From the outset of the 2020 season, it was clear the Bucs might have a logjam of talent at safety. After struggling in a 4-man rotation in 2019, Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards had career years this past season, as both made huge leaps in their games. Whitehead flashed dominance around the box and improved in coverage, while Edwards was absurdly productive in a limited role.

Both players’ growth alongside Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Antoine Winfield, Jr. prompted many fans to clamor for more three-safety looks from the Bucs defense. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles did not oblige throughout the 2020 campaign, rarely putting three safeties on the field at once. That strategy did a complete 180 in the Super Bowl however, as Bowles deployed three safeties on a season-high 12 snaps. The result was a confused and turnover-prone Pat Mahomes, who was intercepted by Winfield on one of these looks. Edwards deflected the pass that Winfield caught for the turnover.

Could that 3-safety scheme occur more regularly in 2021?

“I’m sure we will,” Edwards said when asked if the Bucs will deploy three safeties at once this season. “Us three guys, we’re ballers out there. You gotta put the best guys out there. Whoever Coach Bowles wants to put out there, I know the right guys will be out there. But you can’t go wrong with us three.”

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have a masterful combination of talent at the safety position. Winfield Jr. is the most versatile of the three players, with the ability to play in the post, slot or box, as well as add value as a blitzer. As a rookie Winfield played mostly free safety, intercepting one pass, breaking up three others and recording a trio of sacks. It was a great year, but Bowles is convinced Winfield can become more productive this season

“Just the mental growth of the game,” Bowles said at the beginning of August. “We both know he (Winfield) left some plays out there on the field last year. He’s doing his job and playing his position, but he can expand on that. And he will, he has already done that some in camp. Just knowing the overall defense and knowing where he can cheat and take advantage of his plays and not just use his athletic ability.”

Winfield has readily acknowledged the opportunity to take his game to more of a “playmaker” level this season.

“Yeah, I feel like my most improvement is just mentally,” Winfield said. “That first year, they throw so many things out at you just learning the scheme. But after being in the system for a year, I just feel like mentally my game is just sharper and a little bit better than last year. So that’s where I feel the best at.”

Edwards spent most of his 188 regular season snaps at free safety, where he intercepted two passes and broke up five more. The third-year safety had another interception called back due to a penalty. Edwards added three more pass breakups and a pick in the playoffs. His tackling has improved tremendously from his rookie season, and the Bucs coaching staff has noticed the growth.

“Oh, he’s been a ball hawk,” Arians said of Edwards a few weeks into camp. “He obviously had a great day yesterday, a good solid day every single day. He’s communicating so much better. He’s really made a nice step forward.”

Bucs S Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Whitehead has missed most of camp due to a myriad of concerns, including recovery from a torn labrum, COVID-19 and an undisclosed injury. He’s expected back for the regular season, which the Bucs are thrilled about. Whitehead will never be a shutdown coverage safety, but he’s improved as a zone defender and he’s an elite tackler. The Pitt product makes his best plays around the line of scrimmage, where he picked up nine tackles-for-loss and two sacks last year.

If the Bucs have all three safeties against Dallas, it will really enhance their ability to confuse Dak Prescott. Considering the Cowboys have one of the league’s best passing attacks, Bowles’ coverage creativity could go a long way toward victory.

“‘Toine is a great player,” Edwards said. “Coming off his rookie season, but he didn’t even look like a rookie last year. He’s a baller. Then you got J-White. He does everything. He’ll come up and hit you, things like that. I just try to create turnovers, but we all try to come and create turnovers and get the ball out. Us three back there, we just try to make plays whenever we can make them.”

Winfield confirmed that he’ll remain mostly at free safety this season, but the versatility of all the Bucs safeties is a major selling point. Edwards’ improvement as an all-around defender has allowed him to play an increased role at strong safety, where he was in on multiple tackles in the Bucs first preseason game. Whitehead is best in the box, but improved a lot as a deep coverage option in 2020. Add Ross Cockrell’s emergence at safety in practice, and the Bucs are suddenly loaded on the back end.

“Our safeties are so interchangeable,” Arians said on Monday. “The way we play defense it’s not like one guy is always in the deep middle or deep half. So yeah, Mike’s got that flexibility to play both. Really, all three or four of our safeties have to be able to do both.”