Lying In The Weeds
July 24th, 2019
Gets love from Bucs critic.
When Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tore apart the Bucs on his recent “Stick to Football” podcast, he did have high praise for one Bucs defender.
Miller made it abundantly clear he thinks the Bucs are a trainwreck of a team that not even Bucco Bruce Arians can save. And even though Miller seems to like defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, he has little hope for the defense except for Devin White — who has yet to snap on a chin strap in a padded NFL practice — and another new Bucs linebacker.
That would be Shaq Barrett.
Buried on the depth chart in Denver, Miller believes Barrett just might have a massive impact with the Bucs as the team gropes to find sacks lost in the wake of Jason Pierre-Paul’s fractured neck.
“I loved him as a rotational player in Denver and that’s Shaq Barrett,” Miller began. “I think Shaq Barrett’s just one of those players where he can quietly come in and have six to eight sacks time and time again. And he was really buried in Denver for a long time. [The Broncos] have just been one of the rare teams in the last decade to have an abundance of edge rushers, which is something that most teams can never even find one.
“[Barrett] was somebody that chipped in once in a while. I mean, his second year in the league, he had five and a half sacks. And then two years later, he had four sacks and it was in such a limited role. He wasn’t a starter. He was really a backup player than got, you know, rotational pass rush reps.
“So now he’s going to a team where Jason Pierre Paul, his futures up in the air here right now, healthwise. We don’t know what’s going to happen with this pass rush. … But the point is, there’s an opportunity for Shaq Barrett here, especially with Todd Bowles there.”
Well, Barrett is going to get plenty of reps here in Tampa Bay so long as he stays healthy. And Miller makes a fair point: If Barrett can get four or five sacks a year buried on the depth chart, shouldn’t he come close to doing the same playing more on passing downs? It’s not far-fetched.
The other thing the Bucs have to hope for is that Carl Nassib balls out because he’s in a contract year. Of course, if he gets, say, eight sacks, he’s gone so the Bucs are essentially grooming him to play for someone else in 2020.
Right now the Bucs can’t worry about that. They needs wins.
July 24th, 2019 at 5:10 am
All it’s going to take is a few injuries and the Bucs are back to 5-11 or 4-12. This mess rests squarely on the shoulders of the GM.
July 24th, 2019 at 5:14 am
I dont get the worries about the 2020 cap, arent we projected to have 60-70 million? And that’s before the inevitable cap increase by 10-15 million.
July 24th, 2019 at 5:18 am
I don’t see Barrett as anything more than depth either, but experienced OLB depth in a new D, especially one with recent reps, is a good thing.
Now, about Carl Nassib. If he balls out why won’t the Bucs find a way to keep him? What would he fetch…$10M perhaps, 3 for 30? He’s got team captain credentials. I think they could find a way to keep him, salary cap being important. I’m not yet convinced the Bucs are going to spend $25-30M on a QB next year, for starters.
July 24th, 2019 at 5:22 am
@richbucsfan…I think 5-11 could be accurate WITHOUT injuries…
Had a senior executive at OBP tell me Sunday he was expecting a “very special season.” He never says that. Only other time was 2017 season but that was due to Hard Knocks. So I am hoping it’s better than a lot of voiced expectations indicate.
July 24th, 2019 at 5:27 am
Jensen’s contract has destroyed us.
If we had drafted the best C and the best OG/C in the draft the past 2 years, we wouldnt be in this mess!
2nd round centers and guards have so much value!
They are cheap and talented!
July 24th, 2019 at 5:29 am
AwShbucs, Half the team on defense is one year contracts including Suh at 9mil. That 60 – 70mil is money that must be there if we’re going to have a team next year. If they play well it is already spent. If not we have money to sign new one year contracts. lol.
July 24th, 2019 at 6:35 am
I agree with RichBucFan. If everyone gets hurt, fire the GM…it’s all his fault.
July 24th, 2019 at 6:54 am
I’d take 6-8 sacks right now.
Sounds good to me
July 24th, 2019 at 7:10 am
I agree that if Nassib does well we will try to keep him.
And, don’t sleep on Shaq…..
July 24th, 2019 at 7:12 am
Wait, I sensed a glimmer of HOPE in this article Joe. Apparently there’s a ‘little HOPE’ for Devin White (that’s progress right there). And there might be HOPE for Shaq Barrett, if he can get enough reps of course. And oh ya, Carl Nassib might offer some HOPE because he’s in a contract year.
