Bucs Might Have Discovered Their Edge Rusher In Indy
INTRO: The Bucs are ending up interviewing draft prospects on the NFL Scouting Mix and will have discovered the go rusher the workforce wants, in addition to an inside linebacker or two. Discover out who the Bucs have interviewed in Indianapolis in Pewter Report Bucs Mix Interview Tracker proper right here. Plus, my ideas on how the return of Larry Foote as the surface linebackers coach in Tampa Bay is big, in addition to the return of Jon Gruden within the Bucs Ring of Honor. Get pleasure from!
FAB 1. Bucs Might Have Discovered Their Edge Rusher In Indy
The Bucs might have discovered their go rusher in Indianapolis.
Did you see the efficiency that Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku placed on on the NFL Scouting Mix?
Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku – Photograph by: USA At present
He posted a 6.94 3-cone drill time and ran a 4.19 shuttle. Each of these occasions had been the most effective amongst all defensive linemen on the Mix. In actual fact, Ezeiruaku’s occasions had been additionally the most effective for all defenders on Thursday evening, together with the linebackers.
Ezeiruaku didn’t run the 40-yard sprint, however that drill truly has the least quantity to do with go speeding, which occurs whereas operating a brief arc moderately than a protracted, straight-line dash.
Ezeiruaku’s practically flawless on-field drills in Indy solidified his standing as a first-rounder to me, and doubtless to a number of NFL groups. Hopefully Tampa Bay.
That’s what Ezeiruaku needed to perform in Indy.
“It will be necessary – clearly a dream come true,” Ezeiruaku stated about presumably being drafted within the first spherical. It’s one thing I’ve needed to do since I used to be seven years outdated enjoying this recreation. On the finish of the day, it’s on God’s timing.”
Throughout his Mix press convention, I requested Ezeiruaku what made him a first-round-caliber participant in his thoughts.
“My mentality,” Ezeiruaku stated. “My psychological toughness as properly. I’m a terrific individual on the finish of the day. I believe groups need to put money into a terrific individual in addition to a terrific expertise. My athletic potential as properly. I take satisfaction in stopping the run recreation and I can rush the passer for positive.”
After being totally impressed with Ezeiruaku through the Senior Bowl practices, I did a Pewter Pulse video on whether or not or not he was a first-round match for the Bucs. His Mix interview and his on-field efficiency answered that query for me.
And doubtless for normal supervisor Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles and director of participant personnel Mike Biehl, who oversees school scouting, because the workforce had a proper interview with Ezeiruaku on the Mix. He was certainly one of seven formal interviews Tampa Bay had with edge rushers in Indy.
Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku – Photograph by: USA At present
Ezeiruaku is definitely higher than some latest edge rushers taken close to the tip of the primary spherical, equivalent to Tampa Bay’s personal Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (2021), New Orleans’ Payton Turner (2021), Cincinnati’s Myles Murphy (2023) and Kansas Metropolis’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah (2023). And I consider he’s higher than Inexperienced Bay’s Lukas Van Ness, who was taken No. 13 total in 2023.
For these of you who suppose taking the Boston School star at No. 19 is simply too early, I believe he could be on par as a go rusher with – or maybe higher than – Miami’s Jaelan Phillips, who was taken at No. 18 in 2021, or Indianapolis’ Kwity Paye, who was drafted at No. 21 the identical yr.
Ezeiruaku recorded 30 sacks at Boston School, together with 16.5 final yr, which was half a sack away from tying Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced for the FBS lead. He additionally had 47 tackles for loss, together with 21 in 2024.
And bear in mind how Bowles has said he needs ballhawks this offseason? Ezeiruaku pressured eight fumbles during the last three years for the Eagles.
With pterodactyl-like 34-inch arms and great agility and skill to bend, Ezeiruaku looks like an excellent complement to Yaya Diaby’s energy speeding type in Tampa Bay the way in which Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul complemented one another through the workforce’s Tremendous Bowl run in 2020.
I do know a few of you need Tampa Bay to search out its go rusher in Philadelphia (Josh Sweat) or Los Angeles (Khalil Mack). And I do know a few of you even need the Bucs to surrender draft picks to search out that go rush in Cleveland (Myles Garrett), Cincinnati (Trey Hendrickson) or Las Vegas (Maxx Crosby).
