Defensive Rookies Making An Impact
December 26th, 2023
Stat leader.
It appears the Bucs have a nice little foundation of good young players who will be the backbone of the defense for years.
First-round pick Calijah Kancey has been balling out since he had a stagnated start with a calf injury. Kancey has 10 tackles for loss, leading all NFL rookies. Another Bucs rookie is right behind him, per StatMuse.com.
Edge rusher/outside linebacker YaYa Diaby has nine tackles for loss. Diaby is tied with two other rookies for second-most tackles for loss.
And down the list at No. 8 for rookies with tackles for loss is nickel corner Christian Izien. He is one of six rookies tied with three.
So the Bucs have three rookies making impacts in opponents’ backfields. That’s a pretty good thing.
December 26th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Jason Licht had a good offseason with the draft, UDFAs and signing Baker. Pretty impressive, really.
December 26th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Where is Diaby on rook sacks?
December 26th, 2023 at 9:15 am
Cobra, Yaya is tied with Kobie Turner with 6 and 1/2 right now.
December 26th, 2023 at 9:15 am
* tied for the lead in sacks that is.
December 26th, 2023 at 9:24 am
No surprise here. Go Licht and Bowles!!
December 26th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Joe – you made a very valid point previously. An off season and a year in an NFL weight room will do wonders for the rookies on this team. Arrow pointing straight up.
December 26th, 2023 at 9:32 am
This draft class is the best since getting TW78 and AWjr31 in the same draft. Props to JL and his people for an outstanding draft.
December 26th, 2023 at 9:38 am
Does Diaby have a shot at DROY?
December 26th, 2023 at 9:40 am
I’d think so, esp if they flex the Saints game and he gets national exposure
December 26th, 2023 at 10:08 am
kancey = active
December 26th, 2023 at 10:09 am
yaya leading the league in rookie sacks
December 26th, 2023 at 10:52 am
Kancey getting no media love either. They are to busy drooling of Carter
December 26th, 2023 at 11:59 am
Schrager stumping for Yaya DROY online this morning. If Licht can knock another draft outta the park this team is going to be dangerous in 2024! Gotta bring back our studs though! Evans, David, Winfield, Wirfs, McLaughlin.
December 26th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
CK is ranked #4 on PFF’s inside defensive lineman. Give CK and Yaya and offseason and the Bucs’ DL will be a big problem next year.
PFF NFL RANKINGS – Inside DL
1. Dexter Laurence
2. Quinn Williams
3. Aaron Donald
4. Calijah Kancey
December 26th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Jason Licht so far appears to have had another great draft. In addition to Kancey and YaYa, you also have Cody looking good.
Plus Dennis has looked pretty good in spurts, if he can stay healthy he might be a starter one day, or at least a solid backup I think.
Durham has started to show-up in a few games (and you should never expect much from rookie TE’s). I’m still not sure about Durham, but he does have very good hands as he showed in college.
The fact they’re getting anything out of Trey Palmer is great. He shows all the signs of a guy who might be a third WR down the road, which is a homerun for a 6th rounder.
Then you got Izien as an UDFA, who should be a future starter or corner or perhaps safety.
That’s pretty much an A+ draft.
December 26th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
And we complain about Licht? He is hitting a lot of home runs. Even Ted Williams and Hank Aaron would strike out sometimes!
December 26th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
In Licht we trust!!!
December 26th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Told you about Kancey, told everyone on this platform since the day after Kancey was drafted. He is a beast and will be dominant for years to come. The other rookies are an unexpected bonus. Let’s Go Bucs!! What a wonderful surprise the Bucs are at this point in the season. It was doom and gloom for majority of this season and off-season prior. Think many were wrong about decisions made by coaching staff and Bucs player personnel management. Now let’s keep it going Bucs. Let’s do more, let’s not get blown out in first round of playoffs.
December 27th, 2023 at 1:59 am
So our guys are 1 and 2 in TFLs by rookies so far this season? Limited starts by both BTW.
If I’m not wrong thats two ROY candidates?
Yall still want to see Jason on the unemplyment line?
Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2023 at 5:21 am
Kancey, Mauch, Diaby, Izien, Hayes, Palmer, Merriweather, Tucker.
Wow.
Simply wow.