“He Is A Fish Out Of Water”
August 21st, 2019
Riffs on Devin White.
No matter how good a player is coming out of college or how many times team suits have to wipe the drool from their chins when discussing said player, he is, at the end of the day, a rookie.
And so it is with Bucs linebacker Devin White. While the team and coaching staff talk up White like the Great Cajun Hope coming in to save the Bucs defense by doing everything short of running the chain gang on the field, White really hasn’t fit the bill. Yet.
Let’s just say White has a ways to go before he is Ronnie Lott, Jack Lambert and Bruce Smith rolled into one, the way the team talked him up this spring. Oh sure, here or there White flashes big time, but Joe hoped to see more splash plays.
Former Bucs guard and current popular sports radio personality Ian Beckles has been watching, too, and like Joe, Beckles hasn’t seen White blow up plays as much as he expected. Beckles chalks this up to the simple fact White is a rookie and is going through a typical learning curve, so Beckles said in a recent edition of his podcast “In the Trenches.”
“Devin White, who is our savior… everyone is expecting Devin White to be Kwon Alexander. He’s not. Not yet. He is not as physical as Kwon Alexander his rookie year. Not yet.
“And I’m watching Devin White and as of right now, he is a fish out of water. He looks lost. That’s what happens. This game is hard, people. The NFL is a hard game to get acclimated to.
“Devin White is going to go through a four-week grace period of pooping on himself. It is going to happen because this thing is not an easy thing.”
Anyone remember how rookie Kwon absolutely lit up then-Browns quarterback Stewart McClown in Week 3 of the preseason in 2015? From that point on there was no doubt who the enforcer of the Bucs linebackers was.
Maybe the hype on White was shoveled too thick? Maybe Joe bought the hype at too steep of a price? Joe has no doubt White will be a good player. Joe just had hoped to see a little bit more from the LSU product by now.
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages listeners to submit Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:17 am
Ian Beckles is amazing….100 pro bowl, 42 super bowls, smartest football analysis and doesn’t get wet in the rain.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:18 am
I’m interested in how he looks by midseason in comparison with what he looked like at the beginning. I am interested how well he plays by the end of the season compared with how well he was playing midseason. Don’t really care if he is not the defensive rookie of the year, though, I’d be happy if he was. I want to see what we have for the next 7 to 10 years to come.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:21 am
He will be fine in time. He played in the SEC and when LSU was on defense there was one player that would flash and that was White. If he had played for some small school or DII I would be concerned. You can’t dominate in the SEC like he did unless your a great athlete. He will get there eventually.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:22 am
So you’re saying he’s not awesome after his first training camp and playing limited snaps in 2 preseason games?! I’m just stunned! lol
August 21st, 2019 at 8:28 am
That Tiger will be fine……for a long long time. For Joe, idle time is the devil’s workshop.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:29 am
Stopped reading the moment I saw it was a Beckles quote.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:36 am
How much did Kwon have to drop into coverage vs. blowing up running plays? Seems to me that Devin has a lot more responsibility in this scheme. Wow everyone is going all “J.G. Wentworth” I want my plays and I want them NOW! When he costs us a game like LVD has done more than once, like the Knuckle headed penalty against the Jets a few years back. Then maybe say something but to call him a “fish out of water” before the opener is a bit unfair.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:37 am
Beckles was a journeyman Guard, very indistinguished career. No one thought he was physical. Now he’s just a drunk who abuses horses. Sad.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:38 am
Joe finally found someone to confirm his bias against drafting White
August 21st, 2019 at 8:38 am
The very limited film on him over these two games hasn’t been great— he was getting absolutely mauled by Miami’s OL last week. But he doesn’t have to look great right now, he just has to keep learning how to be a pro and how to run this D (as the Xs and Os ‘green dot’ on the field). It’s a ‘neck-up’ transition, more than anything else— the rookie will look like a rookie for a little while. The fun part is watching the lightbulb go on, and it will.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:40 am
Didn’t hear Beckles mention the word “draft” once in talking about White. Keep dreaming.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:40 am
Joe, thanks for the link to In the Trenches! It was very convenient and a good listen.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:42 am
Geez, can we wait for one full season before we start calling the guy crap? My God Joe, you sound more desperate than a 15 year old girl with no prom date! RELAX! One full season then we can address it, for now, what the kid develop.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:45 am
imo, beckles aint wrong…..
as a UF fan, ive seen plenty of white….good player but he has the same flaws as kwon….over runs plays….arm tackles….and his coverage skills are very questionable…..
no doubt he’ll be a good player for us(maybe like a cj mosley) but im not willing to say he’ll be a savior or become the next ray lewis, luke K or patrick willis….
i just want him to be better than kwon(who by the way was playing out of position and still made a PB) and right now i havent seen that….yeah, i know he’s only played limited snaps and im not basing my statement on that….im basing it off his LSU years….
talented player….but he is a rookie and has a lot too learn…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 21st, 2019 at 8:48 am
In college he whstnhe did unreal
He would Rush the passer and would go sideline to sideline like a maniac.
