Pewter Plank Report: Getting to Know the Bucs' OLB Kwon Alexander by Jesse Uruchima 1h ago 
Image via Buccaneers.com For the first time since 2013, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a defensive player in this year’s draft when they selected Kwon Alexander in the fourth round. Throughout the free agency period, the Buccaneers actively worked towards acquiring veteran defensive players, like linebacker Bruce Carter and safety Chris Conte, who mold perfectly into the Tampa 2 defense. But there was something special about Alexander that forced the Bucs traded up four spots in order to ensure that they got him on the team.While Alexander had an impressive Combine, running the 40-yard in 4.55 and benching 24 reps, his college football resume speaks for itself. In 2014, the 20-year-old led the Tigers with 90 stops and 7.5 tackles for a loss. The Oxford, Ala. native grabbed the attention of NFL teams, who projected him to be selected in the third round. However, he fell a little bit into their vicinity and the Bucs knew what to do from there.So, what does Alexander have to offer? We spoke to Josh Criswell of Death Valley Voice to see what the LSU product brings to Lovie’s defense, what Bucs fans can expect from the speedy linebacker both on and off the field, and more.Which current NFL player would you compare Kwon Alexander to, in terms of skill and potential? Or, is there a player from the past that he reminds you of?He reminds me a lot of Malcolm Smith, the Oakland Raiders outside linebacker who won a Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. Smith, much like Alexander, is a speedy linebacker that struggles due to his size, but has big play potential if put in the right spot.Les Miles once said in The Times Picayune that Alexander has “great speed…if you are after a linebacker who can step out into the flat and run with a wide receiver, you are looking at Kwon.” Is there a memorable play with LSU that comes to mind which exemplifies the speed Coach Miles speaks of? It was not necessarily running with a wide receiver, but one play that stands out to me is a second down against Alabama this year. Bama’s quarterback Blake Sims began to scramble outside the pocket, and even though Kwon Alexander did not have the edge, he took a direct 45 degree turn and chased down Sims for a big loss. Alexander appeared to be a heat-seeking missile in LSU, but the Tampa 2 defense focuses on getting defenders in specific zones on the field. Has Alexander shown an ability to adapt to the scheme or will it take time?I think the Tampa 2 defense can actually benefit him. He was great at relying on athleticism with the Tigers but he will have to change that. The reason I like his fit with the Buccaneers is that his athleticism plays to the strength of being able to sit back in zone coverage. While it will take some getting used to, I can also see him excelling early on.Why do you think Alexander fell to the fourth round of the draft? Is there a knock(s) against him that Bucs fans should know about?The reason he fell so far in the draft is his size. While he has incredible athleticism, his small frame made teams worry about selecting him. There is not too much else to knock about his game and no off the field concerns.With what the NFL is going through with their players off-the-field, Licht has raved about Alexander’s character. What type of persona does he have in the locker room and/or outside of the game of football?With the way college teams handle their players now, it is tough to get a glimpse at who these players are off of the football field. Kwon had a pretty subtle persona from what I could tell, and there were definitely no character concerns at LSU. Judging from Twitter, he seems to be pretty accustomed to interacting with fans, so that should not be no change at all for him. I am interested to see more of his personality show now that he is in the league.link
