Tykee Smith’s Restricted Security Reps

Tykee Smith’s transfer from nickel to security has extensively been reported this offseason. However it nonetheless stays to be seen whether or not that change shall be a optimistic for a) the Bucs and b) for Smith. He was a superb nickel final yr. His mixture of smarts, explosiveness, and tenacity proved to be a unbelievable mix to play a task that is significance has elevated lately.

Simply to deliver everybody in control on how good he was final yr:

Finest play of the day for Tykee IMO. Bucs operating QQH (Quarters-Quarters-Half or C-4 to the idea and C-2 to the sector).

Nonetheless in awe of how properly Smith, as a rookie, can really feel out the construction of the play and break to areas of the sector he should not be in to fulfill the ball. https://t.co/xljZc7uM9T pic.twitter.com/jj04XKyID8

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 16, 2024

Tykee Smith coming off his man to leverage the shallow cross, shutting down the Commanders opening drive pic.twitter.com/OgV2tF3l4V

— Theo Ash (@TheoAshNFL) January 13, 2025

Smith was a playmaker final yr. He ranked sixth amongst all defensive backs in cease fee final yr at 6.7%. He added 4 tackles for loss, three pressured fumbles, two interceptions, 4 go breakups and 5 pressured incompletions.

And Smith’s common depth of deal with was an astounding 0.6 yards as a result of he was always urgent by perimeter blocks to explode screens within the backfield. Quite a lot of this manufacturing got here between Smith was in a position to play near the ball.

Bucs Wager Huge On A Huge Transfer

The Bucs have been looking for a top quality security to pair with Antoine Winfield Jr. for occurring 4 years now. Smith’s transition up prime follows within the footsteps of two different high-profile nickel-to-top-down-safety strikes within the final 12 months. The Lions moved their star defensive again Brian Department to a real star defender, growing his security snaps nearly 10-fold. And after the Ravens protection struggled for the primary half of final season, they moved their nickel, Kyle Hamilton, up prime.

The change was transformative. Baltimore was twenty seventh within the NFL in Anticipated Factors Added (EPA) per play by Week 10. However from Week 11 on with Hamilton manning middle discipline they ascended to first place, and it wasn’t significantly shut.

Bucs DB Tykee Smith and CB Tyrek Funderburk – Picture by: USA As we speak

Smith hasn’t performed a lot security in his profession. He was credited with simply 4 snaps up prime final yr. And over 1,900 snaps in faculty he performed security simply 46 occasions. That he shall be a superb deep security is way from a slam dunk. And we do not have a lot tape to guage to return to any laborious, conclusive determinations. However we do have some tape.

Smith performed 9 defensive snaps in opposition to the Steelers in Week 2 of the preseason. Can these 9 snaps inform us something? In all probability not a lot. However it may be capable of level to the place he can excel and the place he may battle.

Tykee Smith In The Field

Working because the field security, Tykee Smith confirmed off the skillset that made him an efficient slot final yr. He was aggressive and bodily with jams on the line of scrimmage to disrupt receiver timing as he handed off routes behind him. He labored downhill rapidly and with an explosive first step, discovering gaps within the line to get into the backfield, almost bringing down Steelers operating again Kenneth Gainwell for a loss.

Bucs NCB Tykee Smith and Chiefs TE Travis Kelce – Picture by: USA As we speak

Deep Considerations

Tykee Smith did not have many snaps the place he aligned deep. However in these couple of snaps there have been some issues that popped up. As a middle discipline security he allowed Scott Miller – he of Bucs legend beneath the primary identify Scotty – to get behind him on a deep vertical as a result of he was late to flip his hips and cap the route.

Later within the first quarter he bit laborious on an inside dig from Miller as an alternative of offering inside capped leverage on a Roman Wilson vertical on the surface. Jamel Dean was credited dwell with permitting Wilson to hit for a 42-yard explosive, however on the re-watch it was clear he anticipated Smith to assist. I imagine Smith performed the rep flawed, however even when he did not, there was a transparent miscommunication between he and Dean which doesn’t bode properly for the 2 because the common season approaches.

Usually, the aggressive explosiveness that Smith performs the sport close to the road of scrimmage is absent from his recreation the additional he will get from the ball. A few of that may be understood as he does not have the expertise to play as instinctively as I’m certain he would love.

Finally, two snaps doesn’t a profession make. However it’s sufficient to say it will likely be one thing I’m going to be taking note of intently come week one in Atlanta.

I’m not nervous about Smith within the field. However offenses can movement to shift him to the highest sufficient to take benefit if he cannot enhance his processing. And if that occurs, it is going to trigger each short- and long-term roster jams for the Bucs. There shall be extra movie to guage in every week. However till then, warning is warranted.