However one thing tells me that the Bucs aren’t going to spend massive cash on an edge rusher this yr. If Tampa Bay opens its checkbook up in free company, I believe it may be for a veteran cornerback to assist in the secondary.
No inside data, simply my intestine feeling having lined this workforce for 30 years.
I believe the Bucs discovered their first-round choose in Indy in Ezeiruaku.
FAB 2. Donovan Ezeiruaku Is “That Man” For The Bucs
Accountable.
Aggressive.
Assured.
Passionate.
Resilient.
These are the 5 traits that make up “I Am That Man” blueprint for what the Tampa Bay scouting division appears for in new Buccaneers that the workforce indicators in free company and selects within the draft.
Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku has all 5 of these traits, together with being the elite, nuanced go rusher the Bucs desperately want on the sting reverse Yaya Diaby.
“I’m a dynamic go rusher,” Ezeiruaku informed me on the Senior Bowl. “So I’ve a deep bag of go rush strikes. I can ghost rush. I can cross chop. I can swipe. I can counter inside and I’m engaged on the ability side, however I believe I might deliver some energy in my rushes as properly. So I believe that separates me. I’m not like a one-trick pony, or I’m not someone who doesn’t rush with a plan or rush with some kind of data.”
Ezeiruaku went to the Senior Bowl to compete and placed on a present in one-on-one go rush drills in addition to going to the NFL Scouting Mix to compete and put up the highest numbers within the three-cone drill and shuttle.
Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeieruaku – Photograph by: USA At present
Once I requested Ezeiruaku what kind of individual an NFL workforce goes to get if it drafts him the very first thing he talked about was being a competitor.
“You’ll get a terrific individual firstly, however someone who likes to compete, someone who likes to win,” Ezeiruaku informed me on the Senior Bowl. “Clearly you’re going to get an athlete off the sting, however you’re going to get a defensive finish/outdoors linebacker/edge rusher that may be on the sector all 4 downs.
“I satisfaction myself on stopping the run recreation and I do know I can go rush. That’s why I got here [to Mobile, Ala.] this week – to place just a little extra emphasis on stopping the run. Simply so scouts, GMs and coaches can see it dwell within the flesh. I believe I did a fairly good job of that this previous yr and within the years constructing as much as this yr, however simply to allow them to see that dwell.”
His efficiency on the Senior Bowl in opposition to the run the place he smashed into offensive tackles, who had been far greater than his 6-foot-2, 248-pound body, to successfully set the sting within the operating recreation jogged my memory a whole lot of how ferocious Shaq Barrett performed run protection at 6-foot-1, 250 kilos.
Ezeiruaku oozed confidence when speaking about his background, rising up enjoying soccer in New Jersey.
“If you realize something about Jersey guys or South Jersey or Philly, we feature a chip on our shoulder always,” Ezeiruaku stated. “That’s simply who we’re. If you realize something about Jersey soccer, or in case you’re not from Jersey, lot of persons are like ‘Okay, what’s occurring down there?’ That’s the chip. You already know folks sometimes depend us out. Nevertheless it’s positively a badge of honor. The place are you from? Man, I’m from Williamstown, New Jersey.”
I had the possibility to talk with Ezeiruaku briefly off the rostrum in Indianapolis on Wednesday and I requested him how his formal interview with the Bucs went and he informed me how he instantly linked with Todd Bowles. Ezeiruaku knew that Bowles hails from Elizabeth, New Jersey and performed soccer at Temple.
I informed him that he’s the form of go rusher Tampa Bay wants and he stated, “I’d adore it. Let’s make it occur.”
Ezeiruaku shouldn’t be a one-year marvel like Marshall’s Mike Inexperienced may be. Inexperienced had 17 sacks in his second season for the Thundering Herd, however had simply 4.5 in 2023. Ezeiruaku had an 8.5-sack season with 15 tackles for loss at Boston School in 2022, which reveals that his 2024 season wasn’t a fluke.
However Ezeiruaku did have a down yr in 2023 with simply seven tackles for loss and two sacks. When requested why he had such an off yr that season, Ezeiruaku confirmed accountability through the Senior Bowl media session.
Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku – Photograph by: USA At present
“Simply remembering to go have some enjoyable enjoying soccer,” Ezeiruaku stated. “I really feel like I acquired away from that my junior yr, however positively had much more enjoyable this previous yr. It was a tough offseason and I did some self-reflecting. Clearly, I put a whole lot of work into it. With the assistance of Coach Invoice O’Brien and Coach Tim Lewis I acquired all the things finished.”
