New Edge Rush Issues Will Test Depth
October 14th, 2023
Today’s news Joe has seen across the NFL Network ticker isn’t promising.
It seems last year’s leading Buccaneers sack man off the edge, Anthony Nelson, has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game. It’s tied to a concussion issue. That’s never a good thing to have a concussion-related setback — or slower-than-expected progress through the concussion recovery process.
Then there’s Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett. He didn’t practice all week because of an ilness and was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. But there was no upgrade today of Shaq’s status.
Joe was told that Shaq had more than just a runny nose and he is indeed questionable to be a full-time player on Sunday.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht told SiriusXM NFL Radio that rookie edge rusher YaYa Diaby had a breakout game against the Saints two Sundays ago. He certainly looked good, but Diaby is seeking his first career sack through 95 snaps, so Joe can’t start doing cartwheels down Dale Mabry Highway.
The Lions, Tampa Bay’s opponent tomorrow, have a truly explosive offense. If the Bucs stop the Lions on the ground, which is likely, the available edge rushers really will need to step up.
October 14th, 2023 at 11:54 am
Oh boy…the sky is falling!
October 14th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
If all else fails we’ll see what Cam Gil and Watts cans do.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Careful, Joe. You’ll get run over.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Not great news here. Bowles is going to have to dial up some blitzes early. I have no confidence in Tryon at all. Lets Hope our Rooks play lights out.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Coach said OLB is our deepest position – so I guess we’ll see…
Bucs kept 6 – so even if Nelson and Barrett don’t play, we’ll still have a 4 man rotation with JTS, Diaby, Gil and Watts…
Shaq has apparently been sick since the beginning of the week – so whether its Flu or KungFlu or whatever, you’de think he’d be well enough to play by Sunday.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Sounds like an opportunity for Cam Gill to step up and show us what he’s got…
October 14th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Losing both Shaq AND Nelson for this game would surely sting, but I suspect there are ways that the Bucs can compensate. Looks like the Lions run just as much over-and-outside-the-tackles as they do up-the-middle-and-over-the-guards, so sealing the edges will be super important. YaYa & JTS both have pretty good size for OLBs & I think Bowles will have them both well-prepared for this game.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Bucs though use a lot of 4-man fronts to not only stop the runs in the center, but also to put pressure on Goff using the big guys.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Pickgrin … Good chance Shaq’s down with the flu like you said. Good friend of mine came down with it 2 weeks ago and he’s still week as a little kitten (he had COVID twice & said that wasn’t nearly as bad as this). Best not to push Shaq if he’s still hurting. Other guys just need to step up.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Outside linebacker usually wasn’t much of an issue last year when Vea was tossing guys around up the middle. YaYa and Watts I’ve been wanting to see those guys get some extended playing time but more at Shaq position
October 14th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Plan 9….fire your retro rockets!
October 14th, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Our pass rush is softer than ice cream when fully healthy so they are not missing much.
October 14th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Shoot. That means they need to hope JTS suddenly gets off the milk carton. Ugh.
October 14th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
Next man up. You got a whole crew of young athletic guys that need snaps.
October 14th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Agreed. I’m sure that YaYa will be just fine he is a stud and I wanted him to start anyway after watching his tape against NO.
Good thing Goff struggles under pressure, because there will be blitzes coming from everywhere. Cover the middle of the field.
Not that hard actually. Make him beat you outside his facilities.
October 14th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Lions are banged up in their secondary, too, BTW. VV, Yancey, JTS (whom I haven’t given up on yet), LVD, and Sir White are healthy and ready. What shape is the secondary in? I know we have some more guys returning. Plus, the ST and O are pretty healthy. ME13 has been on a tear, rehabbing that PITA hammy for 2 weeks. He wants to play, contract or no contract. Gonna be up to Bowles, Canales and Armstrong. C’MON, Tampa Bay, BREAK THE BYE CURSE!!
October 14th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Sp much for the early bye “all go” healthy report….
October 14th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Get Cam Gill into the game!
October 14th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Start YaYa put JTS on ice, Shaq starts tomorrow. We would miss Anthony Nelson, you can’t really count on Kancey to do anything great tomorrow because he’s been out for so long and that’s a big factor in him being a rookie.
October 14th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Tryon better start doing something. He’s useless as far as I’m concerned. Do something.
October 14th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Our pass rush was not good often in the Eagles game. I sure hope to see great improvement. DefRules, have your friend’s doctor check his vitamin D levels. I bet he is way low on D3.
Ira, I wonder what WOULD make you do cartwheels..? That would be a sight worth seeing!
October 14th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
If Shaq has what we all have he won’t play Sunday. We all have a bad cold with a very nasty cough. My grandson has had it for two weeks now and he’s still coughing up a lung, but no fever anymore. The wife and I are sick as dogs.
October 14th, 2023 at 7:03 pm
the lions are good in every facet of football…
offense good
running game good
o-line good
d-line good
backers good
secondary good
beer prices at concessions good 🙂
crazy coach good
cheerleaders good
scalpers outside stadium good
and crazy enough, no one even talks about anzalone…dude is a potential pro bowler…
all hands gotta be on deck tomorrow…people sleep on the lions
October 14th, 2023 at 7:27 pm
The Lions are down a starting RG and their RB1 Gibbs is out also. I think our DBs can handle things in the air and I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Winfield in the Lions backfield a few times chasing Goff, especially if our edge rush struggles.
With Vea and Kancey creating havoc in the middle, it could be a tough day for Goff. He’s a traditional pocket passer and that inside pressure (Kancey likely going against a backup RG with Vea eating up the LG and Center) and he might have to use his legs more than he’s used to.
If we can handle their D (especially Hutchinson) and don’t beat ourselves with penalties and TOs, we might make some believers out of ppl. Detroit is also playing with a chip on their shoulder to prove they’re legit as well so I expect a bit of a slug fest.
October 14th, 2023 at 8:10 pm
My son came over tonight and he sounds awful. I have friends that have been hit with covid and something else the past couple weeks.
That with the season change, flu season and allergies…a lot of people are getting sick.
October 14th, 2023 at 8:13 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“Good friend of mine came down with it 2 weeks ago and he’s still week as a little kitten (he had COVID twice & said that wasn’t nearly as bad as this). Best not to push Shaq if he’s still hurting. Other guys just need to step up.”
Wise words. The last thing we need is for it to spread throughout the locker room.
Going to be a tough game tomorrow. This is where I get to see if Baker Mayfield is worth the hype. Finally.
October 15th, 2023 at 12:36 am
We will have Kancey back and I’m excited to see Cam Gill go hopefully
October 15th, 2023 at 2:41 am
If Joe can cartwheel down Dale Mabry, Joe should dress as an Edge today 🙂
October 15th, 2023 at 5:37 am
Nelson and Shaq… Ouch!
We gotta have a pass rush in this one folks!
Go Bucs!