FAB 4. ALEXANDER THE GREAT
I actually feel bad putting my Kwon Alexander interview in this week’s SR’s Fab 5 down here in the fourth section. The dude is one of my favorite players to cover and interview and deserves to be in the first section. It just so happens that Doug Martin’s return to the team with the start of offseason workouts beginning on Monday, April 17 and the team on the verge of going national on Hard Knocks takes precedent this week.

Alexander is used to getting snubbed.

Actually, he’s getting sick and tired of it.

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander – Photo by: Getty Images

“I’ve always wanted to be great,” Alexander said. “I’ve been doubted my whole life. I’ve been doubted about my size. I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder because of that. I’ve always wanted to be great and humble. When I come to work I always grind 100 percent. I give it my all. I’m ready for this season and I’ll be showing everyone I can be great, this team will be great and we can get to a Super Bowl.”

So the fact that Alexander is down here in the fourth section of SR’s Fab 5 actually means I’ve saved the best for last this week.

If you haven’t been paying attention to Alexander on social media this offseason (@Showtime17Kwon on Twitter and _alexanderthegreat58 on Instagram) you’ve missed some inspirational tweets and posts from the Buccaneers’ leader on defense and a deep look into his soul.

Legend in the making

— Kwon Alexander (@Showtime17Kwon) April 1, 2017

Don’t compare me to nobody else! Im the only me !

— Kwon Alexander (@Showtime17Kwon) April 6, 2017

Nobody safe this year! Y’all asked for this! pic.twitter.com/Qior0KDzGS

— Kwon Alexander (@Showtime17Kwon) March 28, 2017

“I just write how I feel on Twitter,” Alexander said. “Sometimes I just need to write stuff out and let everybody know how I feel and how I’m going to be coming this season. I’ve been working and it’s going to be a great season this year. Get ready for it. I’ve been doing good, putting in the work. I’ve been training out in Arizona with [cornerback] Jude [Adjei-Barimah], just grinding. I just came back to Tampa.”

Alexander’s Twitter posts are 99 percent football related. He’s been coming for the 2017 season since the 2016 season ended on January 1.

“I think about football all the time, man,” Alexander said. “I eat, sleep, dream football and wake up thinking about, too. Football is my life.”

After an eye-opening rookie year in which Alexander, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2015, beat out veteran Bruce Carter for the right to start at middle linebacker after the first preseason game and posted 93 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 12 games, the LSU product showed a tremendous amount of improvement last year. In 16 games, Alexander led the Bucs in tackles with 145, including an NFL-leading 108 solo tackles along with three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and his first career pick-six.

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After being snubbed for NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 1 for notching a career-high 17 tackles and one sack in a 31-24 upset of Atlanta, Alexander set the bar even higher with 21 tackles and a forced fumble on Sunday Night Football in a 26-20 loss at Dallas in Week 15. Likely because the Bucs lost, Alexander missed out on the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award again.

And because the Bucs missed the playoffs, finishing 9-7, Alexander missed out on the Pro Bowl, coming close as an alternate, but not getting there. The disrespect stuck in Alexander’s craw.

“It stuck with me a lot because first they told me I wasn’t a good enough tackler,” Alexander said. “The critics said I couldn’t tackle at all my rookie year. Then I came back my second year and led the league in solo tackles and only had like 30-something assists. That’s crazy. I still don’t get recognition for it. I don’t know what I have to do. I guess I have to lead the league in all categories to get recognition. Then that’s what I’ll do.”

Don’t mistake Alexander’s personal quest for recognition of his greatness as being selfish. Teams with the highest amount of Pro Bowl players usually make the playoffs. The more tackles, sacks and turnovers Alexander creates the better chances of him going to the Pro Bowl, but also the better the team’s chances of making the playoffs.

“It turns me up even more because I know I was almost there,” Alexander said. “My personal goal is to get to the Pro Bowl and be Defensive Player of the Year and lead the league in tackles. My team goals are to get to the playoffs and the Super Bowl. And I might not be able to actually play in the Pro Bowl because we’ll be in the Super Bowl. All those goals add up together.”

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Alexander found out last year that tackles are nice, but splash plays are what count in the eyes of Pro Bowl voters and the media. Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks didn’t win the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors because he had 117 tackles. He won it because he had five interceptions, including three pick-sixes that year, and had a scoop-and-score fumble recovery in addition to a sack.

Four defensive touchdowns in one season catch people’s attention.

“I’ve been practicing catching the ball,” Alexander said. “If you’ve been on my Instagram you see I’ve been catching 300 balls a day. I’ve been practicing getting my hands right because all of those balls count – even the bad balls. I catch all balls – ugly balls, too. All those balls thrown in games aren’t always good balls. I plan on getting in the end zone multiple times this year – more than anybody. I’m trying to have receiver stats, man. That’s my goal. I always keep my goals high and try to get them.”

Alexander took a big step forward in Mike Smith’s defense by putting in the time with the coaches. The extra time he spent with Smith and linebackers coach Mark Duffner really paid off.

“He’s a great coach,” Alexander said of Duffner, who was in line to replace Smith as the team’s defensive coordinator had Smith taken a head coaching job in the offseason. “He’s my favorite linebacker coach. He loves all of us. He’s a players’ coach and he’s taught me so much.

“I’ve learned so much from the vets beside me, too, in Lavonte and Buck [strongside linebacker Daryl Smith]. Buck’s retired now. It’s been a blessing to have Coach Duff with me. We’re going to continue to do great things.”

While one veteran departs, a new arrives that should have a positive impact on Alexander’s performance in 2017. Tampa Bay has a new nose tackle in 320-pound Chris “Swaggy” Baker, who will line up right in front of Alexander.

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

“I don’t know much about him, but I watched his highlights and he looks like a great player,” Alexander said. “He’ll be next to a great player in Gerald McCoy and it’s going to be hard to stop those guys. He and Gerald are going to make the jobs of Lavonte David, Davonte Bond and myself a lot easier. We’ll run through our gaps and make big plays. It’s going to be hard to stop those two guys up front. I can’t wait.”

For Alexander and the 2017 season Buccaneers the wait is almost over. The weight room at One Buccaneer Place is open for business on Monday, April 17, where strength coach Dave Kennedy and his staff will be waiting to begin offseason workouts. Alexander is ready.

“Even though we didn’t make it to the playoffs it seems like the offseason went by so fast,” Alexander said. “I can’t wait to get together with my teammates and meet my new teammates and get back to it. It’s going to be a great season, man.”

Greatness awaits No. 58.

Boy Football almost back !! 😤

— Kwon Alexander (@Showtime17Kwon) April 12, 2017