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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a need at linebacker, they have for several years, but it has been covered up by the all-world play of Lavonte David. Sadly, however, the Bucs cannot rely on David alone to be the man they need in the middle of the defense anymore.
As a result, folks had initially thought the NFL draft would have the answer, but it seems more and more likely that the Bucs will have to get more creative. One way to do that is to dip into the free agency pool, as the linebacker talent there is not getting the attention it deserves.
Speaking of free agency, ESPN's Aaron Schatz wrote up one free agency projection for each team ahead of the busiest time of the year for teams kicking off. For the Bucs, he hinted that they would be a fit for Detroit Lions linebacker and former Florida Gator, Alex Anzalone. Schatz writes, "The time might have finally come for 36-year-old Lavonte David to leave the Buccaneers, which opens a spot for a veteran in the middle of Tampa Bay's defense. Anzalone is strong against the run and had 2.5 sacks and eight passes defensed for Detroit last season."
Anzalone came along slowly in Detroit but quickly became the lifeblood of their defense, and when he missed time, the unit suffered as a result. They are likely to move on due to the emergence of former first-round pick Jack Campbell, but that isn't an indictment on Anzalone. If anything, his moving on from Detroit means that someone is going to be lucky enough as a rare occurrence of someone hitting the market with the pedigree of the former Gator.
And in this instance, it is a benefit to the Bucs.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Offseason: NFC North LB named as fit for the Bucs in free agency
Continue reading...
As a result, folks had initially thought the NFL draft would have the answer, but it seems more and more likely that the Bucs will have to get more creative. One way to do that is to dip into the free agency pool, as the linebacker talent there is not getting the attention it deserves.
Speaking of free agency, ESPN's Aaron Schatz wrote up one free agency projection for each team ahead of the busiest time of the year for teams kicking off. For the Bucs, he hinted that they would be a fit for Detroit Lions linebacker and former Florida Gator, Alex Anzalone. Schatz writes, "The time might have finally come for 36-year-old Lavonte David to leave the Buccaneers, which opens a spot for a veteran in the middle of Tampa Bay's defense. Anzalone is strong against the run and had 2.5 sacks and eight passes defensed for Detroit last season."
Anzalone came along slowly in Detroit but quickly became the lifeblood of their defense, and when he missed time, the unit suffered as a result. They are likely to move on due to the emergence of former first-round pick Jack Campbell, but that isn't an indictment on Anzalone. If anything, his moving on from Detroit means that someone is going to be lucky enough as a rare occurrence of someone hitting the market with the pedigree of the former Gator.
And in this instance, it is a benefit to the Bucs.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Offseason: NFC North LB named as fit for the Bucs in free agency
Continue reading...
