kill it Sunday night against the Cowgirls.
Defense wins the first two games this season to start 2-0.
But the offense wins game 3 and 4 for the team.
That feeling when Bucs start 4-0 is really gonna be sweet. It’ll put a lot of these clowns in their place, real fast.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:13 am
Winfield needs to teaching tackling techniques, he tackles too high.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:15 am
Then make it so, Devin.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:27 am
Agreed, expecting a big jump from him this year. He’s aware, mentioning how he plans to play slower this year. I think he understands Polian’s critique, and has a solid game plan to limit the strikeouts.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:28 am
Whooooaaaa Joe. Let’s slow it down. Lavonte has been one of the best coverage LBs and ball puncher since his early career. I hear White has been practicing, but let’s not get hasty. But by all means, will not mind at all if we could get a young LVD in his prime.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:34 am
Better be!
September 9th, 2022 at 11:41 am
White’s biggest issues to me are coverage and disappearing for long stretches where he allows himself to be blocked and doesn’t try to run through or take them on. He did that late last season when he was hurt against maybe the Jets…. just looked below average. Minter should have played that game…. a week later he looked good again but either way, if he isn’t able to play his style, he can’t play any other.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:51 am
I think White plays through injuries that we don’t know about……but, he does need to slow down and become more consistent…..and, I now think he realizes that.
September 9th, 2022 at 11:55 am
Leave white alone. Pro bowler , top 100 , aggressive. Hes young. Game will slow down for him and he will adjust.
I will get on c. Davis instead of white.
September 9th, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Not sure this is valid any longer. If a game hasn’t slowed down for him after three years, two playoff appearances and a Super Bowl, when will it?
September 9th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Adrnagy, White was a #5 overall pick who seemed to regress last year. Davis was a second rounder who has noticeably improved each season. Although it may seem unfair, draft position is how these players are ultimately judged before being re-signed.
September 9th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
This is the time for him to show who he is. The defense needs to play better to allow the offense to get rolling. The secondary is health, LVD is healthy. No excuses that he is doing more than he should be. The greatness of 55 was that he was always in the right position, never freelanced, and made the tackle or play on the ball. LVD has done the same with likely less physical ability. 45 needs to play under more control and let the plays come to him. He will get his fair share of opportunities this season, and I think he will succeed.
September 9th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
” Dynamite Blitzer”
Joe, please post last years blitz attempts and sacks recorded.
I recall it’s less than 1%.
It’s shameful.
September 9th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
You are confusing blitzing and tackling. Or blitzing and finishing. That was Polian’s whole point. White can get there — from Point-A to Point-B — but finishing (tackling) can and is an issue
September 9th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Bobby wagner 3 yrs in 300 tackles 9 sacks
Devin white 3 yrs 350 tackles 15 sacks
Take blitz pct into it…
September 9th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
we say this every year…sigh
September 9th, 2022 at 12:57 pm
If only he plays as highly as he thinks of himself
September 9th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Coverage n wrapping up..those 2 things takes his name n skills to the nextvlevel…him n lvd are currently the least of my worries
September 9th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
The game doesn’t have to slow down for him, he needs to slow down for the game. Polian has it right. Hopefully Devin has it all together this season. Wow did the Rams look S.B. hung over last night?
September 9th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Micah Parsons is anointed as the best defender in football besides Aaron Donald right now. DW should find plenty of fuel from that for his game Sunday night. Show everyone they should be talking about you, DW. Let’s see Saints playoff game Devin.
LFG.
September 9th, 2022 at 1:41 pm
He is going to have to show ALOT more if he wants his $100M contract. I still shake my head at that.
September 9th, 2022 at 2:01 pm
White says he’s working on playing more in control and finishing! I hope his work shows up on the field! LFG!!!
September 9th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
Jameis on defense
September 9th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
This ^^^
September 9th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
White is supremely athletic for a linebacker. Sometimes that works against him. He needs to trust the defense more, and let the game come to him, instead of vice versa.
September 9th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Actually 1st three years
Devin White 359 tackles, 15 sacks, 27 TFL, 39 QB hits, 10 PD, 1 Int in 45 GP.
Bobby Wagner 364 tackles, 9 sacks, 23 TFL, 17 QB hits, 14 PD, 5 Ints in 41 GP.
September 9th, 2022 at 6:45 pm
White is the #1 guy i look at who needs to step up to get us back to a SuperBowl. To simplify it, we need more big play outta him.
Staying on defense Vita is the next guy Id like to step reach another level.
September 9th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
The issue with White last year was all the injuries in the secondary. During the season, the Bucs switched to playing a ton of zone, at least compared to what they normally do, and that meant White went from an attacking downhill run stuffer pass rusher, into just dropping into coverage, which is by far his weakest skill. I don’t think he’s as bad in coverage as some make it out to be, but he’s not good at it either. If they’re back to typical Bowles style of defense, and White is attacking, he’ll be right back at the top of everyone’s list as perhaps the best young ILB in the NFL. Of course, with that said, David is still better, and do both White’s job AND still is one of the best coverage LBs in the game. You just hope that David can rub off onto White how to cover guys, because if he can learn that, he can be an every year all-pro for the rest of his career.
September 10th, 2022 at 12:17 am
The guy is an amazing talent. I hope all this “coaching” isn’t that going to mess up an instinctive player. I agree with Goatfarmer. Let all that Micah chatter supercharge Devin Sunday Night!!
September 10th, 2022 at 9:43 am
LV says , nailed it ………… he seems to be finding the camera less and moving his jaw less and that will definitely help his game ………… he has the ego Gerald McCoy limelight disease ……..he wants his jaw ( mentally consumed) to gain him status ;mentally this trumps field play and the player is more consumed with how they are thought of or viewed over actual play ………. It’s Real and very hard to overcome and he has it and the sad part is everyone on a team suffers .