Hands Are The Key For YaYa Diaby
July 27th, 2025
Joe almost feels badly for edge rusher YaYa Diaby.
A lot has been swirling through his head this year.
Diaby got a new position coach, was enlightened at the Sack Summit and has a new veteran edge rusher in his ear.
Everyone, in their own positive way, is trying to get Diaby to look like the sack artist he was during his strong rookie year of 2023, and hopefully better.
Diaby is working on his patience and his eyes, and today Todd Bowles noted how hands will be critical to Diaby coming up big in 2025.
“I like the way he’s getting off the ball right now – he’s really using his hands a lot more and a lot better,” Bowles said of Diaby. “If he keeps that up, he should have a hell of a year.”
Frankly, the Bucs need Diaby to step up as much as they need Haason Reddick to be the player he was two years ago. Both need to show major improvement from their 2025 seasons. Reddick’s, of course, was a nightmare with the Jets.
The Bucs can be good with meh seasons from those guys, but if they want to be a true Super Bowl contender, a beastly edge rusher or two is usually required.
July 27th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
Can’t wait to hear about these two (and Braswell) in joint practices.
July 27th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Let’s not give him fireworks to play with first off. JK
I always wondered if JPP might have missed a sack or two if only he hand the full use of his hands. It’s something you just can’t help but to ponder.. As good as he was, could he have done more?…
I have a Strong feeling that he finally Breaks Out this year!
Ya Ya IS Better, Stronger, and Faster and as long as he stays healthy, Reddick or no Reddick, there are Strong indicators that this IS his coming on out year!
FINALLY! With JTS out of the picture and Reddick as an inspiration and on field teacher with not only a chip on his shoulder but in Reddick’s CRITICAL LAST CONTRACT PERFORMANCE as “no choice”, the competition for pounding QB’s into Dust IS going to reach the point of “Ecstasy”! We will finally have pass rush once again to be Proud Of.
I’m betting on him and Kancey to lead the way.
July 27th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Sorry,
It’s supposed to read “had” his hands…
And I’m expecting “Ya Ya” and Kancey to lead the way..
July 27th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Let’s hope he gets more sacks from his pressures
July 27th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Paws on, paws off. If Yaya can get some get off contact at will using his hands and with his strength he’ll be alright.
Got to put it all together, have a plan, and keep it as simple as possible
July 27th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Yaya is a really good Edge Rusher,
He gets pressures, QB hits, he just don’t get many sacks
July 27th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
In one way, Hassan will be the key to YaYa having a great season.
Other teams will have to account for both of them.
YaYa won’t be double teamed as often.
As he improves throughout the year, (which he should), his numbers will get better.
And, if opposing offenses start playing more to stop YaYa, Hassan will come charging in from the other side.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
That one move Rice showed Diaby in that video is a downward block in martial arts. It teaches no wasted movement and a reaction to every action, can’t remember if Rice took martial arts or not but it was a great move to knock the hand aside easily and one that Diaby never saw before by his reaction, and I think Rice noted that. I don’t remember if it was Kiffin or Marinelli that said to stop the run on the way to the QB but it’s a classic.
July 28th, 2025 at 2:41 am
“I don’t remember if it was Kiffin or Marinelli that said to stop the run on the way to the QB but it’s a classic.” But having either of them spend a week observing the Bucs DL/DE/OLB’s would be “Classic”. Monte would come up with some additional points to have these guys all playing at a higher performance. And better “hands” usage by our DE/OLB will shorten the time to the QB. CK and Diaby stop Pity-Pat, Pity-Pat, Pity-Patting with the OL. Let’s Pity-Chop, downward, step and eat QB’s all season long. Pity-Chop, Pity-Chop, Pity-Chop, Pity-Chop and eat QB’s all season long. GO BUCS, GO BUCS
July 28th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Diaby needs to break out this year its all there for him. I expect 10 sacks would love more and would accept 8. But if he gets 5 or less he’s not our man.