Mark Barron To Be Greg Schiano’s “Toy”
May 7th, 2012
Those outside the football world were of the opinion that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik reached to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron at No. 7. Those inside of football don’t believe that is so.
Take Daniel Jeremiah for example. Who? Jeremiah is a respected former NFL scout who puts out a lot of solid football information on Twitter on a regular basis.
Jeremiah scouted for the Browns, Eagles and Ravens, and he believes that Barron is so versatile that new Bucs coach Greg Schiano to play Barron at linebacker in some formations.
@MoveTheSticks: Barron is going to be a fun toy for TB to use in their nickel package..He can cover TE’s, play LB, blitz or roam from the hash
If Jeremiah is to be believed, this explains why Dominik didn’t draft many secondary players where the Bucs are razor thin. Sounds as though Barron is a physical corner the way Jeremiah describes him.
And if Barron can play linebacker a little bit in some crazy defensive alignment, Joe simply applauds this. Imagine both Lavonte David and Barron lining up at linebacker for the Bucs?
It simply couldn’t be worse than what the Bucs trotted out there for linebackers last year.
May 7th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Secondary playing linebacker is hardly new. If you look at the Bucs’ nickel package last year, Ronde was actually very rarely in the slot lined up over the third receiver, but spent his time mostly in the box, looking inside, effectively lined up in the Sam LB spot.
May 7th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
… or the year before that.
May 7th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
A safety coming down in the box for run support and also covering a tight end are normal things.
Barron playing some corner or some linebacker is another thing. I think he should just stay at his strength, punishing receivers and ball carriers from SS.
May 7th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
I’m excited about the versatility that both Barron and David give us against the pass but we all know the real test is going to be aggresive, physical tackling vs the run game.. we’ve got the speed and instincts to get to the runner now let’s see these guys put him on the ground. If we can do that we will win a bunch of games.
May 7th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
The dreaded Jermaine Phillips to LB experiment revisited??
May 7th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
If I’m not mistaken Barron was recruited out of High School as a 4 star Linebacker. I think him being a safety in college speaks volume to his talent as Saben had to find a spot on the field for him with Hightower, and Upshaw.
May 7th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
I don’t want these guys to try and re-invent the wheel here. Let’s let our LBs play linebacker, safeties play Saftey, etc…
Happy we’ve got some versatile cats but let’s not get too crazy.
May 7th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Reinvent the Wheel ???
Say What ??
Safeties play LB every single Game depending on the play called … When a safety goes into the box without a coverage responsibility he is playing LB.
All this is saying is Barron can go to the line of scrimmage and knock some heads and Jam a TE at the line. Im sorry but this is not reinventing the wheel.
May 7th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
ElioT is right. The article makes it sound like more than a safety playing in the box…. big difference. Great to have guys who are versatile, but let’s build a solid defense first with people at THIER positions then transition versatile players into the occasional unconventional role.
Kind of like McCoy being moved all over the D-Line the first half of his rookie year. HUGE mistake. Learn the position and master it THEN dabble with other things. Otherwise you have a bunch of guys who end up being “okay” at a bunch of stuff but great at none of it.
May 7th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
This is nothing new people, he played linebacker in nickel sub packages at Alabama
May 7th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I’m not concerned that anyone is trying to reinvent the wheel… This is all speculative anyway, right? Until we see them play a regular season game, we really have no idea how exotic they’re gonna be with different packages. My guess is they will play fundamentally and strategically sound defense… and maybe mix in some crazy blitzes…
May 7th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
I hate it when coaches do this to young players. How about seeing if he can play safety before trying to play him in 3 different positions. Remember when Rah decided Gerald McCoy should be playing all over the place? How did that work out?
May 7th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
FTG… See my comment above. No need to buy into all the speculation at this point.
May 7th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Part of playing safety is playing in the box in a LB type role. This is more typical of a Strong Safety like Polamalu. Free Safety like Reed is better used for strictly coverage. As others have said, this is nothing new but it is a sigh that Barron will be playing SS.
May 7th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I felt the Tiquan Underwood signing coming. Can’t disagree with it. Just seemed like a new world order move! Good luck!
