The Challenges Facing Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
January 27th, 2022
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka with one of his four sacks this season.
Was it an encouraging rookie season for the Buccaneers’ first-round draft pick, outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka?
An Xs and Os guru has weighed in with great perspective.
One guy watching every snap of Bucs football and studying Tampa Bay game film over the past 15 years or so is Dave Moore. He’s not just Joe’s insurance agent, Moore is the game analyst alongside Gene Deckerhoff on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
Moore does a fantastic job simplifying the complex, and this week he was asked about his confidence level in Tryon-Shoyinka and fellow veteran backup outside linebacker Anthony Nelson moving forward into the 2022 season.
Joe was listening as Moore described the challenges facing the rookie.
“We saw Tryon-Shoyinka, in the playoffs especially, show up and play well. And Anthony Nelson, pretty much down the stretch, he figured something out. The lightbulb went off in his head. He was in good position. He got sacks. He made tackles,” Moore told the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“The hardest thing with Tryon-Shoyinka is to let loose and do everything you can to get to the quarterback but not get yourself out of position. As a young guy that’s hard to do because if you’re thinking about your responsibility, you’re not playing 100 miles an hour. So you have to find that balance to be able to do that — make your best pass move to the quarterback but yet don’t lose your ultimate responsibility. And if that’s contain, you got to make sure that the quarterback stays inside of you all the time because once he gets outside pocket, there’s nobody out there because they’re all covering guys down the field.
“And then Anthony Nelson is a guy a I feel like he always has done a pretty good job of being where he’s supposed to be. But now he’s doing it a lot [more aggressively] when it comes to the pass rush stuff, and he’s able to bull rush guys and get around guys, you know, being 6-foot-7 and making plays.”
Moore went on to talk about the learning curve for Tryon-Shoyinka and how that can be more difficult at his position in a 3-4 defense versus in a 4-3.
Joe was very encouraged that Tryon-Shoyinka proved to be durable and versatile, though he was understandably raw at 22 years old after skipping a full college season because of The Sickness.
Whatever light bulb went on for Nelson this season, his third since being drafted by the Bucs, needs to go on for Tryon-Shoyinka in October or September.
The TAMPA TWO duo weigh in on the painful loss that was. Legend Derrick Brooks joins Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman for the dissection and discussion. More must-watch insight from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:22 am
Maybe if this kid puts it all together, then Todd Bowles won’t feel the need to blitz so much. We can hope, anyway.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:28 am
I understand that part of the OLB’s responsibility is to drop in coverage from time to time. However, for a rookie, I would argue that perhaps he needs to learn how to do one thing at a time first. We didn’t draft him to cover TEs and RBs. We drafted him to plant QBs in the grass.
Remove him on downs that drop the OLB in coverage, or have him switch sides. Let him develop his pass-rush.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:31 am
He needs an off-season of pro style training to improve his functional strength. He needs more power, he looks good but it’s cosmetic muscle.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:31 am
you mean how the rams DL rushed Brady with no regard to other responsibility because BL, BA or whoever cannot figure out how to slow down a pass rush with scheming.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:43 am
Hope this is not another in a long line of Licht busts
January 27th, 2022 at 10:43 am
Tryon-Shoyinka, Nelson and Gholston played a combined 45 snaps and registered 4 tackles and a TFL. Tryon-Shoyinka had 0 stats.
A 1 armed JPP had 62 snaps and registered 2 tackles and 1/2 sack .
Coaching decisions??
January 27th, 2022 at 10:43 am
Great take, completely agree
January 27th, 2022 at 10:50 am
Bucs win, I agree. At a minimum he needs to gain some functional strength. Time in the weight room. Now that kind of thing is often overrated, and a few notable players have done without, including our own JPP. But in general the best pass rushers are as strong as they are quick. Think of Garrett, Watt, and others who consistently win. Speed is only half of the equation. Strength is the other half.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:51 am
Dusthty Rhothdes Says:
January 27th, 2022 at 10:43 am
Hope this is not another in a long line of Licht busts
^^^^^^^^^^
Do you think Tristan Wirfs is a bust?
January 27th, 2022 at 10:51 am
The way, I’m not trying to imply that JPP is not strong. Quite obviously he is, but he’s never been known as a weight room guy. He just has great natural strength that I see lacking in the rookie. Therefore he needs to build it conventionally.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:52 am
Let him do what we got him for, rush the passer! They spent too much time dropping the guy back in coverage and weirdly having him play “spy” vs mobile QBs.
January 27th, 2022 at 10:54 am
Moore was a great player here and better analyst. I’ve always been a fan.
