Bucs punter can tackle.

No, the headline is not what men should do when they are about to score. It’s what men on defense for the Bucs should do to prevent teams from scoring.

Really sloppy tackling in the early going for the Bucs Saturday night in Preseason Game 2 against the Titans. And it caught the ire of one of the best tacklers in Bucs history, Rondé Barber.

Serving as an analyst on the WFLA-TV broadcast of the game, Barber wagged a finger at Bucs defenders for poor tackling fundamentals. Barber stopped short of saying Bucs defenders were demonstrating they don’t have the guts to tackle.

“If you have the will to do it,” Barber said, learning to wrap up and properly tackle is not difficult. Barber suggested players put their chest on people and grab a body part. He also called the Bucs’ tackling last week “putrid.”

Joe has always thought, like Barber, this is just simple fundamentals and repetition. But Joe once heard from an ex-NFL player that defenders don’t like to wrap up because it exposes them to shoulder injuries.

To that, Joe says, “Tough toenails.”

Another thing that helps wreck tackling fundamentals is so many college and NFL coaches have such a boner for turnovers that dudes are just trying to blow people up instead of bringing a ballcarrier down.

Joe fully agrees with Barber. If players want to, learning to wrap up is and tackle the right way is just, as Scot Brantley would say, “Want to.”

Props to punter Bradley Pinion for racing down on a kickoff and saving a touchdown with a solid shoestring, diving tackle (the play was called back on a penalty). Bucs players mobbed Pinion as he came off the field. WFLA cameras caught general manager Jason Licht on the field approaching Pinion to give congratulations.

Free Big Storm beers for Pinion tonight. But Bucs backup defenders should be ashamed that a punter showed them up.

Bradley Pinion might be the best tackler on the team tonight.

— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 22, 2021