Deone Bucannon on joining Buccaneers: ‘I knew this was somewhere I could succeed’

Beyond being satisfied with a one-year contract worth $2.5 million, Deone Bucannon saw other factors that made joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent an easy decision.

For the former member of the Arizona Cardinals, there was the chance to be reunited with coaches from his previous team – head coach Bruce Arians, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and linebackers coach Larry Foote.

‘I knew this could be my new home’

“When I talked to Coach Arians, BA, I immediately knew it was the right place for me,” Bucannon told Bruce Murray and Alex Marvez on the SiriusXM Blitz. “I knew this could be my new home and somewhere I could succeed and I was looking forward to just coming in here and getting to work. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Bucannon is especially thrilled to be again part of Bowles’ defensive scheme, as he was in his rookie season in Arizona.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians (SiriusXM NFL Radio Photo)

‘It allows me to play fast and it allows me to hit hard’

“Honestly, it just gives me space … it allows me to play fast and it allows me to hit hard, and those are my two strengths within the defense,” Bucannon said. “And I feel like how Coach Bowles coaches the game, how each and every person individually, he puts them in a position to win. He puts them in the best position, according to the player.

“I’m just happy and I’m blessed that I get the opportunity to continue my career with this coaching staff.”

“Coach Foote, he’s just a guy that’s always been my mentor, always been the guy that’s been in my corner, molded me into the player that I am today within this league. I’m just happy and I’m blessed that I get the opportunity to continue to my career with this coaching staff, because at the end of the day they understand football you know and at the end of the day, they respect you as a man and they respect you as a player.”

‘When somebody sees you as a great football player, it just makes you feel good’

He is also grateful that the Buccaneers stepped right up and made the first call to him when he became a free agent.

“It meant a lot because when somebody has faith in you, when somebody sees you for your value and sees you for your worth and sees you as a great football player, it just makes you feel good,” Bucannon said. “And then, on top of that, you just want to go out there and you want to prove them right. You want to go out there and you want to play your best ball. You want to go out there and you want to work hard and you want to continue to make sure their decision wasn’t a bad one. And I can guarantee you that it wasn’t.”