It was already well-known that the Bucs have been going to be with out the providers of Jordan Whitehead for an prolonged time period, however they made it official on Friday by shifting him to injured reserve. The designation means he’s out for at the very least 4 weeks. Previous to the harm, Tampa Bay claimed security Mike Edwards on waivers.
That transfer might show to be fortuitous when the season involves an in depth, each time that could be.
Bucs Ss Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Lower than every week after re-joining the staff he received a Tremendous Bowl with in 2020, Edwards was again on the sphere in recreation motion for 23 snaps in Week 12 towards the Giants. The Bucs have been attempting desperately to get to a dime package deal on apparent passing downs since they misplaced cover-specialist linebacker SirVocea Dennis in Week 4. However accidents have conspired to forestall that dream from turning into a actuality.
Free security Antoine Winfield Jr. was injured in Week 1 and didn’t return till Week 6. Slot nook Tykee Smith has missed Weeks 8 and 11. Cornerback Jamel Dean was absent Weeks 7 via 10.
Regardless of Smith’s absence final week, the Bucs have been lastly in a position to get to the dime package deal they’ve been looking for due to the addition of Mike Edwards. Of his 23 snaps, 91% have been passing performs. When Edwards was on the sphere, the Giants averaged simply 3.6 yards per play, a 39% success charge and have been solely 2-for-6 on third downs.
Mike Edwards Gives Wanted Protection Capability In Defensive Backfield
Christian Izien performed properly towards Denver earlier within the season filling in for Winfield. However his greatest video games have persistently been as a nickel quite than as a top-down defender. Mike Edwards has extra expertise and exhibits extra consolation working as a deep security. With Whitehead on IR and Smith dominated out this week towards Carolina, every will be capable to play of their greatest function.
Edwards has a knack for the ball as evidenced by his 9 interceptions from 2019 to 2021 throughout his unique run with the Bucs. Edwards has a very good really feel for a way receivers attempt to discover room towards zone protection and retains his eyes on the quarterback. That enables him to chop crossers and make performs on the ball so catches are harder for receivers.
Mike Edwards choosing up and slicing the Wan’Dale Robinson crosser.
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— Josh Queipo (@joshqueipo.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Mike Edwards almost picked up the place he left off in Tampa lol. Superior leap on the in-breaker to power the incompletion. pic.twitter.com/q6t1g5XRac
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) November 26, 2024
The place The Commerce-Offs Come For The Bucs
Browns RB Nick Chubb, Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and S Mike Edwards – Photograph by: USA Right now
Mike Edwards has already proven he can enhance the Bucs’ go protection. Particularly when Smith returns and Tampa Bay can get again to dime packages on third downs.
However with him taking the place of Whitehead, the staff will take a small hit in run protection. The Bucs haven’t been elite in run protection this season like in years previous. They’re twenty first in EPA/rush allowed at -0.02. And permitting 121 yards per recreation places them sixteenth within the NFL. That quantity could be worse, however most groups they’ve confronted have chosen pass-heavy recreation plans to make the most of an much more porous go protection.
Edwards is slower to set off downfield than both Whitehead or Izien. His 17% missed sort out charge is the very best of the three. His profession common depth of sort out within the run recreation is 6.8 versus Whitehead’s 4.7 and Izien’s 6.4.
However having Edwards in for Whitehead will tilt the positioning of the Bucs’ safeties. When Winfield was initially paired with Whitehead from 2020 to 2021, he performed deep security between 66% and 70% of the time. In the course of the previous two seasons, that charge fell to about 50%. A few of that was as a result of him being within the slot in 2022. However in 2023, his deep security charge was round 60%.
This yr, with Whitehead again within the fold, that charge ballooned again to 65%. Winfield is at his greatest when he will get a very good mixture of deep and field alternatives. Edwards’ return might assist guarantee these charges stay blended properly.
