Not As Handsy
December 26th, 2019
Growing.
Once upon a time, Bucs second-year cornerback Carlton Davis developed a reputation for being a little too handsy with receivers.
As a result, he’d get flagged seemingly often, which meant the Bucs defense was giving up a big first down.
Last year Davis was flagged three times for pass interference and had an illegal contact whistled against him as well as a hold.
This year, with one game to go, Davis has four pass interference calls, which is tied for second-most in the NFL.
Despite having one more interference call than he had all of last year, Arians praised Davis for improving when it comes to flags thanks to, in part, experience.
“As a DB you have to know what you’re getting away with – how they are going to call this game?” Arians said this week. “Each game is different. We talked way back in September about getting his hands off down the field, and he’s done a heck of a job improving that part.”
Davis is turning into a damn fine corner. So much so that quarterbacks are learning the hard way not to test him. Davis is second in the NFL in passes defensed (18) and is one away from the NFL lead.
TODAY🥰
YOU can join Ira Kaufman and ask a question or two of him directly on his podcast!! @IKaufman76
Free lunch and recording from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the Bill Currie Ford showroom, a mile north of the stadium on Dale Mabry. @BillCurrieTampa pic.twitter.com/cNa2Mpdk8L— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) December 26, 2019
December 26th, 2019 at 8:18 am
You just have to remember which team you play for and adjust your game accordingly.
Historically, the refs see penalties more clearly when committed by Buccaneers players.
December 26th, 2019 at 8:45 am
Joe(s), the Koetter regime could NOT develop a CB to save their life ( or job for that matter). Seems like this staff ( all 500 of them) has a good beat on making these young CB’s better, and it is so good to see. They have made HUGE strides this season.
December 26th, 2019 at 8:46 am
It seriously seems that way slugglife. Seems like we are always getting shafted my the refs.
December 26th, 2019 at 8:52 am
I know this goes against most folks opinions here, but I would like to prioritize a 4th DB on this team.
If we have no injuries, SMB, Davis, Dean. Edwards and Whitehead seem to be fine going forward. But the chance of one of those five guys missing time during the next few years is great.
If you look at NE
December 26th, 2019 at 8:56 am
If you look at NE:
Their defensive backfield includes:
Devin McCourty
Harmon
Chung
Brooks
Jason McCourty
Gilmour
Jackson
and Jones
All of those guys have at one point taken 80 percent or more snaps during a game this year.
Their rookie this year, Joejuan Williams, that they took over Greedy Williams got over 50 % snaps in one game.
It is a passing league so we need more of those guys.
December 26th, 2019 at 9:30 am
Looks like SMB might indeed be the better pick than Greedy Williams. How many Joe Buc’s fans were pissed when that pick was made.
Through their rookie seasons according to PFF:
Sean Murphy Bunting – 65.6
Greedy Williams 56.2
Trayvon Mullen 63.7
Jamal Dean 79.3
Joejuan Williams 70.6
Mike Edwards 58.6
Dalton Risner (OT) 63.1
Darrell Henderson 61.8 (traded our 3rd round draft pick to LA Rams and got two third round picks back that included both Dean and Edwards).
Ronald Jones 69.1 (the guy playing instead of Darrell Henderson).
December 26th, 2019 at 9:37 am
been saying for years, problem was the coaching not the talent….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 26th, 2019 at 9:45 am
@geno711
Nice.
Ronde Barber predicted Jamal Dean.
Jamal Dean is a physical freak.
All 3 of CB’s are hitters too.
Carlton, Jamal, and Sean are all nasty hitters.
Licht done earned himself a few more years!
Go Bucs!
8-8 baby! Heading into 2020. I can dig it.
5 years, 25 per year, 100 million guaranteed.
Team friendly and a true commitment to Jameis.
Half of that going to Uncle Sam the Taxman anyway
So, really, its only 50 million guaranteed. After taxes dat is..
