Todd Bowles: Jamel Dean Injury Hurt Bucs Defense
January 13th, 2025
Hurt Sunday night. Again.
In a close game, losing a starter is bad. When that starter is a corner and the quarterback the Bucs are facing is red hot, losing that corner could be lethal.
Now Joe is not saying the Bucs lost to the Commandos last night because Jamel Dean got hurt. But Todd Bowles said after the playoff game that Dean’s injury surely didn’t help.
“It was huge from some of the things we try to do and wanted to do,” Bowles said. “Kind of did a good job getting the fourth down stop in the red zone. Then it came back on fourth down and they got the touchdown there.
“[Josh] Hayes fought hard and he played and we been doing it all year, so there is no excuse there.”
Joe thinks Dean is an OK corner, maybe a good corner. If you don’t like that he plays a soft zone, well, that’s on the coaches. Joe is very confident if Dean was blowing off Bowles and just being plain insubordinate and freelancing by playing a soft zone against Bowles’ wishes, then Bowles would have benched him by now.
Joe’s issue with Dean is he can’t stay on the field. As Bill Parcells famously said, “Your best ability is your availability.”
Dean, 28, missed five games this year. That’s nearly a third of the season. He played in the fewest number of regular season games of his career. Even as a rookie he played in 13 games.
Last year Dean played in only 13 games, missing four and getting hurt against Detroit in the divisional round.
Last night he got hurt in his second straight playoff game.
Joe will get into Dean’s contract intel at a later date. There are two months (March 12) until the free agency dinner bell rings. But with Dean’s inability to stay on the field, the Bucs are going to have to look at adding a legit corner.
Dean is brittle as it is. As Phil Simms once said, NFL players don’t get healthier as they get older.
Joe’s not trying to kill Dean. He’s a good dude and no player this side of Myron Lewis wants to be hurt. However, the last two campaigns of injury-plagued seasons suggest the Bucs need a better backup plan or an upgrade.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:17 am
Emmanwori
January 13th, 2025 at 4:50 am
What hurt the Defense is Bowles
Last night looked any different from many of the games the Bucs have been in?
NO
The Bucs have too much talent to be sitting at home with Washington moving on
Oh Yea and Bowles D made another Rookie look Awesome
January 13th, 2025 at 4:58 am
Had nothing to do with the overall bad calling of defensive plays the whole dm time todd. i dont want to dislike you, but you keep forcing me…come on man
January 13th, 2025 at 5:03 am
Blah Blah Blah Fire Bowles hire a new HC and DC. Time for a change.
January 13th, 2025 at 5:07 am
Can’t stay on the field – move on.
Totally gutted our season is over.
January 13th, 2025 at 5:33 am
Either paycut or maybe he should leave. Also why does it seem like we’re the only team that has a defense that completely changes or “can’t do some things” when certain guys are out? Detroit has arguably just as many, if not more injuries than us, and their freaking bench warmers are performing. Maybe not having a complicated scheme? I mean if we’re so desperate that we can only sign guys during the season wjp have played for us before, or Vi Jones not getting it after a whole year, maybe we should look into simplifying. Also new defensive assistants at the least. Time to switch it up.
January 13th, 2025 at 5:35 am
Shocking glass man got hurt. Just waiting on the HC news hopefully in a few hours
January 13th, 2025 at 5:42 am
Bowles will never get this team to the SB. Barely winning the division every year in an awful division doesn’t cut it. Time to move on.
January 13th, 2025 at 5:52 am
I would say the biggest culprit of the loss was your defense not being able to make the Commanders punt even once.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:21 am
Honestly, when Todd resurrected Dick Lebeau’s (spelling) old zone blitz defence…most teams had forgotten how to deal with outside linebackers trying to cover receivers 20 yards down field. Whoodathunk? But if you give the average Joe five or ten minutes to think about it…umm… It fails to work like you thought it would.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:23 am
Another great gameplan concocted by this HC.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Fragile D backs have been a problem for the past few years. Bucs need to invest in bubble wrap.
Yesterday, Bucs O seemed to have gOtten away from the pass and relied too much on the run, which was costly. ‘
Evans was tuned in and decisively won his battle vs Lattimore!
January 13th, 2025 at 6:41 am
dean is a waste. he has all the physical ability except for hands to catch a ball. yet always hurt, hell did he make a single play all year. he had one pass break up in the red zone last night. he seems like a dumb player to me. it took him years to beat out murphy bunting despite being better athlete.
