“It’s An Attack Mode Defense”
April 25th, 2014
Bucs OLB Jonathan Casillas talks Bucs defense.
On Tuesday, Joe had a chance, along with other members of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club, to get inside the Bucs locker room and speak with many players who were not getting taped up or tending to some type of trainers needs or other football-related responsibilities.
To a man, those guys couldn’t wait to hit the practice fields at One Buc Palace. Joe had never seen players geeked to practice. But even after a hearty practice (remember, guys couldn’t hit and the only piece of padding they wore along with their shorts and shoes and jerseys were those gleaming chrome helmets), players were still pumped. Enter Jonathan Casillas.
The Bucs strongside linebacker is fully in love with Lovie’s defense. For a variety of reasons. One reason is that, per Casillas, linebackers will be interchangeable depending on the coverage called and what the offense shows.
Based on where an offense lines up in strongside, Casillas says he could be a weakside linebacker at times, or maybe even a middle linebacker.
“In order for us to really get the maximum out of all of our players in the linebacker room, we have to know all three positions,” Casillas said. “I am learning all the positions including nickel spot. It is a fly-around defense with the linebackers making a lot of players and we have the ability to freelance a little bit which is always a good thing for a defensive player. You kind of get to do what you want.
“It’s an attack-mode defense. Our players are built for that. We have the defensive guys to do it and make it functional. We have the guys in the locker room. We brought in guys now to secure all the spots.”
Joe can understand why Casillas is jacked to play. Just listening to him Joe just wanted to pound beers and pray the NFL season started Sunday.
Alas, the season is far away and the draft is two weeks away, which means Joe is further assaulted by mock drafts for another 13 days.
To hear the excitement in Casillas’ voice click the audio below from Joe’s partners in crime, WDAE-AM 620.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:57 am
Joe, I look at mock drafts like a certain piece of our anatomy, everyone has one and no one cares.
Keep the articles coming and what did you see and/or hear concerning our DBs during the minicamp?
April 25th, 2014 at 11:01 am
Nothing really negative or positive either way. Can tell you that Rashaan Melvin seems to be the forgotten CB. Previous administration thought they had a steal that even surprised them.
Melvin made a nice play or two yesterday and Tuesday, Joe heard secondary coach Gill Byrd praising him during a nondescript drill. Might want to keep an eye out for Melvin in training camp. Too bad the guy got hurt last year.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:02 am
I smell a top ten defense. It’s been too long.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:20 am
Bring the pain! That’s all I have to say.
April 25th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
Please stop abusing me. You are killing me with your alcoholic ways. I’m cool with you drinking beer a couple times a month, but almost every single day? I won’t be around much longer if you continue your ways..
April 25th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Enter CJ Mosley…exit Mason Foster. Foster does not have the speed to play Will. If what Casillas is saying is true then Foster should be the #1 reserve off the bench and Mosley the new starting MLB as he can play all three positions equally well.
April 25th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
@Joe’s Liver lol There are 2 Joes. One of them is a nice guy and a reliable back up.
LOL–Joe
April 25th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
@Stu Laake ….CJ Mosley has not even been drafted yet. How can we “enter CJ Mosley” when he’s not been drafted yet? Oh you’re saying that’s you’re pipe dream. Oh I get it now.
April 25th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
All this excitement from the LBs is great.
I’m really curious to hear from Mark Barron and Dashon, I know they aren’t the biggest talkers but I’d love to hear what they’ve got to say about it and the opportunity to be nailing people to the wall in this Tampa 2.
April 25th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
I’d bet the house rite now that the Bucs have a top 5 defense next year…sike…lol…On the real, I expect big things from this defense believe it…front 2 back…
April 26th, 2014 at 11:46 am
Joe’s Liver Said:
“Please stop abusing me. You are killing me with your alcoholic ways. I’m cool with you drinking beer a couple times a month, but almost every single day? I won’t be around much longer if you continue your ways..”
The liver is evil. It must be punished.