Antoine Winfield — Blossoming Into A Leader
September 16th, 2023
Coach’s respect for Antoine Winfield.
Joe likes to remind folks of the following because it has proven to be true.
Joe witnessed every Bucs training camp practice this summer. Every one. Didn’t miss a day. And three players jumped out to Joe as playing at an elite level.
The first is Mike Evans. He really did have a camp where he played above the rim. Maybe his best camp.
Chris Godwin also was on another level. When Joe watched him, Joe often thought, “What knee?” Godwin was somewhat slowed by knee rehab from a knee injury late in the 2021 season.
And then there Antoine Winfield, who was just lights out. He was all over the place.
It sure seems like those excellent camp performances carried over into the regular season. Yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles just raved about Winfield’s play.
“’Win’ is a good football player,” Bowles said. “I can’t take credit for all that – he was good when he came in. I just saw him, Jason [Licht] and them saw him and we brought him in.
“He brings a lot of leadership – he’s a lot more vocal this year, coming into his own. The tackling speaks for itself, but he’s a heady football player. He’s sharp, he can get from A to B fast. He just understands ball – that’s something you can’t teach. If you already understand football and you understand the scheme and what’s happening to you, you can play fast – he plays fast.”
Health is the only thing Joe worries about with Winfield. Since his rookie season, Winfield hasn’t played a full season. If he can stay on the field and avoid further concussions, Winfield will be a flat out force.
Joe thinks Winfield should be a Pro Bowler again this season now that he’s back to his normal safety spot.
Not only is Winfield a better player at safety, he makes the defense so much better.
September 16th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Need more of this type of players in the back field not these one play wonders who cant stay healthy every season.
September 16th, 2023 at 9:15 am
I think he should have the C this year on defense.
September 16th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Really solid Buc….heed to keep him permanently….no matter what the price.
September 16th, 2023 at 9:44 am
AW sure played outstanding in Minnesota! Looking forward to Sunday!!
September 16th, 2023 at 10:00 am
I’m just sorry Whitehead isn’t back there with him.
September 16th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Career interceptions- Davis 7, Dean 7, SMB 6, Winfield Jr 4(10 sacks!). I like these guys, but does this team really get its money’s worth out of those contributions?
September 16th, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Bucs won’t have any pro bowlers cuz all outside media dose is talk about how bad the bucs are.
September 16th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
anyone think they should put a spy on fields on sunday…
he can’t throw the ball really, and if you hold him to under 50 yards on the ground, you could seal the bears fate that way
September 16th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Deff a great draft pick. Him throwing up the ✌️ to cheetah in the SB will go down as the best taunt ever. Love watching him play. Now that he’s back at safety he’s deff makes the defense better. Someone comment saying wish whitehead should be back there with him and I couldn’t agree more. Miss those John lynch like hits from him n now he’s ball hawking. Another good draft pick to bad he chased the money
September 16th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
My favorite Bucs:
Wirfs
Winfield
Godwin
September 16th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
‘Joe thinks Winfield should be a Pro Bowler again this season’
——–
If Winfield isn’t 1st team all-pro, the system is rigged. Winfield is the best player on this defense. But, as Joe pointed out, health is a concern. But if he’s healthy, and they’re not stupidly moving him out of position, he’s going to have a monster year and remind people why he’s the best safety in football.
September 16th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Are we there yet?
September 16th, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Agree 100% – only thing stopping him from being a perennial pro bowler / all-pro is staying healthy.
That said, it does seem like younger players these days just don’t play as much / get injured more often compared to how it used to be 5 – 10+ years ago. Anyone else notice that? I feel like you don’t really hear about any younger guys (lets say first 3 – 5 years in the league), who “never missed a game” etc., like we used to hear more commonly back in the day.
September 16th, 2023 at 3:07 pm
Winfield’s dad was an NFL DB, and a good one… That’s cheating, lol
September 16th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
All these players, being hurt so often: Didn’t eat all their vegetables and drink enough milk…… Mystery solved !!
September 16th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
ME13, CG14, LVD and W Gholston are playing this year. Winfield’s old man was a great player. His talent transferred to his son. The other nice fact about these 5 players is they have been class acts off field. I think Bucs win tomorrow but they can’t take any team for granted.
September 16th, 2023 at 7:39 pm
I love Winfield too, especially as a tackling machine. The reality is that not every player can make tip-top salary these days. Gone is the era of the Eddie DeBartolo/Jerry Jones unlimited spending days. In are the “find a window and mortgage the future for a Super Bowl” days. The reality is that next year isn’t as rosy cap-wise as it may appear.
That said, Winfield and Wirfs are probably priorities. DW45 is probably high on the list too. Where does Evans fit in? If Mayfield proves himself a contender worthy QB where does he fit in cap-wise? If this season goes the way I think it can we won’t be getting a Caleb or a Drake come April. A few moons ago we would be dreaming of a Baker or a Fields or a Darnold…or a Winston.
September 16th, 2023 at 11:40 pm
“Health is the only thing Joe worries about with Winfield.”
Ditto Joe! Bowles is able to do a lot of his magic because of Winfield ability to be all over the field.
Go Bucs!
September 16th, 2023 at 11:53 pm
Hate to tell you Rod (i’m with you) but the whole thing has been rigged for a looong time. See LVD, Evans, Godwin.
I no longer look at Pro Bowl as a measuring stick. Just a populartiy contest for big market teams.
All Pro has snubbed our guys from the first team as well, and is becoming the same as the Pro Bowl.
It’s a crime when you have HOF talent that gets this kind of treatment.
Go Bucs!