Turning Back To Mark Barron?

February 14th, 2016
mark barron 1019

John Lynch would

This year, John Lynch will be enshrined in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.

He’s also the guy who called the October 2014 trade of Mark Barron to the Rams a “colossal failure” by the Bucs’ hierarchy.

It was a quite a bold statement from Lynch, who surely had a full understanding of Lovie Smith’s defense and the skills of Barron. Remember, Lynch called Tampa Bay preseason games after Barron was drafted.

Barron, playing as a hybrid linebacker/safety, had a stunning 2015 season in St. Louis. His 79 solo tackles were 15th most in the NFL. Only a handful of guys forced more fumbles than the three he caused last year.

In a few weeks, Barron could be a free agent. And the Bucs are in need of a talent infusion on defense, and they have a defensive coordinator who is willing to mold a defense to fit talent — versus adhering to a system for which the necessary talent is unavailable.

Would the Bucs take a long, fresh look at Barron in free agency, if he doesn’t re-sign with the Rams?

Barron has only missed two games in his four-year career, and he’ll be 26 on opening day. Just because Lovie had no use for him, that doesn’t mean he is without value. Strong side linebacker Danny Lansanah will be 31 on opening day, and the Bucs need depth and help in their back seven.

This morning, Joe mowing down pancakes wondering how anyone would run on the Bucs with Barron, Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander flying around like rabid coyotes.

34 Responses to “Turning Back To Mark Barron?”

  1. waterboy Says:

    He might be a decent pickup for depth behind Lavonte David if the price is right but at 215 he seems too small to play strong side LB. It’s interesting that St. Louis doesn’t seem overly interested in giving him a big payday.

  2. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    The Bucs will not sign Barron……if all he can do is cover the run and play in the box………………..the bucs will uses safetys that can do everything.

  3. DB55 Says:

    Bring him back! He’d instantly be our best safety and we get a bad a$$ linebacker.

  4. BucTrooper Says:

    No.

  5. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Yes…..we should take every possible conceivable opportunity to prove that Dominck had great draft picks……
    I understand that Myron Lewis has bulked up….perhaps we should give him a shot at DE.

  6. Bucs SB with Jameis Says:

    Bringing him back would basically be the Glazers saying “we F’d up”
    I don’t see it happening

  7. DB55 Says:

    I thought Barron got traded cuz he showed up late to one of lovelys meetings. Didn’t he and castillas show up late then both got traded 2 weeks later? Bringing Barron back would just say Lovely was an a$$ clown and we’re correcting his incompetence.

  8. Howard Cosell Says:

    One of many “colossal failures” in recent Bucs history. He’s hoping Jason “Grand Slam” Licht can continue the culture change and create wins.
    Barron returning to player-centric system does seem intriguing.

  9. Howard Cosell Says:

    @SB w/ Jameis

    The Glazers have pretty much done nothing with this team except F-up every year since 2002. I would hope they would expose themselves the same scrutiny that they apply to their coaching hires.
    That said, last year was a corner turn (finally). Licht, Koetter and Winton made Howard feel optimistic for the first time in decades.

  10. Supersam Says:

    I would love to see LB/safety Sua Cravens from USC in that role, dude is a monster he can cover sack and tackle with the best. I would not cry if we take him at 9. I’d also like use to use our second round pick on the kicker from FSU, remember Winston referred to him as the greatest kicker several times last year.

  11. Hell Hound Says:

    Bring him back!!!

  12. Buc-M Says:

    First the question must be answered by coach Smith. What defense are you going to run?
    But it is fun to talk about Barron

  13. The Real Malloy Says:

    Supersam,

    Whose your dealer? I need this stuff. A 2nd rounder for a kicker!?!? I dont care if hes Sebastian Janikowski reincarnated….NO!!!! We have more needs…besides, Barth had a great season.

  14. buc4life1979 Says:

    #47 was absolutely correct in his blunt explanation of the Barron trade, and because he’s of good character, didn’t go as far as to call out Lovie directly for such a bullsh!t move. I would LOVE to see him come back to Tampa and be unleashed in a fashion similar to how Fisher used him under Mike Smith who just worries about maximizing good football players’ talents as opposed to Mr. I don’t need no Darrelle Revis Lovie Smith smh…

  15. salish_seamonster Says:

    Would be hilarious if he returned and lit it up here. It would surely represent another stinging indictment of Losie Smith’s incompetence.

