Rondé Barber: Bucs Lose Monday If They Allow 175 Yards Rushing
October 18th, 2024
Legendary Bucs cornerback Rondé Barber has drawn a line in the sand.
He trends as a Bucs homer and owns an active key card to One Buc Palace, but Barber still stays rather candid and realistic.
Speaking on a The33rdTeam.com podcast this week, Barber talked about Monday night’s Bucs-Ravens matchup and said the Bucs will lose if they allow 175 yards or more rushing to Baltimore.
However, Barber said the Bucs have enough talent to slow Baltimore’s rushing attack and regularly sell out to stuff the run.
“They run a lot of loaded-box stuff,” Barber said of Todd Bowles’ defense. “They run a lot of three-deep. They put a lot of pressure on their corners. They have a great safety in Antoine Winfield. They have the ability to find ways to stop this run game. I think it’s going to be a fun game, but nobody else has done it.”
Barber pointed to the Ravens’ dominant winning streak that has seen them have at least 175 yards rushing (and sometimes a lot more) in each victory.
“They’ve won four in a row just bludgeoning people in the run game. It’s pretty impressive,” Barber said.
It’s easy for Joe to point to Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Lavonte David stepping up with the Bucs’ run-stuffing safeties. But it will need to be a lot more than that.
Lamar Jackson stresses defenses as a runner all over the field. (Check your shoelaces, Mr. Britt.) He’ll soon pass Michael Vick for most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and YaYa Diaby will have to man up and play smart off the edges, and it sure would help if the Bucs can have a run game of their own and keep the ball out of the hands of Jackson and Derrick Henry.
Joe will keep an eye on Barber’s red line.
October 18th, 2024 at 2:35 pm
The Bucs best defense is to keep the Ravens offense off the field
October 18th, 2024 at 2:35 pm
I believe it was the chargers one year, that played with 5 defensive backs, maybe even 6. 3 linemen and 2 linebackers and Lamar couldn’t do anything… The problem is, Derek Henry. We HAVE to get a lead and keep it. Keep pressure on Lamar to throw and win that way. Eliminate the run game and we should win.
October 18th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Bucs likely lose Monday night because the offense can’t be expected to keep carrying this team with how many points the Bucs Defense continues to give up!
October 18th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
I thought it was interesting the Larry Foote said the first thing they need to do to beat the Ravens is pray. Puts things into perspective on how daunting the match up is really.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
The Bucs defense give up 23.5 points a game. And some of those points come from special teams, offensive turnovers.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Yeah
This will be a definite loss for the Bucs.
They couldn’t stop the bleeding orifice saints offense; then how in the hell you figure, they’ll be able to stop a Top 5 team in the Ravens??? They can’t, it’s that simple.
So Bucs fans, try not to be too bitter after this loss to the Ravens come come Monday night!
October 18th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
At first I thought oh noes, Lamar will eat KJ Britt for dinner. But then I thought, no, KJ may actually have his chance to shine. He’s obviously too slow for coverage and he’s not going to chase down Lamar but he is a thumper!
Britt may help with Derrick and let Winfield back up his weakness in the middle of the field. Britt is a TOUGH player and if Vita and Kancey keep OL off of him he won’t be afraid to lay the lumber to Henry.
And if Lamar isn’t careful to get down and either McCollum, Winfield, or Jordan Whitehead get a shot at him he may be risking finishing the game. All three of these guys are hitters. In fact I thought McCollum got away with a helmet to helmet hit against Olave that put him out of the game.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Baltimore offense is a top offense,
1st in Rushing
1st in Total Offense
8th in Passing
4th in Scoring
4th in Time of Possession
You’re not going to hold this offense down, they can beat you in too many ways. Your best bet is to control the clock, and time of possession. And play smart, no turnovers, minimum amount of penalties. And to score touchdowns instead of field goals.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:33 pm
“…and it sure would help if the Bucs can have a run game of their own and keep the ball out of the hands of Jackson and Derrick Henry.”
That’s the key. Keep the Ravens’ run game under control, game plan for an effective run game by the Bucs, and keep the score close. I think it will either be a close game with a possible Bucs win or the Ravens will blow us out.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
@stpete the problem will be the TE’s and play action pass. The Bucs are a bottom 3 team in pretty much every play action category because our LBers can’t cover the middle of the field.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Britt on the field is worth at least two free TDs to the Ravens. Wish Todd would apply some of his legendary genius to a personnel grouping that has Britt on the bench. Maybe move Whitehead up to that spot and play Izien in Whitehead’s spot.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Bucs might be able to slow down the run game, you have to be a moron to think Todd Blows can devise a scheme to limit anyone in the passing game
October 18th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
The Bucs get gashed way more often in the pass game than they do the run…..
