Just What The Bucs Needed
May 14th, 2012
During the grotesque 10-game losing streak to end last season, which resulted in Raheem Morris being jettisoned from the Bucs, the defense had so many holes Joe couldn’t begin to guess where to begin fixing the porous unit.
It seems Matt Williamson does. The former NFL scout now works for BSPN and he put fingers to keyboard and believes the selection of Mark Barron by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik will go a long way to solving many of the ills.
Barron is very NFL-ready, versatile, a big-time leader and a great fit in today’s NFL that is loaded with freak-of-nature tight ends such as the Saints’ Jimmy Graham, who obviously resides in the division.
The Bucs were very light at safety before this draft and there were few elite prospects from which to pick. Tampa Bay will ask Barron to do a lot of different things in terms of his alignment, coverage responsibilities, blitzing and run support. Barron can handle a deep-half assignment as well as doing battle with wide receivers, tight ends and running backs in man coverage. Barron also will spend plenty of time near the line of scrimmage and is an excellent run-support defender and tackler. Barron’s leadership, intellect and feel for the game might be his best qualities. The Bucs’ defense desperately needs a major infusion of all those traits.
There is a common trait about the Bucs defenders drafted last month and a handful of defensive free agents: they are versatile.
This is a smart move by Greg Schiano. There are so many holes to fill that bringing in guys who play multiple positions not only means he can fix the defense quicker, but he can employ multiple formations and sets without having to substitute so often.
May 14th, 2012 at 8:23 am
Maybe he should play defensive end too
May 14th, 2012 at 9:11 am
I think most of the Draft credit (or blame) should go to Mark Dominick. In listening to Schiano at Draft time, he sounded more like my boy George W being lead around by Darth Cheney. I do think Schiano helped develop the Strategery that day, but The Dom made the calls.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:23 am
I bet you Barron would be a better LB than Quincy Black, today.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Barron is a gret pick for the Bucs.
Drafting Mo Claibourne would’ve been a greater risk.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Still wanted Claiborne. This is Michael Clayton over Stephen Jackson all over again.
Unless Barron is Ronnie Lott, this is a travesty.
And there is nothing in Boy Band General Manager Mark Dominik’s drafting history that shows me he can spot talent.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Adam:
Remember, Ronnie Lott was a cornerback.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:51 am
SteveK:
A lawn chair would be a better linebacker than Quincy Black. At least once in a while a running back would trip over a lawn chair.
May 14th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Barron was a great pick and I don’t understand people bashing this pick. He will do more for our lacklucster D than Claiborne would’ve done. I wanted Claiborne the whole time leading up to the draft. But as soon as I heard about the potential trade with the Jags before the draft started I was stoked. Barron is the next great Safety in the NFL. I cannot wait to see him produce and prove these naysayers wrong!!! We also never would’ve gotten Doug Martin or Lavonte David if he didn’t trade back to #7. So this Doms defining moment…lets hope everything pans out!!
May 14th, 2012 at 10:17 am
We should paint that lawn chair green with white strips and make it one of those with the flexible rubbery slats. Lawn chair frees up some serious cap space too.
May 14th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Barron’s game is less “pretty” than Mo’s.
Barron is going to sure up the run defense and take care of the “dirty” work.
For this 1st time since John Lynch, the Bucs have a coveted safety.
May 14th, 2012 at 10:22 am
I think Lott played a lot of safety also.
As far as Barron v. Mo, only time will tell. However, the choice flies against the conventional wisdom that corner is more valued than safety, that high in the draft.
But conventional wisdom isn’t always right.
I do like that he played under Saban and is sort of “turn key” and ready to contribute.
May 14th, 2012 at 10:28 am
I wanted Claiborne at first but he didn’t fit Wht we wanted on D we want to b a physical team definitely not his callin card go Go Bucs
May 14th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Speaking of Lott I remember a game from yesteryear where the Niners intercepted the immortal Steve Deberg about six times, and Scott Brantley almost returned an INT for a touchdown from Joe Montana.
The interceptions were so bad we fans in the stands started calling em out when the ball left Deberg’s hands. Not a fun afternoon.
May 14th, 2012 at 10:59 am
I think Gilmore (drfted by Buffalo at #10) will be a superior CB to Claiborne, and early impressions per John Clayton indicate that Gilmore looks to be the real deal. So no worries over Dom/Schiano passing over a CB with tackling issues to grab Barron. Aside from filling a massive hole, the Bucs gained something they were missing all year on defense (and I don’t mean someone who can tackle, although the team was in short supply of that) – a leader. It’s still very early in the offseason, but I’d still pick Barron over Claiborne if both were available.
May 14th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Eric it was game one in ’86, the best part was that we never put in Steve Young on the bench.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198609070tam.htm
I rather think of of game one in ’97 against the 49ers when Sapp took out Rice and Young, it was a big win for the Bucs. I saw Bryan Glazer the night before the game and told him we were going to win and gave him a cigar to smoke after the game. It was their 1st game as owners. Another better 9er’s game was the playoffs with all the flags in the stands and the Bucs dominated the game so bad that Terrell Owens was caught crying into a towel on the jumbo tron.
May 14th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Eric:
Yeah, a few years into his career (six, maybe) Ronnie Lott got moved from corner to safety and became an absolute terror.
May 14th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Went from drafting like Al Davis to Ozzie Newsome!!
IVE JOINED THE FIGHT.
Joe, an article on what is going on behind the scenes behind One Buc Place regarding K2 and Osi would be an interesting feed to us fans and readers.
May 14th, 2012 at 11:58 am
David:
The Bucs cannot talk about Osi because that would be tampering. Joe’s going to guess the Bucs are willimg to see who teams cut in the coming months — it is still only May. Philadelphia, for example, could be overstocked with defensive linemen.
K2 isn’t going anywhere (yet) so you can infer what you wish with that. Granted, there were reports before the draft Mark Dominik was shopping K2.
May 14th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
I’d still rather have the non-versatile lock down corner (Claiborne).
But hey, I ain’t gonna knock Barron. A new toy is a new toy.
May 14th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I’m finally on board with Barron, but its easy to get locked on to your pre-draft favorites. I’m not going to play that second guessing game forever.
Whew, now I need a cerveza.
May 15th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Also people need to remember that Dom only traded down to #7. IF Dallas didn’t trade up to number 6 for basically nothing. Mo would’ve been there still. Then we would’ve had a huge decision. I would’ve loved to seen us draft either one at 7 then trade our next years 1st and 3rd to #8 and get the other. Now that would’ve been amazing. I know that would never happen. But I still love the move that allowed us Barron, Martin, and David!!! Also think Goode will end up at Sam before the season starts, or maybe by the 4th game at latest. That will give us a very athletic and exciting LB core!! Quincy is a joke.