Bucs Connection With Kalen DeLoach
May 12th, 2024
Bucs UDFA LB Kalen DeLoach.
Yeah, you’ve heard this story before. Long-shot propsect will do whatever the team wants him to do in return for a roster spot.
But this has a cool twist.
Bucs undrafted free agent Kalen DeLoach signed with the Bucs for a lot of reasons. One was the lack of depth at inside linebacker for the Bucs. The other was to learn how to play linebacker from Lavonte David.
But there were two Bucs connections for the Florida State product. The first was, Bucs and Florida State legend Derrick Brooks. While DeLoach was asked about the Brooks connection, he quickly stated he’s no Brooks but he knows Brooks because Brooks “was around” the Florida State program often last season.
The second connection is also a linebacker and it’s not Brooks nor David.
DeLoach said while he was training for the draft, his personal coach “Coach Doug” would often pop in a tape of a player for DeLoach to study and emulate.
The player? Bucs starting inside linebacker K.J. Britt.
Joe found this a bit amusing.
“You know what is crazy?” DeLoach said. “During my training process I watched a lot of Tampa Bay because my coach, Coach Doug, he always put up K.J. Britt.”
Remember not that long ago, a Bucs Hall of Famer played clips of former No. 5 overall pick Devin White and demonstrated to his large social media following that White’s play at linebacker was not how one should play linebacker?
Now you have a coach who works with NFL prospects showing tape of White’s successor, Britt, on how linebacker should be played.
No wonder the Bucs waved goodbye to White.
To celebrate how good this defense was, this throwback video is from 2023 vs Clemson. Kalen Deloach makes the QB fumble the ball, then scoops it up for the TD. FSU would go on to win in OT 31-24 snapping their losing streak against Clemson. FSU would finish the season 13-0 pic.twitter.com/CVK5hc77d3
— FSU Throwback (@FsuThrowback) April 29, 2024
May 12th, 2024 at 12:21 am
So basically this screams to me that Devin White didn’t study film and relied on his athleticism to try to catch up with free lancing. Or unless he was blitzing, was seemingly a liability. Shame.
May 12th, 2024 at 12:30 am
Seems like it, doesn’t it?
May 12th, 2024 at 12:33 am
White didn’t know what he was doing wrong until it was too late to change! Of course his now bruised ego won’t allow him to learn! Don’t waste the cash you have left Live 45 cause you’re playing days are numbered 👀
May 12th, 2024 at 12:35 am
We should have traded up for Verse too instead of another multi/ no position scrub OL
May 12th, 2024 at 12:40 am
CleanHouse,
Don’t assume the worst yet.
May 12th, 2024 at 2:22 am
It really is a shame Devon White could not figure out how to use his speed while staying in position. So much potential.. Unless he goes to a team that just lets him blitz, pass or run, he’ll never live up to the potential.
May 12th, 2024 at 5:29 am
wont be on the practice squad though….backup ILB at minimum…how he fell to us, i dont know. Blessed!
May 12th, 2024 at 5:56 am
He runs a 4.47.
He is the perfect SS/ILB/money-backer that I imagine for this defense.
On 3rd and long?
How about ZERO linebackers on the field?
Imagine a dime defense where everyone runs a sub 4.5?
Even the “linebacker?”
May 12th, 2024 at 6:19 am
Smart kid that realizes that getting quality advice from others speeds up the the
learning curve.
May 12th, 2024 at 6:53 am
The one knock on DeLoach coming into the draft? Speed, tenacity, talent, want too…? Nope – it was his size. When he gains 4 – 5 pounds of muscle before training camp, he’ll come in at the same size as Brooks and David. Nice company to be in.
May 12th, 2024 at 7:40 am
Funny how most of the posts today are knocking D White, when what’s interesting is that Deloach’s Coach Doug selected KJ Britt train his player. Yeah, Britt doesn’t have 4.4 speed, but apparently he knows how to play LB.
May 12th, 2024 at 7:52 am
I will thank Devin White for what he did in the SB, amazing effort. I agree he is a shell if himself, but he’s no longer our problem either.
His horses seem to be more important to him anyhow.
May 12th, 2024 at 7:57 am
Knowing how to shed blocks!
Small but has adapted well to that and uses his speed to compensate
Plus has the want to prove himself spirit!
May 12th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Keep the chip on your shoulder D-Lo and you’ll be fine…
May 12th, 2024 at 8:17 am
Good kid….hope he makes the PS…..
May 12th, 2024 at 8:21 am
In comparison, Deloach is a much more polished prospect at LB than Britt was coming out, and if he can handle how to be a pro like Britt has then we might have struck gold. I also believe 220lbs is a reasonable weight to hit before the regular season starts, just hope it doesn’t effect his playing speed too much.
May 12th, 2024 at 8:37 am
Undersized ILB with lots of speed? Tampa practically invented the archetype. If he can produce, there’s room for him on the 53.
May 12th, 2024 at 9:12 am
I …. My mind is blown…
I am now a DeLoach fan Joe!
Go Bucs!
May 12th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Love the connections and hope Kalen does well.
May 12th, 2024 at 10:30 am
CleanHouse
“We should have traded up for Verse too instead of another multi/ no position scrub OL”
Not sure if you’re one of our trolls, but here’s a tip unless you like looking stupid.
Hyperbole is not your friend!
We can honestly disagree about the value of trading up for Verse, hard to really know since you haven’t mentioned HOW MUCH DRAFT capital you were willing to burn for that trade. Whatever we can easily and honestly agree to disagree.
“another multi/ no position scrub OL”
Perhaps you think it adds punch to your post but it makes you come across as either troll or ignoramus.
In April…CBS Sports has Barton eight spots lower, going to Seattle at No. 28. Of the three NFL.com mock drafts, Barton is projected as high as No. 16 to Philadelphia.
So there it is CH…as high as 16 as low as 28. That means the NFL writ large disagrees dramatically with your characterization of Barton as a SCRUB.
SCRUB….that’s really dumb!
May 12th, 2024 at 10:49 am
They should probably get him up to 230. Unless they’d plan on dropping him back as a S sometimes.
May 12th, 2024 at 11:12 am
No wonder the Bucs rid themselves of Devin White….now all you self proclaimed “experts ” realize what I’ve been preaching for the past FEW years…45 is not a good football player! All you have to do is watch game replays and concentrate on him and you’ll quickly realize that White ” looked like Tarzan but played like Jane “
May 12th, 2024 at 11:44 am
FSU fan and surprised Delouch didn’t get drafted. Kid has speed and great instincts. Could be a steal!
May 12th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
We shall see what we shall see. This is the time of year that we learn all the little insights into these new players, and it’s fun.
But none of it will matter if they don’t produce later.
This is also the time of year that I get the most impatient for a new season to start…even though I know this time span is important to the development of the young players.
May 12th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
You take the kids speed away at 230lbs!!! Let’s see if he can hang at 220lbs first