The Tampa Bay Buccaneers figured that Keionte Scott was going to be an immediate draft day steal this year, and it's amazing to think that one of the best hybrid safety and cornerback prospects, capable of playing in the nickel or on the outside, lasted until the fourth round. Scott was an even better value pick than his more hyped Miami Hurricanes teammate Rueben Bain Jr., and while he is again being overshadowed by another great defensive player in second-round inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, Scott is having an amazing start to the season, too.
When the Buccaneers drafted Scott, they knew they would be getting an active, aggressive player who could bring an edge to them. Scott is one of those rare cornerbacks in that hybrid Antoine Winfield Sr. mold who can play any position, cover receivers or tight ends, thump in the running game, and even blitz.
Keionte Scott is making an immediate impact for the Buccaneers
So far, Scott has been the total package in the slot - and anywhere else- for the Buccaneers defense. He is playing a little over 60 percent of the snaps and is consistently averaging around four or five tackles per game.
Opposing defenses are completing close to 90 percent of the passes thrown his way, but he's given up no big plays and is actually averaging a yards per attempt allowed in the low 6's. Even though he has missed a few tackles, that's because he takes gambles that often pay off, which is why he has been such an asset against the run. And when it matters, he is wrapping up pass-catchers, so quarterbacks are getting completions but really going nowhere. In his role, that's what matters most, particularly in that slot.
Keionte Scott is basically doing exactly what he did for the Miami Hurricanes while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, except he is doing it at an NFL level. The Bucs are winless, but that's not the fault of the defense and especially not the fault of Scott.
After a tremendous preseason in which he was one of the Buccaneers best defensive players, Scott is a solid cog in the wheel right now and probably the team's second most talented cornerback already after Jacob Parrish. And oh by the way, he even has his first career sack, with surely many more to come as the Bucs get more comfortable with blitzing him. There aren't a lot of reasons for positivity at One Buc Place, but Scott has to be one of them.
Add us as a preferred source on Google