So, F*&# Devin White?
Devin White has drawn the ire of some BUCS fans and writers for the past few weeks. Unsurprisingly, the past few weeks have also been marred by a painful losing streak for the Buccaneers. If you were an outsider not having any insight into the game, you would think that White's performance, or lack thereof, was why his team was losing.
But, no.
White leads the team in assisted tackles, solo tackles, tackles for loss, and QB hits. He's #2 in passes defended.
Statistically, he's the most productive player on a defense that is in the upper echelon of the NFL right now.
So, why is he the focus of negativity?
It's likely due to flawed narratives and feelings getting in the way of logic when the team loses.
Dial D for Deflection
The Buccaneers are amid a 3-game losing streak and now carry a 3-5 record. The team has dropped from the #1 spot in the division to possibly being one game away from being #4.
The team has one of the most disappointing offenses in the NFL, having scored the league average of 21.9 points a game just twice in eight outings, and has one of the lowest time of possessions(27th) due to frequent 3-and-outs. One that leaves Devin White and his defense overly exerted and exposed to fans and critics looking for a deflection.
When the defense is left to play hero ball or called on to be damn near perfect on every snap for the team to stand a chance to win, it's a terrible spot. It's a breeding ground for negativity toward defensive players. While the offense can get credit for making a "comeback" after not producing for 90% of a game, the defense and its players get picked on if they can't make “just one more stop.” Even when they've spent made what should have been more than enough stops to allow the offense to get going earlier.
Well, lately. It's just been one player getting picked on—the former #5 Overall pick of the 2019 Draft and the vocal leader of the defense.
Don’t Quote Me Boy, Cause I Ain’t Said $#*%
This most recent flare-up of angst stems from a misconstrued quote from a locker-room interview after the BUCS narrowly defeated the Atlanta Falcons.
After the Falcons made a late run in the closing minutes of the 3rd quarter and into the 4th to make the game a lot more interesting than it had been, the defense became the subject of slacking off.
White offered his take on what happened with the defensive side of the ball. And what should've been a routine answer turned into a full-blown narrative and attack on the defensive leader's character.
For days, I saw fans referencing the quote. But it wasn't until after the following game, a loss to the Steelers to start the current losing streak, that I questioned what was going on with White and what he said.
Every other tweet or message I saw that mentioned White making mistakes or not getting a stop sooner was because he was "bored". Anytime the Steelers got a first down, it was because White and the defense were probably "bored."
People, supposedly fans, were running with it. Without seeing or hearing what was said, I actually thought that White had made a foolish statement along the lines of "Sometimes we get bored and make things a challenge to get ourselves back up."
Notice the date and how the quote changed to single out White after the misquote got traction and negative reaction.
After all the fuss, I just had to see it for myself. And I was disappointed. Not by White's statement. But by the overblown and flat-out wrong way White's quote had been used against him.
“I just think we have to have a come-together moment to make sure we finish the game. But obviously when you beating a team and imposing your will on ‘em, it can boring and you can get less aggressive. We just trying to stay aggressive. Obviously, they gonna make their plays too..
.. But we just trying to stay aggressive. ”
After seeing the full clip(below) and knowing what he said before and after the word "boring", I knew exactly what White was trying to say.
He was saying that the team can get complacent and less aggressive when they've had their way. And they did.
He was saying the team needed to get together and finish the games better. And they do.
White told the truth. He said what was on his mind, which turned into a personal attack on him.
Suddenly, September's NFC Defender of The Month is "trash" in October. Today, White is a "bust" 4 years into his career. The "I never wanted him in the draft" crowd has come to life.
According to some, the 3rd year team captain should have the "C" taken off his chest for the moment. Some fans are comparing Devin White to Kwon Alexander, a former LSU tiger and BUCS linebacker who fans turned their backs to and downplayed his contributions.
Since that quote fiasco, it seems as if #45 has been the focus of every bad snap, every 1st down allowed by the defense, every breakdown by the defense, and every loss. Again, the defense has allowed 21.9 points ONCE in the three consecutive losses.
Every day, there’s someone new chiming in on how his play has been ugly enough to not only bench him but trade him away. It’s a really weird thing to see.
And forget those pesky facts about leading the team in tackles. It’s all about his being #6 in missed tackles according to some proprietary measurement by PFF, a call center with NFL ties and FAR too much assumed credibility.
Can Devin White play better? Yes. Absolutely.
BUCS fans have seen it before, and we've ridden the wave of his big plays and big talk.
Does he deserve the level of criticism and cynicism aimed at his character lately? Absolutely not.
People have questioned whether or not he wants to be out there playing. Some "analysts" claim White and the entire defense have given up and are completely undisciplined. Again, this is the 7th ranked defense in the NFL.
It's undeserved. It's hyperbolic. It's predictable. It's deflection.
It's bullshit.
Devin White is an imperfect linebacker in the NFL. And he’s still one of the best.
He'll never cover any receiver or TE like a CB1.
He will get shook by the better RBs in the league. It happens.
He's gonna miss tackles. It happens.
And if he’s left to face center who’s run blocking 1-on-1, he’s gonna get knocked back and lose on more than a few snaps like 99% of the linebackers in the history of the NFL. That’s what happens
But what can’t happen is fans being so wishy-washy and pissy toward the good players on this team when things aren’t going well. Especially when it’s just a coping mechanism for dealing with losses. Letting emotions run a player out of town is casual foolishness.
Let me know what you think about White’s comment and the backlash behind it. Was it just or not?
