Examining The Starting Cornerbacks
May 5th, 2022
Bucs co-DC Kacy Rodgers.
Entering the draft, Joe hoped the Bucs selected a corner early. Remembering this defense collapsing whenever the Bucs had an injured starting cornerback (which happened a lot), depth at that position was a big-time need.
The Bucs obviously didn’t think so. When Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers stepped up to the podium at One Buc Palace earlier this week, Joe asked Rodgers assess the Bucs’ starting corners.
Rodgers said the big thing that stuck out in film study was the corners did not get roasted over the top. You know, like Mike Evans did to Jalen Ramsey in the playoffs.
“The thing is when we went back through the cut-ups, the thing that really stood out was, when grading that position, was how many balls went over our heads? And that really wasn’t the case,” Rodgers said. “So when we looked at them, Sean [Murphy-Bunting] was coming off injury. We thought Carlton [Davis], we usually matched him with [opponents’] best guy here and there and he really held his own against a lot of marquee guys.
“[Jamel] Dean was making plays here or there so we felt like we had the talent there, We just had to clean a few things. We are very confident in those guys.”
That showed in the draft, as the Bucs waited until Day 3 to pick a corner who may turn out to be a total steal in the fifth round, Zyon McCollum from Sam Houston State.
Davis, Dean and SMB missed a total of 14 games due to injuries last year. So unless McCollum is better than expected and/or Logan Ryan is ready to roll, the ability for the Bucs corners to stay healthy will be critical.
May 5th, 2022 at 11:06 am
Last year they struggled getting to the QB and these corners couldn’t cover worth a lick. That has to change. Hopefully they do a better job with communication. I am curious to see know how much zone did the bucs play all year.
May 5th, 2022 at 11:07 am
Wish we would have addressed the CB position, with one more prospect, just for the very reasons mentioned above. SMB and Dean have each flashed (*at times) but their injuries and mental lapses can easily justify the Zion McCallum pick.
Would have loved to see another CB… instead of a punter. Just sayin’
May 5th, 2022 at 11:08 am
Saw a rumor the Giants are looking to cut Bradberry because they couldn’t find a trade partner. Maybe Mr. Brady will hop on the phone if it happens? Take a prove it deal to chase a ring *fingers crossed*
The problem is Bradberry doesn’t need to “prove-it.” Someone will pay him within two days. –Joe
May 5th, 2022 at 11:15 am
To emphasize this point even further:
We took P Jake Camarda – Rd. 4 pick 133
CB Joshua Williams – selected at pick 135 by K.C.
CB Tariq Woolen – selected at pick 153 by SEA
May 5th, 2022 at 11:38 am
Just saw that the bucs ran 65 percent of their defense in zone. It seems like he bucs don’t have the personnel to run more man coverage. Even carlton davis is though of as a zone corner. Anyway our defensive scheme is zone been saying it for awhile now and these days zone gets destroyed at times it seems.
May 5th, 2022 at 11:46 am
@Joe
I didn’t realize he was already 28 and made it to a Pro Bowl. A lot better than I thought.
Off topic but did you hear anything about them being interested in Christian Watson with that 33rd pick? He would’ve looked great in Red and Pewter and he’s a Tampa kid
May 5th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
Losing starting players at ANY position is concerning, it is most noticeable at DB. Now, that said, even with the rash of injuries we still managed to be 13-4. I dare say it’s not nearly as bad as we think.
However, written across the Fanman’s family crest is the following motto:
“You can never have enough competent DBs.”
Amen.
May 5th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Spend the cap money re-signing Suh and JPP
May 5th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
There may have been interest but clearly Logan Hall was of much greater interest. Watson’s resume is awfully thin.
May 5th, 2022 at 12:15 pm
@Joe
Appreciate you
May 5th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Carton is solid
Dean is a good corner. Just seems soft and doesnt like to hit
Smb should be nervous w ryan signing
I hope Mccollum becomes first off bench
May 5th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Watson didn’t even have a 1000 yard season highly doubt that he was on there radar at 33 with the need at dt being such a big need. Hearing the way Jason is talking sounds like suh is asking for more than the bucs are willing to pay don’t think he is coming back and definitely not jpp they might sign another veteran but doesn’t look like it will be either of those two.
May 5th, 2022 at 12:27 pm
Bucs only had all 3 of their starters in there for just a few games last season. And even when they were all in there, usually at least 1 of them was playing at less than 100%. Still, look at how the 3 of them performed on the season:
o Games Played: Davis – 10; Dean – 15; SMB – 9
o Def snaps: Davis – 638; Dean – 685; SMB – 461
o Targeted: Davis – 70; Dean – 66; SMB – 54
o Completions: Davis – 40; Dean – 32; SMB – 32
o Completion %: Davis – 57.1%; Dean – 48.5%; SMB – 59.3%
o PDs: Davis – Davis – 11; Dean – 9; SMB – 3
o Yds Allowed: Davis – 422; Dean – 319; SMB – 408
o Yds/Completion: Davis – 10.6; Dean – 10.0; SMB – 12.8
o TDs Allowed: Davis – 3; Dean – 0; SMB – 3
o INTs: Davis – 1; Dean – 2; SMB – 0
The unsung hero of that Secondary was Ross Cockrell IMO. His 66.7% completion rate isn’t on the same level as Davis, Dean or even SMB, but he did play in all 17 games & gave us 474 def snaps. And his 10.3 yds/completion was on a level with all 3 of our starters.
