Rondé Barber Talks Donovan Smith, O-line, & A Precision Offense
March 19th, 2020
Mixed review
Are the Buccaneers’ tackles good enough to protect Tom Brady?
Bucs icon Rondé Barber was hit with that question on CBS Sports Radio.
Barber said he is unsure whether the Bucs would bring back right tackle Demar Dotson for his 12th season in pewter and red. And on the other side of the offensive line, Barber is hopeful the Brady effect will improve the Bucs’ sixth-year veteran at left tackle.
“Donovan Smith is one of the more talented but frustrating left tackles in football,” Barber said. “Because when he’s good, he’s really good, but he also has some lapses. I think the biggest thing with Tom Brady coming into this offense is the precision has to increase. The ball has to get out faster than it ever has. And that is a tenet of a Bruce Arians offense anyway. I think part of the problem with Jameis in the past is he’s looking for the perfect throw. I think Tom Brady, what he’s always done great, is get the ball out of his hands.
“You hear analysts talk about quarterbacks helping their offensive line. I don’t think a quarterback helps their offensive line more in football than Tom Brady does with his ability to get the ball out of his hand. And of course that helps our running game, which Tampa still has some issues.”
Yes, there’s no question Brady makes better decisions than Jameis Winston throwing the football. However, the official NFL NextGen sensor-driven data from last year reveals Brady and Jameis took the same amount of time from snap to release of the football. So the numbers don’t exactly add up on the getting the ball out of his hand.
Barber is correct on the quick-release nature of Arians’ offense. As Joe has written, when Carson Palmer and Blaine Gabbert were starters for Arians in Arizona, they the NextGen data showed the to be among the fastest triggers in the NFL.
Just for fun, Joe will address another wive’s tale about Brady. Some say he can’t succeed in a throw-first offense. Joe looked up Brady’s recent pass-attempt numbers and his playoff history in that are.
2019 – 38.3 attempts per game, 6th most in the NFL
2018 – 35.6 attempts per game, 12th most in the NFL
2017 – Led the NFL in pass attempts and total yards
2016 – 36.0 attempts per game, 15th-most in the NFL
2015 – 39.0 attempts per game, 6th most in the NFL
**In 41 career playoff games, Brady averages 40 pass attempts per game. Forty!**
March 19th, 2020 at 3:29 pm
@Joe
THANKS! You doing a yeoman’s job of trying to dispel some myths and memes that have seemed to grow out of simple fan emotion.
Putting up statistics like that and pointing out that our OL is nowhere near as bad as people here wish to believe…ranked 7th by guys I realize you don’t respect but still they are simply not that bad at pass pro…running game a different story.
Brian Baldinger used video to illustrate the twin misconceptions about Brady’s deep ball and his willingness to hang in the pocket to throw it. According to Baldy once Gordon went down it was all on Edelman..imagine the difference..
Julian Edelman….ME…CG…OJ and CB.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:32 pm
Oh so now they wanna address o-line and the running game lol. Typical
March 19th, 2020 at 3:35 pm
We need to get a great back to take the load off him. Something Jameis never had and Brady has seldom had. Brady had great years when Blount was there pounding the rock for him and the play action. I am hoping Johnathan Taylor or another beast of a back like him will be necessary.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
It’s very simple with Tom Brady. When his back foot hits the turf he is throwing the football – sometimes down field sometimes to a check down option. Tom Brady is also a brilliant with reading defenses and throwing the ball away rather than just tossing it up like a riverboat gambler.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:47 pm
Tom Brady needs to bring in the offensive line, including all TEs and RBs, into a conference room. When they all sit down, Tom will take his place at the head of the table. He will then put all six Super Bowl rings in front of him, facing all the players. He will then stare at each player at the table until they swear fealty and loyalty to him.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:47 pm
you people need a life
March 19th, 2020 at 3:47 pm
A good RB can be had in Rd#2. I say if one of the top 4 OL are available at #14, grab em. Otherwise get a stud safety at #14 and then grab several OL in the later rounds and begin grooming them. I was hoping the Bucs could pick up a serviceable replacement for Dotson in FA.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Todd Gurley released! Get him!!!!!!!
