YaYa Diaby And The Chase For Double-Digit Sacks
October 9th, 2025
Gets across the line quickly.
Bucs fans are still moaning about how Sam Darnold escaped the clutches of Bucs outside linebacker YaYa Diaby in crunch time Sunday in Seattle.
It just adds to all the woes of a lack of an edge rush. Joe is rock solid certain fans want a real edge rusher on the Bucs defense more than the shot-callers do.
Still, types Seth Walder of BSPN, a man who never met a number he didn’t like, Diaby can still hit double-digit sacks even though that’s not a goal of Bucs coaches.
Through five games, YaYa has one sack, which is actually on pace to match his 2024 total of 4.5 sacks.
Why there’s still a chance: With only one Diaby sack this season, I feel like I should probably throw this one out. But … I’m holding tough with my optimism, as he has a 20% pass rush win rate at edge (tied for 17th best) and an electric get-off. He crosses the line of scrimmage in 0.75 seconds on average, fifth best among all players with at least 80 pass rushes. I still think Diaby has a chance in Todd Bowles’ blitz-happy defense.
So if YaYa is one of the quickest edge rushers to cross the line of scrimmage, then what the hell is happening after he gets past the line?
Is YaYa simply unable to shed a block? Has anyone taught him how to shed a block (if that is the issue)?
If the Bucs really cared about an edge rush, not just lip service but actually cared as in demanding results — or else — maybe they’d have a coach who could help Diaby learn how to shed blocks or find ways to get to the quarterback, since he seems to be able to put himself in position to put a quarterback on his arse.
(For those who think the previous paragraph is too harsh, then please point Joe to the coach who has developed a double-digit edge rusher for the Bucs. Not inherited an edge rusher, but developed one.)
If the Bucs really were serious about an edge rush, they’d have a constant revolving door of dudes brought in as part of a non-stop effort to find someone, anyone who could drop a quarterback.
Shoot, earlier this year after the Bucs had their second punt of the season blocked, two days later they worked out two punters. That didn’t take very long, did it?
When is the last time you heard of the Bucs working out an edge rusher?
Yeah, yeah, Todd Bowles asks his outside linebackers to do other things. And that’s a problem.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Gotta agree with you, Joe.
There is a lot of talent on the defense, but it’s wasted if it cannot be developed into what it needs to be.
I actually like Todd Bowles as a head coach, but I DO believe he should have a quality DC.
That said, even if we got one, we’d probably lose him to an HC job a year later.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:22 am
Bring in Simeon Rice to coach him up. I’m sure he can teach him a few tricks of the trade.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:24 am
I think Simeon would be an incredible coach if he has the desire!!
October 9th, 2025 at 9:27 am
If one were to rank each position based on need, where would edge rush rank? It would not rank higher than qb, rb, left tackle, number 1 receiver. Maybe 5th. Maybe.. I’d say the Bucs are well stocked in the first four. I’d rank luck down corner and safety higher? How many games has Winfield saved with late heroics? If edge is the only glaring weakness, this team is doing well.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:31 am
YaYa..haha..he will have double digit sacks at the end of this year. That is if you add up the sacks he’s had the last two years. So after 3 years he’ll have double digit sacks all together.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Yaya ¨mostly got a sack¨Diaby………
Time for some reality and get at least one……..
October 9th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Been saying it for weeks yaya hasn’t been the same since his rookie season, sure he gets “ pressure “ but he never finishes.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:36 am
I think we’d all agree that Todd was right about Chris Braswell surprising everybody. He’s having one heck of a year right Ira lolllllllll
October 9th, 2025 at 9:51 am
When’s the last time we had a double digit sack guy was Barrett in 2021.. and before that ? Yeah, Bucs need a consistent pass rusher, but those are hard to find. It’s a problem when Vita is our leading team is sacks.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Yeah, yeah, Todd Bowles asks his outside linebackers to do other things. And that’s a problem.
IMO, that’s THE problem.
How do you work your pass rush plan when you’re dropping into coverage?
October 9th, 2025 at 9:52 am
By the way I love Vita, just saying he shouldn’t be the one leading the team in sacks, it should be our edge rushers.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Its like his 3rd season now. You dont see pass rushers that play a lot of snaps suddenly explode into their 3rd season. Either you got it or not.
