“Stuff That You Can’t Teach”
September 17th, 2019
Bucs safety Mike Edwards
Buccaneers legend Rondé Barber said he knows the 2019 Bucs “inside and out” last night.
Not only is Barber part of general manager Jason Licht’s inner circle of trust, Bruce Arians has been a family friend of Barber’s for nearly 45 years. Barber also openly discusses his close relationship with Team Glazer.
“I watch all the film. I watch a lot of practice,” Barber told the Buccaneers Radio Network last night. Thankfully, Barber also opted to share some of his “inside-and-out” knowledge.
“When I first talked to Todd Bowles about the players on the defense, the first one that he mentioned was Mike Edwards,” Barber said of the rookie safety. “He’s like, ‘Hey man, you don’t anything about because not a lot of people know a lot about him, but I think he’s good enough to start for us right away.’ I was like, ‘Wow. Ok.’ You know, this was before we had an understanding of Justin Evans’ injury and how he was going to be out.”
Barber went on to say that despite Edwards getting hurt in training camp and missing a lot of time, he already can see what Bowles was talking about.
“You can watch him on film and see what type of instincts that he has. Stuff that you can’t teach; that’s how I describe him. That’s what he has in abundance,” Barber said of Edwards.
Joe, too, is fired up about Edwards and believes he’ll find his way into the starting lineup alongside Jordan Whitehead by midseason.
Joe also takes Barber’s comments with a little grain of salt. Ever since Barber said Chris Conte had the best movement from a safety he’s ever seen in the history of football, Joe has had to draw a line.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
LOL. That’s totally fair J0e.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Dude has been playing well for a late third round rookie that missed as much time as he has.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Chris Conte far from being elite, but also far away from garbage as many Bucs fans say….Just another player……
September 17th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Chris Conte another fan favorite yet they think they actually have a clue. Smh fn Bucs fans I tell ya
September 17th, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Edwards will be our starting Free Safety for the next ten years and will be All Pro one day. He is brilliant and can call plays, is a leader, great tackler, very fast and quick, great instincts, and also is a play maker. And Licht got a great player again for you Haters. Of course we could have taken Henderson instead who is a good bench warmer. LOL. With Edwards and Whitehead we are set at Safety. Trust BA he will find a way.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
He better be an all pro because like ba fan said we missed out on the best college running back in the history of college football had a chance to draft him. Could you imagine if we had Henderson as our 4th runningback and have him inactive every game. We would be so much better having a 4th string runningback over a starting safety. I think that ghost is going to haunt this website for a long time.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
The future of the Bucs safeties are Mike Edwards and Jordan Whitehead. If they continue to play well, then we’ll have one of the best pairs of safeties in the NFL. Our DBs went from the bottom 32 to the middle of the pack. No doubt they have talent to be in the top ten by the end of the year.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Haven’t really noticed him out there which isn’t horrible since he hasn’t badly missed a tackle or got destroyed in coverage.
Glad Ronde is calling them s weeks ge. I’m sure he will provide some insight and footage. He’s usually on top of that stuff.
But I will be honest and think Ronde does tend to overhyped Tampa players. Especially DBs……Let’s put it this way. He has actually touted DBs in Mike Smith’s defense. I’d like to see Ronde get even better as a announcer and start using some of that aggression he is famous for.
September 17th, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Dorian Stewart looked exactly like Chris Conte in blackface. How do these guys even get on the field? Oh yea it’s the Bucs
But but but TURNOVERS
September 17th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
BA FAN are you a fan of Kentucky football? Because that’s just about the only thing that I can think of that supports you coming to that conclusion.
September 17th, 2019 at 1:06 pm
I just remember thinking he was killing it in camp/OTAs/etc with splash plays. Has the instincts to jump routes / read QB.
September 17th, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Chalk one up for Licht…..or Bowles…..or BA…..or all three…..they may have foreseen problems with Evans’ health going forward.
That extra pick we received for trading down really helped us.
September 17th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
D$%@, just imagine him developing along side Jalen Ramsey.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:05 pm
^^^^ What BA FAN said.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
Chris Conte was not as absolutely horrible as Sabby Piscatelli, the worst safety to ever start for the Bucs. I’m gonna give Ronde the benefit of the doubt about that. I mean he was talking about the man’s agility. Not football prowess.
