When it comes to players making big leaps on the Bucs over the offseason, there have been few who have done more to position themselves better heading into this season than second-year safety Kaevon Merriweather.

Merriweather came on strong at the end of last season as he began to get some snaps on defense after primarily seeing the field on special teams. He comes into 2024 as a backup safety to Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead, but as Scott Reynolds alluded to in his initial 2-point conversion column, expect him to make the field somehow.

Especially as his impressive play in training camp carried over with a strong performance in the preseason opener against the Bengals.

Kaevon Merriweather Knows What To Expect Now In Todd Bowles’ Defense

Coming in as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa last year, Kaevon Merriweather flew under the radar as mainly a special teams contributor for the Bucs. Merriweather had a bit of a learning curve in understanding head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, but now that he does, he has started to play faster and fly around the football field.

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

“[I’m] definitely a lot more comfortable,” Merriweather said after Monday’s practice. “Being able to play a little bit more freely and just knowing where you need to be, what other guys are doing, knowing what I’m doing myself, knowing kind of what Coach [Todd] Bowles is thinking on certain calls, and everything like that.

“It feels a lot better. It feels a lot more comfortable. [I’m] able to play a little bit faster, especially when you have a lot of talented guys around you who also know what they’re doing and know what we’re trying to accomplish. It makes your job and the whole job of the defense a whole lot easier.”

Down the stretch last season Merriweather saw time on defense in seven regular season games, and those in-game reps have helped him understand what to do and where to be.

“It makes [me] a lot more comfortable being out there,” Merriweather said on having a year of experience under him. “From a knowledge standpoint – knowing what I have to accomplish and knowing what I have to do, knowing the checks and knowing the calls. It just allows me to play more freely, a little bit more comfortably, faster, and a little bit better.”

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather First Had To Be Uncomfortable Before Settling In

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: USA Today

While Kaevon Merriweather may be more comfortable now, Todd Bowles makes sure each member of his secondary learns to be uncomfortable by cross-training and playing different roles on defense. It allows them to understand the intricacies and communication required to be successful, and Merriweather discussed how it becomes easier over time.

“It’s a lot,” Merriweather said. “Coach Bowles, he asks a lot of us safeties, just from a knowledge standpoint, [to] understand the different calls and the various checks that we have, but coming into this second year of being able to know some of the previous calls that we have … it makes it a lot easier. But yeah, it is pretty tough on a first-year player going into it, trying to understand all the calls that we have, but the more practice you get at it, the easier it gets.”

While Jordan Whitehead sits out the rest of training camp and the preseason with a thigh injury, Merriweather has been in the starting lineup next to Bucs All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

“[He’s] a great player,” Winfield said. “He’s flying around. He’s more comfortable in the scheme, and he’s out here having fun, so, you know, hat’s off to Kaevon.”

Merriweather’s results spoke for themselves against the Bengals as he had a pass breakup on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in the endzone to save a touchdown, forced another incompletion, and also made a tackle for loss. While the games don’t count yet, it has been an encouraging sign to see him develop and flourish when on the field in crucial situations.

Expect him to continue to bring it – and spice things up a little on game day.

“[You] just kind of bring everything that you’ve done at practice … bring it on to the field, but also add a little bit extra to it too… a little extra sauce to it,” Merriweather said.