Major Challenge For Tykee Smith
August 18th, 2024
Rookie nickel cornerback Tykee Smith.
It’s hard enough being a rookie in the NFL. But the job must be exceptionally tough knowing your head coach has you under an extreme microscope.
The Buccaneers’ nickel cornerback last season was Christian Izien. He was OK as a rookie, but not good enough for Todd Bowles, who was hungry to draft Smith in Round 2 to replace Izien.
What about the 2022 nickel back? That was Antoine Winfield, Jr., the superstar safety. Bowles was so yearning for a premium nickel that he relocated Winfield from his Pro Bowl position. Winfield wasn’t the right fit.
In 2021, it was nickel by committee with outside cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis missing several games due to injury.
For the 2020 Super Bowl run, Sean Murphy-Bunting was a hero with three postseason interceptions, but he wasn’t the fit Bowles wanted.
“I’ll tell you this. Todd Bowles, he falls in and out of love with nickels pretty quick,” Hall of Fame Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said last night on the Bucs-Jaguars broadcast. “I’ve had a lot of conversations.”
The implication from Barber was that those conversations were with Bowles himself.
Three weeks ago, Barber explained that Bowles is in search of a tackling specialist at the position who can cover and blitz. He also emphasized, which he did again last night, that the playing version of Barber (1997-2012) is not the type of player Bowles wants at nickel.
Man, Joe wonders what Smith might think hearing that.
Joe likes Smith’s game but expects serious growing pains.
In 2019, the Bucs drafted a cornerback in Round 2, M.J. Stewart, and he was pegged to be their starting nickel corner. That didn’t last long and Stewart his third season with the Texans after two in Cleveland
August 18th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Proof that Bloweszo is drowning in his genius pool.
Poor Tykee — dude is undoubtedly so confused about the multiple options, variants, and subliminals on every call that he doesn’t know whether to crap or get drunk.
Ryan Neal was supposed to be really smart. Toad made him stupid.
Here’s a prized rookie, already getting ruined by a mega-egomaniac more in love with proving he’s as smart as Arians always said instead of just getting his players to play fast and effectively.
Eff this guy.
#2-16
August 18th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
To play nickel in the NFL you have to be very athletic. I Watch Tyreek and I don’t see the speed necessary to play nickel at a high level. Or maybe Bowles puts too much on their plate.
August 18th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Proof that Todd is drowning in his genius pool.
Poor Tykee — dude is undoubtedly so confused about the multiple options, variants, and subliminals on every call that he doesn’t know whether to drool or get drunk.
Ryan Neal was supposed to be really smart. Toad made him paralyzed. Jordan Whitehead had to go to the Jets to learn how to be excellent. Yes he came back – indicating that if Todd has guys knowing his stuff, it works. He can’t teach though.
Here’s a prized rookie, already getting ruined because Todd tries to prove he’s as smart as Arians always said instead of just getting his players to play fast and effectively.
2025NewHeadCoah=?
August 18th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Still hard to believe MJ Stewart is still in the NFL, on a playoff team no less.
August 18th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
MJ can play. Some coaches ruin players. Others don’t.
Very fascinated to see what Diva does playing for Siriani.
August 18th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Izien had a pff of 68, that really isn’t bad
August 18th, 2024 at 5:32 pm
Third round *
August 18th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Has apparently excelled in camp but IMO, has underwhelmed in the 2 preseason games. Frequently out of position and playing too far off and passively.
August 18th, 2024 at 5:53 pm
Any injury news in Merriweather and others?
August 18th, 2024 at 5:57 pm
Damn this article makes it sound like Izien is done already in his second year. Need to give guys at least some time to grow. Meanwhile we are still holding on to JTS when he has shown over multiple seasons that he isn’t any good.
August 18th, 2024 at 5:59 pm
Logan The Oaf has only proven he can ruin the careers of excellent Bucs players . Send him to the glue factory.
August 18th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Logan Hall is the weakest link on this team. Wasn’t impressed with the new backup corners, Thomas and Hall. Those are guys that are going to be getting a lot of snaps. Can you play further off the ball?
August 18th, 2024 at 6:17 pm
Tykee is not only learning to play nickel but also safety in Bowles defense. I know the kid is smart but that may be too much for him as a rookie. Let him learn one position and get real comfortable before you make him learn two.
August 18th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
The secondary heard how great they were doing in camp and didn’t show up against the Jags in practice or in the game. I’m not sure the offense really came to play either. Washington will be a dangerous trap game.
August 18th, 2024 at 7:06 pm
I just hope they don’t throw him out there just to see what happens. Izien had a very solid rookie season, and I’d expect him to have improved. Nothing wrong with giving Smith some more practice if he needs it. Remember Ronde barely played his rookie year, just some special teams towards the end of the year. If that happened now all the dopes in the comments would be calling him a bust and demanding the Bucs cut him.
