Schiano Likes Ronde — At Safety
April 18th, 2012
Only two practices into Ronde Barber taking significant reps at safety — on a team woefully short of experienced safeties — and the measured Greg Schiano isn’t afraid to glow about the way his Hall of Famer looks in the role.
Today Schiano described, in general, how Barber approached a typical play in practice with the focus and energy of a rookie trying to impress his coaches.
“I like what I see out there. I don’t know if that’s where he’ll stay or not. But I really like the way he’s attacking it and I think he can do it,” Schiano said of Barber’ work at safety.” You know, in the scheme we play, I think he can do it. Some would worry about his size. I don’t worry about it.”
On the heels of Schiano glowing about Aqib Talib earlier in the news conference, and hopefully the Bucs eventually scoring Morris Claiborne in the draft, the reality is Barber likely will need to play safety to get him on the field for significant snaps — or at least what he’s accustomed to.
If the Bucs roll into the season with Talib, Claiborne, Barber and Eric Wright, there’s going to be some serious competition and versatility.
April 18th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Joe if we can get all those guys on the on opening game it would be a miracle because no matter what happens to talib it looks like he will be suspended anyway. But if we could get all those guys man our secondary would be 100 times better than last year and really make the bucs competitive.
April 18th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Come on Joe, Talib won’t be stealing reps from anyone outside of the Texas pen.
April 18th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Just watched Schiano’s presser from today, and thought it sure seems like he is going to rotate Ronde all over the secondary. I’m not sure Ronde really is ideal for a starter/every down role at safety, but in a few packages, why not?
Also took a minute to watch this mini-camp exclusive with Rachel Ramirez on the bucs’ website, and couldn’t help but be amazed. Not by the classic reporter gimmick of “walk to the camera and catch a football bc darned if I’m not reporting on the field” but by the fact that that football is bigger than her whole upper body! She must be 4’8 and 80 lbs!!
I would be suprised if vincent jackson couldn’t palm her head and start curling her with one arm!
April 18th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Name a better CB group than that in the league…I can’t as long as we get Claiborne and he turns out to be the real deal.
April 18th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
@thibs,
I can, the Philadelphia Eagles. That worked out so great for them, oh wait, never mind.
April 18th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
That’s Ronde. If he’s going to be a Buccaneers he’s all in.
You have to respect that.
Glad he’s going to be a part of the 2012 team.
April 18th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
it’s not even training camp, he’s just experimenting for now.. Imo Ronde won’t be a full-time safety
April 19th, 2012 at 2:59 am
I totally disagree with everyone’s assessment of Ronde as not being an every-down safety. Ronde, throughout his entire career with the Bucs, have demonstrated an uncanny ability to locate the football, read quarterbacks eyes, and play a zone. He has great instincts that should make him a fine safety. Not to mention he will rarely be put in man to man situations, minimizing the lost step he suffered last year. This is a great move, I am shocked that more people dont see that. He might be small, but he is far more of a liability on an island man to man against a 6’3” receiver than providing over the top help.
April 19th, 2012 at 9:08 am
Ronde has great football instincts and that can’t be taught.
April 19th, 2012 at 10:43 am
BucsFanInAfghanistan
That’s what I have been thinking since heariing about the possible move for Ronde. Also being second or third with most tackles on team yearly, he is not afraid of contact and tackling.
April 19th, 2012 at 11:09 am
He’s by far our best tackler in the secondary, hopefully it works out, assuming we get Claiborne and age hasn’t caught up to him.
April 19th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
BucsFanInAfghanistan….totally agree. Could be a great move to have he and Grimm back there. Both of those guys aren’t afraid to tackle.