It was already well-known that the Bucs had been going to be with out the companies of Jordan Whitehead for an prolonged time frame, however they made it official on Friday by shifting him to injured reserve. The designation means he’s out for not less than 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 may be.
Bucs Ss Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Lower than per week after re-joining the crew he gained a Tremendous Bowl with in 2020, Edwards was again on the sector in recreation motion for 23 snaps in Week 12 in opposition to the Giants. The Bucs have been making an attempt 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 changing 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 by 10.
Regardless of Smith’s absence final week, the Bucs had been lastly in a position to get to the dime package deal they’ve been in search of due to the addition of Mike Edwards. Of his 23 snaps, 91% had been passing performs. When Edwards was on the sector, the Giants averaged simply 3.6 yards per play, a 39% success price and had been solely 2-for-6 on third downs.
Mike Edwards Gives Wanted Protection Skill In Defensive Backfield
Christian Izien performed effectively in opposition to Denver earlier within the season filling in for Winfield. However his greatest video games have constantly been as a nickel slightly 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 in opposition to Carolina, every will have the ability 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 authentic run with the Bucs. Edwards has an excellent really feel for a way receivers attempt to discover room in opposition to zone protection and retains his eyes on the quarterback. That permits him to chop crossers and make performs on the ball so catches are tougher for receivers.
Mike Edwards selecting up and chopping 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 soar on the in-breaker to drive 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 – Picture by: USA Right now
Mike Edwards has already proven he can enhance the Bucs’ cross 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 crew 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 can be worse, however most groups they’ve confronted have chosen pass-heavy recreation plans to benefit from an much more porous cross protection.
Edwards is slower to set off downfield than both Whitehead or Izien. His 17% missed deal with price is the very best of the three. His profession common depth of deal with 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. Throughout the previous two seasons, that price fell to about 50%. A few of that was on account of him being within the slot in 2022. However in 2023, his deep security price was round 60%.
This yr, with Whitehead again within the fold, that price ballooned again to 65%. Winfield is at his greatest when he will get an excellent mixture of deep and field alternatives. Edwards’ return may assist guarantee these charges stay combined effectively.
