“They’re Playing With Their Feet”
June 5th, 2019
Early rookie cornerback standout Jamel Dean
America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, has seen first-hand how the Buccaneers’ young defensive backs are playing with a lot of juice — fast and attacking.
Yes, it’s a bit mesmerizing to see cornerbacks covering receivers versus giving all kinds of cushion. Joe is enjoying it.
But it’s more than that. Jameis sees the skill and technique. “They’re playing with their feet,” he said of the young corners today.
(Joe will have more on that later from a chat with rookie corner Jamel Dean, the late-third-round pick.)
Jameis likes the work ethic displayed without a strong veteran presence around.
“If you look at them right now, our young guys are out there on the field doing extra reps, not our veterans,” Jameis said after practice with a glance toward the young DBs. “But when you look our defensive backs room, we don’t have any veterans. After losing Brent Grimes, everyone is under 24 years old. So all those guys are feeding off each other and they’re executing pretty well.”
There’s loads of excitement for the defensive backs at One Buc Palace. If you missed it last week, Arians said the secondary is “totally fixed.”
June 5th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
I can’t wait to see it on the field. Go Buc’s!
June 5th, 2019 at 1:03 pm
This might not directly correlate to wins just yet but based on the feedback; there’s definitely more teaching and coaching at One Buc Palace.
June 5th, 2019 at 1:13 pm
You can just tell these players are different from the ones we are use to.. only time will tell but you have to love what your hearing
June 5th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
at 6 ft 205 and blazing 4.31 speed I can see why he is playing with his feet.
June 5th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
finally putting players in position to be successful and playing to their strengths…..
GO BUCS!!!!
June 5th, 2019 at 1:38 pm
These youngin back there Silver-Hawking man. People on here trippin about picks,uhh hello we long fast and athletic now!
June 5th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
All the notes from the Bucs app state everyday numerous pass deflections,INTs and QBs being forced to go to the check down. We have a young No Fly Zone developing. I can see it and ain’t no where near the s#%@.
June 5th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Pressure Defense is coming
June 5th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
MJ Stewart might just have a resurgence because of the press coverage. Maybe.
Would be ironic if he was put in for punt returns and ended up being great at it…considering people say he’s not fast. That I would love to see.
But in the end, I just hope he steps up and does well, as with all the others on the team. I want the final cuts to be the hardest the Bucs have ever made because of talent level.
June 5th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Since you can’t touch the WR after 5 yards you’d better be able to run with him. Speed can also make up for a mistake in technique. As Montgomery Gentry once said, so give me speed……..
June 5th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Run young Bucs, run….
June 5th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Alright I’m going out on a limb here, not because I know more than anyone else, I’m a Bucs fan followed by a Gator homer. Vernon Hargreaves gets 10 picks and a pro bowl invitation this year. Anyone want to play along with their outrageous predictions?
June 5th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
NFL NETWORK hasn’t showed Tampa on inside mini camp not 1 time been watching all morning smh no respect
June 5th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
I think this will be a year of growing pains for this secondary; I’m not expecting much from them this year but I’m hoping it leads to a position we don’t have to fix next offseason. Time will tell.
June 5th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
These guys are going to be GOOD they’re getting the best training because we have the best WR/TE #1 passing offense I mean Jameis was spreading it out last year because everyone can catch! Jameis will get better from this too I’ve always felt he struggled against the 3-4 and did a lot better against 4-3
June 5th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
The title of this post is making Rex Ryan breathe harder.
June 5th, 2019 at 2:41 pm
I have high hopes for the young guys in the secondary this year. I hope Jameis makes them better and I hope they make Jameis better.
June 5th, 2019 at 2:46 pm
What a difference a year will make.
I long for the days when the D told the O: “Just give us 17 points and we win.”
June 5th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Pryda,correct my friend.
June 5th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Keep in mind Kevin Minters words “this system is easy to learn”.
June 5th, 2019 at 2:55 pm
king
its cool…..
thats the way we like it….under the radar…no drama….
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 5th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Joe—
I read TB’s system is supposedly easy to learn. Why do you think that is?
June 5th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
He slipped that far because of his knees…he is healthy now lets hope he makes it through camp and PS…that is rougher than regular season games
June 5th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
@Cobra
That’d be awesome but I’ll be happy if we can just be league average at 22-23 PPG on defense.
