Yaya Diaby Is On A Special Pace
December 4th, 2023
It’s been 12 years since Bucs fans have been aroused consistently by a rookie edge rusher.
The year was 2011, when former Buccaneers rock star general manager Mark Dominik made the greatest mistake of his Bucs career. The Bucs desperately needed an edge rusher and passed on future Hall of Fame defesive end Cameron Jordan, who went to the slimy Saints at No. 24 overall. Instead, the Bucs selected Adrian Clayborn at No. 20.
Clayborn had a special rookie season with 7 1/2 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and 3 forced fumbles. He started every game and earned the nickname BoyDog from then head coach/defensive coordinator Raheem Morris (Morris belived Clayborn was half man/half dog).
Fans were fired up for Clayborn to take the next step to double digit sacks with new head coach Greg Schiano in 2012, but Clayborn blew out his knee in Week 3 and was never the same.
That excitement for Clayborn is what Joe feels in rookie YaYa Diaby. The third-round pick got his fifth sack yesterday, and his fifth in six games.
In only his second game as a starter yesterday, Diaby continued to look the part of powerful edge rusher. He’s playing the run well and has lots of juice, even in wet conditions.
Yes, Joe remembers rookie edge rusher Noah Spence in 2016, the second-round pick. He had 5 1/2 sacks as a rookie and 16 QB hits. But his game looked limited and Diaby looks like a much stronger and more versatile prospect.
The final five games will be huge for Diaby. He seems to be getting stronger at a time of year when offensive linemen are wearing down.
Can he find his way to nine or 10 sacks? That would be one hell of an accomplishment, and it would make the Bucs’ offseason a lot simpler.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
I think he does Joe.. one of these games he’s going to have multiple sacks.. I can feel it
December 4th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Unlike JTS who only has speed and couldn’t bull rush against my 90 year old grandma. Diaby on the other hand, has both good speed and power. He will improve as he continues to learn more pass rushing moves.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Diaby n kancey could be a problem for a few years!
December 4th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
It took Bowles how many games of watching JTS embarrassing himself before figuring this out?
December 4th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
JPP 2.0
December 4th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
@AlabamaBucsFan: and he doesn’t really have that much speed either. Not a good speed rusher, edge bender, bull rusher or run defender… below average in all categories imaginable.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
@jerseybucs – I second that, I think we hit on a couple gems there. Really wish Dennis was healthy this past week, would of been nice to see what he is capable of as the number 1 MLB.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Same, i think this guy can be a great one!
December 4th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
JTS is the least violent football player I have ever seen. Especially passive for a defensive end. I have focused on him each play this season and feel like his skill set would be best utilized teaching 2nd grade girls how to play patty cakes.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:18 pm
I liked Clayborn, but Diaby’s ceiling is at least twice as high as what Clayborn’s could have been. YaYa just looks different out there.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:25 pm
AlabamaBucsFan Says:
December 4th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Unlike JTS who only has speed and couldn’t bull rush against my 90 year old grandma.
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With all due respect your grandma would pancake JTS
December 4th, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Go YaYa.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
The one armed bandit vs Cameron Jordan was a misstep. Not sure Jordan is a future HOF…unless he enlists HOF strategist Ira CoughMan.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:38 pm
Yaya could be awesome! He plays hard and physical. Just needs to develop his tool box. I’ve only seen one rip move (against SF) other than that he’s all power all the time. If you mixed Yaya’s strength and speed with Shaq’s tool box you’ve a top 8 pass rusher.
Hopefully he gets good coaching to really maximize his potential.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Nutterbuccer they def should only get better next year. Take that leap up!
December 4th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
FlyBuc Says:
December 4th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
JTS is the least violent football player I have ever seen. Especially passive for a defensive end. I have focused on him each play this season and feel like his skill set would be best utilized teaching 2nd grade girls how to play patty cakes.
While JTS is the least violent on the team currently, Mc Coy is still takes the medal.
