Shaq Barrett: Bucs Need More Pass Rush
December 3rd, 2025
Regular readers here know Joe’s angst when it comes to the Bucs’ nearly invisible edge rush.
Imagine how Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett feels about it.
You don’t have to imagine too much. Shaq talked to RG.org this week and chimed in on the state of the Bucs.
Shaq has been seen at Tampa Bay games this year and, to Joe’s knowledge, is still residing locally.
“They just got to get healthy,” says Barrett of the Buccaneers.”When they were healthy, they were playing really good on offense. The defense was playing alright, but they need to get some more pressure on the quarterback, and that’ll help out a lot. I just think that defense, they have to step it up on defense and make their plays when they need to make them, like they did in the Arizona game last week.”
Barrett says that the difference between the current Buccaneers and the current Broncos is Denver lost the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Patrick Surtain II and they went undefeated in his absence.
The Buccaneers haven’t done as well in the absence of their star players such as Evans and Godwin.
“The offense, I just think if they get healthy, and then when they’re not healthy, they need their guys to step up and make the plays, because that’s what’s the difference between the Tampa team and the Denver team,” says Barrett. “I think when I was in Denver, we had injuries. We had a lot of injuries in Denver, but the next guy stepped up and filled them with little to no drop-off. That’s what we need to do.”
For those unaware, Shaq was a backup on the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl team, a 5 1/2-sack guy off the bench. The Bucs signed him in 2019.
As for the Bucs’ edge rush, well, next-man-up or first-man-up, Joe will welcome any kind of improvement. Anything that could remotely scare an offensive coordinator would be exciting.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:20 pm
We should’ve signed Shaq and JPP before this season.
We would be much better off with both of them as starters, I guarantee it.
Not one or the other, but both.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:28 pm
yes we need pass rush but we need it to come from the front 4 lineman without blitzing…
one game at a time!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:32 pm
2019 Bucs had a 19.5 edge rusher and the Pass Defense was still bottom 10 in the league
Same scheme
Same defensive coordinator
Every year in this scheme it is the same results, top 10 run defense and bottom 10 pass defense
NOTHING IS CHANGING
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Yes, the Putrid Pass Defense remains the Achilles of this team.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:34 pm
The Rolling Stones wrote a song in the 80’S called “Winning Ugly” you guys should listen to it and sing it to yourselves daily.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:37 pm
In a passing league, Todd Bowles sells out to try to stop the run. Make it make sense.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Need an actual defensive mastermind just because some people have said it doesn’t make it true or maybe it just isn’t true anymore and if players are consistently failing to play well in this scheme maybe do something different instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole or not maybe just keep failing at the same thing over and over again.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Smarter than Joe Says:
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:32 pm
2019 Bucs had a 19.5 edge rusher and the Pass Defense was still bottom 10 in the league
***********************************************************
what happened in 2020 without a 19.5 sack guy?…..we went 0-16 right lol…with the worst defense in the league lol…
#CLOWN
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Alleged-Pass-Rusher-Reddick is back, so our prayers have been answered. Just need to give Zyon help and we’ll be okay in coverage.
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:00 pm
No Sh*t Shaq!
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Well Shaq, why tf didn’t you get in shape last season to help us!
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:21 pm
I think the numbers tell a nuance story of why the pass defense gets a lot of undeserved bad press. In 2019 the Bucs pass defense ranked the following: 30th in yards (4322), 25th in TDs (30) finishing at 7-9 and out of the playoffs. In 2020 the Bucs pass defense ranked the following: 21st in yards (3945) and 20th in TDs (29) finishing at 11-5 and the Lombardi. In 2021 the pass defense rankings were 21st in yards (4062) and 13th in TDs (26) finishing 13-4 bowing out to the Rams in the Divisional Round. In 2022 the pass defense rankings were 9th in yards (3461) and 28th in TDs (29) finishing 8-9 and a wild card exit to Dallas. Yes the pass defense isn’t consistent, but there have been seasons where its been exceptionally above average either on pass yards (2022) or TDs given up (2021) in the years where either Brady or Winston were the starting QBs.