That said, he’s wrong here. Tryon is a bust in waiting. Plays like Jane. Check back after next season.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:02 am
Too early to say…missed his junior year I think
He appears to be lost out there which is understandable with the amount of football both in college and the NFL he has played…
January 27th, 2022 at 11:08 am
Tryon will be fine. Kids got talent. He’s a rookie. Hopefully he learned things this year M pretty sure he’s going to get slot of snaps next year
January 27th, 2022 at 11:13 am
So JTS got 4 sacks and 10 QB hits?
He only played 49% of the defensive snaps this season.
If he plays 100% he would have 8 sacks? Maybe more…
That’s a pretty decent season for a rookie who didn’t play at all in 2020.
He needs to add a little size and strength but I believe this guy has a bright future in Tampa.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:29 am
OJ Tryon aka Plan 9 from Outer Space. A busted #1 pick. Poor little feller.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:34 am
Well said. While people started getting down on him I kept thinking and saying he’s a rookie and it looks like he was tentative. In preseason he went all out and he showed what he can do. So I think he hit the nail on the head. He needs to be 100% going at the QB while maintaining his assignment and he did not look like he was doing both at the same time most this year. I think he’s going to be good, real good. It also look like he could use a little more strength but that will come.
Nelson definitely took a big jump up. That was great to see. He’s another one though that needs a little strength at the point of attack for the run
January 27th, 2022 at 11:36 am
Bradinator
As much as I would like Shaq and JTS to just go all out at the QB every play, they can’t. There are times when othets are going to blitz and they drop back. And then there is the fact that a lot of quarterbacks are very mobile so they have to contain the edge while rushing.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:40 am
Between these guys getting healthy and some of them maturing one more year; JTS, Nelson, Shaq, LVD, White and the DB’s, I expect a defense to take a big jump next year. The key is re-signing Gholston for the run along with Vea and Nacho, but will need to replace Suh.
Unless he takes a pay cut I don’t think he’s worth it anymore. They need to get a little youth there anyway.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Evidently Leftwich will be the next Head Coach for the Jags. They just fired Trent Baalke, their terrible GM. Leftwich made Baalke’s removal a precondition for accepting the job offer.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:51 am
Did he play Sunday? Didn’t see him.
January 27th, 2022 at 11:57 am
a lot of people have trouble saying his name…they get tongue tied or something…it’s actually simple once you say it enough tho…
so if he wants to become a household name he’s going to have to play a whole lot better…
at this point he reminds ma a little bit of a oj howard type – like is he really a football player type thing – or just an athlete or a model…
the media and announcers love to say his name – right or wrong – they love it – they want him to become a household name with a name like that…
it’s just one of those names – the name is built for success – now we just need the young man to follow suit…
jpp is likely gone, and shaq needs a force to balance him on the other end…it’s his time next year for sure…
yet we’ve gotta bring in a rush the qb specialist regardless…
oddly enough, jpp is a freak, and if he plays next year, wherever it may be, he will prove us all wrong with another 10+ sack jaw dropping performance – dude is simply a beast
January 27th, 2022 at 11:59 am
i wouldn’t at all be surprised if jpp somehow goes back to the giants for a year if healthy – that team just needs help period – and leadership
January 27th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
JTS is going to be just fine. He flashed early on, then opponents got the tape and he was a victim of the learning curve from then on. I thought he played really well at times, especially having taken a year off. Nelson’s progress was honestly unexpected and great to see. Just another example of how it can just take time and persistence developing guys.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Was there any team with a draft worse than the bucs?
January 27th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Jpp is done with bucs. Joe ,nelson time is here to step up as starters. Both played very good.
Gholston , suh can probably come back imo with vet friendly deal. Suh is accounted for $6m this year.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
If Gholston had that few snaps , he had to be hurt.
Dude is always a warrior.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:23 pm
Joe, Wirfs litteraly fell to the bucs it was a no brainer, but going after OJ, JTS, Bunting, Gay, etc have shown that Licht is lucky Brady came to Tampa or he would have been on the streets a few years ago with his crappy record of draft picks
January 27th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
He was a rookie that everybody knew was raw. That’s why he was available with the last pick in the 1st round. Plus, he didn’t play through the covid season in college. Historically, pass rushers don’t come out as rookies and light the world on fire.
No, he doesn’t look like a full time hand in the dirt player right now. I don’t think they did him any favors by lining him up at a DT position lots of times and trying to loop all the way around on stunts and twists. He learned nothing from those snaps.
He needs to bulk up a little and get some better counter moves. Calling him a bust after one season is idiotic. Pass rushers usually take at least two or three years to put it all together.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Nelson will never be anything but a good back up. Joe will be fine. How he approaches this offseason will be key. The Bucs won’t be able to draft a good pass rusher at #27. I’m thinking, they take JPP’s money, and Brates, and look for a good FA that can replace JPP. Suh’s salary needs to go for his younger replacement. Has to be a FA, ain’t drafting a stud DT at 27 either. This draft is deep at wide receiver, and Godwin’s future is up in the air, so we could find his replacement, and save a ton of money there. If we try to bring back all our FA’s again like we did last season, the results will be worse. We need new blood in the building. We need to get younger, so we can practice more. Our current group could barely make it to Sunday, let alone put in a good full week of practice regardless of what BA says.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Sandman Says:
January 27th, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Was there any team with a draft worse than the bucs?
