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Bucs have safety J.J. Wilcox moonlighting at nickel

 
J.J. Wilcox [Buccaneers.com]
J.J. Wilcox [Buccaneers.com]
Published July 30, 2017

With solid depth at safety, the Bucs are giving newcomer J.J. Wilcox a look as a nickel defensive back, a challenge the free agent likes as an added role.

"It's new," Wilcox said Sunday after lining up in the same defense with current starting safeties Keith Tandy and Chris Conte. "Dallas had me like second- or third-string nickel, but Tampa wanted to try something new, expand my horizons, my attributes and it's kind of paying off."

A nickel or slot cornerback must be fast enough to cover a team's third receiver, but Wilcox said the position can also be tasked with covering a second tight end, something that allows the team's two linebackers to stay in the box and not go out in pass coverage.

"You have to be able to match up with the big tight ends — 12 personnel (two-TE), a lot of NFL teams are going to that," he said. "You've got the Patriots, here, Green Bay. We're just trying to match and get ready for the season. If you can put a safety on a tight end and keep your linebackers in the box, it makes a difference."

The Bucs also have second-round rookie Justin Evans in the mix at safety, so against a team likely to use a two-TE look extensively, having Wilcox at nickel could allow the defense to get their best personnel on the field. Wilcox, 26, who had 38 starts in four seasons with Dallas before coming to Tampa Bay, enjoys the new look.

"We've been working on it all offseason," he said. "I love it. The more you can do, the better."