That’s still about a TD per game improvement over last year lol (29 PPG!).
The 2018 Bucs only scored less than 22.5 points in 5 games, so if we were only giving that amount of points up every week we’d have gone 11-5 last year.
Healthy Jameis Winston + top 16 scoring defense = winning season. That’s already been established the last 4 years because it only has happened once even with bottom barrel run game / kicking situation.
Healthy Winston + top 16 scoring defense AND special teams / run game = legit contender.
Not sure wtf a healthy Winston + top 5 scoring defense or something would look like , but pretty sure we wouldn’t be quibbling about the QB and would be spending more time talking about playoff football.
June 5th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Check it man,y’all realize what Jameis means when says “they’re playing with they’re feet”??? Fill you inn in case some don’t get it. That means young buls fast fast and more fast man. See,I no longer worry about be able to run with Julio,I’m no longer worried running with Michael Thomas. I’m good with matching up Tedd ginn jr. We gone be step for step with these MOs next season .
June 5th, 2019 at 3:29 pm
It might be Koolaid…… but I’m thirsty as F@&k…..
I’ll take it!!
Go Bucs!!
June 5th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
My Depth Chart
Cornerbacks
1. Sean Bunting
2. Carlton Davis
3. Vernon Hargreaves
4. Jamal Dean
5. Ryan Smith
6. Devante Harris
7. Javien Elliot
Safeties
1. Deonne Buccanon (SS in the box)
2. Justin Evans (when healthy)
3. Jordan Whitehead
4. Mike Edwards
5. Bryce
6. MJ Stewart (could get cut)
7. Isaiah Johnson (probably getting cut)
June 5th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
So Teacherman has 13 defensive backs maybe making the roster? Cue a long string of laughing emojis, please!
June 5th, 2019 at 5:03 pm
@ nosbos
Im a huge buc fan but lets manage the expectations. Running fast is great but a great route runner like julio, thomas etc can nulify inexperience speed. That means these young guys gotta study a lot of film and remain disciplined. Julio has made many great dbs look foolish.
June 5th, 2019 at 5:08 pm
I’m with dooshlarue
classic
June 5th, 2019 at 5:10 pm
This is very encouraging. Now go find a replacement for JPP and maybe this defense will be ok.
June 5th, 2019 at 5:50 pm
@LC: 4ppg less on D, and 3ppg more on O, both definitely achievable goals, and it will be a completely different team record.
I have high expectations of vastly superior play, but not high hopes for a great record. Yet.
Fix the D a little, establish a semblance of a run game, and Winston has a great year because he won’t have to win games by himself.
June 5th, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Brandon Says:
June 5th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
So Teacherman has 13 defensive backs maybe making the roster? Cue a long string of laughing emojis, please!
Brandon I don’t know Teacherman at all —
but all he said was his depth chart not his opening day roster.
For comparison’s sake, the New York Jet’s had 12 defensive backs (7 corners and 5 safeties) on their roster to start the 2018 season and the Bucs had 10 defensive backs (6 corners and 4 safeties) on their initial 53 man roster.
June 5th, 2019 at 6:42 pm
Not counting the additions of new players….just the new coaching staff and defensive scheme ( no 12 yard cushions ) will equate to 4 -5 extra wins.
10-6 Superbowl bound. COACHING IS EVERYTHING!!!!!
June 5th, 2019 at 11:27 pm
I love the young guys, but still want to see us bring in some kind of veteran presence. Young guys love to point fingers when things start going bad. Hargreaves has talent, but has yet to stay healthy, and definitely isn’t considered a leader. Morris Claiborne is still out there and more proven than any CB on our roster. Before you laugh, check his stats as the #1 CB for the Jets under Bowles the last few seasons. Make the call Licht!!
June 6th, 2019 at 12:36 am
@Brandon
That is the current depth chart. We have 90 players now. Right?
This depth chart is to highlight the depth we have, and the competition for spots. Lots of guys are getting cut.
Thats what I was trying to show.
June 6th, 2019 at 4:07 pm
I am OK for the Bucs to be totally under the radar and getting no respect from NFL Network or ESPN. Just show me results.