The Bucs head into their Week 2 matchup against the Lions with quite the banged-up secondary. There have been some positive signs, such as cornerback Zyon McCollum trending to being active, but that does not “cover” all the negatives.
Tampa Bay will be without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. on Sunday, as well as cornerbacks Bryce Hall and Josh Hayes. Versatile defensive back Christian Izien will be filling in for Winfield, with the team expecting a lot out of undrafted rookie Tyrek Funderburk and Keenan Isaac, who they re-signed this week after he was released after the preseason.
Another name to keep an eye on is rookie nickel back Tykee Smith, who did not practice on Thursday or Friday and is battling an illness.
When talking to many of these names in the secondary and head coach Todd Bowles this week, they are up to the challenge of going into Detroit and shutting down a high-powered offense.
Todd Bowles Is “Extremely Confident” In CBs Tyrek Funderburk And Keenan Isaac
The Bucs’ secondary situation may not be as dire as originally thought if Zyon McCollum clears concussion protocol, as the team would still have their top two cornerbacks on Sunday. But after defensive back Christian Izien filled in as an outside cornerback after McCollum, Bryce Hall, and Josh Hayes left the game, the team badly needed reinforcements.
Tyrek Funderburk stuck on the 53-man roster despite missing the team’s last two preseason games due to injury. Funderburk was a gameday inactive in the season opener, but he will be the team’s third cornerback going into Week 2. Keenan Isaac, on the other hand, was let go by Tampa Bay after being with them throughout the offseason. Isaac was then claimed by the Panthers, who waived him last Saturday. Needing another cornerback, the team re-signed him, and Todd Bowles spoke this week about whether Isaac’s signing is enough to get by depth-wise.
“So far,” Bowles said. “I mean, you can’t have any more hits at that position. Keenan knows the system; he’s played in it all summer. He had a decent [training] camp and summer, so I feel comfortable with him going in there having to play if he has to play.”
After seeing Isaac back in the fold and Funderburk’s progress at practice this week, Bowles discussed his confidence level if they are forced to play a lot of snaps on Sunday.
“[I am] extremely confident,” Bowles added. “They know the system; they’ve been through all of training camp and everything. I’m confident they will play the calls and do what they’re supposed to do.”
Tyrek Funderburk Is The Next Man Up And Trusts His Ability To Execute
The Bucs took a calculated bet on keeping Tyrek Funderburk around. He could have the opportunity to show if he was worth the investment sooner rather than later. He will get some run in the secondary and play a significant role in the team’s hopes to slow down star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and speedster Jameson Williams.
Co-defensive coordinator and pass game coordinator Larry Foote has been impressed by Funderburk’s football intelligence and ability to pick up the defense.
“He showed in camp, since the spring when he got here, that he’s smart,” Foote said of Funderburk. “A lot of times you don’t see rookies reading the routes like that and anticipating, and he showed us from day one that he understands football.”
The young cornerback credits film study as a big reason why he remains prepared.
“I watch film, meet with my coaches, and just ask them what is it that they specifically need from us as a corner[back] room, as a defensive back room, and I just try to execute that to the best of my ability,” Funderburk said. “Even when I wasn’t playing, [I try to] just be another eye on the sideline to Zyon [McCollum], [Jamel] Dean, Bryce [Hall]. Those guys know like, ‘Hey, this is what I’m seeing,’ and just trust what you saw on film.”
Keenan Isaac Is Back And “Very Prepared” For Action
Keenan Isaac spoke to Pewter Report this week about being prepared to see a lot of action. While Isaac appeared in two games last year playing 22 special teams snaps, he has yet to play on defense. That is likely to change against the Lions.
“I’m very prepared,” Isaac said. “Of course, I’ve been here before, so I’m pretty familiar with the scheme. Pretty familiar with the game plan. I’m ready for whatever, when my [name] is called, I’m ready.”
Isaac mentioned that the veterans and coaching staff have helped get him ready.
“I’ve learned so much from those guys, and even some of the other guys in the secondary,” Isaac added. “Just watching those guys and watching a lot of the things that they do, watching how they handle situations, they’ve taught me so much. I’m fully prepared, not only because of them but also because of the coaching staff.”
Veteran defensive back Tavierre Thomas is one of the guys who has helped him along, and he agreed that both unheralded cornerbacks are ready to step up.
“They got seasoned vets around them, like [Jamel] Dean, [Zyon] McCollum,” Thomas told Pewter Report about the support Funderburk and Isaac have around them. “[McCollum]’s not seasoned, like a lot of years, but he’s very, very smart. They’re learning from those two guys, and then [cornerbacks] coach [Kevin Ross] and [assistant secondary coach] Rashad [Johnson], I feel like they’re ready for their moment. Just like practice, go out there and it’s just like college. I feel like they’ll be ready.”
Bucs’ Coaches High On DB Christian Izien And His “DNA”
Outside of Tyrek Funderburk and Keenan Isaac, the last element of piecing the secondary together is Christian Izien. The second-year undrafted defensive back made the most of his own opportunity last year as the team’s starting nickel back.
Despite not having a clear path to playing time heading into the season, he logged 31 snaps in Week 1 as a cornerback. In Week 2, his role changes as he moves to free safety to cover for Antoine Winfield Jr. The team decided to keep Izien this offseason for his versatility, and Todd Bowles appreciates his playstyle and mentality.
“He’s feisty, he’s tough, he’s going to be around the ball and he’s going to compete,” Bowles said.
Larry Foote added that they saw those things when scouting him at Rutgers and that “Izzy” is always ready to compete.
“He’s a good athlete,” Foote said. “He’s quick, he’s fast, he likes to play the game, he’s a competitor and you know, on Sundays, you [don’t] have any time. You have to just coach the guys up. [Todd] Bowles did a good job putting him in defenses that he can excel at and not get exposed too much, but he’s a competitor. When we were looking at him at Rutgers, we knew he had the right DNA that we would want.”
Looking at how the Bucs’ secondary depth has taken shape, there is no question that they will be tested facing Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams, among others. Keenan Isaac knows they are dangerous but believes they have enough to stop them.
“They’re a great team, Isaac said. “Great offense, great tools, and weapons on that side. I think we got everything we need to stop them and stop their offense.”