Buccaneers: What new D-Line coach Brentson Buckner brings
By James Yarcho
On Monday, the Buccaneers hired former Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner to the same position. What will the Bucs get from him?
The coaching search is over. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired former Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner to the same position Rick Stroud announced Monday afternoon. It’s a coach that General Manager Jason Licht is familiar with from his time in Arizona and one that has had great results during his tenure there.
Granted, the same could have been said about Jay Hayes…
So what are the Buccaneers getting in Buckner as the man to lead one of the league’s worst defensive lines from 2017? Well, for starters, Buckner played in the NFL as a defensive lineman, moving from right defensive end to left defensive end to defensive tackle. With that experience, there is a lot of first hand knowledge of every position across the line that Buckner brings to the table. During his career, Buckner played for the Steelers, Bengals, 49ers, and Panthers, finishing his career with 303 tackles, 31 sacks, two forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.
In his coaching career, Buckner was the head coach of Northside Christian Academy before joining the Steelers as an intern in 2010. In 2013, he was hired to become the Cardinals’ defensive line coach where he has been ever since.
As Greg Auman pointed out, since becoming the defensive line coach in Arizona, the Cardinals haven’t had a season of less than 35 sacks;
As we've mentioned, Bucs GM Jason Licht was in Arizona when Brentson Buckner got Cards' DL job. At least 35 sacks in each of his five seasons in Arizona -- Bucs had 22 last year.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) February 19, 2018
Although the Cardinals ran primarily a three man front, don’t look for any major changes to defensive coordinator Mike Smith‘s scheme. Buckner has been brought in to make the most of the talent along the front four, which has been a tall order for over a decade now.
If you’re wondering what kind of guy the Buccaneers are getting, a few Cardinals players have already weighed in – including Tyrann Mathieu, who would likely be a top target for the Bucs should he be a cap casualty in Arizona;
FUTURE DC https://t.co/78eXAfuQk2
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) February 20, 2018
This dude needs to be a DC/head coach somewhere. 🗣HE’S LEGIT.....he up next, BUCS u will love him , he really cares about his players before anything https://t.co/OHklzYU2Hs
— Jerraud Powers (@JPowers25) February 20, 2018
From the praise and “tweets of recommendation” from his former players, the Bucs may already have their back-up plan at Defensive Coordinator should the Buccaneers struggle out of the gate defensively under Mike Smith yet again.
This is, on paper, a solid signing by the Bucs but there is still a void of talent along that line that Buckner will have to find a way to get working. Until the Bucs sign a free agent or two and draft an edge rusher, it’s hard to expect Buckner walk in the door and work miracles.
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Check out the latest Locked On Bucs podcast below where we lay out some tough numbers as to why trading Cam Brate may be a more realistic option than many Bucs fans – the hosts and guest included – are wanting to come to terms with.