The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put together another fantastic NFL Draft class, but the team didn’t stop after the podium was put away in Green Bay. Just like we saw the team do the last few years, Jason Licht got to work bringing in undrafted free agents the team is hoping will have a nice impact.
A lot of attention has been spent on Shilo Sanders, who was among that class of UDFAs the Bucs brought in, but he’s not the only notable player everyone is keeping an eye on. Desmond Watson, who went viral for being a 466 pound behemoth of a defensive tackle at Florida, is at camp in Tampa trying to make the team.
His signing made almost as big of a notoriety wave as bringing in Sanders, but the Bucs are already getting ahead of the narrative surrounding his lore.
In a piece for ESPN, Jenna Laine talked with head coach Todd Bowles who set the record straight about the “Tush Push Terminator”, saying that’s not why the Bucs signed him as a UDFA.
“We didn’t get him for the tush push — we got him because we really thought he could play,” Bowles said. “It’s just a matter of getting him to the point where he can play more than two or three plays [per drive].”
Desmond Watson will be more than a ‘Tush Push Terminator’ for the Bucs
The comment comes not only after the hype about his ability to stop the tush push after the Bucs signed him, but in the wake of the play not being banned by the league. Tampa Bay tweeted out a message about how they don’t need a vote to stop the Tush Push, although it’s worth noting that the Bucs were among the teams to vote to get it banned.
It’s a fun little wrinkle to Watson’s potential with the Bucs, but the idea of him being able to stop the Tush Push alongside Vita Vea is more of a vibe that has deeper impact across the defense. Having both players on the field at the same time is no doubt a good way to stop the Tush Push, but it’s also a great way to flat out wreck an offensive front.
We’ll see how Watson plays once more high-level players report to camp and he starts going up against them, but the idea of him and Vea being run stopping forces up the middle is a wonderful thought. Forcing offenses to play outside the hashes and running right into what should be an improved edge rushing group feels like a recipie for success.
It’s easier said than done, but Bowles doing some talking now about how Watson might fit is a great indication of his chances of being around for the long haul.
