Intense Film Study Led Arians To Be “Most Shocked” By Peyton Barber
March 7th, 2019
The head coach seems to be in love
Intriguing insight served up by the Buccaneers’ new head coach this week at One Buc Palace.
Bucco Bruce Arians outlined how deeply his staff studied their roster to determine players’ compatibility in the new systems.
And all that analysis, well, it led Arians to fall in love with his 24-year-old work horse running back.
“When we first got in, we had every coach evaluate every player, every practice, all the way back to training camp and watch those guys in drills to see if maybe he fits our system better than he did in the other system. But probably the guy that I was most shocked was Peyton Barber. After watching him, we have a running back. And we have a big, fast strong running back. And to echo what [assistant head coach] Harold [Goodwin] was saying, everything in our offense starts with our running game. We’re known for throwing it down the field, but you can’t throw it down the field if you’re not running the ball. Man, he is really impressive.”
Barber had the 10th-most rushing attempts in the NFL last season with 234. But he was stalled at 3.7 yards per carry, and some of those yards were accrued while Donovan Smith and Caleb Benenoch were loafing and watching Barber fight with every inch of his being.
Arians sees a complete running back, and it’s obvious, since four starters are returning on the offensive line, that the head coach thinks Barber will improve his production with better coaching of the guys in front of him.
Pretty cool that Arians had his staff watch every practice, in addition to all the game film. Of course, that’s the only way to study the guys who weren’t getting much playing time.
March 7th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Translation….improving the OL will big a big priority…among the other big priorities …..which feeds into the trade down scenario….
March 7th, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Well….if this is the case, it would be nice to sign him…….all of this praise should simply raise the price…..
We don’t have a cap disaster on our hands but it is far worse than most think.
We will have to cut some big salaries simply to afford our draft picks and depth players…..
March 7th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
What anyone sees in this guy I have no idea. He’d be practice squad on a team with real RBs.
March 7th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
Even if the OL returns 4/5 of 2018’s starters, that one change can make a huge difference. Look how much better the whole line seemed to perform when Logan Mankins was added to an underforming unit. A new RG and new coaching just might transform the entire thing. And yes, I think Peyton Barber’s best is yet to come.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
@SCBucsFan
Do you even watch the Bucs?
That kid runs with heart that hasn’t been seen around here since Alstott.
Give that kid a hole and he is a handful to bring down. BA is going out of his way to heap praise on the kid and I’m pretty sure he has forgotten more about football than you or I will ever know.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:09 pm
SCBucs, on a team with demonstrably horrific run blocking I think it’s clear that Barber did as well as could be expected. He certainly did better than anyone else. I know this is optimistic time but if NFL professionals are saying this about a player that they evaluated and scrutinized much closer than we did, I tend to believe the coaches. BA’s no idiot. He’s setting the table for great expectations. I think it’s his MO ala Parcells to get the best out of a player.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:09 pm
SB you beat me to the punch!
March 7th, 2019 at 1:10 pm
SCbucsfan: I see a RB light years better than any other we currently have on the roster (for one), Who can do it all well even if he does nothing “great.” I think practice squad is a bit harsh. No, he’s not a pro-bowl talent, but he’s durable and gets the job done.
I also think we’ve seen enough RBs get tackled in the backfield over the last 3 years to know that Le’Veon Bell wouldn’t rush for 1200 yards behind our o-line. So we might as well shore it up and see what we can get out of a “good” (not great) RB.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:12 pm
I like Barber….we cant have elite talent at every position, he’s a solid value player that has some decent upside with improved run blocking.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:14 pm
He is not a starting NFL RB and due to the bucs being so behind the cap what else can bruce say, the bucs cannot get a decent starting nfl rb because they have no money
March 7th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
I’m being to think that BA’s health problem wasn’t his heart but rather his eyes.
I’m not buying this BS. Barber is a back-up at best. Name 1 RB in our division that Barber is better than.
Kamara, Ingram, mccaffrey, Coleman.
Nope nope nope and nope! Is this a joke or am I stuck in the twilight zone?
