Shaq Barrett Lowered His Goals
May 25th, 2022
Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
Joe did not like a message from Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett today.
He sounded like he lost his edge, the one that drove him from undrafted free agent to a monster Pro Bowl season in 2019, and big seasons in 2020 and 2021.
Last May, Shaq was talking publicly about taking over the NFL.
Here is his year-old quote:
”This year, if I ain’t DPOY (Defensive Player Of The Year), they out against me, they got something against me,” Shaq told the Catchin’ Fades podcast in May of 2021.
”Because I’m going to leave no doubt in anybody’s mind. Like I’m going to leave no doubt this year. I’m doing everything possible, man, picks, [tackles for loss], sacks. I want the sack record. I want to be DPOY. You know the All-Decade team? I want to be the 2020 All-Decade team. I want everything, man. I want to win another Super Bowl. Like I’m so hungry now, man. I want to keep proving the people who believe in me right, but also all the people who doubt me I want to try and make [wrong].”
Fast forward to this afternoon at One Buc Palace, and Shaq sounded like a different person, not a guy “so hungry” to be named the best defensive player on the planet.
“…I’m working. I’m trying to perfect some stuff and just be better all around, and tackle, sacks. I just want to make more plays that’s going to help the team out and hopefully keep me in the league for a long time,” Shaq said.
Got a 2022 sack goal, Shaq?
“Just more than I had last year,” Shaq said of his 10-sack season in 2021. “I would love to get a sack every game but I know it won’t work out like that. Some games I might get a couple sacks, a few sacks, but if I have more than last year I’ll be happy.”
Shaq is an excellent player coming off a Pro Bowl season. Joe is not taking that away from the guy. But he sure doesn’t sound like the salivating beast he was a year ago.
Perhaps that’s maturity. Or maybe Shaq isn’t as hungry? Or perhaps he was just tired after practice?
May 25th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
Suh.
May 25th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
FAT!!! Simple as that! A player like Shaq, should sit in the quarterbacks’ meetings and take notes! Another reason why Thomas Edward Patrick Brady is invaluable!
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 25th, 2022 at 2:18 pm
Maybe he’s figuring out that he should let his play do his talking for him.
May 25th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Or perhaps he sees the current roster and knows he’ll most likely be double teamed
May 25th, 2022 at 2:25 pm
I’m inclined to believe it was more of a mature and reasoned approach to his play. He made those statements last year high off the SB win. He’ll also get most of the attention from offenses until JTS, Nelson and company show they can put consistent pressure from the other side and that could effect his stats.
May 25th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
I’m OK with speaking quietly and proving with actions.
I thought his words last year were just noise.
May 25th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
Agree with other. It’s better to let your play do the talking. Crow doesn’t taste anything like chicken. It’s not good!
May 25th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Yeah agree with others. Possible after all the lofty talk he’s decided less flak, more production. One can hope
May 25th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Now I’m starting to worry. MAYBE Shaq can see the writing on the wall if we go into the season without Suh, JPP & McLendon. Those guys grabbed a LOT of attention from opposing OLines, and probably kept Shaq from seeing a bunch of double-teams. And I still remember how Shaq’s (and JPP’s) productivity dropped significantly in 2020 after Vea got hurt. Without Vea in the interior generating pressure & drawing double-teams, opponents were able to focus more on Shaq & JPP. Fortunately we still had Suh to anchor the DLine that year.
Suh, JPP & McLendon represent a LOT of beef on our DLine (almost exactly 900 lbs to be exact), and replacing that with a 280 lb Logan Hall probably has Shaq asking ‘Where’s the beef?’ I’m sure there’s no one on our team hoping more for Vita Vea to stay healthy this year than Shaq Barrett.
May 25th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
It’s Shaq acknowledging that he has to be more than a pass rusher, particularly with a barely-tested second-year player playing opposite of him, and maybe a rookie at DE.
May 25th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Even with Shaq, Vea and Suh they couldn’t get pressure on the QB.
Why does everyone want a repeat of that?
Stafford looked comfortable the whole time.
Let Logan Hall and JTS eat before we cast judgement.
It’s not like we are going to say Suh or JPP who and forget how awesome they were, but we might not miss them as much as most people believe.
I think we still sign some quality guys, but I don’t think the staff feels like they are in Dire Straights like some on this site believe they are.
May 25th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Shaq has simply drawn back a nub (not like JPP’s nub)…….he talked it up last year and didn’t deliver….
The least of our worries is Shaq Barrett…
May 25th, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Bowles got him focusing on his game and not DPOY. Bowles would say that would be great but we all need to put in work. This defense will be awesome in the next few years.
May 25th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
I think he’s just growing, maturing and becoming wiser overall. You don’t need predictions or other people’s approval. Just work as hard as possible to be your best self (Raheem) and the rest will fall into place including the accolades. It’s called being a quiet professional.
May 25th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Smack and self-promotion has never “Shaq’d” a QB.
Just shut up and play.
May 25th, 2022 at 7:27 pm
Sounds like just maturity. Maybe he put a little too much pressure on himself last year. The big thing for him is more snaps from VEA and a big leap forward with JTS on the other side
May 25th, 2022 at 8:41 pm
I don’t ever remember Derrick Brooks tooting his own horn . He was one of the most humble players ever, but also one of the best ever and he won the DPOY and was in the MVP conversation. I believe a lot of people forget about Anthony Nelson. He’s been a good player in the few snaps a game he got. Don’t think for one second the Bucs don’t have a good plan in place especially after the way the season ended. Remember that June 1st is when a lot of teams dump great players for cap reasons and those players are going to want to take the discount to have the chance to play for our Bucs. Patience my fellow Buc fans. Go Bucs
May 26th, 2022 at 1:45 am
Some guys, with maturity, don’t focus on stats. They focus on perfecting their “craft” and the stats will follow. This is not about being hungry, it’s about skipping the bullsh!t talk and focusing on his game… (Devin White would be wise to follow his lead).
May 26th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
One sack a game average is 17 on the season. That’d be amazing. Good goal.