Smaller. Slower. Better?
March 24th, 2020
Bucs sacks legend Shaq Barrett found his way to national radio this afternoon and possibly made his agent cringe.
Shaq and his 19 1/2 sacks scored the expensive franchise tag from the Buccaneers this month. And he sure earned every penny. But will Shaq be the same player next season?
Speaking on The Jim Rome Show today, Shaq explained that he only plays at 235 or 240 pounds and isn’t a special athlete. But it’s all about maxing out his strengths that include finer points of the game.
“I already know I’m not stronger than the person I’m going against anyway,” Barret told The Jim Rome Show. “I just gotta use my skills and all my keys to help me to be the best that I can be. I’m not just going up and trying to manhandle him and just go straight through the guy. Like I just use everything; there are times when you can do that and times when you gotta finesse. I try to keep him guessing, keep him off page of what I’m doing. Because I am a little bit smaller; I don’t have as much power. My speed is pretty good but it’s not like top-end as the top people. I just use all my surroundings and all my keys to succeed.”
Listening to Shaq talk, it really felt like he knows he had a miracle season, even though Shaq is determined to keep grinding in all facets to stay great. Joe sure hopes Shaq can remain at least an 11- or 12-sack guy.
Shaq went on to say he’ll miss Carl Nassib and so will the team. But Shaq is confident the Bucs, with Tom Brady and a great work ethic, are primed “to change the mediocrity into winning and playoffs and championships.”
March 24th, 2020 at 4:58 pm
I don’t get that at all. What I hear is an athlete who is showing you that heart and the mental aspects of the game trump the physical. Plenty of big fast guys in the league. Jerry Rice wasn’t the biggest or fastest either. Honey Badger isn’t, Ronde wasn’t, you can go on and on. Guy is a baller. Go Bucs!
March 24th, 2020 at 4:59 pm
shaq knows who he is….and who he aint….
he’ll continue to produce and make bucs fans proud….
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 24th, 2020 at 4:59 pm
I don’t care how he gets to the QB as long as he does.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Great self awareness and humility for a guy that was the sack king of 2019. Hustle combined with a great feel for the position is sometimes good enough to make you the best of the best.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Shaq and jpp together will raise hell with vea in the middle.Please bring bacl suh!!!
March 24th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
And we let Nassib go for what reason again?
March 24th, 2020 at 5:02 pm
Sounds self-aware and a realist if you ask me. I dig it and respect that. Refreshing.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Sorry bucboi, but that’s a scary interview, especially Shaq saying that “he’ll miss Carl Nassib and so will the team.” Not only will we miss Carl, but Suh hasn’t re-signed yet. And oh ya, Beau Allen’s gone but hasn’t been replaced yet either.
Without the other beasts in the center, Vea will get double-teamed a lot more AND Shaq & JPP won’t feed nearly as well. If the Bucs don’t re-sign Suh BEFORE the draft, we could end up either having to draft a DT in Rnd 1 (which is NOT good IMO because we NEED a RT) OR end up paying a king’s ransom to Suh later on if we don’t draft a DT. Git er done Jason … quickly.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:17 pm
“1 of the key skills of a pass rusher is how well he uses his hands to disengage from the Oline
Barrett has strong hands and uses them to well to setup and keep the blockers off balance
We have seen for 4 years Nowhere Spense completely manhandled when the Oline get their mitts on him”
Kobe Faker
March 24th, 2020 at 5:25 pm
There are 5 good dt in the draft, maybe more that we can get all the way into rd 3.
Brown. Auburn
Kinlaw s. Car
Madubiuke. A&M
Gallimore. Oklahoma
Davis. Alabama
Blacklock. TCU
Definitely need to add guys, but if I remember, Suh didnt sign with tampa till late may. He takes his time.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:27 pm
some folks are just plain negative about everything since AMERICAS UNEMPLOYED QB washed out. Give the man his due. Humility, knowing his weaknesses and working his strengths. RESPECT!
the rest of yall move along. true Bucs fans are back!
March 24th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Shaq just being real.
Dude played with Von Miller his whole career so he knows he’s not that type of freak athlete and has to craft his own game/technique in a way that he can still win – which he has. He’s still fast off the snap to my eye tho.
And he has been productive for a while on a per snap basis. PFF has an article from August 2018 where he’s their #1 quiet superstar in the NFL because of his pressure rates and run grades. Sometimes they are right about stuff lol.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
@ Defense
I agree that if we don’t sign Suh, we’ll need to draft a DT unless we’ve found another FA to replace him….but I fail to see how he will be much more expensive after the draft…..that would mean he is still available and no other team has signed him…..
