Are Bucs Safe At Corner?
August 8th, 2020
Bucs CB Carlton Davis.
It could be boom or bust for the Bucs’ corners.
JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters is split. And no, it’s not who picks up the tab on the next run to Big Storm Brewing or who has to go get the pick-up order of Hooters wings.
It’s about the Bucs’ corners. One Joe thinks the young corners grew quite a bit last year with decent coaching. And because of that, the Bucs won’t miss the chafe they discarded. The other Joe thinks the Bucs are woefully thin at corner and there is no good reason not to sign Logan Ryan. If that means someone’s contract has to be redone, so be it.
Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports believes the Bucs are set at corner and only a rotation needs to be figured out.
Similar to the offensive side of the ball at the tight end position, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will be looking to determine a pecking order at cornerback. Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, and Sean Murphy-Bunting will all see a solid amount of time in the secondary and all could see starting action depending on what kind of lineups Tampa Bay will roll out in 2020. That said, a hierarchy does need to be hammered out and a starting rotation for traditional two-corner sets. Davis started in all 14 of his games played in 2020 and led the team with 19 passes defended. Meanwhile, Dean was right behind him with 17 passes defended and Murphy-Bunting led the team with three interceptions.
Yes, the Bucs are thin. However, does that mean the Bucs should have kept Vernon Hargreaves and M.J. Stewart?
Joe does not believe in coincidences and it is remarkable how the moment Hargreaves got run for alleged serial loafing, the secondary suddenly got so much better. Were coaches having guys shade to Hargreaves’ side of the field for help, which left the rest of the field vulnerable? Sure smells like that could be it.
And when it comes to Stewart, and to a lesser degree Hargreaves, if a corner can’t cover himself with a blanket at night, is that really valuable depth?
August 8th, 2020 at 12:08 am
I am with the Joe that says we need another cornerback. There are 3 on the field for at least 60 percent of the plays and corners get injured and miss plays.
Therefore a good 4th is needed.
August 8th, 2020 at 12:08 am
CB is a strength with the best young trio in the league. Davis and Dean both held opposing QBs to 50% completions or less and top 5 in PDs. SMB is a playmaker from the slot. 31 other teams would love to have our youth and depth that we do. Signing a vet is a waste of money and valuable game and practice reps for our three young studs.
August 8th, 2020 at 12:18 am
Yeah joe you want someone’s contract redone for Logan Ryan.
That would mean re doing 5 peoples contracts, that’s a bit much honestly. he wants elite money.
August 8th, 2020 at 12:39 am
We need two more solid vets
August 8th, 2020 at 1:19 am
Would’ve loved a vet being brought in this offseason. Not saying to be an automatic starter but to push these young kids. I’m not sold on our cb’s until I see a full season of production.
August 8th, 2020 at 2:08 am
I don’t know why UDFA CB Parnell Motley out of Oklahoma. First team Big 12 I don’t know why he went UDFA, his film was nice. Could be another great young project for Bowels.
August 8th, 2020 at 2:25 am
Hardgraves and his Hiena laught….wtf!!….so glad he’s gone…lol
August 8th, 2020 at 4:27 am
Since our window to make some noise is super tight, I am all in on getting a solid veteran corner. I also want us to sign Clay Mathews and any other pass rusher with a pulse. I have no idea how we could afford these things, but it’s also not my job. Make it happen Licht, time is short dude!
August 8th, 2020 at 4:56 am
Players will get injured. Anyone recall the Colts/Bucs game Monday night 2003? I do. One of our starting DB was injured early on as we led the game. Peyton Manning threw nearly every ball at our back-up. That game remains as one of the greatest comebacks in Monday Night history. In fact, most Buc fans had gone to bed, the game was so lopsided in our favor. Until…we had no more competent DBs left to substitute.
That game is the reason why the Fanman family crest was rewritten:
“You can never have enough competent DBs.”
August 8th, 2020 at 5:36 am
@Bucsfanman
I’m still pi$$ed about that game man. Brian Kelly got hurt and Tim Wansley proceeded to get torched by Manning. Lol, I’ve held a small grudge against Manning ever since, even though he seems like a nice dude.
August 8th, 2020 at 6:01 am
@SOEbucs
Someone else was pushing for Parnell Whitaker earlier.
i would be happy if he is a sufficient 4th corner.
