Tag: Calijah Kancey

How Vita Vea is setting up Calijah Kancey for success

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the perfect veteran/understudy combo along their defensive front

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were thrilled to land defensive lineman Calijah Kancey in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, giving them another disruptive interior defender to pair with one of the league’s best nose tackles in Vita Vea.

After a slow start to his rookie season due to a calf injury, Kancey was a dominant force throughout the rest of the 2023 campaign, making it clear the Bucs had a steal on their hands.

Speaking to the media Monday as the Bucs kicked off their 2024 offseason program, Kancey detailed the ways Vea’s presence is aiding his development at the pro level.

“I learned a lot from Vita, just being in the room with him and being on the field with him,” Kancey said. “My first day, I actually took a rep with him and he told me everything to do before we even got out of the huddle. I’m like, ‘Damn, it’s that easy?’ That just let you know what type of guy he is. He’s on top of everything – he knows the formation, he knows what to expect, he knows the person you’re going against because he’s been in the league and he’s [gone] against everybody. It was really a plus for me. Going into this year, it’s [about] really following his steps and being a sponge towards him because he does everything the right way.”

Vea and Kancey have differing skill sets that match one another perfectly, and the sky’s the limit for what they can accomplish for Tampa Bay’s defensive front in the coming years.

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Bucs had more rookie snaps in 2023 than any other NFL team

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ impressive 2023 season came despite playing their rookies more than any other team in the NFL

Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were expected by many to return to the bottom of the NFL standings following the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

Instead, they won a third straight NFC South title and made a fourth consecutive playoff appearance, falling just short of making a trip to the NFC Championship Game.

They did that despite relying heavily on their rookie class, more so than any other team in the league, in fact. Tampa Bay’s rookies played a total of 5,660 snaps in 2023, more than any other team.

Led by defensive studs like Calijah Kancey, Yaya Diaby and Christian Izien, as well as key contributors on offense like Cody Mauch and Trey Palmer, the Bucs got immediate results from their first-year players in 2023, which played a large part in their success.

Imagine what that group will do this year.

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Bucs’ Calijah Kancey, Yaya Diaby primed for big things in 2024

After fantastic rookie seasons, these two Tampa Bay Buccaneers defenders are set to take things to another level next year

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers landed a pair of instant-impact players for their defense in the 2023 NFL draft, as defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby both made an immediate splash last season.

Kancey, a first-round pick out of Pitt, overcame a calf injury that slowed the start of his rookie campaign, finishing on a dominant tear to finish his first year in the NFL.

A third-rounder out of Louisville, Diaby racked up 7.5 sacks as a rookie, proving to be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft.

Earlier this week at the NFL’s league meetings in Orlando, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles talked about why he’s expecting even bigger things from both players moving forward:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LOvUnIMjICw

When combined with other high-caliber defenders like All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and future Hall of Fame linebacker Lavonte David, Kancey and Diaby should help take the Tampa Bay defense to another level in 2024.

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NFL.com ranks Bucs 2023 draft class in middle of pack

The ranking seems a little low given how frequently Tampa Bay’s draft class contributed in 2023.

Tampa Bay’s rookie draft class was a big part of its 2023 team, but despite that, some aren’t convinced it was one of the better ones in the league.

NFL.com recently ranked every rookie draft class in 2023, and the Bucs came in at a staggering 16th of 32 teams. Writers Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter mostly gave praise to the Bucs’ class, particularly on defense — they highlighted the good work of both Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby and wrote that offensive prospects like Cody Mauch and Trey Palmer.

16th seems a little low for how much Tampa Bay’s rookie class contributed. As the article itself mentions, 15 Bucs rookies appeared in at least one game throughout the season and only one player in its draft class, edge rusher Jose Ramirez, didn’t get any game snaps. Diaby had a spectacular 7.5-sack season and Calijah Kancey was good enough to win an NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month award.

All these players will be entering Year 2 next year, and should even most of them hit a stride and break out into solid contributors once again, the Bucs could get even better in 2024.

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Teddy Bridgewater’s high school has sent some impressive players to the NFL

Teddy Bridgewater’s high school coaching career comes with high expectations. Miami Northwestern has sent some impressive players to the NFL:

Good luck in the next chapter of your football life, Teddy Bridgewater. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback’s high school coaching career comes with high expectations: Miami Northwestern has sent some impressive players to the NFL, and they’ve been a fixture in the South Florida playoff picture.

