Hunger And Hands
August 6th, 2023
YaYa Diaby
Joe was a little disappointed by rookie third-round pick YaYa Diaby’s news conference yesterday. The freakishly athletic edge rusher the Bucs snagged in April has a lot more personality and ability to chatter than he showed.
Oh, well. Next time. As active as Diaby is, Joe suspects he’ll be getting more camera time later this month. Joe is confident the future UPS drivers and mattress movers on the defenses of preseason opponents will be no match more Mr. Diaby.
Earlier yesterday, Todd Bowles referenced how Diaby has heavy hands and uses them well. Diaby was asked about that and basiclally just said he’s a strong man and that’s the way it is.
More important, Diaby noted how much fire burns within him.
“I just want it. I just want it bad,” Diaby said. “I’m learning from guys like Shaq [Barrett], Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka], [Anthony Nelson] – so it’s been really fun. I’m just trying to prove to guys that I can be in the rotation with them and that we can be a good front.”
Joe remembers when edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue burst onto the NFL scene as a third-round pick of Jacksonville in 2016. He was an 8-sack guy with four forced fumbles that season.
Joe smells a little Ngakoue in Diaby, a little Jason Pierre-Paul, too. JPP, though, like most edge rushers, had a rough rookie season before exploding as an All-Pro in his second season with the Giants.
August 6th, 2023 at 10:00 am
I don’t think him learning from Tryon is good thing. Tryon is a bust of a draft pick. Just like Joe has said previously. Todd Bowles has yet to develop to draft and develop a top pass rusher.
August 6th, 2023 at 10:36 am
We definitely have some promising new talent on defense and I’m looking forward to seeing them play for real.
August 6th, 2023 at 10:41 am
One of my favorite players in all of this last draft. I was elated that we actually picked him.
August 6th, 2023 at 10:47 am
JTS better tighten up…
Yaya is “youngry”… Athletic and physically imposing; he looks like a young Bruce Smith with those ridiculous arms…
August 6th, 2023 at 11:03 am
Bobby Says:
August 6th, 2023 at 10:00 am
Todd Bowles has yet to develop to draft and develop a top pass rusher.
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Shaq came to the Bucs the same season that Todd Bowles came as the DC. Do you think Bowles had nothing to do with Shaq’s record-setting season?
The Bucs defense had 45 sacks last season despite losing Shaq (their best pass rusher) to injury.
Bobby, if you were considering applying for a job as GM in the NFL don’t quit your day job.
August 6th, 2023 at 11:31 am
He is learning how NOT to do the right things from JTS.
August 6th, 2023 at 11:57 am
He’ll put JTS on the bench by mid season if he can understand his role in the scheme
August 6th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
I think the preseason this year is actually going to help us see what we really have
Pittsburg and Baltimore are ridiculously physical teams compared to us – going to be very interesting to see how our depth compares and competes with theirs
The Jets are up and comers and have a very good defense – another good test
Look what happened when we went 2nd team against lowly Atlanta
What are strong AFC teams going to do to this group???
We know our starters are pretty good but we have no idea about depth at so many positions it is very worrying
August 6th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
I remember saying how the heck did this guy fall this far in the draft with his measurables?
The answer was “Well he’s raw”
Any production Bucs get from this guy in year 1 would be a bonus. We should temper expectations.
That being said could be a draft steal and 2024 and beyond future looks bright.
August 6th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
More important, Diaby noted how much fire burns within him.
Of course, Joe…..isn’t he “Flame Broiled” ?
August 6th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
He looks like a good pickup!! First real game I just 5 weeks!!!! We’ll see how things go then.
August 6th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
In case you didn’t notice, JTS beat his man and was in the backfield frequently. So he CAN teach YaYa that. Now when it comes to tackling the QB, that’s a different story.
August 6th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
This kid is saying all the right things & has been having a pretty solid camp. Love how Shaq has taken him under his wing couldn’t have a better teacher if you ask me. YaYa has all the physical attributes & is willing to learn from the vets seems like a great kid. I’m very excited to see him play this preseason if he can put it all together I don’t see why he can’t be 7-8 sack guy this season. Our secondary can be very special if you ask me. The key though would be Yaya & JTS finally putting it all together to go along with Shaq coming back strong this year. & what ever happen to the Ramirez kid ?? I haven’t heard anything from Joe about this guy??
August 6th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Love you guys call JTS a bust after one year as a starter and one year on the bench. When he blows up for 10 sacks, I hope y’all come back here and apologize for not letting a young man develop.
August 6th, 2023 at 2:16 pm
ATLBuc Says:
August 6th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
In case you didn’t notice, JTS beat his man and was in the backfield frequently. So he CAN teach YaYa that. Now when it comes to tackling the QB, that’s a different story.
___________
True story.
What’s Simeon Rice doing right now?
Maybe he could impart some knowledge to all our DE/OLBs.
August 6th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Was not JTS also called “freakishly athletic” out of college in TC?
That has worked out well…
August 6th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
I like YaYa, mostly because he says “yes ma’am”
He seems country, like Jamel Dean. That’s not a bad thing.
All he needs to do, is get after the football, or whoever has it?
No science degree needed, lol
August 6th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
I wonder why Diaby made it to the third round?
August 6th, 2023 at 4:16 pm
Fred McNeil I know its crazy – his measurables are first round level.
When I saw the draft I was like “How did we get this guy in the 3rd round?”
I read the scouting reports on him and universally they said he was raw and green.
Coach this kid up!
August 6th, 2023 at 4:50 pm
I believe he made I to the 3rd round because he only had one year of flash and production of the three seasons he was in Louisville.
August 6th, 2023 at 5:15 pm
JTS already had his chance, he is likely to be benched and YaYa will be a star, he is a young JPP
August 6th, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Comp:::
Whitney Mercilus
August 6th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Would be amazing to find an edge rusher at this point in the draft – if you get an edge rusher in the 3rd round, you almost win the entire draft with that one pick.
But we’ll see what happens in games, rookie pass rushers don’t normally do much – although they still do more than rookie DT’s normally do.
August 6th, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Voice of Truth … ‘Look what happened when we went 2nd team against lowly Atlanta?’
ANY team’s 2nd string will struggle against any NFL team’s 1st string. Today’s salary CAP just doesn’t allow teams to stockpile 1st string talent on 2nd & 3rd strings. One thing I have noticed though is that successful teams with stable coaching staffs seem to do better at developing their depth players (particularly the youngsters) even though they typically draft later than the less successful teams. I have a feeling that the addition of George Edwards to coach our OLBs is gonna pay big dividends this year.
August 6th, 2023 at 8:35 pm
I say play the rookie if at all possible. He has great upside potential. JTS looks like a stud, plays like a dud. By mid-season the rookie will improve a lot. JTS was no better in year two. The rookie could outplay him from the get go. It just comes down to the GM reluctant to admit JTS was a mistake.
August 7th, 2023 at 6:17 am
I am excited about the possibilities he brings to the defense. I don’t think he will be a liability in run defense either. Get him coached up Todd!
Go Bucs!