Barber: Personnel Holes On Both Sides Of Ball
December 11th, 2014
Bucs icon Ronde Barber is a big fan of Oakland rookie quarterback Derrick Carr, especially after studying him for Barber’s FOX game call of the Raiders-49ers game last Sunday.
Tampa Bay, however, starts Josh McCown, and Barber is no fan of his.
The future Hall of Fame hopped on CBS Radio with his brother Tiki this week and talked about his beloved but woeful Bucs. Barber says the team has major personnel issues.
Among other things, Barber talked about “misses in free agency” and “serious flux” in the offensive coaching staff. Barber also says the defense has its share of holes.
“It’s frustrating if you’re a Bucs fan because you expected Lovie Smith to come in and the resurgence of some of the things we used to do back in the day, and it just hasn’t materialized” Barber said.
“The defense is very vanilla. They play a lot of Cover-2. And that’s a personnel-driven scheme, Tiki. You know, you gotta have studs. You gotta have a great rush end. You gotta have a great 3-technique, which they do have in Gerald McCoy. But the guys around him have got to be outstanding role players, and they just don’t have that kind of production.”
Not a lot of optimism floating around the Bucs these days.
There’s even some uproar and disagreement at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. Not everyone thinks the Bucs have turned the corner on defense. Some are more in line with Barber and Derrick Brooks, who referenced serious D-line woes yesterday.
December 11th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Headline should have said “GAPING HOLES”
and you need not be a Bucs Icon to know that’s a fact.
December 11th, 2014 at 11:05 am
It’s the NFL…as Chris Thomas used to say the No Freaking Logic league. In fairness the Bucs have had their share of injuries and illness. Losing your OC just before the season kicks off IS a big deal. Especially with an entirely new coaching staff and no continuity.
But it’s clear we need some good players and more than just a few. I’m not against drafting Jameis or Marcus or a QB but I’m not a huge proponent either.
Depends on what the pick could fetch. If the Bucs could even double that #1 into two first round choices I”d take the deal. We need too many bodies at this point.
December 11th, 2014 at 11:12 am
or he could have said, stuff square peg in round hold
December 11th, 2014 at 11:27 am
@RONDE BARBER
I hope you read joebucsfan but I doubt it….anyway there are gaping holes and one of them is the nickel corner spot thanks to YOU endorsing leonard Johnson. loved to see you play but talking not, not so much
December 11th, 2014 at 11:56 am
Hard to call if the defense is really improving when you factor in how bad the offense is.
Ronde would do well to remember that back in the day, the Bucs offense often had the defense gassed by the fourth quarter.
if you can’t run the ball, your defense has already played a full game after the whistle blows in the third.
December 11th, 2014 at 12:07 pm
I keep saying this – the best service the Glazers can provide to the fan base is a outside independent (proven) talent evaluator come in and assist the staff in filling holes.
Based on the current state of the roster and the results yielded by the current talent evaluators there are still mistakes being made and holes being created instead of filled.
Collins, Johnson, EDS, Sims, McCown, Mankins, Myers and Cousins plus more have and did not live up to expectations. If anything these members have represented steps backward when there were already roster concerns. Our record shows overall regression and it’s hard to justify Lovie as a upgrade from a 4-12 venture that he love to highlight.
Well sir you’re 2-14 and minimal absolutes in your roster – how do you project success with those numbers staring at you?
I can honestly see the Glazers rethinking their long term commitment to this regime. It’s nkt looking good.
December 11th, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Man I miss Chris Thomas. RIP
December 11th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
I wouldn’t mind if the BUCS like last year used all their draft picks on o and d line. We’re bound to hit a home run on 2 or 3
December 11th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Bottom line L&L created most of this mess and it’s going to take 2 good drafts to up grated. Do we trust them after this past year ?????
December 11th, 2014 at 12:25 pm
If you really must stick with Lovie, (bad idea), absolutely bring in a President of Football operations.
Take Lovie out of personnel evaluation immediately and sanction his staff selections too.