I read this positive on him.
Motley should fit in well in Tampa with a press coverage team.
Motley’s strengths are his instincts and awareness in coverage. He has a natural feel for where routes break, when a receiver is decelerating and what patterns could be coming based on down/distance and alignment.
But this negative:
There’s a lot of value in that, but in the NFL guys are going to challenge him with athleticism, long speed and manipulative footwork
Motley gets beaten by fast receivers opening to the sideline. He simply doesn’t have that kind of fluidity to flip his hips and accelerate vertically with an athlete. Instead he has to grab the receiver to prevent a likely touchdown. That’s another bad habit for Motley, who was flagged 15 times over the past two seasons.
All that feels like version 2.0 of M.J. Stewart.
Now at an UDFA value instead of 2nd round value though.
August 8th, 2020 at 7:53 am
Can’t expect a fourth CB to great. Ryan Smith is not a bad fourth CB.
August 8th, 2020 at 8:36 am
People are so writes it’s like they never heard of a salary cap. Who the hell has 4 starting caliber corners? 4th corner is always a special teams guy for a reason. We get rid of mj Stewart now we need to go sign a guys to sit the bench? Stfu I’m not all that comfortable with what’s behind Lavonte and Devin white or who’s behind the starter o line, imagine if rojo got hurt but that’s football
August 8th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Bucs fan man,
Oh yeah, that game still stings to this day. I can’t remember a year the Bucs were more Jekyl and Hyde. If I remember correctly, I don’t think we won two games in a row that year. We would be great one week, then the next week look pretty bad. Week 2 that year when we came back against the panthers in miracle fashion, yet missed the extra point to win the game. I still don’t know if anything is as bad as Mitch Tribisky looking like Brady of 07 against us a couple years ago. Mike Smith should’ve resigned after the 1st half!
August 8th, 2020 at 11:12 am
AALBucsFan: agree-
IMO, three good, young CB’s are a blessing, and Ryan Smith as a #4 is solid.
CB is one position that very few, if any, NFL teams think they have enough good ones.
Buc fans are behind the curve when it comes to understanding good CB play. We have endured soft DB schemes so long we’ve forgotten how all the D pieces mesh. Up to last season the Bucs were a D-isaster under the black and white Smith’s.
It’s amazing how a stout DL and aggressive pass rush makes DB play so much more effective…
Even with all the O-weapons and the GOAT @ QB, I expect this team to be identified more by a serious Defense than high-flying Offense. Besides: is not the Buccaneer legacy?
August 8th, 2020 at 11:58 am
Geno711
Wow. Thanks for all the great information. And on the other note yeah how much money do you ppl think the Bucs have??? Signing vet DBs and huge trading for Jamal Adams who sounds like he wants the most money for a safety of all time after we just got a safety. Gotta pay Godwin at least 70+ million next year. Have to resign LVD next year.
August 8th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
I was surprised at the Stewart cutting but love the three starters. Every team has their depth tested, but honestly we are in a better position defensively than have been in the last decade. I’m just going to enjoy the fun product that licht and Arians have brought here win or lose!
August 8th, 2020 at 4:40 pm
We’re good. Sky is the limit for these guys. These are the kind of bodies you need at corner these days. I think Dean has all pro potential.
August 8th, 2020 at 5:05 pm
We’re in a lot better shape at corner than in years past. Grimes was decent when he tried, but didn’t his last year (or 2?). VH3 was terrible, and learned to have a lack of work ethic from Grimes.
It’d be nice if one of young backups proved to be a decent corner. That might be a lot to ask for how much practice time they’ve missed, though.
August 8th, 2020 at 8:37 pm
Logan Ryan on a Brady team friendly deal would be a smart pickup. I personally really like our corners. Just not much depth in case of injury.
August 9th, 2020 at 3:48 am
I feel nauseated being reminded of that Colts/Bucs game. On MNF with the entire league and national fanbase watching.
Looking back on that game, Peyton Manning never even mentions the fact that we lost our starting CB. Nobody outside of our fanbase even remembers that tiny little detail. That’s the maddening part of it all. Manning is heralded as a God for that game.
August 10th, 2020 at 9:17 am
I would love to see Brent Grimes brought back for this season.