Finding A Hidden Gem In New Jersey
August 14th, 2023
“Bryan, I’m the one who told Licht all about Chris Izien.”
Former Bucs commander Greg Schiano may be long gone, but his influence is still felt.
The Bucs happened to have signed an undrafted free agent this spring out of Rutgers, Chris Izien. He’s been one of the big training camp surprises. So much so it appears Izien is the leading candidate to play nickel corner.
A pretty good impression Izien has left on Bucs coaches to go from a guy no one wanted to draft to possibly starting in the NFL.
Part of Izien’s secret to his success lies in his defensive coordinator at Rutgers, Joe Harasymiak. Harasymiak had Izien play nickel corner. He had never played that position before last fall.
But there is an interesting connection between the Bucs and Izien that dates back to Izien’s Rutgers days. Izien often studied Antoine Winfield’s tape, including tape of Winfield playing nickel corner in 2022. Harasymiak helped develop Winfield back in Minnesota and was Winfield’s college defensive coordinator before flipping to Rutgers last fall.
“I have been watching ‘Toine’ [Winfield] since college,” Izien said today. “We had the same defensive coordinator in college, so I have been watching his film since I was there, so having the opportunity to play with him has been great.”
In his first NFL dress rehearsal Friday against the Steelers, Izien seemed to have satisfied Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
“Izien was solid,” Bowles said. “He had one technical error but I thought he was solid. He didn’t get a lot of action but he did all the right things.
“We know what he brings to the table. I think he’s the frontrunner right now [for nickel corner].”
The first thing Joe thought of when he learned of Izien’s connection with Winfield is perhaps Bowles might want to lure Harasymiak onto his staff.
Joe understands folks like to throw rocks at Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht just because. But folks should also give him props, too.
If Izien does start and plays reasonably well, that’s serious scouting finding an undrafted free agent who has the skillset to turn into a rookie starting nickel corner.
August 14th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Good call Joe.
August 14th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Winfield will be our Def MVP! This Year
August 14th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Nothing but love for Chris Izien but..,“I have been watching ‘Toine’ [Winfield] since college,”..Dude made me chuckle. “since college..” You mean like eight months ago? Reminds me of my recently graduated son. He’s like the old man in the neighborhood now. Go Chris!!
August 14th, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Agree about the idea of bringing Harasymiak on board if he can help out with the DB’s. If not, he could always coach Special Teams. Couldn’t be any worse than what they’ve got now.
August 14th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Bowles and most HCs are overly committed to their position coaches. Bring in some new coaches with new methods and ideas!!!
August 14th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Always funny to me how guys like that can slip through the cracks. Scouts, GMs lots of guys just didn’t think he was worth a draft pick. If he turns out pretty good, you wonder what sort of things that all these “experts” missed, or saw, that impacted their collective non-decision to draft him.
August 14th, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Izien slipped through the cracks because he does not have ideal size.
But that is fine because the Bucs need a competent nickle and dime defender and if Izien and Hayes can provide that that is okay with me.
August 14th, 2023 at 6:14 pm
LICHT HATERS
So many of you out there hating on Licht all the time. You know who you are. If you dug this article (and you should) can you take a moment to show the man some love.
August 14th, 2023 at 6:31 pm
Or…..a little bit of luck
August 14th, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Yes, his losing influence is still felt, pathetic joke of a NFL head coach.
August 14th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
That’s a tremendous take and great post. Been thinking the same.
Also, Bowles must have a great deal of respect for Schiano and his Defense. Avery Young and Izien this year as deep scouting prospects, Bowles’ son playing for him, etc. Not to mention Bowles played Safety and holds that position in high regards and is a huge responsibility @ Safety in a Todd Bowles defense.
I’m in the minority and actually liked Schiano as HC – sans the Giants stunt. Details reigned supreme w/ him and LVD went absolutely insane in his defense. LVD thrives under any circumstances or scheme it seems, but that was a heckuva year for David w/ the INT’s and Sacks.
Schiano is a good coach and awesome defensive mind!
August 14th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
JOES!!! Do you know for sure he’s the leading candidate based on sources or an educated guess?
August 14th, 2023 at 7:29 pm
Yet another vote for Joe’s idea to hire Harasymiak to the Bucs coaching staff since he has a great track record of developing DB’s.
I hope the Glazers and Jason Licht & Company are avid readers of JoeBucsFan
August 14th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Pewter Power Says:
JOES!!! Do you know for sure he’s the leading candidate based on sources or an educated guess?
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LOL – read the article dude…. straight out of coach Bowles mouth (thus the quotation marks):
“We know what he brings to the table. I think he’s the frontrunner right now [for nickel corner].”
August 14th, 2023 at 10:37 pm
“It seems this guy knows what he is doing with defensive backs”
Who else has he coached?
August 15th, 2023 at 2:38 am
“If Izien does start and plays reasonably well, that’s serious scouting finding an undrafted free agent who has the skillset to turn into a rookie starting nickel corner.”
Nailed it here Joe! If he does as well as Winfield last year and can tackle we have a winner.
Go Bucs!
August 15th, 2023 at 9:22 am
I didn’t realize how much of a freak athlete he is is well. Not a lot of interceptions or attention in college it seems but he is built for the modern game
Unofficial but 4.32 40, 20 bench reps, 41.5 ” vert
August 15th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Izien had the one handed grab INT!
August 15th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Did someone say Bowles was a defensive back? He desperately needs to do “push away” exercise! By that I mean push away quickly from the food table. The man has a huge gas belly!
August 15th, 2023 at 9:07 pm
we dont draft well, so when we get a guy ill take it.