Overcoming The Hype
October 12th, 2019
Overcome by expectations.
Real recognizes real. But was it too soon for Shaq Barrett?
The Bucs outside linebacker has totally blown up with nine sacks through four games (he was shut out at New Orleans in the Bucs’ fifth game) and sort of confessed the hype swirling around him got to his head.
Barrett, in about a month, went from virtual unknown to Lawrence Taylor-like levels. Even the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, the Custodian of Canton, the Baron of Buffalo Wild Wings, internationally popular JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman said Barrett’s first month of the season was the greatest first month of any defensive player in NFL history.
Now Ira may want to slow down there but it is only human nature to start reading your headlines and listening to the sound bytes, and reading all the hosannas about you on social media with kids suddenly trying to find out where to buy your jersey.
In speaking with NFL Network’s Tiffany Blackmon in London after practice Friday, Barrett admitted he felt all that hype and he was trying to force plays in New Orleans rather than play the game and do his job.
Barrett vowed to dial back and get the ish out of his head Sunday against the Stinking Panthers.
Also, Barrett thought it was rad that Stinking Panthers stud linebacker Luke Kuechly was talking about him.
Game recognizes game. Luke Kuechly told me that Shaquil Barrett “changes game plans”, so I shared that w/ Shaq. W/the biggest smile he said, “You were talking to Luke Kuechly about me, I think that’s pretty cool… tell him I appreciate it.” #gobucs #keeppounding pic.twitter.com/wWahT1eaY9
— Tiffany Blackmon (@tiffblackmon) October 11, 2019
October 12th, 2019 at 8:49 am
A flash in the pan for this guy now he’s being double teamed now
October 12th, 2019 at 10:12 am
The flash was simply tooooo bright to totally disappear.
Yeah teams will game plan for him and that will certainly slow his production. But slowing his production should come at the price of another DL increasing his or theirs. What if Vea and Suh got a couple sacks between them and Nassib blows up.
Bottom line is nobody truly expected Barrett or ANY NFL player to keep up that pace. Still we have discovered a really good player.
Too soon to anoint him HOF even though he played at an HOF pace the first four games, but not too soon to proclaim Barrett a major FA success for Licht. I’ve always been OK with Lichts drafts it’s his FA classes that have truly sucked. But NOT last year.
Barrett and Suh have literally changed the face of this defense. One gets a ton of credit because of his stats…the other has to be happy with the respect of his teammates, coaches and fans who know what’s driving this D.
October 12th, 2019 at 10:18 am
Best believe the Panthers are game planning against him, they helped put him on the map. Nassib better step up, or our “C” will come off the bench
October 12th, 2019 at 2:26 pm
the defensive coachs need to figure it out and make the game time adjustments….
October 12th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
I believe Bowles May have been helping him succeed. When JPP returns, I suspect he will become the clear alpha.
October 12th, 2019 at 10:41 pm
JPP?!?
TDTB – you do realize he’ll probably never play again right?
It would be nice, but don’t count on it.
October 13th, 2019 at 2:41 am
JPP the G-O-D is on the way!!!
Go Bucs!!
And Jah bless the people of Haiti.
@joe
Ever wonder why Cubans are allowed on our shores but Haitians arent?
Doesnt seem “just” to be me.
What our mantra again?
Justice for ALL? Right?
Go Bucs!!!