March 19th, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Rams release Gurley!!
March 19th, 2020 at 3:51 pm
Gurley released you at least bring him in to check him out and of course ask tom what he thinks lol
March 19th, 2020 at 3:51 pm
Now I’m interested! Didn’t want to trade for him but signing him as a FA?
March 19th, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Rams cut Gurley. Sign him on the low low
March 19th, 2020 at 3:54 pm
Bucs Retain TE Antony Auclair
Bucs Re-Sign WR Bryant Mitchell
March 19th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
I would be fine with a one year prove it deal for Gurley. One year @ $ 4.5 million?
March 19th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Bucs also signed DT Nunez-Roaches… one year deal.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Bucs re-sign Rakeem Nunez-Roches
March 19th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
d.smith will make the PB in 2020!!!!
you heard it here first!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 19th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Give Gurley 3 years. He’s only 25.
March 19th, 2020 at 3:58 pm
So, What Ronde’ is saying….Is the FO & coaching staff are betting the farm that 43yr old TB12 can make-up for D.Smith’s effort & focus deficiencies…On top of a set of ???’s at RT, reducing QB1 turnovers & making up for a below avg run game???? Am I getting that right???
Frankly, I will be amazed if the Bucs get to 8-8 w/ TB12 under center, w/o giving TB12 what JW3 rarely had…A stout DEF, competent OL & run game to keep Pass-Rush ears from being pinned back.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:02 pm
@fellow Marine
Love the Nunez signing, dude starting playing well last year
March 19th, 2020 at 4:04 pm
The time to throw is the average.. I’ve mentioned this many times . Winston is inconsistent in almost every way. There were sacks where I counted 5 or 6 seconds with Winston. So yes sometimes it’s fast, sometimes it slow .. with Brady he’s kits more consistent with time to throw. All it takes is Winston holding onto it longer a fee times a game to rack up more sacksand pressures
March 19th, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Well, Gordon and Gurley are on the market. Gurley is a great talent but he’s not healthy. I would probably lean towards Gordon and hope he can get his form back.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:05 pm
I’m not sure if the time to throw thing is a myth. I hear announcers say it all the time about guys like Brady and Brees & when you watch them play it defientally passes the eyeball test that they are quicker.
So I looked up them stats. With Drew Brees his number does bear out that he is quicker. Seems like 2.55 range is an elite level. Rarely did I see anybody below 2.5.
With Brady his number is close to Jameis but perhaps the difference is that Brady has been in that 2.55 range in some years where Winston never has. Brady’s number has fluctuated between around 2.55 and 2.75…….Winstons number flutcuated between around 2.7 and 2.85.
The best way to measure the two will likely be this year and what Tom Brady’s number is under Arians who wants everything quicker. I think if Brady hovers around 2.55 we can conclude he does in fact have a faster time to throw then Winston.
To be honest it all sounds like nonsense to a average Joe football fan. Just freaking win darnit!!
March 19th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
We signed Taco!!! Good news. Dude is a quality depth player.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Gurley released. If he clears waivers he could come as a bargain.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:09 pm
If nothing else, with TB12 on the team, they should get some good calls as far as flags go!
March 19th, 2020 at 4:09 pm
D.Smith will make the PB? You might have the Virus Sir..
March 19th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
Waste of money signing Gurley, especially now that getting their physicals is difficult. Something I’m sure Gurley is happy about with two very arthritic knees.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
@ jimmyjack Taco Charlton?
March 19th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
Does “really good….but has some lapses” just sugar coating lazy?
March 19th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
“part of the problem with Jameis in the past is he’s looking for the perfect throw. ”
If that’s the case…JW failed miserably.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Better decisions always = better results + the OL never knew where JW was going to be behind them.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Who’s your source on Taco Charlton, can’t find it anywhere? Hope it’s true!!
