Ronde Barber: Devin White Has Work To Do In Run Defense
September 18th, 2019
Bucs rookie LB Devin White
Yes, a Bucs insider openly admits there’s immaturity in the game of Devin White.
Joe can’t recall hearing such a thing previously from anyone close to the power brokers at One Buc Palace, or the power brokers themselves.
Ronde Barber raved about White on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week. White’s demeanor and approach are that of a well-seasoned veteran, Barber said, and White likely is the most athletic middle linebacker to ever roam the Buccaneers defense. White’s “Ham hocks of legs,” impress Barber, he said.
But Barber also has studied the film and sees a rookie with work to do.
“He’s gotta learn to read the run better. He’s gotta learn to not always look for blocks; sometimes you just run and make tackle,” Barber said of White. “You gotta find some patience, but he’s a great tackler, he has a nose for the football and he has a nose for making plays.”
Man, Joe wishes White was healthy and ready to play against the Giants and Saquon Barkley on Sunday. It would be nice to see more of White to really evaluate him.
White sprained his knee Thursday and did not practice yesterday. Barber, who will call the game for FOX, noted White would miss a couple of weeks.
Joe hopes White can sharpen his mental game on the sidelines. Some players are good at that; others need to play to learn and don’t get much out of observing.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:03 am
The kid has had some rotten luck so far, starting with his horse, I hope it doesn’t snow ball for him.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:06 am
5th overall pick and he’s not good at run or pass defense?
September 18th, 2019 at 11:07 am
My, my, my. I thought this guy was a can’t miss, immediate upgrade from Kwon(who is playing great for the 49rs), and definitely NOT another high pick flop from our clueless GM. This doesn’t mean he is going to be a disappointment, however, the immediate ROY upgrade is not on the horizon. Someday the Bucs will draft someone who immediately lights it up. Someday….
September 18th, 2019 at 11:11 am
He looks hesitant, scared and slow.
He may run a faster 40 time than LVD but his 10 yard burst looks way slower than LVD.
LBs need quick minds not just fast legs.
They must see things and explode.
Devin looks overwhelmed. Which is normal.
But he certainly does not look anything like Keuchly did his 1st year.
@joe
Check the archives. Who did teacherman call for?
Keuchly in the 1st. And Vontaze in the 7th.
Joe called for LVD.
I remember that.
I also called for the Honey Badger in the 2nd. We drafted Jonathan Banks.
But in regards to Devin White sucking, at least we have two great backup ILBs.
Buccanon- 1st rounder.
Kevin Minter- 2nd rounder
Devin White- 1st rounder
LVD- 2nd rounder
Good job Licht!
September 18th, 2019 at 11:13 am
Oregon Boy—
What a STUPID comment! Keep your day job.
Wait. You don’t have one.
Never mind.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:14 am
Ima stop going at the Jacksonville Destroyer josh allen. Reason being they’re rookies. This defense is currently top 10 in spite of a young rookie still learning inside LB.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:19 am
I am agreeing with Ronde on this one. Too often White tries to take on blocks and gets caught in the wash. Look back to preseason and San Fran game vs. those off tackle power runs and outside power tosses.
LVD has been making up for White’s shortcomings with his absolutely tremendous play thus far.
This is the NFL and you can’t teach speed, so DW does have potential to be a sideline to sideline monster.
Instincts need to catch up to his on paper skill level, which are better than LVD in all combine categories except the broad jump (LVD had 1″ advantage).
September 18th, 2019 at 11:19 am
I tried to tell you he can’t read run plays but WTFDIK
September 18th, 2019 at 11:23 am
He played one game. People see what they want to see in him.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:28 am
i agree with ronde….
white has a TON of work to do….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 11:33 am
well, when kwon got suspended the last 4games of his rookie year, while we were sitting at 6-6, the defense went str8 to hell…..the next year kwon made the PB….
still early in the season but when white went down, defense got better with minter….we’ll see the true impact of white vs the giants…..they’re going to run the ball heavy….if minter plays like he did vs the panthers and we stack another W, TB will have a bug decision to make….
play the hot backer or let the rookie get his feet wet….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 11:36 am
All DW needs is reps and seeing everything OC’s throw at him to throw him off…he’ll get better and better and better…he’ll be fine given time
September 18th, 2019 at 11:39 am
Amazing he played one game…while he was sick and he’s not the best player in the NFL. I guess that makes him a bust.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:54 am
Exactly K2. One game of film while he was sick .
