Making Shaq Better
December 26th, 2019
Still untapped potential.
Joe must be living in The Twilight Zone.
Joe actually heard a Bucs’ defensive coordinator say a guy who led the league in sacks for much of the year and who is a half-sack from setting a franchise record can actually get better.
First, the Bucs had a guy who led the league in sacks? Second, he can get better? A Bucs’ pass rusher? Wow.
That’s what Todd Bowles tried to sell today. Bowles make it known he believes if Barrett, a free agent after the season, returns, he could improve on his current 16.5 sacks of 2019 (with one game yet to play).
Or tackles.
“I mean there’s meat on the bone,” Bowles said of Barrett’s still untapped ability. “I think he can get better, but that may not equate to sacks. I think he can get better as a football player – sacks come and he gets rid of the football or whatever the case may be, but I think he has a lot of growth as a player, yes.”
That is a scary thought. But a good one, so long as the Bucs bring Barrett back. Or that he wasn’t a fluke.
Joe would be intrigued with a franchise tag on Barrett if for no other reason it would be a prove-it contract to show Barrett getting double-digit sacks wasn’t just an accident.
December 26th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
He’ll be back, one way or another. May want to wait on the franchise tag until we see what happens with Jameis.
December 26th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
They need to keep this guy and JPP!
What a luxury to have a c great pass rush, good LB’s and a competent defensive backfield on rookie contracts.
Now they can build a winning team by drafting an OT in the 1st round, grabbing a stud RB in the 2nd and building real depth in the later rounds.
December 26th, 2019 at 6:32 pm
Agree with Ghost….defense should be kept together with Shaq and JPP at a minimum.
December 26th, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Ghost is right. Solidfy the Oline and get a stud running back and the offense will be even better next year. Keep the Defense together as much as you can. Can you imagine a top 10 Defense with a top 3 offense. That scary.
Imagine if Tampa had this offense back in the Dungy Era. At least 3 Superbowls. Licht has to work his magic with these contracts and not over thing the draft. I think Both BA and Todd had a lot of say in this last draft and I expect them to have their finger prints all over this next one too.
December 26th, 2019 at 8:35 pm
“JPP is twice the player Shaq is
My Dad and I think he is a 1 hit wonder
average 9 sack rusher and NOT PROVEN
JPP is a PROVEN high production player year after year
*ONLY IN TAMPA BAY AND OUR BELOVED JASON GUMP
We had JPP locked in at $12 mill for next year but now we have to pay him more to stay next year and further
We want JW to take a paycut but we are sure our Forrest is going to use the savings wisely?
LOL”
Son of Kobe Faker
December 26th, 2019 at 8:58 pm
A man does not get 16.5 sacks as a fluke. I just don’t see that happening often, if at all.
More often than that, someone gets a new coach, or supporting cast, or an injury.
I think we would be CRAZY to not do everything we can to make this man wants to stay here in Florida playing in Red and Pewter.
December 26th, 2019 at 9:34 pm
Prove what?!?!?! You would tag a better pass rusher than subpar inconsistent quarterback that averages multiple meltdowns per season? Lock the man up and stop being the worse ran organization in the NFL! You let Bennett walk years ago, pass over MULTIPLE pass rushers in the draft for players not on the roster and not in the league but you’d rather risk a better player at his position than a mediocre at best qb? This is stupid and the Bucs is the absolute worse front office – hand down. Only team and media in the league that touts 30 and 30, smh. Dam we have just lowered all standards from the greats around here.
December 26th, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Smart move would be to use the Franchise tag on Barrett & Transition JW3.
Barrett is a more appealing FA…No NFL FO will be giving up 2 1st round picks for JW3, but might to sign away a sack artist!
December 26th, 2019 at 10:53 pm
Of course he can get better. Thats coach telling his player not to buy into the media hype. I’m sure boneheads are kissing his A every day since he got some sacks this year. Bowles knows the real reason he got every one of those sacks.
December 26th, 2019 at 10:58 pm
Seems the Bucs are going back and forth on Jameis and Shaq with the possible franchise tag. Glad I don’t have to make that decision.
December 27th, 2019 at 2:15 am
Catcard- I couldn’t disagree more with your smart move. That would drive up the price on Winston and get him realistically thinking of going elsewhere. Why not just sign them both to 3-5 year contracts. It’s not like the cost of good Qb and De/Olb is going down. Or franchise Jameis to make sure he can cut down the turnovers and/or win games with a better defense but that’s gonna cost you an additional 3-6 million per year to sign next year. Giving Shaq a 3+ year contract is a no brainer.
December 27th, 2019 at 4:32 am
If Shaq get more sacks next season than this season Joe’s gonna look like an @ss. The bar is set pretty damn high. Also, I feel sorry for Shaq because if he gets less sacks next season, this Joe will persecute him in the court of public opinion.
December 27th, 2019 at 6:33 am
The article wasn’t about Shaq getting more sacks next season it was about how he still has room to get better in his overall game.
December 27th, 2019 at 7:54 am
Could u imagine paying a guy to do one job… eat QB’S.
Then u pay James to win games but he throws 30 interceptions instead
December 27th, 2019 at 8:23 am
Maybe cut down on the offsides, jumping the snap/game
December 27th, 2019 at 10:40 am
That last paragraph joe has bin what I’ve bin saying. If m not hating on Barrett just want to be smart about throwing a bunch of money at him for 1 great season. Another prove it deal to make sure this isn’t a fluke. He does it 2 years in a row then open the vault for him
December 27th, 2019 at 1:19 pm
Dude! You don’t get 16.5 sacks in the NFL as a fluke!! Yeah his first 5 or 6 they didn’t see him coming but you know what that means? He was beating the crap out of (again NFL lineman) who didn’t come ready to deal with one of the better sack artists in the league!! I picked Barrett, Dean and Edwards to blow up this year!! I was pretty close…. Oh I also predicted Jameis would have 27 picks!! Pretty close on that too which I was hoping would be wrong!! You can’t tell that loser to just gun it!! He doesn’t see that underneath coverage!! He will never be a super bowl QB!! This is a team game but the QB is the ever elusive I in team!! He can make or break a team!! Winston is broke and they’ll never fix him!! Good thing everyone else around him is getting so much better!!!