Ex-Bucs DL Getting Sweaty
March 22nd, 2019
Former Bucs DL a big fan.
If you want feedback on what a defensive end should be, why not ask a guy who played defensive end on the highest level?
Take Steve White, the former Bucs defensive end during the Father Dungy years. White also dabbles as a football analyst (he’s smart and offers interesting perspectives). In a piece typed for SBNation.com, White shared his assessment after watching various games played by Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat.
White hadn’t watched one snap of Sweat before he began his research. After watching tape, White was so impressed he believes Sweat’s game film may be more impressive than his combine blow up.
Combined with all of the other traits that I’m partial to, Sweat’s functional strength was also impressive on tape. You can be as fast and as quick as you want to, but my prototype defensive end would be able to hold his own at the point of attack, too, and Sweat certainly fits that bill.
I know his bench press numbers from the combine weren’t overwhelming, but his tape says he is more than strong enough to me. Not only did I not see blockers getting the better of him, I was able to see him get push plenty of times in the backfield. So I’m not worry about how strong he is and you shouldn’t be, either.
In addition, I’d want my top defensive end prospects to employ sharp technique and be good with their hands when taking on blocks. I’d also want them to get full extension with their arms when they did take them on so that they could keep the blockers off of them. That puts them in position to more easily escape off of blocks so they can make plays.
White goes on to detail all sorts of intricate moves and pressures Sweat uses, which White believes will serve him well when some lucky team (Joe hopes the Bucs) calls his name the first night of the NFL draft next month.
Two things about White’s analysis here. The potential strength issue. White noted Sweat didn’t bench press well at the combine. Joe remembers Warren Sapp also stunk at the weights in his combine. Later, Sapp was famous for saying, “You don’t pump weights on the 50-yard line.” So true.
Little is discussed about Sweat’s run-defense abilities. That’s normal because you draft a defensive end high to get after the quarterback, not to stop the run. Well, in the various games White watched of Sweat, White noted Sweat’s speed was so disruptive that teams were scared to run or bootleg on his side of the field.
If a guy can pull that off in the NFL, that’s a true game-changer worthy of a No. 5 selection.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:15 am
There are so many options at 5 it will be analysis paralysis. DL/LB/OL seems to be the need. White or Sweat? Or Quinnen? Allen or Lewan?
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:27 am
“Checkout those chicken legs and tell Kobe he is wrong”
Kobe Faker
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:29 am
Allen
White
Or Sweat
Pass on a DT….we have those.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:31 am
Thisnpick has to count.
The player we take will fill major hole on team and produce right away.
Arians and Bowles should take the lead and tell Licht what bucs are gonna take.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:32 am
White or Sweat?
I just don’t understand some of the lovefest for Devin White.
He is vastly overrated.
No bleeping way that guy is worthy of #5 overall.
Sweat would be a good pick. White would be a disaster and if the Bucs go that route, then there is no hope this franchise.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:38 am
Best defensive player available then the next 4 or 5 best defensive players available. Better make sure they are all aggressive hard hitting players. Leave the beach lovers and doll collectors for the west coast teams.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:49 am
Nick Bosa – Edge
Quinnen Williams – DL
Josh Allen – Edge
Ed Olilver – DL
Montez Sweat – Edge
Top 5 prospects there. We will have our pick of at least 3.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:50 am
I’ll be honest. I’m having trouble deciding who the Bucs should take at 5 or even if they should take anyone but trade down. Having no say in the decision, I would not sweat it with Montez as the choice. When I look at him I see a Julius Peppers with another 15lbs – even looks like him. This a solution in search of a problem. Gonna be hard not to get this one right on draft night. Go Bucs!
