Role Change For Sean Murphy-Bunting
November 3rd, 2020
The snap counts last night told the story. Sean Murphy-Bunting went from full-timer to part-timer while fellow cornerback Jamel Dean was elevated.
Typically, Murphy-Bunting is an outside corner who moves to nickel throughout the game, and Dean takes his outside role when that happens.
Last night, effectively Murphy-Bunting lost his starting gig on the outside and Dean played every snap. Neither had his best game. Murphy-Bunting was roasted for the Giants’ late touchdown and took an on-air scolding from broadcaster/former defensive back Louis Riddick. Murphy-Bunting missed a couple of special teams tackles he has to make, but he also had an impressive second-half interception that was critical to the Bucs victory.
Today, Bucco Bruce Arians said the switch was mostly about Dean’s rise and stressed that Murphy-Bunting didn’t lose his job.
“Jamel’s been playing very well, so we put him in the base package,” Arians said. “It was a good matchup for us against these guys. Sean stayed in nickel, but we’re very blessed to have three good corners.”
Joe loves this. Of course Murphy-Bunting got demoted and Dean was promoted. Competition is fantastic! And Joe is darn glad the Bucs have it. Dean looked a little slower than usual, which could just be a byproduct of the extra work.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:00 pm
I like dean playing at the line of scrimmage (preferably with help over top) he peeps into the backfield to much when he plays off man coverage.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:03 pm
not surprised….
edwards should be starting next to winfield…
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:05 pm
That’s the way it should be.
Snaps Dean has missed a lot of them
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Dean needs to be more disciplined and not be biting on the double moves every single time, but he has earned the spot. Let’s hope he can keep it by playing lights out football.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:10 pm
yeah now let’s get edwards going
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:11 pm
Dean is too aggressive, SMB is not aggressive enough. I would rather try to reign in a guy than push him.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:15 pm
Neither one of them looked very dialed in last night. They both look like rookies again
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Dean looks so stiff out there. Both of these guys gambled alot last night instead of playing good technique.
Winfield I didn’t think have a great game. Whitehead should be the #3 safety. Devin White didn’t have a very good game. LVD could have put the game away if he catches the easiest interception in the world. JPP gets stonewalled way too much to be a right defensive end. I saw Suh on the sideline alot last night, he doesn’t typically sit that many plays out.
If Daniel Jones had any control of his passes, the Giants would have won running away last night. Bucs were lucky as hell to get out of that game with a W. Lets hope they were just looking ahead to the Saints, because if this becomes the new norm they’ll be in trouble going forward.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:27 pm
Hate to say this but some players play better in somewhat of a limited snap count where other guys can play the whole game.
Just maybe Jamal Dean and Mike Edwards are better suited when they get limited snaps during the game and can decompress and analyze the flow of the game a little better on the sidelines then making the better plays we saw from them.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:29 pm
We were fortunate Daniel Jones was off target many times last night otherwise the results could’ve been us playing from behind all night.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Gotbucs
You are spot on.
We got lucky last night…… really lucky.
I’ll gladly take the win but I’m far from believing we’re world beaters.
We can be ………. but….
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:39 pm
ALM the same could be said about Brady but I get your point.
To me Jamel has always seemed like it takes him getting beat once or twice before he locks in and is ready to play. Kinda like a boxer needing to get hit once before he’s ready to go. Only problem is Jamel could give up 2TDs and we’re in trouble early and the boxer could get knocked tfo. Bottom line come ready to go.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:41 pm
All lives matter Says:
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:29 pm
We were fortunate Daniel Jones was off target many times last night otherwise the results could’ve been us playing from behind all night.
Daniel Jones played just like Jameis Winston last night and his team lost because of it.
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:42 pm
It’s strange how much difficult the Bucs offense seem to have operating last night, TBs passes seemed to be slightly off, WRs seemed to be a step slow or off track, RBs were just missing the seams to break through for more yardage.
Rewatching the game this morning, it did seem the Bucs’ RB were not cutting as sharp as they normally would,. Could there have been some subliminal thought going on causing a slight hesitation when hitting the holes? How about WRs?
I can’t help but wonder how much of last night’s game was affected by the MetLife turf. After all, there have been a number of serious injuries on that turf this year, including Barkley, Garoppolo, Bosa, and Mostert to name a few.
A combination of that and a little of looking ahead knowing the Aints are up next? Perhaps a combustion of both could cause a little too much thinking, instead of just performing?
Regardless, fortunately this isn’t the old Bucs who would lose this type of game. Congrats Bucs, let’s strap them up on Sunday and take charge of the division. Go Bucs!
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:43 pm
AB about to get these Bucs corners playing on another level! Can’t wait 😝
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:43 pm
…..combination of both, not combustion!
November 3rd, 2020 at 4:49 pm
The TD pass in the final minute wasn’t really defensible. It was a really good pass.
November 3rd, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Dean did not play his best game for sure. The Giants obviously exploited something they saw on film and it took the first half to adjust for Bowles. The run defense was also discouraging but Dean stuck out to me getting beat on numerous plays.
November 3rd, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Whitehead needs to play on rushing downs and edwards on passing downs. Dean and Smb should go week to week to drive each other on who starts on a given sunday
November 3rd, 2020 at 5:52 pm
BENCH JIMMY DEAN
November 3rd, 2020 at 5:54 pm
Dean will have plenty of opportunities this week because based on what he put on tape last night the Saints are going to go after him.
November 3rd, 2020 at 5:55 pm
I’d like to see some snaps with Winfield at nickel and Edwards at FS. It might be very effective against slants.
Winfield is already the 2nd best DB and Edwards deserves a bigger role.
Dean had a bad night and SMB is playing below his potential, but both have talent and high ceiling.
Go Bucs!!!
November 3rd, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Said it before but Dean is giving up a 72 QB rating when targeted. 55% completions. SMB is giving up 85+% completions and well over 100 QB rating.
November 3rd, 2020 at 9:42 pm
Good move starting Dean; he’ll work even harder to keep the starting CB job & SMB will work just as hard to regain it. Davis & Dean should have some pretty good chemistry already established from their Auburn days.
Was looking at PFR’s stats for last night’s game & it’s eery. The team stats were as close to being the same as any I can ever remember seeing, almost right down the line, including the TOP (Bucs 30:10 vs Giants 29:50). Bucs had a slight advantage in generating more TOs (2 vs 1) & made fewer penalties (Bucs 3 for 20 yds; Giants 7 for 73 yds). Seems rather appropriate for a 2 point game.
The defensive hero of the game IMO would have to be Ndamukong Suh with his 1 sack, 5 QB Hits, 1 TFL & 2 tackles. And that was in only 53 def snaps (72%). Surprising that JPP played 70 def snaps (95%) and Shaq played 62 def snaps (84%). Nelson gave them a little breather (24 def snaps for 32%) but he didn’t accomplish much while on the field (1 QB Hit, that’s it). Sure could use another pass rusher.
November 3rd, 2020 at 11:24 pm
Anybody else think that maybe our boys did too much partying in NYC?
We looked like a hungover defense.
November 4th, 2020 at 9:44 am
In today’s NFL, nickel corner IS a starting position, and letting a player focus on one position (unless he’s an absolute superstar, like Deion Sanders was) it’s the best thing to do.