March 19th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
Get Rondè in One Buc Building as an executive type. The guy is great…
March 19th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Can’t find anything other than he was released
March 19th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
The Pats have had a pass-first offense since 2007.
Anyone remotely aware of the Pats know this.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:33 pm
BucsganinMI……Was referring to Marines comment. We signed Nunez Roche’s back.
His nickname is also Taco.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Oh okay got it. I thought u were talking about Taco Charlton too lol
March 19th, 2020 at 4:43 pm
D. Smith isn’t a horrible left tackle he’s just average, but with the kind of money the Bucs are paying him, he needs to be above average. What does help the oline however, is the quick release and quick decision making Brady brings to the offense.
March 19th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Hahahaha, that is how starved we are for “the latest”.
Poor JimmyJack makes an innocent reference to Nunez Roche, and HALF of us are scrambling to google… to find out “Did we get Taco Charlton???”… “did we get Taco Charlton???” LOL
March 19th, 2020 at 4:51 pm
Coach Sean Payton first NFL member to test positive for the coronavirus
March 19th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
How about “Tacko” Fall? (NBA) — Can you imagine just putting him in, against attempted FG and PAT’s?
He is 7’6!!
March 19th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Who the hell is Taco Charlton anyways? hahahaha
March 19th, 2020 at 4:57 pm
hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Touche’
March 19th, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Well, another Taco is better than 1. He was released and I read an article that has TB as 1 of 5 landing spots. So it does have legs. He is a beast.
March 19th, 2020 at 5:19 pm
JESUS!!!!!!
As much as we are trying to escape it, brothers & sisters, and just try to have a little bit of fun…. it just keeps coming back.
Saints HC, SEAN FRIKKING PAYTON…… tests positive.
March 19th, 2020 at 5:36 pm
Just assume every single person will eventually catch this thing…No one is safe.
March 19th, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Nunez is NACHO not Taco!
March 19th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
WhiteQBsOverrated huh? So I guess that’s allowed? An alt for NDOG or DB55?
March 19th, 2020 at 6:18 pm
What is not factored with NextGen sensor-driven data; Brady did not have the same level of talent for WR or TE as the Bucs did. He often threw to his 3rd and 4th option, most being RB.
March 19th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
Anddddd….Sean Payton is doing GREAT! So, what is the excuse now for the Bucs not making any sort of announcement?
March 19th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Taco Charlton you say? I think that is a new restaurant here in San Antonio.
March 19th, 2020 at 6:42 pm
Looks like with Gurley being released 2020 will be the year of Darrell Henderson!
March 19th, 2020 at 6:47 pm
Doosh. Thanks for the correction…..ooops
March 19th, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Doosh… and then there is that, lmao.
I was right there with ya JimmyJack.
Not letting you fall on this grenade alone, hahahaha
March 19th, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Is there a reason I am suddenly in moderation?
Have never been before.
March 19th, 2020 at 7:07 pm
^^^^^
At least you didn’t call him Chalupa.
March 19th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Why we hearing about Bucs signings in the discussion board? Where’s all the free agent articles? Signings, targets, potential targets….
March 19th, 2020 at 7:25 pm
I love our free agent signings so far. Tom Brady, JPP, Shaq Barrett, Auclair, Hudson, B. Mitchell, Nunez- Roaches.
So far so good.
Lots of solid RBs floating around right now and available via the draft. Same can be said for WRs.
We are going to have a ton of offensive weapons this year for TB.
March 19th, 2020 at 7:41 pm
pretty much rather have Gordon then gurlyI believe gurly has lost something Gordon was just out of shape.Tampaaaaaaa
March 19th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Jeez, Gurley was great, before he was hurt in college and hurt in the pros. He’s damaged goods. If you want a vet, it should be Gordon, but I want an RB, maybe Cam Akers, in the 3rd round. OL in the 1st, QB in the 2nd, RB in the 3rd.