Stop the pass win the game
October 18th, 2024 at 3:50 pm
Ravens don’t tend to own time of possession so Bucs will get their share of drives. BAL held the ball about 3 minutes more than their opponent in 5 games and had the ball for 1 minute less in a Raiders Upset where they killed themselves with penalties.
Bucs will need a clean game of complementary football where it could come down to a Special Teams Play that seals the game.
Could always hope that the Ravens drop a turd and pretty much give the game away like the Lions did in week two. Harbaugh has a good control of game / time management and exploiting weaknesses. I would be more worried about how Britt is going to cover Andrews and Likely let alone stopping Henry and Jackson. If the safeties have to shore up intermediate coverage Flowers is going to get loose deep.
Bowles will either find a way to keep it close or the Bucs could get rolled in the Bright lights.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:56 pm
@ Dave Pear,
What you described is the defense the Saints have deployed on us over the years.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
The ONLY team to hold the Ravens under 175 yards rushing this season is the Raiders (held them to 151 yds). They’re also the ONLY team to win the TOP Battle from them (Raiders held the ball for 30:43). Interestingly, the Raiders only ran the ball 17 times for 27 yds in that game. But they passed it 38 times, completed 30 for 276 yds (and also took 5 sacks in the process).
Even still, the Ravens lost that game 26-23 because they surrendered 2 TD & 2 FG on the Raiders last 4 drives of the game. Kinda sounds like our game in Atlanta for some reason.
And BTW, Minshew was 5-for-7 deep for 137 yards for the Raiders (half of their passing yds), PLUS 2 other deep passes that drew DPIs totalling another 40 yds. All of those completions were in the 2nd half.
October 18th, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Idk I’m not afraid of Lamar or the ravens
October 18th, 2024 at 4:07 pm
Dave Pear Says:
October 18th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Dave, I’m not sure Britt will be as big a liability in this game as he’s been in others. Not trying to blow smoke up Cousins butt he is a much better passer than Lamar!
And we may need Britt against the run
October 18th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
*should have read butt, but – lol
October 18th, 2024 at 4:13 pm
@DR insightful find. Bucs don’t match up well if that’s the case. Baker hasn’t had a whole lot of time to throw deep, he’s got questionable deep ball accuracy since his shoulder injury anyway, and most of the Bucs recievers are banged up.
Everything is going to have to break the Bucs way or it’s gonna be a rough game for them.
October 18th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Bucs by 10,,, seriously ,,, Ravens have a great offense ,,, but Joe Burrow butchered their D as well,,, hopefully will be a fun watch ,, if not I’ll be asleep at the half !
October 18th, 2024 at 4:20 pm
Pryda30 … I agree with you. Bucs can beat the Ravens IF we play solid, relatively mistake-free football & keep the Ravens from getting a lot of explosive plays (they’re good at that, but so are we). IF we can play that type of game, I could see us winning something like 30-27.
Doesn’t get any easier after this though … Falcons, Chiefs, 49ers lining up before our BYE. It’d be nice to hit the BYE at around 6-4 meaning that we’ll need to break even in these next 4 games. That’s doable IF we play up to our potential.
October 18th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
A Bucs Fan … I agree that we haven’t been able to play the deep ball card much this season, but Baker’s not that shabby at intermediate throws (which can serve the same purpose IMO). I’d like to see Otton get a bit more involved in that range, and maybe McMillan too. Ravens’ weakness is their pass defense, so we need to exploit that.
October 18th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Bucs will win Monday night. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the right anidote to the Lamar problem. Keeping this guy in the pocket is what the defense will do.
Have to challenge Henry at the line and not let him build up speed. Pretty sure Bowles will have a solid game plan to keep both these guys in check. Baker throws for 4TD’s plus we get a couple of field goals and win 34-24.
October 18th, 2024 at 4:33 pm
Betting with Buddha
Last Week: 1-1
SEASON RECORD: 11-6 (All posted here on Joebucsfan.com)
This week’s Plays:
New England +6
Seattle +3
Carolina +7.5 (Likely moving up to +9)
Miami +3
Tampa +4 is one to consider, but I am passing due to uncertainty with Evans and history of Baltimore against NFC teams.
October 18th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
@Buddha that history against NFC teams is a garbage stat. 17 of those 22 wins were against losing teams. His one loss was against a 5-1 Giants team that finished 9-7 because Daniel Jones tore his acl. It’s all timing.
