Bucs Strengths And Weaknesses: S

Pewter Report analyzes each position’s strengths and weaknesses in Tampa Bay, as the Bucs attempt to three-peat as NFC South champions.

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Outside Linebackers
Inside Linebackers
Cornerbacks

Finishing up this series are Tampa Bay’s safeties, which feature two of the league’s better up-and-coming defenders in Antoine Winfield Jr. and newcomer Ryan Neal, as well as a host of unproven talent behind them. The safety position is one of the most important positions in Todd Bowles’ complex defensive scheme. Bowles asks a lot from his safeties in terms of being able to flip between free and strong safety and blitz from the slot.

Will this unit be a strength due to the terrific tandem of Winfield and Neal? Or will the unproven depth at the safety spot drag this unit down to where it becomes a weakness in 2023? The Bucs moved on from veterans Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal this offseason. Edwards signed with Kansas City and Neal wound up in Pittsburgh, while Ryan remains unsigned at age 32.

The Strength of Bucs Ss: Starters Are Playmakers

Bucs S Ryan Neal – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of the league’s best safeties. He was a day one starter as a second-round pick and helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV in 2020 as a rookie. The next year saw Winfield become a Pro Bowler for the first time during the 2021 season. But last year, head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles decided to move Winfield into the slot as the team’s nickelback. That move didn’t produce the desired results as Winfield logged just one interception all season, which came in a Week 1 win at Dallas, and he struggled at times in man coverage.

Now, Winfield will move back to free safety, where Bowles will use his vision, range and ballhawking ability as a center fielder in Cover 1 and Cover 3. This should result in more plays on the ball and hopefully a return to the Pro Bowl for Winfield, who is entering a contract year.

The Bucs signed former Seattle safety Ryan Neal this offseason. Neal, who replaces the tandem of Mike Edwards and Keanu Neal at strong safety, was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safety last year. A former reserve in Seattle, Neal replaced the injured Jamal Adams and recorded an 85.6 overall PFF grade in 2022.

Bucs S Chris Izien – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs hope Neal, who signed a one-year, prove-it deal, is not a one-year wonder and can duplicate the season he had with the Seahawks last year. Neal posted 66 tackles, eight passes broken up, an interception, a sack and forced a fumble.

Tampa Bay has some potential talent behind Winfield and Neal in undrafted free agents Kaevon Merriweather and Chris Izien, along with Kedrick Whitehead and a holdover from last year in Nolan Turner. The hard-hitting Merriweather could become the top reserve with a strong training camp and preseason. Izien has a chance to win the nickelback job in the slot if he can beat out veteran Dee Delaney and fellow rookie Josh Hayes.

Best-Case Scenario at S

Winfield and Neal stay healthy all season and become play-making turnover machines in the secondary – both garnering Pro Bowl consideration. Merriweather emerges as the No. 3 safety and a potential starter down the road, while Izien wins the nickelback job as a rookie.

The Weaknesses of Bucs Ss: Unproven Depth

Bucs S Nolan Turner – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Because of the nature of the position, it’s tough for safeties to play an entire season wire-to-wire. Antoine Winfield Jr. has missed a total of seven games over the last two seasons due to injury, including four because of a concussion and an ankle sprain in 2022. Ryan Neal also missed three games in Seattle last year due to injuries. If the Bucs lose either or both starters to injuries this season, it could spell trouble at the safety position.

Tampa Bay had a very veteran unit last year with Logan Ryan, Keanu Neal and Mike Edwards playing alongside Winfield. But that trio is gone, although the aging Ryan could be re-signed if necessary as long as he’s still a free agent. There is a very real chance that the Bucs keep five safeties due to special teams, and that highly-regarded rookies Kaevon Merriweather and Chris Izien make the team along with either fellow rookie Kedrick Whitehead or Nolan Turner, last year’s practice squader.

That would leave the Bucs woefully inexperienced at safety behind Winfield and Neal.

Worst-Case Scenario at S

If either Winfield or Neal suffered a serious injury that would lead to several missed games, one would think Tampa Bay would have to sign a veteran like Ryan to step in to steady the position during the season. Especially if Merriweather and/or Izien are slow to develop and aren’t ready to step into the starting lineup as rookies.

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