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:58 am
Bosa, Williams, White, trade down. Allen and Sweat scare me as potential busts or at least not immediate difference makers at the NFL level. In a trade down I would hope for Oliver to be available.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:04 am
Starting to like him in a 3-4 edge role more and more.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:05 am
Kobe Faker Says:
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:27 am
“Checkout those chicken legs and tell Kobe he is wrong”
Kobe Faker
^^^You’re not wrong. He’s a string bean with no moves and no bubble to bull rush. Absolute pass.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:13 am
Well Steve White likes him – and I do have a lot of respect for White’s football analysis. But according to the reviewer analyzing Sweat in the video provided – his best attributes are “long and tall athlete”, “excellent get off” and “ran a 4.41 40 at the combine”.
On the negative side, the Gridiron Soapbox reviewer says Sweat has:
– Not enough strength or physicality to deal with the better tackles in the SEC.
– Good straight on speed – but also displays “stiffness” and inability to change directions quickly.
– Not enough “bend” or ability to “get around the edge” when engaged.
– Doesn’t have a “go to move” and is “somewhat predictable” as a rusher. Doesn’t have a “plan B” when he gets initially tied up with a blocker.
– Strictly an “edge rusher” with limited abilities to stop the run or cover.
The Bucs already have a poor mans version of this prospect in Noah Spence who needs coaching up just like Sweat does. Certainly not the type of situational player you take with a #5 overall pick – especially not with a stud, 3 down MLB filling a much bigger need on the board….
If you trade down 10 spots and he’s still there – then sure – you likely take a chance on the speed and potential. Otherwise, its a big pass on Sweat for the Bucs assuming they stay at #5 or even trade down but stay in the top 10.
Combine darlings who don’t have the tape to back up their athletic showcasing in Indianapolis rarely turn into the FOOTBALL PLAYER a team hopes for when they draft that athletic marvel….
Just sayin
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:14 am
I’m warming to Sweat, but I will be concerned about an edge rusher gets there 1 second to late because the pass went to Kamara, McCaffrey or another shifty RB
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:27 am
He is just stiff when rushing the passer. He doesnt dip his hips to keep OT hands off him. When he speed rushes he doesnt corner and angle back to the QB very well. A lot of times he just gets pushed up the arc and out of the play. From the few games I watched the way he won was with inside moves or on stunts.
He has elite athletic numbers from the combine, but I dont see an elite athlete in the games i saw. He looked stiff.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:29 am
He isnt in the same tier as Brian Burns or Josh Allen imo. Picking him at 5 is too rich for me
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:29 am
Montez Sweat is a JPP clone. 6’6″ 260 DE.
With JPP only having 1-2 years left in the tank, it would be wise to draft a sack specialist now while we have a high first rounder.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:34 am
bucsdelight
BINGO!!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:36 am
His college production was strong. he even had decent tackle numbers. And two consecutive years of double-digit sacks in the SEC is nothing to sneeze at. I’m not as fanatical as Kobe is about this, but I do wish she had a bit more bulk in his lower half. That said, his physique reminds me a lot of Aldon Smith who didn’t seem to have much trouble sacking the quarterback at the pro level.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:45 am
If the scouts have him rated as one of top 2-3 D line prospects then we take him unless someone rated higher is available. We also have to consider whether our scouts believe he can play OLB. I just wouldn’t take him if they have him rated as the 4th or 5th best pass rusher. If that is the case I would go best player available or trade down. If you want White you probably have to draft him here as the teams drafting 6-11 have all shown interest and have major need at LB.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:55 am
Pass on this guy
– not one move just out running college players to edge. ( name top tackle , 1st rounder material in SEC he dominated)
– didn’t see one tackle on highlights against a running back , saw him standing and playing Velcro man
March 22nd, 2019 at 10:04 am
I did not hear anything more to make me think Sweat is worthy of our pick at five.
My understanding of the consensus rankings of the draft prospects is as follows in rough order. N Bosa and Q Williams are at the top and closest to being considered sure things. The next tier would include J Allen, D White and E Oliver. The next tier might include J Taylor, M Sweat, R Gary, C Ferrell, C Wilkins, G Williams, B Burns and J Williams. All of the above fall into the top 10 to 15 potentially.