September 18th, 2019 at 11:54 am
K2 you probably shake your heads at these comments like I do. Haters gonna hate.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:55 am
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that he is a bust. But, isn’t it a legit criticism to say that the #5 overall pick at LB should at least be able to read and react properly to the run? If he has work to do as Mr. Barber suggests, then did we get the best value at #5? I think that’s a fair question to ask and doesn’t automatically mean “Bust”.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
He’s going to be fine, reminds me of Vea last year.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Good call Ronde! I’ve seen the exact same thing watching him play in the preseason and week #1. He better bring it when he gets back on the field. I’ll be forever comparing him to Josh Allen and Devin Bush. Time will tell……
September 18th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
#REPOST
LUVMYBUCS Says:
April 14th, 2019 at 3:34 pm←
There’s no way in phucking hell this kid compares Patrick Willis.
Why because they both played in SEC? C’mon now Willis was a complete LB.
-He played under control
-He had an uncanny ability shedding would-be blockers.
-He always trusted what he saw. Came downhill. And attacked the ball carrier.
-He was one of the most technically sound tacklers of ALL-TIME.
HE COULD HUNT!! ALL DAY. 365!!!
Don’t get me wrong Devin has a lot of unharnessed raw talent. And one day “IF” he pulls it all together. He MIGHT get the chance to be mentioned with some of the best to have played the game. But slow your damn roll when you’re comparing him to one of the greatest to have EVER played the position.
IMO he compares more favorably to D.J. WILLIAMS (MIAMI)
September 18th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
I read the Ronde comments as a net positive on DW……..to suggest he has some things to learn is appropriate and accurate….no need to worry about DW…..he will learn….and probably quickly.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Shouldn’t we give a rookie at least 8 games to adjust to the pro’s? It used to be 2-3 seasons before declaring somebody a bust. I love Ronde, but he didn’t exactly light it up as a rook either. Give the kid some time
September 18th, 2019 at 12:32 pm
He’s a step too slow right now but as soon as he gets better acclimated he’ll start knife’ing past blockers.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:37 pm
I’m not sure a rookie’s first game is any real indication of his effectiveness.
Besides, I read into Barber’s statement some significant positives…
September 18th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
He couldn’t read blocks in college what makes you think he can do it in the nfl. Stop being so slow and naive. He’s a A gap blitzer that’s it. And he doesn’t wrap up.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
it sure seemed to me like Minter played better
September 18th, 2019 at 12:52 pm
White will be fine… It takes most players time to adjust to the nfl…It tok #20 over a year & he revolutionized the nickle position… I bet he’s a beast by the end of the season…
September 18th, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Cobra, agreed…more positive than negative. The kid had the flu as well.
September 18th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Oregonbucsfan Says:
September 18th, 2019 at 11:07 am
My, my, my. I thought this guy was a can’t miss, immediate upgrade from Kwon(who is playing great for the 49rs), and definitely NOT another high pick flop from our clueless GM. This doesn’t mean he is going to be a disappointment, however, the immediate ROY upgrade is not on the horizon. Someday the Bucs will draft someone who immediately lights it up. Someday…
——————–
Can you at least try to mask your stupidity with your posts? You want somebody that immediately lights it up? You mean like Hall-of-Fame shoo ins, Cadillac Williams and Michael Clayton? Two of the most overrated players in team history? Who spent their entire careers unsuccessfully chasing the ghosts of their rookie years? Nah, give me Sapp and his average first year. Give me Lynch not winning a job until year 3. Give me Barber not getting into a regular season game is rookie year. Give me Brooks looking good but not dominant his rookie season. I’ll take that, I’ll take Godwin and his pedestrian rookie stats over some flash in the pan rookie whose career fizzles out as quickly as it ignited. You can have Robert Griffin and Robert Edwards, I’ll take my chances with the Tom Brady-like players that took a little time to develop.
September 18th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
doctor_berto … “5th overall pick and he’s not good at run or pass defense?”
