Underrated Strong Move Signing Carlton Davis
March 15th, 2022
Bucs CB Carlton Davis.
Of course, the biggest of the big moves the Bucs made in free agency came before legal tampering began: Tom Brady coming back for 2022.
Joe believes the most underrated move so far is re-signing Carlton Davis. The soon-to-be fifth-year Bucs corner was a critical and surprising move.
It seemed Davis was gone. And it bothered Joe. When does a team lose its best corner and get better? And when does a team, one year removed from winning a Super Bowl, lose its best corner (who also happens to be 25)? It’s unheard of.
Joe reads where people kvetch Davis misses too much time. Only this past season has Davis missed more than three games in a year. So the Bucs should start tossing guys who miss three games in a season? Ali Marpet missed three games in 2020 and Joe can’t recall one person suggesting the Bucs move on from Marpet because he misses too much time.
Since Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles took over, Davis has led the NFL in passes defensed.
Joe thinks re-signing Davis was both a surprise and a huge move for the defense. Davis is the best corner the Bucs have had since Rondé Barber with the exception of one season from Brent Grimes (no, Aqib Talib wasn’t a top-shelf corner with the Bucs, he didn’t blossom until he played for Bill Belicheats).
Davis is just now hitting the prime of his career. It would have really sucked if he had reached his full potential wearing a different uniform.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:04 am
I agree with this Joe. I’m going to go with Steve on this one if I had to guess. Either way I strongly agree.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:06 am
Jordan Whitehead next and I’m happy
March 15th, 2022 at 12:14 am
Bring back gronk and JPP.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:20 am
Honestly did not realize he led the nfl in passes defensed! awesome! but we need Tariq woolen (think thats the name) in round 2
March 15th, 2022 at 12:21 am
also need Tariq along with all the other guys Jamel Dean has improved too
March 15th, 2022 at 12:24 am
Yup Davis is a pretty good corner who still has a bit of room to improve. Whitehead would make me happy, but they could decide with Edwards and Winfield they have other more pressing needs. Would be a shame because he’s one of the best young players on d.
Yes to gronk, but I think jpp body may be starting to break down both at his age and the amount of abuse his body has been through
March 15th, 2022 at 12:26 am
I wasn’t a big fan of Talib off the field but if I remember correctly without looking up any stats he did get quite a few picks for us.. he felt like a risk it for the biscuit corner that got burned sometimes.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:34 am
Coburn he’s 33 played with one arm. Torn rotator cuff. In 2020 he had a very good year. He was healthy. They can sign him on the cheap. I don’t think he will be expensive.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:48 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
The ridiculous “hype” over Davis is absurd.
There’s never been a more overrated defender in the history of the Bucs.
Brent Grimes, even towards the end of his career, was 10X the one-on-one cover man Davis is.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:49 am
I’m glad he’s not going anywhere but the reason he leads the league in passes defended is because the guy can’t catch. Lol… He needs to come down with some of those interceptions and game changing plays. Hopefully the communications will continue to improve so we don’t have the guy he lined up in front of running free behind him once rhe play starts. But I’ll give credit where it’s due when he’s locked up with a teams #1 he does a great job I just hate seeing him lined up 7yds off and bailing on the snap. We’ve got physical long corners play to their strengths especially in crucial downs
March 15th, 2022 at 12:49 am
We can’t go in with the same defense as last year. We need up grades on the d line somehow.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:50 am
And oh yeah…
What’s with the mouth piece dangling from the helmet and not actually being used? If he’s not going to use it then remove it rather than having it flop around while he’s trying to cover WRs.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:52 am
Will,
When he doesn’t line up 7 yards off the ball the WR jukes him, has him fall to the ground, and then runs right by him on the way to a 50+ yard TD like in the NFC Championship game against the Packers.
He’s given up more yards than any other corner on the team.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:02 am
BradyBucs you’re going to get an ulcer dude. This is all scheme. Anyway the bucs need to get better upfront to change that stuff. Get more pressure.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:06 am
Francisco,
Nonsense. Many other NFL teams produce “coverage sacks” all the time when the cover is good enough that even without a dominant pass rush the extended time eventually breaks down the pocket and creates sacks. That rarely happens with the Bucs swiss cheese secondary.
