Sean Murphy-Bunting Just Wanted To Ball
November 25th, 2021
Trick to stay in game.
So when Bucs starting corner Sean Murphy-Bunting took the field of the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway Monday night for the first time in over two months, he wanted to make sure he didn’t come off unless the Bucs had the ball.
SMB had practiced before the game as if he may play the full game. In the days prior to playing the Giants, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians cautioned fans that SMB may not play more than 20 snaps because practice shape is far different than game shape.
So SMB had a trick up his sleeve to make sure coaches didn’t have an easy time pulling him.
“I tried to stay away from [coaches] as much as I could,” SMB said. “So they wouldn’t say anything and try to pull me out.”
SMB didn’t have to hide. He was making his case the way he played. The day after the game, Arians raved about it.
“Way better than I was expecting it to be,” Arians said Tuesday. “He played really well. He used his arm, punched the ball out with that hand [and] created a fumble.”
The total was 57 snaps for SMB, nearly the entire game for the defense.
“It was definitely fun to say the least,” SMB said. “I really enjoyed the game, obviously. The win made it a lot better. I think guys just fed off each other and we brought that energy back, that swagger back. Overall, it was a good game.”
Joe sure hopes the defense has its old swag back. They will need that against Jonathan Taylor and then some.
November 25th, 2021 at 8:08 am
And Ball he did! I think he had 7 Tackles!
November 25th, 2021 at 8:11 am
The Secondary looked totally different w/ him back.
November 25th, 2021 at 8:15 am
Hid from the coaches. Someone else did that last year.
Good kid. Hope he can finish year strong cause playoffs will require the team to turn it up a notch.
November 25th, 2021 at 8:18 am
“Smb just wanted to ball”
“Ndog just wants balls”
Hahahaha
He still peeps his head as a current saints fan and who knows next year?
November 25th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Something to be said for our backups (and their backups) to get plenty of reps, and plenty they got, but what a difference with SMB back there.
November 25th, 2021 at 8:29 am
Younger players recoup much faster……wasn’t surprised.
November 25th, 2021 at 8:33 am
Remember the Good Old Days when casuals called SMB a bust? As they called Dean & Davis busts?
November 25th, 2021 at 9:01 am
I told yall things would drastically change when our corners got back. “Our pass rush sucks” “the seasons over” “corners weren’t very good in the first place” “bunting got burned first game so he sucks”…. the only problem with winning the super bowl is all the new spoiled “fans”
Carlton Davis is a top 10, shut down, follow the best receiver, corner.
He’a going to make BUCKS this off-season, SMB is a number 1 on most teams… We are in a much better spot than we have been for 20 years. Our D-line going to eat from coverage sacks now.
November 25th, 2021 at 9:01 am
I’m just thankful he didn’t compound fracture his arm, that’s what if looked like
November 25th, 2021 at 9:22 am
With Davis back on the field this D will start clicking on all cylinders.
November 25th, 2021 at 9:26 am
SMB looked pretty good. Happy to see, he’s a good kid from Michigan.
November 25th, 2021 at 11:48 am
SMB brought the energy and had no fear up to this point it looked as if the secondary was playing afraid, with a boatload of backups.
November 25th, 2021 at 12:45 pm
SMB, JWhite and JPP generate the energy in the defense on the 3 levels. Love to see his return.