He is a waste of money. he should be forced to live with deion sanders for three months and learn to play corner
January 13th, 2025 at 6:42 am
I don’t want to hear anything else except TODD BOWLES HAS BEEN RELEASED. If he was any good from the get go he would still be with the Jets. Same crap every season in a crappy division.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:45 am
Todd’s “defense” and the fact that his balls haven’t dropped are the reason…
January 13th, 2025 at 6:47 am
Dean is done…..dude stays injured every season. This was the classic Todd Bowles season, hovering around .500 is as good as it gets. The fans won’t renew tickets if Coen leaves….it’s that simple. The offense was the only thing worth watching, the defense has been a dud all season and frankly since the playoff loss to the Rams.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:50 am
Dean is soft.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:50 am
There were some great corners around in the second round, but it’s in the past now. We really need to fix that Swiss cheese secondary.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Dean is soft garbage.
I hope that was his last play as a Buc.
An injury, how fitting.
Kind of kin to JayMiss throwing his last pick 6 on his last play with us.
Heck, maybe we can fleece Detroit for another 3rd rounder like we did with CD?
January 13th, 2025 at 6:57 am
Excuses. Who else is Todd going to blame for his own failures?
January 13th, 2025 at 7:07 am
Lose the Guru and his brilliant defense schemes and game decisions. We have to score 30 plus a game to win. Otherwise we will see the same old thing next year. Probably back in to the lousy division champs and one and done in the playoffs.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:15 am
We weren’t going anywhere in the playoffs with this D scheme and the available players. Better to pull the bandaid off. If Bowles needs this level of of top players for his scheme then it’s flawed anyway. Bowles Plan B/2nd best options couldnt keep teams from marching down the field. That’s on the D Coordinator.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Dean is unreliable. Cornerback should be first or second rounder this year. One who Bowles will trust to cover man to man.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:26 am
Hayes couldn’t guard a guy in a wheelchair. Not having someone better cost us the game..
January 13th, 2025 at 7:33 am
They should’ve put Barber, Dexter, Sapp & Brooks in the game. They were there. They probably would’ve played better still.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:37 am
There are now three things that can be counted on: Death, Taxes and Dean getting hurt.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:40 am
Dean, Fundrrburk, McCollum and Hayes. Hall. Tryon. Britt. Russell.
These are weaknesses.
Who assembled this team?
Should Licht be fired? Of course not. He’s done a great job.
But the reality is no head coach can’t turn these guys into good players.
Improve the talent.
And for God’s sake, find someone with a nasty, demanding and commanding attitude like Warren Sapp.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:43 am
The nearly fatal time waster with 29 seconds left in the 1st half was classic. Don’t call your 2ND time out till even the announcers say why let 13 seconds go by till you call it. Luckily Baker/Mike bailed the HC out by scoring the TD. Even a high school coach knows to call a timeout quickly in those circumstances!
January 13th, 2025 at 7:43 am
Dean needs to go. Can’t have players you can’t depend on.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:44 am
They should be used to playing without him or CBs. This has been going on for the last 4 years. Nothing new here. Stop running past the QB and giving up Lanes.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:50 am
You know what hurt the Buc’s, the Buc’s. If we would have pulled this one out we would have been waiting for the inconsistent play during the next game. We are not in the same stratosphere than Detroit or Philadelphia. We would have shown our ugly play somewhere along the way. It wasn’t Dean, although he stinks, it is a defensive philosophy that continues and will continue throughout unless this head coach is gone. I am tired of not knowing which team will show up or not show up week after week. Now it’s time to watch some real football with real teams.
January 13th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Ha, that isn’t even a good excuse. The whole defensive scheme needs to be rebuilt. Also, the Bucs need to focus on getting quality defensive backs and real DE’s that can bring serious pressure. Not the OLBs we have that can’t rush the passer or even cover.
If Bowles remains as head coach, the Bucs need to get a proven DC. Bowles is no longer cutting it as the DC.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:01 am
I told my son-in-law that I wondered who would go down first, Winfield or Dean. We both agreed it would be Dean. Methinks he needs replaced ASAP. He has mastered the fine art of getting “hurt” after he gives up a big play.
On a different note, the Bucs needs to enhance their defensive coaching staff. It’s obvious they don’t know how to develop talent. Seriously, this is a pretty poor excuse for an NFL defense.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Has anyone ever seen Todd actually coahing on the sideline? Ever see him gather his defense, and coach them during the game? Doesn’t matter what’s going on around him, he stands on the sideline, arms folded like a blank slate. Just the way his defense plays. No passion, no fire. Gruden once said it’s an emotional game played by emotional men. Just once I’d like to see Bowles light up his defense on the bench. This defense plays like their coach. They show no passion, no emotion just like Todd.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:04 am
No it didn’t. The defense stunk all year. bye Todd!
