Bucs OLB Tryon-Shoyinka Could Be An X-Factor In 2022

When wanting on the 2022 Bucs, there are a number of gamers you would possibly take into account as essential to the group’s success. Tom Brady, Chris Godwin, Lavonte David, Vita Vea, Carlton Davis, Shaq Barrett and Devin White would all be affordable picks. However how far down would Joe Tryon-Shoyinka seem in your listing? Steven Ruiz of The Ringer not too long ago named 10 “non-superstars” who may form the upcoming NFL season, and he chosen Tryon-Shoyinka as a attainable X-factor for the Bucs. May the second-year participant be the rationale Tampa Bay does or doesn’t return to the Tremendous Bowl this yr?

Former First-Rounder May Be The Key For 2022 Bucs

How would possibly Tryon-Shoyinka, the No. 32 general choose within the 2021 Draft, impression Tampa Bay’s 2022 success? Here’s what Ruiz needed to say:

“Tryon-Shoyinka was relegated to a third-down position throughout his rookie season, and for good motive: The dude simply couldn’t make tackles. The primary-round choose missed 27.3 % of his deal with makes an attempt, per Professional Soccer Focus, which ranked ninth from the underside amongst certified edge rushers. Todd Bowles mainly didn’t have a alternative however to chop his snaps final season, particularly with extra dependable choices elsewhere on the depth chart.

Now that Jason Pierre-Paul is gone, although, Bowles can be compelled to present the younger edge rusher extra possibilities in 2022. And what Tryon-Shoyinka does with these snaps will in the end dictate the ceiling of this protection. If he can replicate JPP’s early-down run protection whereas enhancing on his late-down move dashing productiveness, the unit ought to look just like what we noticed in 2020, which was clearly ok to assist the Bucs win a Tremendous Bowl. If not, and groups are in a position to transfer the ball successfully and keep out of third-and-long conditions, when Bowles is at his most devious, then this group gained’t be practically as intimidating because it has been in recent times.”

It’s attention-grabbing that Ruiz centered on Tryon-Shoyinka’s run protection as the important thing to the Bucs’ success in 2022. The Bucs did take a step again in 2021 in rush protection. They fell from No. 1 within the NFL in 2020 all the best way to… No. 3. However it wasn’t like there was an enormous drop off from Pierre-Paul to Tryon-Shoyinka final yr. Sure, Pierre-Paul’s missed deal with price was a way more palatable 16.7%. However his PFF run protection grade was barely worse. And in a league the place passing is growing in prevalence every year, it’s exhausting to imagine that the run protection prowess of a single edge defender could be the lynchpin that might resolve a group’s Tremendous Bowl destiny.

The place Tryon-Shoyinka Can Actually Make A Distinction

Now, the place Ruiz could also be proper is on Tryon-Shoyinka being an vital cog within the Bucs machine. Tampa Bay may have a particular move rush in 2022. With an improved defensive inside and Shaq Barrett manning the opposite edge, the 23-year-old Tryon-Shoyinka might be the ultimate hyperlink. That’s the place his recreation must take the following step. He may take a major leap ahead and change into a 60-70 stress participant. If he does, it isn’t unreasonable to count on 9 to 11 sacks from him. And that sort of manufacturing will surely result in an improved Bucs move protection. And an improved move protection might be the distinction for Tampa Bay because it tries to make one other Tremendous Bowl run.