The Anthony Nelson Surge
January 9th, 2022
Streaking!
Last year, Anthony Nelson got a shot to replace Shaq Barrett for a game and was thoroughly unimpressive.
This year, it’s been a very different story when Nelson has gotten a shot.
Today, Nelson notched his fifth sack of the season and led the team with two tackles for loss. The third-year man, a fourth-round pick in 2019, finished with five sacks in his final seven games. Nelson is stout against the run, and he very much outplayed rookie first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka down the stretch.
Take a bow, Jason Licht.
Nelson is no Pro Bowler, but he is dangerous with his long arms and he seems to be a much more sure tackler than Tryon Shoyinka. At this point, Nelson has become dangerous down the stretch — not exactly something anyone could have/would have predicted for the Bucs defense.
Joe is impressed. More great development by outside linebackers coach Larry Foote.
The Bucs will need spark off the edge when they face better quarterbacks and offensive lines in the playoffs. Maybe Nelson will be that guy.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:11 pm
He just keeps putting in the work, and the results are showing that effort! Good on him and the coaches!
January 9th, 2022 at 8:11 pm
Gotta hand it to Licht, he is much better at drafting than the Teflon Dom
January 9th, 2022 at 8:12 pm
Any idea what happened to our run defense? Is it because tryon can’t hood contain or these guys are getting dominated upfront? We might need JPP back even injured. Tryon gotta do a better job holding the edge.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
It’s pretty amazing. The guy had done nothing in his career, wasn’t even close to being a lock to make the roster, and ends the year on a hot streak, will have 5 sacks in very limited playing time.
Good for him.
Also good for the Bucs that he’s still on his rookie deal next year.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
As bad as injuries have hurt us this year, the next man up has been clutch in just about every position!
Naysayers be damned!
January 9th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
Nah francisco
Shaq and jpp should be back. Nelson and tryon takimg reps
Run defense will be way better.
Pass defense hopefully too
January 9th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
The record says it all!
January 9th, 2022 at 8:15 pm
Francisco Guzman Says:
January 9th, 2022 at 8:12 pm
Any idea what happened to our run defense?
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Most of the time, when I noticed it, it was Cam Gill getting ran over. Now, that’s just watching the TV angle and I wasn’t watching for it on every play, but every time I did notice someone looking lost, it was Gill.
Gill is mainly a pass rusher though, that’s a big reason why. Gill, in extremely limited playing time, always seems to be around the ball, but in the rush game, he’s getting exposed, bigly.
Trayon didn’t really show-up to me, either in a good way or a bad way. The kid is a rookie and didn’t play since 2019 before this year, so I’m not too worried about him in the long run, but they need Shaq and JPP back, badly.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Tryon is a speed rusher often times to his detriment. It is going to take time for him to develop and learn to be more efficient with that talent. A talent he is be patient.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:29 pm
Nelson does not have Tryon’s speed but is developing and using his experience to get better and better! Hats off to him!
January 9th, 2022 at 8:30 pm
At the beginning of the year I was concerned about our depth. I am now longer concerned as it appears that the “Next Man Up” is working brilliantly and I give our coaches a ton of credit for getting out 2nd and 3rd team players ready to play.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Rod Munch yes Cam Gill but Tryon was getting run at much of the day and was being pushed out of the play almost excusively.
It really looks like Tryon is a major liability against the run and an area for offenses to exploit. I like our chanses a lot better if we can get healthy enough to use Tryon as a parttimer
January 9th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
I hear all our defenders should be back for the Eagles.
Sure, JPP will be playing on one shoulder, but I can not imagine him not playing.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Didn’t know Larry Foote was out LB coach, that’s what’s up
January 9th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
lunchmeat Says:
January 9th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
I hear all our defenders should be back for the Eagles.
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I seriously doubt David is back, but hope so.
Shaq being back sounded very 50/50 last time I heard. I hope he’s back, but again, not sure it’s a sure-thing.
JPP, I’d guess, will be back – should help a lot vs the Eagles running the ball.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Making money!
He has worked hard and understands the game now
January 9th, 2022 at 8:42 pm
JimmyJack – I disagree. Tryon most of the time is blitzing, he’s not doing much against the run, but with Gill, I literally saw him just getting juked out of place multiple times. Tryon might be getting blocked, but at least that’s man-on-man, with Gill, he was even blocked, was little just getting ran by. If JPP is back, that should sure up the rush defense on at least one side of the field.
January 9th, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Nelson has been playing better and better. He also seems to be inthe right place when its his job to drop back in coverage.
January 9th, 2022 at 9:32 pm
Absolutely. Nelson has been playing pretty good. JTS is going to be good I but has some work to do.
January 9th, 2022 at 9:45 pm
Nelson is developing very nicely. I believe JTS will develop with time like Nelson. We were expecting him to split time with JPP and the rookie has been thrown into a Bucs team destroyed by injury all year.
January 9th, 2022 at 10:19 pm
What is great is he doesn’t run so fast he passes the tackle.
January 9th, 2022 at 10:27 pm
JTS Just Too Small. Waste of a draft pick.
January 10th, 2022 at 12:23 am
*Remembers the times when Joe referred to Nelson as a “J.A.G.” Not that he’s a pro bowler, but since given an ample opportunity definitely more than a J.A.G. Robert Ayers, now that’s a J.A.G.
January 10th, 2022 at 12:24 am
HC Grover Says:
January 9th, 2022 at 10:27 pm
6’5″ 260 lbs.
Look around the league for edge players DE/LB in a 3-4 scheme… then get back to us about his size.
Also, I think the scouts and front office know a little better than a commenter on JBF. The guy just needs to learn how to harness his physical talent and use his power… We’ve seen it at times, for sure. He’s a rookie ferkreissake.
January 10th, 2022 at 10:56 am
JTS too small lol
The guy is literally the perfect size for a DE.
He is super raw so please give the guy time.
He was the 32nd pick for a reason.
I’m 100% confident he will succeed with time.