The Bucs’ safety position saw a bit of a mass exodus this offseason, with Mike Edwards (signed with the Chiefs), Keanu Neal (signed with the Steelers) and Logan Ryan (still available) all hitting free agency. But Tampa Bay’s big addition to its safety group, former Seattle Seahawk Ryan Neal, is turning out to be the perfect guy to pair with fourth-year safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

“He’s a vet,” Winfield said of Neal following Sunday’s practice. “Smart player, great player and he’s always where he’s supposed to be at. So being able to practice with him and get more experience with him, I feel like our chemistry has just gotten better and better each and every day we’re out here.”

Between Neal and Winfield, the Bucs may very well field one of the better, more versatile safety tandems in the NFL this year. The skill sets of the two safeties allow them to complement each other perfectly. Neal thrives in the box, having played 330 snaps there last year, with 227 at free safety and 102 in the slot. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Neal is even physically a perfect complement to the 5-foot-9, 203-pound.

Adding Neal to the mix and having Winfield back home at his natural free safety position after spending a lot of the 2022 season in the nickelback role should have the Tampa Bay defense in position to be a strength for the team in 2023 – especially with the chemistry already building between the two.

Ryan Neal And Antoine Winfield Are Developing A “Bond” Through Film Study And Reps

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

A lot goes into the success of a safety duo, but chemistry is essential. Complementary skill sets and playing styles won’t matter if the two players don’t know how to play alongside each other and take advantage of the strengths they have. That’s why it’s a good thing that Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is already seeing the chemistry grow between Neal and Winfield in the early days of camp and dating back to OTAs and mini camp.

“I would say [Neal] and Winfield got the bond together that they’ve been watching film and understanding each other disguise-wise, which is very good for both safeties to do,” Bowles said Sunday.

There was already a lot of mutual respect between Tampa Bay’s two safeties before they really got to know each other. When he first signed with the Bucs, Neal was especially excited to pair up with Winfield and start building a bond together.

“Vet player coming in,” Winfield said in May. “Smart player, he’s a great communicator. It’s nice having him back there because he knows his stuff. So, he’s gonna be great for us this year.”

Communication Is Already A Strong Suit For Bucs’ Starting Safeties

Rams WR Cooper Kupp and Bucs S Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

If one thing has stood out about the back end of the Bucs’ starting defense in the early days of training camp, it’s just how much communication is taking place. Winfield and Neal are communicating with each other, and those two are communicating well with the rest of the defense.

“They’re good. Good communicators, good leaders,” cornerback Carlton Davis III said Sunday. “They come in, they just bring a sense of non-complacency. They’re working every day. Those two guys are both the same when you talk about working hard, attention to detail and just being communicators and making plays. So they can do things the right way, they take coaching really good and we’re gonna be really good back there with those two.”

Communication breakdowns can lead to coverage breakdowns, and coverage breakdowns can lose games. The Bucs know that all too well. So, having two safeties on the same page with each other – and having them successfully communicate with the other nine guys on defense – can really help Bowles’ defense take a step forward in 2023 in its quest to be the league’s very best.