Is Peyton Barber An Every-Down Back?
December 27th, 2017
Entering this season, there was fear at One Buc Palace — fear of Peyton Barber blocking for America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Barber came into the NFL as a raw blocker last year undrafted out of Auburn.
He made the team and developed at running back without getting much of a shot.
Finally, the Bucs backed off the Doug Martin calamity a bit and Barber has been the primary ball carrier the last four games. It’s no surprise the offense has picked up at the same time, as Barber has been successful carrying the rock, and he has 10 catches on 10 targets.
Today, Joe asked Dirk Koetter about the evolution of Barber’s pass blocking, which looks pretty solid.
“He was coming from a long ways away. I mean where he came from coming out of college, just I’m talking about as a pass blocker,” Koetter said. “He had a long way to go. And just the variety of protections, it’s never been about him stepping up and smacking his guy, it’s knowing the adjustments out of all the different protections. No. 1, that takes time. It takes studying. And No. 2, it takes experience. It takes getting your chance and getting out there. So, he’s come quite a ways, still has a little bit more to go to be, you know, with the best of them. But he’s making progress to the point where we’re good having him out there.”
How bout that! A young player developing and taking over the reins at running back.
It’s a big game for Barber on Sunday, as it is for a pile of young Bucs who need to prove they deserve a significant role here next year.
December 27th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
I said it the day he was drafted..I sent him a message on Twitter and he followed me since that day..I saw the fight in him…you can see the power in his body..you can see the passion in his playing..
He..Will…Only…Get…Better…
December 27th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
behind a decent line….including our D line getting off the field and not having to play multiple score catch up….he is a keeper …however we do need another RB to share the load…
December 27th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
It’s good to see this kid develop. Hopefully it’ll be one less position we HAVE to address in the off-season.
I like my crow barbecued! The kid proved me wrong.
December 27th, 2017 at 3:43 pm
I think he is a great number 2 back. Glad to see he is coming along. And nothing wrong with that…we did quite well with Mikey and Warrick. But I don’t think he is an every down feature back.
December 27th, 2017 at 3:49 pm
I’ve seen enough from Barber where I do not think it’s necessary to spend a high draft pick on a RB. Better to build from the inside out. The bigger question mark to me is Charles Sims. What do the Bucs do? He’s shown he can be productive. I hate to hang my hat on 2015 for Sims like so many did for Martin but Sims is younger and he can be a good change of pace back.
I don’t think Sims has done enough to be on the roster next year but I think that’s more to do with inconsistency with the feature back. In other words, Sims may have had a better season if Peyton Barber was the #1 back.
December 27th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
I’d keep Sims and Barber….all other RB’s go…and I would love to draft a top RB…but not in the cards this year…gotta get the DL and DB addressed with starters…then OL…I’d be very tempted to trade down and accumulate ,ndog that means it more, draft picks…gotta fill the holes in the roster and it is not a one year turn round even with Gruden….
December 27th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Peyton Barber wouldn’t be the 3rd string back with Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans!
December 27th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
No no no see this is the nonsense I don’t like. Deserve he doesn’t deserve anything except the right to compete for playing time for the new running back we have. We’ve done this to many times gifting people starting jobs. Don’t get it twisted he’s better than Doug Martin and that’s it, it doesn’t mean he’s good enough to be an every down back. Sims can kick rocks too
December 27th, 2017 at 4:08 pm
Sims is a pretty good pass catcher with some moves. He has done enough to earn his spot on the roster – but at what price moving forward? That is the question that will determine #34’s fate as a Buccaneer in the future.
Barber is a decent and inexpensive north/south runner with some power – but is still a backup quality NFL talent.
Quizz (also relatively inexpensive) has some good qualities and runs hard for a smaller guy – but like Barber – is not exactly a high end talent and should never be counted on as a feature back.
Martin is gone.
Bucs must find a talented RB in FA or the draft this year to add to the mix.
The short answer to your question Joe, is – NO Barber is not our “answer” at RB moving forward.
December 27th, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Still need a 2nd day pick at RB. But I think we can wait until the 3rd round instead of wasting a top 10 pick on Saquan Barkely (which I recognize not alot of ppl are asking for)
December 27th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Yes, he’s developed nicely and runs decisively and with power, but let’s not kid ourselves, if the Buccaneers can get Saquaon Barkley that’s the pick. He’s a once in a generation back. In the 2nd or third Guice or Penny is the pick.
December 27th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
If you think of Barber as an Ernest Graham type RB he could be a real asset to offense. A nice change up guy that can handle a few starts and compliment a starting caliber running back.
December 27th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
“People” act like Koetter preferred Martin over Barber….He didn’t but the investment in Winston, particularly with a bum shoulder, required the better pass blocker to be priority #1….Barber was missing blocks and those hits add up game after game. There’s so much more to evaluating a RB then just yds per carry. He can avg 7 yds per carry but if he gets the starting QB injured, the season is done generally speaking. For all we know Winston could have preferred Martin for his protection over Barber. If he tells the coaches he’s more comfortable passing with Martin in there….then Martin it is.
December 27th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
I hope he is our number one back next year but also drafting an Alvin Kamara or Kareem Hunt (that can return kicks), don’t let Chucky go after Dexter Jackson though, this is a good draft for RBs
December 27th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Any pick outside of DE is suicide.
All the best backs this year were 3rd round picks, true or false? With the exception of cook. How bout the kid that ran all over us in GB I think he was undrafted. Correct me if I’m wrong too lazy to check right now.
