How Ronde Barber Fits In
March 25th, 2012
Usually, it’s current NFL players that like to recruit free agents to their respective teams. But in an odd twist of fate with the Bucs, it was newly signed free agents who lured back an old team veteran… indirectly.
That’s the word from Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, freelancing with the NationalFootballPost.com, who reports that not only did the signings of new Bucs Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks lure Barber back to the Bucs, Barber just may play safety.
By signing Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks and Eric Wright, the Bucs also enticed Ronde Barber to return for his 16th NFL season. The Bucs tried to get Barber back before free agency started, but Barber told the team he wanted to wait and see if the team did anything in free agency. The soon to be 37-year old was excited by the moves. The next move will be determining where Barber fits in Bill Sheridan’s new defense. Barber knows it will be open competition. It is possible he will remain a starter, or he could be a nickel player, or even a dime player. The team has not even ruled out a move to safety.
This is an interesting concept. Provided the Bucs draft Morris Claiborne with the fifth overall pick and troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib is able to skate after his court proceedings in Texas next month, that would give the Bucs four good cornerbacks when you factor in free agent Eric Wright.
As Joe has stated before, safety is an issue with the Bucs. Tanard Jackson, after a great first game back from a year’s suspension, fell off the map quickly. Cody Grimm is trying to return from his second season-ending leg injury in as many years, so whether he can be 100 percent is unknown. It appears that Sean Jones’ days with the Bucs are over.
So if Barber, who previously resisted efforts to make him a safety, can be coerced to play that position, it would go a long way to helping the Bucs’ currently shaky secondary.
The way Barber is able to drape himself over tight ends, this move should be about as seamless as any move can be.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:28 am
No.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:46 am
I’ve been talking about Barber moving to SS for the past few weeks now. Considering that as a nickel back, Barber is in the box 75% in nickel defenses. How hard would it be to project Barber as a SS? Not very. He’s been lining up as a LB for nearly 1/3 of his career, the projection to SS would be easy to make. Obviously, he’s not very big, but he’s held up well thus far in his career and if he moved to SS he could probably get another 2-3 years in the NFL as a high level starter.
Even if we didn’t take Claiborne, the Bucs could conceivably lineup with 4 current or former CBs on the field in Wright and Talib at CB, former college CB Jackson at FS, and Barber at SS. I would think that this would be a bit of an upgrade in coverage on the backend…
Shore up the front 7 with a stud like Luke Kuechly, and this defense could be a vastly improved bunch.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:49 am
With the four CBs on the field, when the Bucs went into the nickel, Barber could still lineup at his usual nickel back spot and instead of an additional CB being brought in in, we could bring in a S or CB. Barber would give us a ton of versatility.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:55 am
This is not something new. Barber plays LB, Safety and corner in many games. Full time at safety may be too much. He would be the smallest safety in the NFL.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:01 am
A move to safety = More Ronde on the field.
I’d rather see less Ronde at a position he’s used to playing.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:02 am
He’s old and little and not as fast as he once was. If we do turn it around this year, he will be beat-up in time for the playoffs. I think Barber should play a little less plays especially if Talib sneaks under Roger’s (NFL COMISH) radar. He has been the nickel back forever it’s already very similar to a safety BUT he’s not a safety!!! This is a passing league we will be in nickel and dime coverage a lot with 4 down lineman like the DBrooks days. Ronde doesn’t have to reinvent himself as a safety. THAT’S PLAIN SILLY!!!! He’s the greatest slot Nickel back in the history of the NFL and his last year you get a brilliant idea as too move him to safety?????
March 25th, 2012 at 11:05 am
The buc’s are only a few players short of having a very good team.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:05 am
jvato24 Says
Full time at safety may be too much. He would be the smallest safety in the NFL.
