Day #66: Ronde Barber

82 Days

Ronde Barber – CB – Virginia
1997 Draft / 3rd Round / Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The defensive half of the Barber Twins, Ronde has been a stalwart at cornerback since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A full time starter since his second season in the NFL he became part of the Pewter Power movement in Tampa. Barber, a four time Pro Bowl selection, is the team’s career interception leader with 33 career picks.

Barber was the 16th defensive back taken in the 1997 draft behind a number of highly questionable picks. For instance, the selection of Chris Canty (Kansas State, 1st, 29th overall) by the New England Patriots was a highly questionable one. Draft preview publications described Canty as a ‘slow dwarf’ – not exactly the thing of which Pro Bowl corners are made. Only a handful of the defensive backs selected before Barber have gone on to make a significant impact in the NFL.

Shawn Springs (Ohio State, 1st, 3rd overall) highlights the first round picks in Barber’s draft class. He had a solid career with the Seattle Seahawks before signing a free agent deal with the Washington Redskins prior to the 2004 season. Sam Madison (Louisville, 2nd, 44th overall), Mike Minter (Nebraska, 2nd, 56th overall) and Darren Sharper (William and Mary, 2nd, 60th overall) are the headliners of the second round. Madison was released by the Dolphins after nine years of service to the team only to sign with the New York Giants with whom he won Super Bowl XLII. Like Madison, Sharper was released by Green Bay after eight years of service to the team and went on to sign with divisional rival Minnesota Vikings.

It is an understatement to say that Tampa received solid value for its third round pick when it selected Barber. Many in his draft class have gone on to become journeyman players on their second and third teams or out of the league completely. In hindsight we would venture to guess that every GM that took a defensive back in this draft and had the ability to change their pick would now choose to draft Barber over anyone else.

Much is made of the cornerbacks role in the Tampa Two system put in place by former Bucs coach Tony Dungy on account of the consistent safety help over the top. However, the Tampa Two system, which itself is derived from the 1970’s Steelers defensive design, requires that the cornerbacks be solid tacklers and hard hitters. During his career Barber has been solid in coverage, but more importantly has provided consistent run support. As an eleven year pro Barber has shown no signs of slowing down and in the 2005 season became the ninth member – and first cornerback – of the 20/20 club (2o sacks/20 interceptions).

For a table of all of the players selected at his position in this draft click here.

Statistics courtesy of nfl.com.

Pete @ February 20, 2008