NFL.com: Chris Braswell Projected Starter
July 17th, 2024
Last chance.
It seems just a matter of time.
Joe is hopeful, very hopeful the light bulb finally turns on for 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Three years of subpar results suggest it may not happen.
There is recent precedent JTS could flip the switch.
For some reason, Joe notices some readers also are haters of Haason Reddick. Joe fully does not understand why anyone would despise having a guy on the roster who regularly has double-digit sacks, but hey, everyone floats their own boat. Joe tends to like production, especially at a defense’s most important position. Yeah, weird.
In his first three seasons in the league at Arizona, Reddick was horrible. Worse than JTS. Then, after the Cardinals decided “no fifth-year option for you” and changed his position, Reddick exploded in the final year of his rookie contract with 12 sacks in 2019.
Reddick has never had fewer than 11 sacks in a season since.
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com seems to think the Bucs have already turned the page on JTS and believes second-round pick Chris Braswell will start Week 1 against the Commandos.
It was tough to pick a second edge beyond YaYa Diaby. I went with second-round rookie Chris Braswell. I also wanted to pick three pure defensive linemen because coach Todd Bowles likes his heavy fronts.
Joe isn’t confident of that. Of course, if Braswell goes nuts in training camp and the three worthless preseason games, then things can change.
Joe believes the Bucs haven’t yet given up on JTS. And the Bucs still have a major investment in him. This doesn’t mean JTS has a pass.
If JTS, Joe estimates, doesn’t show real production in the first, oh, four to six games, then Joe believes the door is wide open for Braswell to walk through.
Think of last year. Once YaYa Diaby demonstrated to Bucs coach Todd Bowles he was ready, after 10 games, then Bowles started Diaby. That could be what Braswell is looking at only in fewer weeks (provided Braswell demonstrates he’s ready).
Joe is really, really, really hoping the way JTS played at Carolina in the final game of the regular season last year carries over. If JTS could spark his career, this could be a damn tough Bucs defense.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:10 am
JOE NAILED IT …
“Once YaYa Diaby demonstrated to Bucs coach Todd Bowles he was ready, after 10 games, then Bowles started Diaby.”
^^^^^
Yaya said Bowles defense has complex assignments for OLB that take time to learn. Braswell rushed and dropped into coverage at Bama, so his learning curve may be shorter. Still, he won’t start Game 1. JTS will have 4-8 games for his lightbulb moment.
HOPING FOR THE BEST … 12 sacks sounds awesome!
July 17th, 2024 at 11:12 am
Super snarky tone Joe.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:17 am
The Bucs have a major investment in JTS and he knows this is a huge year for him, I hope he reacts to the competition from Brass. Brass is a lot more NFL ready than YaYa was, so he will snaps sooner than YaYa last year. Brass will rotate from Day 1 with JTS will JTS getting more snaps early in the year, with Brass getting more and more snaps as the year goes on. I also like how Brass was mostly a lefty at ‘Bama.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:18 am
Watts is there too and has highly impressed. So is Ramirez who sat out his rookie season after injury.
JTS might lose his place before the season starts.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:18 am
I would be shocked if Braswell is a starter. First year starting D-linemen need time. I’ll be happy with 5 sacks.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:42 am
Wait, wait, wait a minute. Is that ‘Coach’ Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com revealing to us our depth chart? How on earth did he scoop all the unemployed GMs, coaches and scouts on this site? How is he not employed teaching young players their proper drops, tackling and keys?
Sorry Jose, talking season makes me grouchy.
Honestly though, guys like that get paid to talk about the Bucs when there is a LOT more knowledge of this team commenting here (no snark this time!). I mean we pay attention every single day. NFL.com could just link the JBF comments section to learn more about our boys. Of course they would have to filter out some of the, uh, less than friendly replies. Have to pay Jose too.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:47 am
Braswell will start week one, so will Tykee Smith, so will Barton. Coupled with last year, that’s good drafting. When you draft well, retain your veteran leaders, this team is on the right path.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:51 am
If pre-season games are so worthless, Joe, why are you even gonna bother to watch them? Ha. I bet you are frothing at the mouth to look at some players like I am.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:52 am
JimBobBuc Says: I also like how Brass was mostly a lefty at ‘Bama.
Yes…..Braswell is a lefty, meaning he writes as a left hander. It will be fun to see him go after slower and usually less talented Right Tackles.
July 17th, 2024 at 11:53 am
he should start.
at this point it is up to JTS to win the job back. I think he can and am not down on JTS….just he has had enough opportunities…give the new kid a shot
July 17th, 2024 at 11:54 am
I hope Jill Tryon turns it on this season as well but I don’t think she’s up to the task.
