Speed Kills
July 15th, 2023
Superfreak.
Yes, Joe understands Calijah Kancey is a defensive tackle.
The Bucs’ rookie first-round draft pick is supposed to be an explosive defender with rare speed. How quick? Well, Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network tried to put Kancey’s speed in perspective in a column on the fastest players in the NFL.
Calijah Kancey, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Imagine a refrigerator barreling toward you down a steep, steep road. That’s pretty much what you get when Calijah Kancey is running at you at full speed. The 281-pound defensive tackle ran an astonishing 4.67 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
He also had a 99th-percentile three-cone. In fact, it was better than Metcalf’s! All in all, 280 pounds shouldn’t move like that.
If Kancey is this quick and this fast — and Joe is not saying Kancey isn’t — maybe he shouldn’t be pigeonholed as a tackle? Get him out in space to use that speed.
If Kancey is as fast as DK Metcalf, why not use him as an edge rusher in passing downs from time to time? If he’s this quick, Kancey ought to be able to blow past clumsy offensive tackles.
Lord knows the Bucs need heat from the edge. It’s baby steps for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who is still working to raise his game to Gaines Adams’ standards.
Until the Bucs find an edge rusher, let Kancey log some snaps out there a couple of times a game and see what happens. What do the Bucs have to lose?
July 15th, 2023 at 12:19 am
He plays all over the D line. I don’t know if they’ll put him much at end but I do know they’ll line him up all over the place. Watching some of his highlights and LB S. Dennis flashes almost as much as Kancey. No wonder the Bucs drafted him too.
July 15th, 2023 at 1:12 am
A-B gaps, lol OLBs need to do other things aside from rushing the passer and I wouldn’t put rookie Calijah Kancey on the outside shoulder of an NFL tackle too often. In our system, I figure It’d depend mostly on Kancey, but also the sub package and assignments.
If you were talking about using him in a twist game lined up head on with the tackle, but his job is to take the outside should have the guard to break the pocket. Pass situations sure, but I’m not lining Kancey up on 2nd & 7 or 3rd & 4 because if they run a simple stretch to his side, that’s the tackle taking him north and the guard washing him out because it’s a low win % situation you’re putting him in. Though I could see an alignment flip, where Nelly/JTS & Shaq/Nelly line up inside standing in the a-gaps with OLB3 & Kancey lined outside to run a stunt game, but full time OLB or in predictable(the tell being Kancey outside)swap, you can only go back to that well before teams work a counter out(run right at him).
You know who was a freak athlete? Shaquille O’Neal, but you know what you couldn’t expect him to give you with any consistency? 20 points/60% shooting pct from the sideline. Kancey as an OLB for a wrinkle? surrrre. Kancey lined up to set the edge, defend the run, and rushing the passer? Year 1? Nah. Let him cook against interior OLmen who aren’t as seasons as most tenured, starting caliber offensives tackles.
July 15th, 2023 at 2:49 am
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he was moved around to create chaos. His quickness is insane.
July 15th, 2023 at 4:33 am
“If Kancey is as fast as DK Metcalf, why not use him as an edge rusher in passing downs from time to time? If he’s this quick, Kancey ought to be able to blow past clumsy offensive tackles.”
Absolutely agree 1000 percent Joe! In fact I will be astonished if Bowles doesn’t!
After all he lines Vea up out there from time to time.
Go Bucs!
July 15th, 2023 at 5:04 am
RIP Gaines Adam.
RIP Vincent Jackson.
Bowles is a genius.
I love when he puts Vita Vea at DE. He crushes tackles and give the QB no where to escape.
Kancey is another piece who can play anywhere. At DT, DE, or even OLB.
Logan Hall can also play DE or DT.
Bowles wants hybrid players.
So he can disguise his blitzes.
I still want Suh back though. Suh is a hall of famer. Kancey and Vea and Logan Hall all NEED a vet mentor like Suh.
July 15th, 2023 at 5:17 am
Exactly Joe. Agreed 1000%.
