Watson Never Stopped Driving
December 30th, 2012
First it was rockstar general manager Mark Dominik calling Dakoda Watson a Pro Bowl caliber special teamer.
Then days later Watson earned a Sabby and cost the Bucs the game in Dallas by burying the Cowboys punter on what was a sure punt block, a play Greg Schiano called a 10-point swing. But then Watson redeemed himself and won the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award for November.
Today, Watson capped off his strong season on special teams with a massive bull rush that drove a Falcons offensive lineman into the Falcons punter and blocked a punt.
It was a very special play, and one that shows the driving will that Watson brings to all his special teams play.
Watson didn’t have enough as a linebacker to beat out coach-pusher Adam Hayward and replace Quincy Black, but Watson is a very valuable member of the Bucs.
Still just 24 and perhaps the Bucs’ No. 1 gym rat, Joe’s excited to see how Watson can raise his game in 2013.
December 30th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
him not beating out Hayward for the starting lb job is very disappointing. I thought for sure he would get the starting gig when Black went down. o well, at least hes good for something.
December 30th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
I love the way watson plays, i would like to see more from him as a DE in passing plays. anyone think that?
December 30th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
@ Sam
I would not be opposed to that one bit. However, Im always cautious to see an lb matched up against an o lineman because it tends to be boom or bust in those situations.
December 30th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
I suppose that exact situation is what the preseason is for…to see whether he can be a boom or a bust
December 30th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
great special teams player, how many blocked punts is that for him this year? 3 ? special teams just comes naturally to him, time for him to make some strides on the defensive side of the ball in the offseason! go bucs!
December 30th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Good to see some Seminoles having success on the field.
December 30th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
It looks like we will likely have the 13th pick. I could be wrong, but seems like even if we had lost, it would have only moved us up to 9. And the value of this win was worth more than four draft slots. Very happy we could go out on a positive note.
December 30th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
He needs to develop into a pass rusher
December 30th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Every lineman on our team needs to develop their pass rush for that matter…
December 30th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Updated draft order for anyone interested.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/rob-rang/21474615/updated-2013-nfl-draft-order
December 31st, 2012 at 12:20 am
Yes Macabee….that is what I thought. But like I said, if you look at the order, we wouldn’t have climbed that many spots had we lost. Look at the AFC records/ order….about 9 of the first 13 picks.
December 31st, 2012 at 1:56 am
Watson used to be used as a rusher for us in previous seasons. He’s very successful at it.
December 31st, 2012 at 2:09 am
Yep, we’re drafting #13, would’ve only moved up to nine if we had won. I’ll take the win.
Also, the schedule is out for next season:
Home- Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, At-Large, (NFC East) Philadelphia Eagles
Away- Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets, At-Large, (NFC North) Detroit Lions
December 31st, 2012 at 2:12 am
I’ve been begging to see Watson more at DE for a long time now. He is the only Bucs defender that can run the arc at DE and provide a speed rush to keep QBs from drifting in the pocket. The few times he’s been out there the past two seasons, good things have happened even when it wasn’t him necessarily getting the sack.
He should be out there and the success he’s had shows how imperative it is for the Bucs to get a Simeon Rice-type edge pass rusher. Michael Johnson of the Bengals fits the bill, possibly Connor Barwin of the Texans, perhaps Cliff Avril… after that the free agent stock is bare.
December 31st, 2012 at 2:54 am
Watson has a motor that never quits…. his body runs for days too. WHEW!!!!
December 31st, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Joe Sacbucs has been screaming “Free Dakoda” since day one. I said I seen him cover Vernon Davis step for step. I said put bennet at RE and let D Dub. Play LE when AC went down. Like anything i say hold weight. He’s so much faster then Hayward or Mason. IMO he covers better the any player on the bucs. He comes off the edge like Von Miller. He stunts better then any of our dlinemen. Its that character guy shhh..