Brentson Buckner Calls Camp Standout & Surprises: Mitch Unrein And Jason Pierre-Paul
August 22nd, 2018
New defensive line coach Brentson Buckner males a bold statement
The rejuvenated Buccaneers defensive line has had its big highs and lows this summer, and loquacious D-line coach Brentson Buckner had interesting reflections today after practice, the last official training camp session.
First, Buckner made a very bold statement for a guy who has played on Super Bowl teams with dominant defensive lines.
“We’re more talented than any D-line I’ve probably played on or ever coached,” Buckner said. “Now it’s going to be what you do with it. That’s all based on them. It’s not coaching. It’s not fans in the stands. It’s not uniforms. It’s what you going to do with the talent you got and the people you got working around you.”
Go back and read that first sentence from Buckner again.
Asked about surprising standouts in camp, Buckner’s response surprised Joe.
“I expect a lot from a lot of the guys, but a guy who was farther along and I saw more of was Mitch Unrein, you know, when he was healthy,” Buckner said. “Mitch is way more athletic than you really see, you know, and it could just be because he played in a 3-4 defense in Chicago and he played here and his athleticism began to show.”
Buckner didn’t laud anyone else out by name off that question other than Jason Pierre-Paul. It seems Buckner was the guy driving the move of JPP inside, where he’ll certainly get some snaps this season. Previously, he was a fixture as an outside rusher.
“I always saw him as an inside rusher on third down but he can play inside on first and second down because he’s a football player,” Buckner said.
Buckner went on to rant about how his defensive linemen are coming along learning they need to be “football players” to the core and that eventually will mean they can play just about anywhere.
Joe will have more from Buckner later today.
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:48 am
Bucs D is going to surprise not only opponents…many Buc fans
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:54 am
Very bold statement indeed Joe…
The talent is definitely there; the beauty of it is when all four starters are on the field at the same time, we shouldn’t see many double teams…Gerald McCoy has been flirting with double digit sacks for years now but hasn’t been able to pull it off; this may be the year. We’ve waited so long; it’d be nice if we had 2 guys with double digit sacks…If that’s the case, that would mean our defense as a whole is playing really well…
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:56 am
When does Unrein return?
Was his injury ever disclosed. Need best guys on field and beau Allen name not really flashing.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Bucs aren’t giving out any specifics on injuries. Joe dismisses the timetables.
Like Koetter said yesterday, until he has to give out injury info (regular season) he’s not going to.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Let’s not drink the Cool Aid just yet.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Buckner seems amazing. If Mike Smith’s unit is vomitous, as they were last year, I would be ready to see Coach Buck promoted to D-coordinator. Love the man’s energy and perspective.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:19 pm
WHAT???? He didn’t mention Captain America err I mean Batman? Holy D Line what is going on here? The great one is going to go home and cry with his dolls! Sorry Gerald the sheep still know how great you are and in case they don’t you have all season to tell them.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Good to hear because Mitch Unrein was the cheapest and the youngest of the 4 Dline free agents brought in this year.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Probably a deeper line but not more talented in terms of starters when you’re talking about a rookie Julius Peppers (12 sacks / 5 FF first season);
Julius Peppers – HOFer- 12 sacks / 5 FF that year
Mike Rucker – probowler – 10 sacks / 4 FF that year
Kris Jenkins – 2x All pro (including Buckner’s year) – 7 sacks that year
Brentson Buckner – 5 sacks in 12 games that year
Those 4 guys had 34 sacks by themselves that season.
The 2017 Bucs had 22 as an entire team.
lol
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:31 pm
Oops listed Peppers twice. Hate that you can’t edit posts lol
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:31 pm
My bad, Unrein is 31. Still nice to hear he is doing good and can be a quality backup.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:35 pm
yeah Pelbuc, hold mine too.
Every year its rah rah rah,bs, not this time, show me
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:36 pm
wait and see mode!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:57 pm
I believe the Glazers have finally realized that they need to spend the full amount allowed towards the salary cap. Every year they scrimp and save every dollar they can manage. The team suffers while the family prospers.
The forced sale of the stinking Panthers ($2.2 billion) was an eye opener to them. If they want to cash in and truly maximize the team’s value, they need to loosen up the purse strings and stop being pennywise but dollar foolish.
Spending money to bolster the defensive line is the first step.
I think after a playoff run, this team goes up for sale.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Buckner didn’t need to praise the talent so much……unless it is actually what he believes….and he set himself up as their coach…..they have to produce or it’s on him.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:14 pm
I hope they can put it together this season. It’d be nice to see a decent defense for a change. It starts up front.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:00 pm
Jason Licht has done a really good job of turning what was possibly the worst defensive line in the NFL last year into a line that has a chance to be very good.
Jason seems to be slow at addressing problem areas, but he did the same thing with receiving weapons. Two years ago the Bucs receivers/tight ends were some of the worst as a collection in the league, but they are now arguably one of the top five.
My biggest concern is still the offensive line. However, there is no doubt in my mind this Bucs team is more talented than the team two years ago that went 9-7. The Bucs should be a pretty exciting team if they are able to overcome the Winston suspension for the first three games.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:43 pm
“most talented bucs team in years”
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Unrein has a concussion, according to Scott Reynolds. Hope he’s back soon.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Hope the d line can help the corners playing off…..
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:29 pm
There’s definitely a lot of talent on the D-Line. I really hope Buckner can get these guys fired up and pushing themselves to excel on every snap. If he can do that, he’ll be moving up the charts toward D-Coordinator next.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:54 pm
The more I hear from Buckner the more I like him. He’s certainly no JBF poster though!!!
“Now it’s going to be what you do with it. That’s all based on them. It’s not coaching. It’s not fans in the stands. It’s not uniforms. It’s what you going to do with the talent you got and the people you got working around you.”
Oh noes! You mean we can’t simply rip Smitty and Koetter? Of course some will point out as TBBF suggested that after that statement he put a lot of pressure on himself. But through everything in my life where I was successful it was because I had a boss that held ME accountable and didn’t accept excuses and blame.
BTW Buckner still looks and sounds like one scary dude. Suspect he might even have a few plays left in him. Too bad he’s not an OL or we’d get him to suit up around now.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:55 pm
If this defense does turn around this season,there will probably be at least 1 promotion. If it isn’t Mike Smith to a head coaching job, then it might be Buckner to DC somewhere else.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Show me Sept. 9th. I’m ready
August 23rd, 2018 at 8:31 am
I like the talent statement. I would now like to see results.
With Unrein, I think he was surprised somewhat due to not knowing the dude and his capability (being further along than expected, etc.)
There is a lot of talent on this Dline (I’d say top 5ish in the league before a snap is taken and they’re all healthy – but that is on potential only.)