Buccaneers at Saints: Five game-changing players for Week 9
By Bailey Adams
Kwon Alexander
Having Kwon Alexander back was supposed to change the Buccaneer defense. It hasn’t necessarily done so, though that’s not on Alexander himself. Most of the rest of the unit is still
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struggling, whether it’s poor scheme or just lack of talent. The Bucs are seventeenth in rush defense and 29th in total defense. Missing No. 58 for four and a half games didn’t help, that’s for sure. But now that he’s back, he is one guy on the defense that has to make an impact if Tampa Bay is going to win.
Despite losing 17-3, last week’s performance for the defense was somewhat encouraging. But this week only gets tougher. Drew Brees is one of just three or four elite quarterbacks in the league. He will tear up this secondary if the front seven gets no pressure and the defensive backs continue giving sizable cushions to receivers. But Kwon is a wild card, someone who is all over the field at any given moment. Whether it’s stopping the run, dialing up a blitz or covering the middle, he finds ways to make plays.
The LSU product put up 10 tackles against the Panthers on Sunday, coming up with two run stuffs. Due to injury, though, he doesn’t have the impressive stats that he likely would’ve had if he was healthy. But that’s all okay, considering he is back and healthy now. When he is on the field, there’s no question that he is going to make an impact. And on this defense, he is one of very few players that we can say that about.