Kacy Rodgers Channels Ric Flair In Describing Yaya Diaby
August 3rd, 2023
Bucs’ DL coach reacts to YaYa Diaby’s play in practice.
Bucs defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers is a very even-keeled guy. Rodgers, who has worked beside Todd Bowles for many years, has a personality similar to the Bucs head coach.
Rodgers doesn’t get too demonstrative. Doesn’t get too excited. Sort of like a guy you want around you when chaos ensues. Steady Eddie.
But this week, Joe may have seen the first bit of excitement from Rodgers. He was asked about how rookie outside linebacker/edge rusher YaYa Diaby was practicing in his first week of an NFL training camp.
Rodgers channeled famed wrestling superstar Ric Flair when and let out a “WOO!” just like “The Nature Boy.”
“Woo. This guy, I think this guy has another chance – when you look at the defense as a whole, we have a lot of competition across the board,” Rodgers began. “YaYa is right in the middle of that at the outside linebacker position.
“All those guys have unique traits. YaYa is really strong and powerful. Shaq [Barrett] has elite pass-rushing skills. Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka] is super-fast and athletic. ‘Nelly’ (Anthony Nelson) has the jack of all trades.
“It is a very competitive group right now.”
Well, Diaby has certainly flashed. Joe loved how he picked off Baker Mayfield earlier in training camp and the hustle Diaby exhibited on that play. Mayfield had a pass tipped and it bounced high in the air. Diaby ran, laid out, stretching parallel to the ground, and caught the ball just before it hit the ground.
Excellent hustle and ball awareness.
Unfortunately, the way the Bucs haven’t developed a consistent edge rusher since probably Lee Roy Selmon, the first player drafted in franchise history (do the research and tell Joe if he’s wrong here), Joe just can’t get excited, though Joe really wants to.
Joe likes Diaby and really, really wants him to grow into a beast and terrorize quarterbacks. Then Joe looks at the Bucs’ history with drafting edge rushers and, well, Joe’s football high comes back down to reality.
Joe hopes Diaby proves that Rodgers’ excitement is legit.
— No Context Flair (@NoContextFlair) July 26, 2023
August 3rd, 2023 at 12:21 am
Who they have or have not developed in the past has no bearing on today. Unless you’re superstitious.
August 3rd, 2023 at 12:29 am
Dude could be the real deal or not. Only time will tell. Seriously needs a pass rush for this defense to be elite. Shaq can’t do it by himself and is coming off a a serious injury. Vea is only on the field half the time but is a beast. Hall, JTS have to step up in a really big way this year. Kancey is a rookie. Rarely do they make an impact. Golston was good at run stuffing and can get some pressure. Don’t know much about gains but seems more of a run stuffer. Nelson is a good rotation player but nothing special. YA YA we need you to push JTS or take his spot. But also YA YA is a rookie. Please y’all get after the QB like your life’s depend on it. I want to see a repeat of mahomie running for his life but with every QB we face lol
August 3rd, 2023 at 2:51 am
Kinda agree with Sasquatch here. If we are gonna look at it we can’t go all the way back to ‘76. It’s different coaching staffs and hell different owners. The draft is a freaking crap shoot and we’ve had some poor ones and some great ones but I surely don’t think it’s a curse or an omen or any kind of statement that we haven’t drafted and developed an elite pass rusher. Have we drafted and developed an elite player at every position and is that any indication on our ability to do so now or in the future?
We’ve certainly had elite pass rushers in the past and current teams albeit on the interior or scooped up in free agency. What I’m getting at is this line or this argument is tired. Put it to sleep.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:24 am
whooooooooo
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:41 am
Really strong and powerful and enthusiastic high motor guys are exactly what is needed on the d-line .👍
A diamond in the rough?
Time will tell.
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:01 am
Joe Says: “ go ahead and do the research and tell Joe if he’s wrong here)”
You definitely are not wrong!! Historically, DE has to be our weakest position. Until Pierre-Paul and Shaq, the only other good ones were Rice and Selmon and perhaps Bennett
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:16 am
Joe … ‘Joe hopes Diaby proves that Rodgers’ excitement for the Louisville product is legit.’
Agree wholeheartedly, but I’d love to see what George Edwards (our new OLB coach?) has to say about YaYa & this group Joe. He’s been a long-time DC & LB coach with 3 successful teams (Dallas, Bills & Vikings) who’s apparently very highly thought of. Would expect that he can figure out how to get the most out of the talent that these guys bring to the table.
August 3rd, 2023 at 6:21 am
Diaby was a late bloomer at louisville with only one productive season as a pass rusher which is why he was available in the 3rd round. I’ve seen some comp him to JPP but Diaby is not as big as JPP and he’s much faster than him. He’s closer to the size and skill set of Justin Tuck who had the strength of a d lineman and the speed/athleticism to run down Ladanian Tomlinson 50 yards down the field. Only Diaby is faster than Tuck was. Time will tell if he develops, but he certainly seems to have the right attitude! Go Yaya! Go Bucs!
August 3rd, 2023 at 8:05 am
The same is true for first round QBs for the Bucs. They’ve had many, and none worked out in TB.
August 3rd, 2023 at 8:39 am
Look, even a blind squirrel will find an acorn every now and then.
August 3rd, 2023 at 9:12 am
It will help him having Shaq teaching him the ropes. If he can develop pash rush moves to go with his natural speed and strength, he is going to be a handful for NFL offensive tackles.
August 3rd, 2023 at 12:28 pm
to be fair, who have the bucs drafted at d end who failed in tb but balled out on another team? serious question bc nobody comes to my mind right off the bat.
August 3rd, 2023 at 2:41 pm
My man the Nature Boy!! He was something else in his prime.
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:25 pm
to be fair, who have the bucs drafted at d end who failed in tb but balled out on another team? serious question bc nobody comes to my mind right off the bat.
***
Michael Bennett. He wasn’t a draftee, but an undrafted free agent that Seattle cut. I can’t say he “failed” here either; he was pretty good and we let him get away. So I guess he doesn’t really apply here.