Barrett’s Sacks Still Climbing
December 3rd, 2019
Beasting. Again.
For a pair of consecutive games in early October, opponents figured out Bucs outside linebacker Shaq Barrett.
After starting the season by going nuts and recording nine sacks in four games, opponents knew Barrett was not a fluke and began devising schemes to stop him. It worked, for two weeks.
Then, when Jason Pierre-Paul came off the injured reserve list, Barrett immediately noticed a difference in coverage and he snapped out of his funk.
Those two games in October were there only two straight games this season that Barrett hasn’t had a sack. Speaking in his day-after presser yesterday, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians noted the presence of JPP and others has helped spring Barrett loose to savage opposing quarterbacks.
“Yeah, the addition of Jason Pierre-Paul and the way Vita [Vea] is playing and the way [Ndamukong] Suh is playing in the middle, having Carl [Nassib] inside – just having those guys around him, he’s not getting all the attention,” Arians said of Barrett. “So I think that’s helped him tremendously.
“And, the back end is doing a hell of a lot better – coverage is a lot better.”
The secondary element Joe is true. Previously, dudes were always open so there was no real reason for a quarterback to hold the ball against the Bucs.
Joe is starting to believe firmly that former Bucs cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, for whatever reasons, was dragging down the secondary. It’s not a coincidence that once Hargreaves was benched and eventually released, the Bucs secondary magically got better.
Joe doesn’t believe in pixie dust.
The thing about Hargreaves and the secondary, who could have guessed Hargreaves getting the boot would also improve the pass rush?
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:27 am
Yes….also, Hargreaves being released mysteriously helped Perriman……who would have thunk it?
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:29 am
Oh no. You just released the cracken that is 813.
Never question the coverage and ball hawking skills of VH.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:58 am
Also, the Bucs have been dropping Barrett into pass coverage more often.
PAY.THE.MAN.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:12 am
VH3 look pretty good for the Pats last week. Right up until he got hurt. I think our DB’s will do fine without him.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:15 am
According to Spotrac our salary cap situation heading into next season is going to have the potential in being the best it has ever been at 93 million or so. We need to get a lot of folks under contract but I think the only reason someone does not return next year is because Licht and BA decide to go in a different direction. 93 million does not include potential cuts or trades that the team could make such as Jensen 10 million, Brate 6 million, Gholston 4.75 million just to name a few.
Licht needs to have a knock out draft and add some strong FA’s like he did with Barrett and we have a shot to be a very competitive team imo.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:19 am
Would imagine the bucs will be fighting tooth and nail to resign Barrett.
With JPP likely being gone in the offseason getting a pass rusher of some type, on the inside or outside, has to be a top priority. Otherwise teams will key in and nullify our new franchise sack artist.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:33 am
I agree Barrett looks great but I still question how he turned great coming to a losing program like Tampa transformed him. Yes I am aware he rotated in Denver. I think the Dline chemistry in Tampa with Suh and Vea paved the way for his success which is something he may not get in FA. Plus he likes his coaches. Wouldn’t be so sure money would be his big incentive. Pay him but don’t assume he is gone in 2020.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:01 am
Pure propaganda…BA saw something at the beginning of camp …probably a lack of leadership from VH3 and that was the beginning of the end. In this league you must cover your own a$$!! GO BUCS GO FAMOUS!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:12 am
It’s been 3 things all working together, IMO:
1. JPP returning
2. Vhbust is gone
3. Jamal Dean getting way more playing time
Let’s hope Dean gets healthy. He had a lot of injury issues throughout college, which I think is the biggest red flag / obstacle to him becoming a true shut down corner.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:52 am
VHG didnt pan out….it is what it is….he’s not the first and he wont be the last….
he is in houston playing very well tho…..we’ll see him soon…lol…
pass rush and secondary go hand in hand….
JPPs return not only helped shaq but it helped the secondary….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:53 am
slugg
go find someone else to hate on chump….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:39 pm
Lol he’s not playing good in Houston either.
1 pass defended per game = no bueno
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:03 pm
unbelievable
Hargreaves had five tackles and one pass defensed while being present on 82 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
that means QBs arent targeting him…lol…
that mucho bueno!!!!!!…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:10 pm
From Rotoworld: “Hargreaves was torched for 41 completions, 591 yards, and 2 touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per target before getting benched in Week 10”
LOL
813bucboi Says:
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:03 pm
… that means QBs arent targeting him…lol…
Well he should consider himself lucky then. Only a matter of time before he gets exposed.
There’s a reason QBs have an 108.6 QB rating against him. Houston has a pretty good defense overall though, so that should help him a bit.
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:13 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“Yes….also, Hargreaves being released mysteriously helped Perriman……who would have thunk it?”
.
.
LOL
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:22 pm
Vh3 got mossed by Edelman hes a liability and I’m glad hes not on our team.
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:23 pm
i am going to tell ya again Joe … Hargreaves getting canned had nothing to do with it!!! this surge and improvement i think lies solely on the shoulders of J…P…P… He came in and started making losers actually feel bad for losing!! once he came back it changed everything!! of course you cant go with that narrative can you??… you know since the all mighty Joe said to cut jpp because he could never come back from a broken neck!!! …. yeah i understand now ,.. you have to save face!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:53 pm
whaaatttsss uuuup Says:
“this surge and improvement i think lies solely on the shoulders of J…P…P… He came in and started making losers actually feel bad for losing!!”
.
.
There may be something to this. I like to call it the Nickerson effect. 🙂
To be fair, Joe wasn’t the only one who worried about JPP coming back. I argued the opposite strongly, but haven’t gloated about being right (dig dig!) because even if the neck heals properly, there’s still a psychological component that many with neck problems don’t overcome. One of the commenters here gave first hand account (don’t remember the name).
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:04 pm
unbelievable
im talking about with the since he’s been with the texans dumb @$$!!!!!!!
and i could care less about yards…its all about TDs…..he gave up 2 TDs in 10weeks…..CD gave up 2 in 1 game…lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:10 pm
whaaatttsss uuuup Says:
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:23 pm
i am going to tell ya again Joe … Hargreaves getting canned had nothing to do with it!!! this surge and improvement i think lies solely on the shoulders of J…P…P…
BINGO!!!!!!
pass rush and secondary go hand in hand….
GO BUCS!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:52 pm
It’s hilarious how Joe can think a single player can drag down an entire defensive unit, but a single player cannot be a LEADER and elevate an entire unit. (By “hilarious” I actually meant pathetic.)