As usual we should to evaluate in terms of the perceived best available at any position versus our perceived needs for the Bucs. This is where all of the analysis and debate comes in. This is where all of the FUN for the free agency, pre-draft period is! 😁 / 😡
I will skip over my own lengthy personal reasoning here.
I expect to see us come away with Allen, White or Oliver. I would be happy with any of them. I would be giddy if we somehow came away with Williams or Bosa.
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Go Bucs
March 22nd, 2019 at 10:33 am
P.S. I am with macabee this year. With the addition of Arians and his coaching staff to our existing Buccaneer brain trust I can’t see how Licht can get the first pick totally wrong no matter how things shake out. By that I mean whether the Bucs actually end up trading up, standing pat or trading down I see us in a win-win situation.
We would have to work extra hard to to get it wrong. (I know there will be a few nattering negativists who will actually expect THAT failure automatically. 👿 So be it.)
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Go Bucs!!!!!
March 22nd, 2019 at 10:44 am
Good Lawd. Do you see #94 Jeffery Simmons on the Interior
March 22nd, 2019 at 10:47 am
Joe is on target regarding Sweat.
I watched his games a good amount this year and he is a game changer. The teams he played against in the SEC were game planning against him without question. I would love it if the Bucs get him in the first.
March 22nd, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Is it just me or does he look / play a lot like Julius Peppers.
March 22nd, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Didn’t White used to have an occasional column on JBF years ago?
March 22nd, 2019 at 12:26 pm
As far as being able to bench press… Sapp couldn’t be more wrong. I love Warren Sapp probably more than any other Buc… but he’s wrong. The bench press is a very effective standard for measuring the ability to push off of blocks or get push in blocking. Players that fire their hands out with power and strength and are able to extend their arms are in far better position to make plays or sustain blocks than players that aren’t.
That being said, the bench at the Combine DOES NOT measure upper body strength, it measures dedication to the weight room and work ethic. All NFL players that aren’t kickers and punters (and most can) can bench press 225. Benching 225 does not measure muscle strength, it measures muscle endurance. There are players (like Sapp) that can only bench press 225 for about 17 reps that were extremely strong (Sapp won the strongest bench in the NFL competition at least one year). Having muscle strength is measured in a max bench… some people have that naturally, some people train specifically for that. Having muscle endurance can only be built through countless dedication in the gym and grinding out the workouts. Personally, my PB for reps of 225 was 29 (at a weight of around 190-195) but I have never been able to reach 400 lbs so even though my reps of 225 numbers dwarfed Sapp’s, there is no way the my muscle strength was even close to Sapp.
Like I said, Sapp doesn’t know what he is talking about. Number one, he was gifted with extraordinary speed and strength. Number two, he was never confused with being a particularly hard worker, his inability to reach more than 20 on 225 is indicative of that… and number three, him saying that not being strong on the bench is not a big deal is him being a hypocrite because he was insanely strong on the bench… as was Larry Allen… Tony Boselli…. Jumpy Geathers (who also happen to have won the NFL bench press competition and were known on the field as extremely powerful players).
March 22nd, 2019 at 12:47 pm
My problem with White is that he doesn’t hit. I just watched the Devin White vs 2018 film. He mainly swing tackles, by that I mean he kind of waits until you get beside him and then grabs you to tackle. He doesn’t initiate the hit unless the player was running near the sidelines. He was fast and could get to the ball carrier, but that is NCAA and not NFL. Everyone in the NFL is fast. For some reason I just see him as being soft, unless he learns to hit. He will need a strong D-line to absorb the blocking so he can freely run. I don’t think you can take him at #5. Trade back if you want him, but a strong DL would be better at #5.
This comes back to his Combine analysis.
-Running backs consistently finish under his pads
-Not a natural knee-bender in space
March 22nd, 2019 at 1:11 pm
It doesn’t matter who they pick. If he’s slow to develop this season people will blame Licht for picking the wrong guy, even if everyone agreed with the pick at the time.
