No one player is completely responsible for the Buccaneers’ 40-7 loss at Arizona on Sunday, even if middle linebacker Kwon Alexander is willing to take all of the blame.
“I blame the whole thing on me because I need to set the tempo. If I don’t do better, then the defense isn’t going to be right,” Alexander told the Tampa Bay Times.
The second-year man is showing the traits of a leader, but Alexander doesn’t need to put it all on himself. After making 15 tackles and sacking Matt Ryan in the Bucs’ Week 1 win at Atlanta, Alexander had just six tackles Sunday. But the Buccaneers turned the ball over five times, including four Jameis Winston interceptions.
Alexander was drafted in the fourth round of the same draft that Winston went first overall. Everyone has heard of Winston. If Alexander continues to take this much responsibility for the team’s fortunes, more people will hear his name in the future.
