“Choke It Out And Run Away With It”
July 7th, 2023
New Bucs safety Ryan Neal
One thing Bucs fans can count on is that newcomer safety Ryan Neal, the expected safety alongside Antoine Winfield, is going to be 100 percent ready for the start of training camp and opening day.
Undrafted in 2018, Neal bounced from the Eagles to the Falcons and then Seattle. He played very little for two years and made a name for himself on the Seahawks practice squad.
Once he got a chance, he seized it and became a full-time safety last season.
Neal, 27, told SiriusXM NFL Radio this week that he counsels young players to savor their opportunties, no matter how small. And he says practice squad guys should realize what a gift it is to practice against the starters through the regular season. For those unaware, teams don’t practice best-on-best once August ends.
That practice squad attitude made Neal ready for the big time.
“The opportunity’s going to come, you just have to be ready for it. It’s not going to come when you want it. It’s going to come when you don’t think it’s going to come,” Neal said. “You have to be ready to rock and roll. That’s just been my whole thing, man. And when you get your chance, choke it out and run away with it because you never know if you’re going to get your chance again. So just take advantage of it and just have fun, man. It’s a rough process. You keep that mindset and it kind of keeps you going.”
Neal is a burst of energy, as are many players from the Seahawks, where the program is very much about energy.
Joe loves the addition of Neal. He’s a low-mileage 27 years old and awfully hungry on a one-year contract. And there’s data out there that says he’s a monster in coverage.
July 7th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Sure hope you’re right, Joe. We need him, if so.
July 7th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Energy! That’s what I posted is great about Canalas and now Neal. Perhaps some of that Pete Carroll infectious energy will come through these two and fire up the Bucs!
Although judging from Carlton Davis remarks yesterday the Bucs are ready to embrace it.
So what a difference…the Bucs go from the hunted, the team with high expectations to the darkest of horses, picked to finish LAST in the first two guesses I found on the googles. CBS has the Bucs picked last as does Colin Blowhard I stopped there. LAST! Really?
If Mayfield can simply replicate his 2020 season, just 3 years ago with the SORRY Cleveland Browns…26 TOUCHDOWNS…only 8 ints and an interception % of 1.6…with the rest of the talent the Bucs will not finish last, the question will be are they one and done in the Playoffs or can Mayfield duplicate that season 3 years ago when he carried the Browns to their first playoff road win in decades!
IF Trask beats him out then we can assume that Trask also has the ability to put up those kinds of numbers and even more. Either way it’s all good for the Bucs.
July 7th, 2023 at 6:58 pm
L F G
July 7th, 2023 at 7:05 pm
If the Bucs find a pass rush they are going to be a nasty defense for opposing offenses.
July 7th, 2023 at 7:45 pm
Can he catch the ball if thrown his way?
July 7th, 2023 at 9:16 pm
JOE why don’t starters practice vs starters during the season? Wouldn’t that push them to be better ?
July 8th, 2023 at 9:04 am
I’m pretty sure the team doesn’t practice “good on good” because both the offense and defense have to practice what they intend to do against the other teams looks and tendencies. So the practice squad and scrubs simulate what the other team is likely to show and do.
July 8th, 2023 at 10:39 am
We missed Whitehead on run defense for sure. He was a toughness, tone setter. I’d love to get more pics, but getting back to knocking the snot out of RB’s and QB’s that tuck it and run would be nice.
July 9th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
@front four
Jordan Whitehead was definitely missed.
Suh, JPP and Whitehead were all tough hitters.
Our defense had no soul last year.