Buccaneers' second-year three-technique Calijah Kancey has been a disruptor in the trenches in 2024, elevating Todd Bowles' exotic pressure packages. Kancey missed the first five weeks of the season but has 4.0 sacks over the previous three games, tying for fifth in the NFL in sacks per game since Week Nine. Nose tackle Vita Vea and Kancey have formed a formidable tandem in the middle, becoming one of two interior duos in the NFL with 5.0-plus sacks each, joining the Rams' pair of Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner.
"Coming back off the injury, I think now he's playing with a lot more confidence," said Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers. "On a couple of plays the other [day], he looked really explosive. It's kind of nice to see him playing full speed now. Him and Vita, they really work well together and they kind of play off each other, which kind of helps."
Against the Giants in Week 12, Kancey accumulated his fifth sack of the year to establish a new single-season career high, in addition to scooping up his first career fumble recovery. Kancey's 5.0 sacks in 2024 are the most among players with fewer than 250 defensive snaps played this season. At Raymond James Stadium in Week 10 versus the San Francisco 49ers, Kancey tallied a career-high-tying five tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit. He has been an unstoppable force in recent weeks, showcasing the skills that made him a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh product pairs rare first-step quickness with twitchy feet and a high-motor. Kancey plays with outstanding contact balance, a low pad level and terrorizes the pocket with athleticism. His closing burst overwhelms blockers and he is adept at setting up his pass rush repertoire. Kancey's size threshold raised questions during the pre-draft process, and he has continued to silence the 'undersized' stereotypes by using natural leverage and physicality to win at the point of attack as a run defender. He is instinctive and fires off the line in impressive fashion. Kancey's pass rush moves look more like a seasoned vet's than a player in his encore season, but his production has solidified the interior of the Bucs' frontline. This week, Kancey will look to unsettle Panthers quarterback Bryce Young in the pocket and force the young signal-caller to make mistakes.
