“Cuttin'” Dashon Goldson Will Report Early
July 9th, 2014
The trio of Tampa Bay safeties who played nearly all the snaps early last season, Dashon Goldson, Mark Barron and Ahmad Black, didn’t get much accomplished outside of racking up fines and penalties.
Black was so bad he got cut in October and never found another team. Now he appears to be a typical carefree 24-year-old busy taking selfies and posting them on Twitter.
Goldson, aka “Hawk,” had postseason ankle surgery and didn’t physically participate in the Bucs’ two months worth of spring practices this year. But he was busy in his leadership role and was frequently heard on the practice field and seen in the ears of Lovie Smith.
It’s easy to forget Goldson was a dominant All-Pro on elite 49ers defenses that played in back-to-back NFC title games and went to a Super Bowl. It’s almost like Year 2 of the New Schiano Implosion Order battered fans’ brains to the point they struggle to remember.
Joe has high hopes for Goldson, assuming he figures out how to tackle within the rules, you know, like every other NFL safety.
The Hawk has been salivating and circling waiting for training camp to start. Less than two weeks ago, he told CBS Sports Radio that his Bucs-guided rehabilitation in Los Angeles is going great and he looks forward to reporting to Tampa early.
“I think I’m far along. I’m running. Everything’s been good. I’m cuttin’,” Goldson said. “We’ll just see what the have planned for me when we go back to training camp. I’m actually going to report a little earlier just so I can check in and see where I’m at.”
Is it too much to expect Goldson to return to form and for Barron to play like a No. 7 overall pick? Man, if those guys can do that, then the Bucs will have one nasty, dangerous defense.
July 9th, 2014 at 1:04 pm
I agree with you Joe.
IF our safeties can play up to contract and draft status, we will have a heckuva Defense.
Is Goldson going to be the FS? Can he cover?
I can see Keith Tandy forcing his way into the mix, if we need a FS cover guy.
July 9th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Nice to know the guy puts his time in… even if it’s from the sideline.
July 9th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
SteveK, Goldson and Barron are much the same player. Better run stoppers and hitters than cover guys. I’m nearly certain Goldson is going to play FS and Barron will be underneath,
My fear is Foster is going coverage help in the seam.
July 9th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Not a fan of the player. My hope is he will be an ex-Buc come next offseason when his contract allows the team to cut its losses.
July 9th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
If Bowers was smart he’d report early too.
July 9th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Im thinking Tampa’s back field will be one of the best in the league stat wise. I say this because of how it will be all hats to the ball on the front 7. That will open up the backfield for a lot of errant passes thrown by opposing qbs under pressure
July 9th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
I remember so many pass break ups by Barron including game clinchers vs Panthers and Falcons but I cant think of any from Goldson.
July 9th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
@Stu- Out of curiosity, what’s your beef? The guy hits like a freight train and seems to do and say all the right things off the field.
@Biff- They are similar players, true. However, I don’t think they’ll be asked to do too much coverage in the Tampa 2. I mean it is a zone based defense, right? For the record, Lynch couldn’t cover either. He just brought PAIN!
July 9th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Hmmm… How many days are left? Maybe there are other players we can beat up on for a while instead of the same usual suspects.
Goldson
Barron
Foster
Glennon
McCown
Bowers
Clayborn
Or how bout this? Since we seem unable to talk good about any of these seven, why don’t we talk good about any of the other 83. Just a thought.
I think if Buc fans want to criticize and bash our players constantly, because it’s in their hateful nature, then they should go to other team websites, and bash their players. Actually, from some of the comments I’ve seen here, I’m starting to think that’s what’s going on here.
July 9th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
Goldsen is a complete strong safety. He can deliver big hits in the run game, and cover the TE.
He is a great Strong safety, but not a great Free safety- which is a pass coverage predicated position.
Barron absolutely has no coverage skills, making him a one dimensional Strong safety. He can only be utilized in the run game- and isn’t as good as Goldson at run stopping.
There is only one question to be answered.
Will the Bucs own up to wasting the 7th overall pick, and start Goldson and Tandy.
Or will they continue to start to strong safeties all season.
When they Signed Goldson- they made it clear that Barron wasn’t the Answer.
They keep Barron late after practice every day- meybe Lovie or Leslie can find something for this kid to do.
July 9th, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Goldson will be fine this year. Let it go!
July 9th, 2014 at 3:35 pm
@SAMCRO- You might be onto something! Even the positive stories turn into bashing of some sort. It’s this constant negativity that make being a true Buc fan difficult at times.
Keep your chin up bro! Once the season starts it’ll be even worse, especially if we lose some games.
July 9th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
It would be great if the zebras called the games the same against every team. I guess that’s way too much to ask. We’ll probably see more of the same “personal foul” BS called against the Bucs this year, just like they always have. Go Bucs!
July 9th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
@ Bucsfanman
You are exactly right. All that for $8,000,000. What has he done on the field that warrants anything remotely close to that. Would rather have Barron at his salary and age than Goldson. Believe Goldson is overpaid and overhyped and blows too much smoke with very little substance.
July 9th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Strato nailed it. The refs are woefully inconsistent in calls. The league is trying to eliminate violent hits from the game… clean ones too.
July 9th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
@back from davy jones locker. What in the world are you talkingb about Barron can’t cover? IMO he covered better last year than goldson. I can think of two games off of the top of my head Barron saved the game at the last second with a pass break up. Hell didn’t joe even put an article up today about Barron being drafted to stop jimmy graham?
And actually about that article… When Barron faced graham he pretty much shut him down, which joe did not point out. He got all the yardage against goldson. Bucs nation did a great job of breaking that down.
July 9th, 2014 at 5:37 pm
The hawk is overrated. I’d take ronde barber right now and that’s not saying much.
July 9th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
@Major
Goldson will be *FINED* this year. Let it go!
Sorry too easy sometimes..
Two in the box style safties isn’t an ideal situation especially if you play Brees and Ryan twice a season.. the 49er D did just sent Eric Reid to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season so I doubt the fan vote would be behind that too much.. Sorry but that might be just a total bad@$$ defense or maybe Reid is really that good? Can we switch and find out? I’ll take the money savings if we can have back Revis and extend McCoy 🙂
July 9th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
or hell take that money savings and go get us a non injured legit guard lol
July 9th, 2014 at 8:14 pm
I for one am a big Goldson fan. I think a number of the calls last year were blatantly biased, and it was like the Ref’s were specifically looking to flag Goldson to show their “Safety Concern” to Commissioner Goodall. Hopefully that won’t repeat this year, and Goldson’s focus and concentration on tackling this off season will balance out. It’s hard not to like Goldson; he’s a dedicated professional athlete and a commodity to our defense. I think Goldson will come on strong this year, along with Barron!
July 10th, 2014 at 6:09 am
Indybucsfan
That is, of course, your opinion.
The tape, however, shows an entirely different senerio than your opinion.
Barron has no cover ability at all. If he was drafted to cover Graham( or anyone else), it is just futher testament to the failed strategies and scouting ability of this team! Not a documented success, as you are inferring.
Barron is just another wasted opurtunity to improve this team- although he is young, and now can work with Leslie Frazier.
There is still small hope- but even if does manage to improve to being a decent player- he is still a huge bust as the 7th overall pick
July 10th, 2014 at 11:54 am
Barron and goldson will be a great duo come 2014 season just you watch !
July 10th, 2014 at 3:07 pm
@Stu- That’s a good point. I’m hoping that last year was an anomaly and we’ll get to see him work this year. Right now that’s all we got, I don’t think Tandy is ready to start.