Todd Bowles: Open Competition At Cornerback
July 22nd, 2025
“Dean, Zyon, the boss says these dudes are comin’ for you.”
“It’s not just Jamel [Dean],” Todd Bowles said yesterday with conviction.
Speaking on the Ira Kaufman Podcast, Bowles was responding to the sentiment among many fans and Ira Kaufman himself that starting cornerback Jamel Dean is not good enough and his inability to force turnovers is a problem. Dean has one forced fumble in his career and one interception through the past two seasons.
Bowles insisted he needs more turnovers “from all of them,” his entire defense.
“Linebackers as well. So, we can do better getting off the field and playing better defense getting turnovers,” Bowles said.
Yes, this is the same head coach who gave quite an “I want ballhawks” rant in February in response to a question from Joe at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Kaufman asked Bowles if second-round pick Benjamin Morrison is viewed as a backup who could start later or if he’s seen as someone in the mix to start.
“[Morrison] is pushing the starters, him and [third-round pick Jacob] Parrish,” Bowles said. “Zyon [McCollum] and Dean played very well; they’re very good corners. But we have a lot of competition at corner and camp will play out and we will play the guy we feel deserves to start.”
Joe hopes Bowles really has open competitions this summer. There’s been too much gifting of defensive starting jobs for those taste in recent years.
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:49 pm
CB is the hardest position in football … especially for rookies. They may push but they won’t start right away.
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:53 pm
He just had to say zyon to so dean didn’t get up in his feelings. Would line to see Morrison take thst job had enough of 15 yards off Dean
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Even if Dean wins a starter position, he’ll most likely be injured by the 4th game. Morrison or Parrish will remain at starter from the rest of the season.
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:57 pm
There should be competition at SS
Tykee Smith shouldn’t be a lock to start
We have some UDFAs that can win the SS job
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Christian Izien is the forgotten man.
Parrish brought in to compete at nickel, a spot Izien has played in.
Tykee moved to safety, another spot Izien has played at.
Camp is going to be interesting once the ramp up sessions come and get going.
July 22nd, 2025 at 1:33 pm
You’re right WBL. Izien is a good ball player. Does a good job anywhere in the secondary. Wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him on the field a lot.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:15 pm
They are some big CBs
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Bojim,
As much as we hear about chips on shoulders. Izien had 78 combined tackles(45 solo), 1 FF, 3 PBUs & 1 INT in 10 starts last year.
Not saying he’ll light the world on fire or even get that many starts, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he raised a little hell(in a good way) this offseason. The Sean Tucker of our defense is who Izien could be
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:17 pm
This is the time where I’m going to wake up every morning praying I don’t read any major injuries from camp. You know it’s coming though.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:19 pm
If I recall correctly Izien even played a bit of outside corner in at least one game last year and did a good job. Am I right? I’m not sure the BUCS care to make a habit of it, though. I consider him to be almost indispensable as a versatile backup. I know he plays special teams sometimes too, but I don’t know how much.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Will the Bucs sign George Fant today?
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:28 pm
BucU: I feel ya on the injuries. They are like lightning strikes. It’s usually random but some iron men seem to walk around holding a one iron over their heads. Even God can’t hit that. Others are not so lucky. Koff, koff, Dean, koff.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Is read about him today. Steady, but mediocre. Should be cheap but utile. Don’t know anything else.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Can play either side
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Fred,
Yes he did, after things went left against the Commanders week 1 w/our defensive backfield gettin rocked with injuries. Izien came in, had 1 PBU on 2 targets and caused a fumble on Daniels in the 4th qtr. Finished 2024 on IR with a pec injury.
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:18 pm
Morrison will start opposite Zy. Dean will be traded as soon as some team loses a starting corner. Said it when Morrison was drafted, sticking to it.
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Open Competition? Where have I heard that before? Hmmm? Gifting hasn’t just happened on defense.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:45 pm
JD- referring to Baker? I can understand the sentiment of him being gifted the spot, as I remember trask having a good camp that year.
With that being said, he has absolutely earned his right to start with what he has done on the field over the past 2 years. Trask has not shown the ability to even come close to produce and lead the way Baker has.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:47 pm
As far as cb depth goes, you have Antoine, tykee, sanders?, izien, Dean. Mcollum, morrison and Parrish with only 4-5 starting spots. Gonna be a fun battle to watch.
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:50 pm
Has anyone flat out asked Todd about zone, and if the Bucs will be greatly reducing their reliance on it? They lead the league in zone defense, so it’s a fair question to ask and it has data behind the question.
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:27 pm
Another question might be about which zone coverage schemes we’re using. I’m pretty sure the league as a whole majors in some form of zone. Apparently we ran mostly cover 3 which from my understanding leaves corners to cover deep with little to no safety help.
July 22nd, 2025 at 10:02 pm
“Another question might be about which zone coverage schemes we’re using“
Cover 3, we did almost everything out of cover 3.
It explains the depth of the corners.
The usage of the front 7 in coverage.
The ability to bring safeties/nickels into the box.
The different types of blitzes/fires we sent situationally
With a cleaner bill of health, we should be able to be more versatile in our coverages. That’s where the depth comes in, our at least the level of talent we have on reserve.
Not too far fetched to think we can come out of camp with Dean, McCollum, & Morrison/Parrish as starters. Morrison can be what we never really replaced when we lost SMB. Just like we’re looking to make Tykee be the combo of Whitehead & Edwards in one guy. Sure tackling, turnover machine. In theory, of course lol
July 22nd, 2025 at 10:03 pm
It will come down to who is better covering the beer vendor in the end zone stands.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:09 pm
@Warren Brooks Lynch
Pretty much the same thoughts I had
July 23rd, 2025 at 6:46 am
Pass rush and teaching everyone but AWJ and LVD how to hit and tackle would be where I would start Todd! INTs are fine so are fumbles, but when you give up big plays because nobody is interested in hitting and tackling? Well, as they say, good luck with that…
Swiping at the ball instead of tackling…. Grabbing as Lombardi said…Not working!
Go Bucs!