To say that Bucs outside linebacker YaYa Diaby has exceeded expectations would be an understatement. If we were all told that a rookie third-round draft pick by Tampa Bay would lead the Bucs with 7.5 sacks this year, not many many would have bought it.
What made the 7.5 sacks from Diaby even that much more spectacular was that he wasn’t a starter on the edge until Week 11 when he received more playing time. That means YaYa Diaby started in just seven games this year and averaged a sack per start.
There’s more to Diaby’s game than just getting to the quarterback. He was second on the Bucs with 12 tackles for loss, trailing only stud linebacker Lavonte David. Diaby has pitched in for the defense in many areas with 39 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble receivers.
This Is Only The Beginning For YaYa Diaby
As much of an entertaining surprise it’s been to see YaYa Diaby hit the ground running so quick with his opportunity, he doesn’t even feel he’s scratched the surface yet.
“Even though I had this regular season (that) I had, I still feel like I left a lot on the table,” YaYa Diaby said while appearing on the Pewter Report Podcast. “For me, I get happy, but at the same time I’m never a guy who gets satisfied with stuff like that because I know I left a lot out this year and I know I can improve.
“That’s what I will do. I will improve and I will keep getting better to be able to get in that double-digit sack year. And as I always say, do what I can to help this team out to keep wining our division and keep getting those opportunities and to have those opportunities to get to the Super Bowl.”
Double-digit sack seasons don’t come around as often as they once did for the Bucs. Jason Pierre-Paul recorded 12.5 sacks in 2018 and broke a very long drought by becoming the first Bucs’ defender to accomplish a double-digit sack season since 2005 when Simeon Rice tallied 14.
More recently Shaq Barrett had a historic 2019 season breaking the Bucs’ single-season sack record with 19.5 sacks, and two years later hit 10. In each of those years Barrett made the Pro Bowl. The Bucs are two years removed from having a double-digit sacker, but YaYa Diaby could be next in line and it’s on his mind as the next goal.
The Bucs’ Next Player With 10-Plus Sacks?
“Of course, of course,” YaYa Diaby said when asked about a 10-plus sack season in his future. “This year, just like I’ve said, it’s been a good year. But I’m hungry to get to double-digit sacks. This offseason I’m going to look at what I can, look over film and look at what I needed to work on and what I can do also look at other pass rushers and try to emulate the greats.
“Like right now the T.J.s (Watt), the Myles Garretts – all the guys that I look up to right now. So I feel like that’s what I need to do this offseason to be able to reach those double digits.”
Diaby’s season isn’t done yet either. The Bucs host the reeling Eagles in the first round of the playoffs at Raymond James Stadium on Monday night, and who knows what this run could look like. This could be another opportunity to put on a show in a public setting to help people recognize that Diaby is a legitimate pass rushing threat.
YaYa Diaby Tells Pewter Report The Key To Defeating The Eagles
On the latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast, YaYa Diaby gave Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera an early breakdown on what it’s going to take for the Bucs to beat the Eagles and move on to the second round of the playoffs.
“What we’ve been focusing on, (is) stopping the run,” Diaby said. “That’s what we lacked when we played them last time was stopping the run. I know they’re going to look at their film, we’re going to look at our film, they’re going to see what hurt us and they’re going to try and do it again.
“This time we got to be ready and put our big boy pants on. Speaking for the front line, we got to put our big boy pants on and get the job done.”
Check out the full interview with Diaby on the Pewter Report Podcast on our PewterReportTV Youtube channel by clicking the link below.
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