Rising Star

November 26th, 2019

Balling.

Joe loves how rookie corner Jamel Dean is blowing up, and an NFL draftnick dug up stats that show no rookie corner is having a better season.

It’s Dane Brugler, formerly of CBS Sports and now with The Athletic.

How did Dean go from looking like a bust at Seattle (Russell Wilson torched him for three touchdowns) to saving a game a week later and now pushing for the league lead in passes defended is incredible.

Was it simply just a renewed work ethic that turned around Dean’s rookie season? Did the NFL just click for him?

Whatever the reason, Dean’s last couple of games are the best a Bucs corner has played since Brent Grimes’ first year in Tampa Bay in 2016 when he led the NFL in passes defended (24) and was hosed on a Pro Bowl appearance.

45 Responses to “Rising Star”

  1. mickman Says:

    where are all the Fire Licht people now? ohhhh we have no DBs devin white stinks, should have never let Humpheries go…to a full stable of CBs that look very promising, wow white is fast, how did we get this Godwin guy!

    When it comes to the draft Bucs fans tend to only point out the bad ones but forgets the Veas,Davids, Evans, RoJos,Marpet,or the free agents, jensen,Barret,or even the Jpp trade.

    Kinda like my kids. the older they become the samrter their dad becomes…

  2. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    Mikeman, I think you are going to the opposite extreme that the Fire-Licht crowd you speak of. Licht deserves his critics. Maybe not to the extreme that you mention, but he has made plenty of head scratching decisions, and that is an understatement; a 2nd rd pick for a kicker? drafting RB Sims when we desperately needed OL players, etc.

    But yes, Licht also gets some home runs. I just wish he would stop outsmarting himself with his “cute” draft and FA decisions. In his 5.5 years, Licht is at best average.

  3. Waterboy Says:

    Seattle was Dean’s first game starting as a rookie and a game he wasn’t expected to play in prior to Davis going down in warmups. Every since that game he’s been solid and getting better with each game. If he can stay healthy and keep progressing at that pace they may have a ball player.

  4. WhatTheBuc Says:

    I believe that getting thrown in the Seattle game and being embarrassed taught him a lot about preparation on the NFL level.

  5. JP_09 Says:

    Looking like a bust after one game? Yeah he had a horrible game, his first ever in the NFL. By your logic we have multiple players that look like “bust” multiple games a season

  6. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    If you watch the highlights, several of those passes from Wilson were better than perfect….Dean had good coverage….

    Dean also punishes players when he makes tackles…..I like our speed on D…

    SMB, Dean, Davis, Edwards & Whitehead will develop further…..and, if we can get Justin Evans back healthy next year…..we are set.

  7. Defense Rules Says:

    @Mickman … “where are all the Fire Licht people now?” Really Mickman? You think that Jason deserves the credit for this last draft? That draft had Bruce Arians & Todd Bowles fingerprints all over it. And especially TB’s. Ndamukong Suh said pretty clearly that it was the opportunity to play in TB’s defense & his prior contact with TB that convinced him to sign on here. I suspect that Shaq Barrett signed on here because TB’s hybrid defense is a perfect place for his skillset. And that’s proven to be the case I think.

    Now in all fairness I do give Licht credit for drafting Vea (Rnd 1), Davis (Rnd 2) & Whitehead (Rnd 4) on the current defense because they were drafted before BA’s coming onboard as HC. Oh and also Ryan Smith (Rnd 4), although he barely plays. But I also give JL credit for drafting VHIII (Rnd 1-gone), Noah Spence (Rnd 2-gone), MJ Stewart (Rnd 2-almost gone), Bond (Rnd 6-gone), etc. Two other ‘hard luck picks’ could’ve turned out well though … Justin Evans (Rnd 2-IR) & Kendell Beckwith (Rnd 3-IR) and I’d love to see both of them make it back next year.

    So IMO JL’s been up-and-down on picks, but the bigger issues are TEAM-BUILDING and Salary Cap management. Both are intertwined IMO. There I’m not impressed. Not impressed at all.

  8. Defense Rules Says:

    And Joe, Jamel Dean got roasted by Russell Wilson in Seattle (credited with giving up 155 yards & 3 TDs) BUT he also had 4 PDs out of the 14 passes Wilson threw at him. For a rookie starting his 1st game … who’d been hurt prior & didn’t even know he was starting until gametime … that wasn’t as bad as you describe it (“looking like a bust”?). He got roasted by one of the best & had very few gametime snaps prior to that.

