KJ Britt made a brief impression last year as Tampa Bay’s starting middle linebacker, replacing Devin White. With White not re-signing in free agency, Britt is now the frontrunner to replace the five-year starter as a full-time linebacker.
Britt started six of the Bucs’ final seven games of the 2023 season, including the playoffs, bringing stability and consistency to the linebacker position that White was unable to achieve during his contract year. Although Britt was listed as a late starter, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles actually lined up Britt and White. More of a downhill slugger, Britt was used primarily on first and second downs, but Bowles placed White on third downs and obvious passing downs to utilize his coverage and blitzing abilities. It was often used.
The Bucs like Britt’s professional demeanor and are poised to become Tampa Bay’s full-time starting linebacker this season after spending three years primarily as a special teams center, co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. He says he feels he is doing well.
“He’s a serious guy,” Foote said of Britt. “He’s physically strong and has an old-school personality. The downhill linebacker has great instincts and knows how to find the ball. He loves the ball, is serious, and comes to meetings early every day. He studies well, knows line adjustments and stunts, and communicates. If you ask the D-linemen, they like it and it makes them play faster. He’s a true professional, just thinking about KJ, he’s a professional, he loves football.”
However, in order to become an all-down player like Lavonte David, Britt will need to improve his pass coverage.
KJ Britt wants to be an all-down LB for the Bucs
if KJ Britt He wants to move away from the platoon situation he was in last year and play on all three downs, but he will need to show he can handle everything Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles asks of him.Brit’s PFF coverage grade His scores were usually around 60 when he started, which was below average with the exception of a road game against Atlanta where he jumped up to 81.
Britt, who is entering his contract year, is physical and solid in the run game with solid tackling ability. But in training camp, he’ll have to show Foote and Bowles that he shouldn’t be sent off the field on downs and plays.
“Being a linebacker for Mike, you’re more physical,” Foote said. “I better move on. His job is going to be to prove to Todd (Bowles) that I can be on the field on all three downs. Height, weight, measurements, everything. Can you throw it out the window?
“That’s when my job starts, getting him to understand his leverage and his defense. If you’re a Mike linebacker, you have to prove it to the coordinator and this is a passing league, so if I’m a third-string I have to prove to the coordinator that I can stay on the field on downs.”
Bucs backup linebacks Sarvosia Dennis and JJ Russell are also potential starters.
Would Todd Bowles consider rotating another linebacker with KJ Britt like he did with Devin White on third down in a platoon situation like last year? Sarvosia Dennis is entering his second year in Tampa Bay, and JJ Russell is in his third year. Both linebackers each started one game last year and made a good first impression.
Russell started one game last season, a 21-18 win over the Panthers in Week 13, and had seven tackles for a loss and one sack. His 71 snaps in this game were his only defensive snaps all season. Dennis started last week against the Colts and showed early on that he has pass coverage ability, and he performed very well against San Francisco when he was given a bigger role due to Lavonte David’s injury.
The middle linebacker job is Britt’s loss, and the full-time role is Britt’s gain.tampa bay cross train Many defensive players Whether it’s at safety, nickel cornerback, or both the middle (mic) and weakside (money) spots on the team’s linebackers.
“We have 11 staffs in the league, so those two guys are interchangeable,” Bucs inside linebackers coach Larry Foote said. “You have to be able to play both spots. I train them, the whole room. If you want to make this team, if you want to play, you have to know both spots.
He (Dennis) is athletic, like David at Labonte, intelligent in the passing game, does a good job and was a great blitzer in college. He has the ability to rush the passer, but it’s just competitive time. ”
In addition to Dennis challenging Britt for playing time at Mike’s linebacker, Foote said Russell is also eyeing an elevated role.
“Of course,” he said. “When you’re in this room, you go out and audition every day. He stepped up a lot for us last year. I don’t know if you remember, but K.J. got injured early on. We had to put a DB (Ryan Neal) in there. [versus Carolina]. He communicated well and that’s what you want.
“You want your players to be able to communicate, you want them to not miss any gaps, and the starters and the veteran players are asking you to do that, so they’re ready when your name is called. He’s done a great job for us. He’s physical, he’s a professional guy, he’s ready.”