Shaq Barrett making big splashes – Wins Defensive Player of The Week
1 min read
The internet is buzzing about Buccaneers OLB Shaquil Barrett with good reason. He showed up big in the game against the Carolina Panthers, racking a career-high 3 sacks. It doesn’t end there. He also matched Broderick Thomas with those sacks. Thomas was the first Buccaneers linebacker to have 3 sacks in a single game. There’s even more! This was the first Buccaneers defender to get 3 sacks in a game since defensive end Jacquies Smith in 2015. With a performance like that, it was no surprise that he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week!
Featured Image Credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Shaquil Barrett (58) celebrates a sack versus the Carolina Panthers
So, here we go on the hype train, but with good reason: Can he do more? Barrett was 1 sack short of matching renowned defensive end Simeon Rice who’s career-high was 4 on October 12, 2003, against Washington and Marcus Jones against Detroit on October 19, 2000. Those are big shoes to fill, but Barrett showed amazing technique and speed on a defensive scheme that only scratched the surface in Carolina.
The Buccaneers shared his picture when he was named DPOW saying “And it’s only the beginning.” If this is the start, then it’s extremely exciting. Sunday can’t get here fast enough.
