Tag: YaYa Diaby

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby honored by Senior Bowl after stellar rookie season

Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby is still reaping rewards after his impressive rookie season in 2023

Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby was honored Wednesday by the Senior Bowl, the premier all-star game for top NFL prospects, following his stellar rookie season in 2023.

Diaby was named the Senior Bowl’s 2023 Co-Rookie of the Year, along with Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young.

A third-round pick out of Louisville in last year’s NFL draft, Diaby made an instant impact for the Bucs, leading the team with 7.5 sacks.

Congrats to Diaby on a well-earned award as he prepares to build on last year’s success in 2024.

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Bucs had more rookie snaps in 2023 than any other NFL team

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ impressive 2023 season came despite playing their rookies more than any other team in the NFL

Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were expected by many to return to the bottom of the NFL standings following the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

Instead, they won a third straight NFC South title and made a fourth consecutive playoff appearance, falling just short of making a trip to the NFC Championship Game.

They did that despite relying heavily on their rookie class, more so than any other team in the league, in fact. Tampa Bay’s rookies played a total of 5,660 snaps in 2023, more than any other team.

Led by defensive studs like Calijah Kancey, Yaya Diaby and Christian Izien, as well as key contributors on offense like Cody Mauch and Trey Palmer, the Bucs got immediate results from their first-year players in 2023, which played a large part in their success.

Imagine what that group will do this year.

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Bucs’ Calijah Kancey, Yaya Diaby primed for big things in 2024

After fantastic rookie seasons, these two Tampa Bay Buccaneers defenders are set to take things to another level next year

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers landed a pair of instant-impact players for their defense in the 2023 NFL draft, as defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby both made an immediate splash last season.

Kancey, a first-round pick out of Pitt, overcame a calf injury that slowed the start of his rookie campaign, finishing on a dominant tear to finish his first year in the NFL.

A third-rounder out of Louisville, Diaby racked up 7.5 sacks as a rookie, proving to be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft.

Earlier this week at the NFL’s league meetings in Orlando, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles talked about why he’s expecting even bigger things from both players moving forward:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LOvUnIMjICw

When combined with other high-caliber defenders like All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and future Hall of Fame linebacker Lavonte David, Kancey and Diaby should help take the Tampa Bay defense to another level in 2024.

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WATCH: Top plays from Yaya Diaby’s impressive rookie season

Check out all the top plays from Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby’s dominant rookie campaign in 2023

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking for more pass-rushing upside when they spent their third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Louisville’s Yaya Diaby, and after just one season, it’s safe to say that’s exactly what they found.

Diaby was one of the best rookie pass rushers in the entire NFL last season, racking up 7.5 sacks, and making tons of big plays for the Tampa Bay defense.

After the Bucs moved on from veteran Shaq Barrett this offseason, Diaby heads into his sophomore campaign as Tampa Bay’s top edge defender.

Before he builds on last year’s success in 2024, let’s take a look back at Diaby’s top plays from his impressive rookie season:

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NFL.com ranks Bucs 2023 draft class in middle of pack

The ranking seems a little low given how frequently Tampa Bay’s draft class contributed in 2023.

Tampa Bay’s rookie draft class was a big part of its 2023 team, but despite that, some aren’t convinced it was one of the better ones in the league.

NFL.com recently ranked every rookie draft class in 2023, and the Bucs came in at a staggering 16th of 32 teams. Writers Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter mostly gave praise to the Bucs’ class, particularly on defense — they highlighted the good work of both Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby and wrote that offensive prospects like Cody Mauch and Trey Palmer.

16th seems a little low for how much Tampa Bay’s rookie class contributed. As the article itself mentions, 15 Bucs rookies appeared in at least one game throughout the season and only one player in its draft class, edge rusher Jose Ramirez, didn’t get any game snaps. Diaby had a spectacular 7.5-sack season and Calijah Kancey was good enough to win an NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month award.

All these players will be entering Year 2 next year, and should even most of them hit a stride and break out into solid contributors once again, the Bucs could get even better in 2024.

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What went right, what went wrong for the Bucs in 2023

It was a mixed bag for Tampa Bay in their 9-8 season — see what the Bucs did well and what they can improve on going into 2024.

Very few anticipated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reach the heights they did during the 2023 NFL season. When QB Tom Brady announced his second retirement after the Bucs’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 Wild Card round, it triggered a complete reset of the offense. Trying to return back to a division-contending level-of-play while also dealing with several personnel changes was a large task to overcome as Tampa Bay looked ahead to the 2023 season.

Despite all odds, the Bucs won the NFC South for the third consecutive season and reached the NFC Divisional round, where it fell 31-23 to the Detroit Lions. There were several things that went right during Tampa Bay’s transition year. However, there was plenty that could’ve been improved upon. Before we get to what went wrong, we’ll highlight some of the good from the Bucs’ 2023 season.

Eagles eliminated from playoffs after 32-9 loss to Buccaneers

Eagles eliminated from playoffs after 32-9 loss to Buccaneers

The Eagles are set for a dramatic overhaul following the team’s shocking 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia was 0-11 on third and fourth downs combined, tallying 268 total yards on ten offensive drives in a sloppy affair that saw missed tackles and no answer for the Tampa blitz as the Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on the night.

Baker Mayfield outplayed Jalen Hurts, going 22-36 passing for 337 yards, three touchdowns, and 0 interceptions with a 119 quarterback rating.

Rachaad White was strong on the ground, rushing 18 times for 62 yards on the night.

The Eagles will now head into an uncertain offseason, having lost six of the final seven games played, and an overhaul could include head coach Nick Sirianni with the likes of Jim Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, and others available after mass changes around the league.

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Eagles Twitter reacts to humiliating 32-9 loss to Buccaneers in wild-card round

We’re looking at the social media reaction from Philadelphia fans after the Eagles loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round

The Eagles are set for a dramatic overhaul, and there’s nobody safe outside of Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Carter following the team’s shocking 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia was 0-11 on third and fourth downs combined, tallying 268 total yards on ten offensive drives in a sloppy affair that saw missed tackles and no answer for the Tampa blitz as the Eagles were held to 38 rushing yards on the night.

With a long offseason set to begin, here’s how Twitter reacted to the madness.

Eagles vs. Bucs: 10 takeaways from first half as Tampa leads 16-9 in NFC wild card game

We’re looking at then takeaways from the first half as tthe Buccaneers hold a 16-9 lead over the Eagles in the NFC wild card game

The Eagles were nearly run out of Raymond James Stadium, but after some timely drops by the Buccaneers and a renewed effort on defense, they trailed 16-9 at halftime.

Julio Jones had three catches in the first half for 22 yards before exiting with a concussion, and Philadelphia held Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to a combined two catches for 30 yards on seven targets.

With the second half set to begin, we’re looking at takeaways from a hard-fought first half.

Eagles vs. Bucs inactives: Avonte Maddox to start at safety with Reed Blankenship ruled out

Reed Blankenship is among seven Eagles ruled out for Philadelphia’s wild card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles will be without two key starters for tonight’s NFC Wild Card Round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Reed Blankenship was ruled out with a groin injury.

Blankenship was listed as questionable, but after a light pregame workout, the talented safety will miss Monday’s matchup at Raymond James Stadium.

All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown will also be out with a knee injury suffered in the Week 18 loss to the Giants.

Jalen Hurts was a limited participant during Thursday’s practice before being upgraded to a full participant on Friday and Saturday.

Cornerback Darius Slay, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and D’Andre Swift were full participants in the final practice of the week and had no game status designations.