Rondé Barber, Rich Gannon Trash Bucs Secondary
November 6th, 2023
Blunt words for Bucs DBs.
“They look like the worst secondary in football.”
— Hall of Fame cornerback Rondé Barber.
These are very damning words when you consider the source and who he is tight with at One Buc Palace.
In the wake of the galling loss to Houston yesterday, Bucs icon Ronde Barber, who now wears a gold jacket, pulled no punches in a video spot he did with former Raiders quarterback and SiriusXM NFL Radio host Rich Gannon.
Not only does Barber think the Bucs secondary may be the worst in the NFL, he added they don’t appear to be coached up well.
Joe documented relevant quotes from Barber and Gannon from The 33rd Team video below.
Rich Gannon: It’s as bad of a pass defense as I have seen this season. And on top of that, they had a difficult time getting pressure on the quarterback.
Ronde Barber: A lot of confusion. I don’t want to say they are not coached well. They do things — when you break down all of those touchdowns you are going to look at a secondary that doesn’t look coached well. … It’s things that I look at and say, ‘OK, that’s simple.’ But on the field, it is not translating on the field. To give up that many yards in a Todd Bowles defense, something that he takes a lot of pride in, is embarrassing. … To me, this was an embarrassing watch from a guy that studies a lot of Bucs film. … They look like the worst secondary in football. And, they have one of the best safties in football in Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Barber didn’t let Bucs cornerbacks off the hook. But Barber did mention on a couple of major plays by Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, Carlton Davis was supposed to have safety help that never came.
Barber didn’t reference the safety’s name but when you consider a moment later, Barber spoke glowingly of Antoine Winfield, you don’t need to be a calculus major to figure out who Barber was speaking about.
What is very interesting to Joe is if Barber is this harsh publicly about the Bucs secondary, what is he saying behind closed doors at One Buc Palace with the team’s shot-callers he is very tight with?
November 6th, 2023 at 11:10 am
If he has to tell the shot callers how bad the Bucs are, we might need shot callers too!
November 6th, 2023 at 11:12 am
This is nothing new. Who coached the defense when we wasted a great comeback against the Rams in the NFC divisional round? Not just on Bowles, Licht let Whitehead and Edwards out the door.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:13 am
The game has passed Bowles. His time is gone. The GM does not have the balls to fire him mid season. Not to mention, in todays society it’s just not the “right look”.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:13 am
Supposed to have safety help? Ryan Neal? I guess when he isn’t being cooked, he’s nowhere near the receiver smh
November 6th, 2023 at 11:17 am
They ARE the worst secondary in football, per several metrics.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:20 am
At the end of the day these players still need to make a football decision. If after a few plays of playing 10yds of the reciever, he always catches the ball and runs for 5-8yds. Can’t you start playing tighter coverage to TRY and stop it. Idk, but what they’re doing is not working
November 6th, 2023 at 11:20 am
Rushing four and never getting even a sniff of the QB will make all secondaries look bad.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:26 am
That 2nd half was miserable. Stroud may well be an outstanding nfl qb, its starting to look that way. offense was outstanding
we let some pretty good safeties go due to $ – whitehead, neal and edwards, also sean murphy bunting. it sucks, but we did win a super bowl.
offensively it was the best game in a long time.
im hoping we can turn it around soon, we seem to have one thing fail each week that we arent able to compensate for
November 6th, 2023 at 11:29 am
Carlton Davis should have been too embarrassed to even get on the plane back to Tampa.
I don’t care about safety help when you are paid to be a #1 lockdown corner. He was best for 2 or 3 touchdowns plus about 8 other huge completions. Not even anywhere close to his guy, just watching from 5 yards away and then clapping by his hands.
Absolutely pathetic performance. Just like when he cowered like a pansy against ATL and let their WR blow him up instead of trying to tackle the guy running in for touchdown.
Dude has looked pathetic all season and it’s only getting worse.
Most overrated secondary in the NFL. Winfield is the only dog.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Just like the rest of the team, a disjointed contradiction. Ask yourself how a secondary that features one of the top 3 safeties in the game (at bare minimum) and the 10th & 13th highest paid CBs in the league can look so awful. Well first you add in soft zone coverage mixed with no pass rush (poor playcalling), then you add in that Ryan freaking Neal continues to get significant playing time (bad personnel management), mixed with Davis flat out refusing to tackle anybody and Dean never making a play for the ball (no motivation/ discipline), and here we are. Take notice that each of those things boils down to coaching malpractice. #FIREbowles
November 6th, 2023 at 11:32 am
Yup, fire Bowles and take Canales with him.
