Peyton Barber’s Ugly Numbers
January 10th, 2020
Bad stat.
Looking at some numbers on ProFootballReference.com, even if the Bucs decide to bring back free agent running back Peyton Barber, there is no way on God’s green earth he should be a starter.
The soon-to-be 26-year old should be reaching his prime. Yet his numbers suggest he’s about done.
Each year since he broke into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Barber’s yards-per-carry have dropped to a career-low 3.1 yards this season.
What’s troubling is his numbers after contact, especially as much as Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich loved running Barber up the middle. Barber averaged 1.7 yards after contact, which is just heinous, one of the worst in the NFL.
And a teammate of his, who is not known for power running, actually fared a whole lot better. Ronald Jones actually was in the top-half of NFL running backs for yards-after-contact. Jones finished 14th overall in this stat with an average of 2.4 yards.
The way Jones played late in the season and with the steady decline of Barber, if the Bucs do not upgrade the running back position — and they need to do so terribly — there is no reason why Jones cannot be an every-down back.
January 10th, 2020 at 10:27 am
Kareem Hunt baby !!!!! Get Peyton Liability Barber out of here !!!
January 10th, 2020 at 10:30 am
Barber is garbage man. He has had a good story and a good run but enough
While it seems every team has a threat in backfield we rolling into games with Barber and Jones. Cut both of them and get a proven rb. Tired of jones too. He should be a 3rd back or practice squad
January 10th, 2020 at 10:56 am
I agree he’s not a starter. There is no shame in being a backup or 3rd string running back in the NFL. He’s good enough to stick and if he’s healthy he should be able to find a team that will take him if he doesn’t come back.
January 10th, 2020 at 11:47 am
Barber has been one of those try really hard guys. Whether his decline is physical, mental, or a combination, it’s time to let him become a Falcon.
January 10th, 2020 at 11:47 am
You gotta take Najee Harris, Zack Moss or Clyde Edwards. Zack Moss may be the most complete back. But Najee Harris paired with Rojo would be probably be the best bet.
January 10th, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Have to draft a running back or acquire one. Oddly enough in the era of the quarterback and rules designed to make the NFL a passing league, 5 of the top 6 teams running the ball are still in the playoffs. You have to be able to run the football to win. You want your quarterback to throw fewer interceptions, run the ball more and do it efficiently.
January 10th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Barber is horrible. Need to replace him with almost anyone.
Kareem Hunt is a restricted free agent. You should expect Cleveland to tender him as a restricted free agent because it ain’t that much money.
January 10th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Barber has a decent run every now and then regularly.
January 10th, 2020 at 1:17 pm
If Derrick Henry was big but deceptively fast, Najee Harris is quick but deceptively big. But Najee is not the type of talent that can create yards behind a bad o line though, as a Bama fan I can say with full certainty. I don’t think he would be that productive here in Tampa. In all honesty, despite the age, Adrian Peterson is still that type of back. He may never hit the home run. But on downs where we absolutely need a yard or three, he would give us that because of his exceptional instincts for blocks in front of him.
January 10th, 2020 at 1:36 pm
RB is the easiest position to step in as a rookie and produce. Get one in the draft. Kareem Hunt…no thanks…men who kick women on the ground and beat on them just aren’t the kind of cowards I can get on board with…
And see if this sounds familiar…the reason the Chiefs gave for letting him go was that he LIED to the team. Have WE ever had a player get into trouble and lie about it to the team. Well at least we have experience.
I think ROJO is developing nicely as the little fast guy. He has a sneaky spin move at contact that gives him those yards after contact. Guys like Etienne are great but they bring the same game as ROJO. I want a complementary back for ROJO not a replacement.
The top 8 prospects on Walter Football’s list are all under 220…some closer to 200. Jonathan Taylor is 5-11 and a biscuit under 220 but runs with authority…but he could go in the first round…not ready to go there yet for me
Drop down to the bottom of the top ten prospects and you find 6-2 230 lb guy who can run a 4.5 40…Bama’s Najee Harris. And he could go anywhere from the 2nd through the 4th.
Here is my solution…
LUV where are you? I simply place an order for a 230LB + back who can resemble Marshawn Lynch or Derrick Henry.
LUV find me a BEAST who can pound and be the perfect compliment to ROJO;s speed and moves. Trust me guys,,,if LUV reads this he’ll go the rolodex and find the perfect candidate.
January 10th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
I am more and more convinced that you need to have a running back on early downs that can actually be explosive catching passes.
Interestingly the best running backs, Henry, McCaffrey, Zeke, Kamara, etc actually face less 8 man fronts than Barber and Jones because teams are worried about them as receivers out of the back field and exploding for large gains in the passing game.
Barber and Adrian Peterson faced some of the most 8 man fronts last year.
January 10th, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Agree that he’s not a starting running back. He’s a good guy and I hope he has a job next year.
