“Make A Play Time”
August 26th, 2024
Bucs No. 1 cornerback Jamel Dean.
The NFL trends positive. It doesn’t officially track stats like drops and should-have-been interceptions, among others.
So it was noteworthy to Joe when NFL.com devoted a page to Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean’s crucial drop against the Lions in the playoffs last season.
What a soul crusher it was. Joe still has nightmares. Lions QB Jared Goff dropped back to pass on second down at the Bucs’ 3 yard line and threw the ball into Dean’s two hands (yes, two) in the end zone.
It was a touch pass, not a hard-thrown ball. And it hit Dean’s hands in stride with nobody in front of him. Dean didn’t even have to jump, but the pass hit the Ford Field turf.
The Lions closed that drive with a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Nobody can say what would have happened if Dean made the play — including how far he might have returned the ball — but there’s no questioning that a missed play of that magnitude in the playoffs was critical.
Sadly, that Dean drop was no surprise. It marked his 29th consecutive game without an interception.
There’s much more to being a good cornerback than catching picks, but if they’re in your hands, then do your job and catch the ball.
Last year against the Bills produced the iconic postgame video of former Bucs cornerback Richard Sherman, the Amazon analyst, blasting Dean after the game to his face (as captured in the video below from the JoeBucsFan videographer on the scene).
“Stop worrying about fuc*ing up and worry about making a play. You got the money! Make a play time.” Sherman shouted at Dean.
Dean had passed on a clear pick-6 opportunity early in the game and instead opted to bat down a Josh Allen pass near the goal lined.
That brings Joe to keys to the Bucs’ 2024 season. Jamel Dean is a big one.
He’s seeking an improved season and one that sends him to the Pro Bowl. Dean believes he dropped five interceptions last season, lost plays that would have made him a superstar.
Joe is pulling for Dean to become a playmaker. The Bucs won a Super Bowl because Devin White, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Antoine Winfield collected huge turnovers in that postseason.
Tampa Bay needs new blood to make those big plays, and Dean should be in position to make them.
Just catch the damn ball.
August 26th, 2024 at 11:38 am
How much time is he spending with the JUGS machine. How much work is Todd telling him to do outside of practice to improve his hands.
A demanding head coach would see to it that Dean improved this aspect of his game.
We shall see.
August 26th, 2024 at 11:52 am
That would have been a pick 6!
August 26th, 2024 at 11:56 am
IF Dean grabs that and goes for a pick six of close to 100 yards who knows what would have happened?
“If ifs and buts were candy and nuts
Then we’d all have a merry Christmas”
NOBODY will ever know and so it doesn’t really matter. What does matter to me are two things about that game.
Yes the Bucs were in it but they really didn’t play well enough in the trenches to deserve to even be in that game. The Lions were more physical and CONTROLLED the trenches. In a close game control of the trenches wins 9 out of 10 times.
That’s the negative…the positive is that the Bucs WERE in that game on the road until late in the 4th even though they should have been blown out based on their line play on both sides of the ball. Baker was always under pressure while Goff had far more time.
Since the Bucs have improved their OL significantly as well as HOPEFULLY upgraded their pass rush with some young blood…the Bucs should be contender this year. What more can you ask for? Again props to Licht and Bowles.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:06 pm
spbf with another excellent take.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
I won’t forget that particular play for a long long time.
He’s a great guy. Great teammate as well. But his crucial drops at the worst possible times have left a sour taste in my mouth when discussing Jamaal.
He must make a drastic improvement in that area this year or I think he’ll be gone next year.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Maybe, just maybe, the reason that we don’t have our share of INTs is that we play 7-10 yards AWAY FROM THE WRs!!!
It drives me crazy that our strategy seems to be, “Let them catch the ball THEN try to limit progress AFTER the catch- -whatever, don’t give up the long ball (forget we did that against the Rams and no SB)”.
I predict we are going to get hammered by a good passing team.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Gardner-Johnson and Barnes had no problem catching those INTs thrown from Baker.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Catch the ball Dean. Start making some impact plays or you will get shipped out just like Carlton Davis did. That was a brutal drop in Detroit that could have turned that game upside down and you dropped it. Enough already. Like Sherman said, you got the money, start making some plays…and earning it.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
He plays lazy.
August 26th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
I hope we see him on that jugs machine every day this week.
August 26th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Excellent takes all around on this topic fellas.
August 26th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
my wife is sick of hearing me yell catch the damn ball 10 times a game to receivers and defenders
August 26th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
Even D-White and CD3 had two picks each last year! I hope Dean and LVD break their pick droughts.
August 26th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
It never gets talked about but he had the same opportunity against the rams in the 2021 divisional round in their first drive. that could have completely changed how that game began for the buccaneers. unbelieveable
August 26th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
@Dave Pear
I saw a clip where he said he’s working the jugs machine after each practice… I think he said 50 balls? I think it was right after Todd made the comment about drug testing him 🤣
August 26th, 2024 at 3:44 pm
What about the 2 picks Moxie threw?
August 26th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Had Joe led with that being the one play from a Divisional win and not some miraculous 90 yard Hail Mayfield with a 2 point conversion tacked on just because it was a ‘Great Play’ I might have bought it.
August 26th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Joe get over the drop
Baker threw an interception that’s what ended the game
August 26th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
What Richard Sherman said.
August 26th, 2024 at 5:57 pm
He’s scared to miss the pick and give up big yards or a score. Better safe than sorry mindset.
August 27th, 2024 at 5:28 am
OMG, we all know it was Bakers fault. Everything is Bakers fault get him the hell out of here. Hay D.A’S he Dean catches the ball that’s probably Bakers fault as well. You all are the same people that want (Backup QB Trask) to take over the team. Oh that’s right it’s Bakers fault Trask isn’t starting. Thank God you all are not the GM or owners.