Mark Barron A Rising Star
October 11th, 2013
Yes, Joe is trying to uplift Bucs fans’ spirits of late amid all the drama and circus at One Buc Palace.
Joe knows some fans are tired of reading about Josh Freeman, but that’s not going to stop Joe from ignoring a far-reaching story, one that will have legs for the rest of the season and beyond, a story that is likely the biggest Bucs story since Chucky was jettisoned.
Yestserday, Joe wrote about how linebacker Mason Foster is improving from last year, when Joe thought at one point he was en route to eating pineapple. Well, Foster is not the lone Buccaneer who may be eating pineapple for the first time this season. So too may safety Mark Barron. Bucs commander Greg Schiano spent a good chunk of time yesterday lauding Barron’s play in his second year in the NFL.
“I think he’s playing at a very high level, and I think [safety Dashon] Goldson and [cornerback Darrelle] Revis had some effect on that, too.” Schiano said. “I know you don’t want to go back to that, but I think, together, they’re a really tight group and now [cornerback] Johnthan [Banks] and [cornerback] Leonard [Johnson], those five guys, I think, have a good feel for each other, and they’re going to need to. This game [against the Eagles], especially, presents some unique issues, when you’re dedicating resources. Defending is: ‘where do you dedicate your resources?’ If you dedicate your resources to stop the run, you put people a little more exposed in the pass. We’re going to be challenged, so those guys need to step up. Mark is playing at a high level and getting better each week, which is important.”
One reason Schiano believes Barron has developed so much this season, aside from playing alongside Revis and Goldson, is that he is a more well-rounded player.
“Especially now, with him playing down in the dime [package] – which he’s a natural at – plus he plays well as a run support safety and he’s a much better deep defender than people give him credit for,” Schiano said. “I think, sometimes, when you’re big and physical, they say, ‘You can’t play the deep ball.’ He can. He’s gifted that way. Mark’s got all the makings to be an elite guy. I think just time and reps is going to be the only thing in between him [and becoming elite]. [That] and staying healthy.”
If the Bucs defense continues to play at a high level, remember that it is Schiano who has molded this defense. Of course, that won’t preserve Schiano if the team continues to lose at a near-franchise record pace. Now, when you are constructing your guillotines, also remember that this defense is largely made up of players acquired by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
Joe just cannot understand the vile hatred some fans have for Dominik. Would they rather have Chucky striking out draft after draft and having to rely on the Son of Bobs and Charlie Garners of the NFL world?
October 11th, 2013 at 7:07 am
Mark Baron was a solid draft pick that is now turning into a great draft pick. I think the addition of Goldson & Revis have helped Baron to elevate his game.
I suspect the same will be said for Banks and even Leonard Johnson. THe $1m per game for Revis can be spread out somewhat to other players who benefit from him.
I think our draft has improved since Schiano got here. The later rounds haven’t produced a star yet.
October 11th, 2013 at 7:14 am
Joe, thanks for something inspirational!
Barron is coming along well. Revis and Goldson I’m sure have a lot to do with his development. Banks, and Johnson are also benefiting from the vets experience. It’s great to see the vets taking the time to teach their craft to the younger players. It makes everyone better, that’s what good players do.
The JF5 story only gets legs if you give it legs. I’m done with that old news.
October 11th, 2013 at 7:16 am
If Joe didn’t prop Dom up with the silly rock star moniker I’d despise him less. Nicknames are earned and Dom’s career record is far from rock star status!
October 11th, 2013 at 7:18 am
Joe, I really think its a stretch to say that there is vile hatred for Dominik. While I admit the “rock star” status is old, I’d rather have Dominik picking guys than Bruce Allen.
Of course I’m still sorry that we let Chucky get away and we’ve had to endure sad coaching decisions.
Personally I thought the Bucs should have gotten Cowher or Shanahan instead of coach Radio or Schiano but now that the cancer’s been cut out I’ll wait until this season is over.
October 11th, 2013 at 7:38 am
I think Doms drafts were okay, but since Schiano got here, we have had some of the best drafts in the league.
I understand no one wants to be patient, but i have a feeling Schiano and Dom could make this franchise a perennial winner if they earn another year together
October 11th, 2013 at 7:48 am
T_Buc40….yep I agree.
October 11th, 2013 at 7:52 am
He was a better pick that Maurice Claiborne who is not even starting for Dallas. Good pick Mark!