March 19th, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Gurley’s knees are arthritic, you can cure arthritis with diet.
March 19th, 2020 at 8:06 pm
Our offensive line and our weapons are better than what Brady had to work with last season. If we get a guy that can run and catch out the backfield, and shore up our RT, this could be a 12 win team
March 19th, 2020 at 8:07 pm
I’ll bet Clay Matthews comes to town 💪💪 and I hope so because this is a very weak draft for pash rushers. Can you imagine a sub package 3-4 vea suh jpp barrett white David williams?! Bowles will be giddy like a kid in a candy store all summer when Matthews signs.
Once Brady signs there will be a domino effect of signings to the likes of which we have never seen. Hopefully we get some young guys on prove it deals who ball out and leave so we are awarded 2-4 compensatory picks in the 3-4 rounds. This is how the Ravens and Patriots have built quality depth for the last decade. We’re going to need to hit on these guys because we’ve got to pay Godwin and Shaq big money here soon and we just don’t have the cap space.
March 19th, 2020 at 8:20 pm
Another reason for Brady to come here is he’s played against Todd bowles defense that says a lot for Todd bowles!
March 19th, 2020 at 8:23 pm
^^^^^^^^
It would be even worse to call him Tamale! 🙂
March 19th, 2020 at 9:07 pm
What Marine Buc said! GO ARMY! But still, what he said!
March 19th, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Tom Brady………….wait for it…………”America’s Quarterback”!!!!!
March 19th, 2020 at 9:43 pm
And all fairness, Brady typically releases the ball extremely fast. Last year the offense of the patriots sucked. He had no receivers, he couldn’t get rid of the ball quickly.
March 19th, 2020 at 10:25 pm
Brady delivers the ball to the target with precision and that is going to make all the difference in the YAC. JW has a great arm but consistently he could not put it where the receivers could run in stride. Not to mention the errant oskies. I am super excited about the talent we have a receiver doing what they do best with the ball in their hands!
March 19th, 2020 at 10:55 pm
“41 career playoff games”!?!? Holy cow! That is not a Bucs life. Just wow!
March 19th, 2020 at 11:07 pm
TB12 quick-release and precision decision-making, will cover up ANY O-Line deficiencies, and make an average O-Line, look better than they are, which is why players want to be on his team. Tom is QB SAVANT!
JW does not have quick release. JW indecision in Bucs passing game, might have been based on no WR separation for designed plays (or just JW too long to making decisions.) Debatable.
YET – JW’s scrambling and running ability for first downs, covered up a lot of PAST O-Line issues/sins.
BA/LF will adjust offense – to Tom’s preference. I hope so. For Tom’s health.
Long DIG receiver play calling, could result in our new QB getting hammered. If Licht drafts a decent RB, we are good to go. Tom needs play-action. (As JW needed, too – and never had the benefit of any decent RB)
Looking back on how Tom Terrific leveraged Randy Moss > Wow! Tom should set NEW RECORDS with ME13 & Godwin/ and OJ, for passing yards and TDs. (I expect Cam Brate to be released/traded).
Tom Terrific will make our D better! D knows their heroic efforts will not be wasted on pick-6 or other INTs.
Schedule is hard – BUT — Fans should demand and expect 11 wins, Division Title. and Bucs being in SB!
The “Wild Card” is the Bucs O-line – keeping Tom Terrific – healthy. That is on you, Jason Licht. We Need real talent on O-Line, RB, and another key receiver. Bowles has our D teed up.
JMHO….got my popcorn going….
March 20th, 2020 at 1:02 am
Who is ever satisfied with just one Taco?
March 20th, 2020 at 1:08 am
SB Says:
March 19th, 2020 at 9:26 pm
“Tom Brady………….wait for it…………”America’s Quarterback”!!!!! ”
If you’ve been here long enough, you’d know Joe doesn’t use the same monikers on different players.
Given Brady’s age and production, I think ‘The Immortal Tom Brady’ fits.