Although the Bucs do have a number of long-time veterans on protection, equivalent to inside linebacker Lavonte David and nostril sort out Vita Vea, they’re are also arrange effectively as a result of they’ve a younger core of gamers. Tampa Bay’s future appears shiny as a top-level protection within the league, however the accountability falls on the shoulders of a pair gamers particularly.
The brand new period of Tampa Bay’s cross rush and general defensive position play will come from second 12 months gamers in defensive sort out Calijah Kancey and out of doors linebacker Yaya Diaby. Every had their moments final 12 months as Kancey burst onto the scene after lastly overcoming his calf harm that price him the primary month of the season. He notched 4 sacks and 10 tackles for loss within the common season and added one other 1.5 sacks within the playoffs. Diaby was named the beginning exterior linebacker with 9 video games to go and ended up main the group in sacks with 7.5.
Bucs’ Younger Stars Have Gone Underneath The Radar
Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby and DT Calijah Kancey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
It’s a dynamic duo that has set the Bucs up for years to dominate the road of scrimmage. They got an enormous shoutout as effectively by NFL Community’s Sara Walsh on the NFL Insiders, which was hosted by Tom Pelissero and in addition had Fox NFL analyst and former offensive lineman Brian Baldinger on the day. Walsh made some nice factors about why they will succeed this 12 months.
“It’s at all times been well-known what a Todd Bowles protection can do, however I believe what’s flown just a little bit beneath the radar no less than nationally, is a pair of fellows that had been rookies final 12 months in Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby,” Walsh mentioned. “Kancey, a defensive sort out, and Diaby, an out of doors linebacker, and a part of the rationale they went just a little bit beneath the radar final 12 months is as a result of they didn’t actually discover their footing till midway via.
“Kancey suffered an harm in coaching camp, didn’t actually get going till Week 6, however then he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in November and he had 10 tackles for loss. That’s second amongst rookies solely to his teammate Yaya Diaby, who then wound up beginning the final 9 recreation this season for the Buccaneers. Diaby had 7.5 sacks to steer Tampa Bay, these two collectively, mixed their numbers, 20 quarterback hits, 59 quarterback pressures, 11.5 sacks and so they’re actually simply getting began is the sense there.”
Movie Breakdown
Brian Baldinger, who was additionally on the episode, was lately complimenting Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby along with his notorious Baldy’s Breakdowns. In his first put up, he highlighted the best way Diaby moved on sure stunts alongside the defensive position, with the final clip additionally having Kancey in it.
The second video, which he posted proper afterwards, was centered on Kancey and the cross-chop that discovered him success with some cross rushes in every of Tampa Bay’s postseason video games.
Baldinger additionally spoke on the NFL Insiders episode about Kancey and the general ranges that the Bucs’ protection can attain with their younger star gamers taking one other step.
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“He’s a employee,” Baldinger mentioned. “That man, I felt actually dangerous when he pulled that calf within the preseason, it actually knocked him out. However what you noticed is these guys improved because the season went on. Generally you nearly should redshirt these younger defensive linemen and wait until the second 12 months, I believe they’re each going to take an enormous 12 months of development.
“The man’s on the market every single day within the Florida warmth and humidity, he’s on the market engaged on his recreation. It by no means actually ends. He by no means stops working. I believe each these gamers are actually going to take an enormous step ahead for this protection. I believe with Vita Vea and a number of the different guys there, this must be a great problem within the NFC South coping with these two younger, progressing defensive linemen.”
Try the entire phase with Walsh and Baldinger on the NFL Insiders present.
