Jamel Dean Talks About When His Career Changed
August 24th, 2020
Yes, the Bucs will bank heavily on three 23-year-old cornerbacks this season.
Today, one of them explained that his football life changed on Nov. 3, 2019.
That’s the date then-rookie Jamel Dean was roasted repeatedly by the Seahawks. The Bucs lost in overtime and blew a heroic no-interception performance for the Saints’ backup quarterback.
Joe asked Dean today about the pride he takes in recording 17 passes defensed last year (fifth-best in the NFL), despite playing only one-third of the Bucs’ defensive snaps. Without being prompted, Dean went right to the Seattle debacle.
“I took a lot of pride ever since that Seattle game because that was probably like one of my worst games ever, probably my humbling experience, because not being prepared for a game like that when my name was called, I was really like hard on myself.” Dean said. “And then ever since then I told myself that won’t ever happen again, and that if I want to be great I gotta start making sacrifices. So ever since then, I started making sacrifices, coming here early, watching extra film, and then the results paid off.”
Great answer by Dean. Sometimes a clunker like that game is what it takes to awaken a rookie.
Joe followed up to ask Dean, who had a long injury history in college and missed time last season, what he is doing to be ready for a lot more work this year and a full season.
“I stretch more, and then mainly I really watch my diet to make sure I’m staying consistent with my diet, because I don’t want to go through a series where I’m starting to eat bad and I gain bad weight, which can also lead to injuries,” Dean replied.
It’s easy to feel good about the Buccaneers cornerbacks, but they are so young, and Joe’s not sure there’s really a No. 1 cornerback in the bunch. Can a team win with three No. 2 corners and young safeties?
Dean is extra exciting to Joe because he made such a big impact in so few snaps. His ceiling really is unknown. Fun fact, Carlton Davis has taken five times as many Bucs snaps as Dean.
August 24th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
This is accountability. Dean didn’t say, “Check yo sheet!” and mail it in.
August 24th, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Dean was a big time recruit and he was actually enrolled at OSU out of HS. However, Buckeyes medical staff would not clear him for practice due to his HS injuries and Dean ended up transferring! Had he come out of OSU with their reputation for corners, he likely would have been a first or second round pick! Great drafting by Licht to get him in the fourth round!
August 24th, 2020 at 1:56 pm
“Joe’s not sure there’s really a No. 1 cornerback in the bunch. Can a team win with three No. 2 corners and young safeties?”
If there’s a way, our DC is the guy to get it done.
This is a strange thing, having trust in our coaches… I remember this feeling…
August 24th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
What’s the secret…..all of my weight is bad weight…..I guess it’s what you do before & after you eat….
August 24th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
I concerned about our young corners because they won’t get as many practice reps with Jameis gone 😉
August 24th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Hopefully he will mature quickly as M. Evans did.
He will then realize there are no sacrifice when you are being your best at your job. The paycheck turns the mindset of sacrifice to “The hard work I put in to earn my money!”
From young man to Adult!
Go Bucs!!!
August 24th, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Dean was the one last year is the one I really wanted to see get more time to get him better. I can’t remember the game, but we still never got the reason he was out for pretty much that whole game, would be nice to know why. Since then I really think he can turn into that #1 cornerback you’re looking for Joe. I think he’s better then Bunting, but who knows maybe by years end you got 2 #1’s.
August 24th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
I think we have a couple #1 corners, just need a little more time. I think all 3 are shut down corners. I love Dean, but I’m worried his body isn’t up to it. I’m hoping we have one more corner for depth.
August 24th, 2020 at 3:06 pm
Miller5252….I remember that. Dont remember which game but the coaches did explain later they were running a defense Dean wasnt prepared for. Smells like coach speak to me.
My conspiracy theory is that is was a behavior benching. A week or two prior to that game is when we heard news that JPP was cussing out teammates for laughing about partying after a loss. A week later Hargreaves was gone. The next week Dean suddenly benched. In the middle of all that Joe shared a piece by King saying how the strip clubs in Tampa are a problem…….Seems like a easy puxxle to me.
August 24th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
Good points, Joe. The D looks pretty good – now.
August 24th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
Dean has the make-up speed that all of the great ones have. He will be our best CB if he can stay on the field.
August 24th, 2020 at 3:23 pm
“Steel sharpens steel.”
-J Winston
Imagine going against the best WR tandem in the NFL every day in practice. Now add a quicker, more accurate QB to go against in practice. Our DBs should level up this year.
August 24th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
Dean was a late 3rd round pick last year.
Great trade by Licht. With Buc’s fans clamoring for the Bucs to pick Memphis running back Darrell Henderson in the 3rd round (#70 overall), instead he traded that early 3rd round pick for two very late 3rd round picks and turned it into Dean and Edwards.
August 24th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
The DBs have a little cushion, because opposing QBs often have to get rid of the ball so quickly. They can’t let the routes unfold they way they’d like to. That is because of the pressure coming from our D-line and LBs. The Bucs website put up a statistic recently. The Bucs had 359 QB pressures last year, which was highest in the league. That’s over 22 pressures a came. Couple that with the best run stuffing defense in the league and you’ve got to think there will be plenty of opportunities for the DBs to make plays.
August 24th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if Dean, Davis or Sean Murphy-Bunting makes the pro-bowl this year.
August 24th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
Jimmyjack…. I was thinking the same thing when it came to the mysterious benching. I just remember it was really weird because he had a really good game the week before which made him not playing even more mysterious. I’m just glad he started playing a lot better through the year and really think he could be a #1 corner. Staying healthy is going to be the key for the team this year. Arians brags about the spot science but they sure didn’t do really good on their trip over the pond.
August 24th, 2020 at 7:15 pm
Out of the three I’m thinking this is Carlton’s year–dude has so much potential and now is his time.
August 24th, 2020 at 8:53 pm
Carlton was ranked as a top 5 cb the 2nd half of last season. I don’t get this “we only have 2s’ crap.
August 24th, 2020 at 11:25 pm
The lessons you learn the best are the ones you learn the hardest.
August 24th, 2020 at 11:27 pm
Carlton and Jameel are hard hitting, long armed, lengthy, and fast.
Jamel Dean is our nunber 1 because he can run a 4.3.
Carlton Davis and Sean are great at their spots.
Good job Licht!
But MJ Stewart? Imagine if we had drafted the elite OG/C with that pick?
Imagine if we had drafted an OG/C in the 2nd?
We would have Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet and another 2nd rounder plus Wirfs.
That would be 3 second round lineman and 1 first round lineman.
Cappa is the odd man out.
August 25th, 2020 at 1:29 am
While he got abused during that Seahawks game several times, he also showed serious instincts! He broke up several passes in fact.
Feel free to search the archives from that game thread- I said he showed serious ball hawking skills and instincts, and might end up being our best corner within 2 years.
August 25th, 2020 at 10:18 am
We have three #2 CBs? Didn’t DeAndre Hopkins take a big L against us when we played the Texans? How did Julio Jones do? Calling all of those guys #2 CBs is an insult. I think that we potentially have three high end #1 CBs and there has been nothing I have seen thus far to dispute that.
August 25th, 2020 at 11:22 am
QBKilla, Arians has a superb strength and conditioning staff. It is all part of the excellent overall coaching system needed to field a championship caliber team.
In BA I trust.