When the Buccaneers signed free agent safety Dashon Goldson this offseason, it effectively took Ronde Barber’s job.
But despite being new there, Goldson’s also taking over Barber’s leadership of a still-young secondary.
According to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Goldson has impressed the organization with his willingness to stay after practice and work with young defensive backs, and the general leadership he’s shown this offseason.
“He keeps those two young corners out there just working and no one asked him to do that, and that’s just what veterans need to do,” Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano said. “I mean, you start looking at our veterans here now, guys like Dashon, and we have some that I can lean on and I think the organization can lean on and you need that, so I’m glad he’s ours. He cares a lot.”
He should, considering the Bucs gave him a five-year, $41.25 million contract. But such things aren’t always automatic when a new guy comes to town, and trying to fill Barber’s shoes is a big task.
“That’s just something that’s always been in me,” Goldson said. “I was always a motivating kind of guy. I always looked at myself as a guy who tried to lead out there.
“I mean, this is a young crowd that we have here, so I just want to share my experiences with them and show them my work ethic, show them that it’s OK to ask questions and shed a little light on things.’'
Once Darrelle Revis returns to health, the Buccaneers should have a much-improved secondary.
And the lessons Goldson’s sharing now can only help.