As the wait begins for more defensive players to be added to the Buccaneer defense via draft and free agency, there’s still much to be excited for already.
Now thrilled may be slightly hyperbolic in this particular situation, but “excited” certainly isn’t. The Buccaneer defense in 2019 was well respected by season’s end, posting some stellar numbers along the way.
Their rushing defense was top-two stingiest in the NFL from Week 1 out, while the secondary found their way on the back-nine of the season. But what should excite Buccaneer fans this season is that they have three, young cornerstone pieces at all three levels of the defense. Each, in their own accord, can be a game changer on any given weekend.
Vita Vea, DT
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Stats (35 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 12 QB Hits)
Vita Vea has ascended his play year-over-year and is an absolute unit at his position. If you turn the tap on from Vea last year (heck, if you turn on the tape from his teammates), the three-year pro was consistently disruptive.
The amount of times I’ve watched the guy completely grab, hold and toss opponents is dizzying. He also made life a lot easier for last years’ sack champion, Shaq Barrett. Year four should be Vita Vea’s breakout season.
Devin White, ILB
Stats (93 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles)
It took the fifth overall pick a few games to get his feet wet, but once he settled in, he started producing big. His sideline to sideline speed was on display every week and his knack for big plays is “there”. One thing that I took away most about the rookie is his hustle on every down. His notorious chase down effort in Seattle was a thing of beauty.
"Chris Carson is loose"
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 3, 2019
Devin White:
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/DkdTWZNbII
Jamel Dean, CB
Stats (21 tackles, 2 Ints, 17 pass deflections)
In all honestly, Sean Murphy-Bunting could have easily been in this spot, but Dean’s tangibles give him the slight edge here. Not only does Dean possess shutdown capability, but he’s also 6,1 207lbs and runs a 4.30. In a division with top-five receivers like Julio Jones and Michael Thomas, both 6’3 and taller, Dean becomes even more of a commodity for the team. He and Murphy-Bunting are a breath of fresh air to this Tampa Bay secondary, which had been a weak point for years.