From what we have seen so far he doesnt. He will get close to a lot of sacks but he will get only a few. It is what it is
October 9th, 2025 at 9:53 am
He’s fast and that’s about it. Like Flash…all he can do is run fast. He can’t tackle very well. Licht seems to get the oline picks but dline picks he absolutely sucks at…outside of Vea…bunch of scrubs after scrubs
October 9th, 2025 at 9:54 am
When I watch Almost Diaby, I see no pass rush moves. Every rush seems to be a bull rush. He doesn’t use his hands well and no counter moves. I’d love to see Simeon Rice come in to coach him. In the meantime, give more snaps to Nelly, or anybody.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:56 am
It’s a little easier to find punters I’d imagine sitting on their coach looking for a job than a 10 sack-a-year beast off the edge. I am hopefully optimistic that the sacks will come. The pressure is there, he just needs to finish.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:56 am
I do not understand how that could be Joe. Everyone sure benefited when Shaq and JPP were tearing it up! Why would Bowles disregard that part of the game? Money? He thinks he’s so good he can scheme sacks? I don’t get it.
Go Bucs!
October 9th, 2025 at 9:58 am
c’mon joe lol….
why work out fedex and ups drivers?..lol…
any edge rusher worth a dime is already on an NFL team lol….
as you mentioned, punter was shaky and we brought in punters…were they any good?..lol..did we sign any?…
cant put this on the coaches….yaya and reddick have to finish plain and simple…they get back there but dont finish…
bucs defense just has to do their job, follow their assignment and execute…
screw the sacks, I’ll take the wins!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 9:58 am
NOT GONNA HAPPEN
October 9th, 2025 at 9:59 am
I am hopefully optimistic that the sacks will come. The pressure is there, he just needs to finish.
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BINGO!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Seams like all they’re edge guys can’t finish when they get to the QB! Time to hit the phones JL!
October 9th, 2025 at 10:03 am
all this crying about DE/OLB dropping into coverage!!!
you clowns are a joke…
if yaya wouldve caught the INT that hit him right in the hands, we’re singing a different tune about the defense…
its called mixing it up…breaking trends…disguising the defense
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 10:07 am
At this point, if he can be had for just a late 2nd, then I don’t know why the hell you wouldn’t just make the damn move with Cincy for Trey Hendrickson!? If you’re ‘serious’ about making a run at another Super Bowl, then it’s a no-brainer. You HAVE TO be able to rush the passer in The Playoffs! You need that player. I was totally against it during the off-season, since I don’t like committing ‘top of the market’ $$$$ to any older player, at the very backend of his career… BUT, this is different. He is THE perfect rental. The Bengals only ended up giving him a raise for JUST this season, so the Bucs would only be ‘on the hook’ for the remainder of the season. And, we can keep him away from another rival contender. We should be living in the ‘now’ – NOW. We haven’t proven that we can even draft a ‘pass rusher’ much less develop one, so WHAT is a late 2nd!? NOTHING versus a PROVEN commodity. They can make up for losing the draft-pick anyway, by trading back with their late #1 regardless. And, depending on how Trey ‘fits’ with the team and organization… They can decide THEN (this upcoming offseason), on what to do with him. He might be the perfect fit, and just exactly what this defense has needed all along. He might really, enjoy playing his final years for a true CONTENDER, that is right here in his own BACKYARD (possibly near family that can watch him play, and with no state income tax)… Who Knows!? Don’t Care. Not worried about ANY of that, right now. You worry about the ‘now’ – NOW. It’s the perfect situation. You get HIM for the home stretch of the season. The $$$ time! The time, that MATTERS MOST.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Ya Ya might benefit from some emotional control. He needs to control the rush of emotion when closing in on a sack. Too much emotion can interfere with the controlled technique needed to finish the play.
Dre_bucsfan Says:
October 9th, 2025 at 9:36 am
I think we’d all agree that Todd was right about Chris Braswell surprising everybody. He’s having one heck of a year right Ira lolllllllll
During the Seahawks game, Braswell had an opportunity to bring the hammer down on a ball carrier running parallel to the sideline, but he just gave the guy a slight shove, looked like he was not interested in being physical.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Almost Diaby
October 9th, 2025 at 10:09 am
The last Bucs coach to develop an edge rusher?
John McKay.
(Yeah, it’s been that long.)
October 9th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Joe remembers YaYa getting two sacks at San Francisco his rookie season when the Bucs were still in the game and he got pulled!
October 9th, 2025 at 10:11 am
Bowles is the worst DC in the league.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:11 am
William Walls:
You are not wrong.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Been saying it for weeks yaya hasn’t been the same since his rookie season, sure he gets “ pressure “ but he never finishes.