WORD!!!!!! Perfectly said!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2012 at 11:07 am
I do not hold confidence in Barber’s ability to cover TEs any more. They are just too darn big, fast and athletic for him at this point in his career. Playing spot duty at safety or dime seems a bit more fit for him. I don’t really have confidence in anyone of our LBs to consistently cover TEs either so it might still be the best option.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:07 am
he’s a very little guy. He’s not 6’2″ 240
March 25th, 2012 at 11:09 am
It looks like the Vikings might take Morris Claiborne unfortunately. Unless that is just a ploy to try and entice a trade partner with someone who wants him badly.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Hopefully he blows up with 3 sacks this year to hit the 30 mark and retires as the best Little DB of all time. That would move him from the already exclusive (as in no other) 20 sack 40 int Club, to the 30 sack 40 int Club. That’s NFL HISTORY BOYS!!!
Anyway my point above is he should play less so we can have him for a GAME WINNING int or Sack Fumble in the PLAYOFFS, @ the Nickle back spot like he has ALWAYS been.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:36 am
I hope the Bucs draft Mo Claiborne,Isiah Pead,Ronnel Lewis then depth at DTorRT.We are hopefully going to bring in Hawthorne at MLB. I think Lewis will be a steal in the third or fourth rd he will be a great special teams player for awhile then take Blacks spot
March 25th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Ronde is depth…and veteran leadership. He has even said previously that what matters to him is helping to prepare the next generation of Bucs players because he wants to enjoy games in the future as a bucs fan.
Look for him to play more of a background role this year…he’ll get time on the field, but it will mostly be in spurts.
And if the local press cannot figure this team out, why would anyone from Chicago believe they can do it?
March 25th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Keep in mind, everyone, Barber is going to play a one year temporary role at whatever spot he is used in. I really doubt safety will be addressed much this year…not with all the other positions of need.
IF Tanard has been working hard and can start a season without a suspension, we can wait a year on replacing him.
Cody Grimm, the Grimm Reaper, is going to be devastating in the league once he gets healthy. If he gets healthy.
Personally, I think southern teams should get two extra roster spots…because injuries happen more down here.
March 25th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Only one problem. Even at 40( whatever), Ronde is our only Cb.
He should be able to move to Safety, and play with a lil less pressure.
But noooo. He’s stuck
Every other “CB” on our roster – including Eric wright- are really, really bad
Talib- Biggers- Mack-awful. If you have any doubts, don’t argue with me- go watch the tape
I have never seen any player as over rated by the fans- as Talib
He is a terrible Cb
I think posters here believe a) he was a first round pick b) he’s a total piece of Sh%# as a person.
So they just assume he must be a good player- since Dom puts up with him
WATCH THE TAPE. Don’t lie, and say you did . Don’t make up some crap, like lot of posters do. WATCH THE TAPE
He is not good enough to be an NFL starter
Watched some tape on Eric Wright. Uh oh. This guy is terrible. He gave up the most receptions in the league last year- out of every CB
Sadly- he’s still a lil better that Talib, Biggers, Mack
But if he’s starting- we are in trouble
If we draft Claibourne and Alphonso Dennard-
Then this will no longer be a problem.
Hope we do. Then we can let Ronde have the breaks he’s earned.
I don’t even count Lewis. He doesn’t seem interested in playing. When he has- he looks like a big safety, struggling to play CB
March 25th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old..37 years old……….37 years old……37 years old……37 years old…37 years old………37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years 37 years old……old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old..37 years old……….37 years old……37 years old……37 years old…37 years old………37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years 37 years old……old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old..37 years old……….37 years old……37 years old……37 years old…37 years old………37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years 37 years old……old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old..37 years old……….37 years old……37 years old……37 years old…37 years old………37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years 37 years old……old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old..37 years old……….37 years old……37 years old……37 years old…37 years old………37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years 37 years old……old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……37 years old……
March 25th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Rastamon- lol! But I’ve tried it. It still won’t sink in ta most of the hockey Pucks!
” why do need CBs? We have Ronde! Plus, next year, his Grandson is graduating, can’t we just wait and draft him???
