Bucs S Ryan Neal Ready To Prove He’s A Legit Starter

New Bucs safety Ryan Neal is in a position in the NFL that he’s never really been in before. For the first time in his career, he comes into a place where not only will he compete to be the starter at safety, but he has a pretty good chance at it.

Neal was able to start in 10 of the 14 games he played in last season for the Seahawks, but he was only named the starter after an injury to Jamal Adams and poor play by the next guy in line. It was by chance – not necessarily earned. This year, the opportunity is right in front of him.

“It was definitely appealing,” Neal said.  “My goal is to show the league that I’m a legit starter. I’ve been to Seattle the last couple of years, had my chance to flash and show. Last year was really big and this year I just want to make that set and stone.

“Set the statement (that) I’ll start at safety. I want to come here and add value to the defense, you never want to take away from a room, you always want to add to it. Can’t wait to meet my teammates, the rest of my coaches, anyway I can add value. That’s my whole goal this year.”

After entering the league as an undrafted free agent and playing for three different teams in his career, Neal feels he’s leveled up. He goes from just fighting to make a roster to being a potential key component to the defense.

“It’s everything you’ve been working for,” Neal said. “My first three years were, ‘Okay, can I scratch a roster?’ I’m trying to make a roster, I’m trying to make a team. You finally make a team then you get your role on special teams and it was like, ‘Alright, let me just do my role here, ball out here, make noise, affect the game.’

“When push comes to shove, you start getting little opportunities. It’s definitely great to finally get a chance to try and put it all together – all the things that I’ve learned and all the things that I’ve been through: grinding it out, undrafted, all of that. I’ve been through kind of the roughest way to get here to this point. It makes you grateful, but it also sets you apart and I understand that. I wear that with a badge of pride. Just being able to come here and finally get the chance, it’s an opportunity – it’s what I was looking for and I found it. It’s time to take advantage of it.”

Bucs Can Move Ryan Neal Around At Safety

Bucs S Ryan Neal – Photo By: Matt Matera P/R

Over the past four to five years Ryan Neal has trained in the in the Tampa Bay-Sarasota area in the offseason, so he’s familiar with this part of town. He’s also familiar with playing in multiple spots at safety.

According to Pro Football Focus, Neal played 362 snaps in the box, 236 at free safety and 118 in the slot, so he’s comfortable moving around. He’ll have to do that with head coach Todd Bowles running the show, but that’s what every defensive player looks for.

“I just like playing football,” Neal said. “That’s how I look at it. You can put a position on it but the way the game has changed now, there are no more positions.  You see a lot of guys that do a lot of different things, a bunch of hybrids. That’s the way the game is going, (if) you’re a football player, you love it.

“You just get to do anything and everything. For me, I’m comfortable with anything, I just like playing. Being on the field is fun. Wherever I’m at, I’m cool with that.”