Todd Bowles Seemed To Give Jamel Dean A Vote Of Confidence
July 27th, 2025
Bucs CB Jamel Dean.
In recent months, many Bucs fans have simply gotten fed up. They want new blood.
The Bucs, for the second-straight season, finished with the fourth-worst pass defense in the league. That should not happen with a defensive-minded head coach.
After practice today, did Bucs coach Todd Bowles give a vote of confidence today to a marked man? Sure smelled that way to Joe.
When the Bucs needed a stop against the Commandos in the playoffs, the Bucs defense couldn’t force one friggin’ punt. Forget getting a takeaway, they couldn’t force Washington to punt once.
#Sad
One lousy, friggin’ punt and the Bucs win that game. But no, the defense.
And many Bucs fans starting corner Jamel Dean in their crosshairs. Joe admits to growing weary of Dean, not because he is a bad corner — Joe thinks he’s a fine corner. Dean’s problem is he cannot stay on the field.
Last year Dean missed five regular-season games. In those games the Bucs were 1-4. Three of those losses were one-score games. So if you want to play around with a lame baseball stat WAR, you can see the Bucs missed Dean. Likely big time.
Well after practice today, cornerback play was a big topic because Bucs corners practiced really well, highlighted by Jacob Parrish’s diving pick of Kyle Trask.
In Bowles’ post-practice remarks, Dean’s name came up. And it sure seemed to Joe that Bowles gave Dean a vote of confidence, at least partially.
“He’s got to stay healthy,” Bowles said. “When he’s out there, he plays well for us.”
This is what Joe has said all along about Dean. When he’s on the field, he’s fine, unless someone is completely and totally hung up on picks.
If Dean gets hurt again — and he will — then it may be time to have his replacement ready. It’s hard to win games when you can’t bank on your best corner staying on the field.
July 27th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
I’ve watched him. Closely.
I’m glad they brought in New blood.
Dean never seems to play hard. IMO, he always plays like he’s waiting to get a hang nail, so he can watch from the locker room.
July 27th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
We didn’t force a punt in the playoff game but we did force 2 t/a on downs including a a goal line stand. The defense played good enough to win that game. Clearly our offense underperformed. If the offense had played up to their billing, not turned the ball over and not shot themselves in the foot with penalties we win…. Period
If you want to blame a coach, blame the ginger hero….Coen skrewed the pooch
July 27th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
When Dean plays a complete game the Bucs win. When he’s out, not so much.
So he definitely has a major impact!
Him being out in the latter stages of the Commanders game knocked us out of the playoffs. At least this time around, we have other fantastic players to plug in…
July 27th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
“Fine “players make plays Joe….im trying hard to remember the last time I actually saw Dean make a play. He has NO ball skills whatever and if you consider staying with a receiver downfield being a fine player then your talent appraisals differ from mine….We need ball Hawks who can catch the damn ball
July 27th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
Capt. Tim nailed it.
He’s soft.
July 27th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
That INT Dean dropped against Detroit in the End Zone during the playoffs, was really embarrassing.
He can cover, but he’s not a playmaker
July 27th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Dean is ok, I was glad when we resigned him years back. But, he has proven to be so passive as a player. He consistently gives his guys a massive cushion, even though he runs a 4.3 – makes no sense. He never plays for the ball, but instead he plays to be close to the guy when he catches it. He reminds me of an MMA fighter that is clearly trying to win by the judges’ decision. That doesn’t justify his paycheck in my book.
July 27th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
Joe … ‘When he (Dean) is on the field, he’s fine, unless someone is completely and totally hung up on picks.’
So apparently the only issue in your eyes with Dean Joe is that he doesn’t get enough picks? Granted, 8 INTs in 6 years is nothing to brag about. Of course, Carlton Davis only had 9 picks in his 6 years with us. Zyon McCollum has 3 years with us but only 2 INTs. All 3 share the same pretty much the same coaching tree: Todd Bowles & his assistant coaches. Hmmm, maybe it’s not just the players, but rather how they’re being told to play?
I have to believe that if our CBs are playing as far off as they’ve been playing, we won’t see a ton of INTs. Part of it was surely Davis & Dean though. Davis had 4 INTs in 38 college games at Auburn. Dean only had 2 INTs in his career at Auburn. For his part though, McCollum had 13 INTs in college. Yup, 2025 is his break-out year.
