Unknown stenographer from BSPN expects a Haason Reddick breakout.
If Bucs outside linebacker/edge rusher Haason Reddick wants to prove to the world how 2024 was a fluke for his career, today is the day to demonstrate it.
Reddick is expected to go against backup Dixie Chicks tackle Elijah Wilkinson who is believed to be starting today for injured Atlanta tackle Kaleb McGary. Per an unknown stenographer with the four-letter, Wilkinson is about as bad a pass-blocking tackle as one can find in the NFL.
This is the first test to see what Reddick has left in the tank after his lost year with the Jets. It should be an easy one to clear.
Wilkinson will play right tackle for the Falcons with Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton injured. The last time Wilkinson played tackle was in 2021. And over the course of more than 1,300 snaps at tackle between 2019 to 2021, Wilkinson recorded a 73% pass block win rate. That mark would have ranked last among qualifying tackles in 2024.
Reddick, who recorded double-digit sacks in every season from 2020 to 2023, held out for the first six weeks of 2024 due to a contract dispute with the Jets. After returning, he recorded just one sack and a career-low 12% pass rush win rate over 10 games. If Reddick finds a way back to his old form, he should have no problem beating Wilkinson and being a real threat to Michael Penix Jr. But if he can’t produce, this game could be a rough sign for the rest of the Reddick’s season.
Well, the key here is Bucs coach/de facto defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. We all know he doesn’t value an edge rush. Or at least, he doesn’t value it like the rest of the NFL does.
Bowles loves to see his edge rushers pretend they are safeties and his safeties pretend they are Bruce Smith. This cockamamie philosophy, Joe believes, is exactly why the Bucs, since Bowles arrived in Tampa in 2019, has had a pass defense ranked in the 20s for passing yards allowed but for one year, Bowles’ first season as Bucs coach, which also happened to be the only time Bowles has had a losing record leading the Bucs.
Coincidence? No, Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences in football.
So the moral to the story is, Reddick cannot get one sack if Bowles doesn’t send him after Michael Penix. If Reddick sits back in pass coverage, it’s awfully hard to rack up sacks.
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