Ronde Barber: LB coach Joe Barry will give Dolphins ‘great leadership and direction'
BOCA RATON — Hall of Fame cornerback Ronde Barber was with Joe Barry, the Dolphins’ new linebackers coach, for six seasons on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Barber says “I believe in him,” he backs it up with a solid reason:
“Because it worked for us,” Barber said.
That’s only if you consider finishing in the top 10 in both total defense and scoring defense five of those six years. Or leading the league in both categories once. And winning a Super Bowl.
More: Dolphins add LB coach Joe Barry to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver's staff
OK, it didn’t hurt to have three other future Hall of Famers lining up with Barber (Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Derrick Brooks), but Barber’s point — give Barry some talent to work with and watch what happens — is well taken. Plus, Barber cited Barry’s work with linebacker Barrett Ruud, the Bucs’ second-round pick out of Nebraska in 2005.
“Turned into a really good player,” Barber said. “And I’ve seen that over the course of his career, individually working with players. He gives them great leadership and direction.”
Barber, speaking at a pro-am at Broken Sound on Wednesday, gave high marks for Barry’s ability to develop personal relationships with players, something coach Mike McDaniel stresses.
“I think it’s as important as anything,” Barber said. “The X’s and O’x are just X’s and O’s. Everybody pretty much does the same thing. It’s getting players to believe in it and then go out and execute it. And he’s great at that. There won’t be a guy on his defensive roster that won’t want to play for him. I know that for a fact.”
As far as Barber is concerned, the same should apply to Barry’s bond with fellow coaches. Barry likely wouldn’t be here had it not been for the departure of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, creating a ripple effect as new coordinator Anthony Weaver takes over.
Because McDaniel is an offensive coach, Barber said his relationship with Weaver “has to be a strong, strong connection” given the responsibility and trust McDaniel places in Weaver.
“If it wasn’t there (between McDaniel and Fangio), I get it,” Barber said. “A hundred percent get it. If they don’t see eye to eye and you don’t trust that guy, doing what he’s doing, it’ll be cross friction. Joe Barry won’t have that problem. He’s not that kind of guy.”
Barber sees Barry as a strong Tampa-2 proponent who wants players to keep everything in front of them. He’ll require linebackers to be able to drop in coverage, something Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb already do.
While cornerback Jalen Ramsey might be the “Ronde Barber” of the Dolphins’ defense, sorting out the other cornerback position and the nickel will be key toward giving Barry and Weaver the flexibility they’ll seek, Barber said. And that flexibility includes how they’ll employ Ramsey.
“They’ll find ways to use him,” Barber said. “Get him (to be) more than just an outside corner. I know he’s really good out there, but the more you can move him around with his uniqueness, the better the defense will be.”
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
Click here to subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ronde Barber: LB coach Joe Barry will give Dolphins ‘great leadership'
