When the Bucs decided to clean house earlier this year, unloading just about everyone over 30, Ronde Barber survived. While most Bucs fans were happy to see him stay, most were perplexed.

How could Barber thrive in a defense that relies on bump-and-run when that was not Barber’s forte?

Leave it to the crafty old veteran to rise to the challenge. The Mad Twitterer, Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times caught up with Bates and the old defensive coordinator is raving about his old veteran cornerback.

“There are guys who have been spotty,” Bates said. “Ronde has had a good camp. I mean, if you had to pick one, the seasoned pro has really been steady, he’s really playing well. And there are several other guys that have played well, but Ronde in particular.”

This is just great to read. Unless Bates was totally conning the Mad Twitterer, this tells Joe just possibly the defense may not be as bad as Joe fears.