Apparently you missed a couple of other things that Ronde said, good doctor, so I’ll repeat them for you …
“Ronde Barber raved about White on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week. White’s demeanor and approach are that of a well-seasoned veteran, Barber said, and White likely is the most athletic middle linebacker to ever roam the Buccaneers defense.”
And teacherman777, I don’t know where your “He looks hesitant, scared and slow” is coming from. He played in ONE game (only got 6 snaps in Game 2 before being injured) … with the flu … and was credited with 6 tackles (5 solo) in 67 snaps as we held SF to under 100 yds rushing. And so you and the good doctor and DB55 and 813bucboi are ready to write him off? Seriously?
September 18th, 2019 at 1:47 pm
DR
i aint writing him off….
i just know he’s not a savior and has a lot to work on…..i saw flaws in his game at LSU….folks talked about how they thought he was so much better than kwon but we havent seen it yet….
@777 is right…he looks hesitant….he’s having trouble fighting off blocks….he needs better tackling technique….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
And y’all saw all that in ONE game on TV with him fighting the flu as well as fighting off blocks?
And BTW bucboi, Kwon was very good I thought when playing outside (which is how SF is using him now). As a MLB in a 4-3 defense? Meh.
September 18th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Oh geeze, more know it all Defense Rules. Are you blind or just ignorant? He looked the same in preseason as he did the flu game. Also, I never said he wasn’t athletic so idk why you’re bringing that up. He is objectively not good at run or pass defense at this point. Cant be argued. Go ahead and leave your parents basement and go outside…some vitamin D will do you good.
September 18th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
lmao at this insane nut house of a fan base.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:17 pm
To be fair the dude was sick.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:26 pm
Good call DR. I didn’t realize Kwon was playing WIL. He got kicked out so fast I didn’t realize he wasn’t their MLB.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Last week this time every JBF posers/whoops posters (for the most part) was shipping Winston out. This week as the tide turns their crosshairs have moved onto a rookie LB. I need to start scrolling more then reading, when it comes to the comments from some.
September 18th, 2019 at 4:11 pm
DR
i saw tons of him at LSU….its not like he went to a small school….
and btw KWON made the PB as a MLB……couldnt have been too “meh”…..
GO BUCS!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 4:11 pm
It might just be a blessing in disguise for White to have to watch from the sidelines for a week or two. Sometimes you can learn a lot that way. Especially when White, who has so little actual experience in pro games, can watch a heady, steady player like Kevin Minter – who already knows how to play in this defense – perform his MLB assignments successfully.
September 18th, 2019 at 4:20 pm
DR says: Kwon was very good I thought when playing outside
when did he play outside in tampa?…..lol…he started as a rookie at MLB….he took bruce caters spot in TC and never gave it back….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 6:12 pm
813bucboi … In Kwon’s case, I was talking about the position he played in COLLEGE. THAT’S when he played outside. And yes, the only position he played here in Tampa was MLB.
And doctor, I’m neither blind nor ignorant. I brought up Devin’s athleticism because that’s what Ronde brought up, but you were so prone to negativity so didn’t seem to care about that little ditty. And one of the most bizarre conclusions I’ve read on JBF in quite a while now belongs to YOU … “He is objectively not good at run or pass defense at this point. Cant be argued.” OBJECTIVELY? CAN’T BE ARGUED? YGBSM. Might add doctor that statements like “Go ahead and leave your parents basement and go outside…some vitamin D will do you good” make you look like a buffoon.
September 18th, 2019 at 6:39 pm
I said I wouldn’t mock Licht anymore for this pick since there really are no other defensive rookies lightning it up, but I just don’t have the willpower. Taking a middle linebacker at 5 who needs to work on stopping the run is ridiculously stupid. I could understand if it was working on coverage skills and what not, but stopping the run? That’s a middle linebackers main job! A middle linebacker picked at 5 overall should be a terror against the run at worst! I would dangle this kid and a 2nd next year to the Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey and see if they bite. Gosh damn it’s hard being a Buc’s fan. 😉
September 18th, 2019 at 7:29 pm
Could be a Vita Vea type situation. Coach him up mentally and watch film till he’s 100% healthy.
And Minter has been hot since TC. He was all over the place in Carolina. I’m glad he’s #2.