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make him a rotational player like he was as a rookie….start nelly..he deserves more snaps
start nelly, rotate reddick & yaya
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 10:16 am
I thought Simeon DID work-out with him last season!?:/ Maybe, I’m thinking about someone, or something else!? But, I do know that he went to that Von Miller’s “Sack Summit” Camp this past summer. I think for the second year in a row!? Said he learned just soooo MUCH there, LoL… Looks-like, he’s only ‘learned’ how to run straight into a brick WALL.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Joe … ‘maybe they’d have a coach who could help Diaby learn how to shed blocks or find ways to get to the quarterback’.
You got me curious again Joe. Does YaYa have a problem ‘shedding blocks’? Seems like he’s ‘around the QB’ quite often; he just doesn’t seem to be able to get him on the ground. Couldn’t we say the very same thing about all those trying to get Baker Mayfield on the ground?
Baker’s been sacked 9 times this season in 5 games (roughly twice each game on average), but that’s with a very makeshift OLine. Bucs’ defense has 10 sacks this season, the same 2 sacks per game on average. Of course, that’s not how sacks happen; in our 5 games, Baker’s taken 1, 4, 1 2, 1 sacks per game. Houston did the best sacking Baker by far (4 sacks), and it was their up-front beasts who got them (Hunter 2 sacks, Anderson 1 sack, Rankins 1 sack). None of those 3 blitzed BTW, they just pass-rushed & did a good job of it. Of course, our OLine was in a bit of a disarray that game as we know, plus we lost Goedeke early in that game.
In YaYa’s case, it sounds like he’s got a fantastic get-off (0.75 seconds to get across the LOS), but he’s just not ‘finishing’ for some reason. MAYBE though he’s doing exactly what he’s being asked to do … pass rush BUT make sure that the QB doesn’t get around you (containment?). Thus far this season YaYa’s been on the field for over three-fourths of the def snaps. I’m thinking that Todd must like him.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:20 am
@Melvin,
Yes, I saw a vid of Rice coaching up Diaby in the offseason. Maybe Rice should pop in and do a performance review and coach him up just a tad more?
October 9th, 2025 at 10:21 am
Yaya has no plan he bullrushes listen to him talk to Rice crickets when he asked what his strategy was it would be amazing if they brought Rice in to coach all the olbs up. Maybe when kancey comes back they can try him out there he actually knows how to have a plan and set things up through a game.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:26 am
How do the Bucs compare to other teams having their edge rushers drop back into pass coverage? Are sacks not the result of rushing the passer?
I forget which game this season but there was Vita Vea back in pass coverage looking lost in the center of the field where LVD is at the snap.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:28 am
In the last 15 years, we have never drafted a 10 sack edge guy. That’s a heck of a drought.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:29 am
yaya’s a good ball player…
just not a finisher in the sack department…
maybe one day he’ll start to fin out on these qb’s – still kind of yet to be determined…
i can say one thing i see thru 5 games – as we are now into the meat & tater tots of the season…yaya isn’t making reddick better…and reddick certainly isn’t getting yaya to level up either
October 9th, 2025 at 10:29 am
If, he’s still there to be had after Detroit (surely the Bengals will have given up by then), it’s a no-brainer. Not only do you keep him AWAY from Detroit, but it’s the perfect timing, heading into the ‘bye-week’ after NOLA. It gives you PLENTY of time to work him into the lineup, and get him acclimated.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:29 am
In my years since the Trent dilfer era the Bucs have never developed a pass rusher. We’ve had rice , JPP and Shaq. Those guys were either traded for or FA signings. Jaq smith looked promising, Spence looked promising and yaya but they all looked promising their rookie years and never have developed. Strictly edge rushes the Bucs cannot develop or QBs lol. It’s crazy. I think you hit the nail right on the head JOE. the Bucs higher ups just don’t value edge rushers which is absolutely insane. It’s the most important position on the defense. We’ve won 2 SB because we had a dominant edge rush and defense. Open your eyes Jason and team glazer. This is frustrating
October 9th, 2025 at 10:33 am
Let’s put this on the table. We have a great offense, great front office and lousy pass rush. If you don’t rush the passer you don’t win championships.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:41 am
@D-Rok – I was gonna say, I sure thought I saw them both being interviewed about it back when it was happening! Now, it might’ve only been for just one day!? I didn’t think it was just a dream Haha.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:49 am
William Walls
Not sure Lee Roy needed much “development”, but ok.
Joe, you mean CAREER double digit sacks for horseshoe and hand grenade Diaby?
