The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not have a lot working in their favor right now, but the performances of a few young guys have given the team plenty to be excited about for the future.
In a year of plenty of bleak moments, Buccaneer rookie Calijah Kancey has been a massive bright spot.
That is why his award of Defensive Rookie of the Month for November is just a sign of more to come and a good thing to focus on during such a disappointing year.
After a couple of drafts that didn't have a prime stud at the top of the class for the Bucs, Kancey has already shattered that pattern. Perhaps that is why there is some benefit to losing games when you aren't going to play well in the playoffs.
Kancey may have put together a bit of a slow start with a few games where he didn't play, but there have been few guys that have been more exciting on the field since Week 5 when he really took over a genuine starting role.
With excellent penetration on pass plays and high level of innate skill versus the run, Kancey has been a force of nature on defense, forcing opposing offenses to plan for his presence on rushing and passing plays.
While certainly not everything, the stats show this as well. Kancey has been able to post eight quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks from a defensive line role.
That isn't bad at all.
The best part about all of this is that this is jut the start for Kancey. Some changes are almost assuredly coming to the coaching staff, a move that could make impacts on some young players and their development, but Kancey seems like the type of player that is going to be a stud regardless of what happens if he keeps this level of play up over a full season.
The Buccaneers found a good one. This is likely just the first award of many.
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