But he had some weakness
One was he would take a lot of bad angels on running plays
And he wouldn’t really knife in on running plays.
Let’s see if develops that
August 21st, 2019 at 8:49 am
Beckles is nothing more than a puppet for the organization. Just think of a CNN news anchor or reporter. Scripted
August 21st, 2019 at 8:49 am
Meant to say he did what he did unreal
August 21st, 2019 at 8:57 am
@#5 in the draft, I expect BETTER than a “good player”; I hope for a Ray Lewis or Luke K. But we can get a “good player” later in the draft. I expect IMPACT that high in the draft.
But it is very early. Lets see how this pans out…
August 21st, 2019 at 8:57 am
Some of these analyst are almost as bad as some of the fans on this site.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:58 am
True of every rookie. Valid but not at all original thought.
Oh, and by the way, water is wet.
August 21st, 2019 at 8:58 am
How many sacks has Jaguar’s rookie savior Josh Allen got 0? Someone Joe pined for has done nothing yet either gee who would of thought?
August 21st, 2019 at 9:07 am
@Joe
Fact still remains you have your opinion and you will seek out other opinions to validate your opinion.
Confirmation bias at its worst especially for a “journalist”
Read up on the 3-4 educate yourself that pass rush isn’t only for edge rushers. White will be a good pick. How’d did stumping for Manziel turn out for your football credibility?
August 21st, 2019 at 9:09 am
ILB former Buc free agent Mason Foster lives in Tampa and is available for a one year contract to allow White to learn the NFL. Go Bucs!
August 21st, 2019 at 9:10 am
I wanted oliver who could have played dt or athletic enough to play lb hope white works out I wasnt crazy anout the picn obviously the kids is talented but is he as good as people say he is? Not sure
August 21st, 2019 at 9:15 am
That’s okay. Kwon went through a four year grace period of pooping on himself with some impressive displays of physicality and athleticism sprinkled in.
Has Devin White whined about not getting enough respect yet?
August 21st, 2019 at 9:18 am
White is going to be amped up and over pursuit. He will be fine by mid season.
August 21st, 2019 at 9:20 am
Not goanna give ANY evaluation of White until he plays more than two series in a game. Nor should anyone else really.
August 21st, 2019 at 9:23 am
I’ve been saying this all off season: If White can play all 16 games and flash here and there I will consider that a successful rookie season. Very few linebackers in the history of the game show Hall of Fame kind of play in their rookie season.
August 21st, 2019 at 9:33 am
You know who has more tackles than Devin White? Josh Allen and Devin Bush.
If we use Whites avg he’d need 2 games to catch up to Allen and 20 games to catch up to Bush.
Licht, take a bow, you did it again!
August 21st, 2019 at 9:35 am
Everyone just needs to chill the hell out. Anyone here that doesn’t believe BA will tell you when to worry?
August 21st, 2019 at 9:39 am
K2 I think beckles has played more games in college and the nfl that you would dream of playing … I think he knows what he’s talking about
August 21st, 2019 at 9:48 am
OMG!!
There’s no more room on the practice squad for the 1st rounder too!
This means the only draft pick to make the squad this tear is the freaking kicker??
How many years left on the Gumpster Fire’s contract???
August 21st, 2019 at 9:51 am
This is amazing.
2 freaking PRESEASON games in and White isn’t Bush I guess LMAO
Still not showing what defense will ACTUALLY look like.
When the lights come on, this dude is a stud.
Just wait
August 21st, 2019 at 9:52 am
so now an overpaid loud mouth who can’t tackle and led some of the worst defensive units in NFL history is what we judge linebackers by lol freaking hilarious…. kwon’s a fragile backup with a big mouth and one who can’t tackle for crap yet he is now the standard bucfan measuring linebackers… this franchise had a great lb in nickerson and a serviceable coattail rider in 55 yet kwon is the standard… laughable at best… beckels is right though about white. white is nothing special nor will he ever be special…
August 21st, 2019 at 9:54 am
Exactly Billy. Bunch of divas on this site
August 21st, 2019 at 9:59 am
How on earth can anyone judge a guy with four series in two games under his belt in a decidedly vanilla defense?