    Since that game Dean’s manned up & done outstanding … 4 PDs & 1 INT against the Cards, wasn’t used against the Saints (boo), and 5 PDs against the Falcons. That’s really impressive IMO in just 3 games. If they can stay healthy, this Secondary of Davis, Dean, SMB, Whitehead & Edwards has a LOT of potential. These last 5 games should be fun to watch.

  9. No Risk It No Biscuit Says:

    Coaching!

    Simple as that.

    Go Bucs!!!

  10. Bird Says:

    Jamel

  11. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Defense,

    I had an earlier post moderated that is a carbon copy of yours….

    Dean did better against a perfect Russell Wilson than most think…..

    And we definitely have a promising future with SMB, Dean, Davis, Whitehead & Edwards…..and I’m hopeful that Justin Evans will return healthy.

  12. Duthsty Rhothdes Says:

    Jason Licht is still a garbage GM; some reason this fan base is equating beating one of the worst teams in the nfl with it being a major step towards 9-7 & not the 6-10 it will be. Dean is doing good but its the falcons & jones was hurt and matt ryan arm strength seems zapped. Also the great BA didnt play dean for some bs excuse against the saints

  13. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    He just had to get some experience it seems.
    He played a hell of a game in Atlanta.
    I think we drafted a rising star

  14. Bob in Valrico Says:

    I also thought Dean played a tentative and a little soft his first game which is understandable . He has shown recently that his assets :big body and big mitts
    are a big help in the pass defense department. Great effort from the entire defense.

  15. Allbuccedup Says:

    Mickman must love all these losing season he thinks Licht is the greatest GM in history. The NFL has him ranked 31 out of 32. More fans like mickman the bucs will continue to stink.

  16. Buc believer Says:

    If the season were 2-3 games long I would say GREAT but it’s 16. Show me a full season before you get props.

  17. Bob in Valrico Says:

    AS for Jason Licht, Godwin and Marpet are a picks that he should be credited with.
    Vita Vea and Mike Evans were can’t miss picks that were given to us because of our poor record.
    LVD was drafted by Dominic. Aguayo was a reach that was showing signs of slipping in kicking percentage. A number 1 pick for VH3 who didn’t possess
    the height or speed to match up with bigger faster WR’s in the NFL.His prize number 1 pick is still being evaluated in his fifth year as an NFL QB.
    THe biggest knock ,IMO is the bad fits or injured free agents he signed like Swaggy Baker, Mitch Ulrein,T J Ward and J R Sweezy.

  18. Old Bill Says:

    Bob, you’re a dolt, can you please learn how to configure a real sentence for once in your life rather than sounding like a complete dum dum?

  19. 813bucboi Says:

    secondary stepped up big….

    now lets see them play more consistent….

    GO BUCS!!!!

  20. Bculaw Says:

    Against the Seahawks, Dean was out of shape after injury and inactivity. You could see it in the second half. He was absolutely gassed.

    If this secondary can continue to develop and put together more games like Sunday’s, we might have a little something to build on.

  21. Old Bill is SO perfect Says:

    Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

  22. tmaxcon Says:

    Its no coincidence the secondary starts showing growth once the latest local failed feel good story vh3bust was removed from db room.

  23. tmaxcon Says:

    Bob in valrico

    Please watch the games…. marpet is a below average backup who gets ragdolled most of the game… marpet like most bucs starters are starting out of necessity not talent or potential …

  24. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    Interesting observation, Tmaxcon.

    Also to be considered is that our young players, some into only their 11th game as pros, are finally starting to get the hang of Bowles scheme. Most of our DBs are in the 22/23 years of age range. Andrew Adams appears to be the oldest at 27.

    This of course bodes well for the future. Though it has been no fun for fans watching the trial by fire that has been this season for them.

  25. Buccernutter Says:

    Man, what a terrible player vh3 was for this squad.

    Imagine if Dean had gotten reps since day 1.

  26. Jameis Almighty! Says:

    Hey muckman! Fireeeee Licht! Trash GM… worst in the league. You need to be singing the praises of Famous Jameis Winston and Chris Godwin!

