Dashon Goldson No. 18
June 27th, 2013
While many Bucs fans were pacing their bedrooms in the middle of the night, bottle of antacid in hand and worried about the horrid Bucs secondary from the previous year, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik was doing something about it, unbeknownst to the public.
One remedy was signing punishing free agent safety Dashon Goldson. In this countdown of the top 25 players in the NFC South, ESPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas lists Goldson at No. 18, before the man has played a snap in the division.
What he did in 2012: In helping the San Francisco 49ers reach the Super Bowl, Goldson had 69 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Why he’s No. 18 in 2013: Signing Goldson was the first big move the Bucs made in the offseason because they believe he can help fix a pass defense that ranked No. 32 in the league in 2012. Last season, the Bucs used Ronde Barber at free safety. Barber did a decent job, but often played in the box and that forced strong safety Mark Barron to end up in coverage more than the team wanted. Goldson is more of a natural center fielder and his presence should free up Barron from deep coverage duties and allow him to take more advantage of his physical style of play. Goldson also is known as a leader and he’s been on some teams that have won big. The Bucs are hoping Goldson’s ability and experience can help improve the entire defense.
Joe believes Yasinskas nailed it in his last point: Leadership. Joe has seen with his own eyes how the younger members of the Bucs’ secondary are following Goldson around like ducklings would their mother. He works with the young guys sometimes 30 minutes after practice. Not that he’s told to do it, but he knows the work necessary to hone your craft and build a winner.
Goldson has lived the life of playing on a putrid team that transformed itself into a Super Bowl team. Just judging by his leadership skills, Goldson’s salary is already beginning to pay off, and it’s not yet July.
June 27th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
I want to see his whole list and how he justifies his rankings before I make a comment. I did notice that having 2 Bucs mentioned already tells me there should be a lot of Bucs on the list. What will be interesting will be to see if any of the Bucs crack the top 5.
June 27th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Bucs aren’t doing bad on this thing, for a change.
June 27th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Wonder where Revis will rank?
June 27th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Doug, McCoy, and Vincent also.
June 27th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
I never was a big fan of Goldson when he was at SF. I thought he was a marginal player that was incredibly overrated because of the big hits he delivers as a FS. But now that he is a Buc, I have been pretending he is something better than what I believed.
June 27th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Josh Freeman was 23 and Bowers was 25 as well…already four people on the list from the Bucs. Honestly, probably indicates that all our members are going to be low on the list.
June 27th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Jonny…believe it, the rest of the NFL does.
June 27th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
Martin and Mike Williams as well Sneedy. And Luke Stocker ………BWHAHAHAHAHA…… not funny.
Anyways I think the NFL top 100 and NFC South top 25 have been hit or miss. Freeman doesn’t belong in the top 25, and I think that Goldson and David should be higher. Yasisnkas is going to end up having Kuechly about 10 or more spots higher than David and that is a crime. He is going to have Malcom Jenkins above Goldson and that is a crime. Kuechly being ahead of Goldson is a crime.
Anyways the Bucs will prove all the doubters on the national level wrong, the_bucs_reallist will continue to complain though (there I acknowledged you wittout you posting. You are an internet superstar. Enjoy.)
June 27th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
muscle hamster, Vincent, McCoy, Lavonte David, Mark Barron, 3 O linemen, and Revis
that’s 11 out of the top 25….pretty sick if you ask me!
Superbowl!!!! get yer popcorn!
June 27th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
It is hard to take this list very seriously when Da’quan Bowers makes it. Don’t get me wrong, I think the guy will light it up this year. I just don’t think a guy that has never consistently produced anything at this level should be on a list like this.
I think Bowers has the potential to be a dominating defensive end. He just hasn’t been healthy enough to warrant a top 25 consideration in my book, yet. This also makes me wonder how Clayborn and McCoy will shake out in this list.
Lavonte is way too low and, sadly, pile jumper Kuechly will be ranked ahead of him. (That is a crime.) Vincent Jackson should make it. Doug Martin. Maybe Mike Williams. Donald Penn should but probably won’t. Revis will make the list too. Freeman might make it as well. Both guards should make it if Bowers made it but probably won’t. 5 to 8 more Bucs should make this list in my opinion.
June 27th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
I’ve been waiting to see where he lists Cam Newton. There’s no way he belongs ahead of Freeman let alone the players already mentioned.
June 27th, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Robert, how about the playoffs for the first time in 9 years before you start talking Superbowl nonsense, lol
June 27th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
@WestCoast:
Freeman already made it at 23 I believe. I agree that Bowers’ inclusion was a joke.
The Bucs that have made it so far: Bowers, Freeman, David and Goldson
The Bucs that SHOULD make it (based on who already made it): McCoy, VJax, Martin, Nicks, Revis, Penn and Williams
11 out of 25 is a darn good number if you ask me. At worst it will be 10 with the exclusion of Penn or Williams, but not both.
June 27th, 2013 at 6:27 pm
I’d have a hard time adding Bowers too, but I think at the end of the year he might make you regret not having him there. The Bucs have not had a guy who can move like that off the end since Simeon. He’s healthy for his first full offseason, and wasn’t even fully in shape when he played last year.
When you are talking about 10 or 11 of the top 25 players in your division, and 7 of the top 100 in the league (I’ll include Nicks), there are no more excuses. Talent is all over the field. If you don’t make the playoffs the season is a failure.
June 27th, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Seeing Bowers there surprised me too. Takes a good bit of extrapolation.
June 27th, 2013 at 10:00 pm
The delusional season is almost over. Dont we play other NFL teams soon?
Whoops.