Raving About Mark Barron
December 5th, 2012
Count former Bucs great safety John Lynch as one of Mark Barron’s biggest fans.
Joe believes it was preseason when Bucs safety Mark Barron made his presence felt with some rib-rattling hits on running backs. After the game, Joe mentioned to Barron that the way he was hitting running backs, he looked like a young version of John Lynch.
Barron just smiled and responded, “John Lynch, huh?”
Barron has continued to blow up opponents, most notably when he bodyslammed Robert Griffin III to the turf of thesStadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and was sadly flagged for the hit due to the powderpuff mentality of NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell and his henchmen.
Lynch, the former Bucs great who is a semifinalist looking to make the final ballot for this winter’s Pro Football Hall of Fame vote, believes Barron has growing to do as an NFL player but raved about the rookie from Alabama recently during a phone call to the Booger and Rich show, co-hosted by one of Lynch’s ex-teammates Booger McFarland on WHFS-FM 98.7.
“I think early on he was exactly what I thought he would be: a difference-making player. This was early on in the season and I think he has a hit a little bit of that rookie wall, not so much physically but mentally,” Lynch said. “You aren’t seeing him make that many impact plays. But I think Tampa fans can rest assured the Bucs have a special player on their hands. This is just a natural process that players go through in this league. He has all the physical tools. I think when they learn how to learn how to use him more effectively, and he continues to grow in his understanding of the game, this guy is a difference-making safety. He has everything you would want in the safety position and safeties are hard to find. A lot of people thought it was a reach taking him that high but I would say finding a safety is hard to find, especially a safety who can do all of those things and they have one in Mark Barron. I think he is going to be a very good football player for a long, long time.”
If Barron continues to grow, Joe believes he could be the next Ed Reed. Remember when Lynch was a young Bucs player? No one would have dreamed he would be up for induction into the Hall of Fame, especially the way Barry Sanders used to fake Lynch out of his jock too many times twice a year.
Let’s just say the way Barron hits, opposing wide receivers have his No. 24 in the back of their minds when they are running crossing patterns.
December 5th, 2012 at 10:14 am
I think he is going to be real good. When they get some CBs he can play in the box more as well. Right now they have no choice but to play him back to help cover.
December 5th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Great point Dave, a couple good (they don’t even have to be great) corners will allow the DC to use Barron more creatively, and allow Barron to play more instinctively knowing that the corners don’t need his help on EVERY play.
December 5th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Almost as much love as he was giving Manning and the Broncos last Sunday!
December 5th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Lynch started out as a lb for The Bucs if I’m not mistaken…and not a very good one at that. Let’s hope he’s right about Barron.
December 5th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I’m with Dave. Good corners made all the old bucs safeties look good. Donnie Abraham, Ronde Barber and, Brian Kelly made any safety they put back there with John Lynch look like a Pro bowler, until they signed with another team and disappear (Dexter Jackson).
December 5th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
He will be a good if not great safety.Right now however he has been a bit disappointing.He’s just invisible out there the guy the viking’s took has played better.I didn’t like his reaction after being drafted by the buc’s.He looked disappointed well Mark so was I when Brees pumpfaked you to death in the saint’s game.He has to play better if we are to make the playoff’s and if he has a year like this year next year he’ll be a bust
December 5th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
pfft doesn’t Lynch know that the esteemed commentators on JBF have deemed him a bust already? I mean he’s not a turnkey Ed Reed first-ballot HOF’er 12 games in so stick a fork in him…
Sneedy that is just flat out stupid. The relationship between corners and safeties is symbiotic. John Lynch’s greatness made Abraham and Ronde better and vice-versa.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Dave and T are on the money here. Barron will get even better with time.
I’d like to see Joe write an article on how well all our rookies are doing this year compared to other teams. Our draft choices have proven to be great. Barron, Martin, and David have all stepped right in and all performing beyond their years..
December 5th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
I love Lynch but I have to admit feeling a bit betrayed during the Denver game. Have to keep it in perpective that the Bucs parted ways with him, but it still sucked hearing him express all that love for Denver against the Bucs.
December 5th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Dreambig , I agree. I thought a couple times that Lynch & Stockton were going to propose to Peyton.
December 5th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
I like Barron byt he needs to improve in coverage. This could be a bit of a scheme thing though as the Bucs’ defensive mindset seems to be stop the run at all costs.