Injury On Opening Night Wrecked Sean Murphy-Bunting’s 2021 Season
August 7th, 2022
Now healthy.
Sean Murphy-Bunting never looked the same after he returned to the lineup last year following a two month absence with a dislocated elbow suffered in the season opener.
Bucs cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross mentioned this spring that he thought SMB was so focused on getting back in shape that SMB’s football prowess sort of took a back seat.
Though head coach Todd Bowles didn’t reinforce what Ross said, Bowles almost sounded as if SMB wasn’t healthy when he came back to start the final eight games of the regular season.
SMB didn’t have the greatest 2021. Along with others in the secondary, he got schooled against Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp and the Rams in the playoff loss.
Hearing Bowles yesterday, it seems the rough 2021 has fueled SMB this summer.
“He’s always had confidence,” Bowles said. “It’s just a matter of him being healthy. I think he’s come in with his head [focused], he’s working, you can tell he’s in great shape.
“He’s been doing a great job this camp so far. Again, the biggest thing for him is he’s healthy and you don’t have to worry about him moving around and everything. He’s got his speed back, he’s got his flexibility back and he’s doing a good job.”
Did SMB lose a step because he was focused on rehabbing his elbow last season? If not, then why would Bowles mention SMB “got his speed back?” You don’t get something “back” unless you lost it. Very interesting comment.
This is a big season for SMB. And for Jamel Dean, too. Not only are they cornerstones in a secondary for a Super Bowl-or-bust-mode team, both are in contract years. SMB and Dean will have generational cash on the table for them if they can ball out this season.
August 7th, 2022 at 10:26 am
Yeah… I remember that horrible injury. And wondered if he would even return during the season at the time. I think this article, and the fact that SMB was not fully up to speed, has a lot of credence.
August 7th, 2022 at 10:55 am
Having him and Dean battling for the 2nd outside CB spot is awesome! Those guys are going to compete their tails off to get in the game!
August 7th, 2022 at 11:03 am
I hope he steps up and plays like the player he can be! This team could use that!
August 7th, 2022 at 11:08 am
I think money/new contract is fueling him.
August 7th, 2022 at 11:13 am
Hey Todd – teach SMB and his mates their assignments and make sure they know them . Test them. Streamline and simplify. Try it. Can’t take another scene of Cooper Kupp running wide open at the end of a tie game.
August 7th, 2022 at 11:13 am
Obviously, an elbow injury does not affect a player’s speed or quickness, which comes from the legs. Perhaps SMB injury affected his mental status and he was worried about his elbow, which robbed him of playing fearless and aggressive. Sometimes, the hardest injury to overcome is in the mind.
Glad to see he’s back to form as we need him to ball out this year. As Scotty noted, he’s in a contract year.
August 7th, 2022 at 11:21 am
D-Roc.. I think your comment about the arm injury not effecting quickness is in error. It all works together in unison, when you are talking about the kind of speed these guys possess. Try to run a 40-yard dash with both arms working in unison as you run and tie your arms to your side and time yourself. If you aren’t definitely faster the first time, you are abnormal.
August 7th, 2022 at 11:23 am
Agree with most above …dean and smb competing for maybe one spot on 2023 bucs/ first “free agency” contract will be a good thing.
August 7th, 2022 at 11:26 am
Goatfarmer Says:
August 7th, 2022 at 11:13 am
Hey Todd – teach SMB and his mates their assignments and make sure they know them . Test them. Streamline and simplify. Try it. Can’t take another scene of Cooper Kupp running wide open at the end of a tie game.
^^^^^^^^
How long are you gonna whine/cry/snivel about that play?
August 7th, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Just because your foot isn’t attached to your elbow doesn’t mean it cannot effect your speed.
August 7th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
My comment above was meant to portray that an elbow injury CAN affect speed. Not physiologically, but psychologically. Sorry if I didn’t elucidate my thoughts properly. Agree with you Mark.
August 7th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
The play Todd blew against the Rams was one of the single most egregious coaching moments in Buc history, and it had happened already in that game and during the season, and Todd is now the head coach. His people don’t seem to understand what they should be doing play in and play out. So, Hoe in Michigan, thanks for asking. Just since you asked, I’ll probably bring it up every time I post until Todd shows me different. And it’s especially motivating that it seems to bother you so much.
How’s four or five times a day sound?
August 7th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
No problem D-Rok. Let’s just hope SMB has a healthy and effective season.
August 7th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Goat farmer – it’s sound incredibly boring.
August 7th, 2022 at 12:52 pm
SMB and Dean two of the best corners from their draft. I agree, we will only be able to keep one of those guys.
August 7th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Goatfarmer Says:
August 7th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
The play Todd blew against the Rams was one of the single most egregious coaching moments in Buc history, and it had happened already in that game and during the season, and Todd is now the head coach. His people don’t seem to understand what they should be doing play in and play out. So, Hoe in Michigan, thanks for asking. Just since you asked, I’ll probably bring it up every time I post until Todd shows me different. And it’s especially motivating that it seems to bother you so much.
How’s four or five times a day sound?
^^^^^^^^
Understand, crybabies are gonna cry.
August 7th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Goatfarmer,
Being that you’re not pleased with Bowles as a DC/HC why don’t u see if u could lure Mike Smith out of retirement to take over a defense that went from worst to first before he was booted out of Buc land, maybe he can take some slack off of Bowles. Speaking of egregious coaching moments, 2018 Bears 48 Bucs 10. Of all qbs in the nfl, bears qb Trubisky had a qbr of 98.1 they had 2 n almost three receivers with 100 yards receiving. It was one of the most embarrassing n egregious moment for the defense of the Bucs.
August 7th, 2022 at 2:17 pm
@goatfarmer “hoe in Michigan” 😂😭
August 7th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
I don’t disagree with Goatfarmer at all, yet strangely, I find myself starting to get excited about the defense from readying Joe’s training camp notes. How fantastic will it be if we get an entire year of the defense that showed up for the playoffs during our Super Bowl run.
August 7th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Goatfarmer: To further prove my point:
The Bucs have the GOAT QB and 2 of the best WR’s in the NFL.
Goatfarmer chooses to complain about the backups to the backups, Trask and Darden. Because, of course he does.
August 7th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Dmatt – clearly Mike Smith quit on the job after 2016. No idea why because the 2016 defense was good group.
McDougald and Tandy were two coaches on the field who were allowed to leave while Conte (facepalm) stayed. Then things really went south in ‘17 and ‘18.
Bowles is clearly better than either of the Smith brothers, but he really screwed up,that Rams game and others, and it cost the Bucs another Super Bowl.
August 7th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
I hope they both do fantastic. Personally I think Dean is the better CB but we shall see. Can’t wait to see the progress McCollum makes
August 7th, 2022 at 5:14 pm
The whole body needs to work in concert to run fast, elbows included.
August 7th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Last year was not to be counted after that elbow dislocation imagine playing football after that even 8 weeks later yikes horrific injury and the thought of it alone makes you hesitate–imagine being him afterward
August 7th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
No matter what happens Bunting will always be remembered for his historic playoff performance in 2020.
I think hes got it in him to rise his game to that level again, rooting for him. If he cant hack it I like the additions we have made at DB to take his snaps. The Bucs have a good plan at the Corner position. Lets just not get our top 4 guys injured again.