After returning to the team this offseason for OTAs, one thing was clear to Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis III. He’s one of the older guys on the team now, even though he is still just 26 years old as he enters his sixth season in Tampa Bay. That speaks to just how much the roster has changed this offseason.
Still, Davis embraces it and looks forward to bringing the same culture and standard that has made for some recent Bucs playoff football come January.
Carlton Davis III Is A Vet On Young Bucs’ Roster
The Bucs’ secondary has been revamped, with veterans and key role players gone. This means that Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean, and Antoine Winfield Jr. will be entrusted more than ever with generating turnovers and making big plays.
With guys like Sean Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards jumping ship, among others, that takes away two players who were known for making a timely play. Davis lamented on the fact that it is a locker room filled with plenty of fresh faces.
“[There are] a lot of new faces – I can’t lie,” Davis said Tuesday. “I was like – I didn’t know if I knew too many people in the locker room. I don’t know this guy … so it kind of felt like, the older you get, it’s a little bit lonely.
“Especially from when I came in with my draft class. I barely recognize anybody, but it’s a part of the business. I’m happy to be here to teach the young guys and bring a new culture to the team.”
Along with the expected contributions from the incumbent trio, other players, such as Zyon McCollum and Ryan Neal, will look to take on key roles on defense. That is not to mention hungry young players such as Nolan Turner, Chris Izien, and Kaevon Merriweather. Davis has to positively influence them – on and off the field.
“I felt that way for a couple years, especially in my room,” Davis added about being a tenured veteran. “It’s a blessing to be able to be an old guy in this league. I just want to do my part in teaching the young guys and catching them up to speed.”
Heading into his sixth season, Davis has been around during both the good and the bad. From being on the Bucs his rookie year when they went 5-11 to having a career year in 2020 while winning the Super Bowl, he has seen changes across the organization.
While from the outside many do not see the team being competitive; he does not pay that any mind. In fact, he is ready to prove himself and show his worth.
Carlton Davis III Not Concerned With Bucs Being Written Off By National Media
The only winning many see the Bucs doing is in the race for a top draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That is not something Carlton Davis III is buying, but it is something that both he and the team should embrace. No longer are the expectations on the outside to win the Super Bowl. That’s the ultimate goal, but the underdog story is often the sweetest.
“I never really paid attention to any of that stuff. I’m oblivious to it,” Davis said. “Even when Tom [Brady] was here – of course we got a lot of attention – but that was never my focus. I was never feeding off of it or motivated by it or anything like that. For me, it’s just another season to prove ourselves again.
“Obviously, people are underrating us, but I think that’s a good thing because when we punch you in the mouth, it’ll be, ‘Oh man, okay, this is the same team, the same culture.’ I think it’s a great opportunity for everybody – not even just myself – to prove ourselves and show how great of players, individually, we are and how we can come together as a team and have that same culture and that winning mentality.”
He is prepared to be a leader on a team looking to maintain a winning culture, something that should be embedded as the standard. This is an opportunity to write the franchise’s wrongs. Of all the dark years. The aftermath following the 2002 season. With a core in place and rookies looking to step up, there is optimism in the air.
Building Culture Is Important For Carlton Davis III, Bucs
It starts by building a foundation. Count Carlton Davis III as wanting to be a bricklayer.
“Building culture within our team, especially with us being a young group,” Davis said. “Raising the competition level – raising everybody’s play – just by competing at a high level and making it contagious to everybody. Letting them know that there’s a standard and this is how we’re going to practice and that eventually translates to game days.”
As Tampa Bay’s mandatory mini-camp begins next week, it is going to be a crucial time for Davis and other veterans on the team to demonstrate exactly how it’s done and what they have learned in the past couple of seasons as they continue to prepare for the 2023 campaign.
Carlton Davis III is an “old guy” now, and his wisdom will mean a great deal for the Bucs’ defense in the coming season.
The post Carlton Davis III Ready To Lead Bucs As An “Old Guy” appeared first on Pewter Report.
https://www.pewterreport.com/carlton-davis-iii-bucs-old-guy/
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