Calendar Strikes Calijah Kancey

November 5th, 2023

Target date.

Today is a day that’s been circled on Joe’s calendar for about two weeks.

Defensive guru/head coach Todd Bowles said before the Bills game 10 days ago that today, against the Texans in Houston, is the day Bowles expects the rust to be completely off lightning-quick rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ first-round pick.

Kancey missed the entire preseason and nearly all of training camp with a calf strain.

He debuted on opening day but the healing calf was shot after 11 snaps. Kancey overcame the setback and reappeared with gusto in early October. He delivered a quality share of plays before disappearing a bit in Buffalo.

Now Kancey should be free of all the rust, in addition to being 100 percent healthy.

Bowles has said multiple times he expects Kancey to be a major handful for offenses, and a playmaker.

Vita Vea returns today after missing the Buffalo game with a groin issue. The Texans have a sad running game and there’s no reason Vea and Kancey can’t help make Houston one-dimensional for the afternoon.

Joe is confident. Kancey wreaking havoc feels far more likely than the Bucs offense finding its stride.

22 Responses to “Calendar Strikes Calijah Kancey”

  1. Defense Rules Says:

    Joe … ‘The Texans have a sad running game and there’s no reason Vea and Kancey can’t help make Houston one-dimensional for the afternoon.’

    And yet the Texans have scored 27 more points in 7 games than the Bucs have, including 2 more rushing TDs than we have (a whopping 3 TDs rushing versus an even more dazzling 1 TD rushing). If TEXANS are 1-dimensional, Bucs must be shooting for 0. Time to stop playing games and really start playing games.

  2. SufferingSince76 Says:

    I’m retired now, but I wish I could have still been paid for inferior work when I was working. Sports seems to be the only industry where you can suck at your job with very few consequences.

  3. Lt. Dan Says:

    “Can’t wait!” Bart Scott.

  4. Dlavid Says:

    This team has proven exactly what they are …. Garbage ! New coaching staff next season , new QB , lot of new faces coming . Get rid of aging vets and chest thumping wanna be’s !

  5. Hodad Says:

    I have to laugh when we talk about a team like they’re worse then us yet they have better numbers. They have a whole new staff, rookie QB, and their offense is actually better then ours. Amazing.

  6. Leighroy Says:

    We are in zero position to be calling any other team’s rushing attack sad.

  7. Sly Pirate Says:

    THE VALUE OF VEA
    Hopefully last week everyone realized the success of the defense hinges on Vea’s health. If Vea is in CK, Yaya, etc will be great.

  8. BucsBeast Says:

    This will be a typical Bucs game.
    On paper Bucs should dominate.
    Reality,
    Bucs play down to their competition and squeak out a win.
    Barely, in an ugly ugly game.

  9. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    BucsBeast, on paper, the Bucs are worse.

  10. TDavis Says:

    Pretty much all teams should be one-dimensional against the Bucs. They can’t stop the pass. When a team gets to 3rd and 14 its almost an automatic first down.

  11. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    At this point, Todd Bowles is purposely sabotaging the future of this team by keeping Mayfield as starter.

    Mayfield can win a few more games…but does anyone yeally think he can win a ring at any point in his future?

    If not…what exactly is the point of playing him?

  12. ScottyMack Says:

    Last time I checked, the Texans only played two games against the same opponents as the Bucs have played so comparing records and stats is asinine. Their record against the same opponents is the same at 1-1 for both teams.

    Against the Falcons, the Texans rushed for 64 yards and zero TDs. The Bucs ran for 73 yards and zero TDs vs. Atlanta.

    Against the Saints, the Texans rushed for 120 yards and zero TDs. The Bucs ran for 114 yards and zero TDs.

    In other words, one team is no better than the other running the football when you compare apples to apples.

  13. Jeff Says:

    lol! Trusting Clueless Todd’s opinion is about as foolhardy as it gets. Cancel aka “Tiny Dancer” won’t do jack against Houston. He’s a one tackle man today.

  14. TonySoprano Says:

    I know Licht will be hoping Kancey has a break out game. We’re about halfway through the season, and for a 3rd year in a row we’re seeing very little out of Jason’s draft class. The most visible Bucs rookie -with the most playing time- is one of the lowest grades Guards in the league. Everyone else has been near invisible.

  15. Pewter Power Says:

    there’s no reason Vea and Kancey can’t help make Houston one-dimensional for the afternoon.

    I agree but we’ve been one dimensional all season

  16. BakerBucs Says:

    why get on this site & spew garbage I don’t c satisfaction in this B’s every team has their ups & downs there r no exceptions there r many qb’s with good & bad stats Baker is a good choice for this team enjoy the day life is short don’t make it any shorter than it has to b.positivity is power which a lot of of u subscribers lack this team needs a few years to jive all good teams need time to guell

  17. Buc1987 Says:

    Sapp sucked as a rookie.

  18. Fred McNeil Says:

    I think Bowles is hyping Kansey today because he sees that the Texans are on their 4th string center. Also, if I’m not mistaken, both of their original guards are either hurt or on IR. LT Tunsel is hurt. I think their primary RB is hurt too. Kansey and Via should feast today. The OLBs should do better today too. Me? I’m gonna feast on homemade clam chowder. Todd, please don’t spoil my lunch.

  19. Kidfloflo Says:

    Buc 1987, don’t forget Barber and Lynch had slow starts as well. Think Barber didn’t click till year 3, this fanbase would have cut all 3 future hall of famers

  20. Rod Munch Says:

    You should never ever ever expect much from a rookie defensive lineman. Anything you get is a bonus.

  21. Rod Munch Says:

    Kidfloflo – you are very correct. Although with Barber it was because the Bucs had Donnie Abraham who was awesome. Who knew his replacement would be a HOF’er.

    With Lynch, however, he is an amazing story. He wasn’t very good early on, was too slow, was a marginal starter, and through per hard work and will power made himself into a HOFer. That early wiff on Barry Sanders, the highlight they showed for years, I think did more to make Lynch a HOF’er than anything. The great part is later Lynch making a 1-on-1 tackle vs Sanders in nearly the same situation. Was a great career arch. Also I’m still mad at stupid Gruden for cutting him so he could sign Tim Brown and Charlie Garner. What an idiot.

  22. Capt.Tim Says:

    Guess we are still waiting on JTS to pop too.
    I would add Logan Hall, whos slightly better, but hes out again.
    Not that you’d notice.
    Kancey is waaaay to small to be effective as a down linemen in the NFL.
    We lve wasting our top picks on bad defensive linemen
    Its become a draft ritual