Of course, to my way of thinking players like Lavonte David, Vita Vea & Ndamukong Suh should also offer us some HOPE. Should other high round picks like Deone Bucannon, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Mike Edwards & Jordan Whitehead. Heck even Vernon Hargreaves & Noah Spence should be offering us HOPE. Maybe even guys like Beau Allen, Kentrell Brice & Anthony Nelson. In any event, it’ll be interesting to see what this coaching staff can do with the talent we now have on defense. It’ll be a much different roster on defense than what we had last year.
July 24th, 2019 at 7:26 am
Macabee … Great point about the $60-$70 mil being needed to re-sign our own FAs next year IF they all do well this year. Of the 90 guys on the current roster, 31 of them have contracts that expire in 2020. Gut feel is that only 20 of those will make this year’s team however, but still that’s a lot of mouths to feed. The most costly of those IF they have a great year would likely be Jameis, Suh, Barrett, Perriman, Nassib, Bucannon & Barber, although I personally doubt all of those would be re-signed. In any event, managing next year’s salary Cap promises to be just as interesting as this year.
July 24th, 2019 at 7:38 am
So he doesnt like David, Nasib, Suh, Vea, Davis and when he returns Jpp AND GOOD COACHING!!!
For funny stuff. Anyine else remember Mike Smith and Lovie are no longer coaching in this league for a reason. OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2019 at 7:41 am
Although I don’t agree with Miller’s doom & gloom forcast for the Bucs, I do agree with him regarding Barretts potential contribution to this team…
JPP was a big lose but I think we’ll be fine without him; Todd Bowles is a very capable DC, he’ll figure out how to get the most out of the young guys he has available to him…I’m just praying that the injury bug doesn’t rear it’s ugly head again this season….
July 24th, 2019 at 7:50 am
This is telling me that we must start hitting on our first four draft picks every year!!
July 24th, 2019 at 7:59 am
Where’s the podcast my friends? It’s a long week without one. Do I need to get the Sage a beet salad??
July 24th, 2019 at 8:38 am
Yea that’s all it takes for any team to have a bad record see Falcons last year when a bunch of starters went down. Duh no one in the league has starter potential just hanging out on the bench, you never know it unless they get playing time. Yep he traded for jpp and now he’s hurt so fire the gm lol.
I do agree nassib shouldn’t get an extension if he has only 7-8 sacks let him walk rather than giving him a big salary after a year as one of your main pass rushers
July 24th, 2019 at 8:57 am
I honestly love Nassib, but why did he get pushed to the side in Cleveland? A 3-4 defensive scheme… Nassib is a perfect 4-3 DE, but I’m concerned about him being a good fit in our new 3-4 defense… Hopefully I’m wrong and he balls out.
I’m expecting a solid 8-10 sacks from Shaq Barrett.. The dude has some quickness, and he’s a highly-motivated individual, so I think he’s going to have some success and be a good player for us…
July 24th, 2019 at 9:51 am
Another great article.
Regardless of how Suh plays, I do not expect him to be here more than a year.
On Nassib, I have hopes that he will step up. If he surprises and ends up with 9-10+ sacks, then he darn well better get re-signed. Or franchised.
Shaq is a wild card to me. He was buried, but if he truly had shown potential, his coaches would not have had to get more help. So I have doubts.
To me, it’s a players duty to practice and play hard enough to make it impossible to not start them. Shaq clearly did not have the drive to do that. While it’s possible he could have changed, I’ll believe it when I see it.
We have the same sort of situation with our RBs. Barber is the starter, but he’s not entrenched yet. If Rojo has the attitude and determination to get so good he can convince coaches he should start, that’s what we want. Or if Barber goes down, Rojo will have his opportunity to show he should be the full time starter (if that’s the case).
Arians seems like the kind of coach who watches for players like that.
Not to mention, Barber refused a longer contract. While smart if he does very well, if he gets injured, he’ll regret it.
July 24th, 2019 at 9:55 am
If Nassib gets 7-8 sacks…heck yeah extend him! We’ve kept useless Golston for years because of a 6 sack season! Nassib is younger, and 7-8 sacks would not break the bank!
Dump Golston!!! Not Nassib!
July 24th, 2019 at 10:23 am
Besides von Miller who the hell have the broncos had at backer for years? I hope Barrett does well for us but acting like he is a savior for us is crazy. David and white gonna go ape**** for us this season
July 24th, 2019 at 11:11 am
^^^ Shane Ray
July 24th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
@Awshbucs
overthecap has us with the 7th most cap room in the league next year, a lot of which is due to JW3’s 20 million dollar 5th year extension.
July 24th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Why would Nassib be gone with 8 sacks when your bro love for Bennett had just as many. You complained he was jettisoned for no good reason. Selective bias?
July 24th, 2019 at 3:53 pm
If you can’t figure out the difference between Michael Bennett and Carl Nissib, Joe cannot help you.