Kancey has that edge motor,.
Unleash the kraken.
And it seems that this will happen on some passing downs, according to ‘Dooley’.
July 15th, 2023 at 6:02 am
He is a chess piece, they will most likely move him all around the D line including edge.
July 15th, 2023 at 6:36 am
I think he will be a steal when we look back in a year or 2.
I also think Diaby could become the next JPP.
Huge wingspan. Fast strong just a bit raw.
July 15th, 2023 at 6:51 am
Joe … ‘If Kancey is this quick and this fast — and Joe is not saying Kancey isn’t — maybe he shouldn’t just be pigeonholed as a tackle? Get him out in space to use that speed. If Kancey is as fast as DK Metcalf, why not use him as an edge rusher in passing downs from time to time?’
Now you’re starting to think out of the box Joe. Stanglassman, Dooley, teacherman777, garro, etc all recognized the same thing … Bowles sees this game as a high level chess match & will move his ‘pieces’ all over the place to confuse his opponents. And he does a very good job of that from what we’ve all witnessed in his 4 years here.
There is an issue however with his ‘deceptive magic’ as Ira so awesomely wrote yesterday: it’s a complicated defense that takes awhile to learn. And some very specific talents on the part of his players (speed, quickness, intelligence, etc). I can only imagine that the rookies probably have their heads spinning when they first get introduced to just his ‘vanilla’ tactics. Some guys obviously struggle, but seem to grow in time. Nelson for instance seems to have ‘grown’ over time. So did some guys on the back end like SMB, Edwards, Dean, etc (disappointing to lose the first 2).
Kancey’s quickness will serve him well I think in Todd’s defense, and so will his intelligence (quick study apparently?). Speed for a DLineman is nice, but it’s hard to get ‘up to full speed’ I’m sure in such close quarters. Hall & JTS are the 2 who I’m more concerned about though.
July 15th, 2023 at 7:15 am
Let’s hire Dwight Freeney specifically to come in to teach Kancey the spin move as a de. Freeney was a de for the colts at 6’1 266 but gave OT fits on the edge, which resulted to multiple seasons of double digit sacks. If Kancey, who is a quick learner n pure athlete, can master the spin move, it would be lights out for him at de. My belief is just putting him at de would increase the sacks for the Bucs defense.
July 15th, 2023 at 7:39 am
I have no doubt we will see Kancey line up all over the place. Maybe even in pass coverage sometimes.
July 15th, 2023 at 7:41 am
I would venture that Kancey already has some semblance of a spin move.
July 15th, 2023 at 7:48 am
Gawd… it’s gonna be HOT !
July 15th, 2023 at 7:49 am
If he’s this quick, Kancey ought to be able to blow past clumsy offensive tackles.
____________
It’s a shame we don’t play the Chiefs this year. We could have lined him up on the right side and put him against that stud of a LT they have now.
His name eludes me at the moment but I hear he’s quite durable……
July 15th, 2023 at 8:25 am
Well it doesn’t seem he’ll get to play DT all that much with Vita and Gaines there
July 15th, 2023 at 8:28 am
I have little to no confidence in Bowles as a head coach…..but I do have strong confidence in him as a DC…..and if he thinks Kancey should be a DT…..then I trust his judgement.
July 15th, 2023 at 8:31 am
“Let’s hire Dwight Freeney specifically to come in to teach Kancey the spin move as a de.”
I’d be 100% here for it
July 15th, 2023 at 8:35 am
I was thinking that too when he was drafted. Bucs did that some with Mccoy in 3 line sets on 3rd and long. He got dome pressure but he was no where near Kancy’s speed. Why don’t we use Devin White at edge? He did some in college and is very quick and agile
July 15th, 2023 at 9:01 am
Kancey will look good compared to the last Dlineman Licht drafted if he can fog a mirror.
July 15th, 2023 at 9:25 am
“If Kancey is as fast as DK Metcalf, why not use him as an edge rusher in passing downs from time to time? If he’s this quick, Kancey ought to be able to blow past clumsy offensive tackles.”