March 7th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Duthsty, there are 32 “starting” running backs in the NFL. Barber is certainly better than a few of them.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
New coaching, new prospectives… Two completely different coaching staffs have shown Barber a lot of praise and support. Fingers crossed a new RG will help Barber improve his game and overall running game.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
I agree with Bobby M assessment
March 7th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
SCBucsFan Says:
“What anyone sees in this guy I have no idea. He’d be practice squad on a team with real RBs.”
————-
What a ridiculous comment. I have to wonder if you have any idea what you are watching.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:49 pm
SB Says:
“That kid runs with heart that hasn’t been seen around here since Alstott.
Give that kid a hole and he is a handful to bring down.”
—————
Bingo on both counts.
March 7th, 2019 at 1:49 pm
Barber doesn’t lose yards and he can catch. He also seems to be pretty resilient health wise. He doesn’t really have breakaway speed, but he’s definitely a starting ‘caliber NFL back’.
If Doug Martin can improve his meager yards per carry in a new system, I think Barber definitely can. Let’s go Barber!
March 7th, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Very glad he sees that.
March 7th, 2019 at 2:13 pm
Some fans seem to forget, Barber got benched by DK after gaining 100 yards against the Packers because DK would rather stick with Doug Martin and Quiz Rogers. The talent is there, go back and look, he is a back that can get the job done, people just want some name back there, PB will be a name this year, get your fantasy team ready
March 7th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Barber is one of the most violent RBs in the league.
He is a difference maker in his own way.
He doesn’t need to be a feature back. But he should always have a role on this team. At the least he could come in just to soften up the defense.
Find a quick twich guy to go with him that can take it to the house and RB position becomes a strength not a weakness.
March 7th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
I agree. So this is what it’s like to have a real NFL caliber coach.
March 7th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
Barber is good enough. He’s nothing special, but he’s not going to hurt you either. That’s OK – you can’t have a superstar at every position. One thing I do wonder is if Barber can catch the ball if they throw it to him a lot more than they did under Dirk. He only had 20 catches last year, and for an Arians offense that is a very low number. Regardless the last thing the Bucs need to do is to go after another RB in the draft. I hated the move last year when I said Barber was good enough, and I’d hate it even more this year. Watch the Bucs running game after Dirk became headcoach and what you’ll see is an incredibly predictable coach running in the same situation, and defenses stacking the line because they know it’s coming. Just break up the routine, don’t be incredibly predictable, use the playaction pass in the first half of games – do those things and watch as the running game gets a lot lot better.
March 7th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
more shots fired at dirk!!!…lol….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Anyone think that Tampa would trade a third rounder for Jordan Howard?
March 7th, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Nothing like running with heart for a 3 yard gain. You guys take heart, I’ll take talent with heart.
You guys keep hoping for Barber to be a good NFL running back. I’ll keep hoping for a date with Emily Ratajkowski. Lets see which one happens first.
March 7th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
^ More garbage, lol.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
SCB if you don’t think P.Barber is a good RB you don’t know football. Or never saw him play.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:09 pm
there is a hint of alstott in barber…that’s what i like most…i rarely saw him get into that flow, if at all last year…he just didn’t touch the ball enough to become that moving beastly bowling ball…he can do it if the line gets some focus man!
March 7th, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Barber’s biggest problem was a lack of holes created by the lackluster OL. Fix that and he’ll be quite a back.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Guys he started 16 games and ran for just over 50 yards a game… blaming it all on the OL is pretty harsh. He’s pedestrian at best. He’s a RB you keep if you strive to be mediocre… which would be a step up for us right now.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
One of the hardest runs I saw Barber make was against the Dallas Cowboys where he had a 33 yard gain only to be wiped out by I believe a holding penalty. Add that 33 yards to his 870 yard total, you have over 900 yards rushing! That was one of many that he had only to be wiped out by a penalty! Add in a couple of those positive yards that was wiped out by penalties in Cincinnati and a few more, you have a 1,000 yard rusher.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:26 pm
True Earl. And if he had ran for 300 against Carolina he would have had 1100 yards. You ever think if it wasn’t for the penalty those runs would have gone nowhere?