You very well may be having to replace Licht if Lovie’s current scope of powers remain next season.
December 11th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
RayRay1 Says:
Bottom line L&L created most of this mess and it’s going to take 2 good drafts to up grated. Do we trust them after this past year ????
________________________________
I’ll give Licht a flyer since I don’t think he’s calling the shots. He got here very late in the process too.
Lovie wanted McCown instead of drafting a guy to compete with Glennon. The OL situation is 100% Lovie too. Fact, Nicks was never going to play. They ignored RG too. EDS and Collins were hand picked.
Point is, this guy will churn the roster every year till he’s fired. Schiano’s roster did more with less while dealing with MRSA and Freeman and almost 17 total on IR.
It’s not all on the players.
Think 12 men on consecutive plays would have happened under Schiano?
December 11th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
It seems to me that L&L get an F on their FA acquisitions and an A on their draft choices.
Bottom line. Based on this experience I trust them far more with draft picks than selecting free agents. FA’s are far more expensive busts than draft choices as well.
December 11th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
I think the biggest mistake was Lovie and Licht saying they were going to take a 4-12 team and “win now” It maybe put too much pressure on them to go to the free agent market and make hasty decisions on guys that haven’t worked out or have not been very good. Now they need to go right to “rebuilding” mode and not repeat last off-season’s mistakes. Personally from what I’ve seen here so far I don’t think that Lovie is the kind of coach to get it done here and it pains me to say that as I had the high hopes just like everybody else did
December 11th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Injuries have the defense reeling a bit right now….otherwise it appears that they are/were making positive steps in the right direction…….
December 11th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I saw Lovie work a mirical in Chicago and believe that he will turn things around. I don’t know what happened this season w/ the Bucs but I do think that Lovie got caught up in the hype upon his return to Tampa. I think he thought he could really make a go of it out there his first year but the chips didn’t fall right. I hope that since his all offensive draft went so well that he concetrates on that side of the ball again to finish it. New OC, a couple O-lineman, and a QB then focus on the defensive side. Please get rid of the o-line coach and for the next game try moving EDS to RG next to Dotson, insert Pamphil at LT, and try Gilky at center again unless you find another vet center on a practice squad. I would also try Collins at LG, throughout the league this season teams have been shuffling their entire offensive line but the Bucs who only change the LT.
December 11th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
This will be Lovie’s last gig as a head coach. The ink is dry.
December 11th, 2014 at 1:23 pm
I would also like to see another corner in FA or draft like Browner from New England on the right and move Banks to the left and move Verner in the slot when in nickel. Get a MLB in the draft a train him up while Lansanah plays that spot and the rookie plays special teams. If Foster is resigned move him to SLB and see if he fits. Then pick up as many FS and DE in the draft, undrafted FA and FA and bring them to camp and see who sticks. If the defense can put out the effort that they have given this year at least and the offense is better with certain additions they can win their division.
December 11th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Worked what miracle newbucsfan? Missed the playoffs twice as much as he made it? Has now missed the playoffs in 6 of his last 7 seasons as a coach? His miracle was Devin Hester, without him Lovie gets fired in 5 seasons or less in Chicago. Hester was the real miracle worker, and all we need for Lovie to be successful is to find Hester Pt.2. Should be simple enough…
December 11th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Lovie is working with Bowers at the 3-tech and if this offseason he can eat more and get bigger and get stronger he will be a nice backup to McCoy. Looking at the Bucs this year with certain additions they will be much improved next season. The NFC South is horrible and you don’t become a superbowl contender in a year but the Bucs have been in every game except for two. This team has bonded this year through adversity now you have McCoy, David, Lansanah, Banks, Verner, and the safties for depth who could start in a pinch and play special teams. The players that were let go are not studs, they are backups and special teamers for other teams. The offensive lineman that were let go and are doing much better at big paycuts have one thing in common and that is better QB play. I guess being an observer from the outside makes me more objective
December 11th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Look Lovie’s a nice guy a good defensive coach, which is why co-ordinators exist. It’s what Lovie’s tailor made to do. But the guy is a pretty mediocre head coach, and that was with the greatest return man of all-time. How good will he be without the greatest return of all-time? Lovie’s winning percentage against over .500 teams? .333. That is simply awful.
