Lavonte David Praises Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s Growth
August 11th, 2022
Offers feedback.
Joe understands some folks are nervous about Bucs outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka for several reasons.
While Joe gets the emotion behind it, NFL history shows rookie edge rushers rarely dominate. Yeah, there are exceptions, but for every rookie that racks up 10 sacks another 20 rookie edge rushers do not.
Last year JTS didn’t have a huge impact. While he was OK at getting pressure on the quarterback, JTS didn’t defend the run well, and as a pass rusher, he was a rookie. Not much to expect.
Entering his second season, JTS is demonstrating to old man Lavonte David that he’s got the hang of things.
“Some stuff last year coming in as a rookie, some easy stuff, he used to mess up on – blow assignments and stuff like that,” David explained. “This year it’s like clockwork for him.
“He knows his assignments, he gets the job done and he’s even communicating as an outside linebacker and [laughs] you don’t see that often. It’s definitely a confidence booster for us and for him as well.”
Joe has to wonder if David was referencing Jason Pierre-Paul, his old Bucs teammate and JUCO teammate?
Joe heard through the grapevine that one reason — not the only reason — Bucs coaches began to sour on JPP was his habit of freelancing.
Open-minded coaches don’t get too bent if a guy freelances so long as he produces. But with JPP last year, his freelancing didn’t produce squat (yes, Joe knows JPP was playing with one arm). When a guy freelances and strikes out, that is when he begins to become a pain in the posterior.
So David’s playful jab at someone there, was it David busting JPP’s chops from afar?
Back to JTS, it’s good to hear he has cleaned up his game and knows the defensive playbook better. That’s always a good sign.
August 11th, 2022 at 8:51 am
I hope this shows up in games. They said that about Noah Spence once, too.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:41 am
I know I ragged on JTS last season but he was a rookie and not many rookies are dominate from the get go. He did show speed but he often got trap blocked or pushed wide, etc. Hopefully gaining experience and some additional muscle will make him harder to block out of the play. I liked the way he chased down runners who had got past the line of scrimmage and kept them from huge gains. Got to think he will be less likely to take himself out of the play, seal off his side enough to allow others time to clog the point off attack and do a better job of reading and reacting.
August 11th, 2022 at 10:50 am
Great reporting Joes. I thought JPP was held in a high regard by teammates and management and was wondering why it was so easy to let him go. Last year he played through a big injury.