A Lot On The Line For Shaq
October 25th, 2020
A 5-2 record is on the line for the Bucs today, and there’s plenty on the individual docket for Shaq Barrett, as well.
The 27-year-old is playing on the franchise tag and he’s gunning for a $20 million-a-year contract, the kind that goes to young, elite pass rushers. Through six games this season, Shaq is producing like a guy who would only score half that much in 2021 free agency.
Shaq hasn’t come close to his 2019 production, that type that reels in the cash. Shaq’s currently on pace for 8 sacks, 0 forced fumbles and 11 quarterback hits. Last year he had 19.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 37 QB hits.
Big difference.
Shaq is playing good football, and Bucco Bruce Arians noted this week that Shaq has “been close” to more sacks and is drawing a steady diet of double teams.
That all sounds nice, but to get paid again, Shaq has to produce, especially when the guy on the opposite edge is having a strong year.
Joe is rooting for Shaq to dominate. First, it would help the Bucs win, but second is because Joe wants to be sure Shaq returns next year. Joe figures if Shaq balls out, there’s no way the Bucs could let him go. But if he checks in with 10 sacks, then Shaq and the Bucs might have very different views of his value.
Today, the Raiders will roll out an offensive line of guys who didn’t practice all week and/or backups. This is all set up for Shaq to have a breakout day.
GREAT draft background here and more from Devin White, and a great Raiders preview, as he joins Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks and The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, Ira Kaufman. Great stuff from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.
October 25th, 2020 at 9:43 am
Time for a Shaq attack on the silver and black!
Thats A Fact!!
October 25th, 2020 at 9:46 am
Hope the Bucs outwit the refs today. This is a Vegas team playing in Vegas. Ground zero for gambling payoffs.
October 25th, 2020 at 9:58 am
I want an OLB in the first. Starting RT in the second or third
October 25th, 2020 at 10:01 am
We cannot afford Shaq in any way and resign other important players like Godwin and David.
October 25th, 2020 at 10:07 am
Tell me we dont have the best LB core out there….JPP, David, Shaq, White
October 25th, 2020 at 10:12 am
@SOE, we have a great RT in Wirfs. Are you saying move him to LT? Im down with that if so. And since we’re probably picking very late in the first and have so much money tied up in TE, Im looking hard at the TE position (and freeing up some cash) or go ahead and trade up for a QB to put under TB.
October 25th, 2020 at 10:21 am
I think Shaq could have signed a contract with Licht this past offseason for $16-$18 mil but decide to hold out for a larger contract. If he get under 10 sacks this year, he’ll be lucky to get close to $16 mil.
October 25th, 2020 at 10:26 am
you can tell us old and true Buc fans, we are talking about drafting already? we dont need to yet,, I know we are not used to that..but we are actually contending this year!
October 25th, 2020 at 10:53 am
He’ll get more sacks you will see
October 25th, 2020 at 10:59 am
I want him to ball to but maybe even if he has a good year he can still get paid but not open up the vault for him so we can sign other players still want him to get 20 sacks tho kinda good prob to have plus I think he stays with us
October 25th, 2020 at 11:02 am
Seems like he’s in coverage a lot more this year.
October 25th, 2020 at 11:12 am
We are all rooting for Shaq. Hope he tears it up
Joe need s an app. it is abysmal using the site on a mobile phone.
October 25th, 2020 at 11:26 am
Them things is expensive.
The collateral revenue loss is even worse.
October 25th, 2020 at 11:28 am
Right on B.D.
October 25th, 2020 at 11:46 am
“Shaq is playing good football, and Bucco Bruce Arians noted this week that Shaq has “been close” to more sacks and is drawing a steady diet of double teams.”
Hmmm, ‘playing good football’ and ‘drawing a steady diet of double teams’. Yet still he’s got 3 sacks in 6 games (on-track as-is for about 8 sacks on the season), plus the most combined & solo tackles of any DE/OLB on the team, plus 4 TFLs & 4 QB Hits. And oh ya, an availability of approx 90% of the defensive snaps.
I agree with Bradley; Shaq has been in coverage a lot more for one thing. Plus he has been drawing more double teams … and being used somewhat differently this year in our defensive scheme. Add all that together and it spells ‘DOING HIS JOB, AND DOING IT VERY WELL’.
And SOEbuc, I agree totally that we need to draft a DE/OLB first in the next draft, but not until AFTER we’ve re-signed Shaq. We’re thin as the dickens right at DE/OLB, and if it wasn’t for both JPP AND Shaq being Ironmen (as well as Ndamukong Suh BTW), this defense would be sucking hind teet. The Front doing it’s job so well is what’s allowing the Back-end to feast.
October 25th, 2020 at 12:48 pm
@B.D, Im always looking ahead….especially for the draft…that is my forte…even as we’re winding up a Superbowl win. I’ll be on here pointing to prospects way before others 🙂
October 25th, 2020 at 12:51 pm
And since Im already here and drafting is being brought up….Im saying it NOW, TRADE THE FARM FOR #1 AND DRAFT TREVOR!
October 25th, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Shaq hasn’t been even close to the same guy this year. Looks a step slower.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Sacks are a fun stat, but overall And consistent impact is more important. Sapp talked about that in the book he didn’t write. 99’s best game had zero sacks.
October 25th, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Bucamania Says:
Hilarious.
Bucamania, the PURPOSE of doubling a pass rush stud is to MAKE him a “step slower.”
October 25th, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Shaq supposedly prefers the left side, but it’s not helping his pocketbook.