March 22nd, 2019 at 2:53 pm
I’ve got 3 names for ya. Kamara, McCaffery and Freeman all have been killing us. Sweat is not going to cover them and is not the best at his position. Devin White is considered head and shoulders above every linebacker in this draft and is at a position of need. Don’t care if it’s at #5 that’s who you take. I’m not sold on Sweat by any means he’s fast yes but I don’t see him coming in and making a difference right away. I think with White we get the best in the draft class and he makes an impact right away. Draft is deep at Dline we can get someone in round 2 or trade back into round 1 to get someone. Just don’t think you past on White unless maybe for one of the big 3 but I’m still a bit torn there as well due to the deep D line class.
March 22nd, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Don’t worry y’all. The QB position is getting more important by the year.
Murray and Hankins probably going ahead of us. One of the Top guys fall and there’s no debate. It will be the easiest selection in Bucs history. My dream is Q.
I’m just glad that the only discussion is for Front 7 guys. Not backend or OL.
March 22nd, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Bucs4ya……..Drafting that way is drafting based on need. It’s an OK way to draft but is a terrible idea at Top 5.
You have very real and very good chances to draft HOF players in this position. I know this sounds like pie in the sky but this is a fact. All you have to do is go back and look at all the drafts in history and focus on top five players.
The rate of finding HOF players is a humongous difference if you are picking Top Five. It doesn’t hit every year but having a Top Five pick is truely a rare opportunity. It is essential to take the very best player avialable aside from a few circumstances………and no, having a few nice players like JPP and Nassib does not qualify to pass on EDGE
March 22nd, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Speaking of Sapp pumping weights, wasn’t there something with the Pro Bowl done, that was like a weight lifting challenge, and Sapp finished 2nd? This would probably be after the 2000 season I’d guess. Anyone remember that? I didn’t remember Sapp having a poor weight lifting session at the combine, but unless my memory is failing me he bounced back strong, or at least in a one-on-one event he showed more of a motor than at the combine years earlier.
March 22nd, 2019 at 3:29 pm
If the price is right….. we need to trade back and try to get someone’s 1st for next year. It could put us in a position to get a QB next year in the event Jameis falls flat. And the QB class will be loaded next year. Im not sold on Sweat….He runs a super fast 40 and now he all of a sudden jumps in the top 5 conversation. I would rather us go with the safe consensus picks here. We can’t afford to to miss on this pick.
March 22nd, 2019 at 3:31 pm
So I went and looked it up, and I had completely forgot about it, but the NFL did those lineman challenges and Sapp won a bunch of years including winning the weight lifting section for at least one year. So that makes sense as I didn’t remember anyone thinking Sapp wasn’t strong at the time.
Watched parts of some of those challenges and man the NFL needs to bring those back, I remember those being 100x more interesting than the Pro-Bowl itself.
March 22nd, 2019 at 3:39 pm
Jeffery Simmons is the real deal forget Sweat.
March 22nd, 2019 at 4:43 pm
JimmyJack…… I get what you’re saying about picking in the top 5 and possibilities of picking a future HOFer. My point is simply this if the big 3 are gone (lets just say they’re the potential HOFers in this draft) then Devin White should without a doubt be our pick. We not only get the drafting for need but you also get the person ranked #1 in position of this draft class who may be a center piece of the defense and start the attitude change that is so desperately needed with this team that you and I love (although many times I wonder WTH am I thinking) Lol
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:07 pm
@pickgrin-
you nailed that 100% w/ Noah Spence. And when he was coming out, Steve White was in love with him. Called him the best pure pass rusher in the draft that year.
And maybe that would have been true if he had not gotten injured, but he still would have struggled in the run game. We need a bigger guy than that if we’re taking him in the first round.
March 22nd, 2019 at 11:20 pm
If I am Licht, here is my top 5…
Bosa
Allen
Williams
Sweat
Burns
Get one of the dominant DL, no brainer