Sick of watching a soft, timid and pathetic football team.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:33 am
Carlton Davis is the most soft POS ive seen in awhile. He should never be allowed on a football field in a Bucs uniform again. He is the turn in the Todd punch Bowles defense.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Bowles has not been good since I have followed this team. Sure the D had it’s moments they all do but in 2020 & 2021 the O averaged 31 & 30.5 points a game which turns the opposing O one dimentional. Why do you think Bowles blitzed a lot? The D just had to pin their ears back and go for the QB. It also helps when a healthy JPP & Suh are on your Dline. He wasn’t a defensive genius in NY how did he become this guru everyone talks of? The man admitted he doesn’t pay attention to stats when stats are key to any game plan in just about any sport. Inept!!!
November 6th, 2023 at 11:39 am
NE Fan Says:
November 6th, 2023 at 11:35 am
—
Check out Pats Pulpit. Probably a better place for you.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:39 am
@NE Fan- the defense was actually the reason the Bucs won through the playoffs and the SB in 2020.
Perhaps you forgot that Brady threw 3 INTs in the 2nd half of the NFC championship game against Green Bay? Let’s not try to rewrite history
November 6th, 2023 at 11:39 am
Carlton Davis always struggles against speedy short WRs, (Tank Dell only 5’10)
But I’d expect somewhat of a bounce back game against a taller slower Deandre Hopkins next week.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:41 am
Todd Bowles is not a defensive genius. Like NE fan said – Defense is easy when your offense puts up points and takes half the gameplan away. Turd Bowles’ philosophy of conservative close games is killing this team.
He was up 20-10 and was perfectly willing to try to sit on that lead rather than run it up. That is the issue.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:42 am
For the 1st time in 25 years I tried RED ZONE because I was petrified to watch the game all the way through… Good choice.. That was Mike Smith bad!! Devin White is HURT no Doubt !! Carlton is smoking some good Gange WOW-terrible…
November 6th, 2023 at 11:43 am
Why do we only find out guys suck after we pay them to much money?
November 6th, 2023 at 11:44 am
But but but the Bucs made the Texans rushing attack look sorry and their offense one-dimensional! Wasn’t that Joe’s argument before the game? Problem is, our strengths then lead teams to play into our weaknesses and it was on full display, full exposure yesterday.
If I was an opposing OC I wouldn’t run the ball against the Bucs more than 8 times a game. Yes, even the Titans this weekend with Derrick Henry and a rookie QB would be wise to take that strategy too.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:45 am
I could not believe how poorly Davis played when I watched the highlights. I agree with unbelievable.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:46 am
It has to be frustrating to Bowles…because I’m sure he knows where each player on that defense is supposed to be given any circumstance, to watch the players make the wrong decision (or no decision). Bowles can’t play for them, but it’s obvious whatever method of coaching he utilizes, his message is not getting across. So yes, it does come down to coaching. The players don’t seem to be motivated, and that falls on Bowles and the other coaches. The entire team was flat in the Bills game and the defense was still flat yesterday against the Texans. Horrible display of defense. But again, everyone knew they weren’t going to be any good this year. I hope we draft a QB and start him…draft some linemen and/or find a couple free agents…let’s just start from scratch. As long as the guys play with heart, I’m good with a couple years of building something…..
November 6th, 2023 at 11:47 am
This season is over. If they can’t beat Houston they are done. Time to blow it up and start over. Starting with Bowles and Canales. Timid and stupid in game decisions and play calling. At this point I would like to see an interim HC , but that won’t happen.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:55 am
Fire Bowles. He has to go this is awful. Please Glazers make a change immediately!!!!!!
November 6th, 2023 at 11:56 am
The team has been flat since the bye week.
They have fully taken on the personality / identity of their head coach – lifeless, cowardly and soft.
The offense finally showed a little spark, but it was still too inconsistent.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Unbelievable in 2020 the Bucs O averaged 31 points in the playoffs and scored 31 points against GB. What is defense for almost letting Heinike from Washington almost end that run the first game because of the D? Not to mention the 4 dropped passes by Godwin that were right in his hands two for td’s. Look back, only one of those ints lead to points. I also suppose Evan’s great route running had nothing to do with any of those ints. 31 points? How many do you need to win if you’re a Buc? I guess today’s team it’s 40.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:57 am
Hire Barber as GM
November 6th, 2023 at 12:02 pm
I broke a years long no-JoeBucsFan.com posting to post that I am in solidarity with most the the Bucs faithful. This team is not worth playing hard for anymore. They need draft picks, this season is over. Sorry fellow Bucs fans, but we’ve gone back in time to the Lovie Smith era. FIRE THOSE CANNONS(and coaches)!
