Movie: Calijah Kancey’s Impression
The Bucs have fairly presumably the very best four-man move rush since head coach Todd Bowles arrived as defensive coordinator in 2019. There might or is probably not a participant with Shaq Barrett’s affect, however the ground has definitely been raised. Yaya Diaby, Rueben Bain Jr. and Vita Vea present a improbable 1-2-3 punch. However the man who can, and may, deliver all of it collectively is Calijah Kancey.
Kancey has been a tantalizing prospect for 3 years now. His 81 pressures are within the 62nd percentile amongst all inside defensive linemen with a minimum of 1,000 snaps since 2023. His stress charge, which stabilizes for alternatives pushes as much as the 73rd percentile. And whereas he has a status as a poor run defender regardless of his lack of measurement and size, his cease charge is correct on the fiftieth percentile. It’s a superb illustration of his boom-bust skill to suit the run.
His gap-shooting helps him make a menace to explode performs within the backfield (his sort out for loss charge of two.9% is the best amongst all qualifying defensive linemen over the previous three years), however he additionally also can get blown out of the play so long as defenses give attention to eliminating him from the play.
What makes him somebody who virtually lives within the backfield?
Energy
Due to his measurement, Kancey isn’t often known as an influence rusher. However that doesn’t cease him from profitable on bull rushes.
Kancey leverages his shorter peak and fast get-off to blow up up into opponents’ chests, driving them backwards and stopping a re-anchor. The result’s an offensive lineman dumped within the quarterback’s lap. This pushes the quarterback off of his spot and into panic mode.
Arms
With shorter arms, it’s vital for Kancey to maintain opponents from getting connected to his body. Which means violent and quick palms are a should for him. And he delivers these traits nicely, usually swiping the surface hand of a opposing guard along with his inside hand whereas pushing by way of the B hole up area. Alternatively, he can win contained in the guard with a mini arm-over along with his outdoors hind to realize entry to the A-gap, offering him with the quickest path to the passer.
First Step
All of those traits are paired with an elite first step that he can use each vertically in addition to laterally. He can leap from one hole to the following, shoot the B hole to kill a large zone idea, or beat a double workforce with a fast cut up. All of that is predicated on a lightning-fast first step that even when recreation deliberate for, leaves offensive linemen unprepared. It additionally provides him entry to profitable to both facet of an opponent, which is one thing most defensive linemen simply can’t do constantly.
That is the place he turns into particular becoming the run. Offensive linemen wish to get to spots when blocking the run. Together with his fast first step he can usually side-step a lean-in, leaving an opponent falling ahead whereas Kancey has a transparent path to the ball service. These tackles for loss are a transparent byproduct of this particular trait.
Bend
Kancey is a uniquely versatile participant. When discussing inside linemen versatility, the dialog often facilities on can he play out from the nostril to a 5-technique. However whereas Kancey will battle totally inside, he can stretch previous the 5 to a 7-technique, performing as a quasi-edge in unique packages. That’s as a result of he can bend up and round an arc. It’s not a standard ask for somebody speeding from inside, however he has put it on tape. And He can use it from a wider alignment.
Kancey’s affect is felt throughout the protection, forcing quarterbacks to maneuver off their spots and throw faster, blockers to re-adjust and decide to stopping him somewhat than climbing to linebackers. He creates alternatives and manufacturing for everybody round him. And subsequent to Bain, it provides the Bucs protection two force-multipliers.
Right here is a good reduce up of every of these traits from NFL analyst Sanjit T.
There’s a shot the Bucs can have a particular move rush, and by extension a particular protection in 2026. However a lot of that’s driving on Kancey having a full season. The expertise is there. The consistency within the type of availability simply wants to indicate up.
Finance: Vita Vea’s Commerce Worth
*Author’s Word – This part was initially written for this Cowl-4 article. We at Pewter Report determined to publish it as a standalone article in an effort to get you, the reader, the data as rapidly as attainable.