^^^^^^^^^
It might be hard to judge after one year, with it being unknown what Trask and Hainsey are as NFL players.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka had a good year as a rookie. I am sure he has learned much and has had solid coaching to set him up for a stellar career. I expect Joe to bulk up some during this off season. I expect him to be our starter on the left side. I look for him to make a notable contribution and maybe attain the 10+ sack level in 2022.
He will remain listed as weighing 259 pounds for the remainder of his career with the Buccaneers. This will be in keeping with the franchise ‘s practice for all players. Once a guy makes the roster the public numbers are never changed.
January 27th, 2022 at 12:43 pm
What % of top 3 round picks can be considered to have ‘worked out’ ? I’ll bet it’s 50% or less
January 27th, 2022 at 1:00 pm
I’m not sure why people in here are being so hyper critical of a project edge we took with the last pick of the first round.
IDK why people are this mad about it. also don’t forget we had the last pick in every round. I know we are used to picking in the top ten or just outside of it but seriously guys come on.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:07 pm
I’d like to believe this guy is worthy of a first round pick. But, I was all wrong about OJ Howard. As the great Ian Hunter sang “once bitten twice shy”.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:30 pm
We can say the “jury is still out” on the past two drafts.
Of the nineteen guys selected in the drafts from 2015 through 2019, twelve are still on the roster. The twelve are Devin White, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Mike Edwards, Vita Vea, Ronald Jones, Carlton Davis, Alex Cappa, O.J. Howard, Chris Godwin, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet. The biggest busts could be argued to have been Vernon Hargreaves, Roberto Aguayo and Jameis Winston.
I’ll leave the number crunching to you, Beej, in order to arrive at a percentage.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
P.S. Those were the 19 people selected in the first three rounds.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
i was surprised to see bspn ranked our rookie class 31 out of 32. Hope they can all grow and step up.
January 27th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
David … ‘Unless he (Suh) takes a pay cut I don’t think he’s worth it anymore. They need to get a little youth there anyway.’
Totally agree with you about needing more youth on our DLine, but if Suh wants to come back (and he may not) I’d re-sign him in a heartbeat. He’s still playing at a high level IMO, and he did give us a decent year: 17 games, 763 def snaps (63%), 6 sacks, 7 QB knockdowns, 6 hurries, 7 TFL & 27 tackles (15 of them solo). That’s actually better numbers than what Vea did in 2021 (and he only gave us 56% def snaps with 4 sacks). And oh ya, Vea’s new 4-year contract calls for almost $18 mil per year. And since Bucs are drafting #27 this year, and desperately need a OLB/DE to replace JPP and/or a CB upgrade, I doubt we’ll be drafting Suh’s replacement this year. Hope we do though; I’d love to have Suh here for 1 year to teach him the ropes.
BTW, Suh’s 2021 contract (for $9.0 mil plus $1 mil incentives) was written in such a way that he made $3.2 mil for CAP purposes, with $6.8 mil to be paid to him in 2022. Aahh yes, the reality of ‘kicking the can down the street’ to go all-in. IOW, because of contracts like Suh’s, Bucs won’t have the money lying around to pay a quality FA to replace Suh (we need to use the few shekels we’ve got left elsewhere anyways, such as re-signing Chris Godwin hopefully?).
January 27th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
gotbbucs … Agree with your take on JTS 100%. Besides, he’s primarily who we’ve got upfront to go along with Vea & Shaq for 2022 at this point. Suh, JPP, Gholston, McLendon … they’re all FAs right now. Bucs have a lot of retooling to do.
January 27th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Impression is he needs two things. An offseason of adding more big boy NFL strength and some passt rush moves. He’s plenty athletic and quick enough, but the moment a guy got his hands on him it was basically over
January 27th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
I like JT-S. He’s a good player who I think will develop well over time if he puts some weight on. That being said, we would probably still be in the playoffs if we drafted a OT with that first round pick. There were a couple of good ones still on the board (Liam Eichenberg is who I wanted) that would have been nice to have to push D.Smith to play better, or even replace him with.
January 27th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
JTS is raw in every way. Athletic, but not a lot of technique. Jury is still out on him. Great pass rushers, even when a rookie or raw, flash special talent way more than JTS has shown so far. Right now, he’s looking like just a solid rotational.
With JPP likely gone, and Shaq underperforming, they need a couple of much better sack artists, ASAP.