Getting Off The Ball Is A Nice Start
August 23rd, 2026
Git ’em.
Joe seems to recall KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles used to try to boost Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s confidence by telling the local pen and mic club JTS’s initial burst was pretty good.
But, something happened on the way to the quarterback.
So pardon Joe for gettng the shivers when Bowles was asked last night after the Bucs’ second worthless preseason game about the play of edge rushers YaYa Diaby and Rueben Bain rushing Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields.
“They were getting off the ball,” Bowles said. “It was exciting to see them get off the ball and [I was] happy to see them play.”
Yet, guess what? Just like JTS, no sacks. Oh, the Bucs did have sacks. Anthony Nelson had 1.5 sacks and Mohamed Kamara had the other half-sack.
Get-off is nice but the Bucs need results, not just a strong first-step.
To be fair, or to try to be fair, Joe thought YaYa was going to strip the ball from Fields. YaYa was right there and Bain was in Fields’ face, a slip-second away from splashing Fields all over the turf of The Licht House.
But no, it’s not about the first step. It’s about the last step with the quarterback lying on the ground.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:04 am
In fairness…Jittery Justin Fields is tough to sack given his running ability and skittish behavior when the rush gets close.
When I saw Bain drop into coverage…it felt like the Buc FanBase may as well drop their slacks. Bain did have a quick pressure afterwards to ease the pain a little at least.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:06 am
Is it just me or did it seem that Bain was driving back more than rushing?!
Disclaimer: Watching on my phone at a soccer tourney.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:07 am
*dropping back
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 am
Bain will get home several times this season…don’t worry.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:12 am
Joe please keep in mind he is a rookie, not ALL Pro, quite yet. I don’t think he is even close to being TS.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:14 am
Nelson was like a little kid in a candy store last night, feasting. As you knew he would be.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:14 am
Yaya is a #2 rusher he is who he is
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:21 am
Small sample size, Joe. YaYa will lead team in sacks. Buccaneers have held teams to 16 and 15 points.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:24 am
Ya know who had a million close, but not quites? David Walker.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:26 am
Wasteful insight/opinion on this article. We care more about facts than what you think. Never remember hearing JTS dominate in practice or the game. Pass rush looked strong from yesterday’s game. Shaq and JPP dropped into coverage as well . Next…
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:35 am
I can tell Bain is gonna be a beast…..so glad he was there for us at 15…..like someone said, the other 14 teams thats passed on him will def regret it!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:36 am
Idk joe, seeing Bain toss the 320 lbs tackle looked a lot like Reggie White. I think this kid is going to be OK
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:37 am
A lax evaluation on a “worthless” preseason game lol
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:38 am
Positive energy is a thing that helps Bucs win.
Three in a row. Exciting stuff.
Go Bucs.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:39 am
He will be a great addition and if the DL can still healthy maybe make the DB’s look good
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:47 am
Bain played 8 freaking snaps, his first and only ones of the preseason. Get out of here with the JTS comparison. He needs time to ramp up – just like every HOF defender the Bucs have in their ROH did. Not a single one of them came out out in their first game looking like a lock for Canton.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:48 am
we’ve been through alot noah spence, JTS, Braswell
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:49 am
Why are my posts in Moderation?
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:49 am
What a ridiculous “article “
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:55 am
Yeah, ^^^ its about time we hit on one….and i think the Football Gods showed mercy on us this time around, lol.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:58 am
Got lucky this year to where Bain fell in their laps and they didn’t have to make a decision. They would have screwed up again.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:03 am
Some of you talk about the Bucs like I talk about my ex lol
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:04 am
firethecannons Says:
we’ve been through alot noah spence, JTS, Braswell
*********************
It’s a league wide problem. NFL teams find it tough to find pass rushers who can get home if they’re drafting late in the first round and beyond. Since 2021 only 5 players drafted at pick 32 (JTS’ draft slot) and later have averaged 6 sacks a year in their careers. Diaby is one of them.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:07 am
The only reason Braswell has not been released is possible injuries before the final 53 .
He gone !
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:10 am
I think they don’t want injuries before the season. I don’t want Bain hurt either, the real games are coming soon, then it’s time to really play !!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:11 am
Hey AquaBum, why don’t you just come out and say how much you miss your ex. We wont care, just like us real bucs fans don’t care about those fairweather fans.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:18 am
Who doesn’t miss their ex? Ami the only one!!??
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:21 am
Hey Joes
I think your intern Moderator running the joint this morning is having a GenZ brunch and slacking off on the weekend job here
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:21 am
Nope. I miss your ex too.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:30 am
Joe is such a troll you never saw jts toss a 320lbs guy on his way to the QB hated to see Bain drop into coverage but it did bring a chuckle to see Bain blow up a tightend lol.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:32 am
I guarantee he will get 7 sacks and 15 TFL.
I guarantee he will have 2 FF. At least. And I’m also predicting 1 INT.
He is all over the field.
He will shut down his edge.
We just need corners who will attacks ball carriers.
If our corners can tackle, we will have a nasty defense.
Just a reminder. Anzalone is 6-3.
He’s tall AF. He’s very long.
He’s the tallest LB I’ve seen for the Bucs since Alshermond Singleton his giraffe neck. He was 6-2.
Ànd à quick shoutout to Jeff Gooch too.
Gone but never forgotten.
And RIP Geno Hayes.
Teacherman is a very loyal fan. Born in 1983. Same year Bo Jackson couid have been a Buccaneer.
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:41 am
Tampa2ATL Says:
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:21 am
Nope. I miss your ex too.
He really was an outstanding dude. Glad you two boys hit it off
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:48 am
Tampa2ATL. I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who chuckled with that one. Good job!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:50 am
Do you guys remember when they didn’t fire toilet bowls?
