Haason Reddick’s Day To Shine
September 7th, 2025
Unknown stenographer from BSPN expects a Haason Reddick breakout.
If Bucs outside linebacker/edge rusher Haason Reddick wants to prove to the world how 2024 was a fluke for his career, today is the day to do it.
Reddick is expected to go against backup Dixie Chicks tackle Elijah Wilkinson, starting today for injured Atlanta right tackle Kaleb McGary. Per an unknown stenographer with the four-letter, Wilkinson is about as bad a pass-blocking tackle as one can find in the NFL.
Joe found that funny because heralded Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution spoke on WDAE Radio this week about how Wilkinson is a much better pass blocker than run blocker.
This is the first test to see what Reddick has left in the tank after his lost year with the Jets. It should be an easy one to clear.
… The last time Wilkinson played tackle was in 2021. And over the course of more than 1,300 snaps at tackle between 2019 to 2021, Wilkinson recorded a 73% pass block win rate. That mark would have ranked last among qualifying tackles in 2024.
Reddick, who recorded double-digit sacks in every season from 2020 to 2023, held out for the first six weeks of 2024 due to a contract dispute with the Jets. After returning, he recorded just one sack and a career-low 12% pass rush win rate over 10 games. If Reddick finds a way back to his old form, he should have no problem beating Wilkinson and being a real threat to Michael Penix Jr. But if he can’t produce, this game could be a rough sign for the rest of the Reddick’s season.
Well, the key here is Bucs head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. He doesn’t value an edge rush. Or at least he doesn’t value it like the rest of the NFL does.
Bowles loves to see his edge rushers pretend they are safeties and his safeties pretend they are Bruce Smith. This cockamamie philosophy, Joe believes, is exactly why the Bucs, since Bowles arrived in Tampa in 2019, has had a pass defense ranked in the 20s for passing yards allowed every year but one.
So the moral to the story is, Reddick cannot get one sack if Bowles doesn’t send him after Michael Penix. If Reddick sits back in pass coverage, it’s awfully hard to rack up sacks.
September 7th, 2025 at 2:38 am
Man – its like you let Aqualung ghost-write the last 4 paragraphs….
How do so many (including Jose apparently) forget so quickly what it was like to suffer with a TRULY bad defense. Not just bad but passive…. The 5 years that “the Smith’s” were in charge of the Buccaneers defense were literally damaging to the soul….
Todd’s worst year running the defense since he replaced those bozos 6 years ago was last year. When the injury bug bit so hard that he was having to work with the likes of Britt, Funderburk, Hayes and Merriweather as starters for multiple games. Yet still managed a #16 ranking overall defensively for the season (points against – the only defensive stat that truly matters).
Lovie and Mikey would have LOVED to have had a 16th ranked defense at any point while they were here – they’de have been popping champagne to achieve middle of the pack status defensively….
Just sayin…..
It not a big stretch to get from 16th last year to 10th or better in 2025.
Winfield and Dennis being healthy will make a huge difference. We’ve added great depth at CB and yes – we paid Reddick a pretty handsome sum to get us 10 or more sacks off the Edge. So lets Git-R-Done. Let’s get to the playoffs then Make a RUN!
A top 5 or even top 10 offense combined with a top 10 defense makes the Buccaneers legit contenders. These are the good times folks. Act like it!
September 7th, 2025 at 2:42 am
Hell I think he dropped Vita into coverage last year! SMH!
September 7th, 2025 at 2:44 am
Let’s let the HC call his defense and see what happens but with that being said, the very thought of seeing Reddick drop back into coverage instead of doing what he does best and what he was brought here to do, influence the outcome of a pass play by pressuring the QB or putting him flat on his *SS, makes me sick to my stomach. GO BUCS!!
September 7th, 2025 at 3:29 am
Todd will be Todd unless he really has “adjusted” as he said he would a while back. I would be sending waves of Reddick, Diaby and Braswell on that side…keep fresh legs in there.
September 7th, 2025 at 4:36 am
All off season I’ve been hearing the players and coaches preach about how aggressive they want to be, so it’s been a point of emphasis for them. But I have a bad feeling we are going to see more passive football. Whatever happens today I, at the very least, want to be walking away from this game thinking, “DAMN! The Bucs are aggressive this year!”
September 7th, 2025 at 5:05 am
@pickgrin,you are right!Joe sounds just like Waterboy ,with that bs!Come on Joe,do better!!