January 10th, 2020 at 2:54 pm
he has these pitter pat feet movements which don’t eat up yards…
i remember his first game and what might have been his first carry of his career – he burst out with a 45 yard scamper – it was wild – like who is this mofo?…
turns out , he never had another long run…
then again neither he nor rojo ever really got the ball enough to get into that so called running back rhythem
January 10th, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Time to let him go. After all the #1 back we heard during the get rid of Martin campaign Barber should be it! Well No he is not. Draft one or find one because Rojo is not the answer either.
January 10th, 2020 at 3:53 pm
How bad was Barber?
Week 15 the Vikings rested Dalvin Cook due to a lingering injury.
He had a better fantasy football day (0.0) then Barber (-0.7).
January 10th, 2020 at 4:07 pm
IMO that is why we lost to Atlanta. We went into a shell in the 2nd half and with ROJO running the way he was in that game there was ZERO reason for Barber to even touch the field in the 2nd half.
January 10th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
My animal ran away, must be Jameis’ fault.
January 10th, 2020 at 6:14 pm
It appears that Dobbins, Taylor, and Etienne will available at 14. If the Bucs determine any one of those three will be around by the time we pick in round 2, then take the best OT available in the first round and RB in the second. But if they project all three are gone, then draft one of them in the first.
January 10th, 2020 at 8:29 pm
BestBuy is hiring.
January 10th, 2020 at 8:36 pm
Zack Moss (maybe 3rd rnd) or Patrick Taylor jr (4th rnd)
January 10th, 2020 at 9:37 pm
There’s not a Barkley’s in this draft class…Swift is a 1st Rd talent… (Similar to Sony Michel / Josh Jacobs draft ranges, last 2 yrs.)…No RB in this draft is worth the #14 pick.
January 10th, 2020 at 11:44 pm
Geno,
Facing 8 in the box , you’re correct about pass catching ability has a part in why the backs you mention face 8 less often than barber and rojo. But there’s another factor you didn’t account for, formation.
The bucs tend to use formations that lends itself to 8 in the box. The other teams use either formation or motions to spread the defense out towards the perimeter. The bucs , do so as well, just not as often.
The bucs run lots of outs , curls and comebacks . They do so by creating space via an alignment. Inside vertical releases gives their recievers room to break outside. Again, not every play but it’s a core concept in how the bucs attack the field.
One other quick point, the Bucs predominantly run behind the center. Teams are not going to defend the perimeter as there’s few by the plays by the bucs that even attempt to challenge it.
To change this it’s going to require more than adding a RB. A pass catching RB can dramatically improve the teams ability to challenge the perimeter but to fully maximize it , the Bucs need to get offensive linemen capable of getting outside . So it’s RB along with upgrades at guard and/or tackle.
It’s either that or incorporate formations that spread the field with 3 or 4 recievers. The point is that the team faces 8 in the box , because our scheme, formation and the skill set of our offensive linemen, more than the lack of our RB’S pass catching ability.
January 11th, 2020 at 12:18 am
stpetefan:man GO put all of that high and mighty crap on the self somewhere …or take it to the White House 45 could use you!! GO BUCS …Some fans don’t count!!
January 11th, 2020 at 1:00 am
@stpete, I got you…Patrick Taylor Jr, 6’3 227, Memphis….youtube him…i think maybe a 4th….under the radar, had an injury but has bounced back nicely.
January 11th, 2020 at 1:01 am
Shush BigHog, the adults are talking.
January 11th, 2020 at 9:54 am
SammyRebel Says:
“Kareem Hunt baby !!!!!”
~~~~~~~~~
Definitely not a bad thought. We have so many players, here at-home, that we need to get re-signed, that it may make more sense to draft a RB. — But if we could make room, money-wise, it would be great to get Kareem in here.
January 11th, 2020 at 3:45 pm
big hog
LMAO…Luv ya bro so no need to insult me with Trump material.
BTW…do you know who a scroll wheel works? Or on some devices just use your finger and scroll down.
Some folks here hate long posts. Some do not mind “anecdotes” others like you apparently do not.
I suspect you’re angry with me because you as a JW lover dislike my observations about him. That’s cool but you’ll have to line up behind NDOG and Stangglassman.
@MadMax Thanks for that tip.
Trust me…while I may get “HIGH”…I’m certainly not mighty!
January 11th, 2020 at 7:28 pm
stpetebucsfan
LUV, find me this. Find me that.
________
Do your own work. You’ve already named one power back in Najee Harris. And FWIW, Lynch was NOT Beastmode at any point in Buffalo. He was a 215 pb RB that ran from contact and tried to bounce everything outside. He became Beastmode during and after that playoff run against the Saints.
A complementary RB to RoJo would be a hard charging North South runner like Harris. There are a few others. Basically we need better versions of Barber.