Calijah Kancey Discusses Sacks
December 1st, 2024
Talks production.
The interior defensive line is the element of the Bucs defense that has allowed the team to stay in games.
In three of the last four games, the Bucs have lost by one score. In two of the three, the Bucs lost on the final drive.
Yeah, last week the Bucs destroyed the Giants but previously, the Bucs had lost four straight entering the bye week with the final three one-score losses.
Still, beginning with the 31-26 loss to the Dixie Chicks, Bucs defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have been on fire.
In the last three games (losses to Kansas City and San Francisco and a win over New York) Kancey has four sacks. Vea in those same games has three sacks. That’s seven combined in the last three games.
Compare that to the Bucs’ starting outside linebackers, you know, the edge rushers? The only thing those guys are rushing is the buffet in the team cafeteria.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and YaYa Diaby have a combined four sacks all year. In just the past three games, Kancey and Vita have damn near doubled that mark.
Joe last week asked Kancey why everything was clicking for him and Vea.
Is it that Kancey turned the corner recently and, because of his calf injury in training camp, he is just now 100 percent? Do Kancey and Vita finally have a strong working relationship and play off each other?
Kancey told Joe that is too simplified.
“Really, it’s just the consistency and doing all the little things so we can continue to perform at a high level,” Kancey said.
Fair enough.
In today’s “Gameday Tampa Bay” game preview. Joe noted the Bucs could be down three outside linebackers today.
JTS didn’t make the trip to Charlotte yesterday, so he is out. So too is Markees Watts (who?). And Anthony Nelson did not practice Friday as he is dealing with an unspecified personal issue. He is listed as questionable for today.
So the Bucs, in theory, could be down three outside linebackers. Joe thought that was bad.
Then Joe got to thinking, the Bucs don’t get production from outside linebackers/edge rush as it is. So what if JTS, Watts and Nelson may all be out today?
After all, zero minus zero still equals zero.
Where would the Bucs even be without Kancey and Vea?
December 1st, 2024 at 12:29 am
So now we can assume Jose Ramirez will be activate?
December 1st, 2024 at 12:34 am
This is the time to deploy the dime, to drop a safety into a rover position, or to generally re-imagine the defense. The Bucs are getting little out of their Edge, out of one linebacker position, and out of one safety. (Arguable how much they get from left end). Perhaps it’s time to put the best 11 on the field at the same time, and work around positional titles.
December 1st, 2024 at 1:12 am
Well there’s also only 3 of them, but ultimately they’ve been huge most of the season he’s not wrong. Kancey and Vita have had big years this season. Sucks we lost so many close games right at midseason. It’s cool though, it’s whatever , we gonna make a strong comeback for playoffs. Be ready!
December 1st, 2024 at 1:51 am
I also second what Lou says. Simply not enough production out of the LBs and Safeties. Even with YaYa , Zyon, and Winfield.
It’s just not working for us. Has to find ways to get sacks, FFs , or interceptions/deflections.
I don’t think this unit is that far off from being great, but it definitely does need a makeover in the offseason.
December 1st, 2024 at 6:43 am
hedline shud be ‘doesn’t’ discuss sacks
December 1st, 2024 at 6:45 am
Let Hall rush from the edge all day, and see what happens. Hall is a 4-3 defensive end, he’s not a 3-4 DT. Todd should line him up there on passing downs if he wants sacks from the edge, or DE position.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:43 am
Maybe the thrisd string QB they elevated can get a little bend around the end LOL.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:50 am
I saw DeVito interview post game last week. Reporter asked “did you just get the wind knocked out of you”. And DeVito, glassy eyed replied “I got the wind knocked out of me-yeah”. It was really funny. Credit for this story goes to Calijah Kancey.
December 1st, 2024 at 10:12 am
Down the stretch we find out which young edge rusher steps up to join the party with Kancey and Vea.