YaYa Diaby Prepared To Wreak Havoc
July 2nd, 2024
Eager for 2024 season.
Joe thinks if outside linebacker/edge rusher YaYa Diaby raises his game to actually become a rare Bucs-drafted player who gets double-digit sacks, he instantly will become a fan favorite.
Diaby is a way cool dude. You’ve probably seen his million-dollar smile. That’s Diaby. He always seems to be in a good mood. He knows it wasn’t long ago he was working in the Atlanta airport doing grunt work.
Now, he’s being paid well to play the game he loves. Hell, Joe would be smiling like Diaby, too.
When Joe spoke to Diaby after an underwear football practice this spring, he looked like he had been hitting the weights. Speaking to Bobby Kownack of NFL.com over the weekend, Diaby admitted he has a new physique.
“I’m super excited, man, for me I done changed my body up, so I can be able to play more snaps and be in more,” Diaby said. “And just for me it’s the growth I’m seeing in myself from OTAs these past couple weeks, just being able to pick up on things.
“Last year I was in my head a lot, being a rookie and not knowing a lot and being in coach (Todd) Bowles’ defense. That’s a lot for a rookie to come in and take on.
“So going into Year 2, I’m super confident, and just talking about it gets me excited, because of how ready I am to go.”
This gets Joe stoked. It’s hard to believe a rookie second-day draft pick led the Bucs in sacks last year (7.5) but that’s exactly what Diaby did. Only 2.5 more to hit the magic double-digit plateau.
If Diaby can turn into “that guy” as an edge rusher, it will make the Bucs defense so, so much better. And if the Bucs have a dangerous defense this year, they could do more damage.
July 2nd, 2024 at 6:41 am
I think the learning curve for Braswell, and Smith won’t be as steep, because of who they played for in college. Both said the scheme is the same, just need to get the terminology down. Both rookies were also lauded by the vets during OTAs for their grasp of the system.Those additions, YaYa, and Kancey taking the next step, Whitehead back, and I’ll say it, White gone, I’m excited to see this defense.
July 2nd, 2024 at 6:48 am
I was so jacked up about Diaby last year that I wouldn’t shut up. My kids went out and got me a creamsicle number 0. Awesome jersey!
July 2nd, 2024 at 8:12 am
YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA
July 2nd, 2024 at 8:20 am
YaYa is excited and we are all excited too! I think we are around 40 days until our first preseason game!
July 2nd, 2024 at 9:31 am
I’m a newbie on the comments section but, have been an avid reader of Joe Buc’s Fan since its inception. It’s been my ‘go to’ for Bucs news & info whether in town or out of town. Thank you Joes for what you do! Been in the bleachers long enough so, I figured I’d join in with my fellow Buc fans and excellent commenters……..What’s not to like about young players like YaYa & Kancy! This is going to be a fun team to watch grow this season. Love what Licht is doing with the pieces he’s assembling on both sides of the ball.
July 2nd, 2024 at 9:38 am
This came from YaYa –
“It’s great, man, having guys like Calijah [Kancey] with me, you got Logan Hall, even Vita [Vea] – he’s a vet, but you know you’ve got to love Vita,” Diaby said.
“You’ve got Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka], and all the young guys, and we just got Chris Braswell, and it’s just awesome, man.
I just feel like a lot of people are asleep on Tampa’s defense, but I feel like this year, we’re going to really wake a lot of people up.”
July 2nd, 2024 at 9:51 am
Really excited about Vea (new), CK, Yaya, and Braswell. With this crew, I still believe the Bucs are SB-bound if they had successfully traded for Khalil Mack.
July 2nd, 2024 at 9:54 am
Lots of new bodies. The change from rookie to year 3 and 4 in strength is what separates the great players from the guys who will be out of the league.
July 2nd, 2024 at 9:59 am
Bucs And Them:
Thank you very much for the kind words and the support. This made Joe’s day. 🙂 Don’t be a stranger. 👍
July 2nd, 2024 at 11:53 am
Need that fourth front seven player to step up to join Diaby, Kancey and Vea.
Who will it be?
July 2nd, 2024 at 12:01 pm
“Need that fourth front seven player to step up to join Diaby, Kancey and Vea.
Who will it be?”
His name is Anthony Nelson and he’s been stepping up the last 2-3 years. You guys need to stop disrespecting my boy as he’s easily the most rounded OLB in the entire room and THAT’s the veteran presence in there with the young guys.
July 2nd, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Way too early to make the comparison, but Ya Ya reminds me an awful lot of JPP.
July 2nd, 2024 at 12:55 pm
If Todd’s defense can become dominant in the Buccaneers’ sense, like the original Creamsicle 3-4 of the 70s or the Monte Kiffin defenses of the original glory years, the division title is a shoe-in, with more to come.
The bend don’t break method is a slippery slope. It’s only a matter of,time, especially against the better teams (Chiefs, Niners) that it becomes bend-over defense.
Getting pressure with 3 and 4 would go a long way to bringing back true Bucs defense.
July 2nd, 2024 at 2:50 pm
GP- But hopefully smart enough to let someone else handle the fireworks this year.
July 2nd, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Dave Pear says: “The bend don’t break method is a slippery slope”
How right he is. Getting sacks and pressures is what causes interceptions, fumbles and bad passes.
Todd lives in a passing league and his defenses are typically pretty good on 1st and 2nd down but those 3rd down conversions are too frequent and the Buc defense is on the field too much.
Improve the pressure and improve the efficiency of the offense with less 3 and outs, be more aggressive when in the zed zone and this team can win more games than it loses. Bowles needs to coach better and keep some of the momentum from last season to parlay into a great start.
July 3rd, 2024 at 9:22 am
The Dude looks like a giant Marvel Superhero! This man is ready to roll!
Go Bucs!
July 4th, 2024 at 3:45 am
I’d rather have another good young down lineman than another edge.