I don’t think it will get to that…….I still think we will sign him and will pay whatever the market is for him…if he receives an offer from another team, I think he’ll give the Bucs a shot to match it.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:36 pm
DR
LMAO….
you scare too easy….
where did shaq say he and the team will miss his production?….lol…
opponents should be scared when he said: the bucs are primed “to change the mediocrity into winning and playoffs and championships.”
shaq will miss nassib the team mate….and im sure everyone else will too….carl seems like a great dude…very smart….probably gave everyone in the locker room finical advice…lol….
we do need SUH, which im confident he’ll re-sign…..
but your reading too much into what shaq said….what he said is what every player says when a team mate leaves via FA/trade/retirement….
R-E-L-A-X…..LOL…
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 24th, 2020 at 5:37 pm
Hard to argue with 19.5 – keep doing what you’re doing
March 24th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
now we’re going to critique 20 sacks after years of neg 10. I bet he does just fine in 2020
March 24th, 2020 at 5:43 pm
Unless JPP pulls a 180, Shaq is still a boss in Bowels second year system with the Bucs. Is Nassib is a loss. Wondering what the deal is with just Gholston and Pat O’ Conner on the other side. Look at me not even to the 2020 draft but they should draft a DE/OLB in round one in 2021 with JPP teaching him up for a year.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:49 pm
@Robert once again, cant go an article without bringing up JW. Move on dude, your obsession is unhealthy.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:53 pm
Nassib is a big loss on that side. Kinlaw first round 2020+DE/OLB first round 2021. Can hopefully develop with these great older guys that don’t have or want much time in the NFL. We’re talking TB and BA for at most three years and we need to be thinking about the future of the team tens years from now and not totally winning the Super Bowl this year.
March 24th, 2020 at 5:57 pm
We won’t miss Nassib. Why? Because 2nd yr player Anthony Nelson can fill that position n is just as good n aggressive if not better than Nassib. Anthony Nelson, a draftee from Wisconsin has traits of another Wisconsin legend, JJ Watts. My hope is Suh will return to keep the Blues Brothers gang together, where r ur shades? This defense will knock teams down this year, then comes SwashBrady, who will add the dagger.😎
March 24th, 2020 at 6:08 pm
Nelson is from Iowa.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:08 pm
I like the guy, but he’s never going to replicate 19.5 sacks. We gotta get Suh resigned! If Shaq gets double digit sacks again this year, that would be fine.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:11 pm
One year wonder !
He can’t dominate without —- blitz , suh , vea.
Low class expection fans get pumped up with anything .. just ask bucboi
March 24th, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Sounds like our new QB Use your head. Outsmart your competition.
How many bust looked like Tarzan and played like Jane?
March 24th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Parity, Joe(s). There is remarkable parity. Shaq knows his advantage is between the ears. Its amazing to hear a player say that! Let him prove it by over-performing in Year-II.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Might play himself into another franchise tag next year too. We are in a win now mode and then a strip down after 2 years
March 24th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Trade him .. while we can get something.
Shaq and Bruce = tweedle dee and tweedle dum. Big mouth show. Like bucboi and bird.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Look at jpps contract to go with it
March 24th, 2020 at 6:20 pm
Don’t think our new QB is te biggest fastest or strongest either, not the best arm…pretty sure he knows that about himself and acts accordingly, has done just fine
March 24th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
And as far as the O line goes . how Much better can they look with a qb that can use good footwork and timing of getting rid of the football Not to mention if he is making the calls at the line of scrimmage as apposed to your center having to do it
March 24th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Dude needs a filter!
March 24th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
check out the Rich Eisen interview of Arians. Joe wont cover it.
Shaq is probably the definition of plays like steak, looks like a burger, rather than the plays like a burger but looks like steak. A player makes plays not just measurables. And the mind is the strongest muscle.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:22 pm
Don and clean house Glad to see some of you understand football
March 24th, 2020 at 6:29 pm
Holding calls will be down this year too knowing you can engage hard and don’t have to wait on Winston to figure out what DB he is going to throw to
March 24th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
You know who this reminds me of? Ronde Barber. He was never the best or biggest athlete – his game was 90% above his shoulders. If that’s the type of player Shaq can be he’ll be worth every cent.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:46 pm
I really think the Bucs are trying to sign Trent Williams AND Suh.
I don’t think Suh is in a hurry because he knows his value to this team.
If Williams does indeed get released, it could happen guickly.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:46 pm
So Shaq explains how he’s a SMART player and Joe believes we should be concerned, wake up man.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:48 pm
And as far as Suh. I would love to have him back. But finding a big body that can eat space is not a struggle to find Suh is just durable as hell but he is replaceable unlike pass rushers
March 24th, 2020 at 6:53 pm
813bucboi … I love fans who are 100% confident in Jason Licht’s TEAM-BUILDING acumen. Yup, that’s who you’re putting your trust in the closer we get to the draft.
