Rondé Barber Talks Tom Brady Driving Ali Marpet And Donovan Smith To Excellence
May 30th, 2020
Sixth-year veterans Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith are very wealthy and established offensive linemen.
And there’s a pretty good chance they’ve either played their best football or at least have had long stretches of trying their very best.
But if you believe in the Brady-raises-all-boats theory floated by the power players at One Buc Palace, then Marpet and Smith have a lot more to give to reach their potential.
Buccaneers icon and true team insider Rondé Barber spoke about that on CBS Sports Radio this week.
“When you’re Ali Marpet or you’re Donovan Smith, two of [Brady’s] offensive linemen, when they get in the huddle he’s going to command, you know, the respect that’s needed to drive them to excellence,” Barber said.
“Now I think that’s important on any team, to have that guy, whoever it is, offensive or defensive guy, in a locker that makes everybody else reach for their level of excellence. You couldn’t ask for a better guy; his track record speaks for itself.”
Joe gets the concept of Brady’s great influence, but there are limits. Reality has to take hold at some point, especially with 43-year-old Brady learning a new offense in a new city with no spring practices.
So does Barber think America’s Quarterback, Saints backup Jameis Winston, set a very low bar when it came to driving players to excellence?
Joe can’t go there because the Bucs offense ranked third in scoring and yards gained last year. If Jameis didn’t give the ball away like Halloween candy, then the offense might have been ranked No. 1 or No. 2. That doesn’t translate to a returning group that needs a leader to drive them to excellence. Does it? Perhaps Joe is missing something.
Joe hopes Brady also rubs off on the Bucs coaches, in addition to defensive players. Yeah, the coaches. Brady has played for the greatest, and the guys running the Bucs could use someone pushing them to a higher level of excellence.
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More good stuff from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe. Enjoy!
May 30th, 2020 at 6:42 am
Winston had no standard for excellence himself. When you lead the NFL in TO’s you are anything but excellent. People watch what you do more than they listen to watch you say.
May 30th, 2020 at 6:54 am
Well said Bucnut.
May 30th, 2020 at 7:19 am
Winston never got on his OL for missing a block, not picking up a blitz, or on his receiver for dropping a catchable pass (OJ n ME). I love seeing Brady when he chew his lineman or receiver out n demand the best. Brady will make or break Donavon Smith who can play lackadaisical n show his big teddy bear side. I like Marpet, he’s a mauler.
May 30th, 2020 at 8:03 am
Bucnut nailed it right out of the gate!
“People watch what you do more than they listen to watch you say.”
Eating W’s in a pregame speech is fine theatrics…what does it mean in comparison to a guy who lead his team back from a 28-3 deficit in the 3rd Q of a Super Bowl. By the time he put up the winning points in OT was there any doubt?
It’s easy to talk the talk…that’s why they call it “trash” talk..it’s worthless.
Walk the walk and people pay attention!!!!
May 30th, 2020 at 8:05 am
Lots of little things add up to big things.
In the NFL in 2019, the Bucs offense ranked as follows:
* Running game #24,
* Time of possession #9,
* Pts scored #4,
* Passing yards #1,
* Total yards #3,
TWO huge ones at
* TO diff. #28 (NE #1)
* Oline penalties #27 (delay of game” and False Start both #27, holding #26)
So, here is the difference TB can make in TB:
the most obvious is TO differential, take 20 INTs off and the Bucs would move up to +7 TO differential (instead of -13) and would be #8 in the NFL (instead of #28)
Not taking shots at JW, but are offensive players going to listen to, and be inspired more by JW or TB? Not just bc of TOs, but age, creds, & experience in leading men. So maybe cut the Oline penalties in half (no one wants to piss off TB) Oline makes the running lanes a tiny bit bigger, success inspires success.
Time of possession. Pats at #4 in all NFL, Bucs at #9. Difference is a slightly better running game, less Oline penalties, less INTs means Less TOP for other team
So maybe the Bucs don’t move up at all in Points scored, who cares? But if penalties are reduced, Time of possession is increased, running game goes up even just a tad – BUCS are in the playoffs!!! That is how it works Joe(s)
Success inspires success = SB!
May 30th, 2020 at 9:14 am
How is Winston going to complain about his OL when he held the ball way too long?
