Most Consistent Pass Rusher Shaq Barrett
August 16th, 2022
Consistently top shelf.
Joe remembers not that long ago, in the darkest depths of the Lost Decade, watching opposing quarterbacks have so much time to throw made Joe want to start crying.
Long-time readers know how much this drove Joe mental. Joe pounded empty pints of Big Storm Brewing beer on the bar at Hooters, so angry at letting Michael Bennett go for no good reason.
Absent pass rushing got under Joe’s skin so badly he exploded on Ira Kaufman on the man’s own podcast. Quarterbacks had so much time in the pocket they could change the oil in their cars was absolutely galling and pretty much told the whole story of the Lost Decade — a team fully ignoring the most important trait of a defense.
It was completely and totally out of hand! Absolutely frosted Joe to no end.
Well, thankfully, that changed when the Bucs traded for Jason Pierre-Paul and the following season signed free agent Shaq Barrett, who became the Bucs’ sack king.
Since then, once in a while Joe will notice some folks kvetch or gripe that Shaq may not be a prime pass rusher. Byran Knowles, typing in “Football Outsiders 2022 Almanac,” says, hold my beer.
It seems Shaq is nothing if not a consistent, dominant rusher since he fell in the lap of Todd Bowles.
Shaquil Barrett is the only player in the league with three straight seasons with at least a 15% pressure rate on more than 400 pass-rush snaps, per SIS charting.
Joe believed fans never see such a thing written about a Bucs pass rusher. But here we are, thankfully!
And you know what, if Joe Tryon-Shoyinka progresses like the Bucs think he can this fall, Shaq will continue to be one of the best pass rushers in the game. The more teams have to worry about JTS, the fewer bodies they can use to take Shaq out.
August 16th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Just wait until Shaq goes three games without a sack. The trolls will be stating what a bad signing the Bucs did.
Just like today with Carl Nassib.
August 16th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Hopefully, Hicks will provide more inside pass rush than Suh did, and that should force opposing QB’s right into the hands of either Shaq or JTS, but let’s not forget about Logan Hall!
August 16th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Nassib is a good sign.
August 16th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
It was hard not to forget about Logan Hall during Sunday’s game, he looked like a JAG. Let’s hope for a more productive 2nd game.
August 16th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
no disrespect to Shaq, but he had Suh and JPP a good bit of that time.
I want to see the monster Shaq we saw that ONE season. we are gonna need it this year.
August 16th, 2022 at 12:45 pm
Joe def giving me shivers talking about the lack of pass rush for a decade plus. It really started when Simeon rice got injured in 2006 during the Chucky era. I remember Brees absolutely picking us apart year after year! Then you had schiano and dumbanick making the brilliant decision to let Michael Bennett walk. I guess they thought Daquan Bowers was going to be the next Reggie White. What a clown show that was!
August 16th, 2022 at 12:54 pm
I hope the additions to the secondary will allow him to pass rush more often.
He had to drop back into coverage a lot last season. He did turn into a good OLB, but his forte is the pass rush and I want to see him get double digits of them this season.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Everyone and their mommas saw the dropoff in Shaq’s production every single time JPP was not on the field to command respect and attention on the other side.
Let’s see how the new (hopefully) Dynamic Duo of Shaq and JTS can do.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:12 pm
If I remember correctly, Barrett and Nassib caused some trouble for QB’s few years back. Remember Nassib always being around the QB. Nice pick-up he will suprise us when not expected, Go Bucs.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:15 pm
@Craig, he had double digits last season. I could see him around 12-15 this year though.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Just wish he could’ve shown that consistency against the Rams and Saints last year. Shaq had a grand total of zero sacks, and 2 pressures in those 4 games. Your best players are supposed to show up in the biggest games.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:53 pm
^^^^ what GOB said 1000%
August 16th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
The least of our problems is Shaq Barrett……he is consistently after the QB and plays pretty well in coverage & run stopping….
High hopes for JTS…..
Nelson & Nassib are good backups…….we need 1 more rusher…..
August 16th, 2022 at 2:23 pm
TBBF, I think the additions of Hicks and Hall will help Shaq. The scheme Bowles runs is predicted on those lineman eating blocks, so the backers can flow to the football. If Hicks and Vea can remain healthy, it’s pick your poison as to who to double. Personally, I’d like to see more four down lineman. Bowles doesn’t believe you can get consistent pressure with 4 rushers. I’d love for the D line to prove him wrong.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Let’s enjoy our run Joe, it won’t be much longer before all of us true buc fans get a solid dose of our past misery :(… orrrrr maybe not lol maybe the stink of Brady lingers… but now I’m starting to sound like a Bucs fan in the preseason again…
August 16th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
More like he is your “only” consistent pass rusher at the moment.
August 16th, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Shaq has been consistently great since he got here. People put huge expectations on him when he went crazy with sacks but he has been consistent in getting pressure, hits, and sacks combined.
Last year he was definitely derailed with the absence of DBs and SUH & JPP being 1/2 the players they were
Personally I think he’s ready to have another big year with sacks … IF… Vea & Hicks are healthy (and play !) and JTS steps it up.