Tyrone McKenzie is low key off the field, but I wouldn’t want to run into him on it!
With the lockout over, teams can now start getting ready for the 2011 season. That means that right now, Free Agency is the craziest its been in years. Our Buccaneers open camp tomorrow, and it should be a very exciting time for fans. One of the things I am looking forward to this season is seeing a fresh face in the middle of the Bucs defense, and that is 3rd year man, Tyrone McKenzie. The former University of South Florida standout is a very intriguing player; he has the size, speed, physicality and instincts to start at MLB, but what catches my eye the most is the leadership he showed while the NFL was locking its doors. During that time, along with starting quarterback Josh Freeman, he organized team workouts and other team activities. Our own Steven Thompson talked with Tyrone McKenzie last week a few days before the end of the lockout. Even though McKenzie came onto the Bucs roster later in the year and only played in 3 games, he has taken the off-season by the horns and is acting like he is the starter at the position. McKenzie has taken a leadership role with the Bucs during the summer, learning the calls from Barrett Ruud by traveling all the way to Nebraska to learn them, yet when asked about it, he played it off like its something just anyone would do.
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It’s clear he’s a quiet man off the field. “I’m just a low-key hard worker, I did what I had to do to go see him”. Low key is good
When asked about Belichick and Morris, McKenzie said “I love them both”! sometimes, especially when the Bucs seemed to have a string of offseason incidents that others outside of Tampa Bay have pointed out. But one thing is for certain: McKenzie is driven to play football, when asked where he sees himself, “I’ll pretty much play wherever they need me to play, and I’ll be the best I can at it”! Yes, you would hope that every player has that mentality, but McKenzie not only shows that he can take control and lead, but he can also back it up.
McKenzie came to the Bucs from the New England Patriots, who granted him a release from the Practice squad. The Bucs picked him up only two days later.
It wasn’t the first time McKenzie moved; he started his college career at Michigan State where he played 11 games before transferring to Iowa State. After sitting out 2005 because of transferring, McKenzie moved to USF to play for the Bulls on a hardship waiver. Overall though, McKenzie felt his college career was fun, and very productive. “It got me to my first step in the NFL”. McKenzie still keeps in touch with USF coaching staff members, “I had some great times and had some great games”.
Tyrone got to USF via hardship, which let him play right away.From three teams in college, to getting drafted by a perennial powerhouse, McKenzie had complimentary things said about him by Head Coach Bill Belichick. But McKenzie hurt his ACL and was put on the practice squad. “I wanted out of my contract, and things happened and I made it down here.”
Asked what the biggest transition was from college to the pros, “Probably just becoming a professional. I felt I was ahead of the game in that aspect, but overall I became a true professional being in New England”.
McKenzie will bring a much-needed physical presence (6’2” 245) that the Bucs linebackers haven’t seen since Derrick Brooks, Shelton Quarles, and Hardy Nickerson. He also brings versatility; Morris likes to run many defensive fronts to cause pressure and to confuse the offense. That includes the 3-4 and since McKenzie has already played a little bit of that, coming from the Patriots who feature the 3-4, it will allow the Bucs to not worry about having a MLB that can play multiple fronts and still bring the physicality that is needed to play both 4-3 and 3-4. Ruud is an intelligent player, but he has been criticized for too many tackles 10 yards downfield and not being physical enough to shed blocks. McKenzie has the smarts to make all the calls Ruud did, plus make a major impact against the running game, which is an area the Bucs drastically need to improve in if they want any chance to make the playoffs, and be a true leader that the team can rally around.
I look forward to seeing McKenzie battle it out with Mason Foster for the MLB spot. Raheem Morris it would seem has a new Middle Linebacker for the Bucs, and for McKenzie, playing for Raheem Morris and Bill Belichick, “I’ll say I love both guys”. Best of luck to you Tyrone, looking forward to seeing you plant some Falcons at Raymond James in 2011!
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