What Richard Sherman Can Do
October 7th, 2021
Bucs CB Richard Sherman.
Joe caught a lot of hell writing that it sure seemed clear that former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman was a step or two slow when he was forced to start for the Bucs mere hours after signing due to a rash of injuries (and now that a third corner is down, Sherman surely has become a full-time starter).
Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com wondered if Sherman had much gas in the tank. So he reached out to an unnamed NFL suit to get his feedback.
What did Chadiha learn?
The intelligence level of the Bucs’ secondary will rise but the defense — to the chagrin of many fans — might be forced to play more zone defense.
PERSONNEL DIRECTOR FOR AN NFC TEAM (asked before Sunday’s game): “They need all the warm bodies they can get over there. They’re clearly hurting at cornerback (and the Bucs lost Carlton Davis on Sunday to a quad injury that potentially could sideline him long-term). I still think Sherm can bring a lot to a defense, because he’s such a great leader. You go through what they’re going through in that DB room, and he’ll be somebody who keeps people focused. He’s basically a defensive coordinator playing corner now. He’ll bring up the football IQ in that room, just because of his smarts and his experience. The only thing that would make you a little uneasy is that they play more man there than what he’s used to. Sherm hasn’t been great in man the last few years and hasn’t really been asked to do much of it. I can see teams attacking him, but he still brings a lot of positives to that defense.”
This guy makes sense. When the Bucs are forced to play a guy whose name sounds like a bottle of cologne at corner (Pierre Desir), they are going to need every edge they can find.
With Sherman being a smart-as-hell leader, that will make all of these guys a step better, and make the entire secondary better, especially when Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean return.
This signing of Sherman may be a Band-Aid move short-term. But down the road, if he stays healthy, it could really pay off big time.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:16 am
If they have any sense at all, these young DBs will hang on his every word. He is a smart guy and a good leader (except for a 24hr period where he lost his mind). I get he ain’t the same guy from 5 years ago, but if he can keep stuff in front of him and make the tackles he’s supposed to make, that will have to do. We got nothing else. Right now, Ross Cockrell is the best we got. Hurts me to type that last sentence. The D-line and LBs better get their stuff together and get after the QB (Will the real Devin White please stand up). Those youngsters need help!!
October 7th, 2021 at 8:16 am
I agree that signing Sherman was a good move…..and his experience with the young DBs will prove valuable over time.
I wouldn’t discount his ability on the field quite yet…..
October 7th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Hopefully we get dean back this week. That will def. help.
Guessing at least two more for bunting. Sherm played decent last week for not playing for a year and just coming in few days before the game. D-line needs to eat
October 7th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Joe I rewatched the game on NFL net yesterday, and I thought the cologne kid looked fairly good. Sherman might have been a step slow, but he hadn’t played in forever. At least he was in the same zip code as the guy he was covering. What upset me rewatching was the Bucs falling for those trick plays. One was almost a TD pass, like what we got burned on against N.O. in last years playoffs. More teams are going to pull that on us if we show we fall for it all the time, and one score off of that nonsense could lose a game. What’s up with that?
October 7th, 2021 at 8:22 am
Down the road- Hope he doesn’t get suspended- Bucs better have a backup plan.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:23 am
I assume you think french sounding names equate to a bottle of cologne. (Personally french sounds more like Perfume to me) but they also brutally colonized the haitians which is why most haitians have your bottle of cologne names.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:26 am
Desir looks decent once Sherman gets his legs under him and gets the verbage down he will be good.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Sherman is a Stanford graduate. He’s no dummy. You can bet the younger players are watching and listening to him. Another smart move by Licht.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:38 am
Gronk isn’t what he was 5 years ago, never got caught from behind on those up the middle passes but look what he brings to the table, same with AB, JPP & Suh but all can still play at high levels, Sherman will do the same.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:41 am
Yeah give him at least a month and he’ll make some plays. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Not many of us besides on here expected undefeated. Welcome to the nfl
October 7th, 2021 at 8:42 am
Sherman came in ‘off the couch’, got three or four days of practice in on one of the most complex defensive schemes and didn’t give up any big plays. He made all tackles once his assignment caught the ball, showed physicality vs the run, blitzed multiple times, showed up major on the stat sheet with a T.O. fumble recovery.
So what they caught 9 balls on him? He didn’t give up anything in the red zone either. The man coverage is a possible concern, but I put it more on Bowles to get his players in positions that work in favor of the Bucs. I have confidence in both to get it done.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:49 am
Yea hard to defend a pass when there a pick play. The pats did this repeatedly no calls go back watch the gm.
October 7th, 2021 at 8:52 am
SMB and Dean have great physical tools but can benefit from learning play recognition and anticipation. Some of that is probably instinctual but some Sherman can teach. BTW, I learned Kevin Ross had even more career interceptions than Sherman–who knew?
October 7th, 2021 at 8:54 am
I’ve been trying to tell people, wait til our CB’s return healthy, watch this secondary get better. Sherman should help to eliminate a bunch of the busted coverages we were seeing the first few weeks
October 7th, 2021 at 8:54 am
We don’t need legion of boom Sherman, we just need his IQ and leadership in that young secondary. Also Devin White need to step up and make others feel him.
October 7th, 2021 at 9:00 am
I wrote here before that the DB group was the only position group on Tampa that didn’t have an older leader to help the young up and comers. I was really surprised the Bucs didn’t snag one in the off season. With grabbing Sherman now I really hope he’s like Suh is to our Dline. Just think of how much good stuff Joe has wrote about Suh doing for the line and everything else we don’t hear about. I’m sure Sherman will see how our other vets are doing things and he’ll be doing the same for that group. Even if he’s only here this year, it should do wonders for them!
October 7th, 2021 at 9:21 am
In Miami I expect the offense to run up the score which will allow Bowles to send the dogs and keep pressure off the secondary. Philly could be a different challenge, this situation kind of reminds me of when we signed AB. We saw our WR depth get dinged up at the same time and had to find ways to stay afloat until everyone got healthy.
October 7th, 2021 at 10:04 am
Sherman said in his press conference yesterday that once he found out he was starting and due to Carlton Davis injury. He would have to play the whole game.
He would have to pace himself so would have something left at the end of the game. He was never that fast he only ran a 4.53 coming out of college. His strengths are knowledge and being in the correct position. I thought he played great since he only showed up 4 days before the game and played in a defensive scheme he had never played in before.
October 7th, 2021 at 11:17 am
Buc since 76 my thoughts exactly. Ima give Joe a little grief here because Sherman played well for the position he was in. Hasn’t played in 10 month , 3 practices , not in football game shape I mean the dude could of played a hell of a lot worse. Any smart coach would attack Sherman knowing all that info come on joe. I know he didn’t play lights out but for what the situation was I think he did well
October 7th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Wait until he gets fully conditioned. You’ll see how dominant he remains.
October 7th, 2021 at 3:52 pm
im so glad he decided to come to us