Jacob Parrish Personifies Next-Play Mentality
September 13th, 2026
One-play mentality.
You’ve heard the old football cliché about how a cornerback has to have a short memory? That sooner or later he will get burned and he must forget quickly and move on to the next play quickly?
Jacob Parrish embraces that cliché.
The Bucs’ second-year corner is now a starting outside corner, full-time. And today he’s going to face the very best. Here comes Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Welcome to life as an NFL outside corner.
Parrish looked really good last year as a nickel. That’s a different animal than playing outside.
KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles has faith in Parrish. A lot of faith. One reason, which Bowles often brags about, is that Parrish just doesn’t care about what just happened. He is not fazed, Bowles said. As soon as one play is over, time for the next.
Short memory.
Joe spoke with Parrish last week about this and Parrish said it is a trait he learned from drilled into him by Kansas State defensive passing game coordinator and assistant head coach Van Malone.
“He was always telling us, it’s about the next play,” Parrish said. “That stuck with me. Some bad plays are going to happen. [Receivers] are going to catch the ball.
“‘Don’t worry about it,'” Parrish said Malone told him. “‘Because if you do, another bad play will happen.'”
Parrish is a super chill, really quiet dude. You can see just in his demeanor he doesn’t get worked up about anything. If you don’t see him, you don’t even know he’s around. So not getting bent about a receiver making a play on him fits his personality.
“That’s what I preach on,” Parrish said about his next-play mentality. “And that’s what I work on.”
Joe hopes Parrish doesn’t have to use Malone’s advice today.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:20 am
Jacob could be in for a real trial by fire today.
It could be a real test of that mentality.
Ideally, our front seven keeps the pressure on Burrow (and sacks him a few times), forcing him to get rid of the ball quickly. If not, it could be a long afternoon for our CBs.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:31 am
Parrish did a great job at nickel last year. I know at outside corner he will be on an island – a completely different situation. Todd seems to have the utmost trust in him and I do too.
Parrish could end up being our best corner.
My concern with the DBs is not so much Parrish or Mccullom, but our depth, both with the CBs and the safeties. They always get hurt.
Who goes in for them when they get hurt??? Oh, I forgot about Morrison…. {sarcasm}
September 13th, 2026 at 7:40 am
He’s going to “personify” burn toast today when Higgins gets done with him. He shouldn’t feel too bad though, because McCollum will be incinerated by Chase. And Bowles will have no answers for it except his tired postgame trope: “We have to play better and coach better.” 0-1.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:40 am
No corners are going to shut down Burrow, Chase, Higgins. Bucs pass rush needs to show up in order to win.
September 13th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Parrish was likely our best DB last year, I’m not worried
September 13th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Next play mentality for Bucs fans like me who tend to over react on every play.
September 13th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Parrish acts as if he has no fear, I have confidence in him, he was often our best defensive player last year.
September 13th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Can’t bat 1.000. Especially today. Make Bengals earn every yard. Avoid PI penalties and trust the offense to do their job.
We Dey