November 6th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Play coverage the whole game when we don’t have an edge rush is malpractice
November 6th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
@NE fan – how many of those points were off turnovers by the defense?
They intercepted Brees 3 times plus got a key fumble recovery. Bucs scored 17 points off those turnovers. Without them, the Bucs lose to the Saints.
A week earlier they scored a touchdown after an interception against Washington, which was the difference in the game.
Then at Green Bay, despite Brady throwing 3 interceptions in the 2nd half, the defense only allowed 6 points after those 3 turnovers.
Finally in the Super Bowl, the Bucs were the first team to ever stop Patrick Mahomes from scoring a single touchdown in a game at any point in his career- college or pro.
You’d have to be an idiot to think the defense was not a HUGE part of the Bucs winning the SB that year.
None of that excuses Bowles from being a terrible head coach, but he is a good defensive coordinator (most of the time).
November 6th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Preach, unbelievable. NE is back here trolling since his main team is one of the worst teams in the league being coached by supposedly one of the best coaches of all time. Who is also their GM. Terrible personnel decisions, terrible schemes, etc. Defense is still decent. Probably the only thing that separates him from our coach. He had prime time Tommy for the duration of his stay there until recent years. A mediocre to bad team since then. He had one decent season in Cleveland before landing in New England. Basically the same resume as Todd b. Minus the glory Tommy years.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Give Ryan Neal the bench & Give Licth a fine for letting Mike Edwards walk out the door.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
This defense is offensive, and the coaches are only as good as their groceries. They have no defensive ends that scare anyone, with JTS being a complete waste of roster space. Carlton Davis made Rod Jones look like a viable alternative as he was torched repeatedly all day. Dean somehow manages to ring his own bell on a quick slant that he was badly beaten on. And the wonderful Mr Winfield took the day off with two more tackles than I had on the couch.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
All evidence points to Dee Delaney being a better option at the safety position.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Barber as GM.. Alstott as HC, Brooks as DC, LB coach, Sapp D line, Brian Kelly secondary, Gruden OC, Brad Johnson QB coach, Rich Be ST’s, Simon Rice as Simone Rice. I could go on ha ha, if only it could be true.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Where is Kiffen, when you need him?
November 6th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Think that Licht realizes yet that he made another huge mistake by letting Edwards and Whitehead leave?
November 6th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
Not only letting Edwards & Whitehead go but turns around & give 14 mil to worthless Davis.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
How many more losses will it take to get Bowles fired? I see maybe two more wins the rest of the way.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Unbelievable, Mahomes had Turf toe, his line was missing 3 players, Andy Reids son/assistant coach is arrested for DUI & vehicular manslaughter, PLUS Mahomes WR dripped three TD passes. Talk about the perfect storm. I will give you the Saints, D won that game even though Winsten torched the secondary for a TD and Brees arm was falling off and couldn’t throw past 15 yds. In Greenbay, the O built up a comfortable lead so the D once again could just pin their ears back but if not for a coaches error Bucs D.gives up that game. You are puffing your chest out about the D getting a turnover against a backup QB and he still almost knocks you out of the playoffs? Give me a break. As far as the Patriots, I agree the QB and defensive fist coach is also a dinosaur that has to go.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:52 pm
It’s seems watching every game that Neal, Davis and Dean are confused everytime they are on the field. Each time a receiver makes catch they’re all staring at each other. Lets not even mentioned McCollum at the start of the year it was praise how well he was doing. Yesterday he was ten yards behind every receiver, not to mention his lack of tackling ability.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
“You are going to look at a secondary that doesn’t look coached well.”
Just the secondary, Ronde? Offense, Defense, and Special Teams.
Bowles is lost. Hand the keys to someone else. 4 losses in a row!!!! It can’t get worse. There are at least 15 players on the team with SB rings. This team shouldn’t be this bad.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Did the sh!t wrecker need safety help when covering the TE, sheesh. . .
November 6th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
“puffing my chest out”????
No, I’m correcting your terrible take that defense had nothing to do with the Super Bowl win and Bowles isn’t a good DC. The fact is they were CRITICAL to all 4 of those wins, as was the offense.
Almost like it’s a team sport or something…
Are you also pretending that Tom Brady did not literally have a top-10 scoring defense every single time he won a SB?