Five players were the focal point of our pass rush last year: Shaq, JPP, Vea, Suh & Nassib. Bucs had 47 sacks last season; those 5 had 39 of them. We’ve already lost Nassib’s 6 sacks, and Suh has yet to re-sign. How many do you think that JPP & Shaq will have without Suh anchoring the DLine with Vea?
Letting Nassib walk was a big mistake IMO, but it would pale in comparison to not re-signing Suh.
March 24th, 2020 at 6:54 pm
I love the way he plays. But I think the 16 to 17 is the right number. Maybe slightly higher with a longer deal due to increases, but the reality is, without JPP I wouldn’t be expecting as much out of him. He did it without JPP for a bit this past season, but he was still a surprise to most teams. As he says, he isn’t big enough or fast enough to withstand constant doubles. Meaning he is better as part of a pair rather than an ancor
March 24th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Nassib was great depth. But can’t afford to pay a backup starter money. And his sacks came when teams focused on shaq. Unfortunately there is a salary cap
March 24th, 2020 at 7:10 pm
Wow, the best free agents are all going to the NFC South Brady,Sanders, Anderson, gurly, Bridgewater
March 24th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
And Suh is smart to sit back and wait. He is playing on one year contracts. Sit back and let all the teams that are looking for a solid DT get one The team that is left out will get him around 10mil. The year that he knows he won’t get that he will retire but until then why not cash in. #durable
March 24th, 2020 at 7:16 pm
in laymans terms, he’s a system player…and a perfect fit in this scheme..he knows it and bucs brass knows it…so he ain’t going elsewhere…he will settle on a big contract of like 55 for 4 years…
if he goes elsewhere in a couple years he can potentially fall off the map in another system…
i’m sure the bucs want his for 3 years 40 mil
March 24th, 2020 at 7:36 pm
Like Sapp, Shaq doesn’t have the physique of a workout warrior (see pic above).
He did have a great season which in many ways felt for not finishing 7-9. He is the perfect candidate for the franchise tag. Paid handsomely but needs to prove it wasn’t an anomaly or one hit wonder.
March 24th, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Adrnagy Says:
March 24th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Trade him .. while we can get something.
Shaq and Bruce = tweedle dee and tw
——
Hope this was a joke bc this is hilarious.
March 24th, 2020 at 8:36 pm
I prefer that to Noah Spence who looks like Tarzan but plays like……well, you know!!!
March 24th, 2020 at 8:41 pm
If JPP stays healthy we should be fine even without Nassib. The best Bucs DE combo in a long time. I hate using that term ‘Edge’ as they started heavily using last season.
March 24th, 2020 at 9:03 pm
I like it better that he said all that!! Jordan was not always the greatest athlete!! Sapp looked like a big fat guy!! You took it the wrong way because you can’t understand football and what makes a player good!! He saying he is not as strong it fast as the other guy but he has more skill and wants it more!! He’ll get 15 sacks next year barring any health concerns with him or the rest of the team!! It wasn’t a fluke man and everyone l every time you say it out makes you look like you don’t know what you’re talking about!!! The dude has MAD skills!! Go back and look at the tape he’s not winning with speed or power!! He’s winning with his hands, his feet movement, his hips and his ability to read the lineman!!!
March 24th, 2020 at 9:46 pm
Suh is a generational DT…selected #2 in the entire draft. You have to get pretty lucky to replace a player who was the 2nd over all with a rookie DL.
The only player IMO who is generational on the DL is an edge rusher anyway. Great player…who wouldn’t love to add Young to our team…he’s going 2nd like Suh for the same reason…a QB ahead of him..in fact some mocks have two QB’s but aside from those guys Young is clearly the gem in this draft…if we need an edge rusher. No chance to get him.
I can’t conceive of why we wouldn’t resign Suh. He’s pretty good about realizing his actual value and I think he would like to finish here. Perhaps that just wishful thinking.
March 24th, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Simple question. Results being equal or the same…would you rather cheer for a guy who gets er done with mad physical talent or a guy who gets er done with an over sized heart and fierce desire?
March 24th, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Don’t know how you got that out of that interview Joe. Miracle season? I think the dude is saying his skill set is different than brute force but just as effective.
March 24th, 2020 at 11:37 pm
The guy isn’t going to get 20 sacks again, if you think he is, you’re nuts.
Now, if he does, then you gladly make him the highest paid defensive player in history – but reality is that everyone should be happy with that 10-12 number. BTW, which is great, it’s what we want from JPP as well – to have two double digit sack guys is fantastic.
But 19.5 sacks, again? Not gonna happen. But I’ll be happy to be wrong.
March 25th, 2020 at 7:16 am
Humble dude. It was all kinds of fun watching him wreck people last year. If JPP doesn’t do anything stupid, watching him and Shaq terrorize quarterbacks this year will be a blast.