May 7th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Good news on the Underwood signing, need lots of competition there I think.
May 7th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Another rutgers guy.
Very bad trap to fall into IMO.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
OMG 6 Rutgers players on the roster!? This team is going to hell. Only one is going to start and two or three wont be here past preseason.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Thought it would happen too, but this guy should not beat out, Williams, Benn, Briscoe and probably not Stroughter or Parker.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
We have six players fron UNC no ones saying anything about that…
May 7th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Just like hunters use experienced hunting Dogs to train new Dogs, I think Schiano is stocking Tampa with Rutgers Veterans to show the team what he expects.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Hmmm, revolutionary stuff. Floyd Peters and his 4-2-5 defense is spinning in his grave. Anybody remember David Greenwood? He looked like a stud from the USFL until the Bucs coaches decided he would be used as a starter and like a LB…
I’m pretty sure John Lynch spent close to 1/3 of his Buc career in the box, maybe more. Polamalu lives in the box… so does Ronde Barber on 3rd downs. This is hardly a big deal, it’s more like football 101. Ever heard of the cover 3 defense. It is usually employed with the SS playing in the box.
What crazy stuff will they come up with next? A RB lined up wide as a WR? Ohhh, wait how about a TE? I have something crazy, lining up a RB in the shotgun behind the OC…. what’s next, putting men in motion before the snap?
May 7th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Coachs job is to bring in best players.
So many from rutgers is statistically skewed and based on favoratism not skill
Thought we were beyond that type nonsense.
May 7th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
jus read we signed tyquan underwood from the pats any validity to that anyone????
May 7th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
I saw the Underwood signing too.
Let’s hope he can be for us, I’m what the Patrits got from us in the CB Kyle Arrington.
May 7th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Name a DT better than Gary Gibson or a WR better than Underwood that’s still available in FA that can be brought in for the same price… other than those two, the Rutgers players here were either on the roster already or are tryout players and wont be here when the season starts anyway.
May 7th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Like ben said: This is nothing new! He played LB A LOT at Alabama if you watched the games, or even the stupid Youtube highlights.
May 7th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Sets a bad precedent and sends the wrong message IMO.
And I sure hope were not running the Rutgers schemes in the NFL.
Because they know a college scheme and played in the big east is hardly a reason to sign anyone.
Makes me nervous along with all this run the ball stuff. That’s the Wannstedt formula for 6-10.
May 7th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Too many Rutgers players!
Dont have narrow vusiob coach!
Look at Steve Spurrier!, he made the same mistake.
I respect the loyalty and the love.
But u gotta be objective sometimes!
May 7th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Come game one there will only be two new Rutger players on the roster, don’t worry about it.
May 7th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Some people can’t go a day without finding something to complain about regarding the Bucs. Now it’s too many Rutgers guys.
Tell me how many Rutgers guys make the final roster. Tell me at that point if they’ve kept a Rutgers guy over a better player. Until then, just chill the f**k out. Jeezus, some people need to medicated.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Jerry Rice was from a Division 2 program,
Saints Guard Jahri Evans is from D 2.
Terrell Owens is from U Tenn. chatt.
Randy Moss is from Marshall.
Rutgers is a legitimate program.
Plz stop hating on “where” the players are from and start worrying abou the important stuff: are they any good, do the bust their ass to be the best teammate they can be.
Don’t lunch on Butch Davis having a hand on player personnel. Last time Schiano and Davis were together was when “The U” was peaking.
@AppleRoofCleaning,
I agree with the 90 man roster, why not bolster it with a few guys that know the Schiano way, after all Schiano was able to get the best out of them.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
@Teacher,
C’mon man! Atleast we got rid of some dead weight.
Haynesworth, Faine, Tanard, Geno Hayes are all “Rutgers” replaceable.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
I understand we’re perfecting the sidelines toe line and drinking water and running around goal posts and all but it’s gonna take a tad more to compete in the NFC south.
And I’m not seeing how stocking up on Rutgers guys is gonna help our cause.
May not be a big deal but it’s potentially a concern.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Plus we already got a crapload of Rutgers coaches.
Rutgers!!!!!
