Ronde Barber explains

Bucs icon Ronde Barber blocked/deflected the Chiefs first punt today and told Joe after the game that the leader of the New Schiano Order inspired him to get that kick.

Barber relayed a story of Schiano talking about the legendary punt-blocking skills of Rutgers and explained the passion the head coach has for fourth-down heroics.

“It was a specialty play; we put it in this week. And yeah, I got held and still got my hand on it,” Barber said of his punt block. “Coach takes pride in blocking kicks. He claims he’s the, I don’t know, I guess the best at it. He made a comment about who had the most blocked punts in college football. And I think everybody would assume Virginia Tech, but it’s in fact Rutgers. It’s just something he prides himself on. As a special teams group we gotta take his charge. We do.”

It’s a fun visual to think about Schiano challenging and inspiring his Buccaneer Men with talk about success at Rutgers — “we,” as he often calls the Scarlet Knights.

And the Bucs have been spectacular this season getting to punters. It was Adderall Aqib Talib who came up with a huge block in the win against Carolina. And Dekoda Watson was free and clear on the Cowboys punter but misjudged his run and cost the Bucs a 10-point swing and the game. (Now knowing how dialed into punt blocks Schiano is, Joe is feeling an extra wave of sympathy for Watson.)

These Bucs punt blocks are something to watch for moving forward, as is the roster status of linebacker Jacob Cutrera, who whiffed in punt protection and set up Michael Koenen for one ugly punt-block-throw-pick.