On the eve of coaching camp Bucs defensive sort out Vita Vea escalated his contract dispute with the workforce by publicly requesting a commerce. Vea is looking for a contract extension as he enters the ultimate yr of the extension he signed in January of 2022. His $17.75 million common wage is now nineteenth amongst all inside defensive linemen and his $18 million money owed is thirteenth at his place group for this yr.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and head coach Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
By comparability he was fifteenth in snaps, Twelfth in pressures, twenty first in stress charge, forty sixth in defensive stops and twenty ninth in sacks final yr per Professional Soccer Focus. These ranks are virtually all down from the place he was in 2024, displaying the true threat concerned with a now-31-year-old defensive sort out. Is Vea at the moment value greater than the wage the Bucs are set to pay him this yr? Sure. Will he proceed to be value it into 2027 and past? That’s unclear.
I’ve maintained, and proceed to consider, this all ends with common supervisor Jason Licht giving Vea a pay elevate for 2026 with out extending him. A revised wage of someplace between $21 and 23 million {dollars}, with potential incentives that might push it greater appears honest. However it gained’t fulfill what Vea and his illustration are in search of. Specifically, extra years with assured cash into 2027 and maybe past.
Ought to the state of affairs proceed to bitter, there can be no scarcity of suitors trying so as to add Vea to their roster this season. However the worth they’re keen to half with for the Bucs’ huge man just isn’t the draft haul many would possibly count on.
Current Comp Trades
Let’s begin with current trades for defensive tackles. The headliner is the Dexter Lawrence commerce from the Giants to the Bengals. Cincinnati gave up the tenth general decide for “Sexy Dexy”. I’m certain if the Bucs acquired an analogous provide (though onerous to nail down equal worth taking a look at future draft picks) they might chunk the bullet and transfer Vea. However they gained’t get an analogous provide.
Lawrence is greater than 2.5 years youthful than Vita. And whereas Vea’s manufacturing has technically been greater than Lawrence’s of late, most of that comes from how they’re requested to play. Each huge males are known as nostril tackles, however the disparity in how they outline that function is kind of huge.
In response to Sumer Sports activities, Vea ranks seventeenth in snaps at nostril since 2023. Lawrence is #1 and isn’t even shut with 1,085 snaps both heads up or as a shade over that point interval. Lawrence’s 59 pressures from the nostril additionally dwarf Vea’s 22, though Vea does have the higher stress charge from that alignment at 6.57% to five.44%. Vea racks up extra pressures and sacks as a result of he’s put in a greater place to get these stats, getting a far larger shake on the 3-technique.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Photograph by: IMAGN – Bob Donnan
Add in that Lawrence had two years remaining on his present contract when he was traded versus Vea solely having one and it turns into apparent that Lawrence is the extra invaluable commerce commodity.
Previous to the Lawrence commerce the Cowboys despatched defensive sort out Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers. The worth? A 3rd-round decide. Odighizuwa is 3.5 years youthful than Vea and had three years remaining on his contract. Now, he hasn’t fairly performed as much as his $20 million per yr price ticket since inking his present deal, however the 49ers solely owe him $16.75 million this yr in keeping with Over the Cap, proper in step with his present worth. Then if his play improves, they’ve two choice years at $20.5 million every.
The place does that go away Vea? His manufacturing locations his worth nearer to Lawrence, however between his age and pending free company, his commerce worth drops significantly. I’ve his worth at $24 million per yr. With him owed simply $18 million this yr there’s $6 million value of surplus worth connected to him, for a complete commerce worth of $30 million in keeping with analysis I’ve beforehand accomplished attempting to create a standard forex for exactly all these player-for-pick offers. That’s equal to the worth of the 78th decide within the draft – a third-round decide.
If a workforce falls in love with Vea and looks like he’s the ultimate piece of the puzzle, I may see an overpay to the tune of an anticipated late second rounder. However a 3rd is the most certainly compensation the workforce ought to count on. That may really feel mild to followers who’ve seen Vea anchor the Bucs protection for eight years. However trades are simply as a lot about salaries and years of workforce management as they’re about gifted gamers.
Forecast: Bucs Will Be Extra Profitable On 2nd and Lengthy In 2026
Offensive coordinators are a humorous group. Typically labeled as forward-thinking savants, many nonetheless fall into age-old tropes.