May 7th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Again, WE ONLY HAVE FREAKING SIX RUTGERS PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT!! Three of which are gone by first roster cuts.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Six seems like a lot to me. How many Rutgers guys are there in the league?
I never understood how desirable they are!
Anybody else got six of em?
May 7th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Having Barron come up in the box is right on par with how he should be used but using him as his toy? Ewww.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
28 in the NFL with playing time. These players we’re bringing in are proven, it’s not like we’re plucking practice squad players and starting ’em. And the rookies are here to give the game day roster a chance to get water, what does it matter what college they’re from? they’re here till August then they’re back to writing parking tickets, why not throw ’em a bone?
May 7th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Seems like a cavalier approach to an nfl roster mr. Bricen.
Maybe it’s nothing, but a lot of Rutgers activity lately. New one almost every day.
I find it disturbing. At least we didn’t draft Sanu.
May 8th, 2012 at 12:12 am
I don’t see it as cavalier at all when you have 90 roster spots. I would be worried if we were bringing in all the seniors from last years class, but we’re not. Also, it’s not like the front office didn’t okay all these signings, if they thought they wern’t worthy of a roster spot, they wouldn’t be on the team.
May 8th, 2012 at 12:12 am
We know We know Barron can do it all! Im just worried about cody staying healthy now!
May 8th, 2012 at 12:46 am
Our front office approving the moves is exactly what worries me.
May 8th, 2012 at 1:11 am
What a surprise, Eric isn’t happy! I would have never thought. Something tells me he wasn’t happy when Gruden was here either, regardless of what he claims. Lighten up buddy, it’s friggin’ May!
May 8th, 2012 at 5:51 am
This offseason can’t be any worse then the last one.
May 8th, 2012 at 6:19 am
The only people that aren’t happy with our offseason are Thomas, Eric, and Captain Tim. Everyone else in the world does nothing but praise us.
May 8th, 2012 at 6:50 am
Baron, in the box, the only problem will be Cody Grimm and GMC catching friendly fire and getting hurt again.
May 8th, 2012 at 9:59 am
I had the privilege of getting a tour of One Buc Place yesterday and came back with two very strong opinions.
The Glazers most certainly are NOT cheap. That facility from top to bottom is incredible. It’s obvious why it’s a selling point to potential free agents. The weight room alone……Anyway, it has got to be the NFL’s best, seriously.
Second, Coach Schiano, who we briefly met, is an extremely focused and organized man. Trust me guys, the man knows what he’s doing and the players will follow suit. It is getting DONE at One Buc these days and leadership is leading.
That kind of sort of YOU THINK?????? over rides the “expert” opinions of the Eric’s……..
May 8th, 2012 at 10:04 am
@Rrsrq. Or getting hurt any kind of way. I just want to see what a fairly experienced GMC can do when healthy all year. Barron with a finally healthy Grimm would be nasty. I am thinking this is also the year when Bowers and these young D Linemen can pin their ears back and get after it. I want a carbon copy of our old defense scaring the living crap out of great QB’s. Schiano reminds me a lot of a young Dungy. I like what I’m seeing. Furthermore for you people complaining about the Rutgers, wait until the roster is trimmed to 54 or whatever it is. There’s also a loyalty message being sent out to the whole team. Schiano is loyal to his guys and has their back. He wants the team to know he’s loyal to them too and will have their back. Reciprocating the loyalty is expected.
May 8th, 2012 at 10:31 am
I’m happy with the Barron signing but it seems like we’re resting too much hope on this guy’s shoulders. What happens if he gets injured?
Drafting Barron should not have been a reason to neglect the rest of our secondary…
May 8th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Eric, you’re just dumb.
May 9th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
The same team that went ten and six in 2010 is still in place for the most part.The only difference now is that we have added better players and an all star cast of coaches with an all pro middle linebacker as a LB coach.THE TEAM IS BETTER.I am pretty sure there are like 16 NFL starters in the league right now that were coached by Shiano and Sanu is a beast in case you dont know you can youtube it Eric.
May 9th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Oh yeah!!The Steelers drafted Sanu so that should tell you something as well and if BRICEN is correct its 28 players from rutgers in the league playing which is almost a whole team.Just sayin!!