FAB 3. Intel On The Bucs’ Day 3 Defenders

The Bucs’ 2020 draft was supposed to be heavy on the offensive side of the ball after most of the team’s moves in free agency – using the franchise tag on outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett and re-signing outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul, inside linebacker Kevin Minter, defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, safety Andrew Adams and cornerback Ryan Smith. Tampa Bay did just that, using three of its first four draft picks on offensive players before selecting a pair of defenders on Day 3 in Nebraska defensive tackle Khalil Davis in the sixth round and Temple linebacker Chapelle Russell in the seventh round.

Of the two players, Davis has the better chance of earning a roster spot, as Tampa Bay needed to fill the void left with the departure of free agent Beau Allen, who wasn’t  re-signed. Davis was a two-year starter where he recorded 105 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for the Cornhuskers, including 11 tackles for loss and a career-high eight sacks as a senior.

Bucs DT Khalil Davis – Photo courtesy of Nebraska

Davis only did two drills at the NFL Scouting Combine – the 40-yard dash and the bench press – but did them exceptionally well. He blazed a 4.75 time in the 40-yard dash while measuring 6-foot-1, 303 pounds, and put up 32 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

“He obviously turned heads at the Combine, but Mike Biehl and I noticed him for the first time at the East-West Shrine Game down here,” said Bucs director of player personnel John Spytek. “You could just feel the explosiveness, the twitch and the athletic ability in the drills. The more you watched him he’s not one of these linear kids that can’t bend. He can sink his hips and has some lateral agility to him, too. He plays hard. There’s a lot to like about his game and where it’s headed.”

If Davis were two inches taller at 6-foot-3, and weighed 10 pounds more at 313 pounds he would have been drafted much earlier. With size similar to that of Nunez-Roches, Davis is a quick, one-gap penetrator that fits what Todd Bowles is looking for in a defensive tackle.

“You put on the Ohio State game this year and it’s one of his better – if not his best – games of the year,” Spytek said. “That’s the best competition you’re going to see in the Big Ten, as much as it pains me to say that (as a Michigan alum). It’s true, and he played a good game against those guys. It was another good, late-round pick. He has some traits. You hear Jason [Licht] talk about it all the time. We’re looking for some traits in the later rounds, and he’s certainly got some. Eight sacks as a D-tackle – we’re excited about that.”

Despite having the lack of ideal height and short arms (31.5-inch), Biehl said that he has the athletic traits the Bucs are looking for.

“I think when you’re on Day 3 you’re just trying to find guys with traits that can have a chance to come in and develop and be a contributor at some point,” Biehl said. “Khalil has that. He’s a shorter guy, but he’s thick kid that ran well and he’s a good athlete. You see those things and you see he has some pass rush ability. He has the traits that we can develop.”

That same reasoning is behind the team’s decision to draft Russell in the seventh round. Russell has the mental toughness that comes from overcoming the death of his father and tearing the same ACL twice while at Temple. Still, he had a productive career for the Owls with 237 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown.

Bucs LB Chapelle Russell – Photo by: Getty Images

“You’re looking for guys that have traits in those later rounds and we felt that Russell had the height, weight and speed,” Biehl said. “He did have some injuries, but when he was on the field he was productive. We’re pretty good at inside ‘backer with the two starters we have, but you’re always looking for depth. A big part of depth is being able to play on special teams, and we feel like Russell can contribute in that way.”

Russell, who ran a 4.69 at the NFL Scouting Combine, will compete with Jack Cichy and Noah Dawkins for the fourth inside linebacker spot on the Bucs’ depth chart. Special teams will likely play a big determining factor in whether Russell can win a roster spot.

“I think we wanted to add a bigger body, which he is at 6-foot-2, 236 pounds, and he ran well,” Spytek said. “He’s a tough, tough kid and went through a solid program there. They develop kids at Temple now – really since Coach [Matt] Rhule was there. I think he’s a good addition to that room.

“Obviously we like our starting two in Lavonte [David] and Devin [White], and then Kevin Minter is back. 

Cichy being back will be helpful, and Noah Dawkins did some good things on special teams. We wanted to add another body that was bigger framed and athletic. I think everyone knows that Lavonte and Devin will be the starters and Kevin will be a solid, solid backup. We need some special teams value out of that fourth and fifth inside linebacker spot. I think this guy fits that mold, so it made a lot of sense.”

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