Ezeiruaku has all the time had goals of enjoying within the NFL and he knew he wanted to have a bounce-back senior season. So he skilled even tougher and studied even tougher and have become the most effective model of himself within the 2024 offseason.
He even went as far as to get assist from Boston School’s offensive line coach, Doug Marrone, who taught him what to search for when finding out offensive tackles and searching for tendencies. That’s how Ezeiruaku confirmed the resiliency to rebound from two sacks in 2023 to 16.5 sacks final yr.
“Myself and Coach Marrone would watch movie collectively through the week,” Ezeiruaku stated throughout his Senior Bowl media session. “After which because the season went on, he had made a cut-up for me together with his notes and I’d watch that, and he and myself would discuss it. In order that’s form of how I grew in that side. I positively acquired a greater eye offensive linemen.”
Ezeiruaku elaborated on these movie classes with Marrone from the rostrum on the NFL Scouting Mix.
“You already know with movie you’re in a position to see – you’ll be able to’t cover clearly, so we choose up on issues like whether or not tackles are gifting away run-pass keys,” Ezeiruaku stated. “That helps you, clearly, pre-snap. Whether or not or not they’re waist-benders or they kick [slide] and so they you realize hold their chests tall or regardless of the case could also be. I believe once you take these issues and also you’re finding out these issues it’s simple to have a plan in-game. So I positively used that to my benefit.”
Ezeiruaku has a wide selection of go rush strikes in his arsenal from watching numerous hours of movie on similar-sized NFL go rushers.
“I simply watch lots of people,” Ezeiruaku stated. “I watch a whole lot of go rushers Von Miller, Maxx Crosby, Nick Bosa, Yannick Ngakoue, DeMarcus Ware, Khalil Mack. I watch a whole lot of go rushers and I’m the kind of individual after I see it, I’m like, ‘Okay that was efficient. What did he do for that to work?’ After which I’ll simply exit and take a look at it. I’ll exit and work on it and take a look at stuff.
Boston School edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku – Photograph by: USA At present
“Like in opposition to the College of Virginia I used to be doing the surface spin a pair occasions. I noticed it and I simply labored on it a couple of occasions in observe and I used to be like, ‘Okay, I’m going to attempt to deliver it out and present it.’”
Ezeiruaku is passionate concerning the recreation of soccer. Not simply being a go rusher, however for effecting the sport with pressured fumbles and having the ability to be an entire soccer participant who’s able to stopping the run. Ezeiruaku had a career-high 80 tackles final yr.
“I believe I’ve a knack for the soccer,” Ezeiruaku stated. “In my profession at Boston School, I all the time took satisfaction within the run recreation. I perceive which you could’t go rush on third down till you win on first and second down. I take a whole lot of satisfaction in that. There are areas to enhance all elements of our video games, however I believe I performed the run fairly darn properly.”
The best way Ezeiruaku speaks and confidently carries himself is tremendous spectacular. I’ve been round him for 2 media classes now this offseason and he jogs my memory of Lavonte David, Tristan Wirfs, Yaya Diaby and Antoine Winfield Jr. by way of his persona. I believe Bowles and Licht positively see him being an ideal slot in Tampa Bay’s locker room.
He screams “Buccaneer” to me. I believe he’s very properly could possibly be that man in Tampa Bay.
FAB 3. Larry Foote’s Return To Teaching OLBs Is Large
Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht is aware of that he has but to hit on a house run edge rusher within the draft. He doesn’t want you posting about it on X or me writing about it on PewterReport.com.
Licht is aware of the names – Noah Spence, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Yaya Diaby, Jose Ramirez and Chris Braswell.
None of them have change into a double-digit sacker in Tampa Bay.
Bucs Co-DC and OLBs coach Larry Foote – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Spence, a second-rounder in 2016, was a bust and is out of the league. Tryon-Shoyinka, a first-rounder in 2021, underwhelmed and gained’t be re-signed by Tampa Bay.
