Is Shaq Barrett Ready?
January 2nd, 2025
“Yeah Todd, I answered your call for sacks. Put me in, Coach!”
Joe finds it interesting how the Bucs determine “ready.” And how the Bucs reward “ready.”
Take this Vi Jones. The Bucs signed the linebacker late last season and placed him on the notorious practice squad. And there he sat for about 11 months.
Meanwhile, while the Bucs were bereft of talent due to injuries this season — SirVocea Dennis was hurt. K.J. Britt was hurt. J.J. Russell was dinged up. — where was Jones?
He wasn’t ready, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. Wait a minute. You had the guy 11 months and he still wasn’t ready? What was this guy doing in all that time, including training camp, playing Madden and shopping Amazon between crossword puzzles?
After the Bucs promoted Jones to the parent squad and he got a few games under his belt, Jones started making some plays. He even forced a couple of fumbles in Los Angeles.
Hey, maybe the Bucs have something here? Maybe all that investment time paid off? Nope. Jones got cut last week and claimed by the Cardinals to their active roster.
Last Friday brought the return of Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett out of mothballs. Yeah, that’s how negligent the edge rush is for the Bucs. Hell, a backup outside linebacker (Anthony Nelson) leads Bucs edge rushers with four sacks. Can you imagine?
So Joe understands if bringing Shaq back is seen by some as a panic move. But why not sign him What’s the harm?
Shaq hasn’t played in a game since last year’s Bucs playoffs. Is he in shape for game action? Or will Bowles deem him not ready?
Yesterday, Bowles said the eyeball test suggests Shaq is ready, though the Bucs only had a walk-through Wednesday (read: less intense than underwear football).
“In the walkthrough today, he was outstanding,” Bowles crowed sarcastically. “He ran pretty [well]. Over the weekend, he ran pretty [well]. You don’t know until you put the helmet and pads on.”
Shaq was inactive for the Stinking Panthers game on Sunday and Joe will wait and see if Shaq is on the field Sunday against the slimy Saints..
Why not play him if he’s physically capable? Let Shaq shake off the rust. Get his sea legs back. He can’t be much worse rushing the passer from the edge than what the Bucs currently throw out there.
January 2nd, 2025 at 7:07 am
Put him in coach.
January 2nd, 2025 at 7:37 am
Shaq is a nice dude. But out of his 9 years he has one outstanding season (19.5 sacks), one good season (10 sacks). The other 7 seasons he failed to produce double digit sacks. His best outside of those two seasons is 8 sacks and the last time he suited up a full season 4.5 sacks.
Yes, in Denver he sat behind some great pass rushers but maybe his 19.5 sack season and 10 sack season were a product of the players around him. The one thing Shaq was good at (Joes favorite) generating pressure and pressures can lead to errant throws! Who’s knows what he’ll provide but the expectation should be low. Hopefully he can spark the D and help the Bucs go on a run. Time will tell… Go Bucs!
January 2nd, 2025 at 7:45 am
“In the walkthrough today, he was outstanding,” Coach speak for, “Yea…he ain’t ready.”
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:08 am
Zero plus zero equals zero.
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:27 am
Shaq typically lined up on the right side in 2019. He accomplished his greatest results from that side. It could just be me, but I feel like some of his later decline was due to his being lined up on the left side all the time. Personally I’d like to see him play this week on the right side again.
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:31 am
I didn’t realize we cut Jones. I sorta liked the kid. Wasn’t he an inside LB, though? Shaq is an OLB. Bowles will have Shaq mostly covering wideouts anyway so it doesn’t matter if he can rush.
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:33 am
Justonegame, as crazy as this next thing sounds, and I agree with you, his worst season is still better than what 99% of our edges are doing this season lol
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:50 am
Why did the Bucs release him in the first place?
January 2nd, 2025 at 8:56 am
His salary was very big and his production was terrible. Not surprising since it was his first year back from an achilles tear. As Joe has stated before, it usually takes a while, usually, the second year after a major injury before maybe a guy is back to normal. That’s why I’m holding hope for him. He in theory, should be back, however he is 32, and achilles injuries take away burst.
