Bucs defensive back Logan Ryan is starting to hit a new stage in his understanding of the team’s defense. And to hear Ryan talk about it, you may get hungry.

“Yeah, I think [the Bucs defense] is a complex system,” Ryan said after joint training camp practice. “I’m learning multiple positions. I think I have a good idea of where they want me to be and how to get lined up. I’m a communicator in the defense. So, I feel comfortable and confident to line other people up. I think I know it pretty well. Now it’s just finding ways and knowing how to do my job. And put some sauce on it which makes me, me. Now I’m in the sauce stage. And I’m trying to get better week by week. There’s a lot of practice left to the regular season so I’m just trying to progress the right way.”

Pewter Report previously looked at Ryan’s play at different positions as part of our “Grinding the Tape” series.

The “sauce” that Ryan is speaking of could be his ability to apply his experience and knowledge of opposing offenses to the principles of head coach Todd Bowles’ defense to allow him to react rather than think. This should allow Ryan to utilize his communication skills to help move other defensive backs around.

Ryan Feels Comfortable At Every Position

Ryan has a unique role in the Bucs defense, having experience at multiple positions. The team is looking to utilize that experience and deploy Ryan in a multitude of ways. Ryan noted he is learning what to do in the scheme at each position. When asked if there was one position he felt more comfortable with than others, Ryan said he felt pretty good with each.

“Whatever one Todd has me at on that day,” Ryan said. “I don’t want to limit myself here, but I played all over the secondary in my career with some success. So, I just think all of them is really my strength. I think practice is going to be harder for me than the game because different periods of practice I am playing a different position whereas in the game I may play one [position] the whole game based on the gameplan. So, I think this is making it harder on me than it will be in the game.”

When asked about how the Bucs are using Ryan’s versatility versus former teams, Ryan noted he has been used in a variety of ways quite a bit in his career.

“In past stops, I’ve played every snap of defense, so I’ve been used – it just depends on what position,” Ryan said. “My job and goal is to be ready to play every snap. Wherever they have me, they have me. [I want] to be productive, as well. Look, I have a lot of great players around me on this team – a lot of great linebackers, a lot of great pass rushers, a lot of great DBs. [There are] Pro Bowlers at every level, so my job is to kind of facilitate, set the guys up and allow them to make plays and be successful.”

With the level of talent Ryan has around him, he may have the “secret sauce” to make this Bucs defense one of the elite units in the NFL.