Antoine Winfield, Jr. Snags Rookie Of The Month
October 1st, 2020
Baller
Gerald McCoy never did this, but Noah Spence did.
Joe is all smiles this morning upon learning of Bucs rookie safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honor for September, joining Lavonte David, Spence and Devin White (a two-time winner) in the annals of Bucs history.
Joe still remembers when Mike Glennon won the highest monthly honor bestowed on NFL offensive rookies back in November of 2013. But today’s news is much more exciting since it was always obvious that Glennon was just backup material.
Winfield has two sacks in three games. No defensive back in the NFL has more. Winfield’s 23 tackles are tied for the most by a Buccaneers rookie through his first three games since Kwon Alexander burst onto the scene in 2015.
The award is nice, but Joe’s much more excited by the reality of Winfield the football player. He’s fast, he’s instinctive, he tackles, and he looks like a guy playing without a learning curve.
Joe expects rookie Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to throw at least four catchable balls for the Bucs’ defense on Sunday. Hopefully, Winfield will be on the end of one of them.
October 1st, 2020 at 9:40 am
I wouldn’t be suprised if he wins NFL player of the week or even month at some point, forget rookie accolades. Dude is a baller!
October 1st, 2020 at 9:41 am
Hey Joes remember when you were bashing the front office for drafting another safety in the second round ? Bashing would be the wrong verb. The JoeBucsFan archives are here for all to search. –Joe
October 1st, 2020 at 9:43 am
LFG DEFENSE!!!
October 1st, 2020 at 9:44 am
Well deserved. (As many on this board have been saying.)
October 1st, 2020 at 9:47 am
great work…
GO BUCS!!!!
October 1st, 2020 at 9:52 am
The kid seems to be all he was touted to be!
This Defense is getting noticed.
October 1st, 2020 at 9:56 am
I had a good feeling when we drafted Winfield but he’s succeeded my high expectations. Let’s hope he keeps it up all year and remains injury free.
October 1st, 2020 at 10:06 am
So we have defensive player of the week, the defensive player of the month and the defensive rookie of month. Time to match it on the offensive side, then we really have a complete team and we’ll on our way to a great season!
October 1st, 2020 at 10:13 am
I agree @Mike
October 1st, 2020 at 10:19 am
I love this kid! I predicted on draft night that he will be a top 5 safety in the Nfl, and so far he seems well on his way. Go BUCS !!
October 1st, 2020 at 10:23 am
THE IRONY ABOUT WINFIELD…
Is that the Bucs probably shouldn’t have ended up with him.
The Bucs won’t ever admit it, but LSU Safety Grant Delpit was rated higher than Winfield by almost every scout/analyst, the the Browns took Delpit with the 12th pick in the 2nd Round, knowing the Bucs would be on the clock next at the 13th pick.
If the Browns don’t take Delpit at #12, it’s more likely the Bucs take Delpit and NOT Winfield.
Delpit had a 1st round grade and many couldn’t believe he slid to #12 in the 2nd round. So the Bucs had to be licking their chops. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Browns grabbed Delpit in the pick before the Bucs pick so they couldn’t get him.
Delpit was rated higher because he was a much bigger guy and Winfield is a bit undersized for the position.
It’s interesting how LUCK plays out and something you need it. Winfield, who the Bucs obviously had to settle for, is on his way to Defensive Rookie of The Year honors potentially, and Grant Delpit is out for the season and having surgery.
A little LUCK does go a long way in the draft.
Winfield is now looking
October 1st, 2020 at 10:26 am
Jason Licht became genius on defensive draft picks shortly after Todd Bowles arrived….
Devin White,SMB & Winfield…….winners.
October 1st, 2020 at 10:32 am
Keep it up Rook!
October 1st, 2020 at 10:35 am
I am stoked. These guys all deserve the recognition they are getting.
Thank God we have the greatest QB to ever play in Tampa at the helm. Unlike the last few years this QB wont steal all the attention by sucking.
Also, it don’t hurt that our new QB, the best in Franchise History, doesn’t turn the ball over so much. Surely our D would have gotten recognized more if not for the other team having Career and Franchise days against our old QB. Who proved to be the best sucking QB in NFL History.
