It’s Time
July 21st, 2023
Make or break 2023.
With the opening of Bucs Training Camp 2023 just days away, Joe is seeing one hole that may prevent the Bucs from having an arse-kicking defense.
That’s an edge rush.
Right now the candidates are former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, rookie third-round pick YaYa’s Flame Broiled Chicken Diaby and sixth-round Jose Ramirez, who Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network lusts over.
As always, expecting major impact from rookie edge rushers is a long shot at best.
(No, “this Joe” is not counting on Shaq Barrett recovering or buying Anthony Nelson as the next Simeon Rice. Nelson is a nice four-, five- or six-sack guy off the bench, max. He gets absolutely owned against physical teams — see losses to San Francisco and Dallas for evidence.)
And as Joe knows very well, teams that cannot get after the quarterback eventually pay for it. Oftentimes dearly.
So this is why Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com is looking right at JTS in what might be his make-or-break season as a Bucs player.
The Bucs need Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to finally level up on the edge. The third-year pro has a great first step, but he just hasn’t produced yet and can get washed out in the running game.
Right now the rushing game is not Joe’s worry with JTS. It’s his pass rush game.
JTS has had four sacks in each of his first two seasons. That’s worse than Gaines Adams’ production and for many Bucs fans, Adams is the standard for Bucs’ defensive busts at edge rusher.
So yeah, JTS has a lot riding on the 2023 season, including generational financial security for his family and likely his career and his football legacy are all on the line.
Can JTS come through?
July 21st, 2023 at 3:59 am
Make or break year, no question about it. Am excited to see Ya Ya, and Chancey. Hope the others step up too. Let’s see what this new young teams got.
July 21st, 2023 at 4:57 am
My hope is that Shaq returns to his old form AND fills the leadership gap that was left when JPP wasn’t re-signed. Every position group IMO looks up to the best in their position group, and right now Shaq is that guy … hopefully.
Come to think of it, another hope is that George Edwards turns out to be the coach that his credentials says he is. His resume’s impressive, but it still remains to be seen whether or not THIS group (including JTS) responds to what he’s got to offer.
July 21st, 2023 at 5:38 am
Is it Ground Hog Day again?
July 21st, 2023 at 6:35 am
Gaines Adams > Booker Reese
July 21st, 2023 at 6:43 am
standard for Bucs’ defensive busts
There are plenty to choose from Joe…Why Gaines Adams?
Eric Curry, Booker Reese, (to name 2 more 1st round DEs)
July 21st, 2023 at 6:44 am
BTW,, Reese was drafted in 1982 4th in 2nd round after trading away a 1983 number 1 pick for him.
July 21st, 2023 at 6:53 am
Don’t expect much from Diaby or Ramirez this year but cant wait to see what they got this preseason. As for Nelson I do not think I have ever seeen him “owned” by anybody although I did see him get pushed out while maintaining contain a few times. JTS far far more BTW.
Go Bucs!
July 21st, 2023 at 7:06 am
Like Jim Cornette says “lazy booking” lol
July 21st, 2023 at 7:18 am
Why are the Joes not hammering on the Logan Hall selection as well. He seems to be getting a pass. He’s a tweener that can play DE, but his play has been non-existent.I personally think the Bucs should play a bunch with Dennis at MLB and White as edge rusher.
Simple answer: Hall only played a third of the snaps last season as a rookie. The Bucs moved him around then asked him to bulk up this offseason for his position. Not enough time to judge at that position other than to see he didn’t improve much through the year. –Joe
July 21st, 2023 at 7:46 am
Gaines Adams had six sacks each of his first 2 seasons playing with an enlarged heart FFS….. that’s considered decent to someone who isn’t an idiot.
July 21st, 2023 at 7:54 am
This article could’ve been written about many defensive ends over the years: “Can McCants, Thomas, Curry, Spence, Gaines……..etc. step up?”
July 21st, 2023 at 7:59 am
No, Plan 9 is a bust and remains in orbit.
July 21st, 2023 at 8:17 am
We’ll see. Though for all the yammering and handwringing about the Bucs rush last season, they still were ranked #4 in the league in sacks, down only a couple from the previous season. That was without Shaq Barrett for much of the season, and with JTS still on his learning curve.
Note also that football is a game of complementary skills. A great pass rush aids the defensive backfield, but so does a great defensive backfield aid the pass rush (by forcing the quarterback to take more time finding his open receivers). Similarly, a great edge rush is helped by a great interior line. When offensive linemen don’t need to double up on great interior defensive linemen, that stymies the pass rush.
Also, a great high scoring offense that manages to hold onto the ball also helps the pass rush, because it puts a lot more pressure on opposing quarterbacks to pass, pass, pass, which opens up opportunities for the pass rush to get home.
