Calijah Kancey Learned Patience
April 17th, 2024
Due to explode?
Boy, the Bucs on Monday saved Joe. It was getting to the point that all the draft content was about to trigger Joe to jump out a window. Lawd, the NFL could easily move up the draft a couple of weeks.
So on Monday the Bucs (thankfully) brought out some players for media to mark the beginning of OTAs, aka spring practices. One was a guy Joe believes is a star in the making: defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Kancey’s rookie year started rough. In the first week of training camp he suffered a calf injury. That dang thing cost Kancey nearly two months of work.
Though Kancey was able to take 11 snaps in the season-opener at Minnesota, he (predictably) tried to come back too soon and didn’t play again until the Lions game in Week 6.
Dealing with that calf, Kancey said, taught him what might have been his greatest lesson of the season. Patience.
“I definitely learned a lot about myself,” Kancey said. “It was a little uncertain starting off, as far as being set back with the calf injury and starting the season off a little late.
“My main thing was getting back to myself and how I was in college. I wanted the NFL to be as easy as college. It came with patience. I had to learn a different scheme, going against veteran guys who’ve been in the league for a lot of years.
“I just had to get the repetition and when I got the repetitions, it just all started to pick up. That’s where I want to be at – I want to work off of where I finished off at and be better.”
So how much did that calf injury set him back as far as production and feeling like a defensive tackle again playing at 100 percent? Kancey said it was months until he was right, near the end of the season.
With a full offseason for Kancey to hit an NFL weight room and hopefully a healthy training camp, Joe has a strong feeling Kancey will turn into a monster.
April 17th, 2024 at 4:04 am
I believe he’s unique and as I said when we drafted him, he going to end up being a .. ~ “Super Star” ~ I also believe he’d make a Great defensive end.
April 17th, 2024 at 5:06 am
Kancey is 100% correct. Patience is a virtue. He is goal-oriented and will be one of the best.
April 17th, 2024 at 5:38 am
Kancey said he’s focusing on improving his speed and strength. Speed? The fastest DT in the history of the combine is looking to get quicker. Are you kidding?
Rewatch Baldinger’s breakdown of Kancey against Philly. His swim is so fast that he’s by the C/G before the QB finishes his drop back.
CK will be unreal.
April 17th, 2024 at 5:47 am
Licht hit a home run with Kancey last year. Let’s hope he can do it again with the Bucs first round pick this year.
April 17th, 2024 at 6:09 am
Double digit sack numbers incoming!
April 17th, 2024 at 6:37 am
He and YaYa should be super disruptive this season. Can’t wait to see them both in their 2nd year.
April 17th, 2024 at 6:53 am
At first a scoffed at the idea of Kancey being anything like Aaron McDonald. Yea, i understood the “same school, same build” comparisons but really…Aaron “freaking” Donald? Now – I am starting to believe. Kancey is cat quick and a year in an NFL weight room? So you’re saying there’s a chance?
April 17th, 2024 at 7:43 am
Pairing him with Vea is just next level – a true thunder and lightning on the DL
Maybe the plan is more about middle pressure in the pass game than just off the edge
We have unusually special guys at both DT spots – 2 of the games best WR – best S overall and maybe the best LT in the game – ILB likely to wear a Gold jacket – 4 of the first 92 picks this year….
As down and scared I was last year at this time, complete opposite this year
This is going to be a very good football team and I am stoked!!!!!
April 17th, 2024 at 8:12 am
homerun pick
April 17th, 2024 at 8:38 am
Maybe a strange opinion, but why not mix in some scouting of current UFL players? That’s another batch of guys hoping to fill holes on NFL teams this fall, and we could at least see them play against other pros right now.
April 17th, 2024 at 8:42 am
Interesting use of Vea and Kancey.
Both played about 50% of the defensive snaps they were available to play.
Looks like Vea is in on running plays, and Kancey is in on Passing plays.
Would be cool if we ran a 4-3 defense . Then Vea and Kancey would play together.
We also have a 3rd talented DT, Greg Gaines.
In a 3-4 defense, we play 2 DEs, and one Defensive tackle- a nose tackle.
2 of our best defensive linemen spend half the game on the bench.
Might be a good thing, though.
With Kancey’s lack of size, and Vea’s abundance of Size- swapping in for each other is probably helpful to both.
April 17th, 2024 at 8:59 am
I was pleasantly surprised with Kancey on run plays, quickly avoiding the block and getting into the backfield. Kancey seems smart, and loves playing football. The Bucs have a good training staff and they need to work with Kancey to keep him healthy, especially his calf, as injuries are the only potential to stop him this season.
April 17th, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Boy, you are right about mock draft stuff. I am REALLY disinterested in who various pundits pick, trying to out-think our GM and staff. I guess after the 25th we will be subjected to all their opinions on who we didn’t pick, too.
April 17th, 2024 at 4:02 pm
I really like this kid. Hope he stays healthy.