Everybody’s Defending Ronde

November 14, 2008 at 10:59am by Scott   •  No Comments »

Ronde Barber has been beaten pretty obviously a few times this season, and players and coaches are lining up to fall on their swords for him. Monte Kiffin, for example:

When Barber’s coaches watch him on film, what they point to isn’t the gadget play Barber misjudged against Kansas City on which quarterback Tyler Thigpen hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass. On that topic, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin says, “Put that one on me, okay?”

I also read an account that said that Barber thought he had help over the top from Tanard Jackson, so he didn’t mind biting on the fake end-around. Raheem Morris got in on the lovefest, too:

The stuff he brings to this team is unbelievable. The stuff that he does on the playing field, off the playing field, in the meeting room, that stuff can’t be measured.

But I thought the most impressive praise came from Aqib Talib, who is showing that he’s watching film and paying attention to the smaller details.

But I see stuff the media doesn’t see. I see the plays where he defends somebody so tight that the quarterback pump fakes and brings the ball back down. You don’t put that in the paper, though. But it shows up on the film on Monday.

He’s right. Ronde has definitely had more good plays than bad this season, some of which have been away from the ball because it’s not thrown his way. But the fact still remains that he has given up three touchdowns so far this season. Not just big plays, not just noticeable plays… touchdowns. Points. And the Bucs haven’t lost a game by more than four points this season, so those plays are making a difference. The zero interceptions thing isn’t such a big deal. Outside of 2001, interceptions were never Ronde’s trademark, anyway. It’s rare that he has more than three in a season. But his passes defensed are way down (3) and the big plays are starting to pile up. Regardless of how everyone is spinning it, this is an off year for Ronde.

No knee-jerk reactions are necessary and I have every confidence that he will get things straight. The guy has started every game since 2000 and he’s still making plays today. I just don’t want the coaching staff to gloss over what are very obviously some areas that he needs to clean up just because he’s a locker room leader and a player with a very prestigious history.