I promise you. One day all the Bucs fans believing in the “hype” will come to realize the Davis, Dean, and SMB are all mediocre and until they’re replace our secondary will suffer.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:09 am
Absolutely Joe! I’ve been saying all along, the defense is better and more versatile when he is on the field.
Shaq, LVD, & Davis, those are the most important players at each level of the defense. When any one of them are missing, the defense changes drastically.
So glad they re-signed him, just a shocked. I had written him off. I didn’t think there was a chance they could resign him
March 15th, 2022 at 1:20 am
Our secondary costs us games last season. ..Davis involved and please get rid of SMB…he’s the worst of all. Watch the Bucs highligjts, you’ll see. Draft CB’s or a Bray offense will lose again at the end.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:20 am
Resign Whitehead and I’m good. Davis would be so much better with a decent CB. Dean is garbage in pass coverage.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:25 am
This is the worst newsfeed
March 15th, 2022 at 1:26 am
Davis is overrated and flawed, and the big plays he gave up are major cringe. But we’re stuck with him, and all we can do is demand that he improve.
Instead of viewing Davis is the “best corner” on the roster, he should be rendered the third best. By acquiring a better coverage corner in free agency, and another in the draft. Then open camp with a competition that will push Davis, SMB and Dean—out if they fail to win out.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:27 am
Right on the money Joe!
March 15th, 2022 at 1:29 am
Greatly improving the DL and pass rush is something else that would help disguise the flaws with this secondary. That means let JPP and Suh go, and upgrade with Hicks, Hughes/Houston/Ingram+ draft. JTS needs to get better in a hurry. Get to that QB quicker.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:31 am
Steele i am not getting rid of JPP. I want them to draft a corner as well with the first pick as well.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:48 am
Francisco, I don’t know about JPP. Injured and past prime. Still has some game, but there is an opportunity to load up on some very good edge that wouldn’t be so much of a worry as JPP has become.
I am quite concerned about TE. We think Gronk will be back but it’s not official, and he misses games. Brate was problematic and isn’t a great blocker anyway. OJ has done very little.
Ideal scenario is getting back Gronk+ a solid reliable #2 who can block and catch. Maxx Williams, Ross Dwelley, Gerald Everett types.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:49 am
steele gronk is a must. They have to resign him. He’s not only good in receiving but blocking as well. He can still play.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:51 am
BradyBucs,
It does suck to say that he’s our best corner but if we get rid of anyone I’d rather it be Dean. He just seems loss way to often and doesn’t seem to understand down and distance along with using the sideline to his advantage. Way too often has it been 3rd and short and he gives up a quick slant getting beat to the inside and not being physical at the line of scrimmage. I think Davis will be the one that’ll be here for the long term and would love to see a vet and a rookie brought in to provide competition to all the corner spots.
Also the mouthpiece thing is a swagger thing I see many DBs doing it in both the pros and college look around. Not sure of your age but I’ll compare it to when Deion came in wearing a bandana on his head you started seeing others do the same. Not sure who started the mouthpiece thing though
March 15th, 2022 at 3:07 am
If we can’t retain whitehead I wonder if honey badger would come cheap on a 2 year deal??
March 15th, 2022 at 3:12 am
Keeping Jordan Whitehead would be solid. However, I love the idea of stealing Marcus Williams from the Saints.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:32 am
i too was so resigned to the fact he was gone…
then so elated to hear he was back…
he’s our guy and he’s pretty darn good…
a soft spoken smooth operator…
and yes our #1 corner
March 15th, 2022 at 3:33 am
We’ve had both Talib, Revis and Grimes since Barber, all superior to Davis in my opinion. I don’t buy your argument about Talib not being good until New England- he was clearly very good here. Davis was more consistently embraced and looked to as a part of the scheme so I can see maybe some sort of value argument made, but best since Ronde, not a chance. Sorry
Davis- they have 4 years invested, does he flash, yes but also flashes terribly. Either way, he’s here so I hope he can put it all together.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:27 am
BradyBucs Says: Blah blah blah, Davis sucks, worst player ever, terrible, really sucks!
