For years it’s been mentioned that Bucs inside linebacker Lavonte David and large receiver Mike Evans have been neglected and underrated throughout their careers in Tampa Bay. To a level that also rings true, however with David coming into his thirteenth NFL season and Evans going into 12 months 11, they’re every established no less than in crew historical past and have garnered extra reward nationally because the seasons go by.
So, after establishing the 2 all-timers, is there a brand new Bucs participant in line that may be carrying out greater than others are realizing? Apparently, the crew’s high sacker could possibly be subsequent.
In an article from Conor Orr on Sports activities Illustrated, he named one underrated participant from every NFL crew, breaking it as much as the AFC and NFC.
Yaya Diaby Named As Bucs’ Most Underrated Participant
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
When it got here time to select a Bucs participant, the one chosen was Tampa Bay’s outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby. That is what SI’s Connor Orr mentioned concerning the second-year edge rusher.
“There was an amazing play throughout Diaby’s rookie season through which he was setting the sting and bench-pressed Lions all-world offensive sort out Penei Sewell on a run play that was churning proper into his lap,after which he made the sort out. Diaby made a big variety of violent, eye-popping tackles final 12 months and is bodily sufficient to plow via a number of blockers. One other enormous sort out for loss he made towards the Tennessee Titans confirmed that Diaby may learn tendencies sufficient to know that Derrick Henry was working away from him, so he shoved his outdoors shoulder forward of his blocker and popped upfield for a straightforward (not likely simple towards Henry) sort out.
“Diaby had 7.5 sacks throughout his rookie 12 months and eight quarterback hits, incomes him a fifth-place end within the Defensive Rookie of the 12 months voting, regardless of Diaby taking part in simply 46% of the Bucs’ defensive snaps. If gamers have been a inventory, this seems like a great one to be on the bottom ground.”
Ought to Diaby Be Thought-about Underrated?
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and 49ers QB Brock Purdy – Photograph by: USA At present
Native followers could not appear to assume that Yaya Diaby is underrated, however to the nationwide viewers he could possibly be thought of as such. Yaya Diaby led the crew together with his 7.5 sacks, however the truth that he didn’t get the beginning nod till Week 12 in late November would most likely be why folks outdoors of Tampa Bay weren’t being attentive to him.
Whereas Diaby definitely burst onto the scene as a rookie, he went quiet in Tampa Bay’s two postseason video games final season with simply 4 tackles with no quarterback hits or sacks. Come playoff time, these video games are nationally televised so there would have a bigger viewers watching him play. The shortage of manufacturing shouldn’t be one thing to fret about and is probably going extra of a blip on the radar.
The excellent news for Tampa Bay and Diaby is that he appears larger and higher heading into the 2024 season. Diaby has already talked concerning the work he’s put in throughout this offseason from lifting applications to Pilates lessons and all types of tape that he has been finding out. The one drawback for Diaby has been on Sundays through the offseason when he tries to get into the fitness center on the crew’s amenities however it’s closed.
In an out of doors linebacker room that’s crammed to the brim with strong depth, Diaby looks as if the one certain match to be a starter this season. His snap rely is certain to extend and the chance to begin from Week 1 as an alternative of three months into the season will help his numbers balloon and get off to an amazing begin. That would result in larger sack numbers in 2024 – and with it extra nationwide recognition.