December 27th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
^ Not so fast bro … I’m with you on the absolute NEED for a DE … BUT if we happen to sign one or more starting level DE’s in free agency, such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Ziggy Ansah or Sheldon Richardson, I could see us using our #1 pick on Saquon Barkley or Minkah Fitpatrick, or even trading down (and maybe more than once) to stockpile some more picks and taking a G like Quenten Nelson with our #1 as well.
As for the best backs this year … many would say Fournette has been the best back this year as Jacksonville’s offense is built around him rather than their QB … and Fournette was the first back taken … AND … Fournette isn’t even close to the prospect that Saquon Barkley is!
December 27th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
no Sims, I’d rather keep Martin over Sims (and no, I don’t want to keep Martin either). Or at least use Sims as a receiver only. I hope I never see him attempt to run up the middle again.
December 27th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Hopefully we spend that cap space to get a proven RB like LeVeon Bell, who the Steelers can’t afford to keep, just need to trade Jackson, cut Rodgers and Martin to get the money we need. Then we can draft a guy in a later round like Penny
December 27th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
barber is a keeper….we’ve develop him into a decent back….now keep him and draft derrius guice in round 2!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 27th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Barber is a basic north/south runner who has good power and that’s about it. He’s nothing special which is why he was an UDFA and he’s already costs the Bucs a game this season with his fumble against ATL.
He’s worth having around but to think he’s a 16-game starter in the NFL based off what we’ve seen is ridiculous. Since he went from a change of pace back to the lead role his YPC has plummeted as Dirk’s offense is incredibly predictable and the offensive line is awful. Amazing how that works.
December 27th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Barber…sure he can play in 16 games just not as a #1 running back, he played with power and balance but he’s no ” he could go all the way” type of guy!…he can stay, he has a role here if he wants it. Let’s continue to tweak that O-Line!
December 27th, 2017 at 6:31 pm
Nflnut
I stand corrected. I thought Kamara or hunt would win oRoy but forgot about Fournette. Maybe cuz he’s missed some games.
December 27th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
Anyone see Star Lotulelei’s brother in college? He looks like he’d be a good DT draft pick. He plays for the Utes. He won’t be drafted in first round. If he makes it to the third it would be tempting.
December 27th, 2017 at 7:35 pm
I think Gruden will keep him.
December 27th, 2017 at 7:36 pm
We don’t need Sims either. You know there are a bunch of teams or there that don’t have a three back stateside because we’ll I guess it has something to do with being able to draft backs that know how to run catch and pass block. For whatever reason we have one guy that can block but can’t run, one guy that can catch but can’t run either and a guy that is decent run but can’t pass block.
All around players licht, there is this title called a complete back, not that hard to find someone who can do it all
December 27th, 2017 at 7:39 pm
I agree with some of the others here imo Sims hasn’t done enough to keep a roster spot.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:47 pm
We need another RB regardless. I like Barber but don’t think he is an every down type of back. I like two backs sharing time if possible.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:21 pm
We need to draft another quicker and faster rb than barber…plenty of them in the later rounds and MUST CATCH
Grudens offsense like jay and sean mcvay relies heavy on the rb screen. Barber not fast enough to burst out of traffic in the screens
We need only a descent back like marlon mack to burst for 20 plus yards after catch
Next year will be eye opening for the buc sheep
The ball will be out of jameis hands fast. 3 step drops and play action deep….defense will be like chicken with heads cut off
December 27th, 2017 at 11:39 pm
DB55,
I do think Kareem Hunt will win ROY as Fournette has missed some time.
USFBUC,
I’d be shocked if the Steelers don’t re-sign Lev Bell … I LOVE Bell (though I think he’s a complete “me-first” player) and would be ecstatic to see the Bucs land him but I’d say the chances he gets out of Pittsburgh are very slim, and if he does leave, it will be to a team that pays him QB money … and the only franchise crazy enough to do that I think … is the Browns.
December 28th, 2017 at 12:25 am
Sims is a valuable asset as a 3rd down receiving back – it’s amazing how people just don’t understand how football works and think if you have a 3rd down guy with exceptional hands that it’s a “wasted” spot. LOL! Anywho the 3rd down back has been around for quite a while. If you’re worried about roster spots then I’d say maybe don’t have 6 TEs on the team and keep your pass catching specialist who can be an effective runner and in a pinch can even play at WR (like he did last year).
December 28th, 2017 at 4:01 am
^ 100% right
December 28th, 2017 at 6:34 am
NFLnut – I know it seems crazy but we will have a massive amount of cap space, if the coaches change over and Licht stays he has to know he is next on the chopping block if the team is still unsuccessful so he will be desperate, also the Steelers are already over the projected cap for next season and will have 20 other guys who are FAs besides Bell.
December 28th, 2017 at 8:58 am
With Barber and Winston we will league the league in lost fumbles. No doubt about that.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:19 am
I’m with you here. I’m very interested to see what the Bucs do with Sims. I think he’s a valuable player. He’ll never be a superstar but you don’t need every draft pick to be a superstar. Christian McCaffrey is a similar player to Charles Sims but the Panthers are (to no one’s surprise) using him as a weapon where the Bucs can’t seem to find a way.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:37 am
I think if they used Alex Cross at FB with PB at RB, that’s one powerful a$$ backfield.
December 28th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
USFBUC … I hope you’re right man, I’d love to see Bell with Jameis … I just don’t see it … if he leaves it will be to go and get QB money and the only team I see paying him like that is Cleveland