Pewter Pulse: Bucs Have A BIG PROBLEM At LB Moving Forward

[@TheSwitchedConservative]

Moving forward? We’ve had a big problem at LB for the last 5 weeks lol

[@Martideybor]

I hate to see that for Lavonte, but it's the nature of the beast. No one knows it's over until it's over. I second that "nobody covers the Bucs free agency and draft like we do".

[@PewterReportTV]

Thank you!

[@Heezo813]

I can always count on SR to provide the 🔥 content, great Pewter Pulse!

[@PewterReportTV]

Thank you!

[@Arab2020]

we have a problem at coverage linebacker Britt on rundown first maybe second third and short is good. We have a problem on second and long and third and long with the signing of Edwards. We can drop Whitehead into that box and play Winfield and Edwards high so Whitehead could cover a rb or te because the middle of the field has been killing us on third down

[@PewterReportTV]

Yes. Hopefully Mike Edwards' return can help, especially in coverage.

[@FloridaDreamHouse]

Father Time catches up with everyone. It's tough to see a player like Lavonte David defy time and play at a high level every year and then drop off significantly the next. I think he retires after this season, and I fear it's starting to happen with Mike Evans due to ongoing health concerns. 😭

[@tiagopichetto2489]

yup, Mike is going soon too. legends

[@PewterReportTV]

Yep, all legends eventually fade. Nature of the beast.

[@FloridaDreamHouse]

@@PewterReportTV Except for you, SR. You will not fade anytime soon. 🤣

[@ugosmith7529]

While David has definitely lost a step this year but some of his woes have got to be him trying to make up for other's shortfallings. Cough cough Britt

[@Fljeep18]

No kidding! Licht should have used a pick to trade for a youngish ILB before the trade deadline. He is going to have use a pick on a ILB during the draft anyway. Someone is going to have to lead the defense when on the field once L.David retires.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

This analysis great. It shows the players on the defense are the problem which I have been saying all season long. This is about the linebackers which are a big problem. The other big problem is the corrnerbacks. Zyon McCollum and Tyrek Funderburk are falling short in coverage. In addition OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has not done great either. There is a shortage of talent on defense and it is pretty clear now.

[@PewterReportTV]

Thank you!

[@louieflash7190]

Weeks ago Bowles said help was on the way at Mike. When asked for a player name he said they were bringing Vi Jones "up to speed". We are still waiting.

[@PewterReportTV]

Agreed. Play him.

[@cncrlyurs1416]

Can we Talk about how Carlton Davis has Thrived in the lions system n Bowles he regressed every year..

[@tiagopichetto2489]

bowles system is outdated

[@PewterReportTV]

That's a good topic.

[@dkobe24]

That’s a reach. He was just always hurt. But when he played, he WAS a shutdown cb. And great tackler

[@cncrlyurs1416]

@dkobe24 That's partially true. He's always been a Great CB.. But over time His impact had diminished due to Bowles taking him away from what he's good at..

[@dkobe24]

@ I can agree with that. But we can also say Bowles has done decent in developing zyon

[@nathanelliott4008]

I am shocked that Licht has done nothing to upgrade the position this season. I am also shocked that Britt beat White for the ILB last year. How can Britt be better than some of the FAS available?

[@PewterReportTV]

Bucs had to re-sign so many high-priced players, and Lavonte David was one of them. Todd Bowles insisted on starting KJ Britt, and the team had SirVocea Dennis as ILB3. No good free agent ILB is going to want to come to Tampa Bay and be ILB4.

[@nathanelliott4008]

@PewterReportTV - I think they can see the situation and they can compete for the starting spot. Incentive contract with attainable goals with 7 games left.

