The thought of coaching Calijah Kancey has Bucs DL coach Marcus West smiling.
Let’s be real: 2025 was a wasted season for Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Sadly, Kancey, though very talented, is injury-prone. That’s the only way one can spin it for Kancey missing so much time with injuries.
In the 51 regular-season games the Bucs have played in the past three seasons, since Kancey was drafted, Kancey has been on the field for just 28 of those 51 games.
That’s 54 percent of the games Kancey has been on the field for the Bucs and not wearing street clothes since he was drafted. That’s not exactly the way to get a contract extension.
Yesterday, Bucs defensive line coach Marcus West cautioned Bucs fans not to write off Kancey. Because if he can stay on the field, Kancey is an absolute monster, West noted.
“Calijah Kancey, he is a first-round draft pick for a reason, obviously,” West said. “He hasn’t had the full season lately, because of injuries have happened.
“But you’ve got to remember he did have a seven-and-a-half sack season two years ago, which is a heck of an accomplishment for a defensive tackle, an interior defensive tackle.
“So, I mean, to have the opportunity to bring that out of him again, and him coming off of a year of, you know, disappointing injuries.”
Joe agrees. For some context, six-time Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy had more than 7.5 sacks only three times (never 10). And GMC did this, averaging 14 games played in those three seasons.
Kancey played in only 12 games in 2024 and had 7.5 sacks.
So West is right. If Kancey can somehow stay healthy, he can be a total force because he’s demonstrated an ability to be a force already.
But, as the old Bill Parcells saying goes, “Your best ability is your availability.”
In other words, you can’t help the club when you’re in the tub.