July 17th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
Had nothing to do with hate against Reddick. It had to do with not wanting to give up valuable assets for just a 1-year rental on a 30-year old, that would immediately put you right square into the middle of a contract dispute right off the bat (see Jets)… For a non contending middle of the road team in the middle of a rebuild and with a salary cap crunch. Major free agency signings (especially on RISKY older players at the back end of their careers), are not the moves we’re trying to make right now. That would be an ALL-IN type of move and we are NOT “all-in.” The Jets ate and that’s fine, even though, they’re definitely regretting it right now. Everyone made that VERY clear throughout all of the 82 articles here, on Reddick. We couldn’t figure-out why that was such a hard point to see and to get across.
July 17th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Haason Reddick is really good and I think there are some contract urgency regarding the Jets right now.
This will be JTS year. Agree with Boss, give the new kid a chance.
July 17th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
JTS – the future of mens’ cosmetics. Not a football player.
July 17th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Plan 9 from Outer Space….ROFL.
July 17th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
“IfNhope” is JTS new foolish nickname.
July 17th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
JTS might actually be more valuable to this team as a complimentary piece rather than a full time starter. I could easily see Braswell starting and JTS playing in sub-packages.
July 17th, 2024 at 1:11 pm
@Booger
Just remember the Licht mantra of “build through the draft, we’re not bringing in a 30 yr old edge with THAT projected cap hit, we’re looking for answers at OLB we’re not desperate to the point we’re bringing in any OLD body. Plus, no money moves until Wirfs is extended
July 17th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
Probably just wishful thinking, but Markees Watts has the same measurables and DRIVE as Shaq Barrett, that’s my dark horse pick for a Bucs contributor.
July 17th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Ummmm, isn’t that what I just said, “Dude!?”:/
July 17th, 2024 at 2:13 pm
If the Bucs can find 3 decent OLBs to rotate in , things could get interesting. If you’re not a game wrecker, fresher legs tend to produce pressure at a minimum. Time will tell
July 17th, 2024 at 2:57 pm
My money is still on watts to make the rotation more often the flashes he showed last was kinda refreshing to know we have him in our group
July 17th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Joe you should see if Hassan Reddick is single. I’ve never see a sports writer be so enamored (borderline obsessed) with a player who doesn’t play for the team they cover. Weird bro
July 17th, 2024 at 4:07 pm
Buc Rick … Still don’t understand the love for Watts. What’s he done to make him stand out to you so much?
July 17th, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Reddick is NOT a Buccaneer man
July 17th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Defense Rules
Just click the link. Watts has some potential, raw and technical, plus he’s almost the same body type of player as a Jose Ramirez(who spent a whole season on the practice squad along with Watts) or even Shaq. If this doesn’t impresses you, I got some of Watts tape from college loaded up and you can see what our staff likes.
July 17th, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Todd mentioned Watts last year as someone who flashed. If you give Todd credibility, that’s a pretty big endorsement.
July 17th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Defense Rules or anybody else, Watts is #40.
Small school, but we’re not trying to scout the whole team but key in on Watts and you’ll see why we probably won’t be letting him hit waivers this season.
July 17th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Booger relax, I was agreeing with you about our depth and not being a fan of getting Reddick as we’ve got more contract dollars tied up. Going after Reddick doesn’t sound like “supplement through FA, build through the draft” the last part of that has kind of been the vibe the last 2 and a half seasons.
July 17th, 2024 at 6:54 pm
What did he flash, his junk?
While Joe thought Watts flashed, what did Watts flash to Bowles? Watts so impressed Bowles that Watts had 45 snaps total last year. This on a team where a rookie led the team with 7.5 tackles. smh
If Watts flashed football skills, then Bowles is irresponsible for not putting him on the field more. Not like there was any sort of log jam at OLB.
July 17th, 2024 at 7:34 pm
As others have mentioned, the potential issue with the Bucs picking up Reddick was not with his skill or production, but with the contract he was expecting. Surprise, surprise, we were right.
July 17th, 2024 at 10:28 pm
YaYa had to learn to play OLB after being a hand-in-dirt DE in UofL’s 4-2-5 front.
Braswell is a true OLB coming from Saban’s base 3-4 system at ALA…I’m betting the learning curve of Bowles system is shorter for Braswell.
JTS better ball out in Camp / Pre-season or else he’ll be on the shorter end of the PT rope come SEP!
July 17th, 2024 at 10:40 pm
Definitely need to be able to pressure without having to blitz. That puts so much pressure on the back end when you have to blitz every non-running down.
July 18th, 2024 at 12:33 am
Joes , you’ll need to ask Todd what he thought about Watts. He called him out positive after a game and then we never saw him again. But he deipfinitely cited his play after a game mid-season.
July 18th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
Far as I heard Bowles is happy with JTS even though he is not a sack master. He does what Todd asks of him well. … Not saying he should a starter but remain in the rotation.
July 18th, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Should be a starter