Back on May 21st, 2019, we were the first to break the news to you that the Buccaneers were signing Ndamukong Suh and how that he would be a great addition to the defensive line due to the release of Gerald McCoy and the injury to JPP. The deal, which was expected to be a 1-Year 9.5 Million dollar deal, and something the Bucs can get value for in a position that has been filled with more questions than answers. 

Little was known before the start of the season about what we were to expect from the veteran lineman. Many were of a mind that he isn’t worth the amount of money we were paying him and that he had little production in Los Angeles last year. But the proof seems to be in the pudding. Last season the Rams rushing defense was ranked 10th in the league, and Aaron Donald’s sack count plummeted from 20.5 in 2018 to 11.0 in 2019. The Rams did change out defensive line coaches over the offseason so that could factor into Donald’s decline in sacks, but defensive guru Wade Phillips is still their coordinator. I think Suh was a bigger factor than he is given credit.

When it comes to Tampa’s defensive line and what it has produced this season as opposed to last season, I don’t even have to tell you that the difference is like night and day since Arians came to Tampa and unplugged the garbage that was here and plug in his program. I won’t give Suh that credit, I just can’t. But what I can do, is split the credit with him and Vita Vea for multiple things. Due to Vea and Suh being constantly double-teamed on passing plays, it has freed up linebacker Shaquil Barrett to just free the beast upon opposing quarterbacks, and to me, there is no doubt in my mind that Suh is a big part of the reason Barrett is threatening to take everyone’s record. I think Suh is perfect for Todd Bowles’ defense. Not only has the pass rush improved, but the run defense is well the best in the league. Again, it’s not all due to Suh, but as I said, Suh fits Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme perfectly!

Ndamukong Suh’s stats this year don’t jump out at you, or wow the pants off of anyone; however, he has four fumble recoveries, and two of those went for touchdowns. Those two fumble recoveries for touchdowns tie him for No.1 in the NFL and are third overall in Buccaneers’ franchise history. They are also a single-season Buccaneers franchise record that ties Ronde Barber. Suh has put his stamp on this football team.

The question that was asked when he was signed in May was: “will Suh become a staple for what is hoped to be a much more improved defense this season?” I think he has, and I say, “bring him back at all costs, but I wouldn’t back the Brinks truck up.” Tampa is a team on the rise, so Suh should want to stay with the Buccaneers. We have a lot of free agents coming up and a quarterback to pay handsomely, so we do have spend our money wisely. I would not want to be in our general manager’s shoes this offseason.

During the game against the Detroit Lions, rookie CB Jamel Dean added another two pass defends, giving him 17 on the year, which leads all rookies. Dean has played in 11 games this season and started in three.

It is almost unheard of for a rookie defender to rack up 17 pass defends after starting in just three games. Dean is quickly making a name for himself in the NFL as an excellent cover corner who is quite the ballhawk.

With Dean and the emergence of fellow rookie Sean Murphy-Bunting, the Bucs look as though next season they will have an excellent defensive backfield. These DBs are young and ready to make a name for themselves in the NFL.

In a week that Jameis Winston entered history as the first QB to ever pass for consecutive 450-yard games and back to back 4 TD games, Winston is looking at another award.

Vote for NFL’s Fed-Ex Air Player of the week for week 15, here: VOTE FOR THE WEEK 15 NOMINEES.

Winston is starting to garner the right kind of attention. It’s a known fact among teams in the NFL and among analysts and talking heads that Jameis Winston turns over the ball. According to Sean Payton, it’s even game planned that Winston will turn over the ball.

Too often the negative has been the narrative. Until recently, many were on the fence about Jameis being the QB of the future. Now performances and results are improving rapidly there can be no doubt.

Winston has guided the Buccaneers on a 4 game win streak and is looking like one of the league’s premier passers. If this trend continues, we won’t be talking about “Player of the week” honors, but the player of the year and dare I say, MVP?

It was announced this morning by buccaneers.com that the Bucs have named Demar Dotson as their recipient for the 2019 Ed Block Courage Award.

(Ed Block Courage Award recipients symbolize professionalism, great strength, and dedication, in addition to being community role models. It is a unique award, as the recipient is selected by their teammates)

Dotson joins franchise lineman Davin Jospeh (2012), Kevin Pamphile (2016), John Wade (2005), and Jerry Wunsch (2001) to win the award since 2000.

(Lavonte David, Joe Jurevicius, Vincent Jackson, “Cadillac” Williams, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, Hardy Nickerson, Ronde Barber, Mike Alstott, Ricky Reynolds other notable Buccaneers to win the award)

Dotson is one of the longest-tenured Bucs in franchise history. In his 11th season, he joins John Lynch (11), Paul Gruber (12), Derrick Brooks (14), Dave Moore (13), Mike Alstott (12), and Ronde Barber (16), all who have spent more than 11 years with the franchise. His 104 starts are tied for 16th in franchise history. He has appeared in 128 games.

Dotson has played a vital role in the community, participating in “Turkey Time with the O-Line” also sponsors “Dotsons Do-Gooders”, which provides a special gameday experience for the youth who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to attend Buccaneers home games.

Sean Murphy-Bunting’s name was called in the second round of the NFL draft this year, and Buc Fandom immediately called the selection into question. No one had heard of Murphy-Bunting nor wanted to take cornerback that wasn’t named Greedy in early rounds. Arians praised the young corner’s abilities in practice, but fans have heard this kind of talk from coaches before just to be let down. See Vernon Hargreaves III. He had his share of ridicule through weeks 1 and 4. “He can’t cover!” they’d say and “Why is he out there? He’s making so many mistakes, He sucks, he’s another bust,” they’d cry, but in week 5 people began thinking a little differently and the coaches did as well. He earned the first start of his career the following week against the Panthers. Although his first few starts did not go as well as anyone hoped they would, and the ridicule began to rear its ugly head again, Murphy-bunting kept on trucking along.

On October 6th in New Orleans, Sean Murphy-Bunting recorded the first interception of his young career. Interceptions are nice, they are exciting, and they make fans happy. He went from playing 19% of the total snap counts in the previous 4 games to playing 86% of them during that game in New Orleans, and the extended time showed that he has what it takes to make it in this league. It also showed signs that he could be great. Over the nine games that followed, if he was able to play, he saw 46% of the snap counts up to 100% of them.

Last week in the motor city, Murphy- Bunting came through with a clutch interception for a 70-yard touchdown. It was not a game-winning pick-six, but it stopped a Lions comeback drive that could have tied the game 24-24, extended the Buccaneers lead, and capped off one hell of a game. I’d at least call that the icing on the cake.

For his performance in that game against the Lions, Murphy Bunting has been nominated for Pepsi Rookie of the Week! He will join, kicker Matt Gay, who was nominated in Week 4, his teammate Devin white, who joins him on NFL.com’s Defensive All-Rookie Team and was nominated for Pepsi Rooke of the Week three times this year; Weeks 9,12, and 13.

Vote for Sean Murphy-Bunting by clicking the link here: Week 15 Pepsi Rookie of the Week!

In case you missed it here’s the pick six!