March 7th, 2019 at 3:30 pm
Sorry SC, it just seems like you only look at stats and don’t pay attention to what you are watching. There are ALOT of NFL RB’s that would have averaged 2.5 per carry behind that line and running scheme last year. What Peyton was able to do was actually pretty inspiring. He can be VERY good.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:35 pm
What I see is a guy that runs into the line… with heart. Makes no one miss. Sure part is the OL’s fault, no doubt, but Barber won’t win us many games. Seems like this board is content with a RB who won’t lose us games, I want more.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:40 pm
^ Content with a RB who won’t lose us games?! WTF said that?! — That is NOT what I am saying. The guy would average 4.4 per carry and run for 1,200 yards behind a decent F’ing OL and run blocking scheme.
March 7th, 2019 at 3:46 pm
BucsFIRE, by your logic every RB could be a good RB given a good OL and good scheme. Probably true. Great RBs overcome that.
March 7th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Barber doesn’t win games but he does win battles. And sometimes when he win them he plows right over somebody to do it……which is sometimes more exciting then a bomb down the sidelines in my book.
The fact is that every time Barber runs through a defender he is picking up yards that other RBs would not. If you don’t consider that good because it don’t make the ESPN Top 10 then that’s on you. But I’m here to tell you that he is a good RB and can do things other starting back in this league cannot do.
March 7th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
I like PB on 1st and 2nd down, not quite a 3 down n long option, but a good, hard running style, always falls forward, protects the ball well, runs with a purpose
we can draft a 4 or 5th round change of pace back, but with him, ROJO, Ellington, we probably have the 1/2/3 punch already
March 7th, 2019 at 4:06 pm
good move. They have been hiring retired players for the past 10 years.
March 7th, 2019 at 4:59 pm
He is a plodder. if the offensive line doesn’t open holes for him he is not nimble enough to get out of trouble and make a play. But that doesn’t mean I don’t cheer for him every carry. He has heart and is a beast at times.
March 7th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
I don’t think the average fan realizes how awful Benenoch was last year. He couldn’t block the line judge if he lined up in front of him. He missed so many assignments (according to coaches), he was making the whole line look bad. I recall a play that looked like Jensen whiffed on a block and when they analyzed the play, Benenoch was supposed to shift over. The play resulted in a sack.
March 7th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
Fair enough, SC, we can agree to disagree. Thanks for the shout outs. Hope maybe #20 can change your mind next year. Cheers and GoBucs.
March 7th, 2019 at 5:04 pm
LOL, i said #20.
Freudian slip. Obviously thinking of Ronde.
Hope #25 can change your mind next year!
March 7th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
No doubt. I would love nothing more than to be wrong about him. I’d be happy to eat my words. I get no joy from watching this team lose.m
March 7th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Word on the street is the sheep want to see a 813 vs. realist weekly column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 7th, 2019 at 5:57 pm
This is coach talk for ” We’re drafting a running back”
Love Barber though
March 7th, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Every time BA raves about this player or that player, the cash register goes KACHING. Easiest way to tell how the Bucs REALLY feel about Barber will be by what they offer him for a contract. Peyton’s valuable; at least to us because our cupboard is bare right now. I’m sure that his agent is probably on the phone right now saying to Jason Licht “Show me the money”.
March 7th, 2019 at 6:17 pm
Praise of Barber shouldn’t keep the FO from grabbing a potential 3-down workhorse like Benny Snell or David Montgomery.
March 7th, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Does Barber become a unrestricted free agent if we don’t sign him?
Ifso I hope to hear good news in the coming days .
March 7th, 2019 at 8:02 pm
I hope he watched film of RoJo. I noticed he said we have a running back not 2.
March 7th, 2019 at 10:11 pm
He is what he is. Mediocre.
March 8th, 2019 at 12:28 am
Good. Focus on the line and a compliment back to push jones.
Barber is damn good and with some better blocking, will be a 4.3 yard average runner
March 8th, 2019 at 2:54 am
Why do people always talk about trading down in the draft?
The Bucs have had more success with undrafted than any late round or extra picks.
March 8th, 2019 at 3:43 am
Running the ball when you’re down two or three TDS in the first half is not a viable option. I suspect Barber spent most of the time blocking defenders the OL couldn’t handle. Given even a mediocre defense and OL, Barber is a 1,000 yard back.
March 8th, 2019 at 3:58 am
I think P. Barber will do a lot better with a little bit better blocking. I think he’ll have a break out season this yr. He’s definitely not just practice squad worthy. Smh
March 8th, 2019 at 5:31 am
He’s solid, nothing more nothing less. We can get by with Barber.
