“No Dropoff”
August 23rd, 2020
Jamel Dean
Our beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers are rolling with three 23-year-old cornerbacks to man their big-three corner positions.
You know the names: third-year man Carlton Davis, and second-year corners Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean.
Joe thinks there’s already enough film on Davis (26 starts) to get a good read on him. He’s got the talent and length of a true No. 1 cornerback, but inconsistency, bad hands and mental lapses overall make him a strong No. 2 corner in the NFL. No shame there.
Murphy-Bunting and Dean are greater unknowns. Like Davis, they are immensely talented, but Dean has started only five games and Murphy-Bunting came on strong after the bye week last season, predictable after jumping into the fire from the University of Central Michigan.
The Bucs need both those guys to take the second-year leap most good players experience. So Joe asked Bucco Bruce Arians what he sees on film from his prized second-year corners.
The answer was swift and encouraging.
“Progression from last year,” Arians replied. “They came in and there’s no dropoff from where they left the season when they were playing at an extremely high level. They’re both bright players, they study the heck out of the game and just continue to improve. I mean, it’s easy to improve when you’re going against the quality of receivers that we have. It’s an all-day chore every day when you get out there, but they’re improving steadily, especially their knowledge of the game and pattern reading and everything else.”
Man, Joe hopes somebody in the secondary really has a true breakthrough season. (Dean might have last year if he got more playing time.)
Every Super Bowl team of the last 10 years (20 teams) either had a Pro Bowl defensive back on the roster during that season (15 teams) or had a former Pro Bowler in the starting lineup (5 teams).
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:01 am
If they continue to improve on last year, they should be solid. I’d still feel more comfortable with a veteran in the mix if for no other reason than to mentor the young guys.
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:03 am
We got three…now is the time to look for the others ..Parnell Motley will bring some competition!!! Now we need at least two more!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 7:17 am
Nice to know that Davis, Dean and Murphy-Bunting are young and going to be here for years. Both Dean and Murphy-Bunting have physical tools to be a shutdown CB. Both were showing signs of being great last year.
Pleasantly surprised to hear all the rave about undrafted rookie Parnell Motley, 6′ 180lbs with decent speed. He should make a great 4th CB.
If Jordan White continues to blossom and Antoine Winfield turns out to be home run hitter, we’ll have the most talented young backfield in the league. This can only improve our pass rush as QB will be forced to stay in the pocket longer.
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:19 am
Sounds just like the BS that ole stale biscuit was spouting off last training camp when he wrongly claimed “it was fixed”!!!!!!!!!! Which it was not, until they finally looked average against all those backup qb’s they played at end of that very soft schedule!!!!!!!!!!!! The ” real” fans don’t believe one word that that old befuddled ole stale biscuit has to say, unless he is talking about which hard sports taste the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:20 am
Spirits not “sports”
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:41 am
ElBucco,
So Deshaun Watson is a back up QB we played week 16? Last time I checked Jameis scored more points for the Texans then Deshaun did against our D. Hopkins was held in check! Go spew your garbage somewhere else! We have the best trio of young CB’s in the league! Your def an undercover Saints fan or something!
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:01 am
VA- “Bucco” is still upset over the firing of “Pressbox Smitty”! He seeks validation as opposed to being a fan.
Arians is the closest thing to a HC the Bucs have had since Gruden. All you have to do is look at the culture now vs the last decade. You don’t even have to bring Brady into the conversation.
The team has developed under this coaching staff. That’s something that cannot be said for previous regimes. The DBs are just one example.
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:01 am
Dean is your pro bowler
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:15 am
Bucsfanman,
Exactly!
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:23 am
Alanbucsfan says, “Dean is your pro bowler.”
Don’t discount Murphy-Bunting. He isn’t as fast as Dean but so far he showing better hands to make interceptions.
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:23 am
El Buco Realisto Says:
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:19 am
Sounds just like the BS that ole stale biscuit was spouting off last training camp when he wrongly claimed “it was fixed”!!!!!!!!!! Which it was not, until they finally looked average against all those backup qb’s they played at end of that very soft schedule!!!!!!!!!!!! The ” real” fans don’t believe one word that that old befuddled ole stale biscuit has to say, unless he is talking about which hard sports taste the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE ya go with the negative waves…
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:39 am
Alabama-
I like all our corners, but I think Dean has the most talent. And I like Winfield Jr’s potential.
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:41 am
Davis, has shown consistency. He just needs to clean it up a bit. SMB was absolutely solid once he got his feet under him. Dean, I thought, looked the most explosive.
As long as these guys improve, we’ll be in good shape.
HOWEVER, the Fanman family crest reads: “You can NEVER have enough competent DBs.”
If/when we lose one or more of these guys to injury, who steps in? What’s the drop-off?
In other words,it wouldn’t hurt to have decent depth. Do we have it?
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:44 am
Davis was as good as any CB to end the year that last month – shutting down and dominating 2 of the best WRs in the game. Can’t fake or fluke out that kind of performance IMO
That said Dean has the most upside probably
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2020 at 9:46 am
The good thing is these guys are practicing across from a superior offiense all around, and this time with a QB that is extremely accurate. They will have to concentrate better and really work to get picks at practice. And that video Joe’s been showing of Brady is really something else.
August 23rd, 2020 at 10:01 am
I think Davis is excellent, love his physicality – a step slow to cover a teams number one week over week. Dean to me is the guy represents everything you need in a corner that you can put on an island which will allow Bowles to get more creative with defense
August 23rd, 2020 at 10:22 am
Gofortheface30 says, “I think Davis is excellent, love his physicality – a step slow to cover a teams number one week over week.”
I agree – I think Davis tends to be grabby and as Joe stated in his post, he makes a good #2.
Both Dean and Murphy-Bunting have the length and good speed, with Dean displaying 4.3 speed to cover any WR in the league. I am thinking Dean will start on one corner and Davis on the other with Murphy-Bunting starting the slot. This might change if Murphy-Bunting continues to improve as he has shown the best hands and came on strong by season’s end.
August 23rd, 2020 at 10:23 am
Alanbucsfan Says: “I like all our corners, but I think Dean has the most talent. And I like Winfield Jr’s potential.”
100% agree!
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:04 am
Roster cuts will be here soon. We have our three very solid starters, I’m sure someone else will show to be capable when we are watching the preseason ga…oh never mind. Time will tell I guess!!!
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:20 am
Lack of preseason will hurt a lot of players across the league for sure. From guys like Mariota and Winston to those that have never made a roster in the NFL, much less started, and perhaps never will. So if you are a guy who looked good last year and had a decent camp, you are probably safe, like these three CBs.
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:42 am
I went to buffalo wild wings last year in Florida and Its said I won a prize.i came all the the way from utah. Never got one.😭
August 23rd, 2020 at 11:54 am
Dean’s challenge will be health.
This DB-field has a chance to be the best Bucs in decades.
August 23rd, 2020 at 12:09 pm
I think the front seven will put a lot of pressure on opposing QBs. If that happens, our defensive backfield should be just fine.
August 24th, 2020 at 1:27 am
SMB got more interceptions, but Dean showed he’s just got natural disruptive instincts.
Barring an injury, he’ll be our #1 corner by the end of this year.
August 24th, 2020 at 5:13 am
The secondary is my biggest question mark. If I were Jason Licht I would do EVERYTHING in my power to sign Earl Thomas. This would solidify the defense and it show everyone we are serious on both sides of the ball.