More Believing In Mark Barron
August 6th, 2014
Mark Barron is getting more kudos from the Bucs’ coaching staff.
Yesterday, Joe passed along word of Bucs coach Lovie Smith saying it is not outrageous to start using the name “Mark Barron” in the same sentence as Bucs icon John Lynch. Some Bucs fans nearly fell off their barstools reading that.
Though Lovie doesn’t run a Cover-2 or Tampa-2 all the time, his defense is about as close to Father Dungy’s defense in the Bucs heyday as it gets. Therefore, it lends itself to strong play from the safety.
For reasons unknown, in his first two Tampa Bay seasons, Barron, picked seventh overall in the 2012 draft, has been a decent player but nothing close to an impact player that one might expect from a top-10 pick.
Lovie suggested that’s about to change. His defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier, reinforced that point yesterday after practice.
“We didn’t have [Barron] in the offseason,” Frazier said. “He was injured and missed the entire offseason from a workout standpoint. To have him here in training camp, working as hard as he’s working and making the plays that he’s making, we’re expecting big things from him. He’s a very talented guy, a smart football player and physical. He’s made some big plays out here in practice. We’re looking forward to him having a great season.”
Barron has been making some nice plays for the defense, that is true. But some nice plays in training camp hardly is the same plateau as Lynch playing angry traffic cop in the regular season.
Former Bucs commander Greg Schiano, a former NFL secondary coach himself, never had a strong secondary. His first year was as wretched as wretched could get, even with helmet-wielding, gun-totin,’ cabbie-slugging, granny-hassling Aqib Talib playing.
So Lovie and Frazier may be onto something. At least those two have had success building secondaries in the NFL.
August 6th, 2014 at 7:10 am
Let’s hope in this defense Mark Barron will shine. It’s hard to judge any of the players we have had for the last couple of years because the coaching has been so bad.
August 6th, 2014 at 7:13 am
I know John Lynch thinks different but I don’t think he could play in today’s NFL. Friendly fire would become not so friendly fined a lot.
August 6th, 2014 at 7:27 am
It’s all about the pass rush
August 6th, 2014 at 7:34 am
Both Barron and Goldson need to stay healthy this year. Foster too. Maybe they should focus more on making a clean takedown rather than injuring themselves trying to deliver the knockout blow. That was the secret to Brooks longevity.
These guys are the gut of the D and if we are weakened there it’s going to be a long season.
August 6th, 2014 at 7:40 am
Mark Barron has been a solid player in his first two seasons. He hasn’t been great but was under Schiano? Aside from McCoy and LVD?
You can’t on one hand say how awful Greg Schiano was as a coach and then at the same time assume that every player on the team had played up to their full potential.
If the players were all awful, then Shciano should have been given more time with better players, and I think we can all agree we didn’t want that.
I’ll trust Lovie’s instincts in this one, he has the resume to suggest he knows a thing it two about evaluating defensive talent.
August 6th, 2014 at 8:12 am
The comparisons to Lynch aren’t fair. Lynch couldn’t even be Lynch in today’s NFL. If Lynch were on our team last year, Goldson’s fines would have been pocket change compared to what Lynch would have had to give up. Barron can’t be the same player because the rules keep that player out of the league now
August 6th, 2014 at 8:31 am
Patrick and Luther before him are correct. Even towards the end of Lynch’s career in Denver ( yuck! Thanks Bruce Allen! ), he was facing suspensions nearly every week into the playoffs for lighting up Dallas Clark.
August 6th, 2014 at 9:02 am
Hey, newsflash, the past success of the T2 was dissuading the WR to go over the middle where the safeties got the chance to knock someone’s teeth loose.
In addition, The T2 by design channels the receivers to the middle of the field
where the safety has the same opportunity.
That was yesterday’s NFL folks before the enforcers like Ronnie Lott and Lynch became obsolete.
August 6th, 2014 at 10:02 am
I think Barron has progressed in passing situations. He was always good coming up to the line and making the stop. Hopefully he can get better covering tight ends and giving CBS help over the top. Lets Go BUCS!!!
August 6th, 2014 at 11:01 am
I remember when Barron was drafted Lynch was in love with this kid, stating many times he will be a great safety and comparing Barron to himself. If you all remember correctly Lynch wasn’t really Lynch until 3, 4 years into his career (once Dungy came and the T2 was installed). I understand he can’t be the head hunter Lynch was, but that doesn’t mean he can’t deliver the pain and be great.
Personally I think Lovie, Frazier, and Lynch are right about this kid… Thou he has been solid his first two years, I think he becomes one of the elite safeties in the game starting this season.
Go Bucs!
August 6th, 2014 at 11:29 am
Sapp was talking about this the other day. Not so sure Joe totally agrees.
Lynch was smart enough he would have adapted. Remember: Lynch isn’t nominated to be inducted into the Hall of Fame just because he had hard hits. He was a damned good safety who also hit hard.
Ronnie Lott didn’t make the Hall of Fame just because he was a hard-hitting corner/safety. Dude could cover like a blanket.