I have read he’s been fine in camp, or is that misinformation, too?
August 21st, 2019 at 10:00 am
Whenever a Buc player leaves the team to fans, and apparently Beckles he becomes a legend. Kwon couldn’t hold Keucley’s jock strap. He was another in a long line of over rated Buc players in the mind of Buc fans. He over ran, or was totally blocked out of more plays then he ever made. There’s a reason we moved on from him, and McCoy. The reason? They were the defensive leaders of back, to back 5-11 seasons. You can blame Mike Smith, and the coaching, and be right, but reality is neither player was ever, or ever will be a difference maker. White will be better then Kwon ever was, or is on day one.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:04 am
^^this year^^
August 21st, 2019 at 10:11 am
Devin Bush: 10 comb – 7 total – 3 asst – sack 0 – fumble 0 <<< Ryan Griffin also threw 330 yds against him how many tackles for loss? Big whoop!
August 21st, 2019 at 10:16 am
Yes Joe is still looking for any reason to bash the pick just like he looks for any reason to bash D Jax who had success with every QB he has ever worked with except Jameis. EVERYTIME some writer calls a player the Savior of the team its done with sarcasm. One player cant be the SAVIOR on a football team. Wasn’t too long ago Jameis was labeled as the savior now hes trying to save his career.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:21 am
Yeah like the best thing Beckles and Joe can do is blow up White’s confidence before we’ve even had our first real game. C’mon man.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:30 am
Buccaroo Says:
August 21st, 2019 at 10:21 am
Yeah like the best thing Beckles and Joe can do is blow up White’s confidence before we’ve even had our first real game. C’mon man.
that is hillarious…. if a player lets the media or a fan blow up their confidnece they are mental midgets like lvd and cancer93 and not needed on this roster… if a player is so soft a fan or media guy can throw their confidence off how in the hell are they going to compete when it matters in the post season… toughen up buttercup
August 21st, 2019 at 10:33 am
Cut it out, Joe! You wanted Sweat, Williams, or Allen. Please tell me their stats this preseason. What NFL defensive rookies have flashed this preseason? Don’t say Devin Bush. That was one game mainly vs the second string.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:34 am
That’s really absurd tmaxcon. I agree with you that Sapp was the greatest Buc of all time but you’re out of your mind if you think Brooks was just a coat-tail rider. How many winning seasons did Sapp lead the Raiders to? How many pro-bowls and all-pro teams did he make with the Raiders? Compare that with Brooks.
Also, take an outfit like Pro Football Reference. Brooks has a higher AV value than Sapp. Not only that, but Brooks’ AV value is the 13th highest across all NFL players in history. You’re entitled to your opinion on Brooks but by every available measure, biased and unbiased, you’re flat out wrong on Brooks.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:34 am
TRIGGERED!!! Lmao
August 21st, 2019 at 10:39 am
White was highly rated by everyone coming out of college. I don’t think a couple series in two meaningless pre-season games means a whole lot. He will have a learning curve but I expect we got a player that will see a few pro bowls in his career. As for the way Devin Busch is playing for Pittsburgh I’m happy for him. He was good in college and his game transitioned to the pro’s well. These two linebackers will be linked in the draft throughout their careers. I hope they both have long productive careers.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:50 am
The amount of stupid takes in this thread are astounding. All the guy said was rookies struggle in the NFL so the all MAGA type troglodyte “Bucs fans,” lose their minds and start in with their juvenile insults towards Beckles. So predictable. Suck it haters.
August 21st, 2019 at 11:07 am
Tmax – Beckles couldn’t tackle because he played Offensive line.
Hoping you were being ironic, but I doubt it.
In BA I Trust!
August 21st, 2019 at 11:17 am
This is like planting a seed of doubt that hopefully goes unwatered.
August 21st, 2019 at 11:26 am
We just need White to be the next Ray Lewis. Shouldn’t be a problem.
August 21st, 2019 at 11:27 am
White said he just needs to learn how to drop back into coverage. 🤣😂🤣
Blitzing the A gap, he’s got that part under control. 🤣😂🤣😂
August 21st, 2019 at 11:31 am
On the bright side if White doesn’t turn into the next Ray Lewis or Luke Kuechley we still drafted Sean Bunting LMAO 😂😭😂😭😂😂🤣
August 21st, 2019 at 11:41 am
The game it’s so hard that it’s the only sport that nearly every year players make the teams out of the street. 🤔.