  16. unbelievable Says:

    Supersam… I literally don’t even know what to say to that

  17. biff barker Says:

    Fook both Lovie and Barron.

    No way.

  18. Joe Says:

    It’s interesting that St. Louis doesn’t seem overly interested in giving him a big payday.

    The Rams have a lot of guys on defense that are free agents, and are in dire need of a quarterback (which don’t come cheap).

  19. Howard Cosell Says:

    Howard gives a condescending laugh at teams that desperately need a QB.

  20. unbelievable Says:

    DT Nick Fairley and CBs Johnson and Jenkins could all be worth a look. It will be interesting to see who the Rams are able to keep.

    I highly, highly doubt Mark Barron is coming back to Tampa.

  21. Lord Says:

    Sure sign him and Jenkins.

    We could use upgrade at OLB next to Kwon and David regardless. A quiet need

  22. Mark Biggens Bachman Says:

    everytime I think barron I see kuechly and everytime i see kuechly i think barron. please don’t give that david argument. kuechly is a freak. once a generation mike lb.

  23. Jeffbuc Says:

    Supersam please don’t give your input again. You want to draft a linebacker/safety hybrid with the number 9 pick. And you are saying this after reading an article about one of those we took number 7 that didn’t even play out his rookie contract with us. And team that traded for him isn’t resigning him. Please give me some of that valentine day candy you are on. And then after the whitmans sampler you ate you suggest drafting a kicker with a top 2nd round pick. Wow just wow and I thought this site was where the intelligent bugs fan posted. I hope we draft a qb in the 3rd and a punter int the 4th. 5th 6th and 7th should be right olb ,a left tackle, and right guard

  24. Tom S. Says:

    That’s a pipe dream Joe. Barron can’t cover so he’s not a safety. He’s got in-box skills but are you saying the Bucs should pay heavily to get Danny Lansanah’s replacement? This is what GM Joe would do? (After signing his idol Johnny Rehab of course)

  25. Capt. Tim Says:

    Was a big Critic, not only of Barron, but the idiots that drafted him( Dom!!!)
    They wanted the second coming of John Lynch- when all the tape showed Barron had no cover skills. And he didnt want to develop any, either.
    He wanted to be a big hitter, who played in the Box. Run stopping and Short over the middle routes!
    And he could do that. But thats all he could do. Thats sll he WOULD do. And its the same today.
    I said when he was here- he could be an undersized but effective LB- but never a safety.

    Nothing about Barrin, or that statement, has changed since he left

  26. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Oh, heck no.

  27. godzilla13 Says:

    Bring back Adrian Clayborn too!

  28. Joe Says:

    Howard gives a condescending laugh at teams that desperately need a QB.

    🙂

  29. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Our run defense is already one of the best in the league. If you havent noticed joe, our pass defense is the area we needs the most help. Dropping a safety into the box hurts this defense more than helps it.

  30. Dave Says:

    Yes Barron is decent LB and could fit as long as the DL is bulked up but if they want a safety they need one who can cover.

  31. slowbuc$813 Says:

    New coaching staff i say do it. If he comes at the right price to be a hybrid lb why not do it? Its not like it will kill our cap…i guess some ppl never heard of depth

  32. slowbuc$813 Says:

    I think it was him that popped doug and made him fumble i knew we didnt utilize his talents after i saw that

  33. Latoya Says:

    that well is … barron

  34. Delson Says:

    Leonard floyd in the draft looks like an awesome lb/de. He plays decent in in zone looks to have speed to play man. He plays the run well when in a lb position. He’s got a great speed/swim rush on the edge against the pass. Could put him in at de on 3rd downs or as a blitzer. I watched a tape on bosa and he missed several easy tackles watches plays a lil too often. Shaq lawson looks slow doesnt burst at the snap kinda gives a shoulder charge with his head down when outside run plays come his way. Noah spence looks like he gets swallowed up in one on ones too often. Leonard floyd looks like the best olb/de in the top 5. Bout to watch kevin dodd but floyd has a motor makes the tackles spins and rips to generate a pass rush. Dare i call him von miller? Idk i watched (leonard floyd vs vanderbilt) one game tape. I was impressed but i will watch another.