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Barry Ready To Get To Work

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: January 22, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. - Joe Barry never lost sight of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not even while he was focused on the Detroit Lions.

Though it wasn't one of his top priorities, the former Lions defensive coordinator made a point of watching every game the Bucs played the last two years. Now he's glad he did.

Barry recently was rehired as the Bucs' linebackers coach and the regular peeks he took at the Bucs figure to serve him well in his new post.

"I didn't sit down and study them like I will now but I watched from afar," Barry said. "And now that I'm back, I'm really excited. I'm fired up to work with these guys."

Some of the Bucs linebackers - such as Barrett Ruud and Derrick Brooks - he has worked with before. Others are strangers to him. But not for long.

"I have a lot of homework to do," Barry said. "And real soon here I'll begin the process of watching every game more closely, of watching every play to see what we've got here."

Barry says he knows what he's got in Ruud, the middle linebacker who has led the Bucs in tackles the last two seasons.

"I thought Barrett had a Pro Bowl year in 2007 and I thought he was just as good this year," Barry said. "And he's only his fourth year, so he's only going to get better. He's a guy I can't wait to get in the lab and work with."

Barry seems eager to get into the lab with Cato June, too. It's too soon to know, though, whether he'll experiment with him or not.

June has spent the last two years playing strongside linebacker but staying on the field on most third downs, a job that usually falls to weakside linebacker Brooks.

June's role could change under Barry, but Barry said he needs to do more homework before he can determine anyone's role, no matter what the down.

"I still have to get to know the Adam Haywards and Quincy Blacks, but I'm looking forward to that and to helping them get better," Barry said. "That's the fun part for a coach - watching your players get better."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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