Devin White Wants To Take “That Luke Kuechly Step”
May 25th, 2022
Bucs ILB Devin White strives to be like Luke.
Bucs inside linebacker Devin White has had a nice three-year start to his career.
Already White has a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl appearance. Most guys never get either.
White, however, is not satisfied. He knows despite making a Pro Bowl he didn’t have a top-shelf season. He aims to change that this fall. One goal is to pattern his game after future Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly, White said.
Speaking after underwear football practice today, White admitted his naked aggression sometimes gets him into trouble. As in over-running a play. Like would-be sacks.
“Yeah, tt really is,” White said of how not channeling his aggression can result in mistakes. “Man, when I am going 100 mph, it doesn’t have to be an athletic quarterback, they can just sidestep you. You are moving so fast you cannot stop your momentum. Stuff like that.
“You always have to play under control. I always try to use my speed to make up because I know I am fast. Now, it has to be more brains than speed. So I am getting better with that. I’m still learning.”
Consistency is everything, White said, including his off-the-field life.
White said it is time to stick to a diet, not rewarding himself after a good game with less than healthy grub. White said wolfing down Chik-fil-A on Mondays for good play on Sundays has to stop. If for no other reason than to be consistent with his diet and consistent with his play.
“To tap into another level… for myself, I think it is being consistent,” White said. “With my diet. With my training. Making sure the fourth quarter still feels like the second quarter to me. As a young player, you kind of slack off in those areas. Because when you are young, you can just go out there and run. I think I have to be more consistent on myself.”
To attain his goals, White said he wants to emulate Kuechly.
“That’s that next step me and [what co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote] talks about,” White said. “That Luke Kuechly step. I have way more athleticism than him but he has way more brains. And brains plays a big factor in a football game.”
What might help White is Todd Bowles wants to play more consistent defense as well. White told Joe and other pen and mic club members of the local Fourth Estate today that his new head coach and former defensive coordinator Bowles changed defenses quite a bit last year due to injuries. This year White said the plan is to stick with the same defense no matter what defensive player is on the field.
As for being like Kuechly, well, Kuechly doesn’t have a ring.
May 25th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Well Devin,
Luke Kuechly was Luke Kuechly because he spent every second of free time watching film when he wasn’t practicing/training.
You need to start doing that.
May 25th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
LVD > Luke Kuechly [Go look up stats before you scream homerism]
We have been spoiled at the Inside LB position.
Go Bucs!!!
May 25th, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Damn, sounds like he’s maturing and settling into being a pro. I like it! It will be fun watching him this year to see if he can stick with the plan or if his instinct to go full speed takes over.
May 25th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Yeah the dude just needs to look at the guy who plays next to him and learn everything he can. Follow the same habits
May 25th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Brains are a huge factor in achieving elite play. Just look at giraffe-like Tom Brady. Nobody mistakes Brady for an “athlete,” yet he is the GOAT at QB’ing. Brains with brawn and speed, Mr. White!
May 25th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
A Chick-fil-A sandwich on whole wheat with extra pickle…..and a super large (Shaun King) size waffle fries……so, that’s my problem…..
May 25th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Thats not a step from where White is at the moment…rather a leap. IMHO White took a step back last year compared to his rookie campaign.
May 25th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
I think White can be a great player but his comment about
him being a way better athlete than Kuechly is disturbing.
he should realize he is not that much better than Kuechly who
was a great athlete as well.
I remember I lost it when they took Baron over Kuechly and
turned out to be right!
May 25th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Devin growing up – good.
Some idiot around here called him a cancer – that he is not. A headier, more mature Devin? Excellent.
May 25th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
He’s just NOW figuring that out???
sigh
4.4 feet, but a 5.3 brain…
May 25th, 2022 at 6:47 pm
Already brilliant player about to level up…love to see it! Don’t beat yourself up D White…we see you. All part of the maturation process. Luke’s career won’t compare when you’re done, especially since you’re clearly introspective instead of cocky like a lot of talented players. Looking forward to a BEAST of a season!
May 25th, 2022 at 7:25 pm
LFG!!
I’ve mentioned this before, with more snaps from VAA and a healthy LVD, I fully expect White to become dominant and a perennial pro bowler
May 25th, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Keuchly wasn’t as unathletic as some might think. He ran a mid 4.5 at the Combine and immediately became the player I wanted most at draft time that year… but we got Mark Barron… what a disgrace. Dominik is a dunce.
May 25th, 2022 at 10:27 pm
i get that the article is about White. I’m not a stat geek. What’s Lavonte David numbers vs. Kuechly
May 26th, 2022 at 12:10 am
Yeah right …. In mister bad angle got sidestep once again dreams
May 26th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Nothing wrong with a little chik fil a
May 26th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
Gman/SRQ …
White plays MIKE. Luke played MIKE. LVD plays WILL. White wants to be the best MIKE. Luke was the best MIKE.
Going back to your comments, you wouldn’t compare OL Quenten Nelson to Tristen Wirfs or DL Miles Garrett to Aaron Donald. Great players but different positions.
May 26th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
That last statement was music to my ears. Big brains play a big factor in football games. Thats what cost us last year. Low i.q football. ESPECIALLY on the defensive side of the ball. Trying to jump snap counts for an “edge”. Defense had 2/3 of our penalties last year. And we were up there in penalties. Neutral zone and PI stuff. Most teams it was 50/50. Offense vs defensive penalties. The Rams had waayyyy less penalties than us and the offense had the majority of them.SB title. Rams Defense played HIGH i.q. football. Glad to see the emphasis with us. Go Bucs.
May 29th, 2022 at 10:40 am
Honestly I like hearing this way more than when White was crowning himself as gods gift to mankind and acting like he was the best in the world.