[@realtordavidzusman4673]

So according to this video Jason Licht had a conversation with Bowles during the offseason that it went somewhat like that: L- Bowles, I am going to draft or sign a MLB free agent B- No! Please don’t sign anybody at MLB because I already got KJ Britt! L-Are you sure Todd Bowles? You know I filled every other roster need you had, so it seems like a bad idea for you to rely on the people you currently have… B- Licht, Do you know why I don’t need you to sign another MLB? L- I really want to know. B- Licht, you did such an amazing job signing Edge Rushers, Wideout Cornerbacks, Rotational 1 Tech DL, Reliable backup FS, Reliable backup SS, that I feel it would be unfair to the other teams in the league to have to play against the amazing roster that you so masterfully built here in Tampa Bay. Hang on to all your picks during Tradeline too because I am looking forward to the new JTS, Logan Hall, Braswell that you will bring to the team next year. L- Thank you Bowles! It feel so good to see how much everybody appreciate by brilliant work.

[@stanglassman]

Loving these Pewter Pulse videos. Great job SR.

[@louisszemesi9345]

They had Kalen DeLoach on the practice squad and let him go. He is an undersized but fast and good coverage LB. He could of gone in on 3rd and long passing plays. A continuous problem situation we have. With the lack of moves in the past four games, I almost feel like the Bucs are tanking this year on purpose to grab better talent in the draft. They refuse to give up draft picks to save this season. But you look at a team like the Chiefs who are not afraid to trade midseason for holes in their roster.

[@doug66100]

BUCS are going to have to go out in the 2025 draft and try to find the next Derrick Brooks and Lavonte David. Our linebacker room is a disaster and Lavonte David unfortunately doesn't have enough time left. We need some LBs

[@BrianDuncan1229]

A little birdie once said that Shaq Barrett would only consider coming back if it was to the Bucs…

[@michaellaroche3418]

And how is he going to help? Lol Shaq looked like a shell of himself after that Achilles injury plus dude is 33 or 34 it's time we let the past players be the past move on.

[@BrianDuncan1229]

@ I dunno, grasping at straws, tbh. That said, an old Shaq Barrett is probably better than KJ Britt at this point and he can help coach up the younger players. Plus, it’s not like Bucs can afford much better this late in the season if V jones doesn’t work out

[@jonasgorea3823]

Yea hindsight being 20-20 they absolutely should have addressed linebacker in the draft. We’ve known that Dennis has had injuries since his college days, and we know David is getting older by the day, he was going to fall off at some point. Putting all the eggs in the KJ Britt basket was always a choice. Now I think they need to sign a FA and draft a inside linebacker because they have nothing moving forward

[@aaronlemaster7139]

Antonio Grier Jr. has reputation of being a good coverage linebacker. His highlughts are all about his coverage skills

[@PewterReportTV]

I want to see him. Play him and Vi Jones instead of KJ Britt. Let's see if these guys can play.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Bucs know this, why they are running more nickel and dime defenses and not relying on the LBs all that much. In fact, they just doubled down on the nickel/dime defense with their latest additional at safety. A name you know. Mike Edwards who is a decent player. Third round selection in 2019 he has lived up to his draft pick when Jason Licht picked him. He is solid, not spectacular. HIs stats including all the teams he has played for (KC in 2023, Buffalo and Tennessee this season) are Total tackles: 236, Sacks: 3.0, Forced fumbles: 1, Fumble recoveries: 5, Pass deflections: 26, Interceptions: 8, Defensive touchdowns 4. Again, solid but not going to raise the performance of the defense substantially, he will be good as a fill-in for a tired player.

[@PaulGualtieri-m6v]

Agree with everything you said. And it's hard to see age catch up to Lavonte. Hope he retires at the end of the season as a Buc.

[@PewterReportTV]

Thank you - and yes, I agree.

[@aaronlemaster7139]

Jalon Walker??? He is a blitzer and a really good QB spy. But he is elite at those 2 things

[@PewterReportTV]

I'm all for it. They need an upgrade at ILB next year for sure.