December 26th, 2019 at 9:53 am
Geno711 … I’ve often thought exactly the same thing. We’ve been very fortunate this season regarding the durability of our starting DBs, but we still need better depth. Same with our LBs IMO.
Davis, Dean & SMB are all turning out to be excellent starting CBs (I still consider nickel to be a starter). Whitehead & Edwards both need improvement, but they’re coming along nicely too. Adams has been solid as a backup Safety, and Ryan Smith is doing OK as a backup CB IMO … both are UFAs shortly & both should be re-signed IMO. Beyond that I’m not impressed. Wilkins is a big question-mark, and MJ Stewart doesn’t impress me at all. Neither has Darian Stewart.
Assuming that we carry 6 CBs & 4 Safeties, and that we do in fact re-sign Adams & Smith, we’d still need to add 2 corners & 1 Safety (unless they decide that Edwards is really a Nickel CB of course). Personally think that the priority should be adding 1 veteran, starter-capable Safety, then a backup CB, and maybe draft a corner with our 5th or 6th pick.
December 26th, 2019 at 10:13 am
So far, only eight posters for this fine article. Seems they’re only two words that motivate JBF’s enough to keyboard support or mouth frothing, foul tongued hatred. It matters little if you’re an educated Bucs fan or an illiterate buffoon, we all know the words; Jameis and Winston.
For the sake of all website owning Bucs fans named Joe, let’s hope that Jameis stays.
Imagine a life in Tampa Bay where everyone loved the quarterback …
Okay, that’s impossible, but nobody moves the JBF needle like Jameis. Nobody ever will …
Comments don’t equal interest or readership. Never have. Never will. –Joe
December 26th, 2019 at 10:39 am
Amazing! we have two if not 3 good corners, these guys gotta work on getting int’s, lots of practice over the off season. What a black hole that was, still we need reinforcements, practice.
December 26th, 2019 at 10:52 am
I liked the SMB pick I watched the film and saw the speed on youtube(I know that not a lot) but still thought he showed flashes better then vhg and whoever we had ppl where mad at not choosing Gwilliams he looked soft to me and got bullied a lot from what I saw
December 26th, 2019 at 11:45 am
@ Geno & Defense Rules
Have you completely written off Justin Evans…..because I haven’t…..it is possible he returns healthy which would negate needing to use a high pick on a DB….
My priorities for high picks are RT…..DE/DT…..RB…..Oline depth….after that a CB/Returner would be just fine.
December 26th, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Crazy numbers for you… since Week 11, we have tremendously improved defense…specifically against the pass!
-Rush Def: 57 YPG (1st)
-Pass Def: 225.4 YPG (11th)
-Total YPG: 282.4…third overall!
I only calculated our games since week 11 and compared those averages to the current league defensive rankings.
Got say, I am pumped about this Defense…especially if we can bring back all players and staff!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!
December 26th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
“Got to say, I am pumped…”
December 26th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
it was a bigger problem earlier in the season, when he couldn’t seem to defend downfield without excessive contact. we’ve seen less panicked defending from everyone as the year has gone on and confidence + preparation have increased. now we need these kids to hold on to more of the footballs they get their hands on, and we need to hope everyone stays healthy and there is no Justin Evans or Brian Price type of stories amount these young talents
December 26th, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Yeah ..that is different than the missed call that under BA’s challenge was again a no call after review….you know when the DB is face to face with the WR and mauling him…that is not pass interference
December 26th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
I want to believe you are going to be right about Justin Evans and very much hope you are right. I think he can be a player IF not injured.
I was an early disbeliever in Noah Spence because of his injury and a very big believer in JPP coming back strong.
If you look at my notes in Joe Bucs Fan in May, June, July, etc. I always said that JPP was going to play more this year than Justin Evans. That was not the dialogue from most on this site. I think Rod Munch was suggesting that we should just cut JPP.
I always felt that JPP’s neck fracture was going to heal with no sequela.
I always felt that Noah Spence’s torn labrum (thanks to profootball doc) was going to be a continued problem.