December 4th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Bucs on pace…They will be 5-9 in 2 weeks.
December 4th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
I wasnt expecting this kid to go on a tear once he got playing time, but he looks like he belongs. I think we have 4-3 personnel. Really solid draft class.
December 4th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
JOE I wouldn’t say it makes the off-season simpler. Bucs should still be seeking a dominant edge rusher even if we have 1 or 2. Shaq is aging and honestly you can’t ever have too many in this passing league. Look at the niners. They didn’t just draft them they also traded for em too. Honestly I would love for them to stock pile on rushers. They are always rotated and injuries happen. Imaging rotating your starter out and replacing him with another starter. One can dream lol
December 4th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Diaby could be a huge difference maker for the Bucs the next few years. He looks like a man playing D-end, the opposite of what JTS looks like.
December 4th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Watts got picked off the RB a couple times in the game as well and bounced right back up and almost made the tackles still like what I’ve seen from him as well. Needs more reps when YaYa is winded
December 4th, 2023 at 2:38 pm
Diaby plays with power! Can’t wait til he learns more moves
December 4th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
I posted back in the preseason, that we had 2 steals on defense in the draft.
Yaya and SirVocea.
Thats still true
December 4th, 2023 at 3:25 pm
BLAHHHHH!!! “I AM A TROLL YOU BETTER NOT BE POSITIVE!!!!! # NO POSITIVITY ALLOWED!!!!!” BLAHHHHHBLAHHHHH.
December 4th, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Or something like that
December 4th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
Kancy or Diaby which jersey to get for Xmas
December 4th, 2023 at 4:25 pm
I agree I think he is a special player as his playing time gradually continues to increase we should see his development increase as well.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:30 pm
Lol! I remember a certain Joe telling me to lay off the bourbon first thing the the morning for going at him about resigning AC years ago. The good and dark times of being a Bucs fan.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:31 pm
When that certain Joe said we should resign him, that is.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:04 pm
Yeah I would’ve drafted both Yaya & Kancey this year if it was up to me, too! I liked Watts coming out, too! I wanted Puka Nacua, too! The one LA took. I never wanted Tryon Carlton or Dean when they were coming out in the first place.
Instead of Fire Them Cannons it should be FIRE THEM COACHES!
December 4th, 2023 at 10:27 pm
You were excited about Clayborn? Doesn’t take much to impress some people. Let’s see. Clayborn… 3.5 sacks his Senior season at Iowa. Skipped the Senior Bowl because he didn’t want to hurt his draft stock..
Then ran 4.8 something at the Combine and benched 225 all of 16x… while Jordan had far better Senior numbers, dominated the Senior Bowl, and showed up far bigger, faster, and stronger than Clayborn at the Combine… oh. And his dad was former longtime NFL TE Steve Jordan… this was a colossal EFF UP ans bad knee or not, Clayborn was an awful pick, a too slow for RDE but way too weak in his bad right arm to play LDE, he was the epitome of what a dedicated draftnik fan showing a poorly run organization how they should draft… but Dominik somehow had the job. What a ruse. Mark Barron over Keuchly. Damaged goods Bowers over Chris Houston. Trading a 1st and 3rd then paying an outrageous amount for a damaged goods CB.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:30 pm
Tony Says:
December 4th, 2023 at 7:04 pm
Yeah I would’ve drafted both Yaya & Kancey this year if it was up to me, too! I liked Watts coming out, too! I wanted Puka Nacua, too! The one LA took. I never wanted Tryon Carlton or Dean when they were coming out in the first place.
Instead of Fire Them Cannons it should be FIRE THEM COACHES!
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Sure, ya did, buddy. Keep telling yourself that. Without Dean and Davis (and Murphy-Bunting) we don't win the Suped Bowl…guaranteed. STFU with your revisionist BS. You'd never even heard of Nakua. Quit lying.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:56 pm
A lot of young talent. Need a QB and an offensive head coach.