October 18th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
@A Bucs Fan
True enough, but no other QBs have anything close to that record of success. I do think that Tampa +4 is a good line to play on. Indeed, timing is important and if you wager seriously timing is a big part of handicapping. I just always worry about teams coming off big emotional highs. That is why I took Denver after the Detroit game. I will enjoy watching the game and rooting hard for our Buccaneers.
October 18th, 2024 at 5:35 pm
Let’s all use more capital letters when emphasizing difficult concepts to grasp, like how complementary football is good.
October 18th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
Well, shoot…since everyone seems to have decided we’ll lose…I may as well skip it.
October 18th, 2024 at 6:46 pm
No kidding, Buccaneer Bonzai, might as not watch this loss.
Come on you guys. Ravens can be beat and I fully expect them to shut down Henry.
Shutting down Lamar is a different story. I could see him running for 60+, Flowers, Andrews and Likely burning us… and if that happens we will be in tough but once again depends if Bucs D just bends and gives up those yards but clamps down in the red zone. That and if Bucs offense can move the ball, sustain some drives to keep the D off the field.
Very doable and I hope to see it Monday Night. Kancey and Winfield make the difference out there for our D.
October 18th, 2024 at 6:56 pm
@Buddha fair enough! I agree. The game will be more of a litmus test for the Bucs than anything. I’m with you!
October 18th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
A Bucs Fan
I take your point about Britt leaving the Bucs vulnerable to TE’s and others in the middle of the field.
I think Antoine Winfield is the best safety I’ve seen since Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed. Todd needs to let AW go all Polamalu and play “roverback”. He will have to anticipate when the Ravens decide to attempt to exploit that weakness Britt has. Remember how many games did AW miss? Do we think it’s just a coincidence that he and Calijah return and the Bucs suddenly realize they have a good D?
McCullom even said having Winfield back there freed him to go harder for ints and that explosive helmet he laid on Olave putting him out of the game.
IMHO the single most important player on the Bucs D in this game will be AW.
October 18th, 2024 at 7:14 pm
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if our Bucs mail this one in. AFC conference loss, like Denver; Monday night under the lights… we usually mail these in. National spotlite… you’ve seen it all before. just play 3/4 effort and lose by 30. Like Dallas just did. Have dean play off 20 yards, Just a day in a life and a long season.
October 18th, 2024 at 7:31 pm
Someone said they couldn’t stop the saints offense – than how do we expect the Bucs to stop the Ravens…
Are you a casual nfl fan? The Bucs D didn’t allow a single score in 3 quarters of football.. how can you say they “couldn’t stop the saints” and yet they beat them easily? I’m not saying they’ll beat the ravens but my god these fans.
October 18th, 2024 at 7:32 pm
@Stpete I agree about the caliber of player Antoine is, and I sure hope you’re right. It helps that tweeze was upgrade to full participation in practice today. Same for Izien. We’ll need them both!
October 18th, 2024 at 7:54 pm
It’s not just AWJ playing, so will Jordan Whitehead and he’s 100%. The Bucs offense has to win this game. They have the talent, and hopefully/finally an OC who sees it. Ravens won’t know what hit them. They have a horrendous pass defense. 31st in the NFL is just unreal.
October 18th, 2024 at 8:39 pm
Loss!
We’re not close to Ravens caliber. Unfortunately our D will tire amd Bake will turn ball.over. see these coming.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:10 pm
The best defense is a good offense. Score touchdowns early and make them throw the ball then we can unleash the hounds
October 18th, 2024 at 11:38 pm
Someone said CLAMPING DOWN in the redzone but Baltimore has only not scored a TD in the redzone on 1 play and that was Likely out by a toe against the Chiefs.
They literally average 6.5 points once they get to the redzone.
Lamar has been super accurate for him this year and it’s hard to gauge where he is going because he doesn’t have a wind up throw. He flips the ball quickly to mostly wide open guys yet even when they are covered he has been real accurate.
Lamar has however, been bad in the playoffs so good defenses give him fits.
If this game turns into a playoff atmosphere and we can pressure with 4 I like our chances.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:59 pm
seems like one of those games isiah likely might go off on
October 19th, 2024 at 7:21 am
Dave Pear … ‘Britt on the field is worth at least two free TDs to the Ravens. Wish Todd would apply some of his legendary genius to a personnel grouping that has Britt on the bench. Maybe move Whitehead up to that spot and play Izien in Whitehead’s spot.’
Ya moving 5’10”, 198 lb Whitehead up to play middle LB would be a brilliant move Fruit Loops. Gee I wonder why more Bucs ‘fans’ didn’t think of that. Oh wait, probably for the same reason that our DC didn’t.