Why First-Round Pick Calijah Kancey is a Perfect Fit with the Buccaneers

Reactions were mixed when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected defensive lineman Calijah Kancey out of Pitt with the No. 19 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.

To be honest, it's kind of odd the Buccaneers would receive so many questionable reviews after drafting a guy getting widespread comparisons to Los Angeles Rams star - and arguably the best defensive tackle to play the game - Aaron Donald.

If there's one person outside the Bucs' organization not questioning the pick and the fit, however, it's Super Bowl Champion and former NFL head coach Dave Wannstedt.

"People are going to talk about his height and his weight," Wannstedt says of his fit and film review for 33rd Team following Tampa Bay's selection of Kancey. "Guess what - there's not a defensive tackle in this year's draft that makes plays...more consistently over the past couple of years than my man Kancey."

Wannstedt goes on to show several clips on film where Kancey demonstrates the speed, get-off, block-shedding ability, and closing talent that made the defensive lineman a first-round projection, to begin with.

Of course, most who criticize or even slightly doubt the fit do so more because they don't see how the Buccaneers will use him. 

While they don't necessarily doubt the ability of the player, some question the ability of the coaching staff to use him properly. 

Wannstedt acknowledges the scheme is important for a player like this, but is far less concerned about it when he looks at the Bucs and head coach Todd Bowles.

"He's gotta be in the right scheme," Wannstedt says. "With the Tampa Bay Bucs...Todd Bowles...they want to blitz...and they will put Kancey one-on-one and that's gonna give him opportunities to make plays with his quickness, his instincts, and his relentless effort."

In fact, Bowles and his coaching staff are already hard at work projecting the fit of Kancey and every other rookie they'll welcome to Tampa for minicamp this weekend. 

And that's where the process of installing their newest first-round pass rusher will begin, and Is the first step in what Tampa Bay fans hope will be a great NFL career for their newest favorite defensive lineman.