The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Tampa Bay Buccaneers should look into Jalen Thompson

By Cory Kinnan

BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Jay MacIntyre #14 of the Colorado Buffaloes is tackled by safety Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars after making a catch during the third quarter at Folsom Field on November 19, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Washington State 38-24. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Jay MacIntyre #14 of the Colorado Buffaloes is tackled by safety Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars after making a catch during the third quarter at Folsom Field on November 19, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Washington State 38-24. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 24: Justin Evans #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after catching an interception thrown by Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 24, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 24: Justin Evans #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after catching an interception thrown by Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 24, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

The future of the other safeties on the roster

Evans was a second-round pick of the former regime; how does this new regime feel about his style of play? Speaking of his style of play, Evans is a box safety who struggles in coverage; Bowles utilizes versatile safeties who can play all over the field and Evans does not fit that bill.

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Thirdly, Evans hurt his ankle last year, missing the back part of last season, and is still not ready to hit the field yet with less than a month until training camp. While Evans’ job is not immediately in danger, is the deck stacked against a long term future with the Buccaneers?

Outside of Edwards and Evans are Jordan Whitehead, Kentrell Brice, Isaiah Johnson, M.J. Stewart, and Orion Stewart. Johnson and O. Stewart will have to fight for a spot on the 53-man roster, and if they do make the team it will be nothing more than as a special teams contributor.

Brice and Whitehead have starting experience in the NFL, but both have struggled in that role as well. While Whitehead is young, he too was a draft pick of the former regime with no understanding of how the new staff feels about his ability.

Even though he just signed with the team this offseason, Brice is no lock to make the team as his performance with the Green Bay Packers a year ago was extremely poor. M.J. Stewart is transitioning from cornerback to safety and even if the transition is smooth, it seems like he will have a specific role carved out.

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