CLEVELAND, Ohio — Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, the 32nd pick in the 2021 draft and a new member of the Browns' defensive line, has all the physical tools NFL teams covet in a pass rusher.
The former University of Washington star is long, athletic, and plays with a great motor. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Tryon-Shoyinka has shown flashes of brilliance, but his minimal impact does not match his elite skill set. Through his first fours years in Tampa Bay, Tryon-Shoyinka played in 66 games and had 138 total tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks, one forced fumble, and eight deflected passes.
The Browns are hoping for more productivity.
Below are some clips that demonstrate the length and athleticism of Tryon-Shovinka.
In Tampa, he won his battles with pure talent and must work on his craft and the finer details of being a pass rusher to become more impactful.
There are two reasons the 26-year old did not have the impact his skill set suggests he should have:
1. Defined role
Tryon-Shoyinka’s athleticism allows him to play multiple spots both on the defensive line and on the second level as a linebacker. He can rush the passer, play in space, cover multiple offensive positions, and play with his hand either on the ground or standing.
Unfortunately for Tryon-Shoyinka in Tampa, while he became good at many aspects of playing defense, he was a master of none. In a Jim Schwartz defense, Tryon-Shoyinka can focus on being a pass rusher and learning from All-Pro Myles Garrett.
One of Tryon-Shoyinka’s weaknesses is a very amateur pass rush plan. Learning from Garrett, playing in a defined role, and being in a scheme that maximizes his skill set will allow the newest Brown to flourish.
2. Game Repetitions
Tryon-Shoyinka has played a ton of different positions, but he only played in about 50% of the available snaps in each of his first four years in the NFL. Last year, for example, he played just 539 snaps, 55% of the available snaps, during 15 games, 11 of which he was a starter.
After his return from an ankle injury late in the year, he was used only as a rotational player. Not only does he lack repetitions, but he also sat out the 2020 season in college because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As he comes to Cleveland, Tryon-Shoyinka will have a defined role opposite Garrett as a long-yardage pass rush specialist. More than anything else, he will be able to practice his craft as a pass rusher. He can work on creating angles, using his hands, bending the edge, and perfecting counter moves all without other responsibilities.
Below is look at a poor play from Treyon-Shoyinka in the season opener against Washington and quarterback Jayden Daniels.
On this third-and-4 situation, Treyon-Shoyinka is lined up against the massive 6-foot-8, 340-pound Commander tackle Cornelius Lucas, who the Browns also just signed.
Treyon-Shoyinka’s best chance to get to the quarterback is to use his speed and get to the edge of Lucas. Instead, he rushes directly at Lucas and gets stalemated by the much bigger tackle. Not only does Treyon-Shoyinka not create any pressure, but he also doesn’t set the edge and allows Daniels to scramble for 17 yards and a first down.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.cleveland.com
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.cleveland.com
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.cleveland.com
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's defensive troubles vs. the Commanders.cleveland.com
Expectations for Tryon-Shoyinka
The Buccaneers most likely did not pick up the fifth-year option of the newest Brown because of his lack of sack production. By all accounts, he was a great teammate, played with energy, and did what he was asked to do from his coaches.
Unfortunately for Tryon-Shoyinka, being coachable and playing hard is not enough at the NFL level. A player’s value to an organization is based on his production. That being said, Tampa did not maximize his skill set and set him up for failure by never defining his role and getting him the necessary repetitions needed to master his craft.
The expectations are very clear for Tryon-Shoyinka as he gets a fresh start in Cleveland: Get to the quarterback.
He must take advantage of the opportunity to learn from Garrett. If he does, he may flourish. Garrett’s presence on the field is such a game-changer, and it should definitely open up opportunities for Tryon-Shoyinka to take advantage of one-on-one matchups and show off his athleticism.
Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history.
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