Overall, the defense should improve from last season’s middle of the pack ranking. Whether it does or does not, we’ll soon see.
July 21st, 2023 at 9:57 am
YES… i have faith in JTS. If he could just wrap up the QB property he would have 2x those sack totals and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. With a better secondary, and the new talent added to the defensive line I think this could be a fine year for Joe Tryon.
July 21st, 2023 at 10:04 am
JTS & Anthony Nelson ranked 3rd & 7th respectively in most coverage snaps by OLBs last season, again talking as if rushing the passer is the only job our guys have to do is shortsighted. I’d be interested to hear what the critics of JTS know of his other job assignments when prematurely referring to him as a “bust”, but it’s probably has something to do with using sacks as the only measure of success which is really short-sighted.
July 21st, 2023 at 10:15 am
PLEASE USE DAQUAN BOWERS
He had way more promise (originally slated as #1 pick)
Was closer in draft position to JTS
HE’S STILL ALIVE (more tasteful)
Shows you know your Bucs’ history
(Bonus! If you’re trying to pick on Clemson. They both went to Clemson.)
July 21st, 2023 at 10:39 am
I’ve been saying all off-season: This is JTS’s year.
July 21st, 2023 at 11:40 am
@TDTB,I like what you’re saying. Or just drop Hall in coverage and have White rush behind those big boy more. He clearly is more of a physical talent than student of the game. Pin his ears and let him rush
July 21st, 2023 at 11:49 am
Really hope JTS hit the squat rack this off-season. He undeniably has good speed and decent bend, but has absolutely no power. He never has to get double-teamed, as his only threat is to rush the OT’s far shoulder. If JTS could develop an inside move, a modicum of power, and a nastier disposition (which is probably the hardest thing to ‘develop’, we might have something.
July 21st, 2023 at 11:53 am
Gaines Adams was a unanimous 1st team All American and the #4 overall pick in the 2007 draft.
Way higher early expectations of a top 5 pick than JTS who was the #32 (last) selection of the 1st round and who only played 2 years of College ball….
July 21st, 2023 at 12:23 pm
It actually all hinges on the impact of Kancey.
A fast inside rush will open things up for the outside guys.
I was happy with Suh and Vea in run blocking, but they were both way too slow to do anything in the pass rush game.
The Bucs needed some inside speed and might have it now. That is the biggest question while the outside guys grow into an adult game. They were men among boys if college, now is a new game they need to build into.
July 21st, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Dooley:
It’s real simple. JTS was not drafted in the first round for his coverage skills. He was drafted that high to get after the quarterback, which is way more important than coverage skills (Joe offered Warren Sharp’s stats on how valuable if not critical sacks are to stopping offenses earlier this week).
July 21st, 2023 at 1:29 pm
That’s a TE blocking him smdh
July 21st, 2023 at 1:33 pm
With one arm
July 21st, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Saw some comment on using DW45 to pass rush more and I couldn’t agree more. It’s deff one of his strengths. Drop LVD into coverage bring Dennis in to coverage and full send DW45 to the QB.
July 21st, 2023 at 2:21 pm
“JTS was not drafted in the first round for his coverage skills. He was drafted that high to get after the quarterback, which is way more important than coverage skills”
You’re not John Spytek, Jason Licht, or Todd Bowles nor are you an X’s & O’s guy to the point I’m going to take your word for it. We also drafted JTS in the first round to sit behind Barrett and JPP, we’ve also watched him spy every QB with any semblance of mobility the past few years and traditionally OLB have ALWAYS been asked to have a multi-layered job detail. It’s really not as “simple” as you try to make it, but I will agree at time that’s as far as your understanding goes on football matters.
July 21st, 2023 at 4:11 pm
I wasn’t much of a fan of Tryon even when he was coming out.
July 21st, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Blast Plan 9 off to Mars. Put in Ya Ya.
July 21st, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Maybe they can send Tryon with Devin somewhere. Since Devin wants to be a distraction now. No way. You’re no Ray Lewis or Derrick Brooks or Lawrence Taylor or anybody like that.
July 22nd, 2023 at 9:35 am
I’m with DR. I think coach Edwards could be a difference maker for JTS and others. JTS is sooooo close and I’m sure he hears all the noise and wants to prove the doubters wrong. When he wins at the line and hits the backfield he just has to maintain control of his speed and angles to turn all of his misses into sacks. Fingers crossed.
July 22nd, 2023 at 2:01 pm
JTS is NFG. Reminds me of Broderick Thomas. Runs all over the field and is the only guy standing looking down at the pile after a tackle is made. He Always trails the guy with the ball and never gets in on the tackle. IMO he is afraid of contact. I have watched every snap of the Bucs and see nothing that makes me believe he will ever be good. Hope I’m wrong.
July 22nd, 2023 at 5:16 pm
JTS is our best pass rusher