FAB 3. Smooth Criminal Stealing The Ball At Cornerback

The Buccaneers made a bold move at the cornerback this offseason – by standing pat at the position. Tampa Bay was interested in a few cornerbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft, but didn’t pull the trigger. The Bucs weren’t tempted in free agency, either, except for adding nickel cornerback Robert McClain after the draft to compete with Jude Adjei-Barimah and Javien Elliott in training camp.

At first glance, Tampa Bay looks thin at cornerback with ageless wonder Brent Grimes opposite second-year pro Vernon Hargreaves III.

The next guy off the bench? Second-year player Ryan Smith, who didn’t play a single snap last season at the cornerback position – or even on defense anywhere.

Bucs CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

That might seem like a scary proposition if you aren’t a Tampa Bay player, coach or scout, but the Bucs’ brass has been thoroughly impressed with the fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, and his teammates have been raving about how Smith looks as a cornerback after making the switch from safety halfway through his rookie year.

You remember Smith, the guy who pulled the Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal” move last year throwing a punted ball from Bryan Anger back to Alan Cross at the 1-yard line in last year’s home win against New Orleans. Not only did he seamlessly fill in for Russell Shepard on special teams last year as a gunner, the kid can play defense, too.

Smith recorded a pick against Philadelphia in the preseason last year as a safety, but the Bucs thought his talents were best used at cornerback, which is the position where he played at for half of his college career at North Carolina Central. Because the majority of fall practices are closed to the press, the media haven’t had the chance to see Smith in action at cornerback until the OTAs, and he’s been a bit of a show off.

“It’s been pretty amazing just watching him work out there,” said Bucs safety Keith Tandy. “He always had all the tools with having the quick twitch and the top-end speed, and being so competitive. I really think playing safety gave him the understanding of football in general and our defense. Every day this week he’s made a big play. He had great interceptions in back-to-back days – yesterday and today.”

Those big plays came against Dirk Koetter’s offense and the head coach was quick to note that during his media briefing after Thursday’s OTA.

“We’re looking for Ryan to – Ryan’s got a major role we need him to fill for us,” Koetter explained. “Ryan’s had his ups and downs. We were excited about him, he went through a two or three-day period where he thought he was in a little bit of a funk, but that’s two [good] days in a row. He had a beautiful interception in the red zone [on Wednesday] and that [one on Thursday] would have been a pick-six. No one’s going to catch him. I was giving him a hard time right there, asking him if he could outrun the quarterback and the center and he just laughed. We knew he could. That was a good play by him.”

Bucs CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With Grimes, a veteran that has played in Mike Smith’s defense for years, missing a good deal of voluntary OTAs this offseason, Smith has stepped in as a starting cornerback and benefitted from the extra reps. When Grimes was at last week’s OTAs and Hargreaves missed a practice, Smith once again stepped up to the starting ranks in place of the former first-round pick.

“It’s a lot better than last year for me,” Smith admitted. “I would love for those guys to be here, but the more work I can get the better, and it’s quality work, too. Me sitting on the sidelines isn’t going to help. It’s good to get reps. I haven’t missed a day this offseason. Honestly, I’m scared to miss a day, so I haven’t missed an OTA – and won’t.

“I’m learning how to play both sides. When Hargreaves isn’t here I’m playing the left side, when Grimes isn’t here I’m on the right. It doesn’t really matter where I play. Just put me on the field. I’m not doing anything nickel-wise.”

Koetter said that despite having a lot of young players at the cornerback and nickel cornerback position – six of the team’s 10 players are either rookies or second-year players – the talent is there. There will be a battle for the third cornerback spot and the nickel spot as well.

“Well, right now the way it’s looking those might be two different positions,” Koetter said. “Third outside corner and the slot corner might end up being two different positions, with a couple guys playing both. Jude and Bobby Mac – Robert McClain – can play both spots. Ryan’s primarily playing outside, not inside. And then Javien Elliott, you can throw him into the mix there, too; he can play both spots. Who’s going to be the third corner, who’s going to be the nickel corner? It should be a good competition.”

Bucs secondary coach Jon Hoke has been impressed by the strides Smith made last year in practice and how that has carried over into the 2017 offseason.

“He’s doing good and he’s starting to pick it up,” Hoke said. “He’s doing a good job with retention and what we’re asking him to do from a call standpoint and from a technique standpoint. It’s good.

“We know he’s athletic and those type of things. He’s tough. He’s fast. As a coach he’s got what you’re looking for.”

What is helping Smith make strides this offseason is that he’s actually operating in Tampa Bay’s defense. Last year on the scout team he was running the defense of the Bucs’ opponents.

Bucs CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I am running the Bucs defense now, which is great,” Smith said. “Last year I wasn’t, but it’s still ball. It’s just playing football. You’re either in man or you’re in zone. It’s just about refining your technique. Coaches are still getting on me from last year when I was on the scout team, and they’re getting on me now because I’m playing our defense. It’s still just playing football and learning the techniques, but it’s good to be getting reps with the first team.”

In the OTAs the Bucs starting offense will often match up against the first-team defense and Smith got his first dose of trying to cover DeSean Jackson this offseason. Smith, who has 4.4 speed, was impressed with Jackson’s burst.

“We’ve got some speed on this team, man,” Smith said. “I’m up there with them, though. DeSean – that boy is fast. His change of speed is crazy. A lot of receivers have the ability to shift gears – his is just at a higher level. He has that burst. You just have to play the right technique and focus on him and not get caught looking into the backfield. He’ll make you pay if you do.”

Lately it is Smith who is making opposing quarterbacks pay with his interceptions in practice. Tampa Bay’s Smooth Criminal is becoming quite the thief this offseason and could end up stealing some regular season reps away from starters Grimes and Hargreaves if he keeps it up.