Bucs DL Rueben Bain.
For those who believe the research of this NFL stenographer, if you think Rueben Bain is going to go full-blown Joey Bosa this fall, well, perhaps not quite.
Think more like YaYa Diaby as a rookie.
Until recent years, say before 2015, rarely did defensive ends/edge rushers light up the league in their rookie seasons. But for the stars, watch out after that.
Over at SI.com, Eva Geitheim thinks Bucs fans should temper their expectations for first-round draft pick Rueben Bain this fall. Geitheim thinks Bain, as a rookie, will max out as an above-average Todd Bowles-type edge rusher.
Rookie stats prediction: 50 total tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble
The Buccaneers got the edge rush help they desperately needed in Rueben Bain Jr., who surprisingly fell to No. 15 in the draft. Bain notched 9.5 sacks in his final season at Miami, and should help improve Tampa’s edge rush as he reaches the NFL.
Joe did a bit of research and Bain’s predicted numbers from Geitheim are pretty close to what YaYa did as a rookie in 2023.
YaYa started seven games for the Bucs as a rookie. He had 38 tackles but reached his career (so far) peak of 7.5 sacks that season. YaYa also had two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Let’s compare Bain’s projected numbers with a couple of other Bucs defensive linemen as rookies.
Vita Vea, playing for former Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith in 2018, had three sacks, 28 tackles and no forced fumbles or fumble recoveries in eight starts and 13 games.
Calijah Kancey, playing and starting in 14 games in 2023, had four sacks and 26 tackles with no forced fumbles or fumble recoveries. But Kancey did have a pass defensed!
Joe does not want to see Bain defending any passes this fall. Just. Rush. The. Quarterback!
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