Keionte Scott has already done enough in two games to make himself one of the more encouraging early storylines on a Buccaneers defense that still hasn’t found enough splash plays. The rookie cornerback won Tampa Bay’s starting nickel job, has handled the NFL’s speed and details better than most first-year defenders do, and now he says he’s ready to keep pushing.
“I’m [getting into] a groove now of trying to press on the gas pedal,” Scott told Pewter Report before Sunday’s game.
That mindset showed up last week in Tampa Bay’s 23-19 loss to the Browns, when Scott came flying up from the box and burst through the offensive line untouched. He was the first defender to reach Deshaun Watson, and for a moment it looked like Scott had his first NFL sack. Instead, the official scoring gave the full sack to veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson.
Scott said the blitz still gave him a real taste of what he can add to the defense.
“Yeah, it felt good, man, to get the opportunity to affect the game life in a different way,” Scott said about being sent on a blitz. “Especially as a defensive back, I take pride in being able to get back there.
As far as the play goes, like, it opened up, so I got - I get super excited. And then [Deshaun Watson] pulled, like, a vet move, so he kind of, like, ducked down and scooted up at the same time.
Maneuvered me, so it kind of, like, slid me off of it.”
He didn’t hide what he thought the result should have been.
“I think personally it should be a split, but if it’s not, then it’s just a learning experience for me. You got to get them down, you know.”
For Tampa Bay, the play was more than a near-miss on the stat sheet. It was a reminder that the back end and the front can work together to create the kind of pressure this defense needs more often. Scott even used the unit’s own phrase for that kind of teamwork.
“A’Shawn was there, so it’s just - peanut butter and jelly is what we call it, the back end working together with the defensive line. That’s what you want. It’s a learning experience for me too; I can’t be satisfied with just doing enough.”
Scott’s adjustment to Todd Bowles’ defense has moved quickly because he’s been willing to absorb everything coming at him. He’s not treating early playing time like proof that he’s arrived. Instead, he’s focused on cleaning up mistakes and building from each snap.
“For the most part, I feel like it’s just me being open to learning,” Scott said about his approach taking in Bowles’ defense. “I don’t ever feel like I have everything.
Just taking the opportunity to learn. I feel like during the preseason I got all the opportunities and reps, soaked it all up, and was able to apply it.
“Trying not to make the same mistake twice and then keep playing and keep going. Ultimately, in my mind now, I’m sort of at the stage where I want to figure things out.”
Still, he’s not losing sight of the bigger picture.
“At the end of the day, we want to win football games this year. I’m trying to help my team as much as I can as a rookie.
That’s our biggest thing. That’s, you know, my personal thing, to keep going with my thing and then being able to add everything around.”
His next test comes against Minnesota, and Scott pointed to quarterback Kyler Murray’s ability to extend and create as a major challenge for Tampa Bay. He also noted the threats waiting on the outside with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
“I’ll ultimately just say, you know, the weapon and what he can do, creating. He’s a creator. He can create plays for the offense and - even when they break down, you know, he can maneuver around…
“So, I feel like that’s something that’s going to be a big focus, containing the pocket and working together on our rushes and stuff like that. And ultimately being able to, you know, obviously they got a - a guy over there, Justin Jefferson, guys over there, [Jordan] Addison. It’s a test for us, like all these games have been, and just being able to work together and handle the threat.”
Scott says the first two weeks have given him lessons, opportunities and a clearer idea of what it takes to help the Buccaneers. Now he wants more.
“You’ve got to finish it, finish the play,” Scott said. “So, I’m excited to keep going.”
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Bucs Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Fans Wanted To See
The Buccaneers 23-16 loss to the Vikings in Week 3 was more than just a one-score setback. Tampa Bay kept bumping into the same problems on both sides of the ball, with the offense never finding much rhythm under coordinator Zac Robinson and the defense undone at key moments, including an 86-yard punt return touchdown that tilted the game in Minnesotas favor.
Baker Mayfield finished with a 50% completion rate, one touchdown and one interception, then added a right hand injury late in the game to an already frustrating night. There were also rough stretches for players such as cornerback Jacob Parrish and right tackle Luke Goedeke, leaving the Bucs with an uncomfortable reminder that the issues exposed Sunday go well beyond a single bad sequence or a single phase of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Injury Just Raised The Stakes For A Reeling Bucs Team
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Bucs Loss Exposed Problems Fans Wont Stop Arguing About
The Buccaneers latest loss did more than dent the standings - it reopened the same arguments that have followed this team for weeks. Between the defenses uneven stretches, the offenses uneven rhythm and a special teams sequence that left plenty of second-guessing behind, the game against Minnesota became the kind of all-around mess that forces a closer look at how Tampa Bay is being coached and why so many drives still seem to stall at the wrong time.
Todd Bowles now has a familiar debate on his hands, because the scrutiny is not just about one bad afternoon but about how the Bucs handled key moments through the first three quarters. Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving and a few others had their moments, but the bigger issue is whether the teams decisions and execution can keep matching up against good opponents when the game starts tightening. [Read more 🡒]