One such trope is after a failed first down move play, lots of them shrink up with a 2nd and future name as a observe up. Of the 25 anticipated play callers for 2026 with previous information, 15 of them name a run on 2nd down after a 1st down incompletion 40% of the time or extra.
However there’s an issue with that technique. Specifically, it doesn’t work. From the soccer social media’s latest star, Ryan Paganetti, previously of the Eagles, Jaguars and Raiders:
The NFL’s most typical overcorrection:
Working on 2nd and 10 after a 1st down incompletion.
Since 2022, passes on this spot have crushed runs:
+16.6 proportion factors in success charge+0.23 EPA/play+6.5 proportion factors in eventual collection success charge
Listed here are the 2026 play… pic.twitter.com/d1YzTygEjH
Final yr beneath Josh Grizzard, the Bucs ran on 42% of their second downs following a primary down incompletion. Their EPA/play on all of these second downs (move and runs mixed) was -0.047 (twenty first within the NFL) and their success charge was 40% (fifteenth). These metrics ought to enhance in 2026.
New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson had among the finest offenses in soccer in that particular state of affairs. The Falcons ranked fourth in success charge in 2025 (51.61%) and sixth in EPA/play (+0.166) final yr on second down following an incompletion. And there’s a superb cause why. Robinson understands that operating in that state of affairs is tantamount to giving up the drive altogether.
Bucs OC Zac Robinson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
A profitable second down for offenses is mostly one the place they acquire 2/3 to three/4 of the yardage wanted for a brand new first down or contact down. On second-and-10 meaning a 7–8-yard acquire is required to get the offense again on observe. When the common run play good points 3.5 – 4.5 yards, a run name in that state of affairs is unlikely to yield success. However in a league the place the common move play good points seven yards, a move try provides offenses a reliable path to gaining a brand new set of downs.
The place different play callers are conceding the drive and attempting to enhance the sector place recreation, Robinson yields nothing. He nonetheless believes he can assault and wound the protection. And his +50% success charge means he’s proper as a rule.
And increasing to second-and-long (7+ yards) basically, the Falcons have been 2nd in success charge (49.54%) and ninth in EPA/play (+.067), whereas the Bucs have been sixteenth in success charge (41.26%) and eleventh in EPA/play (+0.056), displaying they hit some huge performs, however struggled to constantly get the required yardage to remain on schedule.
Enjoyable Fourth Down: Who Desires To Be A Millionaire? (Not Actually)
Let me be very clear on the outset right here. Neither Pewter Report, nor I, is providing anybody one million {dollars}. However the recreation format is a enjoyable one. As an alternative of 15 questions I’ve narrowed it right down to 9, so you have got a greater shot at attending to the top. Let’s see how nicely you realize your favourite workforce! The twist right here is there aren’t any a number of decisions right here…
$1,000 – This former Bucs first-round decide by no means performed a snap for the Bucs.
$5,000 – This was the final participant – not Vita Vea – to publicly request a commerce from the Bucs. They didn’t commerce him, and he left in free company the next season.
$10,000 – What number of consecutive losses did the Bucs endure earlier than notching their first win in franchise historical past?
Your likelihood to stroll away. Do you are taking it?
$25,000 – What number of Corridor of Famers have performed for the Bucs?
$50,000 – Shaq Barrett’s 19.5-sack 2019 season broke this participant’s franchise document.
$100,000 – Solely 4 groups have extra playoff wins than Tampa Bay since 2020. Who’re they?
One other alternative to lock in a “victory.” Do you stroll away?
$250,000 – This Bucs participant is fourth amongst all non-quarterback offensive ability positions in snaps over the previous three seasons at 2,783. He trails solely D.J. Moore, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase (per Sumer Sports activities).
$500,000 – This dynamic Bucs backfield duo mixed for two,763 yards from scrimmage in a single season.
$1,000,000 – Within the fashionable draft period, this participant would have been an undrafted free agent. However since he entered the NFL previous to 1994, he holds the distinguished title of finest Eighth-Twelfth spherical decide in franchise historical past after enjoying eight seasons in Tampa Bay.
