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About the Author: Scott Reynolds

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Scott Reynolds is in his 30th year of covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the vice president, publisher and senior Bucs beat writer for PewterReport.com. Author of the popular SR's Fab 5 column on Fridays, Reynolds oversees web development and forges marketing partnerships for PewterReport.com in addition to his editorial duties. A graduate of Kansas State University in 1995, Reynolds spent six years giving back to the community as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his sons' Pop Warner team, the South Pasco Predators. Reynolds can be reached at: [email protected]
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It’s time for the Bucs to protect Jason Pierre-Paul from himself.

Pierre-Paul, who is playing through a torn rotator cuff and a broken finger, took to Twitter on Tuesday and revealed how difficult it is to play through his shoulder injury. His shoulder is in so much pain that he is having trouble sleeping – understandably so.

Pierre-Paul has previously stated that he prefers playing every snap if he could, and his career boasts the fact that he’s been a high-snap player most of the years he’s been in the league. When he’s healthy – or at least healthier – that means double-digit sack seasons and/or Pro Bowl appearances.

Pierre-Paul is a warrior. He’s a leader and he wants to be out there on game days helping his teammates.

Pierre-Paul’s dedication to his team and his willingness to play through pain is both admirable and remarkable.

But is it time to give Pierre-Paul a few more games to rest up before the playoffs this year? Is Pierre-Paul needed more against Washington, the New York Giants and Indianapolis? Or would a rested Pierre-Paul be more effective against Dallas, Green Bay and the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs?

It’s something the Bucs should be considering right now. But they’re not.

Tampa Bay will once again trot a severely wounded JPP out there on Sunday at Washington and likely play him a ridiculous amount of snaps. All despite having an able-bodied replacement in Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

Bucs Olb Jason Pierre-Paul

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior,” Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles recently said of Pierre-Paul. “He’s a guy you want on the field at all times. Of course, we don’t want anybody playing injured. And that’s part of the ballgame if you do get injured. But we love his leadership, we love his action coming back there. It’s been a little hard to grab the quarterback with the club on his hand, but he is getting the pressure that we ask him to get. So I’m happy with it.”

It’s to the point where the Bucs seem willing to have Pierre-Paul not even practice during the week and just have him play on Sunday, which is fine. But it’s becoming obvious that playing in the games – especially with a ridiculously high snap count – isn’t helping Pierre-Paul. It’s hurting him, and possibly the team.

Pierre-Paul missed the Rams and Patriots games in Weeks 3-4 due to his injures. Tryon-Shoyinka, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick, played well in his place. The rookie recorded four tackles, two sacks and a pass breakup in those two games.

Tryon-Shoyinka, who is a future starter and the heir apparent to the 32-year old Pierre-Paul, has seen his playing time diminish with JPP’s return to action in Week 5 against Miami. Pierre-Paul notched half-a-sack at Philadelphia in Week 6 and a pair of sacks and a forced fumble against Chicago the next week. In the Bucs’ loss to the Saints, Pierre-Paul had three tackles and a pair of pass breakups.

Pierre-Paul’s play hasn’t been bad, but it’s obvious the injuries have limited his production, as he has just 2.5 sacks this season. He’s missed some tackles and sacks he would normally get if he was healthy and not dealing with his ailing left shoulder and the club on his right hand.

Here is a look at the snap counts and corresponding production between Pierre-Paul and Tyron-Shoyinka over the past four games.

WEEK 5 vs. Miami
Pierre Paul – 41 snaps (76 percent) – 3 tackles
Tryon-Shoyinka – 17 snaps (31 percent) – 1 tackle

WEEK 6 at Philadelphia
Pierre Paul – 41 snaps (79 percent) – 2 tackles, half sack
Tryon-Shoyinka – 19 snaps (37 percent) – 2 tackles

WEEK 7 vs. Chicago
Pierre Paul – 39 snaps (59 percent) – 4 tackles, 2 sacks, FF
Tryon-Shoyinka – 37 snaps (56 percent) – 1 tackle

WEEK 8 at New Orleans
Pierre Paul – 68 snaps (89 percent) – 3 tackles, 2 pass breakups
Tryon-Shoyinka – 8 snaps (11 percent) – 1 tackle

Tryon-Shoyinka has averaged just 34 percent of the snaps over the last four games – less than half of what the injured Pierre-Paul has been getting. In fact, when Pierre-Paul’s snaps were reduced and Tryon-Shoyinka’s were increased in the Bucs’ 38-3 win over the Bears, JPP was actually more effective, statistically speaking.

Surgery would likely be the only thing to relieve Pierre-Paul’s pain. And that’s not coming until the offseason, apparently.

So why not limit Pierre-Paul’s snaps to 50-60 percent of plays rather than the 75 percent of snaps he’s been averaging since his return to the lineup? Wouldn’t it be wise to preserve JPP for the playoffs, when he will be needed most?

Bucs Olb Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: USA Today

Wouldn’t Tryon-Shoyinka benefit from experience that only comes from more playing time?

I’ve covered a lot of absolute warriors in over two decades of reporting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ronde Barber. Warren Sapp. Brad Johnson. Mike Alstott. Derrick Brooks. John Lynch. Tom Brady. Pierre-Paul is up there with those Bucs legends.

The great ones were great because they were not only ultra-talented, but they rarely came off the field. They played hurt and for the most part they still played at an extremely high level. For example, Barber turned in the greatest play in franchise history, his 92-yard pick-six at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game, while playing with a torn PCL.

And of course Brady went wire-to-wire helping the Bucs win Super Bowl LV last year with a torn MCL.

But there is a time when the injuries are just too great that it succumbs the player. Or at least limits his effectiveness.

Johnson suffered broken vertebrae in his back during the Bucs’ Super Bowl run that caused him to miss three games at the end of the 2002 regular season. He healed up enough to return for the playoffs and helped guide Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl championship.

The Bucs should consider giving Pierre-Paul a few weeks off to see if the pain can subside somewhat. Maybe the Pro Bowler’s effectiveness can increase down the stretch, when his veteran experience would will crucial.

If not, then at least limit JPP’s snaps on Sunday to prevent further damage to the shoulder that could ultimately put him on injured reserve.

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