Buccaneers’ Film Room: The Development of Kwon Alexander

Here, the Falcons are backed up deep in their own end, and Matt Ryan is looking for his star wide receiver, Julio Jones, lined up in the slot to his left.  Jones is going to run a post pattern, as Ryan executes a play-action fake.  Although Alexander ends up out of position on the pass, watch how he makes up for it.

Off of the fake, the pass play is wide open.  Ryan hits Jones with the pass in the circle, at the 15 yard line.  Right here at the catch, look at the difference in space between Jones and Alexander.  Currently, there are six yards in between the two, so it is an easy pitch and catch to Jones.  Watch what happens as the play moves forward.

Look in the circle, Alexander has cut the distance in half, and he has Julio Jones in his sights.

It’s the 35 yard line, and Alexander has used his speed to catch up with an elite wide receiver.  Linebackers don’t do that very often.  Now, Alexander does not only catch up with him.

He rips the ball away, causing a turnover for his Bucs, giving Jameis Winston and company a short field.

See that?  In just eight weeks, Alexander is a player who is leaps and bounds better than he was at the beginning of the season.

Next: Bucs' Most Beloved Man: Game Two

Yes, he is a beast.  But, he does have parts of his game to improve.  If he continues his upward trajectory, we will remember the name Kwon Alexander for a long time.