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Through 12 games of his rookie NFL season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Kwon Alexander was in the running for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Alexander, a former LSU linebacker, was well on his way to 100 tackles and already had three sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Then, though, a four-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs (which Alexander claims came from an energy drink) ended his season prematurely. According to AL.com, Alexander took the suspension hard:
“It was very tough, especially for me, how much I love football,” Alexander told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I made a mistake. Never happen again. … It hurt me a lot. It put me back in my place. It made me focus a lot, and I just can’t wait to get back on the field and show ya’ll what I can do.”
The 2015 fourth-round pick will have to learn a new system for the 2016 season, as former Tampa Bay head coach Lovie Smith was fired after the 2015 campaign.
But, under new defensive coordinator Mike Smith (the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons), Alexander is expecting improvements across the board:
“It’s going to be real different,” Alexander said of Tampa Bay’s defense after an offseason working in Smith’s system. “Under Lovie, you’re basically a cover-2 team, Tampa 2. It’s real different, very multiple. It’s just going to be a great defense. I can’t wait to get out on the field and show ya’ll how this is going to play out. We’re going to have a great year.”
The Buccaneers start their season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