Like everyone else I’m hoping that our starters stay healthy this season, but I’m really glad that we signed Logan Ryan (I think he’ll play a big role at CB). Not giving up on Dee Delaney yet either; he played in 15 games last season & seemed to be improving as the season wore on. And of course I’m hopeful that our rookie, Zyon McCollum, works out for us. At 6’4″ & 200 lbs he could really make an impact if his technique is there.
May 5th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
Bucsfanman … “You can never have enough competent DBs.”
THAT’S written across your family crest? Now you’ve inspired me to change my screen name to ‘Big uglies rule’.
May 5th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
Except for Cooper Kupp with seconds to go in a tie playoff game.
May 5th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Licht seems to think the only problem with the secondary was injury. I think that’s flawed logic. We all can agree the DBs over preformed during the superbowl run. I think it had more to do with the pressure the front generated. Davis isn’t a number one. I was surprised they didn’t let him walk and pursue Steph Gilmore. Logan Ryan is good at defending the third option. That’s not what this team needed in my opinion.
May 5th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Defense Rules- “Big Uglies Rule” is actually a Fanman family value!!! LOL!
May 5th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Guess with all the talent on this team you guys gotta find an area to bitch about
We are good on the outside corners with our Florida boys who went to Auburn!
I look for Dean and Davis to come down with more pucks this year, see the ball catch the ball especially when it hits em in the numbers !!!!
I’m sure glad the Bucs have Bowles, Rock, etc evaluating corners not some of you couch potatoes
Dean had the highest ceiling and will get paid next year, hope it’s with the home team !!!!
Go Bucs
May 5th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Look at Mr Defense Rules #’s
Shows who can hang NFL caliber wideouts consistently
May 5th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
I think SMB will be really good overall, I think Dean is someone we probably should have at least brough some serious competition in for. We will see how it plays out.
May 5th, 2022 at 6:32 pm
It was either CB early or Edge. Fine with the Hall pick but was hoping with their 2nd 2nd rounder theyd draft to improve the pass rush more or the back end. Not so sure Im sold on the guard they took although other fans seem to love the pick. Stinnie will hold his pwn, they could have picked up a guard later instead of a punter.
May 5th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
If they stay healthy I fully expect Davis and Dean to be a fantastic duo. SMB has more to prove. People complaining about depth fail to realize Delaney has tremendous speed and showed a lot of potential as does the new rookie.
Plus Edwards & Logan can play slot.
May 5th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
The problem is Bradberry doesn’t need to “prove-it.” Someone will pay him within two days. –Joe
………
Too true!
May 5th, 2022 at 8:42 pm
I Appreciate that post DR!
Thank you.
May 5th, 2022 at 9:06 pm
He said barely nothing got over the top. Remember the last drive in the championship game. Rams win.
May 5th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
All this noise from some of you poser BUCS fans suggesting our secondary is the second coming of Northeast High’s secondary is ridiculous. Just recall how awfully bad our D looked when we relied on the Ross Cockrels, and Dee Delaney’s of the world. It all boils down to health and availability. When all three starters were in we actually held our own. No D is absent from a big play here and there. Offense gets paid too. I say, depth was an issue. Our free agent signings and draft will prove to be a game changer. IMHO, Keano Neal was the best free agent signing. It may be as valuable as Shaq’s signing. The dude is a stud.
May 5th, 2022 at 10:14 pm
@Steve Brown that was more poor coaching and poor situational football awareness than poor play. They were set up to fail on that call. Should have zoned up and protected deep. Maybe cover two or cover three. Hopefully Bowles learned from that. Has to be the worst call of his career. It may have cost him another SB. No guarantee we’ll ever get back, let alone win.
May 5th, 2022 at 11:08 pm
We got the best run defense period the prob is pressure n coverage. When we don’t get pressure they pick us a part then you add in injury to our starters and you get bad bad bad situations. Even when dean smb n cd are healthy n we get bo pressure we still get picked a part. We need help in both areas. I deff wish we went cb n rusher with our 1st 2 picks. Hill n cine n booth we’re still there n some rushers.
May 5th, 2022 at 11:37 pm
Our roster is loaded. We further fortified it through the draft. We are the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl and we have the greatest QB in the history of the game. We good
May 6th, 2022 at 9:55 am
Luckily there is nothing in the history of our starting corners to suggest that any of them will miss significant time this year…LOL, nevermind. I love what Licht has done for us recently, but not drafting a corner until round 5 was a horrible decision. I hope I’m wrong and that Licht has a backup plan since it’s all or
nothing this year.