Tyrone McKenzie Is Stepping Up - A Leader On Defense?

by Sander on Jun 26, 2011 8:00 PM EDT

While we all know that Josh Freeman has been leading workouts on the offensive side of the ball, we haven't heard much about the organizers on the defensive side of the ball. But according to Pewter Report, third-year linebacker Tyrone McKenzie has been leading the defense. Not only that, but he's been the main impetus behind getting defensive players to show up.

This is doubly surprising because until midway through the 2010 season, McKenzie wasn't even a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. And when he was signed by the Bucs, he started out on the practice squad. He hasn't taken more than a handful of snaps for the Bucs, yet somehow he's managed to build some hype around him. Supposedly he is a hard-working, hard-studying and physically gifted player. And now he's leading workouts without even having any starting experience. The Bucs haven't had a real leader on defense since Derrick Brooks was cut, but it looks like they may have a new one.

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Would be nice to have a Ray Lewis type presence on the field.

Having a player that the other players can rally around does a great deal for that unit. i.e. Josh Freeman

by jBen05 on Jun 26, 2011 9:29 PM EDT reply actions

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Even though he’s only been here for a short period of time, the familiarity he has with the city is obviously playing a role in him being comfortable enough to step up as a leader. This is awesome news to me.

by zakattackthe on Jun 26, 2011 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully he can fill the position...

soon to be vacated by Quincy Black. That leaves Mason Foster to take Barrett Ruuds spot.

Next order of business: The secondary

by Cracker Ball on Jun 26, 2011 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Secondary could be ok...

It is looking more and more likely that we will hold on to Talib and there is of course the shot we get NA. I think we do have some great leaders emerging on defense with McCoy and McKenzie to go along with Ronde. Late name entry for defense nickname: The McDefense.

by Dylan5 on Jun 27, 2011 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

HAHA

the McDefense!!! thats awesome man

((b-town))

by Titankillah on Jun 27, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

If we go with that one, I would be on the look out for a summons...

from the McLawyers

by Cracker Ball on Jun 27, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Don’t think they can trademark everything that starts with Mc lol. They might try and fight it anyways, but they’d probably lose since the name has absolutely nothing to do with their own company. Wasn’t inspired by it, wasn’t related to it.

If we’re going to have a McDefense though, we’d have to have a couple more Mc’s on it, otherwise people are just gonna look at us funny ;)

by KRoa on Jun 27, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I just remember "McDowells" getting hounded...

in the movie “Coming to America”. As ridiculous as it seems, it was still funny.

by Cracker Ball on Jun 27, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

.

In the absence of both Ruud and Black this coming year, I would assume that McKenzie would stay in the middle, especially if hes stepping up as the ‘leader’ of the defense. this would probably also mean that he’d be calling the defense.

by zakattackthe on Jun 27, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Now I know why u had that post a while back, you must be from Riverview lol. When I used to play them in the trenchs, we used to talk about our heritage alot lol. No hard feelings.

((b-town))

by Titankillah on Jun 27, 2011 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions