“Shaq Has A Groin”
December 27th, 2023
Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
When Tampa Bay battles for its third consecutive division crown Sunday, it appears they’ll be without Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
Todd Bowles announced today that “Shaq has a groin” and did not practice today. Given how the Bucs surely want Shaq healthy for the playoffs combined with his limited effectiveness this season as a pass rusher, Joe can’t imagine Shaq playing Sunday. Coming back full-go from a groin issue at 31 years old is no given.
The Bucs are deep at outside linebacker. That’s not Joe saying the Bucs have great outside linebackers, but there is depth there.
Maybe it’s time to free Markees Watts for a stretch. The way Shaq has looked this season, Joe would prefer healthy aggressive pass rushers attacking Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who probably will need a 325-plus-yard day with a few touchdowns to beat the Bucs on Sunday.
For those who forgot, the last time Carr came to Tampa (2016) he went off: 40-for-59 with 513 yards and 4 touchdowns.
December 27th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Ugh, that sucks. Obviously it’s been a down year for Shaq, but he’s still 100x better than clueless JTS.
Got a bad feeling about this Saints game…
December 27th, 2023 at 12:37 pm
So hear me out, why don’t we try and let Devon White play edge rusher?? Rushing the passer is what he does best and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being an edge rusher, they get paid a lot more than MLBs
December 27th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Yeah I was at that F’n game. That was one of the most horrifying Defensive Football Ive ever watched.
December 27th, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Shaq’s not having a good year anyways.
Put someone else in there…no matter his groin problem.
Go Bucs!!!
December 27th, 2023 at 12:58 pm
I expect CREATIVITY …
YAYA, WATTS, and GILL can rotate into Shaq’s spot.
LVD and WINFIELD are getting home. Expect more attempts from them.
ALSO, let’s not forget Bowles has tried VEA at DE before. It’s worked, too.
KANCEY could rotate into OLB. He’s quicker than Shaq.
December 27th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Conte
While I would be willing to at least give it a shot, there are two things that bode against it. First, bowles’ rank aversion to trying anything new. Second, as the Joes/Ira have pointed out, RBs regularly stonewall DW45. What do you think an OT is going to do to him? He might end up in one of the tunnels. He’s just really not very physical.
December 27th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Okay, what’s with a bad feeling about the Aints game @ RJS, New Years Eve? Bucs know they owe the fans BIG-TIME at home. Look at what happened with Jax. Tampa Bay has won its last 4 games. The final score keeps increasing for the Bucs. I wish I was 30 years younger, cos I would be there. 🙂 Bucs have won 5 and 6 in a row. Why not now?
December 27th, 2023 at 1:14 pm
What I’m fearful of is JTS will be on the field more and Blowels in his infinite defensive “guru” wisdom will allow him to play more than Ya Ya who played much better part time than JTS full time. Like most defensive coaches he can’t see past his own stubbornness to see which player(s) is better on the field than what he has. This happens defense will really struggle.
December 27th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Shak has kids so we all know he has a groin!
December 27th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Next man up. LFG!!!
December 27th, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Oh no. The dreaded ‘groin’.
December 27th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Shaq is our best pass rusher, but is still recovering for the achilles injury.
It takes a couple years.
We’ll get a chance to see if anyone else can step up.
I really wish SirVoncea get stay on the field! I think he has a chance to be great!
But as always, availabilty is most important ability.
December 27th, 2023 at 3:03 pm
We all luv Shaq. And he returned from a hell of an injury. But he did lose a step or 2. He will be best used in a rotation going forward. He still has juice. But we need to look for his replacement next season.
December 27th, 2023 at 3:03 pm
Play Anthony Nelson. He should have started to begin the year anyways over JTS. He did much more last season with much less snaps
December 27th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
I agree with this guy.
Start Anthony Nelson.
He plays the run way better than JTS.
December 27th, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Hoooooray Markees Watts! Unleash that dude!
December 27th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
Hit Carr, he falls. That’s the game plan.
December 27th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
Rotate Markees Watts and Anthony Nelson across from YaYa and rest shaq for two extra weeks.
December 27th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Perfect picture of Shaq Barrett’s reaction after reading this title of Joe’s article 😂
December 27th, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Great headline. Why yes, he does have a groin.
December 27th, 2023 at 7:58 pm
If shak didn’t have a groin, he’d be one of those she-he’s. Say it ain’t so Joe!
December 27th, 2023 at 11:14 pm
Say what you want about JTS but he’s had pretty much the same production as Shaq but un far fewer snaps. Shaq will be a cap casualty next season, JTS will not. Time to see JTS and Nelson in there taking up snaps with some Watts and Gill backing up.
December 28th, 2023 at 2:27 am
Carr is a Hot and Cold kind of guy. When he is on his game he is elite.
When he is not he is at best average.
We need to help him be average. All hands on deck! This is an important game Joe!
Watts is not a bad idea though. Love the way Bowles kept mixing it up against the Jags and throwing rushers at Burrow from everywhere. Hope we get more of that this week.
Go Bucs!
December 28th, 2023 at 7:09 pm
They should rotate those outside guys anyway, imo.