"I’m here to be like a puzzle piece"
Newly-signed linebacker Deone Bucannon has one primary goal right now as he transitions to the New York Giants defense mid-season: To be like a “puzzle piece” that fits into the bigger picture.
If he’s to meet his goal of having an immediate impact on the team, Bucannon knows that he needs to pick up the defense quickly so he can help out where needed.
“I’m here to fit in, and make plays when my name is called,” Bucannon said. “It’s my first time in New York, so I’m just looking forward to catching it in stride and doing what I need to do.”
Bucannon emphasized the seriousness with which he takes his job. He wants to contribute in any way he can by embracing his strengths and improving upon his weaknesses.
“I’m here to flow in like water,” Bucannon said. “When I’m on the field, I enjoy being an expert at my work, just like you with your craft. I take my craft very seriously; I handle it like a job. I’m just here to be a playmaker, be another voice, and hopefully someway, somehow, be helpful to this team. If my name is called, I’m going to do my best each and every play that my name is called upon.”
Because of his experience, Bucannon should not have a hard time fitting into the Giants’ defensive scheme. Before being picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency earlier this year, Bucannon played for the Arizona Cardinals for five years, where he overlapped with Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher.
Even after just one day of practice as a Giant Wednesday, Bucannon said that the defense felt very “familiar” to him.
“You can fly around,” Bucannon said of Bettcher’s defense. “It just lets you play. The linebackers play off the D-line, and then the safeties are making plays when they need to make plays. Of course, you have your responsibilities, but at the same time, it lets you be the player that you want to be.”
Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is confident that Bucannon will be able to adjust to life in New York quickly. Shurmur said that he likes Bucannon because of his toughness, physicality, and his familiarity with the defense.
“I think the more you know about people, the better the situation is,” he said.
“Obviously, Bettch had some conversation with us as to what was good and bad about him as a player. Then you factor it in, and you make what’s best in terms of a decision for your roster.”
Shurmur said that he thinks Bucannon will mainly be able to help out with linebacker Alec Ogletree because of their similar experience levels in the league. Bucannon was drafted in 2014, and the St. Louis Rams drafted Ogletree in 2013.
“I do think the inside backers work in pairs, in terms of their run fits and who they’re covering,” Shurmur said. “That’s not to minimize the play of the other guys there. It’s just the guy that we added to that group.”
Not only is Bucannon familiar with Bettcher, but he has played alongside safety Antoine Bethea and linebacker Markus Golden in Arizona.
“He’s going to bring it every day, no matter what,” Golden said of Bucannon. “Whether it’s practice or game day, he is going to be ready, no matter what.”
“I know he will be able to jump in,” Golden added. “I know he knows the defense; he played in it before. There are a couple of things he will have to learn that we changed up, but I know he knows the basics. Whatever he has to do to learn the rest, I know he will do it.”
Bucannon himself that he has been leaning on Golden and Bethea since arriving in New York, and he is excited to be reunited with them.
“We had a lot of success together in this defense,” Bucannon said. “I’m happy and fortunate because they’re playmakers on this team and maybe I can continue to piggyback off them and be behind them and see what they’re doing right, and of course whatever role I’m going to have, I’m going to be able to hit it running.”
After recording only three tackles in five games with Tampa Bay this season, Bucannon is grateful to be surrounded by familiar faces as he seeks to prove that he can be the guy who recorded 93 tackles back with the Cardinals in 2015.
“It’s all about opportunities in this league,” Bucannon said. “I’m the same player I was when I was a rookie. Situations arise, whatever it is, some things that I can’t control. What I can control is when I’m on the field.
“So, I’m not worried about everything else. When I go on the field, I know what I can do; people know what I can do. Whether it’s a little bit, whether it’s a lot, I’m just going to go out there and make some plays.”