[@StevenStansfield-q1q]

Harold Perkins Jr, Danny Stustman, Barrett Carter,

[@PewterReportTV]

I like Perkins, but he's coming off a torn ACL and he's a better blitzer/pass rush than coverage ILB. Stutsman and Carter are good, but just not many options in this year's draft.

[@StevenStansfield-q1q]

I guess we drafting a LB in the draft!

[@PewterReportTV]

Perhaps, but not many good options are available. Very weak position the draft.

[@jtcattanio]

I wouldn't mind seeing "Joe Dirt" back at LB came from a football minded family. And knows the system. Man, I wish I remembered his name.

[@ugosmith7529]

I don't know why Jones and Grier have not been given snaps. They legitimately cannot be worst then Britt and it would give us an opportunity to evaluate them against starters. Grier looked amazing in the preseason, might as well see what we have in him, if he gets burned at least he has a chance of catching up, unlike Britt who I'm pretty sure I can outrun 😂

[@doug66100]

Why I didn't understand why they didn't keep Kalen Deloach and have him be a cover LB, obviously he did it pretty good job in college

[@razalis7502]

Another reason to fire todd bowles...puts his faith Into a Injury prone dude like Dennis...kid can't even walk down stairs without getting Injured

[@PewterReportTV]

When healthy SirVocea Dennis has proven to be a good ILB. The key is staying healthy - something he's struggled with.

[@cuse445]

The defense is a mess.🍊

[@PewterReportTV]

There's plenty of talent - but some of the talent ... Lavonte David, Jordan Whitehead, Antoine Winfield Jr. among others ... isn't playing up to the standard.

[@Mel-Sqr]

Love from India

[@Justify4935]

I'd hold judgement on LVDs grade this year. Like he did White's rookie season, he covered a lot. This defense couldn't stop a pop Warner team. This year is a wash. I think if we are healthy next year, his grade will go back to his normal numbers

[@DottieMuro-dy5vg]

Scott always apologizing and making excuses for Licht.

[@Proudfather21613]

The game got faster we gotta let them go and get some good young defenders that superbowl defense is over with stop rehiring them it’s a reason other teams letting them go

[@Liquidmuse3]

Yet you said Devon wasn’t worth bringing back after the Eagles let him go

[@DM.Nefelibata]

I understand D. White was a cancer. What’s the biggest difference between the defense this year and last year. C. Davis got traded, but McCollum stepped up. Is leadership in the locker room that poor they can’t handle a cancer. Most winning teams have one or two. He could platoon with Whitehead at MLB. Edwards platooning with Winfield, moving Winfield to SS in that situation. What am I missing? There’s always one or two cancers in a locker room. You can’t handle more than that. Poor leadership is the reason they lose the locker room. Good leadership those two extremely talented players make the difference.

[@PewterReportTV]

It's not that Devin White is or is not a cancer ... HE ... IS ... NOT ... GOOD. Devin White has turned into an awful player. It's on tape. He was bad with the Bucs last year, bad with Philly at the start of the year in practice and in the preseason and bad in Houston now.

[@DM.Nefelibata]

@ really, he wasn’t a good MLB designated pass rusher? Did he not excel in that role in the defensive in that role.

[@DM.Nefelibata]

I feel your disdain for him is clouding the opinion. We’re all blind to our bias. I never said anything other than him and C. Davis are the difference in the defense.

[@DM.Nefelibata]

I have seen the tape, but they were 7th in defense with him playing here. I don’t think he’s a good player. I am championing that he is, but you are acting like Bowles suddenly can’t coach… Personal is the problem on defense. Injuries are never an excuse.

[@DM.Nefelibata]

@ The tape lies more than the numbers. 19.1 PPG last year with his horrible defense correct? 26.6 PPG in 2024. That’s a TD a game for Davis and White.

[@JoshKlein-y3g]

It's not the linebacker position

[@mjsheets5936]

Really? Then what is it?

[@account2292]

No shizz