Rondé Barber Concerned About Linebacker
July 29th, 2024
K.J. Britt takes a break at practice today.
Hall of Fame Bucs cornerback Rondé Barber was at training camp practice today.
Barber signed autographs and took a ton of pictures with fans. He also joined the Buccaneers’ official training camp report show on YouTube.
Eager to see how the nickel cornerback position and receiver battles shake out, Barber also said he is wondering if potential Bucs weaknesses will turn into strengths.
“If there’s one concern for me on this team it is linebacker,” Barber said. “Other than Lavonte [David] and Yaya [Diaby], who’s a second-year [player,] I mean, there’s some uncertainty there. K.J. Britt going in as a full-time starter. Is Joe Tyron going to turn into the player we expect him to? Is Chris Braswell ready to be, you know, starting outside linebacker and create some pressure in areas that this team kind of struggled with last year? That’ll be my focus.”
Joe has a lot of questions about Britt, as well. He’s a fourth-year player that hasn’t played much, only 233 defensive snaps in his career. That’s a small sample size. Can he hold up under the punishment of a full season?
The edge rush questions and concerns are no surprise. That’s why the Bucs signed MIA Randy Gregory in free agency and drafted Braswell.
Still, as Joe has noted, the Bucs somehow led the NFC in sacks last season with 48.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Not really concerned I think the young guys will show up this year. It may take the rookies half a season to really get going but the second year players should shine right away looking at YAYA and Kancy
July 29th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
There is a lot of disharmony surrounding the Eagles/Jets trade of HR both in Philly and NY. Nothing bad being said about HR only the teams involved. HR still not reporting in face of $50k/day fine that he can’t escape paying. It’s being reported the Jets are interested in Shedeur Sanders for next year.
And, now we have Ronde’s comments about the linebacker situation. Hmmm… Maybe something is brewing.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
There were also 8 teams in the AFC with as many or more sacks.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Waiting for JTS is like a chicken voting for KFC!
July 29th, 2024 at 2:29 pm
Not concerned about Britt. He’s not the athlete White is, but he’s more of a student of the game, and more dedicated to his craft. As far as outside backers, YaYa is a star in the making, and I’m confident Braswell will be too. Next draft with David probably done I could see the Bucs using a very high pick on that position.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Perhaps some of the more esoteric elements of Wirfs new contract could hinge on a potential trade and the resulting cap implications.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
MLB: #1 personnel concern is MLB depth. LVD and Britt played well EOY but who’s behind them? Super thin. Surprised Licht didn’t draft a LB. He’ll draft 1-2 next year.
OLB: Zero concern. Braswell, JTS, Nelson, and/or Watt will emerge opposite Yaya. Great depth. Could be a sick rotation. With JTS’s cover ability, I won’t be surprised to see 3 or 4 OLB on the field during passing situations.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Yep. Linebacker has been my concern for the defense as well. And Ronde has expressed concerns and they shouldn’t be casually dismissed. There are a lot of moving pieces that have to fall into place for the concerns to be waved away. It might be next year before the linebackers can get it together.
I’m sure it’s is already a distraction with his newest line of skin care products he may be trying to peddle.
I’d listen to Rodney.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:57 pm
On the outside I’d like to see a move. JTS and Nelly are consistently average. Nelly is just a little better run defender and JTS can drop into coverage better.
Braswell is a rookie that’s learning. I have not heard a peep about Ramirez making a single play this camp and Watts was absolutely bodied and buried by Ko Keift on a run today. It was just one play but it makes you wonder if he’s a part time player. Yaya is the only starting OLB on the roster today.
On the inside I think Britt will surprise. Dennis, JJ Russell, Deloach, Vi Jones or Grier will provide quality depth this season.
July 29th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
JTS- distraction *
Ronde*
Good grief
July 29th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
A chicken voting for KFC is wild 😂😂😂😂😂😂
July 29th, 2024 at 3:54 pm
” Still, as Joe has noted, the Bucs somehow led the NFC in sacks last season with 48.”…. I had to read that 3 times. We did? How and how did I miss that?
Also, if we don’t come close to that this year, we will give up a lot of points.
