Preseason Extra Critical For Chris Braswell
April 28th, 2024
Will rookie edge rusher Chris Braswell, Tampa Bay’s second-round draft pick, be able to do what rookie edge rushers YaYa Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Noah Spence did before him?
All three of those guys turned in strong preseason performances.
Joe often writes about NFL pass rush prospects, saying expecting them to achieve in the pros what they couldn’t in college against children is a bad idea. And Joe brings sort of the same rookie-edge-rusher philosophy to facing soon-to-be grad students, mattress movers and car salesmen in preseason games — or veterans who aren’t going 100 percent in August.
You better show up and perform against what should be lesser competition.
Last year, Diaby was impressive in his preseason debut against a Steelers veteran before rolling his ankle and leaving the game.
Tryon-Shoyinka finished the 2021 preseason with two sacks and solid overall stats. He also had a textbook, picture-perfect sack in his first preseason outing that was nullified due to Roger Goodell’s sacrilegious hit-too-hard sack rule.
After just one preseason game, Spence, the 2016 second-round pick, had accomplished veterans talking about him being a 10-sack guy and showing all the tools and “dog-like mentality” needed to thrive.
Joe looks at Diaby staying on the Bucs bench early last season even after his ankle healed and wonders if Todd Bowles was just too scared to play him because he saw little of him in preseason.
Regardless, while Joe cannot reasonably expect any first-year pass rusher to kick ass and make a huge impact, Joe can expect the guy to show in preseason why he was drafted with a premium pick.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Preseason Joe?
Meaningless games matter… apparently one way or the other.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Most pressures in the SEC. Excited to see what he can do.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
JTS problem is he plays soft. He doesn’t appear to have the aggressiveness an edge rusher needs to have when going up against an OT in the NFL. He needs to be more violent. I do, however, from watching game tape, see these traits in Braswell, which tells me he will be the starter, as soon as he learns the playbook.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Hope not. Specially Plan 9.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
I don’t mind it as long as he doesn’t start getting flagged for a bunch of roughing the passer penalties because he seems like the type that could be.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
Forget the other guys, especially that scrub looks like tarzan plays like jane spence….JTS better show up this year or he’s there too…..forgotten
Yaya and Braswell….THATS what Im talking about baby….what up NFC South….GIMME SOME!!!!!!
April 28th, 2024 at 1:53 pm
1987: They don’t count, but they absolutely matter for the development of young players.
April 28th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Yaya Diaby vs. Chris Braswell Comparison
40 time: 4.51 (Diaby), 4.60 (Braswell)
Height: 6-3 (Diaby), 6-3 (Braswell)
Weight: 263 (Diaby), 251 (Braswell)
Hands: 10 3/8 (Diaby),9 3/8 (Braswell)
Arm: 33 7/8 (Diaby), 33 1/4 (Braswell)
Vertical 37 (Diaby), 33.5 (Braswell)
Broad 120 (Diaby), 115 (Braswell)
Last College years total Sacks: 9 (Diaby), 8 (Braswell)
April 28th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Oh, those worthless pre-season games……or is this the “other” Joe?
April 28th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
I’d rather have him muff up the preseason games and get a sack total of 10 or more during the season
April 28th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Yep..preseason games. Luv ’em.!
April 28th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
Unwavering optimism for this pick based on the sheer pack of Licht’s investiture of DL on the roster and I think the law of averages has us due to hit on a 10 sacker.
April 28th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Been rewatching last seasons games. Today was the Bears game from last year. JTS had a nice sack in that game completely destroying the LT. Maybe there’s hope going forward, and maybe we’ve all been alittle to hard on him. Be interesting to see what joker role Todd has for him this year. He’s not The Guy, but has been able to stay healthy, and part of the rotation. Same could be said of Hall. Hopefully both take their games to another level.
April 28th, 2024 at 3:12 pm
Just get through preseason healthy. Seems like every year a young prospect comes into training camp unprepared for the intensity and the heat and ends up straining a calf or hamstring. Coming from Alabama, at least he should be somewhat used to the heat and humidity. Practice at 95%, and save the 100% effort for games that mean something.
April 28th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
PFF has Braswell at 13 sacks 28 pressures for the year
April 28th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
I think Brasswell is going to do well early. Not saying he won’t improve as he gets NFL experience. He has grown man strength already kinda like Ya Ya. He doesn’t need to work on a bunch of finesse moves. He’s got his push-pull and bull rush down. These guys can hit the ground running. He looks to me like a similar but better version of Yaya. I’m excited to see how good he really is. Playing behind 1st round picks in college really limited his game reps.
April 28th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Yeah, I still cannot understand how or why no one seems to know how many ‘Sacks’ this guy truly had… There’s a huge difference between 8 and 13. It’s unbelievable. One person says 8.5, the next one says 13, then another publication says 8, and the next is 13.5… WHAT THE FRIGG IS IT??? It’s SO Annoying.
April 28th, 2024 at 5:06 pm
BamaBucsFan the SEC competition should help develop faster.
April 28th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Add????
April 28th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Preseason?
Meaningless.
Worthless.
Oh, wait………
I guess it kinda does matter after all.
🙄
April 28th, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Letsbucinggo Says: BamaBucsFan the SEC competition should help develop faster.
I agree. In fact, after Braswell took over Will Anderson’s spot this past season, Braswell led the SEC in QB pressures with 56 – pretty impressive.
April 28th, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Bucs need more pressure and a player that finishes. That is what makes Braswell the anti JTS.
April 28th, 2024 at 11:05 pm
Spence would have been a good player if his shoulder hadn’t gotten trashed so early in his career.
Licht had a string of bad luck a few years back when a # of good players he used high draft picks on suddenly received career ending injuries just when they were about to step out and shine.
Spence, Justin Evans, Beckwith, OJ Howard. Thats 4 good players – a first, two 2nds and a 3rd rd draft picks down the drain due to career ending injuries. In a span of 3 years…. Ouch.
April 28th, 2024 at 11:48 pm
Possible.
And yet they still won the Super Bowl. What a lousy job this Jason Licht does!
April 29th, 2024 at 4:16 am
JL gets better every draft. He’s already drafted a future HOF WR . Plus AW.jr & Wirfs are All Pro’s , Godwin, Vita , etc.. Not all picks are going to be pro bowl players. But if they can get a couple each draft, then I’ll call that a win . Go Bucs