People were caught snoozing on the Buccaneers last season.
YaYa Diaby thinks doubters are in for a similar wake-up call in 2024, especially with all the talent on the defensive side of the ball.
"It's great, man, having guys like Calijah (Kancey) with me, you got Logan Hall, even Vita (Vea) -- he's a vet, but you know you've got to love Vita," Diaby told Rhett Lewis at the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony this weekend. "You've got Joe (Tryon-Shoyinka), and all the young guys, and we just got Chris Braswell, and it's just awesome, man. I just feel like a lot of people are asleep on Tampa's defense, but I feel like this year, we're going to really wake a lot of people up."
The Buccaneers defense was an integral part of of Tampa Bay's surprise NFC South three-peat last season, but the unit might not get the flowers it deserves thanks to its dependence on a bend-but-don't-break approach.
Diaby and Co. were a bottom-10 unit in regard to surrendering yards, but they routinely tightened as the field got shorter to rank seventh in the NFL in points allowed.
If they can clamp down on the yards this go-around, the Bucs could indeed make noise that catches people's attention.
The players Diaby highlighted for praise were all at the pass-rushing level, where Shaquil Barrett will noticeably be absent this season after five years with the team.
With Kancey and Hall on either side of Vea at nose tackle, the edge will be populated by Diaby and teammates like Tryon-Shoyinka, who must prove himself after his fifth-year rookie option was declined, and Braswell, a second-rounder who will be hoping to prove himself from the start of his rookie deal.
All of the aforementioned players, save Vea, are young enough to have missed the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV victory, but they are familiar with Tampa Bay's recent run of divisional success and hungry to keep it going.
That especially includes Diaby, who, despite starting just seven games as a rookie still getting his head on straight, led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2023. He's spent the offseason preparing himself for the wear of becoming a more full-time player, hopeful he can build on the stellar foundation he's laid to help the Bucs continue on surprising.
"I'm super excited, man, for me I done changed my body up, so I can be able to play more snaps and be in more," Diaby said. "And just for me it's the growth I'm seeing in myself from OTAs these past couple weeks, just being able to pick up on things. Last year I was in my head a lot, being a rookie and not knowing a lot and being in coach (Todd) Bowles' defense. That's a lot for a rookie to come in and take on. So going into Year 2, I'm super confident, and just talking about it gets me excited, because of how ready I am to go."
