Time To Pressure
November 20th, 2025
Quick.
Just because you are quick doesn’t mean you can put a quarterback on the ground.
Regular readers know what Joe thinks of pressures. They’re “almost-sacks.” As in the only two things that count with “almost” are horseshoes and hand grenades.
Joe always goes to war with people who hoist quarterback pressures as something meaningful. Joe thinks they are failures. As always, good quarterbacks are not affected by pressures.
(Did pressure bother Josh Allen last Sunday? Or Drake Maye the previous weekend?)
Anyway, Joe brings this up because Doug Analytics shows the quickest edge rushers in the NFL. Problem is, just because one is quick off the snap doesn’t mean he will get a sack.
The quickest guy off the snap is Abdul Carter. Giants fans are already freaking out how he only has a half-sack. Giants fans have not forgotten how he wanted Lawrence Taylor’s number.
At No. 12 on this list of the fastest guys to wave hello to quarterbacks is Bucs outside linebacker YaYa Diaby. It takes him an average of 2.5 seconds to get in the vicinity of quarterbacks.
But, sadly, for whatever reason, YaYa isn’t able to finish the deal. Baby steps, Joe guesses.
You can see the full list below. No other Bucs’ pass rusher is on the list. Yeah, Joe too is shocked Chris Braswell didn’t make it.
How fast are the top pass rushers pressuring the QB? pic.twitter.com/gAZDtOmiY6
— Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) November 19, 2025
November 20th, 2025 at 4:07 am
All I want for Christmas is a consistent 4 man pass rush who put the opposing QBs on their butt.
I just don’t understand why Todd and Jason were content to go into this year with such limited talent at edge with poor or unproven depth.
November 20th, 2025 at 4:27 am
Welcome back Lee ! This team and you have gone haywire ….
November 20th, 2025 at 5:00 am
back to simeon’s training camp for yaya
November 20th, 2025 at 5:18 am
‘Joe always goes to war with people who hoist quarterback pressures as something meaningful. Joe thinks they are failures.’
Joe you’re starting to remind me of a matador. Hop into the ring waving a giant red flag to p1ss off the poor young bulls yelling ‘Ole, ole’. Then you go find another ring of young bulls to p1ss off while the first one swirls in a heated frenzy.
Pressures are useful IF they ultimately lead to something. I’m fascinated with Denver’s defense this year. DC Vance Joseph has built an awesome defense out there that’s the primary reason for Denver’s 9-2 record right now. They have far-and-away the most sacks of any team (49 sacks in 11 games), with 16 players having at least a half sack (but no one’s reached 10 yet). But then when you look at their pressures, they also lead the NFL in that category (138 pressures in 11 games).
Kinda makes one wonder if the two might go hand-in-hand?
o Denver’s 5 OLBs have 20 sacks & 56 pressures.
o Denver’s 6 DT/DEs have 17 sacks & 56 pressures.
o Denver’s 4 LBs have 5.5 sacks & 15 pressures.
o Denver’s 5 CBs have 4 sacks & 5 pressures (all by 1 CB).
o Denver’s 4 Safeties have 2.5 sacks & 6 pressures.
Wow, the VAST majority of Denver’s sacks & pressures are coming from their DLine & OLBs DOING THEIR JOB (yes they run a 3-4 defense). Apparently LBs, CB & Safeties are used mostly to provide Pass Defense? What a concept. Their Run Defense ranks #4 (allowing 8 TDs & 3.6 YPC average). Their Pass Defense ranks #5 (allowing 9 TDs & 4.9 YPP average). They’re #1 in the NFL in 3rd Down Conversion Percentage Allowed (a very stingy 28.9%) as well as being #1 in Red Zone TD Percentage Allowed (a meager 35.7%).
Hmmm, maybe Todd could learn something from how Joseph’s running his 3-4 defense out in the Mile-High city.
November 20th, 2025 at 5:28 am
“Did pressure bother Josh Allen last Sunday?”
I do not recall seeing any…
November 20th, 2025 at 5:39 am
DR, as always you are on the money. People calling for a 4-3 defense don’t get it. It is Todd’s SCHEME THAT IS THE PROBLEM!
Put PLAYERS IN POSITION TO SUCCEED, not to fail.
Don’t have an OLB who is 6’8″ 280 lbs chasing a freaking WR or a RB who has 4.4 speed, or your DT covering a TE. You are correct Todd, no one would expect that! Todd and his ego. Todd, why don’t you drop your entire Dline into coverage and rush all your DBs? That will shock them as they celebrate the TD they just scored.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:03 am
I don’t know how often Diaby/Nelson/PASS RUSHERS are in coverage, but it’s too much. Yes, Diaby would have more sacks if he rushed full time.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:33 am
The Bucs continue to build their 4 man pass rush on hope, wishful thinking and stats like these.
Oh Diaby is explossive and powerful he will figure it out.
Oh Braswell is taking steps in the right direction he will improve.
Oh Reddick will find his old self.
You dont build a strong physical and winning Defense with wishes and belief.
Sorry but if Diaby has not figure it out by year 3 then he is not a starting Edge player. At least not for a team that has SB aspirations.
Sorry but Braswell does not look like he can contribute in the sack department.
Sorry but Reddick does not remind us his old self even before he was injured.
Big mistakes by the front office and the coaching. Big mistakes.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:33 am
Bowles and Jason Licht have failed miserably in this category. And they should be called out on it every single day. I can still remember Licht saying how Braswell is going to break out big time this year. This team has problems. Big problems.
We have a HC /DC who genuinely SUCKS at his job. What he is good at is blowing smoke up the butt’s of all of us. Actually he sucks at that too. When this season is mercilessly over Jason Licht has some serious explaining to do. He’s made HUGE mistakes. Resigning Godwin to that ridiculous contract when everybody knew except Licht and Bowles apparently that his career is trending downwards big time. That’s just one of many decisions (and lack of decisions) these guys have made. As some people say….It’s a Bucs life.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:34 am
Diaby is simply not going to be the player that everyone hoped he’d be. There’s enough tape. Same with Braswell. Same with SVD.
Lack of pass rush requires more blitzes. Blitzes leave the Defense exposed.
Dropping DEs and OLBs into coverage works when unexpected; maybe once a game.
When it’s predictable, teams exploit it like James Cook did. A middle school OC could have called that play.
November 20th, 2025 at 6:51 am
Uh yeah Josh Allen threw a pick on a pressure.. They aren’t sacks but obviously they can affect a play.