Make no mistake though, we can and should upgrade the position.
March 8th, 2019 at 9:56 am
We will still need a powerful back just in case Barber is injured. That back is Benny Snell Jr. We have three change of pace backs already. We also need a solid third down back—that is also Benny Snell. Rogers was pitiful trying to stop blitzes and needs to be cut. Hopefully, Koetter will grab him to be Atlanta’s third down back and that would be a key to beating the Falcons twice this year. Just send an all out blitz on third downs! BA should not put all his eggs in one basket. Keep Barber but have a second powerful back for injuries and to spell Barber and keep him fresh. Don’t have just Jameis. Keep Fritz just in case D. Smith gets Jameis injured again. All Jameis needs not to look over his shoulder is BA’s word he won’t be replaced except if injured!
March 8th, 2019 at 10:03 am
Miles Sanders from Penn State 3rd round, 3 down back, excellent size 5’11 217, 4.49 speed, good hands
March 8th, 2019 at 10:05 am
Trade Jackson, Kwon, and Humphries for draft picks and use their salaries to hire Honey Badger and Claiborne (or if not available another veteran CB). Also don’t cut Adams who is a great playmaker and can backup Safety and CB positions and play Special Teams.
March 8th, 2019 at 10:17 am
Trading those three players not only gets you more draft picks but also allows you to keep them from playing for other teams in our Division! A huge consideration! This draft is loaded with good players. You need a RT who has also played LT in the draft so you can make D. Smith play to the whistle and stop his drive killing holding penalties irregardless his guaranteed 27 million dollars. Just sit him on the bench and move your RT to LT. Taylor from Florida can play both positions and there are others.
March 8th, 2019 at 10:32 am
Drop down in first round and get White and Lindstrom both. Move back up to first round with a pick for Kwon or Hump and get Saunders. With lower second pick take Omenihu or if not there get Polite.
With third pick take Snell, Jr. with second third round pick for Jackson take a OT who can play RT or LT. Fourth round take a second larger LB. Fifth round get a FB/TE like the FB in the East West Shrine Game. Seventh round get a fast Special Team punt returner/gunner.
March 8th, 2019 at 11:34 am
SB Says:
March 7th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
@SCBucsFan
Do you even watch the Bucs?
That kid runs with heart that hasn’t been seen around here since Alstott.
Give that kid a hole and he is a handful to bring down. BA is going out of his way to heap praise on the kid and I’m pretty sure he has forgotten more about football than you or I will ever know.
^^^Well said.
The line was bad last year but if you notice Barber developed a very nice move to get past the initial tackler that was most of the time in the backfield when he got the handoff. Those 3 yards could have been for a loss without Barber adapting. I know that’s what BA sees.
March 8th, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Barber is a great back but not Alstott. He is more like an Ernest Gram which is great too. I think RoJo could be great too if we get a better RG . I like Lindstrom in the second round?
March 8th, 2019 at 8:48 pm
BA Needs to fix this OLine first and foremost! While I understand resigning DSmith as nothing better was available, we need to have a different group. I still think spending a high draft pick on the OLine should be considered as the main reason BA had success in Arizona quickly was he fixed their OLine.
Our line is suspect at best:
DSmith: solid at times, loafing at others
Marpet: mostly solid and the only non-question mark
Jenson: attitude was mean, but play was subpar
Bennenock: worst starting guard in the league
Dotson: play declined last year with increasing age
This unit need heeeeeelp!!!!!!!!
March 8th, 2019 at 9:02 pm
Where are you going to play this guy? Surely you don’t expect the Bucs to select a right guard at No. 5? And if you select a tackle at No. 5 you want him on the field. The Bucs are shelling out $10 million each to Ryan Jensen and Ali Marpet.
Joe might just be howling at the moon but he’s reminded folks over and over what Arians said about if you develop an offensive lineman you are developing him for the next coach. It seems Arians is putting his money where his mouth is by re-signing Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson.
March 8th, 2019 at 10:02 pm
Owlycat I have always appreciated your posts and consider you an outstanding poster. Imagine my shock to read your above posts advocating trading both Kwon and Humphries when both of them are NOT under contract and will soon be UFA!