September 7th, 2025 at 5:09 am
The Jets were all over the place when Reddick was there. So much hidden drama too. He has found his place with the Bucs and I think he will do very well today.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:15 am
Reddick might not be much of a factor at all. If Wilkinson is as bad as you say, then it would be borderline criminal for the Falcons not to give him massive amounts of help. Feast Ya Ya!
September 7th, 2025 at 6:17 am
This will be a tough game for any defensive player to rack up sacks. Atlanta is a run first offense and everything they do goes through Bijan. Their passing game against the Bucs will most likely be dink and dunk until our D can prove this team can cover the middle of the field. Even Pitt’s will get some work today if he can find holes in our zone D. Go Bucs!
September 7th, 2025 at 6:30 am
🙂
September 7th, 2025 at 7:02 am
The table is set. How hungry is he?
September 7th, 2025 at 7:07 am
I agree with Lieutenant Dan
Sounds like Reddick will be double teamed and if that’s the case, I expect big things from KANCEY and YAYA
September 7th, 2025 at 8:02 am
He’ll have 1/2 a tackle today. Atlanta’s third string right tackle will dominate the washed up Reddick. Reddick finishes the season with 2 sacks total in a part time role.
September 7th, 2025 at 8:14 am
@Pickgrin
WELL DONE!
As for Reddick, yes it APPEARS he should feast but if bloggers in Tampa see that obvious problem do we not believe the Falcons Defensive Coaches see it and have planned for it?
Bottom line for me is I just want Reddick to be effective whatever that means I’m not worried about “numbers” or stats from Reddick.
If the Falcons D coaches send a lot of help to neutralize what is obviously a challenging situation for them, that frees other guys to beast!!! If Reddick consistently draws double teams and the other guys get the sacks I say give Reddick some credit there.
September 7th, 2025 at 8:31 am
I’m still hanging out with the “optimistic but skeptical” crowd.
Judging by the draft alone, I’d say the front office and coaching staff were serious when they talked about wanting to be more aggressive on defense this year. Ballhawks, etc…
A lot of our defensive veterans have also talked about the emphasis that’s been placed on it during the off-season.
But, the head coach has a stubborn streak and is on record as saying he doesn’t think an edge rush is that important.
We’ll find out in a couple of hours…
September 7th, 2025 at 9:21 am
Why sign Reddick if you are not going to use him off the edge? Pass coverage once in awhile but let the man rush the qb. Thats his strong suit. Interesting to see what Bowles calls for reddick.
September 7th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Just HR5 ‘s presence on the line should draw a double team. This should provide ample opportunity for VV50, YD0, and CK94 to feast. If the Buc’s can stop or significantly slow down Atlanta’s run game things should be fun for Bucs fans!
September 7th, 2025 at 9:42 am
Most people believe Atlanta will emphasize the run game considering their O line situation. If they come out like the LA Chargers did, against KC Chiefs, I sure hope to Todd Bowles has an answer. This should be a good test if the revamped D!
September 7th, 2025 at 9:53 am
These Division games are dawg fights, no matter what! Right on, Pickgrin! Joes need to hire DR, and pay the man. His analyses are spot on. I’m glad we also added a punter. Hope this turns out to be a good day in Hotlanta.
September 7th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Joe wrote,
“Bowles loves to see his edge rushers pretend they are safeties and his safeties pretend they are Bruce Smith. This cockamamie philosophy, Joe believes, is exactly why the Bucs, since Bowles arrived in Tampa in 2019, has had a pass defense ranked in the 20s for passing yards allowed every year but one.”
Aqualung’s job is done for the day.
September 7th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Are people not allowed to have an opinion unless its all sunshine and rainbows? Despite what some of you think, facts show the defense has been trash. You can also see that with your own eyes. Bowles is a garbage HC until he proves he is not and no winning the worst division in football does not prove anything other than you are slightly better than the rest of the trash heap in the division.
September 7th, 2025 at 11:16 am
If he doesn’t get a sack today there is a problem.
September 7th, 2025 at 11:25 am
In order for the Bucs pass rush to get shots at Penix, the Falcons need to throw the ball, and I don’t think they’re going to risk their starting QB’s health like that first game of the season. I think the Falcons are going to feed the ball to Bijan most of the game and hope they can keep the game close going into the 4th quarter.
September 7th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Its.over bro..Todd dropping your d lineman worked back on the day for a little while. As long as you didn’t do it on every obvious passing situation ion. Jow it’s clear and easy to gameplay for a rb to be matched up on vita via or Yaya. STOP IT. Bradqells head is still spinning and he’s stuck thinking instead of just playing. They can’t do it well. They are not corners. Stop