Could YaYa Diaby Be Closing In On A Benchmark Season?
December 6th, 2025
Inching towards 10 sacks.
Five Bucs games remain in the regular season. Who knows if there will be meaningful January football?
It’s also difficult to believe the regular season ends next month. When Joe types “next month,” it feels more immediate.
Last week YaYa Diaby had a sack of Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Two weeks ago when the Rams sealclubbed the Bucs in Los Angeles, YaYa had one of the very few Bucs highlights of the game by sacking Rams quarterback Matt Stafford.
So that’s two games in a row the Bucs had the same edge rusher get a sack. Tomorrow, Joe fully expects to see a hog fly.
Unsurprisingly, yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles waved off any significance of an edge rusher getting a sack. Of course he did, but he did praise YaYa.
“I think he’s been playing well for the past few weeks,” Bowles said.
YaYa now has six sacks this season — with five games left to play.
Might YaYa become one of the rarest of rare birds, to be a Bucs edge rusher drafted by the team who gets double-digit sacks?
Sadly, YaYa has two things working against him. The first is a Bowles’ edge rusher getting double-digit sacks. The second would be Bucs’ history.
In the 50 years of the franchise, since the very first draft pick of the Bucs, Lee Roy Selmon, you can count on one hand how many edge rushers this team has drafted who later had a double-digit sack season with Tampa Bay — and still have fingers left over.
Damn right Joe wants to see YaYa get double-digit sacks. Joe just thinks it’s a major uphill climb.
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December 6th, 2025 at 2:07 am
I think he gets 2 this week and 1 against tua. That leaves 1 for kirk and Bryce x2. Manning that would be awesome!
December 6th, 2025 at 2:44 am
I’m saying this and he’s one of my favorite players but it’s sad he’s the best we’ve got because he only gets hustle sacks and all he has is a bull rush zero pass rush moves just a quicker more athletic Anthony Nelson. It’s insane not one of these guys will pay to work with Simeon Rice or anyone in the offseason. Double digits isn’t going to put him in a different category than he was in last year because he isn’t a #1
December 6th, 2025 at 2:51 am
Would love to see YaYa get 10 or more sacks, and I think it’s possible. Getting 4 sacks in 5 games isn’t unheard of, and YaYa’s been playing at a very high level lately. Maybe getting Reddick back has helped?
December 6th, 2025 at 3:11 am
That would be awesome if he could get double digit sacks, but Bowles will probably have him play coverage most of the games….
December 6th, 2025 at 4:11 am
Rooting for YaYa. He is still young and has been doing pretty well this season. Thinking too, he can do it.
December 6th, 2025 at 6:07 am
Any chance we get Kancy back by the Panthers game Joe?
December 6th, 2025 at 6:22 am
Diaby is a nice complimentary player aside a game wrecker. He’s not a game wrecker.
Jared verse is a game wrecker and he was had at 18.
Barton and Kancey were somewhere in the ball park.
Licht saw it with wirfs and got up there. Gotta do the same with a defensive stud.
December 6th, 2025 at 7:28 am
YaYa missed more than 10 makeable sacks this year. Reddick is rubbish.
December 6th, 2025 at 7:29 am
He has a third thing working against him: all the Velcro on his uniform. He can’t shed a blocker.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Ya Ya struggles with shedding a block, once he masters that, he will be a beast. As for Hassan Reddick, he does not give maximum effort. He gives up on plays. I’m so done with these players who becomes an enemy of the word hustle. I watched Ted Johnson n he consistently gives 100 percent. Emeka started off fast but I’m now starting to question his effort. Bucky gives 120 percent n puts his entire body on the line for the team. Cade Otton is below mediocre on effort. Can’t wait for next year for David Walker to recover because this guys hustles with maximum effort to the 5th power.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:28 am
Been one of my favorites this season. Him and tykee
December 6th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Wait, Reddick is back? Didn’t notice.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:32 am
dmatt
So you’re saying most of those players you listed aren’t “That Man”?
So much for Bud Licht’s “Culture”
December 6th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Ravens are reportedly going to let TE Isaiah Likely go to free agenncy after giving Mark Andrews a contract extension. Likely is just 25 and a far better TE than any we have. I’m assuming next year we have a different OC that knows how to use a TE.
Baker would have a great outlet option that he doesn’t have with Otton. When Tom Brady wants you to wear gloves, you have a problem with reliable pass catching.
YAYA would fit in great in a simpler 4-3 defense. Get a new DC, bump Todd to full time Head Coach, and get another EDGE and another linebacker, preferably in free agency.
The future is now!
December 6th, 2025 at 9:30 am
He has to be able to rush the passer, not drop in coverage.
December 6th, 2025 at 9:36 am
“Almost Diaby “ will not get 10 I say in the last 5 he will get 1
December 6th, 2025 at 9:37 am
jcscycles … ‘YAYA would fit in great in a simpler 4-3 defense. Get a new DC, bump Todd to full time Head Coach, and get another EDGE and another linebacker, preferably in free agency.’
I applaud your solution, but I think it’d take THREE new linebackers to make it work. That cupboard is pretty bare right now.
December 6th, 2025 at 9:50 am
With Reddick in all Yaya needs is Kancey back to definitely get to 10 sacks. Is very possible then.
December 6th, 2025 at 11:11 am
From what I can remember YAYA had clear path to the QB. Blocking did not pick him up. No fault of his but did not bust through blockers to get to him. Those are pass rushers. It’s a shame we don’t have one.
December 6th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Defense Rules Says:
December 6th, 2025 at 9:37 am
I applaud your solution, but I think it’d take THREE new linebackers to make it work. That cupboard is pretty bare right now.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Probably. And if we get a linebacker in Round 1 – hopefully Sonny Stiles from Ohio State – then get two in Free Agency. Dennis might actually play better in a 4-3 on the outside.
He has too much responsibility in our 3-4 and overthinks. Although, he has improved some this year.
Need to buy a good edge somewhere. Miles Garrett wants to go to a contender, but the cost might be too steep for Licht!
December 6th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
Who are the players the Bucs drafted with double digit sacks in a season?
Lee Roy Selmon
Broderick Thomas
Chidi Ahonotu
Warren Sapp
Marcus Jones
December 6th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Not all of them were Edge rushers. Only Lee Roy, Marcus and Chidi
December 6th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Like Yaya as our #2 Edge, and it’s not his fault when he misses sacks while covering opposing teams best passing option.
We are lacking a top Edge, as Braswell has yet to shock the planet and Reddick isn’t even on Sweats level.
So why not pair Diaby with JPP on some passing downs for the Playoffs
December 7th, 2025 at 6:42 am
@Simeon
Keep banging that drum brother. Actually I’d take darn near anybody with some experience and a Very Nasty disposition when it comes to o linemen..
We’re All So Desperate for some gm to take it seriously that an affordable LEGEND with something left to prove sounds Great right about yesterday. We’ll even take a guy TODAY! Why not? Sign JPP up Licht!