Secondary Injury, Secondary Woes
December 20th, 2020
Sadly, the Bucs have a new injury in their secondary, and that’s not Joe talking about the potentially wounded prides of Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting, aka Sean “Burn Me” Bunting.
Davis injured his groin and was pulled from today’s thrilling win in Atlanta. It was the first significant time he has missed all year and Joe winces at the thought of Davis’ injury being one that lasts through what’s left of this season.
Bucco Bruce Arians said Davis’ groin stiffened up at halftime and it’s been something he’s been dealing with this season.
Damn, the Bucs need Davis to return to the Pro Bowl form he showed in Weeks 1 through 8. Since then, his production has dropped significantly and he’s looked more like a bottom-tier No. 1 cornerback. An aggravated injury isn’t going to help him get back there.
Predictably, the Bucs’ pass defense is its weakest link. That’s what happens when you start the season giving three jobs to 23-year-old cornerbacks, plus a 23-year-old safety and a rookie alongside him.
Joe is most distressed by the play of Murphy-Bunting. Yeah, Todd Bowles always has a lot of praise for him, but the film doesn’t lie and the 39th overall pick in last year’s draft has regressed.
Before getting burned multiple times today, Murphy-Bunting had just two official passes defensed all season.
Jamel Dean made a nice return today from injury. Joe’s hopeful Dean can get back to where he was early this season and that today was a great shot of confidence for him.
Yes, the Bucs are winning, but that secondary has to tighten up a lot to play playoff-caliber football.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:11 pm
Sean “Always Caught Sleeping” Murphy-Bed and Jimmy “Burnt Sausages” Dean have always been our weakest links.
The Bucs were DUMB for not signing a solid Vet corner, or even trading for one.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:14 pm
#23 is a joke. Isn’t that the same number Sabby wore?
December 20th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
I agree. Dean looked pretty good today. Murphy Bunting, yeah, not so much. In fact he was Charles Barkley “turrible.”
December 20th, 2020 at 6:22 pm
I hope Carlton can play… but maybe the injury sheds some light ok why his play has dropped off? SMB has a homecoming for him next week at Detroit. Last year he returned a pick for ar TD. Let’s hope going home gives him some extra motivation to play well.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Toast bunting getting burnt on a regular basis this year. I’m sure he can’t wait for the offseason to go into hiding
December 20th, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Bunting sucks.
The promise that was there has passed and he just looks lost.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
SMB is one of a long list of 2nd round picks that haven’t panned out.
As I recall when we got Vea, the Bills moved up and traded with us to take…….Josh Allen. He’s pretty good. In fact, he’s a poor man’s Trevor Lawrence. Brady is great and I’m so happy to have him over Jay Miss, but we sure better be drafting a QB high this year or the Bucs think Josh Rosen is the answer.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Jamel dean is our best corner, the rest are garbage. Carlton Davis is a legend in his own mind.bunting is not a NFL cornerback.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
“Bruce Arians said Davis’ groin stiffened up at halftime.”
That must have been one hell of a pep talk.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:42 pm
i think Joe is a Saints fan.
December 20th, 2020 at 6:59 pm
The Bucs are a playoff caliber team but not a playoff contender. Too inconsistent and the secondary is trash. I think next yr could be our time to really make a run.
December 20th, 2020 at 7:02 pm
SMB should not be on this roster. And Davis hasn’t played much better.
December 20th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
@ ModHairKen. epic post!
December 20th, 2020 at 7:24 pm
Joe-
The preferred nickname for him is:
“Sean Murphy-Burnt-again”
You’re welcome.
December 20th, 2020 at 7:48 pm
The reality is CB is the toughest position to play in this league! As evidenced by how many draft choices Licht and company have thrown at it.
December 20th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
I would rather see us convert Winfield to DB (has played nickel) to replace Burnt Toast Buntme and add Mike Edwards than stomach another soft showing by the DBs. Our safeties are making far more plays than our corners! And for god sakes start fast like a stolen Lambo guys, if we showed u in the first half like the 2nd we’d have 60 points! No need for a good secondary. FMBL
December 20th, 2020 at 8:15 pm
SMB is not a starter quality player. He belongs in the second and third string.
He’s slightly better than Ryan Smith….