August 21st, 2019 at 11:46 am
I like Beckles but I thought Ian said the preseason was a waste of time and impossible to evaluate players during this time frame since players are mostly playing against 2’s and 3s? He then goes and makes a statement about the #1 draft pick prior to the regular season where he has made an evaluation. We have read that Gay has the kicking job wrapped up? Lets see 4-6 weeks of no misses; I am sure thats what Arians is thinking. Gay does look good/confident though, which we have not seen around here since Bryant left over $$.
This is a reminder that this time of year you should take everything you read and hear with a grain of salt because the real bullets don’t fly until September. Its all noise in August. Nobody knows anything.
August 21st, 2019 at 11:49 am
I remeber D Brooks 1st year… He was lost half the time and was still pretty good…and got better every week. Same will happen here. Not saying hes a HOF, but he will be a pro bowler in a year or 2.
August 21st, 2019 at 11:56 am
I remeber D Brooks 1st year… He was lost half the time and was still pretty good…and got better every week. Same will happen here. Not saying hes a HOF, but he will be a pro bowler in a year or 2.
white does not have sapp’s coattails to ride like 55 did….
August 21st, 2019 at 11:59 am
Difference between Derrick Brooks and White is the Brooks would read plays and tackle the ball carrier.
MAKE NO MISTAKE we drafted an A gap blitzer nothing more. White is EXACTLY like Teflon Kwon in that he can’t read a play or wrap up a ball carrier actually worst yet apparently he can’t cover TE either but again WTFDIK
August 21st, 2019 at 12:47 pm
He’s got to learn to diagnose plays and react faster….and he will…it comes with getting up to the speed of the NFL game. And like someone said, he has a lot more responsibility than Kwon did. And Kwon got pushed around in the running game many times….I see them trying to avoid D. Whites space a lot…and thats a good thing. Thats where his mental speed needs to assist that freak physical speed.
August 21st, 2019 at 1:12 pm
D.White played 11 snaps in the preseason opener against Pitt….D. Bush played the whole first half….and i dont see any stats for Bush from his 2nd game. So when you throw out stats, also include the facts that go along with them, especially the important ones like snaps played!
August 21st, 2019 at 1:14 pm
knowledgeable observers always predicted him to need some time at this level. he didn’t play LB until after he got to LSU i think, kinda like mike evans at A & M and he has gotten so much more complete since his rookie year. the widely floated prediction was that devin bush would be better at first due to experience but that devin white would be better long term
August 21st, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Devin Bush made 1 tfl and the rest were 6 to 9 yrds up field. Our first unit running game looked good against Pitt. He also played the entire first half, against 2s and 3s. I wasn’t impressed. Go look at the film.
August 21st, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Why is it any surprise that a rookie needs to adjust to NFL play?
The % of rookies that come out of the gate kicking ass from the Get-Go is about the same as % as Hollywood babes calling me handsome, hung and rich.
August 21st, 2019 at 2:30 pm
The memories I have of Kwon are not “blowing up” anybody. Rather, they are of him running back into the TV frame (from wherever he over pursued or got juked out of his jock) to flex like an idiot celebrating over Lavonte or whoever else had made the tackle he missed. Anyone — Beckles or Joe included — who worries that White hasn’t measured up to Kwon yet has been out fishing in the hot sun too long!
August 21st, 2019 at 2:35 pm
we drafted an A gap blitzer nothing more. @ #5 overall
August 21st, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Hope he pans out. We were all about Josh Allen or Ed Oliver for the most part here. JBF majority typically proven to be the better GM than licht
GO BUCS
August 21st, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Just plain stupid – it’s been 2 lousy games with minimal snaps, no gameplan, no blitzes
Yeah he sucks and will make no impact this year, okay Ian
Got any more Sapp videos to share?
August 21st, 2019 at 6:24 pm
Ian
this is the same Kwon that wiff on a lot of tackles and is overpaid.
Oh he is coming back from injury too
White will be fine and again it’s Ian
August 21st, 2019 at 6:41 pm
By Now???? The 2nd week of preseason??? You a dumb @as joe and you are direct example of 90% of you posters !! This site is almost unreadable your like TMZ or Cosmo!! Trash!!
August 21st, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Have to agree with the majority. The bucs are playing vanilla and are not scheming. Why show your hand. Take advantage early in the season with disguises that the opponent hasn’t seen on tape
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:32 am
I still cant believe they got a rookie calling plays. But with that said it is alot like what he played at LSU. Hes a Buc now like it or not hes going to be here awhile.
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:37 am
I seen the same thing in his film. He needs development but he tests off the charts and he is a leader that you wont have to worry about off the field. And he wont hurt horses like Beckles.