  27. Jameis Almighty! Says:

    Licht Blew the pick on VH3. Crap player and a Gator. Gotta stop drafting Gators. More Noles like Famous Jameis!

  28. unbelievable Says:

    Dean did not look like a bust against Seattle.

    This notion is completely wrong. While Wilson did target him a ton and he gave up a lot, he also had 4 or 5 passes defended and showed great instincts.

    That’s why I’ve been saying since the day if that game that this kid was gonna be good. He’ll he’s had almost as many passes defended in 3 weeks as vh3bust did his entire career!

  29. unbelievable Says:

    *since the day of that game

  30. Patrickbucs Says:

    It’s good to see some of the youngest secondary in the NFL players showing some promise. No one wants to see the growing pains (including me), be good to develop some much needed real starters.

    At least we didn’t trade two 1st round picks for loud mouth Ramsey! Lol he then gets worked by Peters, classic. Man the Rams with the wasted draft picks and overpaid signings of Goff, Gurley and soon to be Ramsey to sell some PSL’s. Do not see them challenging in that division for years with that old o-lime.

  31. adam from ny Says:

    marpet plays a mini banjo…i think its crazy…at least play a full sized banjo ali…go big or go home brobro

  32. adam from ny Says:

    BA said if he ever sees that little banjo laying around the locker room, he’s gonna smash it up

  33. adam from ny Says:

    Jamel “long arms of the law” Dean

  34. Go Bucs 72 Says:

    Good for Dean, sometimes you just got to get hit in the mouth before you figure it out. I remember Rondé going was crazy about Dean in the pre-season to the point it was uncomfortable at times. Licht is still a terrible GM and tmaxxipad is still a trolling idiot. I just wish the Bucs would have thrown Hargreaves out the door back in the Spring when they got rid of McCrybaby, addition by subtraction.

  35. Bucamania Says:

    Clearly the DB with the most upside on the team. Good to see him balling!

  36. Jameis Almighty! Says:

    Tmaxx is one of the best posters on the boards. Him NDog and 813 and Rod Munch make up the best group of joe buccers posters

  37. Buccernutter Says:

    Is this a joke?^

    It must be. 813?! HAHA

  38. Bigdaddy66 Says:

    Bob in valrico::
    I get your drift ,you are absolutely right.The last sentence you eloquently put down is perfectly said.Alot of Glazer cash has been wasted that could serve well elsewhere.

  39. Aaron Says:

    The PDs tell me that his guy looks open but with his long arms and speed – he’s able to recover and make a play. Just wait – as he gains more experience he’ll play faster. He’ll get more PIs and the PDs will come down because QBs will start throwing at someone else…

    Go Bucs! Let’s keep trying to win. (change the losing culture)

  40. Clean House Says:

    There ought to be a failsafe in place where the league- wide statistical leader is an automatic pro bowl selection. Grimes was amazing that year and that was wrong he missed out. NFL sucks

  41. #1bucfan Says:

    Yes the falcon have a worse record than us but that doesn’t mean their offense is garbage like some of you are saying. Our defense played a very above average falcons offense an we not only man handled them we payed the smack down on them. If this defense did it to the dolphins or bengals I would be as excited. So forget all of you who wanna bash this defense for the great game they played last week cuz they don’t deserve it for last week now every other game they played yes bash them but not for last weeks game. Everyone that wants to fire Jason. Just hold your horses. Give these coaches a chance to develop the players he brought in now that we have coaches who can develop. The record doesn’t show it an I don’t really care if the T M A X I P A D S on here don’t agree with me but Jason has brought a lot of talent on this team just the pick of Godwin ME13 alone makes him look good just wait till the others develop an show up. Doesn’t mean he hasn’t made big mistakes like the kicker but at the time he also was the most accurate kicker in collage history people if he panned out then we would have won a lot of those 1 score games

  42. 813bucboi Says:

    nutter

    nawl breh….lol…

    real recognize real…..

    and we all know you real dumb when it comes to football

    GO BUCS!!!!

  43. 813bucboi Says:

    almighty

    respect!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  44. Buccernutter Says:

    “we all know YOU real dumb…”

    LMAO!!!

    Yep, you and your roommates(mom and dog).

  45. bucsfan561 Says:

    He never looked like a bust in Seattle lol He played a pretty competent game Imo