Boy, Did The Bucs Light A Fire Under Christian Izien
September 16th, 2024
Balling in 2024.
Joe remembers well the weekend of the 2024 draft when the Bucs selected Georgia safety Tykee Smith in Round 2 and right away the Bucs strongly implied he would be their starting nickel cornerback.
The incumbent nickel was none too pleased.
That Friday night when the Bucs commented on Smith, Christian Izien, who started in 2023 as the Bucs’ nickel as a rookie undrafted free agent, sent out a Twitter that said in so many words, ‘come get my job.’
Izien busted his tail and balled out in training camp and looked like one of the Bucs’ better defensive backs.
Izien told Joe this summer about being upstaged, “One hundred percent. It motivates me every day. Just having someone in my spot is definitely motivating,” he said.
And Izien has carried that motivation into the regular season, where he has been so dang valuable you could argue the Bucs wouldn’t be undefeated now without him.
First, Izien may have saved the Week 1 game against Washington. Yeah, the Bucs had the game in hand but when the Bucs lost three corners, Izien was called off the bench to play outside corner, a position he hasn’t practiced, or played since he was in high school.
But he didn’t embarrass himself and he played damn well. Certainly good enough that the Commandos didn’t focus on exposing him.
Then there was yesterday. Starting at safety for injured Antoine Winfield, he was part of the Bucs secondary that played extraordinary football. It may have been the best secondary play since the Bucs beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in February 2021.
Only difference is the Bucs had a pass rush that historic night.
Yesterday, the Bucs got zero — zee-row — sacks on Jared Goff yesterday as he tested the Bucs defense for 55 passes. Izien had an interception and likely a game-saving tackle on Jahmyr Gibbs late.
You’ve heard the phrase “Iron sharpens iron?” Joe is thinking that’s what the selection of Smith did to Izien.
And the Bucs (and likely Izien, too) are winners and undefeated as a result.
September 16th, 2024 at 4:53 am
Secondary is looking like it could be a Strength this year. Adding Whitehead back makes such a difference as well. Cant wait to get Winfield back on the field.
September 16th, 2024 at 4:54 am
I absolutely love it that I can wake up at 4am and get some bucs news- izien is a beast
September 16th, 2024 at 5:11 am
They didn’t get home, but there was a pass rush. GOFF got beat up!
September 16th, 2024 at 5:40 am
Maybe we should get more players from Schiano University? Izien has been a tremendous find
September 16th, 2024 at 5:49 am
People are saying JTS made plays. Hutchenson made plays. I want sacks from my edge rushers, not plays. YaYa must be a practice warrior. Two games, zero sacks. He doesn’t look like a double digit sacker, looks more like a rotational guy. Was hoping he’d be that edge guy we’ve been looking for, he’s not. So many opportunities for Joe, or YaYa to end the Lions hopes with just one sack at the end, niether got home. Licht is going to have to keep looking, keep drafting till we find a real edge rusher.
September 16th, 2024 at 6:14 am
Izien balled out!
But whitehead was freekin everywhere. It’s great to have jordan back.
Great win. Go Bucs!
September 16th, 2024 at 6:27 am
Curious about what others say on Izien. I had him missing three tackles, I think all on third downs that would have ended drives. But I could be mistaken. You see the numbers flash so quickly.
September 16th, 2024 at 6:27 am
Zyon, Whitehead, Izzey and Sirvocea Dennis were amazing.
September 16th, 2024 at 6:29 am
So pass rush ain’t everything.
September 16th, 2024 at 6:29 am
Wow
Wait until the starters comeback.
Epic season on its way?
LFBake!!!!!
September 16th, 2024 at 6:44 am
I saw one instance where they said he “missed” the tackle, the ball carrier was arms length away, could barely touch the guy with his outstretched fingers, don’t know that I’d count that
September 16th, 2024 at 7:19 am
Thanks to Joe’s training camp notes, I had a strong feeling Izzy was going to shine. And he did.
September 16th, 2024 at 7:34 am
Hey !
It’s just the beginning of his second year
He was a rookie last year
The Bucs are in a GREAT situation with those two
September 16th, 2024 at 7:38 am
Izien also saved the game late when Gibbs busted that 4th down play. He was going to score if Izzy doesn’t dive and push him out of bounds. Hell of a game!
September 16th, 2024 at 7:58 am
bowles and his staff know how to develop players….good to see and great to have lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 16th, 2024 at 8:18 am
Another one of Licht’s UDFA gems. Izien was a keeper in his rookie year. Game balls to the entire Defense, Bowles and staff, LVD and Whitehead for providing leadership and informal coaching. Is the sky the limit? Who knows.
September 16th, 2024 at 8:59 am
Izien has been a good player since he arrived. He will be hard to keep off the field when Winfield returns. The other story, is Zion McCollum. It’s only two games but he is looking like a top 5 CB. He has been a big upgrade over Carlton Davis and Davis was fine… but McCollum, he’s excellent thus far. With his frame, athletic ability, and current level of play, McCollum could end his career up there with the best Buc CBs of all-time…. Ronde Barber, Donnie Abraham, Brian Kelly, Mike Washington, Ricky Reynolds… McCollum could be better than all of them.
September 16th, 2024 at 8:59 am
Tykee Smith was a 3rd round pick.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:38 am
whitehead might be my fav player in the NFL. sends shivers through opponents
September 16th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Hodad really!!!!!!!!!!!
September 16th, 2024 at 11:14 am
Hodad
If you actually watch the games Diaby gets pressures and is effecting the pocket, he will end up getting sacks with his motor. It’s the second game of the season first of all, saying he’s not the guy we were hoping for rn is ridiculous.
September 16th, 2024 at 11:18 am
I think Christian Izien should be the starting nickel back over Smith, but I trust Todd with his defensive decisions. So glad we got a guy like Izien though stepping up big time. Ryan Neal would have been out of position and wouldn’t have stepped up like he did. Also having Whitehead back is already paying dividends, dudes all over the field.
September 16th, 2024 at 11:33 am
He has been great!
Zyon has been great!
Dean has been fantastic.
Whitehead may be the MVP of the first half. It seemed like he was in on everything.
Denis is a missile
September 16th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Our secondary has def improved and shows us how little we really needed Carlton! JL has done a masterful job with the back end, wish I could say the same for our pass rushers!!
September 16th, 2024 at 11:46 am
Once we get Kancey back in the mix, it’s gonna get fun for Bucs fans who wanna see some sacks, because those guys on the back end are ballin’ out!
September 16th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
0 sacks, but they hit Goff 10 times and pressured him even more than that.
It’s almost like pressure is still important, even if a sack is better…
Imagine that?
September 16th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Yet another great article for a Monday morning!