I know you’re a homer and all, but again, it’s a team sport.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:26 pm
NE Fan Says:
November 6th, 2023 at 11:56 am
Unbelievable in 2020 the Bucs O averaged 31 points in the playoffs and scored 31 points against GB. What is defense for almost letting Heinike from Washington almost end that run the first game because of the D? Not to mention the 4 dropped passes by Godwin that were right in his hands two for td’s. Look back, only one of those ints lead to points. I also suppose Evan’s great route running had nothing to do with any of those ints. 31 points? How many do you need to win if you’re a Buc? I guess today’s team it’s 40.
—
Again, Pats Pulpit is a better place for you.. Plenty to criticize with that team.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Yesterday, they were the WORST secondary in football. There’s only one word that describes that performance:
EMBARRASSING!!!
As crazy as it sounds, we actually had a chance to win that game. What would be the topic today if that happens?
November 6th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Hey Joe, like you said what is Barber saying to the Glazers behind the scenes. Bowles and staff are done unfortunately for Todd. Todd is a good man. Todd is a good DC, but bad HC. He will not be fired until the Monday following the final week of the season. This sucks, what a meltdown this team is having right now.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Unbelievable, in 2020 Bucs D ranked 8th, the O was 3rd, in 2021 D was 5th O was 2nd. Seems like the O out ranked the D. The facts don’t lie.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
I just hope we don’t back into the 7-9 division championship beauty contest, beating out the corn-fed Iowa heifers, to have one meaningless Ash kicked playoff game, another year for Bowles and a mid-round draft pick. We need a new HC and higher draft picks with an infusion of talent. Said it like this last year. And if nothing changes this year, nothing changes next year.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Yep I said they weren’t winning more than 7. I never wanted Carlton, Dean or Tryon when they were coming out & I can see why now. Only a couple of them on D were actually showing some signs of life. They need to go out & sign some of these players for a one year deal to whatever.
Kyle Fuller
Robert Quinn
JPP
Suh
Bring JPP & Suh back or sign Quinn or Fuller to some kind of one year deal for now with whatever you “claim to have left of $$$$.” I always said they need somebody in that front office that’s more familiar with the team like Barber Brooks Dunn Alstott Simeon or somebody like that in order to try & help turn that team around because the coaching staff the front office & the Glazers are flushing them right down the toilet. The only SUPER BOWL Bowels needs to attend is the toilet bowl. Baker really isn’t to blame for a good chunk of this because the OL doesn’t help much either. Wouldn’t be any better if Trask starts because Baker moves around more than Trask does.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:51 pm
I never said the o wasn’t ranked better you nitwit.
Now you’re just making up things to argue against so you don’t look so clueless.
I said the defense was critical to the SB win and those playoff wins- which all the stats and box scores confirm, as would anyone who watched the games and actually understands football.
You probably think Brady single handedly won all those Super Bowls too, despite having a top 10 if not top 5 defense every single time.
November 6th, 2023 at 6:14 pm
Time for Bowles to send a message to his players and bench both Ryan Neal and JTS.
November 6th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
I hope Ronde does an extended film review and really explains it all. I know during the game it certainly seemed like nearly every bad play came when they were in zone defense, and obviously Ronde knows zone better than anyone. I know he’s also friendly with the team so I doubt he’ll do something really explaining it, but man, that would be interesting to hear – and frankly I’d like to know if my real-time reactions, from the TV view, were correct or not.
Speaking of which, NFL, have a Prime Vision-like option available for all games. that’s such an awesome way to watch games and you can actually see the entire field to know for sure what is happening.
November 6th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Unbelievable, now now I am not calling you names. Mainly because Joe monitors every post I make. The point I was trying to make is that you don’t have to be a DC guru when your O averages 31 points a game. Yes the D was a vital part in the 2020 plays as they were in the 2021 Rams comeback. I just don’t give all the credit to Bowles, I think in 2020 those PLAYERS were so jacked up no one could veat them. Motivation is a powerful force. You’re forgetting I watched Bowles first hand as a Jets HC, he was considered the tomato can game twice every season.
November 6th, 2023 at 8:05 pm
The Truth hurts. Before anyone ever again mistakes Carlton Davis as a top corner, the winning touchdown was given up by Davis and he was covering a tight end who beat him like he stole something.
November 7th, 2023 at 8:25 am
This all reminds me how bad the Browns defense was in Bakers last year there and last year in the Depervert suspension year despite the fact the Browns have all that talent on D. The Browns were reluctant to fire their D Coord. They finally did and the Defense is carrying the Browns despite Depervert being a massive disappointment. Baker will keep his numbers high and leave for a better team for good money.