A year ago at the combine in Indianapolis, Bucs coach Todd Bowles spoke about what might be holding back former first-round draft pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
“Finishing” at the top of the rush, Bowles said, separated JTS from being among the litany of Bucs’ swings and misses in the draft for a pass rusher and being a coveted stud.
Everything else but that, Bowles said over a year ago, and JTS was a fine player.
After a year of football, it seems as though JTS is still in the same spot. That’s what Joe took from Bowles’ remarks this morning. JTS just needs to finish, Bowles repeated.
“Obviously, you want to see a couple of sack numbers when he finishes, but everything else he does very well,” Bowles said. “We move him across the line [of scrimmage] a lot. He’s probably our most athletic guy down there that we do a lot of things with.
“Just continue to get better and understand the defense and take advantage of his opportunities.”
Well, JTS wasn’t drafted in the first round because he can play the run. And Joe seriously doubts JTS was drafted in the first round in 2021 because he may be able to cover a tight end in the flat on a pass play.
No, JTS was a first-round pick for his ability to put quarterbacks on their arses. He doesn’t do that well.
To be fair, JTS did improve last year. In his first two seasons JTS had four sacks each year. Last year he upped that to five.
And, the past three seasons, JTS has better production than mysterious Bucs outside linebacker Randy Gregory — yeah, he’s still with the Bucs.
With Chris Braswell being drafted in the second round this past spring and two guys the Bucs like to tout yet won’t give them snaps, Marquees Watts and practice squad warrior Jose Ramirez, hungry for snaps (if these two are as talented as the Bucs claim, why aren’t they on the field on Sundays?), JTS better start learning how to finish soon
Joe’s rooting for the guy, but there isn’t much sand left in that hourglass.