Since passing yards doesn’t actually mean points lets look at how many points against the defense and their rankings: 2019 – 29th (449), 2020 – 8th (355), 2021 – 5th (353), 2022 – 13th (358), 2023 – 7th (325), 2024 – 16th (385), 2025 – 23rd (301). Since 2020 the Bucs defense was ranked in top 10 in points allowed 3 times and were in the top half in 2020-2024, the embodiment of bend-but-don’t-break. I think a lot of the explanation to yards given up in the air is because in those years since 2019 the Bucs also had some of the most prolific scoring offenses that required teams to air it out to catch up. 2019 – 3rd in points scored (458), 2020 – 3rd in points scored (492), 2021 – 2nd in points scored (511), 2022 – 25th in points scored (313), 2023 – 20th in points scored (348), 2024 – 4th in points scored (502), 2025 – 17th in points scored (279). Since 2019 the Bucs had a top 5 scoring offense in 4 of those seasons. That’s a lot of points for opposing teams to make up. The most efficient way to make up the deficit is to air it out.
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:23 pm
I’m ready to see Mo Kamara to get some reps. Anybody that watched him in college knows he’s got some juice with him and at this point, if it cuts into Watts’ or Braswells’ reps, then so be it.
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:31 pm
I read the SF Chronicle each day. Today they had a piece where they write about the two guys they pulled off other teams practice squad or cast offs and how much they have contributed to the 49rs’ defense. Compare this to Licht’s totally lack of mid-year additions. Possible reason’s:
1. The Toad is just fine with who we have on defense right now.
2. Our defense is too complicated for even experienced players.
3. Licht is spending 100% of time evaluating the draft.
4. Sheer incompetent thinking by TB/JL.
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:58 pm
@SoCal, great write up and I’d also say in regards to the 2019 defense which was year 1 in Bowles scheme, they got put back on the field early via offensive turnovers *checks notes* 41 times!
I still think that helped get Shaq the amount of reps it took for him to get 19.5 sacks. That’s alot of extra opportunity. Also remember then rookie Devin White making the defense doing what they did at the end of that season in-spite of the offense.
Again, good write up and a nice change of pace from the doomsday posters
December 3rd, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Can’t understand Licht for realizing it’s smart to build the trenches with big men to protect the quarterback and keep drafting skilled receivers but on the defensive you decided You in 7 years you won’t spend any premium picks on a big man after Vea, no skilled pass rushers because all yaya has is a bull rush, you would sign a premier passer in free agency but not a premier pass rusher then you hang on to your lesser talented draft picks for their entire contracts only then do you draft to replace them and rely heavily on udfa’s and late round picks. So basically when people get hurt we have a mediocre team at best
December 3rd, 2025 at 2:38 pm
is he suggesting O sucking is what’s hurting D? been wondering how much D fatigue is a factor.
December 3rd, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Deebooo- he was under contract with Miami, so the Bucs couldn’t sign him before December 27th. Not exactly a lot of runway to get into game shape at that point.
December 3rd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
put me in coach!!
bring Shaq back like last year we immediately got more sacks even if he’s on the bench!!
December 3rd, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Who doesn’t think that Suh, JPP and Shaq could not contribute AT LEAST AS MUCH as the guys now playing their spots?
December 3rd, 2025 at 4:12 pm
I honestly would love to sit in a room with Todd for one day..
Pick his brain and his concepts.
I would like to know how he truly envision his defense schemes to work.
At times he has high points..
Let me explain- so he very good against the run most games only few rb really got the best of him.
I don’t know if he ever double teams good players or game plan’s for key players.
It’s weird how sometimes it feels like he can call a game great but just start playing this shell defense anytime we get up by 3 points.
I think situational football is a struggle for him.
Hes great at drawing up blitz plays ..sometimes it feels like we need more safety blitz and David blitz honestly.
I don’t like the 3 4 defense in modern football Era. The reason being its a slower defense and you gotta have edge lb that can cover and want to cover te rb n play smart zone defense..
I don’t see any of our edge lbs good at that.
