From Raw To Refined
May 2nd, 2024
They don’t coach’em up at Louisville like they do at Alabama.
That was the backhanded message this week from Bucs edge rusher/outside linebackers coach George Edwards.
Edwards noted how rookie second-round draft pick Chris Braswell out of the University of Alabama has a loaded toolbox and can drop in coverage, play run defense and attack off the edge.
Sounds like coachspeak? Well, not really.
Edwards also explained how last year’s rookie stud edge rusher YaYa Diaby, the third-round pick from the University of Louisville, came in raw not knowing how to drop and he was accustomed primarily to rushing further inside in college.
Edwards said Diaby still needs improvement in “hand-to-hand combat” and he needs more time in space to create more room for him to rush.
Overall, Edwards sounded like he was saying Diaby is a major — and successful — work in progress while Braswell is more polished.
Joe loved hearing all of it. It sounds like Braswell won’t have the learning curve of many edge rushers entering Todd Bowles’ defense while Diaby is primed to break out beyond his 7 1/2 season.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:13 pm
Yeah his 7 1/2 season.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:24 pm
He showed a lot of grit, reminds me of a young JPP.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Light’s selection potentially looks very promising with half of them being starters.
Now they are in the hands of the coaches molding them into good players.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:31 pm
I was a little concerned about this draft call outside of Barton but now I am a lot more comfortable with the picks. I like JL and his team, continuity breeds success.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:40 pm
Every single draft pick has the capability of being a starter. That is rare.
Even Devin Culp could be what they were hoping OJ Howard would be.
A guy who had little production because the team was loaded.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Love Diaby. Excellent, excellent pick. Him and Kancey will break out this year.
I remember during the draft, when the Bucs took Diaby, I thought ‘Who?’. Didn’t like the pick in the moment.
Just goes to show you… I know nothing haha.
Jason Licht and Co know all this much, much, much better than us. They know what they’re doing. We should keep that in mind this time of year, when we’re questioning draft decisions and wondering why we took X instead of Y.
These guys get paid to do this, and they’re some of the best. Won us a SB and 3 straight division championships.
I’m stoked for this years class.
May 2nd, 2024 at 2:53 pm
You really can’t go wrong picking defensive players from Alabama & Georgia….
May 2nd, 2024 at 3:01 pm
When does the Bucs rookie camp start?
May 2nd, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Kirk cousins gonna get hurt that’s why atl picked a qb early were gonna have then running!
May 2nd, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I hope we get Carolina and Atlanta early. I want to crush our old coaches (Canales and Rah) to start their new NFL HC careers.
May 2nd, 2024 at 4:05 pm
Some of the virtual scouts look at Braswells weight and say he can’t set the edge. Well his weight is the same as Shaqs but Saban pointed out that Braswell is really strong.
May 2nd, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Yes, may Kirk Cousins go down and go down hard.
May 2nd, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Just like Tykee Smith will come in way ahead having played at Georgia. This might be Lichts best draft.
May 2nd, 2024 at 6:02 pm
Braswell vs Diaby
Last Season of College Stats
Braswell: 6’3, 251lbs, 4.6 (40), Sacks 8
Yaya: 6’5, 265lbs, 4.5 (40), Sacks 8
I thought the comparison was a little off but I’m wrong. I’d like to see Braswell add some muscle before the season.
May 2nd, 2024 at 6:57 pm
SlyPirate … Bucs’ site had some interesting tidbits about Braswell. Among them:
o Braswell was clocked at 21.9 miles per hour, squatted 705 pounds and vertical jumped at an astounding 38.5 inches. THAT’S impressive for an OLB.
o Braswell played outside linebacker in Nick Saban’s hybrid 3-4 scheme. He showcased his versatility, lining up in both a two and three-point stance. After making an impact on passing downs for the Tide in 2022, Braswell assumed Will Anderson Jr.’s role in 2023 and led the SEC in pressures (56).
o At the scouting combine, Braswell ran a 4.6 40-yard dash, posted a 1.59 10-yard split, a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot, 7-inch broad jump.
Braswell’s Bama teammate, Dallas Turner, went in Rnd 1 and interestingly is exactly the same size: 6’3″ & 251 lbs.
May 2nd, 2024 at 7:25 pm
Remember how bad our drafts were when Dumb-inick was running the show?
May 2nd, 2024 at 7:26 pm
Hopefully Braswell will be able to start for us this season, that way JTS would be even more free to be the secret chess piece making all the stealthy impact plays that nobody knows about or sees coming or can even see on the film.
May 2nd, 2024 at 7:38 pm
I said on Draft day that I thoght YaYa and SirVocea would be great players.
I would still bet good money on both those guys
May 2nd, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Last year was fun watching the many rookies. Much more this year! Congrats to Bucs FO. Longest tenured FO in NFL!
LFG and make some noise while Lavonte is still here!
May 2nd, 2024 at 11:04 pm
Walter –
Any mention of Dumbestnik makes me want to bash my head repeatedly against a brick wall. Fortunately I wear one of those Guardian helmets so I don’t hurt myself.
The worst, most overhyped and overpromoted stooge in Bucs history, maybe in NFL history. At least he is unlistenable on Sirius XM’s NFL network, from which he’ll probably be let go soon.
Mr 28-52 “DuhQuan Bowers is ready to roll so we released Michael Bennett.
Banging head on wall again.
May 3rd, 2024 at 1:42 am
Licht has done a nice Job since the end of the season with some dead money limitations ………. Like the draft , I don’t think it totally fell in their laps , they did have to pick for need and came up empty on LB . …….. However one thing this draft clearly pointed out across the league is that the Bucs pick of D White was prob the reach of a draft decade . I believe that pick and all the film ( 10 percent good) infected the LB position like never before in a draft . The 6’ full time off the ball LB is the new RB ……
May 3rd, 2024 at 1:14 pm
I love what he did last season and I feel like YaYa has a great future. He showed a lot to us and has a few rough edges, now they just gotta coach him up. Gregory can be the player whisperer as well, he’s had a pretty good career. This year will be even better there will be two hungry young guys on the outside that will be hunting. Go get em, or like the movie Columbiana EAT, and the Rotts did in the end. Hahaha 😂 Go Bucs!!!!