The jury remains to be out on Diaby, Ramirez and Braswell. Diaby, a third-round choose in 2023, made nice strides in all areas besides the sack column final yr, ending the season with 4.5. Ramirez, a sixth-round choose in 2023, has spent extra time on the observe squad and being inactive than in video games. Braswell, a second-rounder final yr, succumbed to George Edwards’ infatuation with Tryon-Shoyinka – a participant he believed an excessive amount of in. Because of this, Braswell didn’t play as a lot as he ought to have and that stunted his development.
Kudos to Todd Bowles for recognizing that 12 collective sacks from Tampa Bay’s outdoors linebackers was unacceptable and changing Edwards with Larry Foote, who’s again to teaching the Bucs edge rushers after teaching inside linebackers from 2022-24.
I believe that is a completely enormous transfer for the Bucs. Foote has the energetic, hands-on strategy essential to get essentially the most out of Tampa Bay’s younger go rushers, who’ve but to be totally developed. Bowles’ re-hiring of Mike Caldwell to educate inside linebackers, which is one thing he did in Tampa Bay from 2019-21, was additionally a superb transfer and allowed Bowles to maneuver Foote again to the sting rusher room.
“Mike Caldwell’s a terrific coach,” Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht stated, praising Bowles’ teaching strikes. “He did nice issues for us teaching Lavonte and Devin prior to now. Larry Foote has finished a terrific job teaching linebackers prior to now for us. George Edwards is a improbable coach, and Todd depends on him for lots of issues. It was like getting the most effective of all worlds and we’re very excited.”
The cerebral Edwards, who has a terrific soccer I.Q., is now not teaching a place, however as a substitute will concentrate on serving to to enhance the communication between the secondary and the linebacking corps, which positively wants enhancing, evidenced by Tampa Bay rating thirty first in go protection final yr.
Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Larry has a special educating angle,” Bowles stated. “He was there after we gained the Tremendous Bowl. Clearly he had JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul) and Shaq [Barrett], however simply getting a recent perspective on issues. We’ve acquired to assist them extra as a training employees. As a substitute of enjoying run-heavy kind of issues after which changing to the go, we have to simply set these guys free just a little bit extra as properly. As a employees standpoint, that was one of many issues we will do properly and I believe Larry will help out with that.”
Foote helped develop Barrett right into a two-time Professional Bowler in Tampa Bay, together with his 19.5-sack season, which set a brand new franchise document in 2019. And Pierre-Paul additionally had a Professional Bowl season in 2020 with a team-high 9.5 sacks, serving to the Bucs win Tremendous Bowl LV.
Not solely can Foote assist take the video games of Diaby, Braswell, Jose Ramirez and Markees Watts to new heights, however one has to suppose that his return to teaching outdoors linebackers provides Licht extra confidence in spending one other premium choose – maybe a first-rounder – on one other edge rusher.
That place has been kryptonite for Licht thus far within the 11 Tampa Bay drafts he’s presided over.
However you realize what? So was the operating again place for years.
But Licht stored taking swings at it, regardless of misses like Charles Sims, Jeremy McNichols, Ronald Jones II and Ke’Shawn Vaughn by the years.
Then he lastly hit on Rachaad White within the third spherical in 2022 and nailed a house run with Bucky Irving within the fourth spherical final yr – along with discovering a gem in Sean Tucker in undrafted free company in 2023.
Possibly this yr, Licht lastly drafts a double-digit sacker, after which Foote develops Diaby right into a double-digit sacker, too.
Then the Bucs would possibly simply have an up to date model of Barrett and JPP in 2025. Wouldn’t that be good?
FAB 4. Bucs Are Focusing on The Proper Linebackers In The Draft
Whether or not or not 35-year outdated Lavonte David decides to return to Tampa Bay for yet another season or not, the Bucs positively want extra inside linebackers this offseason. The workforce is anticipated to maneuver on from Okay.J. Britt, who began a lot of the video games final yr at center linebacker, however wasn’t quick sufficient or athletic sufficient to cowl or be efficient.
The Bucs stay excessive on SirVocea Dennis, who’s penciled in as one of many starters, however with damage considerations surrounding the previous Pittsburgh star, the workforce wants to search out no less than three extra quick, athletic linebackers to compete for the beginning roles and supply developmental depth.