The OL can improve in the run block and consistency. Ali Marpet gets man-handled on occasion with bull rushes, so I don’t know if it’s taking a play off or he’s just not elite. And we all know D Smith’s problems. But, Brady will clean up taking plays off in a heartbeat, not because he’ll chew their a$$ out (which he will), but because Blaine Gabbert is our backup if Brady goes down.
Trust me those guys making millions of dollars, will be looking for a new job if they blew the block that gets Brady injured.
No bigger motivation than that. The OL is average until proven otherwise.
May 30th, 2020 at 9:40 am
As Coach said, “If we can win with this QB, we can win with another one”. It just happens that the other one is the GOAT, and care more about winning than stats. JW didn’t play “hero ball “, he was playing “stat ball”. The int’s had nothing to do with his eyesight. He refused to look at another option, Brady will know how to make this offense better. I’m more concerned about Tristan learning to be nasty and not maintaining the penalties of his predecessor. Brady will have a chat with these guys. As long as we escape the injury bug, they’ll be fine.
May 30th, 2020 at 10:13 am
This OLine has a whole ‘nother level that they have not attained yet and I can’t imagine that TB12 can’t help bring that out.
May 30th, 2020 at 10:25 am
They will be blocking for the GOAT! A QB with a LONG history of clutch performances. When you have a Tom Brady at QB, you always have a chance. If that doesn’t inspire you, you may want to check yourself into a facility.
May 30th, 2020 at 10:49 am
This oline gets blown back off the los too damn much and is the primary reason the run game sucks aas. Can Brady suddenly keep them from getting knocked back every other play? I seriously doubt it. He may want them to be tougher and more physical but that’s purely aspirational after 6 years. They are overrated and overpaid for their production.
May 30th, 2020 at 11:06 am
Ah, I get it now.
“to have that guy, whoever it is, offensive or defensive guy, in a locker that makes everybody else reach for their level of excellence. You couldn’t ask for a better guy”
We just have to keep that guy in a locker to reach that level of excellence. Perfect! Have any word on how large a locker? In the sun or shade? Any news on having this just be volunteers or there being some type of nominations needed? lol.
Go! Bucs!
May 30th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
In a year or two Jameis will be the starter for the Saints. We will get swept for the next 10 years or so by the Saints. So hopefully we do win a Super Bowl within the next two years. Because the way I see it. If there’s a team in the NFC south due for a championship it’s the Saints. As much as it pains me to admit it.
May 30th, 2020 at 6:46 pm
You made a good point about Brady also rubbing off on the coaches. I think that is another aspect of why BA wanted to acquire Brady.
Let’s say Jameis had come back and succeeded in cutting his turnovers by even three fifths of last year’ numbers, would he have been ready to take the Bucs to the promised land? No. He would still have lacked the playoff experience that is needed. Arians doesn’t just have to look at the numbers and the production of his quarterback. He has to judge where the guy is in all aspects of his role on the team.
It is assumed that even if Tom Brady’s physical skills start to decline his inner experience and intangibles are far greater than any QB in the NFL has at this time. Coaches can learn something from Tom.
May 30th, 2020 at 8:52 pm
Sign Clay Matthews and trade for Adams
This def will be epic and leadership in every level.
This is a all in year time to go all in…
2.5 mill with incentives for clay
1st rd pick which will be 32pick
And conditional pick that doesn’t exceed a 3rd rounder
Just go over cap and pay the penalty these players will automatically take us to the next level..
Adams n winfield jr holding down the safety spots
Back ups evans and whitehead
It allow these new beast cbs to do so much…..
Matthews is a proven blitzer and a great tackler no reason not to bring him in..he had a great yr last yr…he wants to be here 1yr let get type comtract….
Go bucs
May 30th, 2020 at 8:56 pm
@jason…..bhahahaha 😂😂😂
Yeah the guy who has a whole coaching staff to help him do his job but googles things…
Dudes dumb go watch the video of him cheering on cock roaches as they have sex…
Just go be a saints fan you 💩
June 2nd, 2020 at 3:10 am
Pete is a hater! I watched him everyday until we got Brady He was a Non believer. He changed his tune. The odds in Vegas changed his mind.
June 2nd, 2020 at 3:13 am
Go listen to Pete in February