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:52 am
Wow . The dude plays a handful of snaps and looks more impressive than anyone we’ve had for a couple years and you blow him up. This Joe needs a vacation or maybe write for another team . It’s one thing to be objective but you never have a good thing to say.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:52 am
Bain’s getting a lot of press for sure. Just found a YouTube video of every play he was in on last night. He held his own, except on the 2nd play he was in on (got drawn inside on a fake, but KC ran outside … where he was supposed to be providing contain). Doubt that he’ll make that mistake again.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:54 am
Tampa2ATL. My, how the tables have turned. AquaBum masterfully turned those tables on you. Bravo AquaBum, I laughed so hard old Junebug’s jumped down off the porch, and she’s looking all bug-eyed at me!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:54 am
What part of “outside linebacker “ makes anyone think that position won’t / shouldn’t drop into short pass coverage situations? When Bain or Diaby drop it’s a normal thing in a 3-4-4 defense. Now they shouldn’t be having to cover 20+ yards downfield. Having Vea or Roberts drop back is just getting too cute and outsmarting yourself.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Why would they fire Bowles? He hasn’t had good players on defense since 2021. Just now, he finally has something to work with again. If the offense stays healthy and plays like 2024 and the defense looks like 2020 again, this team will be really, really good.
Why not? Injuries have held us back enough now.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Players in short zones that end up covering 20 yards downfield are simply chasing a receiver that caught a ball in their zone and ran away. Rewind the tape and look again. Besides, every defensive player should be sprinting to the ball on every play to gang tackle!
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Joe! Come on! Put some sugar and water in that lemon juice you are selling!!
Six snaps is a ridiculously small sample size, and they were not all pass rush snaps.
Averaging one sack in 18 pass rush snaps is elite All Pro Hall of Fame territory.
And that is comparison is further distorted by only including the first two drives of the first quarter – sacks happen more frequently when teams rolling dice late in the second quarter just before halftime and when they are in desperation mode trying to come from behind in the fourth quarter.
A sack in six total snaps? To expect a sack in six total snaps, dumb luck aside, you are expecting the guy to be Leroy Selmon, Dewey Selmon, Simeón Rice, Warren Sapp, Shaq Barrett and JPP all rolled into the same guy.
BUT,,, you did get comments – you sent electrons are scurrying across the Internet, and that drives revenue! I suppose Joe has a Great Big Grin!
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
DR. Had to rewatch Bain highlights. These last 3 years I’ve often wondered why, when our defenders have the chance to flatten a receiver within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, and they don’t do it.
I wrote it off to “old school football”. Did you see Bain peel off the line of scrimmage with that tight end and just blew his a$$ up 3 yards into his route?
I sure like old school football.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Kenton, we gotta keep it fun in here – we’re all rooting for the same team
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:20 pm
LouisFriend Says: “Bain played 8 freaking snaps, his first and only ones of the preseason. Get out of here with the JTS comparison. ”
Exactly!
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Billlbuc Says: “Wow . The dude plays a handful of snaps and looks more impressive than anyone we’ve had for a couple years and you blow him up. This Joe needs a vacation or maybe write for another team.”
Exactly!
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Jay,
Exactly. Remember the season when Shaq had 19.5 sacks, he also dropped back in coverage that season. All teams do it. In fact, when Shaq had an INT against the Rams from dropping back in coverage (in that almost 100 point affair), everyone was ecstatic and no one said sh!t about it then. I agree with everything you said here.
And Preseason aren’t “worthless” either. That’s a blanket statement anyways and blanket statements usually aren’t true regardless. It’s like the always or never, this or that crowd, when there’s a whole realm in between for distinction.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:35 pm
I’ve been rooting for my Bucs since 1978. I believe this Bucs defense is the best years Defense is the best of all time on paper. This defense will only get better week to week as the build more trust with each other. It’s all up to Baker. If Baker doesn’t win at least one playoff game then it’s time to move on and save all that money for other players and give the torch to Daniel’s.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Alligator arms is already a bust. Bowles will make sure of that.
All we will hear this season is about pressures, not sacks.
And without sacks the thin as paper CB core will get torched.
Game one will be an 82-10 route.
“Just gotta git betta” – Todd Bowles
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Jeez calm down Joe. They only played 2 damn series. You expect them to get a sack every down?!
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:40 pm
The ice cream lovers on here love when a DL gets off quick!
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:02 pm
I never saw Braswell last night. Did he play. I know I never heard his name. He is not in the box score which is nothing new.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Let’s do some math here. A good sack season is what say 12 sacks for the season. That means. Still 5 games with no sacks even for a good seasoned pro. So they had 2 series and and how many drop backs? Sacks are like hope can’t depend on them especially with a quality qb. I’m not downgrading sacks. let’s just be realistic here. That’s like Lovie just focusing on turnovers. Let’s be real. It’s all worthless. Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Joe says preseason games are meaningless…
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:09 pm
I’m not worried about the starters in any way except injuries. And we’re good so far on that front. (no jinx)
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:14 pm
insane in the mem-bain
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:18 pm
bucswin:
good sack season: 8
stellar sack season: 10……double digits
top tier sack season: 12 or more…..top qb hunters in league
15 or more…….leading the league
10 is the bar for a big sack season………..double digits
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:20 pm
I only seen him rush once in which he got to the QB. I did see he was put into coverage.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:44 pm
The TV broadcast replayed one play by David Walker that looked incredible! It was a spin move on the left tackle. He blew by him to put pressure on the QB. Using that move, DW51 will blow by almost any tackle!! It was very encouraging!! He is quick!!!