Pass Rush Not As Ferocious Today
August 1st, 2024
Big man made a difference.
Yes, Joe is deeply troubled from seeing YaYa Diaby on the ground and Tristan Wirfs kneeling beside him.
Flashbacks of Ryan Jensen crumbling to the ground with what turned out to be a career-killing knee injury nearly had Joe convulse into projectile vomiting. Thankfully, Joe saw YaYa walk into the cart under his own power as he was wheeled back to One Buc Palace.
Diaby went down late in practice, with just a few minutes left. Ugly timing.
Unlike Tuesday night when the pass rush jostled, mocked and robbed Bucs quarterbacks, that wasn’t the case today. Oh, there were some good pass rushes.
Anthony Nelson, who is quietly having a very solid camp, would have splashed Kyle Trask if he was allowed to hit a quarterback.
Then there was José Ramirez, who in this particular play was at right outside linebacker going up against the NFL’s newest rich left tackle, Wirfs. Just on face value that’s not just an unfair matchup, it’s an obscene matchup.
But Joe has to give Ramirez credit. Not only did he hold his own against, he actually was able to pressure the pocket to force a quarterback to adjust. Wirfs made sure he was in no position to get a sack but he did make Wirfs work. So that was a good sign.
Then there was UDFA Kalen DeLoach (Florida State) with a pair of sacks. Other than that, it was rather quiet for the pass rush.
But there was one big difference between Tuesday and this morning. That would be Wirfs. He was not on the field during 11-on-11 or red zone sessions Tuesday night as he was a hold-in. Obviously, that’s no longer the case and he was on the field for the full practice today.
(When Wirfs stepped onto the practice fields this morning, he got a huge bear hug from Bucs coach Todd Bowles.)
So yeah, it stands to reason the pass rush numbers and opportunities today dropped with Wirfs back on the field.
Who woulda thunk?
August 1st, 2024 at 11:35 am
Makes sense the best lineman back on the field would make a noticeable impact. Now wrap him in bubble wrap until the season starts.
As far as Yaya I read his Achilles is intact and they are waiting on x-ray to rule out any fracture. If negative they think it’s a sprain and/or bone bruise…. Let’s hope the news continues its positive trend.
August 1st, 2024 at 11:37 am
Please not Yaya
August 1st, 2024 at 11:42 am
On Yaya and the Pass rush …
1. Next Man Up: Nelson, Braswell, Ramirez, Watts, JTS
2. I heard Hall is making plays. Sack and Pick 6. Great sign.
3. Time for CK to make his presence known. He’s been too quiet.
INTERESTING FACTIOD OF THE DAY
Bucs rookie WR Jalen McMillan is the son of former NBA Super Sonic and NBA Coach Nate McMillan. If you recall, Nate ran with Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. His job was to guard Michael Jordan in the finals. Dude was tough as nails and dead serious. Great Portland Blazers coach for a while. Anyways, Jalen has some good genes and a great sports upbringing.
August 1st, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Yaya’s X-Ray was normal so no fracture. MRI pending. Could be high ankle sprain with ligament damage or bone bruise. Both those injuries can take months to heal….hope it’s not severe.
August 1st, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Sly pirate! Thank you for the tid bit. Good to know. Micmillan was a high character guy and a darned good player. Level mooded; never too high never too low. If his son is anything like him, we have a keeper.
August 1st, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Wirfs coming back will definitely slow the pass rush. With the brutally good pash rush lately, I have to wonder about our swing tackles, Skule and Walton. Licht should keep an eye out for a swing tackle to upgrade over Skule and Walton.