The last time Bucs inside linebacker Devin White played in New Orleans it was one of his worst games. Despite recording 10 tackles and knocking Saints quarterback Jameis Winston out of the game with a knee injury, White was flagged for three personal fouls. One of those was a questionable horse-collar tackle of Winston that tore the quarterback’s ACL.

Those penalties played in a role in Tampa Bay losing at New Orleans last year on Halloween, 36-27.

White had an up-and-down year in 2021, yet was recognized for his first Pro Bowl. Vowing to play better and more under control in 2022, White started this season with a bang in a 19-3 Week 1 victory at Dallas on Sunday Night Football.

White was spectacular, recording a team-high eight tackles and notching a team-best two sacks. He also broke up a pass and nearly had a pick-six on that play.

On Bucs Total Access With Todd Bowles this week, the Bucs head coach said it was White’s best game – ever.

Bucs LB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It was his best game, not because of the stats, but because he ran the show from a [defensive] quarterback standpoint,” Bowles said. “He made the adjustments, he played within the scheme, he understood and made people around him better and he still made his plays.

“That’s the Devin that we’re accustomed to seeing. And he took a big step in his leadership role and maturity standpoint in this game, and it’s just got to continue every week.”

White, who is entering his third year as a team captain in Tampa Bay, can’t wait to return to the Superdome to avenge his performance from a year ago. As a Louisiana native, who played at LSU, White says he will be playing with the right amount of emotion this time around and hopes to quiet the loud Saints crowd in attendance.

“For a player like myself, I feed off that energy,” White said. “It was the same thing with Dallas. You want to shut that crowd up – it’s better than getting your own crowd hyped. I think if everybody takes that same approach – make them be quiet and don’t give them [anything] to cheer about, I think it will all play out in our favor.”

White Played A “Clean” Game For Bucs In Dallas

New Bucs inside linebackers coach Larry Foote praised White for his performance in the Week 1 win.

Bucs LB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He was clean,” Foote said. “Those guys didn’t have any MEs (mental errors). Knock on wood – and you don’t see that often, especially playing the linebacker position. He was clean, he was communicating. And I’ll just always remind him, ‘When you have that type of ability, slow down. Let the game come to you.’ He did that. He leans a lot on [Lavonte] David, so those guys did a good job.”

White played under control on Sunday and that was a big key to his “clean” performance. Playing with the right level of emotion and being consistent in coverage, tackling and rushing the passer would not only help White have another great game, but also hopefully snap the Saints’ seven-game winning streak over the Bucs.

“A win would just make us 2-0, I don’t think it establishes [anything],” White said. “After this, there will be 15 more games left. Being consistent is the thing – being consistent from last week and obviously getting better.”