July 29th, 2024 at 3:59 pm
Tip of the hat to the Joes. In trying to entertain myself with this CG for HR proposal, I’ve learned that your job is very difficult ( not that I thought it was easy ). It appears be an all consuming endeavor to keep up with numerous social media, TV and radio outlets not to mention the effort going into your own enterprise. I don’t deal with any of that stuff and am burned out with searching the internet for HR news and rumors. It seems to me that you must truly “live it” 24/7/365. This is not rump smooching. I’m saying that I read your content for free and comment for free and thank you for that. Some of the idiots commenting here should be more respectful of the good work that goes into the content they get for free. Rarely do I even follow the Bucs own website. I do glance at your competitor but rely solely on JBF for my Bucs news and thank you for it.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Buc fan, what kind of move do you want to see? Bucs are up against the cap, and even if they weren’t who you going to get? Teams don’t just unload good edge rushers for nothing. We could’ve went for Reddick like Joe wanted us to do, but look how well that worked out for the Jets. Have to agree with Sly here. Next year the Bucs will have to draft some LBs, probably as early as the first round which hopefully for us will be pick #32.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
Hodad Says:
July 29th, 2024 at 4:03 pm …. look how well that worked out for the Jets.
The Jets screwed up big time. It looks to me like the Eagles snookered them.They got Bryce Huff in free agency and a 3rd rd pick from the Jets that could become a 2nd. So the Jets let Huff get away in FA and now have a problem with HR. The Jets wanted to wait until after the season to talk about an extension with HR and HR has no guaranteed money left and he wants security.
This is why I want the Bucs to trade CG now. For all intents and purposes CG’s replacement is already on the roster with a rookie contract and CG becomes a FA after this season.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
@Hodad – Ideally the Wirfs deal gets done soon and the Bucs open up some cap room to make a move. They could try out Yannick who has been dominant in the past but admittedly had a down year for the bears last season. Carl Lawson is still out there but the Cowboys might be kicking those tires since they lost a DE to an ACL. It’d be worth it to kick the tires on the old vet Markus Golden. Finally, I still sort of holding out hope that the Bucs trade a 7th round pick for the rights to Shaq and makes a comeback this season.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:33 pm
The concern about OLB / Edge is valid, and I’ve been harping on this all offseason long. Diaby is the only known quantity there, and he’s only going into his 2nd season, so he’s not even THAT known…
For our inside linebackers, Ronde is correct. Obviously LVD is a legend. I’m not super worried about Britt, but the depth behind them is fairly nonexistent.
Hopefully SVD can translate his training camp INTs into production on the field.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
@Citrus county- no chance Bucs trade CG for Reddick. That would nuke the locker room. Reddick is a me first personality…. The exact opposite of the core of this team. Chris is a team first buccaneer through and through who has sacrificed his body for the team. I don’t think it would go over well with the players.
As far as his future, beyond this year I thought for sure he was gone but with the way the cap is expected to grow and Jaylen Waddle’s contract specifically. I think there’s a solid chance the Bucs resign him as long as he stays healthy.
July 29th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
SVD flashed early last year too. Then crickets.
July 29th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
A Bucs Fan Says:
July 29th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
@Citrus county- no chance Bucs trade CG for Reddick. That would nuke the locker room.
^^^
If you make a statement like that you should give your thoughts as to why you believe that would be the case. Why would it have any effect on the locker room other than players might miss him. They all know about the business side of the NFL. Jason Licht seems to have earned the respect of the locker room. The players would understand it as strictly business not something reckless or disrespectful.
July 29th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
This was my concern as well. We can’t afford an injury at LB.
July 29th, 2024 at 6:49 pm
The report i’ve read from other websites says that OLB struggled with their first day pads, we’ll see how they’ll perform in the coming weeks. By the way, i thought i read that Matthew Judon is available via trade from the Patriots?
July 29th, 2024 at 6:57 pm
K.J. Britt is the biggest concern, he’s just too slow, and I doubt he’s suddenly gained a step in the offseason. But, I hope I’m wrong – he knows what he’s doing, he’s got good instincts, he’s just slow. The one thing Bowles could do to help him is to not use him coverage – then again, that’s how he could have used White, and when White was used that way, he was literally an ALL-PRO.
So my confidence in Bowles is extremely low. Then again, if he does use Britt this way, he’ll do OK, and it will make it even a bigger question on why White wasn’t used that way when he excelled when he was attacking – and had the speed to chase down just about anyone sideline to sideline.
July 29th, 2024 at 8:58 pm
How could the Bucs have led the NFC in sacks when Hassan Reddick was on the Eagles?
July 29th, 2024 at 10:21 pm
They should try JTS inside. I like Sirvocea Dennis, too. The Bucs are young. That’s a good thing.
July 29th, 2024 at 11:02 pm
Bucs have good young talent at both outside and inside LB.
Braswell, Watts, Ramirez outside.
Dennis, JJ Russell and Kalen DeLoach inside.
We’ll be fine this year – and will probably add another young talented player at both positions coming into next year.
July 29th, 2024 at 11:56 pm
Pickgrin Dont forget about Nelson. He has great productivity in his limited minutes