The Tampa Bay Buccaneers formed their initial 53-man roster of 2022 on Tuesday, but many lingering questions still persist. After final cuts, the ensuing roster is subject to change over the coming days as trades commence and shuffles occur.
Comprehensively, there are conclusions than can be drawn from the current – although, not finalized – 53-man roster. For the Buccaneers defense, the club added both speed and size to fortify the unit. Their goal will be to dominate at the point of attack, out-leveraging blockers. With Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s full-time role as a 3-4 outside linebacker, he adds another dimension to the Buccaneers’ defensive arsenal with his speed-to-power conversion. On the back end, several new versatile weapons have optimized growth in the secondary.
Over the next few days, we are going to look at some of the remaining questions in all three phases of the game regarding the 53-man roster, focusing on the defense in today’s breakdown. Last season, the Buccaneers brought back all starters and finished in the top 10 in nearly every statistical defensive category. The 2022 season ushers in change for Tampa Bay. The club lost Jordan Whitehead (Jets), Ndamukong Suh (unsigned free agent) and Jason Pierre-Paul (unsigned free agent). Replacing Whitehead, an established veteran, will not be an easy task, but signing Keanu Neal and Logan Ryan, paired with Antoine Winfield Jr.’s versatility, will help solidify the secondary.
Without JPP in the lineup, Tryon-Shoyinka has emerged in his newfound full-time role. He had four sacks last year while playing only 49 percent of snaps from various spots, and his development during the offseason could be the key to unlocking the unit’s potential. Vita Vea, the club’s anchor in the interior, will have a new linemate in three-technique Akiem Hicks. First-year player Logan Hall will join the rotation and provide an interior pass rush element that the team has lacked.
As the Buccaneers prepare for the regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, here are a few questions we still have about the defense.
What will the safety rotation look like?
The Buccaneers will enter the season with changes on the back end. Tampa Bay signed both Neal and Ryan to help fill the Whitehead void. Both Ryan and Neal have the flexibility to play in the box and can line up deep, as a single-high in the post. That tandem has allowed Winfield to cross-train at both free safety and slot corner. Winfield is a Swiss Army knife that can…
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