Specialist Role For Haason Reddick?
March 10th, 2025
Will the Buccaneers’ new edge rusher be a full-time player?
One astute analyst, a guy who spent a lot of time with Joe during the NFL Scouting Combine, thinks Haason Reddick could be more of a pass rush specialist than a three-down player.
Chris Simms, the NBC Sports film guru and former Bucs quarterback, co-hosted a live free agency show on NBC’s YouTube page today and expressed his love for the Bucs signing Reddick, who was a disgruntled member of the Jets last year.
Simms noted how it seems Reddick got terrible advice and should have just shut up and played after he got traded to New York from Philadelphia last year. But Reddick held out, returned in October and had a bad season.
Per Simms, if Reddick had a full, normal year, he would have been at least a nine-sack guy with the Jets and commanded a lot more than the $14 million the Bucs will pay him for 2025 on a one-year deal.
In short, Simms thinks Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht nailed the Reddick signing.
He also thinks Reddick likely will be more of a pass rush specialist with Logan Hall handling more first- and second-down duties on the edge.
Joe isn’t sure. Reddick used to be an inside linebacker (2017-2019) and is very versatile. Also, he is used to a full-time work load.
But Simms may be right. Perhaps a lighter load in the run game alongside elite defensive tackles enticed Reddick to come to Tampa?
Simms was adamant that Reddick is a great fit in with the Bucs because his double teams will be limited with Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and YaYa Diaby in the mix on passing downs.
Simms was a special guest on the recent Ira Kaufman Podcast.
March 10th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Logan hall is moving to the edge?
March 10th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
That room needed a Vet this is a good move
March 10th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
I can see that being possible bc we all know bowles loves to stop the run first….
bowles please dont drop reddick, yaya, vita and Kancey in coverage lol….
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 10th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
I like keeping players fresh, but isn’t every down a passing down in the modern NFL? I don’t expect our opponents to embrace the up the middle-up the middle-pass-punt scheme, but he needs to be on the field, except for short yardage situations.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Semaj Perrine? Why on earth?!!
March 10th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Reddick also played ILB in Arizona in his earlier days. Could he start at ILB and slide outside on obvious passing downs?
March 10th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Yeah I’m confused. Logan hall is a 3-4 defensive end, Reddick will be OLB. Different positions…. Itll be Reddick, Diaby, Braswell rotating.. not sure how any of those guys feel switching sides? He Interesting to see how it plays out
March 10th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Joe, I havee not read any previous articles today, are you happy with this trade? You have been adamant that Bucs need a good edge. Does this guy fit the bill? Gawd I hope so, imho we need edge x 2.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
he can play inside or on the edge!
perfect!!
just need to draft an elite cb,
and an off ball linebacker to learn from lavonte…
March 10th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Dang where are yall seeing these signings?
March 10th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
He will probably drop at coverage on 3rd down lol so have him rush on 1st and 2nd
We shall see his role and his play, hopefully he produces and help the team.
Go Bucs
March 10th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
perine fake news
March 10th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
Wow. Boy was I wrong last night. Happily eating crow.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Did we sign Perine? Joe?
March 10th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
We all know he’s dropping into coverage
March 10th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Randy Gregory and Samaje Perine, 2 Buccaneer greats.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
If you ask 10 people, you get 10 different opinions on whether an edge rusher is the same thing as a defensive end
March 10th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Well, he stunk as an ILB. So not sure that’s a starting point. Unless he’s improved.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Logan Hall will have nothing to do with Reddick’s playing time. Hall is a 3-4 end that eats up blocks and anchors against the run. Reddick is a pure EDGE. Simms should know better.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Joe Says:
March 10th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Did he stink or was he just on a learning curve as a young player? Did he stink as bad as the elite rotation of J.J. Russell and K.J. Britt? The thing is, his athleticism allows him to drop in coverage (a typical role for ILB, where Britt and Russell were inadeguate) or rush from the outside. So maybe he doesn’t start at ILB, but he gives Todd flexibility to give multiple looks. Reddick as a wildcard in this defense could be a real weapon. Hope he keeps his head on straight and doesn’t bring a bad attitude into the locker room.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
I’m not so sure about this guy. Seems like a malcontent to me. If he gets a few sacks early on he might demand a mid season raise.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Fred McNeil Says:
March 10th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Which is why they only signed him to a one year contract, and why they got him for 14 million. This gives him a choice — salvage his career and set himself up for 25+ million next year, or be a pain in the rear and continue to bounce around the league. I think they also feel confident that Larry Foote can work with him (Foote was his position coach in AZ for a few years).
March 10th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Simms always prone to saying something dumb
March 10th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
Simeon4HOF Says:
March 10th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Pot, meet kettle.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Kettle meet this filthy dude that wanna ride my nuts that wants Logan Hall to play Edge
March 10th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Never said that.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Filthy animal you long been had weirdo vibe about you, whatever it is.
If you mad that I was tough on JL for a min bcuz I didn’t like what he said at combine bout CG unless it was smoke, and got rattled watching Edge pool begin to diminsh yesterday again, so be it. But chill tf out sheesh
I’m a Chris Godwin fan, sorry not sorry bih
March 10th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Just having a vet pass rusher is good for me, now get a vet cb also Dean is still
Around
March 10th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
We are gonna see a lot of 5 man fronts where 1 or 2 drop in coverage on some downs and all 5 come on other downs.
Yaya, Reddick and Braswell will continue to do their fair share of dropping. As long as it’s not Kancey or Vea dropping I can live with it.
March 10th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
If the positive vibes rub off on him, then I love this! If, on the other hand, co.es in with the attitude he had last year, that’s bad. We don’t need another Devin White to screw up the mojo
March 10th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
he comes…..sorry for my fat fingers.
March 10th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
We’ll see. Diaby is a long way from commanding double teams. Vea, of course, requires them but only on about 50% of the defensive plays. Growth and improvement from the other young guys should help.
March 10th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
No doubt. Reddick will be a pass coverage specialist. Simms is almost as gooberish as Mark the Dom.
March 10th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Logan Hall plays DE – while Reddick plays OLB.
I like Simms, but what in the world is he talking about here? Does he think Hall is a OLB or Reddick is a DE? I’m going to guess he’s mixing up JTS with Hall. He didn’t mix them up at all, noted JTS didn’t work out. Remember, Joe reported Todd Bowles is planning significant changes to the defense. –Joe
March 10th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Defensive end is in a three (or) four point stance- hand or hands in the dirt. OLB is a stand up position. Either can be an edge rusher. Both can set the edge(don’t let anyone get outside of you-turn in the ball carrier). Nowadays they use guys like Reddick as hybrids-OLB, DE, and even ILB. Think Micah Parsons. Reddick was a first round choice for a reason-he can flat get after the ball. That’s a good thing.
March 10th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
I will believe the significant changes to the defense when we see the performance results on the field. But I’m glad Jason snagged Redsick now instead of last year when he was ego bloated.