The Bucs made a daring alternative this offseason, transferring on from veteran stalwart Ndamukong Suh. After three years, the group selected to go in a unique path, first drafting Logan Corridor with its first choose of the 2022 Draft earlier than signing veteran Akiem Hicks in June.
The widespread theme between each Corridor and Hicks is pace and athleticism. These are two qualities the ageing Suh couldn’t present anymore. Throughout a current radio look on WDAE, Bucs legend Derrick Brooks mentioned he doesn’t suppose dropping Suh is detrimental.
“With the Suh signing, I don’t suppose that’s as massive a deal from a defensive standpoint,” Brooks mentioned. “The athleticism that they want now to take the subsequent step and rebound up entrance, it’s not there with Suh. He got here in. He did what he needed to do. You reward his time and you progress on. And that’s what they’re making an attempt to do.”
Bucs DTs Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
The Bucs introduced Corridor and Hicks in to contribute alongside the line of defense, getting youthful within the course of. However Brooks mentioned he thinks the group will preserve searching for its subsequent high-impact inside lineman within the coming years.
“Now, is the reply there now? No. I believe the reply might be in school proper now, going to be drafted within the subsequent yr or two, the subsequent inside man to step in and have simply as massive an affect as Vita [Vea], Brooks mentioned. “On the identical time, by not signing Suh, now you’re going to Vita and saying, ‘Hey, you’re the man. We want extra.’ I believe Coach [Todd] Bowles goes to place him able to do extra and have extra of an affect on the sphere in his defensive scheme.
“I believe getting just a little bit extra youthful, just a little bit extra athletic – I don’t suppose [Suh is] as massive a loss on the defensive entrance.”
Suh by no means missed a sport throughout his Bucs tenure, taking part in by a number of accidents. He had his finest output in the course of the 2020 season, ending with 44 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. The five-time All-Professional defensive sort out matched his 2020 sack output final yr, however noticed his sort out numbers fall. Over three seasons with Tampa Bay, he racked up 112 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, a compelled fumble and 5 fumble recoveries, together with two for touchdowns.
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