Safest part of all, the great Ronde Barber has lost a couple steps. Isn’t as physical as he used to be. Has lost some quickness and reflexes
And was still twice as good as any other CB we had on the team!
Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans gotta love Dominick.
With our back seven- its like a preseason game for their offenses- they can just try out new stuff, without any worries!
Again- IF they draft Claibourne and Another good CB( great draft clas at CB this year), we can take out the trash, and still have a good secondary.
But Dom has dropped the ball horribly at Lb. if he drops it again on CBs, we are screwed again this season- just like he did to us last year.
March 25th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@MichiganBucsFan
That’s exactly what it is, it’s a smokescreen. They won’t pick him unless they are brain dead. Kalil is their biggest need by far.
March 25th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Don’t look now but the sky is falling too……
March 25th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Capt.Stagger- obviously, you just moved here, and missed it.
The sky fell last season- during the most putrid 10 game performance I’ve ever seen by a team.
It was bad enough to make a maggot puke.
Hopefully- it improves. But it was pretty damn traumatic for those of us that lived thru it!
March 25th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Hey.. I am along time season ticket holder and was at the Bucs 1st preseason game….Ronde will always rank high in my book…..but so did Roberto Duran….
and all the other greats that stayed too late.
In January I filled out a 20 minute survey ,online, from Buc/ticket office with a reward to one winner of a jersey from any active Buc player…..I selected Ronde Barber…..he will be 37……
March 25th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Ronde Barber can still play at a high level, as we witnessed last year. He is far better suited as a nickel back or a dime back no, that way he won’t be playing every down. Moving him to safety would be too much for him at his age now. Mo Claiborne and Wright as starters, and if everything goes Talib’s way which it should our secondary will be very good. It will also greatly improve our defensive line and pass rush, because opposing QB’s won’t be able to get the ball off as quickly. The thought of not having to use EJ Biggers on key plays brings a big smile to my face. =D
March 25th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Lion- actually, 2 hall of Fame CBs-Ken Easly and Ronnie Lott, both moved from Cb to safety in the their mid 30s . Both were actually excellent Safties, and say it extended their careers by several years.
But, 37 is 37. You get hurt much easier, and you heal much slower.
It’s a real gamble, counting on an older guy to be the anchor of the secondary.
I still think they draft our two starters
March 25th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Wait a minute, you are crazy if you think they will draft our two starters? That would mean our 1st and 2nd round pick would be used on CB, and that is plain ridiculous if you think that will happen. They didn’t pay Wright $37.5 to “ride the pine”. He will be a starter and rightly so, he is a great corner back especially in man to man coverage, also he is a very good tackler and rarely misses unlike our other CB’s outside of Ronde. Claiborne and Wright will be opening day starters, there is no need to draft 2.
March 25th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Those who think Wright is bad need to realize that he is a very good tackler and good on man to man. We are looking for corners that aren’t afraid to stick their helmet on somebody. There are countless players, seriously….too many to count, that leave one team that they did poorly on and come to another team that uses them in a different scheme and they excel. It works the other way too….ask the Eagles. I think we have three good corners, possibly 4 if Gaitor turns out to be the kind of player I think he is. Talib is a good corner with the potential to be a great corner if he stays healthy. Barber is good for one more year and I think they’ll have him playing a number of positions as fill in. Wright will be fine and if we get Claiborne we will be set at CB. We will have to wait and see what happens at LB. That and depth on the D-line is our greatest need.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:03 am
No Tim, I was here, sitting in MY seats I have every year. I just find it ridiculous when these over the top statements are made when we are less than a month into an 8 month off season, with a brand new coaching staff. This entire team regressed so much under Raheem that some seem to forget what our players once were, or fail to realize that this new staff will be able to resurrect careers on the slide.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:15 am
All i know is that we need to draft morris claiborne and get ronde playing time. Rod Woodson made a nice transition to safety so why wouldn’t it work with ronde.