Donald Penn is on the offensive line with the 5th fewest sacks allowed. Revis is the best corner in the game again. Zuttah is likely Pro Bowl bound, maybe even All Pro team. Jonathan Casillas is starting in New England now. Tim Wright has better stats than all our TEs playing only 25% of New England’s offensive snaps. I think you just showed you’re not that all that objective by saying the players that were let go are not studs and are backups. I just showed you that’s pure biased homerism, all of them are contributing to much better teams (except Penn although the Raiders are better than us). Those 5 are making bigger impacts elsewhere than they did here.
I get it, you want Lovie to succeed. So do I. But the available evidence suggests he won’t make us anything great, at best we’ll be making the playoffs once every 3 years. Yes that’s better than now…but it’s still not very good.
December 11th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
So biff barker,who was the QB you would have drafted last year who would have taken this team to the promised land of at least .500 ball. If you can’t provide a name, pleasure,just shut up.
Oh, and remember, when you draft that No. 1′ you have to give back Mike Evans.
So come on draft genius,spin the wheel.
December 11th, 2014 at 4:17 pm
Bucrightoff, y
December 11th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Bucrightoff, you are either delusional or just simpleminded.
Oakland utilizes a very short passing attack. Wish our OC was as innovative.
Reavis is no longer the best corner in the league and once teams see how Joridy Nelson beat him on one on one coverage, more teams will follow.
Besides, he didn’t cut Reavis because he didn’t like him, he cut him because his price was to high to keep.
Casillas is starting cause the Patriots LB corps have been ravaged. Tim Wight is catching TD passes because the Gronk is getting double and triple teamed. They also have a good OC unlike ours. Oh and also that Brady guy.
Zutah being pro bowl bound? Dude, put down that can of paint.
December 11th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
You keep being the delusional homer/race baiter you are ddneast. It’s entertaining as can be even if it’s taking IQ points away from the rest of us to read it.
December 12th, 2014 at 8:07 am
saying L&L
December 12th, 2014 at 8:10 am
saying L&L created this mess is like saying the bucs were a playoff team last year…the o line was bad this year it’s worse this year, the offense was bad horrible last year and extremely predictable, it’s the same this year only because theres no offensive coordinator…I don’t know what some of you expect from a guy who has no clue what he’s doing and how to compete with real nfl defensive coordinators….mike evans has made him look better than he actually is at calling plays…but seriously what problems are here this year that weren’t here last year, we have the same damn problems
December 12th, 2014 at 11:32 am
if and when green bay plays seattle again I want to see if rogers totally avoids Sherman and makes them almost one dimensional. like the first game they played.
that will answer the best busts cornerback in the game question for me.
as to the bucs, glazers need to sit Lovie down and tell him they want to build the team through draft. Build personnel structure similar to when Mckay was here.Lovie gets one vote and no control.While evans was a good pick.No one else has stepped up. ASJ needs to become a better blocker and receiver. He hasn’t been a downfield threat due to drops and not sure of his route running so far.Appears to be a downgrade from Tim Wright so far.
Except for macdonald and verner other free agents have been
committee rules, no more Lovie full control.
he needs to concentrate on coaching and coaching only.He has been so slow to change on major issues such as Arroyo, that the quicksand is about to swallow him up.
December 12th, 2014 at 11:49 am
ddneast- I did see stats somewhere that Zutah was having a pretty good year
and pro bowl was a possibllity in their opinion. EDS has only shown that he is upgrade over gilkey a player that has never played center before.They both commit the same kind of penalties at all the wrong times.Snaps are similar.
He needs to sustain his blocks and not step aside and let defender sack QB.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
got my busts in wrong place:
post should have read :
best cornerback in the game
and later: other free agents have been busts