A lot has been stated concerning the 2023 season that Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr. had. It was among the best particular person seasons you’ll see a security – or any participant – have. Todd Bowles stated as a lot this week on the NFL Scouting Mix in Indianapolis, describing each the sport and observe variations of his star security.
“He had among the best seasons I’ve seen a security have as an all-around participant,” Bowles stated. “And it wasn’t simply within the sport. It was in observe as effectively. He was the one man, even when we had been training purple zone. If he picked the ball up on the 5, he’s going to run 95 yards. And return within the sport. He’s not going to take himself out and go to the water buckets.
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: USA In the present day
“If he picked it off in the long run zone, he ran 100 yards. Wherever he picked the ball at, or triggered a fumble at, he transferred observe to the sport… Him and Lavonte [David] are nearly higher than anyone I’ve been round prior to now few years.”
In 17 video games in the course of the 2023 season, Winfield totaled 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, six pressured fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 passes defensed – all profession highs. His six pressured fumbles had him tied for probably the most within the NFL, plus he was the primary defensive again since 1999 with 5.0+ sacks and 5+ pressured fumbles in a single season. Not solely that, however he was simply the fourth participant since 2000 with 5.0+ sacks, 5+ takeaways and 5+ pressured fumbles in a single season.
The loopy half was that Antoine Winfield Jr. wasn’t even rewarded for his phenomenal season within the type of a variety to the Professional Bowl Video games. It ended up being irrespective of in any respect, although, because the fourth-year security was a First Workforce All-Professional choice for the primary time in his profession. And it was massively deserved, to say the least.
By yr’s finish, Antoine Winfield Jr. was extensively being talked about as among the best safeties within the NFL. There aren’t many who would argue in opposition to him being on the extent the place he’s thought of “elite.” But when there are any doubters remaining concerning the Bucs’ 2020 second-round pick of Minnesota, their case received an entire lot weaker this week.
PFF Gives New Proof To Again Up Antoine Winfield Jr.’s “Elite” Case
Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Panthers WR D.J. Chark – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Antoine Winfield Jr.’s grades from Professional Soccer Focus again up the truth that he was on one other stage in 2023. In reality, he was the highest-graded security within the league this season, narrowly beating out Atlanta’s Jessie Bates 90.7 to 90.6.
Winfield had a 91.5 run protection grade, a 92.7 mark for cross dashing and an 87.0 tackling grade. All of these grades had him ranked within the prime three, and his protection grade of 84.0 had him ranked eighth.
To go together with the grades, Winfield has another insane metrics to his identify for the 2023 season. In keeping with PFF, he confronted 44 targets in protection this previous season and compelled 9 incompletions, making for a pressured incompletion fee of 20.9%. He additionally solely gave up 74 yards in protection and recorded an NFL-best 41.2% pressured incompletion fee on third and fourth downs.
It was about greater than the grades for Antoine Winfield Jr., although. The tape doesn’t lie, and neither does the affect he had on video games.
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
On two totally different events in the course of the season, Winfield’s hustle saved touchdowns. Towards Atlanta, he tracked down quarterback Desmond Ridder and knocked the ball out of his palms earlier than he crossed the purpose line, leading to a touchback. He later did the identical in Week 18, refusing to surrender on a play in opposition to the Panthers and assembly D.J. Chark close to the pylon to pressure a fumble for a touchback as soon as once more.
Towards Carolina earlier within the season, Winfield had a key sack and a game-sealing interception. In a win over New Orleans, he had a sack, two tackles for loss, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration. And all the way in which again in Week 1, he had a sack, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration in a giant highway win at Minnesota.
Antoine Winfield Jr. actually had a 2023 season like no different and whereas he didn’t get the Professional Bowl and Defensive Participant of the Yr consideration he deserved, he rightfully received All-Professional honors. And he rightfully polished off his case for being one of many NFL’s elite safeties, doing so simply in time for negotiations on his second contract.
