By any name, Bucs’ Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is star of a dim preseason
TAMPA — For now, he will have to settle for knocking down lesser-known NFL quarterbacks such as the Bengals’ Brandon Allen and the Titans’ Matt Barkley.
But it doesn’t take much to imagine the Bucs’ first-round draft pick sacking passers named Prescott, Stafford and Newton.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, the player to be surnamed later, was the most feared pass rusher on the Bucs’ defense again and one of the only standouts in Saturday night’s 34-3 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans.
When he was drafted with the final pick of the opening round in April out of Washington, he was introduced as Joe Tryon. It remained that way until sometime after the first preseason game last week. Bucs equipment managers were informed that he wanted to add his father’s name of Shoyinka, which he also wore at the University of Washington.
After two preseason games, it’s obvious the only thing missing from Tryon-Shoyinka becoming a top-flight pass rusher was as simple as a hyphen.
Tryon-Shoyinka put together another solid stat line Saturday night: one tackle, two assists and a sack of Barkley with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. Officials ruled that Barkley was in the grasp or the play may have resulted in a fumble.
“He’s a beast,” defensive lineman Patrick O’Connor said of Tryon-Shoyinka, who didn’t play the second half. “He’s a monster. I think he’s going to be a great asset to our team in all aspects. Even on special teams, (special teams coach) Keith Armstrong always throws him in there for covering kicks and stuff, but he’s a monster. He’s a good athlete. He takes all the information like a sponge.”
At least this one counted. Last week, Tryon-Shoyinka sacked Allen but was flagged for a personal foul for using his body weight to tackle the Bengals quarterback.
Tryon-Shoyinka and O’Connor put consistent pressure on the Titans’ quarterbacks Saturday. O’Connor combined for three tackles, including one for a loss, and a sack. Second-year defensive tackle Khalil Davis and linebacker Grant Stuard (team-leading six tackles and a sack) also impressed.
With Tom Brady and nearly all the Bucs starters sitting out ― they will play significantly next Saturday at Houston in the final preseason game ― that’s what the game vs. the Titans was about.
“These games are so important to me just to show how versatile I can be from special teams to D-tackle to end, whatever it is,” O’Connor said. “I’ll play corner if they want me to, it doesn’t matter. Just show how versatile I can be in all aspects of the game and see what happens.”
Dropped passes were a big part of the story for the Bucs again and coach Bruce Arians wasn’t happy about that.
“You always go out there to win,” Arians said. “I was very disappointed at the start. Dropped passes. We threw the ball in this game because we ran the ball so much during the week I just wanted to evaluate quarterbacks and the offensive line in the passing game.”
A week ago vs. the Bengals, Stuard admitted he was nervous and looked overmatched, particularly in coverage as he makes a transition from a hybrid safety to linebacker.
“I think the last game I was kind of nervous and I didn’t think I was going to be,” said Stuard, the last player taken in the draft. “I got there and felt my arm shaking. But today I was a lot more calm and collected, and I was really focused on being a good teammate.”
The Bucs must cut at least five players to get to the NFL limit of 80 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Some helped themselves Saturday.
“(Stuard) made a couple plays,” Arians said. “He might have made it. ... (O’Connor) made it in this game. He’s just done it. Whether (Davis) has done enough on tape ... there’s guys fighting for jobs that showed up in this game.”
As for Tryon-Shoyinka? He’s already made a name for himself.
“I don’t have to say anymore about Joe,” Arians said. “He does what he does.”
• • •
Sign up for the Bucs RedZone newsletter to get updates and analysis on the latest team and NFL news from Bucs beat writer Joey Knight.
Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.