July 27th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
OK…..If Todd Bowles doesn’t improve on the 4th from the bottom pass defense that let Kurt Cousins pick the team apart for 9TD’s and 500 yards/game in 2 games last year, we won’t have Todd Bowles to kick around much longer. Ironically, an Achilles recovering Cousins couldn’t beat anyone else last year and lost his job to a rookie. Charitably, many blame injuries but the soft zone defense was completely ineffective. Some scapegoats are gone; but, I don’t think the Bucs are anywhere close to having even a mediocre pass defense in 2025. Mediocre gets them into contention for the NFC Championship.
July 27th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Dean has all of the physical tools to be a great corner. He lacks instincts, toughness and desire. Three things you simply cannot coach. But yet our coach keeps counting on this guy. I don’t get it. Glad JL brought in some true competition.
July 27th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Agreed Capt.Tim.
I’m not a Dean hater, I believe he is a useful CB for this team when healthy and I wasn’t calling for a cut or trade. Need all the decent bodies we can muster.
Having said that… that play last year where Dean kinda hurt himself… I am botching this cause I can’t remember the game or if he missed time from it but the play is seared in my brain.
He was running into a WR on a crossing pattern that got the ball and Dean was so scared of the contact he basically fell over backwards. Awkwardly at that and basically injured himself cause the WR didn’t do anything. Dean is lucky it was some bum and not London or Lamb.
July 27th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Dean is soft.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
I don’t think Dean likes football
July 27th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
Remember the “Grave Diggers”, LOLOL. Just when you start taking yourself too seriously…..I don’t know with Dean, sometimes he makes the comeback and knocks the ball out doing what you expect him to do and other times he get’s turned around and/or he whiffs on the tackle after the reception and the guy burns past him or he’s just turned all around, I don’t see consistency with him. I’ve seen him make strong tackles and play lights out and then turn around and look like a rookie, I don’t get it.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
Maybe he starts playing strong and then the genie escapes and he’s hurt again
July 27th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
OK, so Dean has 8 career interceptions in 6 seasons. Nothing stellar but, his other skills must please Todd. With Bowles’ renewed interest in interceptions and the team developing a killer instinct we can watch for a change this season.(I am curious how good Morrison can be this year.)
Go Bucs!
July 27th, 2025 at 7:48 pm
Carlton Davis had 9 picks in 6 years. The team dumped him. So. Dean had 8 and is still here. Guess Davis was not as close of a friend and special to be able to keep his kid here. And how many times was Davis injured?
July 27th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
job here.
July 27th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
It doesn’t matter anymore. Either he balls out or his replacement is probably in the building. I am guessing he “gets a hang nail” and once he is off the field he is done.
July 27th, 2025 at 10:35 pm
Agree with everyone he’s soft and seems to be afraid of his own shadow, gives up way way to much cushion
July 27th, 2025 at 11:15 pm
Idk if Joe watched the game. The defense forced multiple turnover on downs. Bucs D played well enough to win. If not for the botched handoff, Bucs victory.
July 28th, 2025 at 12:36 am
very loose interpretation of WAR haha
July 28th, 2025 at 2:08 am
Saskbucs
The Saints.
July 28th, 2025 at 3:20 am
Coaching staff addressed the RB situation the same way last year White was the starter the previous year although Bucky Irving was clearly the better back to start the season. They waited for god knows what to give him more play time. Dean will be replaced by game 5 or 6 wif he getstourched or most likely hurt
July 28th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Build him up so we can trade him. He’s a solid corner, but he isn’t the play maker the Bucs want, and need. As soon as a starting corner goes down across the league I believe he’ll be traded.
July 28th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Way over 15 yards off Dean. Dude can go
July 28th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Dean is a good CB when he’s on the field. Last year he missed 5 games. He had no backup last year Hayes and Funderburk could not handle it. Not the case this year Depth is deep with Morrison, Parrish, Vildor and Hall. I expect Parrish will start at nickel. Jamel hang tough its your job play hard and stay healthy.
July 28th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Coaching matters. Instead of “letting them line up wherever they want” how about telling them their max cushion is 5 yards, and depending on situation, like 3rd and 1, tighter. Then coach them up on how to play both man and zone from closer in.
Or not.