The “Baller” The Bucs Tried To Replace
September 17th, 2024
Defensive back Christian Izien.
Joe is sorry about laughing at this one from Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Outside of SirVocea Dennis, is there a player who has improved his play from last year to this season as much as Christian Izien? Joe isn’t saying Izien stunk last year, but through two games he has done so much good, the Bucs have to be wondering how they can get him on the field more.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked about Izien, and, well, let’s just say Bowles’ memory may be slipping.
“Izien is a baller,” Bowles crowed. “We knew that last year when we got him.”
Did they? Was Bowles talking about the very same player they tried to replace in the draft by selecting Tykee Smith in the third round this spring?
The night the Bucs drafted Smith, the Bucs all but said they were handing the nickel corner gig to Smith. Nickel corner is where Izien started last year.
And this move lit a fire under Izien.
So if Bowles knew Izien was a baller, why did the Bucs try to replace him? Remember the famous Raheem Morris quote? “I’ll tolerate you until I can replace you.”
The rest of Bowles’ statement on Izien sure is true based on the past two weeks, when Izien has balled out when called upon.
“No matter where you put him, if you put him in the game, you’re going to see him and he’s going to flash and he’s going to make some tackles and he’s going to make a play,” Bowles said.
Look, Joe doesn’t know what the Bucs’ motivation was for drafting Smith other than they believed he is a good player. The important thing is Izien is still on the roster and is splashing when on the field.
September 17th, 2024 at 12:04 am
Depth is a wonderful problem to have.
September 17th, 2024 at 12:11 am
A team cannot have enough balling DBs…
September 17th, 2024 at 12:33 am
Izien walks the walk.
Deans motto. He will leave no ball undropped, or when the going gets tough, he’s gone fishin.
September 17th, 2024 at 1:23 am
The Safety position has gone from a weakness to a major strength in one year.
September 17th, 2024 at 3:05 am
Mountain out of a mole hill.
September 17th, 2024 at 4:31 am
We needed both players last Sunday, will need both this Sunday. Smith was drafted because he’s talented. His drafting as it turns out, has helped Izien shine even more. Good problem to have, two good DBs.
September 17th, 2024 at 4:42 am
Izzy is looking good. Every week now is like a job interview and performance to keep the job. Agreed, keep them motivated. Can’t wait to see where this goes.
Agree with Hodad too. We need both. And this keeps the other team guessing.
September 17th, 2024 at 4:57 am
Of course they knew that’s why he started last yr at nickel they found someone more suitable for that spot 🤷🏾♂️ not saying he wasn’t good they just found a “ BETTER NICKEL “
September 17th, 2024 at 5:07 am
It’s called BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE Joe….what’s wrong with having 2 “ballers”….that’s called depth! I watched Smith a lot at Georgia and he’s the real deal and also had a nice game Sunday. If there was a big area where they needed improvement and depth it was the secondary…
September 17th, 2024 at 5:40 am
Joe says:
Look, Joe doesn’t know what the Bucs’ motivation was for drafting Smith other than they believed he was a good player
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The reason they drafted Tykee was not to replace Idzien but to shore up the middle of the field where Detroit and others killed us with the short passes AND the yac after short completions. As you can see from the results Sunday, it worked! Detroit receivers were swarmed after short completions and got very little YAC.
September 17th, 2024 at 6:54 am
Were they trying to replace him? Or, have the last few years shown that it takes a village to keep 11 guys on the field and 4 or 5 in the defensive backfield?
September 17th, 2024 at 7:02 am
depth, depth, depth its a long season
September 17th, 2024 at 7:37 am
I think Izien is a player without a natural position. He is a god football player but not our best corner or safety. Football players can play football though
September 17th, 2024 at 8:12 am
I totally thought that was a Gruden quote, not Raheem. Shows what I know :/
September 17th, 2024 at 8:20 am
agree with a lot of folks on here….
bowles wanted to build quality depth by adding t.smith who can play nickle or safety just like izzy…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 17th, 2024 at 8:21 am
Depth exactly what we don’t have at Tackle
September 17th, 2024 at 8:29 am
DB was a semi weakness last year. At least not we don’t have our #1 CB getting pancaked every week…
September 17th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Dean has a history of injuries so having Izien available to step in anywhere in the second is a blessing.
You will see playing all over the field this season. Go BUCS
September 17th, 2024 at 8:55 am
Tykee was the original insurance for Antoine not signed back. That’s what light has been doing since he got here.
Seem reason they got jmac (Godwin), Klein (mauch/goedeke), bucky (white)
Last year, Mauch (Godeke), ya ya (Shaq) etc..
Smith and Izzy at safety would have been great insurance for Winfield… They just so happen to get whitehead back.
September 17th, 2024 at 8:57 am
Izien had some ticky tac refs dogging rookie no name calls last year
September 17th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Hey Joe I got a great idea why don’t you ask him? Sometimes Joe I think you’re afraid of Todd and the Bucs that they might not let you into their precious Press Room if you ask these questions?
September 17th, 2024 at 10:09 am
Izien is the new Mike Edwards. Love having three stud safeties/blitzers/nickels/ballhawks
September 17th, 2024 at 10:09 am
I’m glad we drafted Tykee. Look at the injuries for 1 so izien cross trained at saftey then he got thrown in at outside corner both then add in the fact he got motivated because of the drafting of Tykee. Has worked out perfect. Shoot you could even be thro izien in next to LVD in some situations just to get your best players on the field. The dude can cover and tackle.
September 17th, 2024 at 10:28 am
I see you guys don’t check stats. Izien had the better college career over Smith and a better RAS and pro day. So, saying Smith was drafted to replace Izien is weird. Anyway, if Smith was so much better why didn’t they start him this Sunday at Safety. He’s so versatile, as ya’ll all continue to say. Izien could have played the Nickel. Stop with the Georgia hype, it’s just that..hype. Knuck if Buck!
September 17th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Maybe they knew Izien would be their utility guy in the secondary that could “do it all”? Maybe that was the plan all along. Either way it never hurts to have extra depth in the secondary and then start of this season has proven that.
September 17th, 2024 at 10:31 am
I hope he doesn’t get popped for PED’s.
He’s looking like Mike Tyson… that neck is crazy.
September 17th, 2024 at 11:06 am
Depth is a GOOD thing. Izzy is a baller!
We’re on course, ye mates! Grrrr! 💪🏴☠️🦜
September 17th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
He was a baller but was missing too many tackles
September 17th, 2024 at 2:48 pm
H-Town Darryl Says, they all missed tackles. It comes with the game. If you see how fast the guy moves around the field, it’s inevitable. He played the nickel better and is showing us his talent in the Safety position. It’s not even close in comparison. RU guys for the win. Knuck, if you Buck!
September 17th, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Joe, I’m glad you also brought up Sir Vocea Dennis. I think he just replaced Britt. Thank goodness.
September 17th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
I don’t see the confusion here. A guy can be a baller with limitations. You upgrade the position with another baller with greater abilities in Tykee Smith. Confusion cleared up, I hope.
September 17th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Mike_Fanclub: sir what limitations does Izien have that Smith imbodies so much so that you think he has greater abilities. I haven’t seen it yet. Let’s talk about it.
Knuck if you buck!
September 17th, 2024 at 8:11 pm
Didn’t Izien have two INTs in the first two games last season?