Maybe.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:50 am
I would have at least brought Shaq back to the practice squad by now. YaYa, Braswell, and Reddick are all a complete waste of roster space. This team can’t go the whole season with the time opposing QBs get due to the total lack of pressure.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:53 am
By the way Joe, Bucs highest sacker this season is Vita Vea with a whopping 2 sacks (both against the Eagles). Other than that, Vea has 0 QB hits & only 2 TFLs (also in the Eagles’ game BTW). Ironically though, his availability is much higher than in years past (231 def snaps for 74% availability).
So other than the Eagles’ game, Vea’s pass rush doesn’t seem to be producing much. Neither is our other NT Gaines’ pass rush; he’s got 132 def snaps in 5 games (42%) but only has 1 sack, 1 QB hit & 1 TFL, ALL in the Texans game (nothing in the other 4). Logan Hall & the rest of the interior DLine guys aren’t doing any better.
So MAYBE the problem with our pass rush isn’t really the OLBs at all. MAYBE it’s that our interior DLine isn’t disrupting anything (yet they’re doing a decent job in Run Defense of owning their gaps). MAYBE Todd is relying more on ‘selective blitzing’ to apply pressure? We’ve now blitzed 107 times in 5 games, on-track for 364 blitzes in 2025. Last season we blitzed 461 times, but only blitzed 341 times in 2023, our best defensive season since 2008 (only gave up 325 points).
Whatever the strategy, the key to this defense in terms of pass rush IMO lies with the interior DLine. If they can ‘move the QB’ our edges SHOULD be able to feast better.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:02 am
10?
How about 4?
It’s been 5 games. He has 1. He’s on pace for 3.5.
As horribly inneffective as Yaya actually is, the rest are worse.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Neither Reddick or Diaby have the moves to get around a single OT. It’s not like these guys are always being doubled teamed. They are getting owned in one on one situations. Both are backup quality players. Reddick’s production is going down as he ages and YaYa has failed to progress. Braswell never was…. Sad situation that the Bucs failed to address the edge rush and kept saying that these guys were going to break out this season. huge mistake on Jason’s part.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:04 am
any blitzes ‘steal’ sacks from him? penalties?
October 9th, 2025 at 11:04 am
He starts in such a bad position. Look at Myles Garrett. He starts off the rush so low and uses his power to jump forward and beat the tackle. Diaby is out there standing like how I look ready to rush a chinese buffet
October 9th, 2025 at 11:05 am
anybody else think Kancey’s absence is costing others sacks?
October 9th, 2025 at 11:16 am
According to Jason Licht Reddick, Diaby, and Braswell were going to have big time numbers this year. Can we laugh now?
October 9th, 2025 at 11:19 am
Whatever the strategy, the key to this defense in terms of pass rush IMO lies with the interior DLine. If they can ‘move the QB’ our edges SHOULD be able to feast better.
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thats why i’d rather trade a 6th to the titans for jeffery simmons instead of a 2nd to the Bengals for trey henderickson…
simmons currently has 3.5 sack from the DT position
4-1!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 11:20 am
anybody else think Kancey’s absence is costing others sacks?
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AND WALKER!!
4-1!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 11:25 am
News Flash!
Braswell = JTS = 0
October 9th, 2025 at 11:40 am
We have Kancey for two more seasons after this one, IF we even pick-up his 5th-year option by now. I suppose they’d just about have to. So, I wonder if the Titans would take him and a 4th, for Jeffrey Simmons!? Probably NOT, but Kancey fits their ‘timeline’ a lot better than a 28yr old, Simmons. They are definitely going NOWHERE, anytime soon. Simmons also, is wrapped-up for two more seasons after this one. He’s a straight-up ANIMAL. I LOVED HIM at Mississippi State. He always, played SO damn hard. Him and Vea together, would be DOMINANT. Then, Hendrickson as a rental, coming off the EDGE. SHEW. That’s a total game-changer. Completely, changes the ENTIRE Defense. Now, if only our secondary could stay ON the field, and CATCH. LoL. Super Bowl Moves.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Melvin
You think the Titans are going to take an oft injured, dude who is on IR and a pick for Simmons? This year?
October 9th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
BucsfaninOregon Says:
News Flash!
Braswell = JTS = 0
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
JTS some sacks (4). Braz is worse.
October 9th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
@ 813BUCBOI – they are only asking for a 6TH!? For JEFFREY SIMMONS!? That is SHOCKING to me!!!! If that is all, then THAT should be a done deal, IMMEDIATELY. I would think there would be several teams interested, and thus driving up the price.
