Buccaneers: Training camp position battles to watch

Slot Corner back: Jude Adjei-Barimah – VS – Javien Elliot – VS – Robert McClain

With more passes being thrown in the NFL the nickel and dime defensive formations have become more important playing about 30-40% of the defensive snaps, meaning that three cornerbacks are on the field at the same time with two on the outside and one inside (or slot) corner.

Last season the Buccaneers played two different slot corners through out the season starting with Jude Adjei-Barimah who played for the first ten games (289 snaps) with 22 tackles and two sacks but no interceptions. At the end of November he was hit with a four game suspension for a failed PED test.

UDFA cornerback from Florida State Javien Elliot was given the slot corner job while Adjei-Barimah was suspended playing in the final six games (184 snaps) of the seasons with eight tackles.

During the offseason the Buccaneers looked for someone to come in and compete with Adjei-Barimah and Elliot so during the offseason cornerback Robert McClain was brought in as a free agent.

McClain played on two teams last season with division rival Carolina and after being waived was claimed by the Chargers playing in a total of fourteen games (327 snaps) with nineteen tackles and half a sack.

The Buccaneers choose not to draft or sign any other corners in free agency although two were brought in as UDFAs, but this offseason defensive back Ryan Smith was moved from safety back to his natural position of corner.

Meaning Adjei-Barimah, Elliot, McClain, and potentially Ryan smith will battle for the slot corner postion and third outside corner per Coach Koetter during an offseason presser:

"“Well, right now the way it’s looking those might be two different positions,” Koetter said. “Third outside corner and slot corner might end up being two different positions, with a couple guys playing both. Jude [Adjei-Barimah] and Bobby Mac — Robert McClain — can play both spots. Ryan’s primarily playing outside, not inside. And then Javien Elliott, you can throw him into the mix there, too; he can play both spots. Who’s going to be the third corner, who’s going to be the nickel corner? It should be a good competition.”"

As Koetter says Smith played as an outside corner during his college years and has never played slot receiver and will most likely be the third outside cornerback behind Hargreaves and Grimes.

With Elliot having the least amount of experience while McClain has the most experience at the slot but he was released by two teams last season after not playing very well.

It should be a great battle for the slot corner and will be fun to watch during training.