For Evans my concern is that turf toe and weak Achilles tendon will be an ongoing problem for a defensive back that has to continue to make cuts.
Evans for me is in the middle of those two. Not as confident that he will come back strong as JPP did but not nearly as discouraged as I was with Noah Spence.
I got tired of Dotson this year and I for one would love Jedrick Wills Jr in the 1st.
I am not looking for DE/DT in the early rounds because I hope we resign some of our guys and that Nelson takes a stop forward next year.
I am mostly a BPA guy for the draft but you have to weigh that with a right tackle pick. There are I think two good right tackles as free agents (Bulaga and Conklin) but do we want to spend even more money on that offensive line.
After getting a RT in one of our 1st three picks, I am just as happy with a defensive back player who has talent as much as getting a running back or defensive line guy. The depth of the draft seems to be offensive line and wide receiver so I hope we at least 2 guys from those positions in our 6 picks.
There are running backs in free agency that include Melvin Gordon, Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake, Jordan Howard, Lamar Miller, Peyton Barber, Chris Thompson, LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Carlos Hyde, Darren Sproles, Isiah Crowell, CJ Prosise, DeVonte Booker, DeAndre Washington, Ameer Abdullah, Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell, Theo Riddick, etc
December 26th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
At the beginning of the season around the Carolina game I had remarked on here that Davis had the makings of a shutdown CB if he could control his penalties. I’d say he MIGHT be a little ahead of my prediction if he ends the season on this recent shutdown upswing. I couldn’t possibly be more impressed with Davis, Murphy-Bunting, and Dean, and their ability and developmental. They all have shown special abilities this season. Davis and Dean are allowing less than 50% completions, SMB is a ballhawk and a playmaker. They are truly the best young CB trio in the NFL.
On another note, it’s rare I agree with Teacherman, but a healthy Justin Smith added to the safety tandem of Whitehead and Edwards and this secondary is young, deep, and talented.
December 26th, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if the secondary could become a strength of the team like the defensive line has become? If that happens, I may start to believe that there is a chance the running game can become at least average next year. I’m damn excited for next year already.
December 26th, 2019 at 4:33 pm
One thing I notice he hasn’t quite got into his mind yet is that you have to touch people when they go to the ground after a reception. I have seen several times this year and last where he hasn’t touched someone down and they get up and run for another 15 yards….check it out.
December 27th, 2019 at 7:06 am
There are 2 centers with 1st -2nd rd grade would love one of them w R Tackle & cut Jensen to free up cash.
We also need safety Help, I fear Evans injuries are the nagging type and will cut his career short unfortunately. Mike Edwards looked not great and Whitehead while a player he also seems injury prone. So if we are in position to grab a dynamic safety in rd 1 we have to consider it….
Dean, Davis & SMB look like they will continue to get better next year but Dean also has injury history so a veteran CB in free agency may be nice to pair with this group for depth….
RB – I like Cam Akers in rd 2 or 3.. he is explosive and played that well w a horrible FSU O LINE… hopefully 3 but when the run on RB’S start he will be in top 4 or 5 backs.
December 27th, 2019 at 7:05 pm
C. Davis #2 in the league.
And how about Jamel Dean at #4? Kid didn’t even start until the Seattle game! (and barely logged any snaps at all before that too).
I could see it in Seattle, Dean had serious instincts. He just needs his speed to catch up to the NFL speed.
Davis showed a lot of flashes last year too but also got beat a lot. Great to see him (and the entire defense) improve drastically over the last few weeks.
December 27th, 2019 at 7:07 pm
@Noles – agreed with you about our depth. Not too worried about Whitehead, but we can not be counting on Evans to contribute at all at this point.
I love what Dean is doing but you are correct he has a long injury history. Maybe a cheap vet at both positions and/or some developmental guys in the later rounds.
I think o-line and (depending on who we re-sign) the d-line need to be our big priorities the first couple rounds.
December 27th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
* just NEEDED his speed to catch up