Breakout For Carlton Davis?
April 14th, 2020
Big 2020 predicted.
Remember, there are two differing opinions on Bucs corners here at JoeBucsFan world headquarters.
One Joe unimpressed by the Bucs young corners and is adamant the Bucs need to find another corner, preferably a veteran who can start (and play solid football).
The other Joe recognizes the Bucs have spent quite a bit of draft capital on corners in the past two years and that in the final weeks of the season last year, the young corners displayed they can play.
It seems Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report believes this season we could see Carlton Davis blow up.
He still gave up too many big plays, but at the age of 22, he … [had] several strong late-season performances against the Saints, Lions and Texans (he was stellar in coverage against DeAndre Hopkins in Week 16).
It just seemed odd (coincidence?) that the secondary of the Bucs played better and better after Vernon Hargreaves was tossed aside for serial loafing.
Joe doesn’t expect rookies to play like Pro Bowlers in the first week (unless coaches talk them up as Pro Bowlers before the season starts). So long as the rookies improve as the season stretches, OK. “This Joe” felt that was the case with Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Could the Bucs use a veteran corner? Absolutely. But given the choice, Joe would take a competent veteran safety over a veteran corner right now.
April 14th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
There are still opportunities…….but it looks like a S in the draft will be our only upgrade…..the money has been spent on Shaq, JPP, Suh…..
April 14th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
22 that is hella young hope he can turn up this year
April 14th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
CJ…is smooth as silk and slick as glass
April 14th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
or Hargreaves absence gave way to a younger corner getting the start, and what’s the best way to get fast experience? …play more
April 14th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Who is this Joe that is unimpressed by our corners? You cannot be for real. Did this Joe expect a Day 2 Corner and a fourth rounder to be instant Day 1 game wreckers? Of course not. But that doesn’t mean there is a true No. 1 corner among Davis, Dean and Murphy-Bunting. The goal is to win a Super Bowl. –Joe
I can respect that standard but not the expectation. Take a fine look at some of them plays Bunting made to close out the year. Watch Dean a little closer and tell me he can’t make a play on the ball.
Absolutely you add a veteran to that group and keep them pushing. Just tell me how many Monopoly dollars ya got and we’ll see who we can add.
April 14th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
Vh3 was the weakest player worse than Myron Lewis and historical BUST
One biggest draft gaffe ever for the Bucs and we had many.
April 14th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
And why did Joe call it serial loafing? That tells me he should not have even been a Bucs when 2019 started……Good riddance and thank you to whoever figured it out.
April 14th, 2020 at 3:29 pm
lamarcus
biggest BUST goes to your boy JW!!!!…lol…VHG has a job with the texans….lol…can you say the same about JW?…lol…
regarding the article, the young CBs played good once they gained more experience after VHG was sent packing….experience came with lumps(dean vs seattle) but they got better each week….SMB played solid all year for being a rookie imo….
GO BUCS!!!!!
i agree with this joe…we need a vet FS….whitehead is great in the run game but TEs and slot WRs eat him up frequently…..
the defense as a whole started playing better once JPP returned….that was the key….
April 14th, 2020 at 3:31 pm
But that doesn’t mean there is a true No. 1 corner among Davis, Dean and Murphy-Bunting. The goal is to win a Super Bowl. –Joe
chiefs had a true #1 CB?…..
they did have a great FS in the honey badger tho….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 14th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
I think Edwards takes a step up. Had injuries last year
April 14th, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Mike Mayock said Hardgraves was the best corner to come out in years !!! Just like Melvin Gordon was his clear number one back ……… You must be able to differentiate how college strenghts and weaknesses and style translate to the NFL !! I feel Licht with the last draft is starting to learn this but he clearly doesn’t get positions and cap allocations , You just simply can’t use the 5 th pick on a middle LB . Left value and 5 mil cap minimum on the table !!!
April 14th, 2020 at 3:50 pm
Must be me that wants a vet db
April 14th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
“But given the choice, Joe would take a competent veteran safety over a veteran corner right now.”
Amem to that
Although I think we could have both, the corner being a less expensive guy just to be a experienced backup
April 14th, 2020 at 3:58 pm
Hargreaves is the product of being a high draft choice and being given a starting position. He never earned it…These young guys were made to earn their spots and it showed in production on the field. I think they are more dedicated to their crafts….Hargreaves was more dedicated to his social media.
April 14th, 2020 at 3:58 pm
“Our young players are mentally tough
Wants to be great
Short memories and has a edge to them
VH3 is soft, aloof, spoiled and content with all his money
The absolutely amazing incompetence of Jason Gump is that if BA wasn’t here, VH3 and Nowhere Spence would still be on this team”
Kobe Faker
April 14th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Breakout? Who knows. I do know he was a very good CB in college playing press and was brought into Smitty’s duvet cushion secondar He obviously improved with Bowels 3-4 with his first year in Tampa. MJ Stewart didn’t have a chance playing nickel with Smith. Once again a press outside CB. Stewart is a fast downhill hard hitter. Put him in box safety position and his game/SS depth will go up. Davis does have a high ceiling. Feel bad for all these rookie secondary that came in under Smitty. Ryan Smith could be an All-Star. As for safety I’m thinking they might go with a fourth or fifth rounder unless they don’t have much confidence in Mike Edwards.
April 14th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
I’m sorry Joe. I just don’t see a veteran corner who could actually beat out any of our three young guys. A veteran DB is like gold…IF they can play.
Occasionally one will blow out a knee and become unexpectedly available like Revis…sadly we got him in his gimpy year and by the time he healed he left.
If you want to spend chump change on damaged goods…or take a shot on a guy who might have been in a bad situation…I guess that’s OK…IF you’re thinking about depth. Name an FA CB who could earn a starting role on this team!!!