Bridgewater was hired after his Miami Northwestern alma mater went 4-6 in 2023, their first season with a losing record since 2014’s 5-6 finish. The school had won 10 or more games in five of the seven seasons in-between, and Bridgewater will be expected to return to those standards.

He’ll be responsible for making a positive influence on the next generation — including college recruits like 2024 cornerback Guylijah Theodule (a former Vanderbilt commit who has drawn offers from Florida, Miami, James Madison, and Marshall) and quarterback Adrian Posse (who signed his letter of intent with UAB), as well as 2026 four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell (who has already drawn attention from Florida State, Appalachian State, Marshall, Texas A&M, and USF).

They’re the next in line to join the future pros who walked the same hallways, studied in the same classrooms, and starred on the same football field as Bridgewater himself. Here’s a quick look at some of the NFL talent to come out of Miami Northwestern:

What went right, what went wrong for the Bucs in 2023

It was a mixed bag for Tampa Bay in their 9-8 season — see what the Bucs did well and what they can improve on going into 2024.

Very few anticipated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reach the heights they did during the 2023 NFL season. When QB Tom Brady announced his second retirement after the Bucs’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 Wild Card round, it triggered a complete reset of the offense. Trying to return back to a division-contending level-of-play while also dealing with several personnel changes was a large task to overcome as Tampa Bay looked ahead to the 2023 season.

Despite all odds, the Bucs won the NFC South for the third consecutive season and reached the NFC Divisional round, where it fell 31-23 to the Detroit Lions. There were several things that went right during Tampa Bay’s transition year. However, there was plenty that could’ve been improved upon. Before we get to what went wrong, we’ll highlight some of the good from the Bucs’ 2023 season.

Eagles eliminated from playoffs after 32-9 loss to Buccaneers

Eagles eliminated from playoffs after 32-9 loss to Buccaneers

The Eagles are set for a dramatic overhaul following the team’s shocking 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia was 0-11 on third and fourth downs combined, tallying 268 total yards on ten offensive drives in a sloppy affair that saw missed tackles and no answer for the Tampa blitz as the Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on the night.

Baker Mayfield outplayed Jalen Hurts, going 22-36 passing for 337 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions with a 119 quarterback rating.

Rachaad White was strong on the ground, rushing 18 times for 62 yards on the night.

The Eagles will now head into an uncertain offseason, having lost six of the final seven games played, and an overhaul could include head coach Nick Sirianni with the likes of Jim Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, and others available after mass changes around the league.

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Eagles Twitter reacts to humiliating 32-9 loss to Buccaneers in wild-card round

We’re looking at the social media reaction from Philadelphia fans after the Eagles loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round

The Eagles are set for a dramatic overhaul, and there’s nobody safe outside of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Carter following the team’s shocking 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia was 0-11 on third and fourth downs combined, tallying 268 total yards on ten offensive drives in a sloppy affair that saw missed tackles and no answer for the Tampa blitz as the Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on the night.

With a long offseason set to begin, here’s how Twitter reacted to the madness.

Eagles vs. Bucs: 10 takeaways from first half as Tampa leads 16-9 in NFC wild card game

We’re looking at then takeaways from the first half as tthe Buccaneers hold a 16-9 lead over the Eagles in the NFC wild card game

The Eagles were nearly run out of Raymond James Stadium, but after some timely drops by the Buccaneers and a renewed effort on defense, they trailed 16-9 at halftime.

Julio Jones had three catches in the first half for 22 yards before exiting with a concussion, and Philadelphia held Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to a combined two catches for 30 yards on seven targets.

With the second half set to begin, we’re looking at takeaways from a hard-fought first half.

Eagles vs. Bucs inactives: Avonte Maddox to start at safety with Reed Blankenship ruled out

Reed Blankenship is among seven Eagles ruled out for Philadelphia’s wild card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles will be without two key starters for tonight’s NFC Wild Card Round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Reed Blankenship was ruled out with a groin injury.

Blankenship was listed as questionable, but after a light pregame workout, the talented safety will miss Monday’s matchup at Raymond James Stadium.

All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown will also be out with a knee injury suffered in the Week 18 loss to the Giants.

Jalen Hurts was a limited participant during Thursday’s practice before being upgraded to a full participant on Friday and Saturday.

Cornerback Darius Slay, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and D’Andre Swift were full participants in the final practice of the week and had no game status designations.