December 20th, 2020 at 8:20 pm
Dean was the best defender in the field today!! He had 4 or 5 tackles for a loss.. white needs to ONLY be on blitz duty
December 20th, 2020 at 8:28 pm
#23 was one of Jason Lite’s
Bobby Beathards picks
December 20th, 2020 at 8:45 pm
hope we can pick up a vet cornerback or two next season
December 20th, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Guess we have to draft yet more secondary help
December 20th, 2020 at 9:23 pm
SMB was taken in the 2nd round as an overreach by our crappy GM. The guy played Division 2 ball. Division 1 teams didn’t even have go on their roster. Why do we expect more out of him?
December 20th, 2020 at 9:23 pm
Sean Murphy Bunting looked like EJ Biggers
December 20th, 2020 at 9:29 pm
“After an ATL TD drive to open the third quarter, the Bucs defense allowed just 33 total yards and a FG on five drives.”
AHHHHhhhhh
December 20th, 2020 at 9:29 pm
23 is not staring NFL material (as an outside or Nickel CB)…he lacks instincts. It reminds me of watching Ryan Smith fluttering around aimlessly back there—nice on on Biggers, that’s another excellent comparison. That being said, something schematically is broken. The 4 man rush wasn’t getting it done. The pocket wasn’t being impacted for much of the game…which further exposed our marginal DBs.
December 20th, 2020 at 9:32 pm
MJ Murphy-Bunting
December 20th, 2020 at 9:55 pm
After game 1, I was critical of the cb’s and suggested the Bucs sign a veteran cb to help out. I was told by multiple posters that I was overreacting and didn’t know what I was talking about.
Where are those people at now?
Imagine just 1 single vet to help out back there. The entire secondary is young and there will be growing pains. Let’s just hope they progress and not regress.
December 20th, 2020 at 10:13 pm
Off-season. Edge, secondary, defensive coordinator….Bowles sucks.
Left tackle, offensive coordinator….bl sucks too.
December 20th, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Age doesn’t matter that much, Joe. In 81/82 the Niners got great play out of youngsters Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, and Carlton Williamson. Im mostly concerned with our strength staff…last year it was hammies, this year it’s groins.
December 20th, 2020 at 10:18 pm
I like “Sean Bunson Burner” cause the dude gets lit up.
Your welcome ; )
December 20th, 2020 at 10:46 pm
We’re a one and done team in the playoffs
December 20th, 2020 at 11:45 pm
I kinda wonder if they are nursing injuries not bad enough to be announced. Or could be that they are just tired. I kinda wonder if fatigue is the reason for the slow starts. Being an old guy that tries to get out of bed I can understand how eventually you warm up but at first nothing works.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:57 pm
SMB = “Sorry, my bad!” because that’s what I think he’s constantly saying to the 10 other dudes on the field with him. He’s so lost out there.
December 21st, 2020 at 12:45 am
yeah it’s a bad situation back there…
just replace the “N” in bunting with an “S”…
and you have sean murphy-BUSTING
they need to fix him quick fast!…
not sure that can be done in week 16 of a season
December 21st, 2020 at 1:41 am
The Whole Defense didn’t show up in the 1st Half But after the Falcons 1st drive in 2nd half that went for a TD the Defense Gave up just 33 Total Yards but ya SMB sucks come on y’all let this Kid come into his Own since when do 23 year old Draft picks get thrown with Bust label in 2nd season Bucs are 9-5 an still in Contention to Win NFC South an also can End up Getting 5th Playoff seed y’all need to stop hating an enjoy this Bucs team Winning man some of y’all are never happy
December 21st, 2020 at 3:49 am
I know that this is probably an oversimplification as none of us know what the specific defensive calls were, but every time we appeared to play press or man coverage, the corners were decent. Everytime we played 7-10 off in an apparent zone look, it was pitch and catch. I rewatched the game to make sure I wasn’t imaging that. These absolutely aren’t zone guys. And I agree, SMB gets lost WAY too much.
December 21st, 2020 at 10:52 am
It took forever for the Bucs to get rid of Hargreaves and I guess they are following the same pattern before they finally get rid of Bunting. Never seen a cornerback look so lost out there and always 5 to 10 yds. off of the receiver.
December 21st, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Why isn’t Edwards playing??
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:52 am
This Bunting idiot is oblivious. I heard his radio interview w Casey Phillips last night…he thinks he is balling and excelling. Talked a lot of Sh@@ and acted like he was on top of his game. Ignorant, un-prepared and useless as a cornerback…played in division 2 and was never good enough to play w the big boys. Why would we scoop down to draft at that level. Pick from big U’s who vet out the best.