FAB 2. Barber Likes Bucs’ Rookie Cornerbacks

What kind of Bucs reporter would I be if I didn’t ask good friend and Tampa Bay legend Ronde Barber about not only the development of Vernon Hargreaves III, but also get his opinion on rookie cornerbacks M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis?

Barber has watched nearly every Bucs training camp practice as he prepares to call the action for Tampa Bay’s preseason games for WFLA News Channel 8, the official station of the Buccaneers. I had a chance to catch up with him earlier this week to get his thoughts on the Bucs’ pair of second-round picks.

Stewart, who hails from North Carolina, is seeing time inside at the slot nickel cornerback position where he is competing with Hargreaves, in addition to also working outside.

Bucs CB M.J. Stewart – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That’s a guy that, seems to me, is always going to work to be in the right position,” Barber said of Stewart. “And being in the right position, sometimes, even when you don’t make the play, sets you up for things down the road. I remember Herm Edwards used to tell me that one of the reasons I stuck around in the beginning is because I had that versatility. I was going to play nickel a little bit, I was going to play outside, I was the emergency safety my first two years in the league. I was kept around because my versatility helped us with the numbers.

“I kind of think that’s what he’s might be for this guy, and if he has to play – and I think both of these young guys are going to play some this year – you get to a point, and you feel like it already, that you can trust him. But preseason will prove that, and the beginning of the season will prove that.”

Stewart reminds me of Barber in the way that he is always in the right place at the right time due to his cerebral approach to the game and his physical presence. He’s made more interceptions in practice than any other cornerback thus far in training camp, which has been a bit of a surprise. Stewart is a little bit like Barber because of his instincts – except that the rookie is about two inches taller and about 15 pounds heavier than Barber ever was when he suited up in red and pewter.

So what about Davis? At 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, Davis is built more like Aqib Talib than Barber.

Bucs CBs Carlton Davis and MJ Stewart – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s got good feet for a big guy,” Barber said. “His technique is down. Some of these big corners don’t play at the line with the right technique and I think he can work on his pedal and his off coverage – this is an off coverage team – but when he gets on the line of scrimmage he looks comfortable. His feet are really quick for a guy of that size and pay attention to his hands.

“A lot of corners play bump in this league and their hands drop. Their feet start moving and their hands drop but his hands are always going up, so even when he loses with his feet he wins with his hands.”

People inside the building at One Buccaneer Place think Davis has some Richard Sherman-like traits to him due to his size and physicality. Barber sees another comparison, but it may be a few years away.

“Xavier Rhoades is a great example,” Barber said. “Xavier Rhoades had a great reputation coming out of Florida State, or whatever, and I did a couple of Minnesota games and you saw him lacking in technique a little bit. He’s big and he’s fast and got huge arms but it wasn’t until two years ago where Xavier Rhoades was a guy that they put in the conversation of, ‘Is he one of the best in the league?’ All Pro last year, made the Pro Bowl the last two years.

“It’s a process. To the point, there’s a learning curve. Some of them are steep and some of them are flat. Not everyone can come in the league and be Donnie Abraham and have five interceptions and be on the All-Rookie team. That doesn’t happen a lot. It’s a patient type of thing.”

Former Bucs CB Ronde Barber – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Despite the fact that Mike Smith likes to play quarters and off coverage a lot, Barber would like to see Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator play to the strength of Davis and Hargreaves, who are more naturally suited to play press man coverage.

“I’ve seen them both do both – off and press – well, so far,” Barber said. “That’s what’s so impressive for me, because I watch a lot of football, especially college football, so I saw Carlton play in college and all I ever saw him play was press. So I’m like, ‘Okay, he’s kind of longer, and I’ve seen a lot of long corners before that can’t really play off, but he’s made a lot of plays playing off.’ I’ve been excited for both of them – M.J. too – and as long as they keep getting a little bit better every day it’s going to be a good season for us.”