One of the nice surprises on the Bucs final 12 months was the play of undrafted defensive again Christian Izien. Immediately, Izien stood out in camp and was entrusted to be the group’s beginning nickelback, a task he held all season. It was one which he crammed admirably, however moderately rapidly, it appears that he’s being ignored of the image heading into 2024.
With Jordan Whitehead and Tavierre Thomas signing as free brokers and Tykee Smith being drafted within the third spherical, it has made Izien’s path to taking part in time lots murkier.
What’s his most sensible path to seeing the sector, and can he be the group’s most versatile defensive again this season?
Tykee Smith Is Christian Izien’s Essential Competitors In Bucs’ Secondary
It’s truthful to say that Christian Izien performed above expectations in 2023. With the Bucs missing a real nickelback with star security Antoine Winfield Jr. shifting again to free security, it was a giant gap getting into final season’s coaching camp.
Bucs NCB Christian Izien – Photograph by: USA At present
Izien was the one which stood out and claimed the beginning spot within the slot, and taking part in in all 17 video games final season, the Rutgers alum was an under-the-radar contributor. He recorded 65 whole tackles, two interceptions, and a compelled fumble whereas exhibiting that he was not fazed by being thrown into the hearth straight away.
He couldn’t have gotten off to a greater begin in his NFL profession, with each of these interceptions coming within the first two video games of final season, together with his first in Week 1 the place he snatched the ball out of Okay.J. Osborn’s palms on the goalline on an important play earlier than halftime.
At occasions midseason, Izien hit the proverbial rookie wall, however he nonetheless held down a troublesome place and performed no less than 35% of the group’s defensive snaps every week all through the season. On the finish of the 12 months, he spoke about simply how exhausting it was to man the spot.
“I don’t assume individuals in the actual world perceive how sophisticated and troublesome it’s to play slot nook,” Izien mentioned then. “There’s a lot area to cowl and I imagine I’ve the toughest job on the protection. I perceive that and I work on my craft as a result of I understand how helpful my place is.”
For somebody who has the X deal with of “@chriscrafty_,” it’s truthful to say that his focus now’s on crafting a task on the Bucs’ protection in 2024, however the place?
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Wanting on the depth chart, it is going to be a battle between Izien and rookie Tykee Smith for the nickelback spot. Tampa Bay could be very excessive on Smith’s skills, and with each beginning security spots locked down, a option to get him on the sector is within the slot, the place his 4.46 pace and 5-foot-10, 205-pound body give him the vary and physicality to offer high-end manufacturing.
Enjoying for Georgia final season, he did simply that, recording 70 whole tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six move deflections, a team-high 4 interceptions, and two sacks throughout 14 video games.
Safeties coach Nick Rapone mentioned earlier this offseason that the plan is to cross-train Smith at nickel and security, however it makes most sense from a personnel standpoint to plug-and-play him most because the slot nook.
That might eat into Izien’s snaps and the place he noticed by far essentially the most taking part in time final season:
603 snaps within the slot
54 snaps within the field
30 snaps at cornerback
7 snaps at free security
If Not In The Slot, How Will Christian Izien Issue In Bucs’ Protection?
Again in February, Christian Izien’s offseason targets have been to proceed evolving as a playmaker and turn out to be the very best slot nook within the recreation, however now he has competitors to show his value.
Bucs DBs Ryan Neal and Christian Izien – Photograph by: USA At present
If Izien shouldn’t be taking part in within the slot, it is going to be a struggle for taking part in time receiving snaps at security or cornerback, and that will not occur except there’s an damage within the secondary, or as Nick Rapone typically says, “if any person breaks a fingernail.”
Whereas he’s too undersized to recurrently play as an out of doors nook at simply 5-foot-8, he possesses 4.41 pace and a 41 1/2-inch vertical to down cornerback duties in a pinch, and his tackling and peskiness off the road of scrimmage are traits that may play up.
One different artistic concept to get him on the sector is within the field and making the occasional cameo at inside linebacker. In a world the place Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, Tykee Smith, Jamel Dean, and Zyon McCollum are all on the sector, plugging in Izien subsequent to Lavonte David on passing downs to get him concerned as properly is an intriguing concept.
He graded out highest by Professional Soccer Focus final season in run protection (80.3), and Todd Bowles utilized Ryan Neal for a recreation at inside linebacker final season, the place he performed a few of his greatest soccer filling in in opposition to the Panthers.
No matter how issues shake out, Christian Izien could have a task on the Bucs’ protection in 2024.
It’s a testomony to his versatility that he may line up at nickel, each security spots, cornerback, and even within the field as a linebacker. The following month will likely be essential in figuring out simply how he carves out a task and sees the sector, however he’s one participant who is targeted on not being misplaced within the shuffle.