October 11th, 2013 at 7:55 am
@ T Buc
I also agree…patience is the key….its difficult but we have weeded out a number of malcontents….(I don’t care how they play for someone else)….It is rediculous to second-guess….its like a person getting a divorce from a bad marriage and ending up being happy with a new spouse….it happens all the time.
One thing is for sure…if Schiano or Dom or both don’t make it…they will be handing a great team to their successor.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:01 am
There are a lot of positive things to say about the defense … starting with how they give up only 17 per game. If our offense was even “average”, we’d be 4-0.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:09 am
TBBF…we’ll wait won’t we. I’m as disappointed as every other Buc fan. I’m just not pissed off like some of them. I have patience and I hope the Glazers do too.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:14 am
@ Buc 1987
Sometimes you have to tear somethiing down to rebuild it….I think the Glazers are on board with the plan.
We are 6 points away from success….I understand the negative reaction to the coaching….but the outright hatred speaks more about the charagter of the hater.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:23 am
TBBF…we’ve been down this road before. Good defense and no offense. That’s why I’ll wait for the offense to come around. If it doesn’t, then I’ll wait for someone to fix it.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:24 am
These are the things we have to be thankful for and excited about this season, along with the potential in the 2014 draft. And they are very exciting. Drop a franchise QB into this mix and we are a serious contender. Unfortunately, that is not Free.
Personally, I plan on following Free, so bring on the updates, Joe. the future will reveal where his problems lay: are they mostly in his head, or did the shell game of coaching changes twist him up? My money is that the problems have always lied between his ears. We will see.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:43 am
Whatever Joe. The players you highlighted were all brought in when the new coaching staff got here. Look at the 2009 draft. Where is everyone from that draft now? Where is Brian Price? Where is Bowers? Oh well at least he’s still on the roster as a backup on the D-Line. Jackass’s drafts only got better after Schiano and Butch Davis got here. Do you really still believe Dominik has final say over player acquisitions? The only reason that dude was made GM is because Allen & Gruden were fired for wanting to spend money and the Glazers needed a patsy to play along and go on the cheap.
While Allen and Gruden’s draft were not great, they also had to deal with salary cap limitations left over from the Super Bowl / McKay era.
Oh yeah and when they were fired they had just presided over two 9-7 seasons (playoffs the year before). Doesn’t sound so bad now does it?
If the Bucs don’t win this weekend your idol can start packing up his office.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:44 am
So many bright stars…. yet obscured by the cloud cover of losing.
Must win is an oft overused term, but not for the Bucs this Sunday.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Joe, thanks for the much needed feel good story. But the burning question on our tired and feeble minds is what does Sullivan do to score 27 points?
With Josh the piñata gone, our gaze must be cast upon the next underachiever.
October 11th, 2013 at 8:57 am
If you can go 50% on picks your doing great. There have been lots of bright spots. Demar Dotson for instance. Undrafted free agent who has graded out the best of ALL of the offensive lineman this year. Better still, he just got his 2 year deal and he is still playing at a high level.
October 11th, 2013 at 9:02 am
Spence is looking like a great pick too.
October 11th, 2013 at 9:15 am
I agree on Barron.
However, I’d be a lot more willing to give Schiano credit for this defense if I still didn’t get the feeling that we’re succeeded because of superior players and not superior scheme.
Still playing Revis in zone? Check.
Still doing stupid stunts half the time? Check.
Imagine what this defense (with 4-5 legitimate Pro Bowl players) could do with great coaching.
October 11th, 2013 at 9:17 am
The current Buccaneer defensive philosophy as originally developed by Butch Davis, Greg Schiano, and Chuck Pagano while at the University of Miami is built on an attacking style of defense where the secondary plays an important role in putting pressure on the QB. That is why Schiano has de-emphasized the defensive line. In Schiano’s defense most of the sacks and QB pressures will come from blitzing LBs and the secondary performing as LBs.
The trade down in the 2012 draft that enabled us to trade back and take Doug Martin was no gamble gone awry. Barron was the target all along. Schiano played Barron deep out of necessity and stubbornly played his defense anyway without the personnel to make it work. It cost us some games but what happened with Talib and Wright perhaps made it unavoidable. Schiano brought this defense to the Bucs from Rutgers. The only difference is that the NFL has forced him to mix in some zone.
