Constant Hounding Finally Sunk In For Jamel Dean
October 16th, 2025
Two picks in last three games.
Jamel Dean may have had his best game in the NFL on Sunday.
Hard to argue when he got his first sack of his career — a strip-sack — and a rare pick. It happened to be his second pick of the season and he put himself in perfect position to go up and haul in a Mac Jones pass.
Dean’s interception pretty much locked the door on any potential 49ers comeback.
Dean’s game was good enough to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
For the past two or three years, Dean has been the subject of constant haranguing and ridicule about his stone hands, whether it be from his coach, who joked how he should drug test Dean after an interception in practice, to his teammates to Bucs fans who want(ed) to run him out of town for this.
(Joe’s take is the old football cliché: Eh, if a defensive back could catch, he’d be a receiver.)
Dean said he’s been practicing hard, learning how to catch a football. He thinks the secret is he’s learned how to catch while also moving. He was OK catching balls from a stationary JUGS machine but learning how to catch on the fly might be the difference.
“The main thing was catching the ball on the move,” Dean said of his newfound sticky hands. It’s easy to track [on the move]. It helps me track the ball better.”
On his pick, Dean said it was zone coverage and it was fourth-and-five so he focused on not allowing a receiver to get past the first down marker.
Then, he said, Jones held onto the ball, which told Dean that Jones was looking for more than five yards.
“Then I just kept sinking (fading backward),” Dean said. “I guess I sank at the right time. As soon as he pulled the trigger, that’s when I started sinking.”
Dean skied and caught the ball that was headed for a target behind him.
On his sack, Dean said he knew he only had one man to beat and he had Jones. Dean not only got the sack, but also forced the fumble. A Simeon Rice special.
So Joe has to wonder, did learning how to catch while moving turn Dean into an interception machine, or did his pay decrease and contract status (he’s in the final year of his contract) suddenly transform him into a defensive version of Cris Carter?
October 16th, 2025 at 4:22 am
I never pushed for him in the draft, and i was very critical of him over the years like many, but he’s showing up now…its nice to see, earn that pay and stay healthy…thats all we ask.
October 16th, 2025 at 4:28 am
…..also, Maxx Crosby….Jason
October 16th, 2025 at 5:05 am
One would think the CBs are practicing catching the ball while moving their while football career.
October 16th, 2025 at 5:06 am
The dude is obviously an exceptional athlete. I think he finally got to the point that he worked on it and it has payed dividends.
However having tried to be a TE back in school? Hands of stone were not going away for me no matter how hard I tried. I could catch the nice easy tosses but bullets where a problem. Next time Cade catches a bullet ask yourself if you could catch that from ten yards away. They make it look soo easy…LOL
Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2025 at 5:33 am
I think it’s a combination of both Joe, fueled by the restructuring of his contract.
And who we drafted this year.
In some respects, Jamel was sitting “fat, dumb and happy” with his contract situation. He was doing enough to get by, but wasn’t playing to his full potential. And, he was (or at least appeared) to be going out on injury a lot.
Bring in a couple of rookies via the draft, then say “Hey, we’re going to restructure your contract”, and the writing is on the wall… “up your game, or we’re going to cut you loose”.
To his credit, Jamel stepped up including learning how to catch the ball while on the move. If he doesn’t stay with us next year, he’s certainly starting to write a ticket for a decent paycheck someplace else.
It’s a shame it had to get to the point of two new rookies and a contract restructure, but again to his credit, he’s stepping up.
And regardless of what the motivation was, Jamel had a heck of a game against the 49ers and the Defensive Player of the Week award is well-deserved!
October 16th, 2025 at 5:56 am
So this needed to wait until he was a few years into an NFL career to improve catching the ball?
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. He’s been catching footballs since he was probably a little kid. This honestly makes very little sense to me.
The reality is Dean finally had a great game. But overall he has been a mediocre corner and the Bucs know it. At times he’s been a terrible tackler from what I recall.
You don’t go draft corners in valuable rounds 2 *AND* 3 of the NFL Draft (especially with already having Zyon) unless you feel Dean’s position needs to be upgraded and he needs to be replaced.
October 16th, 2025 at 6:10 am
Dean will receive his largest contract as a pro this offseason.
October 16th, 2025 at 6:29 am
I refused to be persuaded that after being in the league for 7 yrs, n after playing one game like a pro bowler in the game against the 49ers, Dean is this all world player. Historically, he tends to regress, n can n not catch a cold. My problem with Dean is his inconsistency. He plays a good game once a blue moon, then, lo n behold, he comes back down to earth. He plays too stiff, is not head’s a up player, and whenever he makes a play he seems to shock himself. Jacob Parrish on the other hand is a natural, he’s a head’s up type player. He consistently plays aggressive, plays the ball, can tackle well, n have field awareness. I believe once Morrison recovers from his injury, we’ll see outstanding performance from him as well. I’m not putting my hopes in Dean n will be fine with him not returning next year because as I shared earlier, he’s inconsistent. He’s never showed up in the big game, especially under pressure. Parrish n Morrison will be household names for the Bucs in the foreseeable future.