Oklahoma State ILB Nickolas Martin – Photograph by: USA At present
Todd Bowles and Jason Licht had formal interviews with six inside linebackers on the NFL Scouting Mix, all of that are very quick and athletic. Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell ran a 4.52, Oklahoma State’s Nickolas Martin ran a 4.53, Georgia’s Smael Mondon Jr. ran a 4.58 and Oregon’s Jeffrey Bassa ran a 4.63 – all very quick occasions for linebackers within the 40-yard sprint.
Florida’s Shemar James was a bit on the slower facet at 4.69, and Penn State’s Kobe King elected to skip the 40-yard sprint in Indianapolis.
Campbell is taken into account to be a first-round choice for Tampa Bay. However with the depth at inside linebacker this yr, I can’t see Licht spending one other first-round choose on an off-ball linebacker like he did with Devin White, the fifth total choose within the 2019 NFL Draft. Not when drafting edge rushers and cornerbacks within the first spherical sometimes show to be extra priceless.
As a substitute, I search for the Bucs to draft a linebacker within the center rounds – maybe rounds 3 or 4. San Francisco’s Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw had been drafted within the third and fifth rounds, respectively. Philadelphia’s Zack Baun, this yr’s high linebacker in free company after an All-Professional season, was a former third-round choose in New Orleans.
Martin is a sleeper who I’ve had my eyes on for some time. Being a Kansas State alum, I watch a whole lot of Huge XII soccer and he had an incredible junior yr with 140 tackles (83 solo), 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration. A torn MCL shortened his senior season to only 5 video games the place he posted 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two passes defensed, a sack, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration.
Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa – Photograph by: USA At present
Martin had a terrific Senior Bowl, particularly in protection drills, and operating a 4.58 in Indy reveals that he’s totally recovered from his knee damage.
Bassa additionally shined in Cellular. Don’t be scared by his 4.63 time within the 40. Lavonte David ran a 4.65 popping out of Nebraska in 2012. Bassa additionally excels in protection and is a great, cerebral participant. Each he and Martin seem to be Bucs matches within the center rounds.
I’ve acquired to do some extra digging on King, however I like what I’ve seen from him thus far on tape. I’ll be curious to see his 40-time at his professional day, however I’m guessing he’ll run between 4.55-4.65.
Mondon, who performed at Georgia with Tykee Smith, is a fairly good athlete. However Mondon failed to really put all of it along with the Bulldogs to really change into a star. He was extra of a job participant as a three-year starter.
All in all, the Bucs are focusing on the best guys on this yr’s draft and it will likely be fascinating to see which of them get chosen in April.
FAB 5. Thrilled That Jon Gruden Is Again In The Bucs Ring Of Honor
Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
I’ve to confess that I used to be very upset when the Glazers eliminated Jon Gruden from the Bucs Ring of Honor in 2021 when offensive e-mails from Gruden to former Washington normal supervisor Bruce Allen had been made public as a part of an NFL investigation into the Redskins group. I understood the choice, contemplating that Gruden had some disparaging issues about Bucs proprietor Bryan Glazer in a kind of e-mails, however I didn’t like the choice to take away him.
But the Glazers stored Gruden’s Tremendous Bowl statute within the foyer at One Buccaneer Place, so the workforce didn’t fully erase him or his contribution to successful the primary championship in franchise historical past. Gruden, who has extra wins in workforce historical past than every other coach with 57, was clearly harm by the choice. And as somebody who lined each minute of his Bucs tenure from 2002-08, I used to be harm, too. I discovered extra soccer from Gruden and his assistants than I did from every other teaching employees, and I stay mates with Gruden to today.
So when information broke that the Bucs had been reinstating Gruden to the Bucs Ring of Honor, I used to be completely elated. Forgiveness is a strong factor and I’m glad the Glazers forgave Gruden in any case these years. He’s too necessary to the Bucs legacy, and celebrating 50 years of NFL soccer in Tampa Bay this yr with out him being part of it wouldn’t have felt proper.
I used to be glad to see Gruden on the sidelines throughout pregame on the Bucs vs. 49ers recreation and within the homeowners luxurious field as a visitor of the Glazers. The Glazer household deserves a whole lot of credit score for reconciling issues with Gruden. They apparently had been moved by Monte Kiffin’s celebration of life ceremony, the place forgiveness was a subject.
I can’t wait to see Gruden’s title again the place it belongs on the wall of Raymond James Stadium once more this fall. And to see Gruden standing alongside the Glazers in celebrating 50 years of the Buccaneers this yr.
