Buccaneers’ Film Room: The Development of Kwon Alexander

Here is our first play from the game against the Titans.  It’s a passing play, where we see Alexander’s cover skills put to the test early.  Alexander is in the center of the screen.  Kendall Wright is going to run a quick slant from Alexander’s right, off the screen.  Marcus Mariota will run a play-action fake to Bishop Sankey who is going to run up the “B” gap (between center and tackle).

The circle is the approximate location that the pass is going to be thrown to.  Instead of staying at home, Kwon bites on the fake.  Let’s watch.

Take a look at Alexander’s eyes.  He is locked in on Sankey, who he thinks has the football.  He doesn’t realize that Mariota kept it, and will be looking for Wright on the quick slant.

Alexander has bitten on the fake, hook, line and sinker, as they say.  He has actually come up to meet Sankey in the “B” gap, and he doesn’t even realize that Wright has made the move in behind him.

If you take a look at the circle, note where Wright makes the catch.  Look back at the beginning, and you will see that this is almost the same exact spot that Alexander was lined up at.  If he had stayed at home, he could have broken up the pass.  Instead, it’s an easy pitch and catch for Mariota and Wright for the first down.

This kind of skill is not something he would have seen in college.  The ball fake just isn’t executed as well in school.  It’s a play he will definitely learn from.

On the next page, we are going to take a look at another play from this game, where Alexander tries to rely on his speed, instead of basic fundamentals of tackling.

Next: vs. Titans: Play Two