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Kentucky’s Mike Edwards could play important role in Bucs defense

Tampa Bay’s third-round pick has the versatility defensive coordinator Todd Bowles loves
 
MIKE EDWARDS
Published May 2, 2019|Updated May 2, 2019

TAMPA ― If you’re looking for a somewhat under-the-radar rookie to make an immediate impact for the Bucs, consider Kentucky safety Mike Edwards.

The safeties in Todd Bowles’ defense are vitally important. In fact, he frequently uses seven defensive backs when facing four receiver sets.

Edward’s versatility to play the run, blitz and make plays on the football in the passing game is what made him a good fit for Tampa Bay’s new defense.

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“Mike is exactly what we looked for,” Bucs safeties coach Nick Rapone said. “I’ve been with Todd now – we started out together in Arizona – the safeties in Todd’s defense basically run the defense. They have to call out the fronts, but they have to play multiple positions, and we thought he had the ability to do everything that we wanted. First of all, he’s physical. Second of all, he can blitz. Third of all, he can cover. Fourth of all, to the best of our knowledge, he is cerebral. And the safety in this scheme has to be cerebral.

“We saw all those qualities in him. We’re not traditionally the 6-foot-2, 215-pound safety because we’re a man team — we’re an aggressive football team, so they have to be able to play man-to-man. We think he fits exactly what our safeties need to do.”

Edwards was very productive for the Wildcats. He averaged 92.6 tackles per game the last three seasons and combined for nine interceptions during that stretch. It’s no accident he reminds Bucs coach Bruce Arians of Tyrann Mathieu. The Honey Badger was drafted by Arians with the Cardinals. Edwards patterned his game after Matthieu, even wearing No. 7 the way he did at LSU.

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With Justin Evans still unable to participate on the field due to a toe injury, Edwards will get a good opportunity to compete with Jordan Whitehead, M.J. Stewart (who is expected to play nickel corner and safety) and Isaiah Johnson.

"Without a doubt he was a leader, and that’s exactly what you are looking for,” Rapone said. “When you play safety in the NFL you have to be able to announce and align people up. That’s why if you look in the secondary the oldest guys playing ― if you’re in the secondary ― are safeties because they have to be cerebral, intelligent kids. We just had out in Arizona (Antoine) Bethea, who just went to the Giants. He’s going to be 35 years old, but he has the intelligence to line people up, especially in a scheme like Todd’s which gets quite diversified.”