I prefer the Nickle defense you go find a big tall strong safety that tackles like a linebacker and covers like cb..I think if bowles went Nickle 90% of the time and found the key guy he be able to use so many exotic blitz packages and scheme better.
I think Parrish Smith Winfield Jr all great player..Dean can be great at times but health will always be an issues. McCollum looking less like that guy and more cb2..
It’s highly likely will be draft 2 cb next year..I hope 2 cb and safety that plays like how I described.
David may play another year but we gotta get a killer in the lb room probably a free agent it’s hard to find that killer lb right out the gage.
Kancey is injury prone but can be great depth next year if we can find a beast dt to pair with vea.
I’m willing to keep riding with diaby I think he can get better and will with the proper development..they need to higher Simeon rice to coach him everyday follow him 300 days of the year yapping him to death on moves and get off..
Diaby it typically 1 Step off..
Reddick idk I feel like we’re better with him out there but by how much idk..
This defense is missing like 4 key players to go into a dominant defense and play call and scheme could be better.
This is offensive team they need like 3 offensive player to have a almost perfect offense.
Te is weak asf we need a real te like the one AZ has that just played us.
LG to me is equally weak I want a run mauler at lg..
Wr room is perfect when healthy… Baker needs to dial back in..
Got bucky back Godwin back McMillian back.. just need Mike back and you got more weapons thean 99% of the nfl.
The offensive cord it’s hard to judge him honestly with all the injuries.. I feel like Baker struggling to read the field most plays.
I’m sure his play calling in a lot of ways can be better but it’s hard to tell sometimes.
December 3rd, 2025 at 4:34 pm
We got rid of Suh, Shaq, & JPP about 3-4 years too early.
Those are 3 of Licht’s biggest mistakes and we are still paying for those mistakes today. 💯
So dumb.
December 3rd, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Erik with Pilot and Driver™ Says:
“We should’ve signed Shaq and JPP before this season.
We would be much better off with both of them as starters, I guarantee it.”
They are too old and out of shape now. Unfortunately.
December 3rd, 2025 at 4:37 pm
813bucboi Says:
“what happened in 2020 without a 19.5 sack guy?…..we went 0-16 right lol…”
I THINK that was sarcasm, but we went 11-5.
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
All you need to do is watch the NFL part-time to understand a four man pass rush that gets consistent pressure and sacks completely changes the defense and the entire team.
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:54 pm
NEXT YEAR IS THE YEAR!!!!!
A lot of defensive talent in this draft. MLB and DL (and OL) will be reloaded. The Bucs will officially be out of cap hell with $43M to spend.
Expect Licht to go 2020-style All In for the next 2-3 seasons.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:48 pm
I remember a few weeks ago in the comments here when people told me Nelson was a stud and going to be the new starter going forward after he had a big game vs the Saints. I seem to recall pointing out that he has been around for a long time, and played a ton of snaps prior to that game, and had proven to merely be a decent depth and not much else. Yet I was told, no, he had broken through and the sky was the limit.
And here we are a few weeks later, and people are saying he’s a backup only and they really need someone with some talent to be on the field.
Also, not bashing Nelson, I said I like him as a depth – and I think he’s a decent run stopper, but he’s too big and slow to really do much in the passing game. Yet I was told he proved himself in the passing game on that INT, that was thrown directly at him by a QB that was benched a few series later.
Anywho, I’m taking the W on that.
As for EDGE talent, good luck with that, everyone always wants more talent at EDGE. You’re not going to magically find someone in week 14 of the season. BUT, in fairness, it would really be a good idea for Bowles not to use his DE’s as corners – just a suggestion.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:17 am
DUMP Licht and Bowels.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:37 am
Here’s a guy who might offer insight and examples as to why Todd fails on so many levels.
December 4th, 2025 at 2:45 am
Been watching this kid Zion Young….we need LB and DT but if he’s there in the 2nd and the DT i want is gone, then go for it.
December 4th, 2025 at 3:56 am
dug deeper, nope on zion young….
December 4th, 2025 at 8:17 am
I’ve said it before, the Bucs need to trade for a good edge rusher. Licht has not been able to draft one, and Bowles has not developed one. All the good rushers have been imports. Use the draft picks on other positions.