August 18th, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Not to nitpik but Smith was a 3rd round pick……toward the end 89……
Nevertheless…..he is likely a good pick but will have a learning curve.
August 18th, 2024 at 7:07 pm
My stepdad was a perfectionist.. I feel for you Tykee, it took some time for him and I to get along. But I think you got this!! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
August 18th, 2024 at 7:33 pm
Did toad bang pears sister back in the day or what
August 18th, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Don’t worry Tykee, no one can cover with Bowles defense, especially since you have to play soft coverage with no edge rush. QBs have all day to find their receivers. One thing positive for the secondary, both JTS and Hall will be much better this season. lol..
August 18th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Starting to think some of the rookies been listening to the smoke being blown up their a$$.
We may actually be having over confidence issues.
Glad we’re getting exposed in some areas now, especially in the joint practices.
Has Todd always fielded complicated defenses? Serious question for those who’ve studied it.
August 18th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Man Todd Bowles is seriously an overrated head coach
He’s got pash rush guys dropping back n coverage
He also selected JTS and Hall , those two picks could have easily been packaged for a great proven edge rusher .
August 18th, 2024 at 9:17 pm
A lot of negative comments. What is the purpose of camp and preseason? And who is expecting a rookie to be as polished as a 5 year vet? The guy was very good at one of the premier colleges.
I’m sure these keyboard clowns who are ready to cut the rookie walked into their jobs on day one and were perfect.
Get a grip, losers.
August 18th, 2024 at 10:33 pm
We have had not a slot corner for years that could excel in pass coverage. If we continue to have 80% completion from the slot maybe Todd is looking for the wrong bodytype. Just because the pattern starts out as a short crosser, it can often be turned upfield and the slot corner has to follow them. Imo, their ability to stay with their man also requires good speed as well as tackling prowess.
August 18th, 2024 at 10:57 pm
Izien is going to come into his own, watch. I think he has what it takes to be a top DB i. the NFL…just a hunch.
August 18th, 2024 at 11:08 pm
It seems that Bowles’ constant blitzing puts a lot of pressure on his DBs. This is why Joe has been screaming for a pass rush. We shall see. Go Bucs!
August 18th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
ModHairKen Says:
August 18th, 2024 at 9:17 pm
A lot of negative comments.
——-
New to the internet?
August 18th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
Shane Callahan – Well that’s the thing, in the regular season he’s doing a lot of blitzing, mainly with 5 guys, the just keeps everyone standing around in a soft zone waiting for something to happen before reacting. This hasn’t been an aggressive man-to-man blitzing defense in years, Bowles is just living off his rep he got under Arians when Bruce would make him stay aggressive.
In fact last year, through the first half I believe, the Bucs played more zone than anyone in football, over 90% if I remember the stat correctly. Defense Rules, if you happen to see this, any idea on the actual number – I’m doing it by memory so perhaps I’m off.
August 19th, 2024 at 3:14 am
If your gonna play zone then draft zone corners, if your gonna play man then draft those body types. It just seems he wants his players to be everything in one package. If you want to blitz alot but Sit back in zone coverage then draft true edge rushers and defensive ends. Bowles seems to try and out think him self. Sometimes he creates brilliant game plans for the D ie the Superbowl against the Chiefs but then again the Chiefs were very banged up across their OLine.
August 19th, 2024 at 3:30 am
Im pretty sure Todd banged Pear not his sister!!!
August 19th, 2024 at 8:39 am
The comments evaluating Smith on here are very interesting. Didn’t realize we had so many talent NFN pro talent scouts on JBF. Smith is a rookie, still learning and he got a sack last Sat. He looked pretty fast on that play. He’ll turn out to be a stud. Give the kid some time. We’ve got to trust a coach who historically has had pretty good defenses with solid secondaries. For the secondary, we’re in transition replacing injury prone players. You just never know who’s going to be injury prone. Hindsight is 20/20 and you probably would never draft them if you knew it would turn out this way. The secondary will be fine, it’ll be much improved over last year. Our defensive backfield stay pretty healthy (the whole team did really) during the SB run. Injuries kill a season. My biggest worry with the Bucs isn’t who they have on the field as starters but more of who they keep on the field starting week to week… how badly injuries hit us this year.
August 19th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
So all Bowles wants is a guy who can do literally everything defensively? lol, oh that should be easy peasy to find.
And while Ronde’s “nickel” position was obviously very different from the Bowles scheme, if you want a guy who can cover, blitz and tackle, not sure there is a better example of that than Mr. Ronde Barber.