October 9th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Starting to think edge rushers don’t win games and that todd is right and its a shame we wasted 10 million on reddick as a marketing instead of football decision
Look forward to being proven wrong
October 9th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
last year they brought back shaq barrett to finish the season and it lit a fire under everyone and they improved
October 9th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Diaby is simply not good or strong enough to be a quality pass rusher in this league, yet fans, such as buccaneer bonsai will still blame Bowles for Jason Lichts inability to draft pass rushers
October 9th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
melvin
titans havent asked for anything that i know of lol….
but ravens unloaded their former 1st round DE who had 10sacks last season for a 6th….
licht grabbed JPP for a 3rd…
i figure offer a 6th and see what they say lol…if they counter with a 4th and 7th i’d make that trade in a heartbeat…
folks saying offer a 2nd round pick for TH, but imo, thats too low lol….a player trey hendrickson caliber would cost multiple high end picks…
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
@Joe,
Long time reader and listener- You are right that we have not drafted and developed a good edge rusher, but that is not just Todd Bowles, that is the 50 YEAR HISTORY OF THE BUCS! Would you say the same thing about Monte Kiffin after the year 2000?
We do at least draft edge rushers or other pass rushing lineman pretty much every year early in the draft. So they obviously care and are trying to find one. And our biggest free agent this year was an edge rusher. He turns out to be washed, but they signed him because they are trying to find an edge rusher.
I understand the inherited point, but JPP and Shaq were both amazing in this defense so it obviously can be done, it is just hard to find great players at the 2nd most important position in football.
You were also saying the exact same thing about Jason Licht and Corner Backs before Carlton, Dean, etc. back before the Brady years…remember that.
October 9th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
TH won’t cost that much because he is FA next year.
It’s the shedding of the remainder of his $30 Million contract that they are after.
If you can get an extra 2nd then great.
Nobody is giving them even a 1st for TH I don’t believe.
As far as what Defense is saying, I agree more with his logic which means there is no way they trade for him. They would do better trading for a massive DL like SUH. I have ALWAYS been a component of building pass rush with DL first. If the QB can’t step up or escape forward the DE/OLBs get way more opportunities. Watch how Darnold evaded the sack by stepping up and around.
Calijah helped with some quickness, but if all they have to do is double VEA, what do we have up the middle? Simmons and Watson are prospects, but both have some limitations or they would be in there because they are stronger than SUH apparently.
I too want them to trade for TH, but not if it doesn’t work. He at least beats 1 on 1s which it doesn’t really matter, unless the QB can evade, “UP THE MIDDLE”.
Even with Calais Campbell this team would be rocking. Trade for Dexter Lawrence or Jeffrey Simmons and then we have more sacks from YAYA and REDDICK.
October 9th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Melvin Jr l don’t agree with alot of your posts but that first post was outstanding and really I totally agree with every thing you said.
October 9th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Greatness appears early and often. Yaya is what he is at this point.
If we want to sustain the winning we MUST make a move at edge or interior dline.
I love Lawrence, Simmons and Kayvon. Make it happen, getbus some reinforcements and juice… We are well under the cap.
Im starting to believe we back to the cheap Bucs again..
October 9th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Actually need coaching to help players improve. Crazy talk.
If the Bucs had a real DC reporting to a real HC, Bucs could be leading the league in sacks. I’m
October 9th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
@aquagirl
Your man crush is HC and OC.
October 9th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
813BUCBOI, I don’t think Licht is looking to trade for an established pass rusher. He loves to keep those high picks so he can draft another JTMs, Chris Braswell, Kyle Trask or that drunken tight end he selected.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
Nobody was talking about edge rushers in pass rushers when Shaq and JPP were because they knew how to rush the passer. Just take a minute to realize when they do rush they do nothing. Yaya has zero pass rush moves so doesn’t matter how fast he gets across the LOS. You do what you gotta do when you have no pass rushers JASON LICHT
October 9th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Seeing one of the Bucs edge rushers in pass coverage every other play drives me crazy. These guys aren’t here for their coverage ability but for supposedly being able to rush the passer. Every rep that they are in coverage is one less rep they have at possibly getting a sack. Bowles doesn’t seem like a real egotistical guy but I wonder if is possibly ego that keeps him from just allowing these guys to rush the passer and stop the run? You know what they say, keep it simple stupid.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
I’ve seen YaYa just about push his guy back into the QB so why not let an offensive lineman get a sack with his back. ?? Joe I know there’s some money to get what they want with another guaranteed amount. But no I don’t remember all but, Simeon Rice came from another team.