^^^^^^^
You might be the manager at Dollar General, but Licht is the GM of the Bucs. Thank God.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:22 am
It’s because 1 commenter says “Davis sucks”, then all the other zombies start repeating the same. Happens all day long on many a topic. That’s why I enjoy reading the comments.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:41 am
Cleanhouse … ‘Davis- they have 4 years invested, does he flash, yes but also flashes terribly. Either way, he’s here so I hope he can put it all together.’
Excellent bottom line Cleanhouse. Continuity is extremely important far as I’m concerned, PROVIDING that the pieces fit the system. Availability is a huge part of continuity IMO, and when Davis-Dean-SMB have all been available (aka, SB season) they consistently improved as a unit & did extremely well in the playoffs. Fingers crossed I guess that 2022 is a repeat of 2020 and NOT of 2021.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:56 am
The fans who think Davis sucks obviously don’t know jack. It’s a passing league you don’t let your best corner leave just like you don’t let your best pass rusher leave cough cough Micheal Bennett. It’s also funny to hear these same fans say he’s injury prone. Glad most of your don’t work for the nfl
March 15th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Concur. Wise move. CD is a baller.
March 15th, 2022 at 9:15 am
“Passes defended” means QBs threw at the receiver he was covering a lot.
I’m glad he’s back for continuity purposes, but let’s not kid ourselves he’s a top “lock down” corner.
March 15th, 2022 at 10:04 am
BradyBucs should go back to Boston and stay there. Bucs management, coaches, players, and the heavy hitters around the NFL all put CD up as a top 10 CB, minimum. Arians said he’s a top 5.
But he knows better than all of them!
What a riot.
He must really admire EJ Biggers and Myron Lewis, and Ryan Smith.
When everyone with the credentials to make the decisions thinks he’s a very good player, and one or two think he sucks, which is the more likely reality?
LOL.
March 15th, 2022 at 10:37 am
CD led the league in passes defensed because opposing QB’s are targeting him. If he were a true “lockdown” corner, he wouldn’t get thrown at so much. The Bucs corners have been the weakest link since the Jay-miss days, and that’s saying a lot. All I see is Kooper Cupp roasting Davis for about 60 yards on two consecutive plays with seconds to go in the divisional round. “Lockdown”….ha! This is a disappointing move.
March 15th, 2022 at 11:13 am
BradyBucs Says:
————————-
Go look up the stats on Davis from when he’s been targeted and then get back to me. He’s been excellent and you are a know-nothing-clown. Davis allowed less than 50% completions and was top 5 in pass break ups in 2019 and all he has done is improve (though statistically he hasn’t).
March 15th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
I think Jameel Dean could end up being better than Davis. I know thats not saying much. To me Bunting is the weak link.
March 15th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Idahobucfan4life Says:
March 15th, 2022 at 10:37 am
CD led the league in passes defensed because opposing QB’s are targeting him. If he were a true “lockdown” corner, he wouldn’t get thrown at so much. The Bucs corners have been the weakest link since the Jay-miss days, and that’s saying a lot. All I see is Kooper Cupp roasting Davis for about 60 yards on two consecutive plays with seconds to go in the divisional round. “Lockdown”….ha! This is a disappointing move.
^^^^^^^^^
So by your logic, since Jalen Ramsey got beat for a long TD late in that game, he’s terrible. Right?
March 15th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Joe Buc did a 180 on CD3. Worse flip flop than Lebron James.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Idaho Buc Fan,
On the first completion to Cooper Kupp at the end of the divisional game, Jamel Dean was covering him. On the second Antoine Winfield was covering him on the infamous busted play by the defense.
March 15th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
I really liked Donnie Abraham and especially thought Brian Kelly was alot better than he ever got credit for.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Bucs better find a pass rush from somewhere. Or our secondary gonna be running down wide receivers all year long and every game..
March 15th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Goatfarmer,
Go back to Boston? LOL.
I can assure you, I’ve been a Bucs fan a lot longer than you have.