October 16th, 2025 at 6:49 am
I have also thought of Jamel Dean as a very talented CB. This issue wasn’t about his play but his availability. Let’s see if he can string together 8 – 10 games without any injuries.
October 16th, 2025 at 7:31 am
I’ve always thought having the receivers and the DB’s trade places in practice now and again would help with stuff like that
October 16th, 2025 at 7:40 am
He has been a lock down corner his entire career. Some corners do not get a lot of interceptions, especially when they are not having the ball thrown in their direction. Ask Sauce Gardner.
October 16th, 2025 at 8:20 am
MadMax Says:
October 16th, 2025 at 4:28 am
…..also, Maxx Crosby….Jason
—–
I’d have bought that possibility more if the Raiders had lost last week.
October 16th, 2025 at 8:29 am
@Vanessa Anne said it all. It’s a combination of things.
October 16th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Dean needs to show out over most of the season and not just in one game. I’ve always thought he’s a decent cover corner who doesn’t get burnt deep very often and is a solid tackler. Interceptions, not so much. Some of that may just have been mental. So hopefully he does show out the rest of the season because that would help us tremendously in 2025. My biggest beef with him is always been being hurt for a third of the season, with usually very bad timing. If he stays healthy this year, that would be huge. Another thought, let’s blitz him more often! Maybe there’s more Ronde in him than we thought.
October 16th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Bout f–ing time! I dont think it was us hounding that made him start listening it was that pay cut and the idea he will be gone next season and needs to put some good play time on tape for the next team
October 16th, 2025 at 9:22 am
it was nice of jason and the management team to insult and ridicule him enough to have him move to another team. i’ve never heard of insulting a lock down corner, cutting his pay, and allowing him to become a free agent a year ahead of time. some kind of special skills jason licht has…..
October 16th, 2025 at 9:27 am
Dean ranks tied for fifth in the NFL with two interceptions this season, and his 20.8 passer rating when targeted is the best in the NFL. Dean is tied for the second-lowest among all qualified players when it comes to his 42.1% completion rate, and his 1.4 average yards of separation per target is tied for the second-best mark in the league.
So, this isn’t just one good game. Keep it up JD!
October 16th, 2025 at 9:31 am
He’s playing with a sense of urgency. He’s playing for a contract. He’s playing like a guy who wants to stay really badly. It’s a same that it took almost being cut and a significant pay cut for him to wake up and perform at this current level. Fear will do that to an athlete.
October 16th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Jason will probably not trade for a high priced defensive end. He will look for a Shaq Barrett type that we can get for a decent price.
October 16th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Excellent article, Joe. Another “what took you so long, bro?” Question for Dean and Todd.
October 16th, 2025 at 10:34 am
The 2 DBs who have impressed me are Izien and rookie Larry Parrish. I hope Izien will be able to play Monday. As far as Dean goes, he played very well Sunday as did the entire Defense. That includes SVD. Dean deserves being honored. Granted, I follow on Radio so I don’t watch the games. Personal preference but I don’t see the visuals. I hope this bodes well for the Bucs, and they eliminate the MNF curse, once and for all. Go Tampa Bay!!
October 16th, 2025 at 10:40 am
the more time spent on the field is the difference, there is no getting an interception while in the locker room or on the bench
October 16th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Bucs Reality Check — suggesting at times that he is a terrible tackler…
Well regarding Missed tackle rates.
A rate around 10% to 15% is typical for many solid cornerback starters, especially those who make a lot of tackles in open space, as cornerbacks often do.
Anything in the 5 to 8 percent range is considered very good for a cornerback.
With zero missed tackles this season — Dean is now at 4.6 percent missed tackle rate for his career. That is superior.
October 16th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Just an FYI — Izien has played only 2 snaps this season on defense and 33 on special teams. Bowles sees him as a bottom of the roster guy.
October 16th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
COMPETITION is the best MOTIVATION!!!!
either you’ll sink or swim…
Great work Dean!!!!
6-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 16th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Joe,
Career lock down corners aren’t asked to take pay cuts. Dean had a good game. Have been waiting two years to see one. Not smart to intercept 4th down pass. Less smart to celebrate an intercepted pass that should have been batted down.
October 17th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
One dam good game is not a career. And he is a free agent next year. They cut his salary too. That’s an interesting mix, then? This story has more possible twists and turns than a dam daytime soap opera!