Buccaneers: What happens to Carl Nassib when Jason Pierre-Paul returns?
By Cory Kinnan
The Buccaneers are preparing for the return of last year’s sack leader Jason Pierre-Paul; what does this mean for Carl Nassib?
The return is near. Last year’s team leader in sacks, Jason Pierre-Paul, is once again practicing and set to return for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the bye week against the Tennessee Titans. As the Bucs plan for JPP’s debut, how do they plan to use him, and what does it mean for Carl Nassib?
In Pierre-Paul’s absence, Nassib has been starting opposite 2019 defensive star Shaquil Barrett at outside linebacker for the pewter and red defense. The fourth year player out of Penn State has gained a reputation in the locker room, leading to his election as a team captain this year for the Buccaneers.
However, through six games this year, Nassib is on a slower pace than he was a year ago when he served in just a rotational role. Through this first portion of the season, Nassib has recorded just two sacks, five tackles for loss, and five hits on the quarterback.
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At this current pace that Nassib is on, he is heading towards a 2019 statline of five sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 13 hits on the quarterback as the starting outside linebacker in Todd Bowles’ defense. Last year as a rotational piece for the Buccaneers, Nassib finished the year with six and a half sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 14 hits on the quarterback.
Nassib is grading out at a replaceable 64.3 according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). For comparison, his counterpart in Barrett is grading out at a 78.9, and Vita Vea is grading out at a 77.4. Through the first six games of the season, Nassib is only grading out higher than Ndamukong Suh along the defensive front for the Bucs.
Other than transitioning from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker, what has caused the slow start to Nassib’s 2019 season in significantly more playing time? More importantly, has Nassib’s dip in production this year put him in a position to lose his starting role with the return of Pierre-Paul?
Next. 3 bye week changes Tampa Bay Buccaneers should make. dark
Do not expect Carl Nassib to be replaced by JPP in the starting lineup right away, but as Jason Pierre-Paul gets healthier, he could usurp the role from him if the production is not there. Right now it looks like Nassib is better fit for a reserve role than one as a starter, but there is still time for him to change minds.