Bucs Insider And Icon Rondé Barber Says Team Very Bullish On Tyrek Funderburk
August 14th, 2024
Rookie corner is as good as a warm cookie to Rondé Barber.
Joe knows who Rondé Barber talks to.
The Bucs Hall of Fame corner and game analyst for Bucs preseason TV broadcasts had a lot to say about a rookie cornerback during the broadcast of the first worthless preseason game last weekend against the Bengals.
Barber is a member of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s kitchen cabinet. He is a regular visitor to One Buc Palace, has a keycard and works for the team’s website. At practices, it’s common for Barber to be on the sidelines chatting with Licht or Team Glazer or a Bucs staffer or coach.
It’s not unusual for Barber to come to a staff meeting or two. And after those meetings, if Bucs personnel folks want to enjoy an adult beverage at a nearby establishment, Barber will often tag along to talk ball.
So when Barber references player evals from Bucs shot-callers, Joe believes Barber is getting his intel straight from the top.
Late in the first half Saturday night, Barber went on a long breakdown of how the Bucs really, really, really like undrafted free agent corner Tyrek Funderburk from App State.
(Whenever Joe hears “Funderburk,” Joe thinks of the former Indiana and Ohio State college basketball star forward Lawrence Funderburke.)
“Now undrafted, [Funderburk is] a guy that we probably wouldn’t even have known about,” Barber said on the WFLA-TV Channel 8 produced broadcast. “[Funderburk] played at Appalachian State is really turning heads.
“This guy is — not only is he quick and fast, he’s so confident at the line of scrimmage. He looks like he’s ready to play.
“24 in red is a guy you’re going to have to keep an eye on this preseason because he is putting out some really good tape.”
The fact Barber said Funderburk is “turning heads” is a veiled reference to Licht’s personnel troupe or coaches.
It’s impressed Joe in training camp that the Bucs have like four or five guys backing up starting corners Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum. Those four or five guys are having solid camps.
Does Joe dare suggest the Bucs may be deep at corner this fall? Joe doesn’t want to give the Bucs the kiss of death by typing such a thing.
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August 14th, 2024 at 12:56 am
This is my dark horse, love this guys game (and name) and hope he makes the most of his shot!
Also want to hear that name on Sundays!
Wonder if it made Jason think of AC/DC just a little when they signed him?
August 14th, 2024 at 12:58 am
If that kid makes the team he’s going to get someone fired when they quickly try saying his name on air.
August 14th, 2024 at 1:04 am
5′ 11″, ran a 4.39 40. His RAS score is all elite in speed, but only average in other categories. Only 23, which is now young for rookies after the plague years.
The NFL draft site predicted he’d get drafted in the 6th or 7th.
With very good speed, and good size, that would be a nice find.
August 14th, 2024 at 1:09 am
@Joe – you guys should get Ronde to come onto the podcast with Ira! That’d be fantastic.
Ira doesn’t want to ask him … He must think it won’t be a strong segment.–Joe
August 14th, 2024 at 2:54 am
Sounds like a good find. I think Dungy drafted corners every year thinking he never had enough.
Funny you mention it, the first Funderburk that comes to mind for me is Mark Funderburk, outfielder for the Orlando and Minnesota Twins. Saw him hit an HR or two at the old Tinker field.
August 14th, 2024 at 3:03 am
Joe … ‘Does Joe dare suggest the Bucs may be deep at corner this fall? Joe doesn’t want to give the Bucs the kiss of death by typing such a thing.’
There you go again Joe. You’re sounding more & more like a DC politician who makes a shady claim THEN immediately follows by that by denying he ever said it.
Rod … Some guys ‘just make plays’. Funderburk appears to be one of those. I’m already totally impressed with the kid, but I’m thinking that he’s gonna have a really hard time getting snaps this season. Too many more experienced guys in our Secondary ahead of him. As an undrafted FA, he signed a 3-year contract this Spring, meaning that he’ll be a FA in 2027.
August 14th, 2024 at 4:40 am
Keenan Isaac kooked good on his pick. Loved the way he turned his head, and played the ball. They ran that deep sideline pass three times. Two for big completions. When he was in he picked it. Funkerburk looks good too. There were a couple that didn’t fare as well.
August 14th, 2024 at 4:51 am
Having covered it back in a different life, I get that the Southern Conference is not considered a football powerhouse.
However if Funderburke makes it he won’t be the first S.C. player to not only make the NFL but star for the Bucs.
In fact that last real star Buc from the SC was also a guy who surprised in camp and turned out to be a true find from East Tennessee State U.
Could we use another Donnie Abraham?
August 14th, 2024 at 5:51 am
Pete—
Abraham was a nice find. Remember him well, but hard to believe his time with the Bucs was the short span of 1996—2001. He was out of the league by 2005.
He co-led the NFL in interceptions in 1999, and had 38 for his career. NOT BAD! He also made one Pro Bowl.
During his playing days he swore he’d never become a football coach, but caught the bug. In the 19 years since his retirement he’s had nine coaching gigs at various locations, including Head Coach at Gibbs and an assistant at IMG.
His son was dratted by the Colts, a sixth rounder in this most recent draft.
Seems like a decent guy …
August 14th, 2024 at 5:57 am
Liking Funderburk! Hope he makes it. Impressive – yes!
un – Great idea of a Ronde podcast with Ira!
stpetebucfan – Great reminder about Abraham!