The following link explains the defensive philosophy and sheds light on why we took Mark Barron, a strong safety in the first round last year. Pay close attention to paragraphs 3 and 4. You will see that the strong safety is the key to Schiano’s defense.
http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2012/03/19/the-tampa-bay-buccaneers-2012-defensive-philosophy/
October 11th, 2013 at 9:37 am
@Fatmosh
“However, I’d be a lot more willing to give Schiano credit for this defense if I still didn’t get the feeling that we’re succeeded because of superior players and not superior scheme.”
Exactly my thoughts man.
October 11th, 2013 at 9:37 am
Loving Barron….Kepp it up Big Guy!!
And YuP! Keep those eyes on Spence during those replays 😉
October 11th, 2013 at 9:48 am
yep I would much prefer to have Chucky “striking out” draft after draft.
While he was winning the Division in 2005 and 2007. (setting aside the Super Bowl Championship of 2002, accomplished in large part to players Chucky brought in)
Instead of no playoffs for five years, 10 game losing streak, 7 game losing streak, 5 game losing streak, 1-9 in last ten, bucs record for most points allowed, near NFL record for passing yardage given up, the 11pt a game offensive average in the fifth year of the rebuild, and the Matt Millen winning percentage.
Not to mention botching the franchise QB and going out of his way to hire Greg Schiano.
Dominik is responsible for the performance of his team, just like any other GM.
October 11th, 2013 at 9:57 am
@Eric…look at most points allowed right now, of course minus the bye week…still strong. But freefree will find out all about “points allowed” if they start him against the Giants….that’ll be the Giants first win…..mark my words/remember this post/ screen capture it! It will be done…..
October 11th, 2013 at 10:28 am
Yes, Chucky and Bruce sucked at drafting, but we took a step down in coaching when they were let go. In hindsight it was kinda idiotic to fire Gruden and not even a better alternative whatsoever. Changing just to change. Just my two cents.
October 11th, 2013 at 10:52 am
The fans wanted Gruden gone. Nearly with the same kind of hysteria they are complaining about Schiano now. Memories are short and it’s always revisionist history with fans. “I want Chucky back! Huh?….well…yeah I wanted him fired THEN but that was then…NOW I want him back!”
October 11th, 2013 at 10:53 am
And this is the perfect time for me to state this again….IF we go in the direction of a new HC, keep Schiano on as DC. I know contacts are contracts, and money is money, but he has that D (minus a few negative play calls)
October 11th, 2013 at 11:10 am
SeanyMac:
Completely inaccurate if not simply naive. The ramifications of Freeman being cut could easily last into the next season and well beyond. It could cost the Bucs a coach, perhaps a general manager and maybe a first round pick next year that could have been used on an offensive lineman or defensive end.
Shoot, Team Glazer, as a result of the Freeman failure, could decide to blow the team up, GM, coach and players, and start from scratch.
To suggest the Freeman story is over because he is wearing a different uniform is true head-in-the-sand mentality. That’s like saying because Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans at the end of August 2005, the story of the storm was over.
The failure of Freeman/coaching up Freeman has long-reaching implications. In other words, legs.
October 11th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
@harry. You have stained that good name with your Jane Fonda type comments. Go buy your purple jersey like you want. I just ask that you have the balls to ware it to Ray J. Oh that’s right you want be there you are now a Viking fan.
@eric. Your hate just shows how small a person you really are. Why don’t you join harry in changing your jersey if you ever really had one. Say what, if you will call in on Schiano’s radio program this next week-use your screen name(which is very likely not your real one) and tell him to his face he needs to go and take Dominik with him because , you fill in the blanks – then I will leave JBF and never call you out again. Then you can rant, rave and throw out all the sh1ty comments your heart desires.
@Joe. Your writing is carefully crafted but to a trained ear it sure sounds like you are on board with your radio partner (no not the other joe) in hoping for a head coaching change. Where is the press’s nutrality ? Oh that’s right , Katrina was Bush’s fault. Not saying you hate Schiano, but your radio partner is on the record. You your self have written that the Glazers do not fire the coach in mid season.
October 11th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
@ Bobby, not all fans wanted Gruden gone. It just seem that way because those who wanted him gone screamed loudest. Make no mistake, there were a lot of Gruden supporters (me included). Its just like all the freeman bashers. You would think all of the fans wanted freeman gone, but there are many fans who came to his defense in the past week(s). Lesson here is you believe what you want to believe. No need to call some one a lie or discredit a person because you felt everybody wanted gruden gone. That was not the case. They just screamed loudest.