Much respect to Ronde. And as always, thank you.
September 17th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Isn’t he already starting?
September 17th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Conte had fantastic movement – like when the Steelers TE moved his face directly into the dirt.
Also Conte was trash, the guy literally lost a game, on national TV, for us. Him and Ryan Smith are literally the worst duo of defensive backs in NFL history, and that is not hyperbole. Football Outsiders, who until PFF actually isn’t trash, had Conte on their all-trash decade team.
September 17th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
he’ll be even better next year….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 17th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
I’m confused. I could have sworn Mike Edwards is starting next to Whitehead already….
September 17th, 2019 at 3:36 pm
“Conte had fantastic movement – like when the Steelers TE moved his face directly into the dirt.”
Mic drop!
September 17th, 2019 at 7:20 pm
Conte was always being accused of messing up when he was seen chasing down other defensive backs missed assignments. It was unfair to him but wtfdik right?
September 17th, 2019 at 7:23 pm
Rod … “Him (Chris Conte) and Ryan Smith are literally the worst duo of defensive backs in NFL history, and that is not hyperbole.”
Hyperbole … Exaggerated statements. Uhhh, Rod, your statement sounds like the very definition of ‘hyperbole’. Unless of course you’ve researched EVERY duo of defensive backs in NFL history and can prove that Conte & Smith rank right at the bottom. Nice touch though, I enjoyed it. And I especially enjoyed the use of the word ‘literally’. By any chance do you remember the book (and movie) “The World According to Garp?”
BTW, it must be driving you bonkers that Ryan Smith is STILL a Buccaneer, even in this new regime. I on the other hand love the kid. He’s a survivor.
September 17th, 2019 at 7:37 pm
I’ll say this, as of right now Edwards has better game stats than Chauncey Gardner-Johnson who PFF called the steal of the draft when taken by the Saints in the 4th round. I thought Gardner-Johnson was the right pick for the Bucs over Edwards, but it’s way too early to tell for either of them.
September 17th, 2019 at 8:49 pm
Pretty Sure he started On Thursday Vs Panthers
September 17th, 2019 at 11:47 pm
I’m still predicting that Either Mike Edwards or Lavonte David lead this defense in takeaways this year.
Just wait until JPP gets back. The lord knows not to give Todd Bowles weapons for a pass rush and instinctive, playmaking safeties.
NFC south is on notice
September 18th, 2019 at 9:04 am
NOSBOS, would you really give up two 1st round picks for Ramsey?! No friggin way.
Yes, Ramsey is an amazing talent, but what we NEED in next years draft is someone to pressure the QB. I just do not see the logic in trading so much to get a highly talented CB who makes Antonio Brown look like an introvert.
September 18th, 2019 at 9:53 am
If Mike Edwards fully heals and catches up to Jordan Whitehead, watch out!! That will be be a scary good pair. Like the hairdo, Mike.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:12 pm
He said, best movement… that’s all. Honestly, Conte was an athlete, he really was. I remember a few of the Bucs players talking about what a great natural athlete Conte was when Lovie was still here. Moving and playing are obviously two different things.
September 18th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Rod Munch
September 17th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Conte had fantastic movement – like when the Steelers TE moved his face directly into the dirt.
Also Conte was trash, the guy literally lost a game, on national TV, for us. Him and Ryan Smith are literally the worst duo of defensive backs in NFL history, and that is not hyperbole. Football Outsiders, who until PFF actually isn’t trash, had Conte on their all-trash decade team.
—————
I’m sorry, worst duo ever? Highly doubtful.
I introduce to you, Exhibit A- Tim Wansley and ANYBODY,… but just for giggles we can go with Shevin Smith or Jack Howell.
if you like, Exhibit B- Wayne Haddix and take your pick… Mark Robinson, Harry Hamilton, pretty much anybody from those trash Buc teams, Rod Jones… anybody!
September 18th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
hope this kid is the real deal and Justin Evans returns to health and catches on someplace else, ideally in another conference
September 18th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Ronde is one of my favorite Bucs ever, but that Chris Conte comment was ridiculous. Best movement my ass…😂