Buccaneers: Noah Spence and his budding greatness part I

Sack Number Two

Showing his versatility, Spence is lined up this time on the right side of the defense. He is up against a talented left tackle in Joe Staley (74). He is going to take on Staley directly and engage him at the point of attack. Remember I mentioned technique on the previous page? Let’s move ahead and I’ll show you what I mean.

Look into the circle. As Colin Kaepernick is setting up for a “read option”, watch Spence’s eyes. He is looking to the outside shoulder of Staley. You might think he is going to make a move to the outside. Well…maybe not. Take a look at the move Spence puts on Staley as we move ahead to the next picture.

Seasoned pros can’t execute this move as well as Spence did. He is performing the “swim move” on Staley. He uses his arms to push Staley out of the way, essentially by simulating a swimming motion. See how his right hand is coming over the top? The left hand is pushing Staley off balance, and the right finishes the job, giving Spence his lane to Kaepernick.

Staley is now forced to play catch up, and that doesn’t go very well.

And down goes Kaepernick.

Many pass rushers have tried the swim move, but not very many can master it. All-time great Reggie White was one example of a player that could execute it well, but there aren’t many. J.J. Watt pulls it off as well. It’s a move that went done well is tough to stop. For Noah Spence to be able to do it at such a young age is extraordinary.

Next: Five defensive players to look forward to watching

If Noah Spence keeps on the trajectory he is already on, he has a ton of upside. That is a prospect that all Bucs fans should be very excited about.

All screenshots courtesy of NFL Gamepass (subscription required).