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:12 am
Deon Jones played last game he is wearing Devin whites old number and was assigned to play only special teams last game he didn’t get any reps in k.j. Britt role
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:15 am
All together, jow!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes
You know I think it’s time to give this game a ride
Just to hit the ball and touch ’em all
A moment in the sun
It’s-a gone and you can tell that one goodbye
Oh, put me in, Coach
I’m ready to play today
Put me in, Coach
I’m ready to play today
Look at me, yeah, I can be centerfield
…
Why not take a look to see if Barrett even has a tank, much less see how full?e
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:19 am
@Bucnasty that is very true, the bar is pretty low for edge rushers here lol
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:25 am
Someone up high at One Bucs place thinks the Buccaneers have a shot at running the table in the playoffs.
This is the only reason to make this move this late.
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:29 am
Coach .500 has been consistently unable to develop a single pass rusher in his entire time being with this team. So he brings in a 32 year old guy that hasn’t seen a snap since last January. A player coming off a down year. A former Bucs great to be sure. Does CTB really have a plan going forward or is this another sign of a coach that has lost his way.
Secure Coen 2025
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:44 am
BucsMinisterFuller Says:
Someone up high at One Bucs place thinks the Buccaneers have a shot at running the table in the playoffs.
This is the only reason to make this move this late.
—————————————————————————-
They DO have a shot at running the table in the playoffs. Not a good one but if they get in anything can happen.
When our offense plays up to its potential it can put 40 points on most teams, and that’s good enough to win some games even when our defense is still giving out Christmas gifts to the opposing team.
January 2nd, 2025 at 9:57 am
Perhaps a coach was needed more than a player and this was a way to avoid firing a friend. Shaq has already had an effect. If he can do anything on the field it will be a bonus.
January 2nd, 2025 at 10:18 am
It is fair to say that Bowles has not developed a rookie or a draft choice into an effective pass rusher.
But he should clearly get credit for the development of Shaq Barrett. Barrett at his best was not only good at getting sacks. He was also strong in all areas, tackles, coverage, QB hits and pressures.
January 2nd, 2025 at 10:41 am
NOPE. Shaq is not fully ready. It takes almost 6 to 8 full regular season games to get your body conditioned for that pounding. Sure, he can get out there and run around. Maybe even make a splash play here or there. But Ready? Hell No.
January 2nd, 2025 at 10:42 am
Bring back SUH
January 2nd, 2025 at 12:36 pm
If it pushes the young guys then so be it ! The guys sacked Mahomes in the Super Bowl so he is forever a favorite in my book
January 2nd, 2025 at 12:49 pm
I wouldn’t let JTMs see the field unless it was on special teams.
January 2nd, 2025 at 1:19 pm
What we really need is another season of covid playoffs. The only way the Buccaneers really made it through 2020 was playing to empty stadiums. At washington, at new orleans, at Green bay. Murderers row of away games if I’ve ever heard of them. Plus the quarterbacks they faced. Thank goodness for Tom Brady and the covid lockdown.
January 2nd, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Shaq is more ready than we think. That’s my opinion!
I think prior to his departure he wasn’t NFL ready mentally, I think he’s grown and has improved since and I think we’re going to see just what he can do again. He’s probably stronger, healthier, and just more efficient. I think it will also help his game with Kancey in front of him.
If Deion Jones gets to start and show off his speed in coverage and we get a few guys back for playoffs then the defense will be able to look a lot better than we have been recently!
Edwards – Winfield
Shaq – LVD – JONES – YaYa
Kancey – Vita – Hall
I kinda like what I am seeing. Sir Dennis comes back too!!!! 🙂 depth is looking so much better.
January 2nd, 2025 at 3:41 pm
1-2 extra pressures or a sack would have made a difference in 4-5 games this year. Bucs could easily be a 12-4 team right now. Can’t hurt, put Shaq in!
January 3rd, 2025 at 12:44 am
I know that one missed assignment on any given play in the NFL can be a dissaster. However. Has Todds defense changed so much that shaq can’t get snaps? I tend to doubt it. Now would be the time to let him go out there and get a feel for it at game speed.
A fully ready Shaq would be a valuable thing in the playoffs me thinks.
Go Bucs!
January 3rd, 2025 at 2:19 pm
He won’t do any worse the current OLBs!! At the very least, play him on passing downs and let him get after it against Nola