August 14th, 2024 at 6:35 am
Anything less than double digit wins and a deep playoff run would be a disappointing season to me. I think we have the pieces in place to do just that.
August 14th, 2024 at 7:17 am
@BucU, I 100% agree we have the pieces in place for a deep playoff run. The only thing that can stop that from happening IMO are injuries at a position where we lack quality depth. When Yaya was carted off the field recently we dodged a bullet there. We can’t afford to have lost him. We could get into the playoffs without him but in the playoffs it’s critical to have a strong pass rush when you’re going up against elite QBs like Mahomes.
August 14th, 2024 at 7:41 am
You have been Funderburk ….. a little tweak of AC/DC Thunderstruck. Licht will like
August 14th, 2024 at 7:50 am
The movie from 1999, Outside Providence, had a principal in it named Funderburk.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:44 am
Donnie Abraham was a great player on the field, and never embarrassed the Bucs off it. I followed some of the JBF live game comment thread, and there were a few on there badmouthing Ronde. I was listening to Bucs Radio, so didn’t do the boob tube. What gives here?
August 14th, 2024 at 8:46 am
A couple of weeks ago we were hearing from people on here how we have no depth at CB, now there’s a article for a CB who’s been impressing that at best is our 4th maybe 5th best option at the position.
Our practice squad should be pretty talented this year and I hope Funderburk can snag a pick and take it to the house by the end of these next to preseason games. Not because it counts, but because the confidence boost he’d get would be crazy.
People always reference the down side of the “welcome to the NFL” exp, but alot of players also have a “I belong” moment where they see they can actually hang in the NFL. That’s what I want for the majority of our promising young guys.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:51 am
4-5 SOLID BACKUPS … I SEE 3 BACKUPS & 2 THAT NEED TO BE CUT
For Dean and Zyon: Hall, Isaac, Funderburk looked good. The two Hayes guys got TORCHED. They were so bad the QBs were just throwing to whomever they were guarding and scored a TD. I was having Ryan Neal PTSD flashbacks.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:54 am
Hope someone teaches Josh Hayes how to tackle a running back. Ronde could show him I think.
Bad mouth Ronde? Good way to get your butt kicked in RayJay me thinks.
Go Bucs!
August 14th, 2024 at 9:48 am
Ah, that’s too bad.
What the heck, Irv? What gives? Lol
August 14th, 2024 at 11:42 am
Joe cracks me up. Tag along for an adult beverage? You mean they are getting snockered and blitzkrieged.
August 14th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Unfortunately, the #s are not lining up for Funderburk to make the team this year – unless his play literally forces the Bucs to cut someone they expected to keep….
The decisions about which DBs to keep in 2024 are going to be very difficult ones…
I see the Bucs keeping 5 Safeties and 5 CBs this year:
Safety – Winfield Jr, Whitehead, Tykee Smith, Izien, Merriweather
CB – Dean, McCollum, Bryce Hall, Tavierre Thomas – and 1 more spot up for grabs between Josh Hayes, Keenan Isaac and Funderburk.
Hayes has the upper hand because he was on the active squad last year and proved himself as a very good Special Teamer. Isaac looked good in camp and preseason last year but didn’t make the cut – he’s picked up right where he left off last year looking solid in coverage and snagging the first game’s only Int…..
Funderburk is going to have to really show a lot – especially on ST to beat out Hayes and Isaac for that final CB spot…..
August 14th, 2024 at 2:40 pm
makes me think of ex HS girlfriend ….. we called her Thunder Thighs
August 14th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
While Funderburk’s name reminded me of Thunder Thighs, she also had another nick name.
She threw the shot put on the track team.
Man, used to love watching her muscle the 100 yd dash.
She had to quit sprinting because she got black eyes every time she ran.
Can remember her running sprints like it was yesterday.
Oh, her other nick name …..
Bouncing Betty
August 14th, 2024 at 3:53 pm
If he makes the team we need an ac/dc coverband to remake thunderstruck in to funderburk!!!
August 14th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
@ Bakerfan—having essentially the same last name, why do you think it’s been my handle for years on this here corner of the interwebs? 🙂
August 14th, 2024 at 5:05 pm
Here’s something that I’m hoping one of the Joes can get asked of Todd Bowles. Observing a play that went Funderburk’s way, there was a long pass completed along the Bucs’ sideline right in front of the head coach. Funderburk seemed to bite on the lower level of the in-cutting wide receiver, which opened the gap behind him for the long pass play (which, fortunately was wiped out by an offensive foul).
When it was completed, bowles erupted in a way that made me think Funderburk must have misread a key and followed someone who was a linebacker’s responsibility. Bowles clearly was not happy about it.
Then, at the transition to the commercial break, video was locked on Bowles and Funderburk’s exchange in what looked like a very Arians-like “love on them after you beat them up“ type of coaching.
Of course, my eyes were glued on Funderburk for this game so I watched every snap and probably was sensitive to reading into the details of every exchange and play… so maybe I’m employing some hyper-acuity on my part? But for all of the lauds we heard from Ronde (and don’t forget that The RoH GM himself *specifically* mentioned him when he joined Ira’s podcast recently), I’m super interested to know what was going on in the head coaches’ mind, and maybe what that exchange was, during the maturation and coaching up of who I think will be a stud on this team.
Any takers? 🙂
Sorry for the long post; I got tired of waiting for the bucks brass or for Ron to invite me out for some adult beverages, so I partook on my own!