October 1st, 2020 at 11:10 am
Tampabaybucfan – you forgot Jamel Dean who as far as I know hasn’t played this year. Jk lol. I’m implying he’s been so lockdown and hasn’t been thrown at I forgot he’s on the field. Had one hiccup in New Orleans but to be fair he had every right to believe drew couldn’t and wouldn’t throw a ball 10 yards down the field or even throw to anyone but kamara and Thomas
October 1st, 2020 at 11:27 am
Bashing is too strong a word. But let’s just say many here were less than thrilled that we dared to take an ILB 5th overall and then spend this high of a pick on a safety who appeared to be a bit of a tweener but who was simply that talented to be able to play safety or corner. He’s not a guy to tear up a combine but his intangibles are off the charts beginning with his father.
And so regardless of what position is selected where at the end of the day if you get an all pro it’s all good.
Look at this team up the middle on D!!! Seriously! Suh & Vea White and LVD and now Winfield and Whitehead/Edwards. That’s a terrific group at the very heart of our D.
Oh but what about the edge rush…Shaq and JPP!!! We have the talent on defense to make a deep run in the playoffs…IF the offense can measure up to the expectations.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:10 pm
he “exceeded” my expectations, as well 007
October 1st, 2020 at 12:21 pm
Licht did something right?
October 1st, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Well deserved!
Shaq – DPOW
Lavonte – DPOM
Winfield – DROM
October 1st, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Congrats AWJ! He seems to always be where the ball is. The kid is a baller all day!
October 1st, 2020 at 1:51 pm
@spbf
You have to remember in the 2019 draft, we had no idea what we were getting in Shaq. We had an underperforming DL for a while with great DL talent on the board.
For the Winfield pick, if I remember right, the issue was the amount of picks we’ve had in the secondary. Hargreaves was a 1st, Evans was a 2nd, Stewart was a 2nd, Davis was a 2nd, Whitehead was a 4th, SMB was a 2nd, Dean was a 3rd, and Edwards was a 3rd. That’s a ton of picks spent on the secondary. I don’t think the Bucs pick a safety in 2nd if it wasn’t Winfield. To be fair to Joe, he came around to the idea after watching highlights and reading about him.
The context of these picks were super important to the reactions. I think we’re all just happy three recent picks have been working out. Defense looks fierce.
October 1st, 2020 at 3:11 pm
aside from injury, negligent coaching- trying to make him into something he wasn’t, ruined Noah Spence’s career and its tragic.
October 1st, 2020 at 3:12 pm
I am on record wanting Dobbins or Akers with the Winfield pick and the crow is tasting mighty fine!
October 1st, 2020 at 3:25 pm
See what is the point of this ⬇️ below, ignoring the fact it is flat out lies?
WhoCares Says:
October 1st, 2020 at 10:35 am
I am stoked. These guys all deserve the recognition they are getting.
Thank God we have the greatest QB to ever play in Tampa at the helm. Unlike the last few years this QB wont steal all the attention by sucking.
Also, it don’t hurt that our new QB, the best in Franchise History, doesn’t turn the ball over so much. Surely our D would have gotten recognized more if not for the other team having Career and Franchise days against our old QB. Who proved to be the best sucking QB in NFL History.
October 1st, 2020 at 5:36 pm
This dude is fun to watch. Homerun by Licht.
October 1st, 2020 at 6:55 pm
Amazing to watch him….Speed to kill and just LOOKS a level above the other (also very good) safeties. Whitehead and Dean are showing out too. Seriously fun to watch! And then man mix in Devin White and Lavonte and we haven’t even started talking D line…..just GIDDY with excitement for this D
October 1st, 2020 at 7:14 pm
@Ivan The Insider Says:
…It’s interesting how LUCK plays out and something you need it…
I always reference that same issue on Arizona getting David Johnson.
One pick before Arizona was picking in the 2nd round, Detroit nabbed the player they wanted Ameer Abdullah.
When they lost him, they ended up taking David Johnson in the 3rd round and great history for them was written.
October 1st, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Ivan – lots of question marks around Delpit on the weeks leading up to the draft. He was no longer considered a 1st rounder by many. Winfield was also a first rounder. I think Licht would have taken Winfield even if Delpit was also available. I think he is the type of player that Licht prefers.
October 1st, 2020 at 7:22 pm
First round prospect.
October 2nd, 2020 at 1:02 am
I agree with you Brady Bunch. The Bucs are going after high quality guys that love the game of football. Grant didn’t play well his last year of college compared to his hype. He is also a guy that is allergic to tackling. The only successful player to be allergic to contact but was still awesome was Neon Deion.
Total freak athlete and could get away with it. Grant can’t hold Deion’s jockstrap.
In BA I Trust!
October 2nd, 2020 at 12:28 pm
This won’t be his only one