The Bucs’ 10 Best Draft Picks: #5 – Ronde Barber

by The Bull Gator on Jan 27, 2009 8:36 AM EST in News Comment 6 comments

5. Ronde Barber – CB – 1997 – 3rd Round (66th Overall)

The first member of this list to not be picked in the first or second round, Ronde Barber fell into a near perfect situation when he was drafted by the Bucs in 1997. As the Tampa 2 defense developed, he became the perfect cornerback to play in it. Barber was never a pure shutdown coverage corner, but was able to use his skills to thrive in the Bucs’ system.

Having not missed a start since the 1999 season, Barber holds the Bucs’ career interception record with 37. He has been selected to 5 Pro Bowls and 5 All-Pro teams.

Barber is the only CB in NFL history – and only the 9th player ever – to have at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career.

6. Mike Alstott – RB – 1996 – 2nd Round (35th Overall)
7. Warrick Dunn – RB – 1997 – 1st Round (12th Overall)
8. Paul Gruber – T – 1988 – 1st Round (4th Overall)
9. James Wilder – RB – 1981 – 2nd Round (34th Overall)
10. Doug Williams – QB – 1979 – 1st Round (17th Overall)

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Hall of Famer?

"Barber is the only CB in NFL history – and only the 9th player ever – to have at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career. "

Does this make him a future hall of famer?

If so, pretty much our entire defense from the super bowl is going to the hall of fame.. At least, a good majority of them.

by miracles83 on Jan 27, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

To be one of only 9 people to do that is a pretty amazing feat, but I’m still not 100% sold on Barber as a Hall of Famer. I would say 5 from those great defenses really stand out as having Hall potential and I’d actually go as far as saying I think 4 are almost locks with Barber being the question mark.

Derrick Brooks – Lock
Warren Sapp – Lock (Love him or hate him, he was one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the history of the game.)

Simeon Rice – Near Lock (Rice definitely has the resume, but have people already forgotten him as a truly great player? I know some fans around here have. He didn’t have the greatest end to his career, but he really was great for quite some time.)
John Lynch – Near Lock (Bucs’ fans and Broncos’ fans will all say no question, but I always wonder how Lynch really stacks up with history’s greatest safeties. In the end, I think he gets it.)

Ronde Barber – ? (I don’t know what to think of Ronde. I feel like he’s been great some years, solid-to-good most, with a few average ones in there. But again, is that the league-wide concensus? I’m just wondering how he stacks up against other corners. I love Ronde, but I think out of these 5 players, the defensive system benefited him the most. He was a prototypical Cover 2 corner, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but he wasn’t always as great when asked to cover one-on-one down the field.)

Regardless, in the next 10 years Selmon is going to be joined in the Hall by more than one more Buc.

by The Bull Gator on Jan 27, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ronde has been great....

but he shouldn’t still be a starter. You can’t keep starting guys based on legacy.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Jan 27, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i'm not ready to pass on Ronde

flip him and Talib in the nickel sure, but not take his reps completely away. The guy had a pretty bad season, but even then he was pretty good compared to the rest of the league. He led our team in interceptions, was 5th in tackles (100), and even had a defensive score. I think Barber still has a lot in him, he just had an off year

Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!

by JScott on Jan 27, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs