FAB 2. 5 Bucs To Watch In Training Camp: Defense

After taking a look at five noteworthy offensive players to watch in Tampa Bay’s 2019 training camp, it’s time to examine the defense. While the Bucs offense flourished under former head coach Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay’s defense was in shambles over the past two years. Now accomplished defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is at the helm and has brought an attacking style of 3-4 defense to Tampa Bay and will feature press-man coverage on the outside and blitzing from all over.

Here are the five Buccaneers on defense to keep an eye on in late July and August.

DT Ndamukong Suh

Suh was signed just before mini-camp to replace former Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who was released in a salary cap move. Suh is just as good of a pass rusher as McCoy, but is regarded as being more stout against the run. Suh is expected to bring his physical, nasty style of play to Todd Bowles’ defense. His experience was needed with McCoy’s release, and Suh comes with the five-time All-Pro credentials.

Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One of the reasons why Suh wanted to come to Tampa Bay was because he played in a similar style of defense in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme last year in Los Angeles. The appeal for Suh was getting to play the three-technique defensive tackle spot with the Bucs after playing the five-tech defensive end spot and nose tackle with the Rams while Aaron Donald played three-tech. Suh won’t have to take on double teams like he did in L.A. Playing the three-tech role will free him up for more one-on-one pass rush opportunities in Tampa Bay.

What To Watch For: Suh is an accomplished NFL player that doesn’t have anything to prove in Tampa Bay. He’ll learn Bowles’ defense without any issues and he’s already fit in well with the team’s defensive linemen. So why watch Suh? Hey, why not? He’s a new toy for Bowles to play around with, and his nasty disposition will likely cause him to get into a training camp dust up with the likes of center Ryan Jensen or left guard Ali Marpet. Suh’s just worth watching because he’s Suh.

NT Vita Vea

To say that training camp didn’t go so well for Vea last year during his rookie season would be a massive understatement. Vea tore his calf muscle on the third day of camp during the first day of full pads and missed nearly two months of action as a result. It took Vea awhile for him to get up to speed in the NFL after missing all of the preseason, but last year’s first-round pick finished with three sacks, which was the same amount of sacks both McCoy and Warren Sapp had during their rookie years in Tampa Bay.

Vea seems poised to pick up where he left off as he enters his second season as a pro. He’s in great shape at around 335 pounds, which is about 10 pounds lighter than he was last year. Vea has experience playing in a 3-4 defense from his days at the University of Washington and he should make a smooth transition to Bowles’ scheme, although Vea was used as a two-gap player with the Huskies and he’ll be a one-gap penetrator in this version of the 3-4.

What To Watch For: Aside from staying healthy, the big thing for Vea will be to pick up the nuances in Bowles’ defense. He’ll primarily play nose tackle in Tampa Bay, but Bowles will move him around a bit to create different match-ups, so he could see some time at the five-technique defensive end spot or even at the three-technique defensive tackle position. Because of his very early exit last year, this will be some fans’ first look at Vea in training camp this August.

CB Vernon Hargreaves III

It’s a big year for Hargreaves, who enters this training camp in a contract year. The team did pick up Hargreaves’ fifth-year option for 2020, but it’s not guaranteed. If Hargreaves struggles this year the team can cut him in the offseason and do so without any cap penalty. Of course the Bucs want to see Hargreaves succeed, especially since general manager Jason Licht has a first-round pick invested in him from the 2016 draft.

Bucs CB Vernon Hargreaves III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Hargreaves saw his last two seasons end prematurely on injured reserve, and last year he missed the final 15 games after injuring his shoulder in a Week 1 win at New Orleans. That was really disappointing because many believed Hargreaves had matured and really turned a corner in his development last summer. He had regained his confidence and played well in the season opener against the Saints before his season-ending injury occurred.

What To Watch For: To say that Hargreaves must stay healthy is an understatement. He can’t afford to miss any time in camp due to injury as the Bucs just drafted two cornerbacks in Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean, who are gunning for his starting job. Hargreaves also needs to be more of a playmaker in camp as he has just one interception in 26 games. Bowles’ press-man coverage should fit Hargreaves’ skill set like a glove, but he needs to become a ballhawk to truly live up to his first-round draft status.

ILB Devin White

All eyes should be on White during training camp, and with good reason. Not only was the Butkus Award winner the Bucs’ first-round pick – with the fifth overall pick – White is also playing middle linebacker, so he’s the quarterback of the defense. White has been praised by head coach Bruce Arians for how quickly he’s absorbed Bowles’ playbook, and he’s been lauded by some as a contender for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Bucs drafted White, who is reeling from the loss of his beloved horse, Daisy Mae, who succumbed to heat exhaustion just before camp, because he’s a complete linebacker that can do it all – tackle in run defense, blitz the quarterback and make plays in coverage. White will be a three-down linebacker that might not come off the field as a rookie and he should be the Bucs’ leading tackler this year.

What To Watch For: White had a sensational spring for the Bucs, hitting the ground running and making plays. White spent some time in his Thursday press conference talking about trying to cover tight end O.J. Howard, whom the rookie called a big wide receiver. Those match-ups will be worth watching, as the talented Howard will prepare White to cover any tight end in the league. It will also be interesting to see White’s blazing closing speed as he chases quarterbacks and pursues ball-carriers when the pads come on in camp.

OLB Shaquil Barrett

Barrett flew under the radar this offseason from a media coverage standpoint, but the Bucs coaches sure took notice. They raved about his performance during the offseason and are excited to see him when the pads come on. Barrett was a situational pass rusher in Denver who played opposite Von Miller, but was squeezed out of playing time when the Broncos drafted Bradley Chubb in the first round last year.

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by PR

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Barrett is a great fit for Bowles’ 3-4 defense due to his speed off the edge that allowed him to record 14 career sacks, including three last season. He’s in a contract year, so Barrett will be motivated to step in and produce, and the Bucs will need him to – especially due to Jason Pierre-Paul’s neck injury, which will keep him out for at least the first half of the season. The 26-year old Barrett will be counted on to play opposite Carl Nassib and get to the quarterback.

What To Watch For: It will be interesting to see where Bowles has Barrett line up. Barrett can line up either on the strong side or the weak side, and he will likely be competing with Noah Spence for the starting job that was vacated by JPP’s injury. But Bowles will also have Barrett line up over guards in certain blitz packages, as he’s adept at winning one-on-one battles as an interior blitzer due to his speed and burst off the ball.