I agree 100%. This is how I was hoping they would use Kancey. I just hope they don’t ask him to play nose/inside very much – especially during running plays. He got manhandled a bit in college when taking on double teams.
July 15th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Why not make him a D end? Because he’s a DT Joe, and we need them too. Bucs drafted 3 other players for the edge, not including who we already have. He’ll be better used as what he was drafted fir, DT.
July 15th, 2023 at 9:29 am
We will
See soon enough
Licht has had what 11 drafts?
Where and who are the d lineman?
July 15th, 2023 at 10:02 am
I personally love the Gaines adams references
July 15th, 2023 at 10:09 am
He needs a little more strength with that speed but I think he will be ok !!
July 15th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Joe… you keep harping on Goedeke’s 32 inch arms… well Kancey has 30 inch arms. That’s why.
July 15th, 2023 at 10:41 am
How do you know how strong he is?
July 15th, 2023 at 10:45 am
Kancey is being projected as a Bust by some in the National media.
They feel his lack of size will hurt him stopping the run, but I disagree.
He will greatly benefit playing next to our run stoppers, IMHO
July 15th, 2023 at 11:13 am
Sapp arms were/are 32 3/4″
July 15th, 2023 at 11:32 am
I think Kancey will be pretty good but I absolutely do believe his short arms will hurt him. He’s going to make a lot of splash plays but I can see him totally disappearing just as often.
July 15th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Kancey has ridiculous speed and agility for his size. He’s going to make some NFL guards look silly. I imagine he will get some looks on the outside as well due to his ability to beat his man 1 on 1 consistently. He’s got a great motor and will just keep coming. Very excited to see him play as a Buc!
July 15th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Just a hunch…
Once the Bucs put kancey on that defensive end island for any period of time, the Bucs are gonna have a real hard time removing him from that island.
As far as physical traits,
I remember a late round draft pick that was chubby and slow becoming the goat at qb.
July 15th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Von Miller is listed at 6’3″ but only 249 lbs. His motor and technique make up for lack of bulk. Cancy with his lower center of gravity coupled with his decent weight of 281 lbs plus his speed, quickness and agility and he could be a difference maker if coached up right. Gotta love the kid but like with all rookies, I temper my expectations in year one.
July 15th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
“Marine Buc Says:
July 15th, 2023 at 9:25 am
I agree 100%. This is how I was hoping they would use Kancey. I just hope they don’t ask him to play nose/inside very much – especially during running plays. He got manhandled a bit in college when taking on double teams.”
Interesting assessment, Marine. A few months ago, a DL did a break-down of Kancey’s tape. It might have been Long, don’t remember. My point is, on a few run plays where Kancey was doubled, he was able to toss one blocker, and split the middle of the double, resulting in a sack. It was an impressive break-down.
Not saying Kancey can/will do the same against NFL linemen, but if he COULD? That’d be something and this young man will be something special in a few years.
I have high hopes for him entering year 2 or 3. We’ll see!!!
July 15th, 2023 at 4:25 pm
I hope they keep adding to the defense next year and let’s go back to our real identity physical football .
July 15th, 2023 at 8:19 pm
Heck, if he’s as fast as Metcalf let’s line him up at wide receiver!
July 16th, 2023 at 1:32 am
Oh man. This guy is as fast as a WR. I like bowels as DC. And think he will deff work some magic with the talent. So stoked to see what our defense can do. If he unleashes DW45 on blitzes again with kancey and if Shaq can come back somewhat healthy these other 2 guys I mentioned could take some heat off Shaq and we might just have over 50 plus sacks this year with hopefully a bunch of fumbles and ints. Let’s go
July 16th, 2023 at 11:54 am
he wont be a DT he will be a DE you heard it here first.
July 17th, 2023 at 8:55 am
If I only had a nickel everytime I heard someone cream their pants out loud over 40 yard dash times…..