Can ILB Vi Jones Help Solve Bucs’ Coverage Problems?

Will Bucs practice squad linebacker Vi Jones see more playing time on defense after the bye week? The team could certainly use his speed and athleticism in pass coverage, as starting middle linebacker K.J. Britt is one of the worst-graded linebackers in the league by Pro Football Focus.

Britt, who is in a contract year, has a 44.3 overall PFF grade this season and a woeful 37.6 coverage grade, which is the worst on Tampa Bay’s defense.

The Bucs’ pass defense has struggled mightily to defend the middle of the field this year since SirVocea Dennis’ season-ending shoulder injury against the Eagles in Week 4. Dennis was platooning with Britt at the middle linebacker spot on third-and-long and obvious passing situations and was on track to ultimately replace Britt as the down-in, down-out starter before his injury.

Since Dennis was placed on injured reserve, Britt has been victimized in coverage by opposing quarterbacks who have constantly targeted him across the middle in pass defense. But head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles has been slow to react, and didn’t platoon reserve J.J. Russell with Britt until Tampa Bay’s Week 6 game at New Orleans where he played nine snaps.

After playing just seven snaps versus Atlanta in Week 8, Russell played 30 defensive snaps at Kansas City where he recorded a 74.2 overall grade and a 69.2 coverage grade. Then Russell played just 12 snaps against the 49ers.

But what about Jones, who has been elevated from the practice squad over the past two weeks?

When asked who was capable of platooning with Britt in coverage in Dennis’ absence weeks ago, Bowles said the only real option was Jones. Bowles indicated that Russell and rookie Antonio Grier, who was signed from the practice squad, were more like Britt, and that Britt, who has been in Tampa Bay for four years, simply knew the defense better.

Jones got to play three defensive snaps at Kansas City, but didn’t see any action on defense versus San Francisco. Will that change coming out of the bye week?

Vi Jones Has The Speed And Range To Help Bucs In Coverage

The Bucs signed Vi Jones to their practice squad last year after he spent his rookie season on the Seahawks practice squad. Seattle signed him as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State following a dazzling pro day in which Jones ran a 4.53 at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds.

Jones’ 4.53 speed makes him the fastest linebacker in Tampa Bay, just ahead of Antonio Grier, who ran a 4.57 at the Arkansas pro day in the spring. SirVocea Dennis ran a 4.64 coming out of Pittsburgh, while Lavonte David entered the league in 2012 running a 4.65 time in the 40-yard dash. J.J. Russell and K.J. Britt are significantly slower with a 4.70 and 4.76 time in the 40.

Jones’ speed was on display in college on defense and on special teams. He transferred to N.C. State in 2020 after recording 28 tackles, three tackles for loss and three pass breakups in two years at USC.

In his first season for the Wolfpack, Jones played in all 12 games with four starts between strongside and weakside linebacker and recorded 35 tackles, three sacks, forced a fumble and blocked three kicks, including a potential game-winning field goal by Liberty at the end of the game. As a senior, Jones notched 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks for N.C. State.

Jones comes from great football bloodlines. His father, Robert, was a starting linebacker for the Cowboys in the 1990s and won three Super Bowls. He’s also the younger brother of Cardinals receiver Zay Jones and the nephew of former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake,

In three preseason games in Tampa Bay, Jones recorded a 68.4 overall grade including a 64.3 coverage grade. He allowed five-of-seven passes to be caught against him for 33 yards, in addition to recording nine tackles and registering five quarterback pressures, including a quarterback hit at Jacksonville. He impressed enough in training camp and the preseason to stick on Tampa Bay’s practice squad.

Jones has been elevated twice to the game day roster and can be elevated once more before the team must sign him the active roster if Todd Bowles wants to play him. The Bucs opted to sign Grier after Dennis was placed on injured reserve, but Bowles has yet to play the rookie on defense.

Jones relished the opportunity to see his first NFL action in Kansas City on Monday Night Football – even if it was just for three snaps on defense.

“It was a lot of fun, it was an electric atmosphere,” Jones said. “We played them pretty hard. I was just very blessed for the opportunity. I’m just working towards being consistently consistent.”

Jones played just three coverage plays in Kansas City where he made one tackle and allowed one catch for four yards. Although he was elevated for the San Francisco game the next week, Jones did not see any snaps on defense.

Vi Jones Is Preparing To Play More Snaps On Bucs Defense

So why isn’t Vi Jones being given more opportunities in coverage? At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Jones is the tallest and rangiest linebacker in Tampa Bay.

Bucs tight end Cade Otton, whom Jones often covers in practice as a practice squad linebacker, has been impressed with him.

“He’s done an awesome job,” Otton said. “I think he has a great attitude and brings a lot of passion to the game, but he’s also very athletic. He’s done a great job in coverage all the way since training camp and I think he can really help our team.

“He’s rangy and long, and the way he’s able to run – he can really get past you pretty easily. I definitely think he can be a great coverage linebacker.”

Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers was asked a few weeks ago why Jones hasn’t been elevated early and used more in coverage.

“The thing is, Vi has been stepping up, he’s one of our really more athletic linebackers on the inside and losing ‘Voss’ early on, we needed to kind of fill that role and he’s been coming on there,” Rodgers said. “J.J. stepped up for us, I think last year [he] started the Carolina game for us so he had playing time and right now, we’re all hands on deck. It’s not like you’re playing 80 snaps by yourself. We have a bunch of guys that we kind of need to work into the mix.”

Part of the reason for Jones’ lack of playing time is that he’s still learning the middle linebacker position. Jones played weakside and strongside linebacker at N.C. State and is still learning the nuances of playing in the middle at the NFL level. In Bowles’ defense he asks a lot of his middle linebackers in terms of run fits, coverage drops and blitzes.

“I’m just continuing to learn the playbook, watch film and take advantage of those reps in practice when I get them,” Jones said. “I’ve been spending even more time going over my plays and studying who we have as our next opponent. Mentally learning how to play in the box and be an off-the-ball ‘backer and just being in this type of defense and learning everyone’s responsibility around me.

“I’m just being a servant to my team and finding a way to provide for my team, whether I’m giving looks on the scout team where I’m honing in on my responsibility or asked to do more. I’m here to serve my team.”

Jones feels like he’s made strides and is ready to contribute more on defense if called upon. Tampa Bay are expected to elevate him one more time for the Giants game in New York coming out of the bye and could certainly use more speed and athleticism on the field moving forward.

“I took a lot of reps, but it took me some time to feel comfortable learning the whole defense and playing behind the ball,” Jones said. “But I feel like I made plays when I was in there and I’m blessed to be here.

“My biggest growth has been mental. I need to be consistently consistent. I want to dominate. I’m a competitive warrior, so I always want to win.”