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About the Author: Jon Ledyard

Avatar Of Jon Ledyard
Jon Ledyard is PewterReport.com's newest Bucs beat writer and has experience covering the Pittsburgh Steelers as a beat writer and analyzing the NFL Draft for several draft websites, including The Draft Network. Follow Ledyard on Twitter at @LedyardNFLDraft

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From the moment Bucs outside linebacker Shaq Barrett led the NFL in sacks in 2019, the bar was officially raised. No longer was Barrett the undrafted, undersized, un-athletic underdog who worked his way into becoming an NFL starter on a one-year, $4 million salary. No longer was he the feel-good story of an entire season. Instead, Barrett became a priority free agent re-signing with a massive market and star-level expectations. Through 2021, those expectations have remained in place for the Bucs’ top pass rusher.

You see, when you record 19.5 sacks in a season, you enter pretty rare territory. There have only ever been 12 more productive seasons by a pass rusher, and almost all of them were by Hall of Fame-caliber talents. Despite the fact that Barrett was unlikely to reach such lofty goals at 27 years old with 14 previous career sacks, the standard was set nonetheless. On a franchise that once rostered Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Derricks Brooks, Ronde Barber and John Lynch, Barrett appeared next in line.

But there was one little problem. Despite Barrett’s outstanding season, limitations remained. At 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, Barrett is one of the smaller edge defenders in the NFL. His body isn’t especially impressive, and his 4.73 40-yard dash and 29-inch vertical helped create this pre-draft athletic web:

Simply put, Barrett has never been working with the same set of tools as the top players at his position in the NFL. So when Bucs fans expected him to match the impact of Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt and the Bosa brothers each year, the expectations were out of whack. It wasn’t in Barrett’s wheelhouse to command offensive attention like those players. He may have produced at their level for a year, but there are only a handful of consistent, game-altering defensive players in the NFL. Barrett isn’t one of them.

And yet…

It’s hard to look across the NFL over the past three seasons and name 10 better edge rushers than Barrett. I hate looking at pressure numbers amidst small sample sizes of a few games. But over three years, they give us a great indicator of who the most impactful pass rushers in the NFL are.

Bucs Olb Shaquil Barrett

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In 2019, Barrett was fourth in the NFL with 82 pressures and first with 19.5 sacks. The sack numbers dipped the next year, drawing criticism from Bucs fans and media. At times, Barrett was not as impactful as he was during his first season in Tampa Bay. Still, Barrett finished the season with eight sacks and 77 pressures, which led the NFL in a down year for pressures.

Yet the common sentiment was that Barrett had disappointed some during the 2020 season. I evenly openly speculated if the team would prioritize re-signing him over Lavonte David, Chris Godwin and others. But in the playoffs, Barrett seemed to remove all doubt about the type of player he was. Under the brightest of lights, Barrett racked up 21 pressures in four games, including an epic 10-pressure game in the Super Bowl. Barrett’s four playoff sacks were instrumental in leading Tampa Bay to a world championship.

But this offseason, Barrett wasn’t on the franchise tag anymore. Instead, the Bucs locked him into a long term contract. A four-year, $72 million contract, to be exact. If the expectations for Barrett were high before, they paled in comparison to what fans have asked of him this season.

During a year in which Barrett has been even better than his 2020 performance, criticism has flown frequently. After three zero-sack performances in a row around midseason, Pewter Report received consistent commentary on Barrett’s “poor play.” Even head coach Bruce Arians called Barrett’s game against Washington he and Jason Pierre-Paul’s “poorest” performance of the season.

But, while that game left something to be desired, Barrett’s play this season has been overwhelmingly stellar. Through 13 games, Barrett has nine sacks, already more than he had all of last season. With four games to go, Barrett is staring a double-digit sack season in the face. He’s also back to his pressure-producing ways with 67 pressures this season, which is second in the NFL.

“Shaq’s been after it all year,” Arians said on Bucs Total Access. “They’re starting to get home more often. Especially with the pressure we’re getting inside.”

Against Buffalo on Sunday, Barrett was a terror. He destroyed Bills promising rookie right tackle Spencer Brown, and bested a quality left tackle in Dion Dawkins as well. Barrett rang up seven pressures and 1.5 sacks, while providing the initial pressure on Josh Allen’s lone interception.

What a nasty stutter-step/cross-chop combination to corner and pressure Allen. Because Barrett isn’t overly explosive or long, he has to create advantages for himself as a pass rusher in other ways. Timing up the snap count, creative footwork and advanced hand usage are some of his specialities.

Barrett is a very good high-side rusher because of his one quality athletic trait: his bend and flexibility. But the fact that he can mix in power rushes and inside moves allows him to keep tackles off balance. Barrett has needed to become a master at his craft in order to be a productive starter in the NFL. Against Buffalo, the Pro Bowler showed just how deadly his approach can be when his opponent’s technique is lacking.

From the right side, Barrett uses hesitation to draw out Dion Dawkins’ punch. Then he double-hand swipes the tackle’s arms, leaning into his frame to turn a tight corner to Allen. Only a quick release prevents the strip sack.

The best part about Barrett’s game is that there are no glaring weaknesses. He’s an excellent run defender, plays with a fantastic motor and has been exceptional in coverage this season. Few work harder at learning all the intricacies of their position, and few play with more consistent focus and effort. Barrett constantly holds himself accountable, vocally expressing disappointment in himself when he’s unproductive. Everyone on the team loves him, and the fan base should too.

Bucs Olbs Jason Pierre-Paul And Shaquil Barrett

Bucs OLBs Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When he could have hit the open market in free agency, Barrett opted to bypass the opportunity for other offers. Moments after free agency opened, Barrett re-signed in Tampa Bay. He didn’t even attempt to break the bank, settling for the 11th-highest paid contract at his position. At 28 years old (now 29), Barrett knew it was probably his last chance to get a major NFL contract. But he wanted to be in Tampa Bay.

“It pretty much was Tampa, Tampa and Tampa,” Barrett told the Dan Patrick Show. “I was giving Tampa every opportunity to keep me here and make it work. It worked out perfectly. I really didn’t want to have to leave and go anywhere else, to be honest. That’s why I said it from the jump that Tampa was my Plan A. I’m happy I didn’t have to get to Plan B.”

With two more sacks, Barrett will be tied for fifth in Buccaneers franchise history in just three seasons in Tampa Bay. The way he’s playing, that goal should be reached by the end of the season.

As Barrett closes in on a third impressive campaign with the Bucs, his legacy is forming nicely. If we can all let go of the lofty expectations of league-leading sack numbers and be content with another double-digit sack season, maybe Barrett can go back to being the incredible story that he is – and one of the best finds in franchise free agent history.

To watch my All-22 Film Room breakdown of Shaq Barrett’s dominant day against the Bills, check this out:

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