Major Changes For Jose Ramirez Leads To 3-Sack Performance

If there’s anything that could be considered a historic moment in a preseason game, Bucs’ outside linebacker Jose Ramirez recording three sacks on Saturday night against the Jaguars comes close to it. Ramirez, Tampa Bay’s sixth-round pick from a year ago, had his breakout performance with a hat trick of sacks, paving the way for an evening that saw the Bucs record five on the opponent.

Following his standout game, Jose Ramirez shared his thoughts on his best outing as a Buccaneer.

Jos Ramirez Reflects On Saturday Night’s Hat Trick

“Shoot, first of all, I’m thankful God gave me the day to get on that field and play the sport I like to play,” Jose Ramirez said. “I felt good. The DBs were doing their job. Everybody was doing their job compressing the pocket, and I just ended up with the sack. Everybody was getting there, so I was just the one that got there. It’s just a race to the quarterback.”

Bucs OLB Jose Ramirez – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On a night where the Bucs struggled in pass coverage allowing conversions on third-and-17 and third-and-15, getting to the quarterback was a lone bright spot by the defense.

“That’s the one thing that showed up on defense,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “Obviously, there were a lot of missed tackles in the run game. Not pleased with that. Not pleased with third down, but we got five sacks. Doesn’t count in the loss, but the young guys made some progress.”

Each sack that Jose Ramirez recorded told its own story. On his first one, he shot out of the gate and was in the backfield instantaneously. On his second sack his rush forced Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones to start scrambling to the outside, but Jones slipped and fell, making the Ramirez the beneficiary of just having to touch him on the ground.

Ramirez’s third sack was just a good, old fashioned, hard-nosed pass rush where he pushed the tackle back, was able to spin out and then chase down C.J. Beathard for the trifecta.

His game plan was distinct. Keep it simple and just attack. It’s safe to say that Ramirez accomplished what he set out to do.

“I am not going to lie to you,” Ramirez said. “Ever since I had a couple of rushes in practice where I was trying to do too much, I talked to Yaya [OLB Yaya Diaby], I talked other guys. They were like, ‘Man, just get off the ball.’ My first thing is always just get off the ball. Whatever the tackle gives me, that’s what I’m going to take. So, he give me inside – whatever it is – sometimes I go to the sideline, and I don’t even remember what I did. It’s just the game inside the game. Just go out there and play.”

Jose Ramirez Making The Most Of His Opportunities

Jose Ramirez might not be the biggest outside linebacker at 6-foot-2, 252 pounds, but he is one of the quickest that the Bucs have, especially among the group fighting to get a roster spot. When asked about what he had been working on this training camp, Ramirez pointed out that his work for this season began last year as soon as Tampa Bay’s season was over.

Bucs OLB Jose Ramirez – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ramirez got in much better shape in the offseason and he credited Tampa Bay’s training staff for helping him slim down and get even quicker.

“Since the end of the season and into last year just working with Tristan [Wirfs], Luke [Goedeke]. Just them giving me pointers on stuff that I can use,” Ramirez said. “They see it from the other side. I see it from my side. So, them telling me ways to beat people, this and that, and working with AP [Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Anthony Piroli], Dre [Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Deandre Ward Sr.], Coach Wade [Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Chad Wade], and all of them in the weight room. Just getting my body where I need to be and working with G [Outside Linebackers Coach George Edwards] and them.

“Just the whole Tampa Bay just putting 100 percent of what I got to do because I feel like that’s where confidence comes from is just working the whole offseason. When it comes to game time, there’s no nerves or butterflies. You probably get them feelings before the game like I’m about to go play football, but it’s not that I can’t execute my job because we put the work in already. So I’m thankful for everybody. AP, every time we get in the weight room, we put in some work. We’re about to get some work in tomorrow. I know he’s going to get me right.”

The Bucs have a couple of injuries in the outside linebacker room at the moment. Yaya Diaby won’t be ready until the start of the regular season due to an ankle sprain and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka still isn’t practice in a physical capacity due to a neck injury. Plus, Randy Gregory is officially off of Tampa Bay’s roster. This has created more reps and opportunities for Ramirez, who is capitalizing from the opportunity.

“Yeah, I take advantage of it,” Ramirez said. “Them boys good. They’re healthy. Both of them are made of machines, so we don’t have to worry about their injuries. They’re going to be good before the season starts. Like you said, taking advantage of the opportunities. There’s two guys that are starters that play a lot that’s not playing right now, so everybody else got to step up. I take it as an opportunity that God blessed me with to go out there and play some more. Just taking it as, ‘Dang, I got to get more reps or do this.’ Just look at it as it’s more opportunities to make plays.”