Testing The Rookie
June 13th, 2019
Big assignment.
As you likely heard from the very mouth of Bucco Bruce Arians during a recent edition of the internationally popular “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” Arians fell in love almost immediately with rookie cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting from the football hotbed of Central Michigan of the MAC.
Arians loved his speed, physical skills and maybe most of all his intelligence.
Arians must have a lot of confidence in SMB because, as SMB points out to Buccaneers.com, Arians wasted little time in testing him.
In a preview clip of next week’s edition of “The Current,” a Buccaneers.com in-house knock off of “Hard Knocks” (which is very well done by the Bucs’ video staff), SMB recounted on his first play in practice against the veterans, Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles gave SMB a lofty assignment.
“My first football play with the vets, I am man-to-man on the outside with Mike Evans,” SMB said. “And I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was really kind of starstruck a little bit.”
Now SMB did not detail how that matchup turned out. But that’s one helluva confidence boost to any rookie corner, that a coach lined him up against a potential Hall of Fame receiver on his first practice snap against veterans.
No easing into the NFL. No proving yourself first against camp meat. Go after the big hoss. Go get him, rook. Show us what you’ve got.
Joe has a hunch this never happened with Myron Lewis.
One’s a rookie and one’s a vet, but @MrSeanyB1 and @NdamukongSuh both joined our team this offseason with one goal in mind.
Learn more about their stories in the full episode of In the Current, airing next Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/pZAKjqHY1x
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) June 12, 2019
June 13th, 2019 at 8:04 am
OMG, definitely not with Myron Leis..
It will be interesting, and hopefully fun, to see increased speed on the back end of this D. Hopefully it limits the big plays and that speed will compensate for lack of experience.
June 13th, 2019 at 8:08 am
The kid looks a bit like Allen Iverson, I hope he’s the answer to our CB situation.
June 13th, 2019 at 8:27 am
Iron sharpens iron. TB’s not taking it easy on any of his defenders. Love it.
Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see 3 CBs & 2 Safeties on the field as a minimum on all defensive snaps (sometimes 6 & maybe even 7). There’s a LOT of speed AND talent in our Secondary now, and IF the big dogs upfront on the DLine & LBs can put pressure on, Bucs could be getting a lot more defensive turnovers. Last year we only had 9 INTs & 7 FRs by the defense. Bowles 2013 Cards’ defense had 20 INTs & 14 FRs by the defense … more than double what we had last year. Best way in the world to stop opposing offenses from scoring, and to set up your own offense to tack on some points.
June 13th, 2019 at 8:28 am
I want to know the back story on his name change……Joes
June 13th, 2019 at 8:30 am
Let the season begin! It is always exciting this time of year. Hope, anticipation and expectations. Can’t wait for it to unfold.
June 13th, 2019 at 8:38 am
Bucs proved that cliche to be complete nonsense last year.
June 13th, 2019 at 8:45 am
AlteredEgo, his mom is Kim Murphy. See the link and put the pieces together for yourself.
http://www.cm-life.com/article/2019/04/sean-bunting-tampa-bay-buccaneers-central-michigan-football-inner-circle-underrated-journey-nfl-family-friends-chippewas-daquaun-jamison-
June 13th, 2019 at 8:50 am
1-15
June 13th, 2019 at 8:52 am
@Joe … “Bucs proved that cliche to be complete nonsense last year.”
Good thing that was LAST YEAR, huh Joe. Beyond that though, there wasn’t much ‘iron’ out there last year. More like softer lead. That’s why so many from last year’s defense have moved on to other pastures. Or their couches, whatever.
June 13th, 2019 at 8:53 am
macabee Says:
June 13th, 2019 at 8:45 am
AlteredEgo, his mom is Kim Murphy.
.
..
.
thanks for the link…nice story that should have been told here
June 13th, 2019 at 9:02 am
Joe Says:
June 13th, 2019 at 8:38 am
Iron sharpens iron.
Bucs proved that cliche to be complete nonsense last year.
LAST YEAR IT WAS TIN SHARPENS TIN. NOW THAT DOSEN’T WORK.
June 13th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Murphy’s Law- Anything that can possibly go wrong, can and will go wrong.
It was the team motto of the Central Michigan Fukawi’s.
June 13th, 2019 at 9:43 am
@alteredego
Its a show of love to his mother. He changed his name on mothers day to pay respect to the woman that made him the man he is so he added her maiden name to his fathers name.
He sent out a tweet about it if u want to find it on his twitter
June 13th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Was glad to hear BA say the plan all along was to target CBs on day 2 of the draft and that SM-B was the main one they wanted.
I got the sense during the draft that the Bucs were targeting OT/OG Cody Ford and when Buffalo swooped in front of us to grab him – that the SM-B pick was almost a “crap – now who’s left” type of pick…
Happy to hear BA say he and TB loved this kid in the 2nd rd and were basically targeting Murphy-Bunting all along…..
I and many here were pretty shocked I think when the Bucs took no trench players with 4 picks in the first 3 rounds – in a DL heavy draft no less….
But hearing BA say the plan all along was to bolster the secondary in this draft after the first pick makes me feel a lot better about the positions (and players) that were selected with high picks this year.
The Bucs Defense badly needed an infusion of young talent (and speed).
Going stud ILB, CB, CB, Safety, DE/OLB with 5 picks in the first 4 rounds is certainly a good way to accomplish that.
June 13th, 2019 at 1:39 pm
“you draft for need in this league and you get fired”. BA (paraphrasing)
Did we not draft for need? Sure seems like it to me?
Why hasn’t BA been asked this question? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in and excited, but we certainly drafted for need in the 2nd round and on. Was he only referring to the first round?
June 13th, 2019 at 1:44 pm
74
we needed an OG, OT, RB….
the last thing we needed was another wr…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 13th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
You guys Crown Em quick. Hall Of Famers and busts galore on this team. Pretty sure neither can be anointed until after the careers are over. And yes I know he is on that trajectory. Lets not Crown Em yet Denny.
June 13th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Pick
BA has hinted that the trenches will be upgraded in August after cuts hence why DL-OL was not draft target. I still think it was mistake not to pick Allen over White but that will be evident by week 8 especially if we can’t find value to our depleted DE group. I have zero confidence JPP is a Buc.
June 13th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Iron dose sharpen iron Joe. If he plays aginst camp meat he wont be ready for Julio Jones. CBs played 12 yards off the line last year to much. Same coverage almost every play. What where those coaches expecting to happen? Plus Koeter didnt let them hit much in camp. Big mistake you need to hit and get use to it. Got to tuffin up those brain stems. I bet thats why so many guys got hurt last year. This year should be good.
June 13th, 2019 at 6:56 pm
DBs who challenge pass catchers. what a novel concept, it’s a shame the Smiths (Lovie & Mike) didn’t see the point of it all
June 14th, 2019 at 11:44 am
Lol Myron Lewis…. don’t torment us like that Joe!