April 14th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
BTW…Our DB’s are not afraid to lay the lumber on guys. We know have a “physical” defensive backfield…Safety is admittedly thin I suspect we’ll address that in the draft.
April 14th, 2020 at 4:33 pm
813bucboi Says:
April 14th, 2020 at 3:29 pm
lamarcus
biggest BUST goes to your boy JW!!!!…lol…VHG has a job with the texans….lol…can you say the same about JW?…lol…
This post ⬆️ just officially proves how big of an idiot you truly are!
April 14th, 2020 at 4:36 pm
IMO Kick the tires on Eric Berry, if he signs for a cap friendly contact.
Known for great leadership and character, hopefully can at least play moneybacker
April 14th, 2020 at 4:43 pm
Ndog, including 813’s excerpt actually works against you and makes it seem more logical.
April 14th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
stpetebucsfan
Agreed. All these CBs had very good stats in one area or more. Trade back in the first round and make a big trade for Anthony Harris in the middle of them. That would be a bad ass secondary.
April 14th, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Off Topic: This website would be so much better if the writers would stop referring to themselves as “Joe.”
April 14th, 2020 at 5:22 pm
The Bucs have a great front 7 on D.
Although they need a safetybecause of J Evans injury, their corners are athletic enough.
If you have a great front 7, you don’t need All Pro corners , just heady players- see Cowboys championship teams of ‘90’s – remember Isaac Holt and Larry Brown?
April 14th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
If we get a safety like Winfield or Dugger in the draft then I would try to sign a veteran CB. If we don’t get a top safety from the draft then clearly signing a veteran safety would become a priority.
April 14th, 2020 at 6:56 pm
I agree with this Joe of the safety over corner need. Only because of those strong late season performances and growth by those said players (Dean, SMB)
This must be Isbits :p
…only kidding other Joe
April 14th, 2020 at 7:06 pm
Winfield Jr. is one of my personal favorite players in this entire draft. He’s one of the players I hope we get, the most this draft (him, CEH and Proche are a few of my draft crushes this year…for non-first rounders). I absolutely love that guy. Ashtyn Davis (“mystery man” and all) is another good fit and a player I like at safety. Jeremy Chinn is super intriguing (actually prefer him over Dugger I think, but that’s a close one).
It’s an unfortunate reality, but probably can’t get both Winfield Jr. and CEH this draft, due to draft/round projections. But those are the two players I hope we procure the most.
Oh, and Derrick Brown would be a sweet pick if he were to fall to us in the 1st round. It’s a pipe-dream, but a dream nonetheless.
But Wills or Thomas would be just as good. Definitely prefer both Wills and Thomas (in that order) over Wirfs and Becton (but wouldn’t be disappointed w/ those two either).
Can’t wait for this draft to take away my Corona Blues!
April 14th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
Let’s not forget that the rise of the defense also coincided with a healthy Devin White. Also with the return of JPP, but not only JPP. I’m still pissed about the amazing fake FG fourth down missile against Tennessee by White that should’ve been a scoop and score, but the ref blew the whistle!! White blew the hell up out of that play in like his fifth game (at most). We need a safety but the corners should be better after another year of experience.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:07 pm
We need to get an extra 2nd round pick somehow in this draft. Either by trading down in the 1st or the more realistic option would be to use our 3rd and one of our 4ths to get back into the 2nd. That’s the only way we could have a chance at CEH, my favorite player in the draft, and Winfield.
Philly would be an interesting trade down option in the 1st. They need WR help and could be an option if one or more of the top 3 WR are still on the board at 14.
This is the year to make moves in the draft to get the players you want. Mortgage some of next year’s picks if needed, within reason of course, and take advantage of our Brady Window
April 14th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
Dean is the #1, he will continue to blossom this year, Davis is the CB2, Bunting the nickel – the 4 spot is wide open and there is where a vet can make a big difference over a street FA/UDFA
CB isn’t the issue – safety is still the issue – Edwards, Evans not reliable – we have 1 S, Whitehead, Adams is marginal at best – that is the glaring hole left on D
Like RT and RB on O – need more talent in these spots period
DL youth is also vital
The draft should play out accordingly
April 14th, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Anyone has an opinion on MJ Stewart. Does he make a leap this year or fail to make the roster?
April 14th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
To the Joe that is not impressed with our young corners I am posting the link below.
CD was 3rd in the League
and Jamel Dean was tied for fifth!
Not impressive at all.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:19 pm
The secondary, after an incredibly slow start, was playing well by the end of the season — aided in large part by a front 7 that got good pressure. If they can get a vet, that’s fine – but this is the first year since Licht has been here that I actually have some confidence that the secondary won’t be the worst in the league. I still don’t think they’re going to be good, but if they can just be top 22, I’ll take it.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:21 pm
Really impressed with his 2019. Definitely will make a bigger leap in Year 3
https://youtu.be/ii2mMkR3vPk
April 14th, 2020 at 9:52 pm
Getting rid of VHIII was a fantastic move.
I’m guessing the credit goes to the coaching staff.
It let all the new guys set new standards.
And I really do think he was somehow holding them back, being the veteran…
It was a bummer to watch the non development.
It seems to me the Corners get graded VERY differently from scout to scout, team to team, etc…
I wonder why that is.
Eli Apple is another RECENT and PERFECT example.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:07 pm
I hope the NFL plays this year.
April 15th, 2020 at 12:31 am
Just got the thought I wouldn’t mind getting Delpit if we traded down to around 19. He’s going to be a good NFL safety and LSU team mate White next to him.
April 15th, 2020 at 5:13 pm
It’s not odd at all, we got rid of the weakest link.
I’m actually more excited to see how Jamal Dean continues to progress (asssuming he can stay healthy).
That kid showed some incredible football instincts once he got the start last year.