When it comes to Buccaneers players who made big strides during the offseason, few have improved their position heading into this season more than second-year safety Kayvon Merriweather.
Meriweather started playing defensive backs at the end of last season after primarily playing on special teams, and has flourished. He will join the team as a backup safety to Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead in 2024. As Scott Reynolds noted in his first 2-point conversion column:I hope he manages to get on the field.
Notably, his impressive play in training camp carried over into a strong performance in the preseason opener against the Bengals.
Kayvon Meriweather knows what’s going to happen now in Todd Bowles’ defense
Kayvon Meriweather didn’t get much attention as a special teams player for the Buccaneers after joining the team last year as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Iowa. Meriweather had some trouble figuring out head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, but now he has figured it out, is playing faster and is flying all over the field.
Buccaneers S Kayvon Meriweather – Photo by Cliff Welch P/R
“[I’m] It’s definitely a lot more comfortable.” “It’s a big moment,” Meriweather said after practice Monday.“I was able to play a little more freely and know where I needed to be, what the other guys were doing, what I was doing, what the coaches were doing. [Todd] Bowles is thinking about certain calls, and everything else, too.
“I feel a lot better. I feel a lot more comfortable.” [I’m] “Especially when you’ve got a lot of talented guys around you that understand what they have to do and what they’re trying to accomplish, you can play a little faster. It makes my job, and the whole defense’s job, a lot easier.”
Late last season, Meriweather played defensive back for seven regular-season games, and those practice games helped him understand what he needed to do and where he needed to be.
“it is [me] “Knowledge-wise, I know what I have to accomplish, what I have to do, the checks and the calls. It’s allowed me to play more freely, more comfortable, faster and better,” Merriweather said of his year of experience under him.
Buccaneers safety Kayvon Meriweather first felt discomfort before settling down
Buccaneers S Kayvon Meriweather – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Kayvon Meriweather may be more comfortable now, but Todd Bowles is making sure each member of the secondary gets comfortable with uncertainty through cross-training and having them play different roles on defense. This allows them to understand the intricacies and communication needed to be successful, and Meriweather talked about how it gets easier over time.
“It’s a lot,” Meriweather said. “Coach Bowles demands a lot from his safeties, knowledge-wise. [to] “Understanding the different calls and checks that we have, but being in my second year and being able to know some of the previous calls, it’s a lot easier. But yeah, for a first-year player, it’s pretty tough trying to understand all the calls that we have, but as you practice more, it gets easier.”
With Jordan Whitehead out for the remainder of training camp and the preseason with a thigh injury, Meriweather has been named in the starting lineup next to Buccaneers All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
“[He’s] “He’s a great player,” Winfield said. “He’s flying around. He’s comfortable with the tactics and he’s having fun. So, hats off to Kayvon.”
Meriweather’s performance against the Bengals spoke for itself as he blocked a pass intended for Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in the end zone to prevent a touchdown, then inflicted another pass and also made a tackle for loss. The game results have yet to be counted, but it’s an encouraging sign to see him grow and perform on the field in key situations.
Hopefully he can continue to show that and provide a bit of excitement on game day.
“[You] “You just bring everything you’ve been doing in practice onto the field, but add a little extra to it. Just a little extra, a little extra,” Merriweather said.