January 13th, 2025 at 8:06 am
At 15 million a year trade him for a 3rd like you did with Davis for a third. How did that work out?
Bucs got Mc Millin
Detroit Davis IR
January 13th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Hayes couldn’t guard a player being pushed around on a stretcher
January 13th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Why did we keep Jamel dean over Carlton Davis
Carlton Davis was the better corner to me, best corner we’ve had in a long time. And you trade him to the team that’s one seed in the nfc
Makes no sense.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Dean HURTS the Bucs Defense.
Btw: Davis and Dean were interchangeable. Both injury prone, overpaid, non-playmakers.
Defense needs a massive rehaul.
I’d put Winfield on the trade market as well.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:59 am
I’ve been saying for a long time now……. One more time, get rid of Dean! Maybe he has a little trade value, but if not, cut him!
January 13th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Dean & Winfield are SHELLS of themselves and are not playing up to their respective contracts.
The Bucs need reliable LBs and CBs so badly
January 13th, 2025 at 9:12 am
@ Hodad
I’ve never seen Bowles ever coach his players on the sidelines ….. he just stands there ….arms folded and the cameras always show him looking bewildered on the sidelines when something bad happens…..he does look like he motivates or inspires players either……
Not a good look at all
January 13th, 2025 at 9:21 am
He didn’t have him last week so why was he dependent this week? I really don’t like Bowles, dude defense is pure trash and then if he loses a single player you hardly notice but he uses it as an excuse
Washington possessed the ball for 35 minutes 8/15 on 3rd down 3/5 on 4th down. Now that is a Todd Bowles defense. Did that all happen when Dean got hurt?
January 13th, 2025 at 9:22 am
He didn’t have him last week so why was he dependent this week? I really don’t like Bowles, dude defense is pure trash and then if he loses a single player you hardly notice but he uses it as an excuse
Washington possessed the ball for 35 minutes 8/15 on 3rd down 3/5 on 4th down. Now that is a Todd Bowles defense. Did that all happen when Dean got hurt
January 13th, 2025 at 9:27 am
It absolutely fathoms me how our guys consistently got beat on the inside release into the soft middle zone. Either you play inside leverage,use the side line as a tool and split your safeties to help deep if needed. Or you zone up and your god damn linebackers drop back to squeeze the middle. We have had these combination of players for 2-3 years now and every time a pass is completed they all look at each other like someone messed up. And as for fake azz Dean… every time that dude gives up a critical play he goes down hurt???? What a bum! Dude need to go asap. D- line played well, our secondary is atrocious. None of the players on our team would play for another team except Winfield, Mcullom,smith… and the only linebacker would be David.
Absolutely all defense this next draft!!!!
Until next year… that is all
January 13th, 2025 at 9:37 am
the defense simply spent too much time on the field last night
January 13th, 2025 at 9:38 am
there was poor misusage of time outs last night…….again
January 13th, 2025 at 9:49 am
We certainly need to replace Jamel Dean, let him be the back up. We need edge x 2 from FA, the rest can be had in the draft.
January 13th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Dude been trash since he arrived to Tampa this fan base just love being blind to facts
January 13th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Dean is most injury prone CB I’ve ever seen period! It’s time to move on he’s a liability.
January 13th, 2025 at 10:06 am
If Dean is still in a Bucs uniform next season I’m gonna puke.
January 13th, 2025 at 10:14 am
2 free agent pass rushers after drafting yaya and Braswell? Sounds great but can’t realistically happen, if Licht let jpp walk because so JTS could step up then he won’t neuter his young guys. The coach simply has to do a coaches job and develop players, get them ready for game day. This is just another area where his coaches fails. It’s Bowles fault because he hired guys who aren’t doing their job and he still won’t replace them
January 13th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Somebody tell Dean next year a contract year, he’d come to play like fired out of our cannon
January 13th, 2025 at 10:36 am
Yea its time to move on we just can not seem to find CB’s that can get picks …
January 13th, 2025 at 11:05 am
I don’t understand how Lattimore can follow Evans around all game, but when Hayes is in because Dean is hurt, why McCollum couldn’t follow around McLaurin. Not a very good back up plan!
January 13th, 2025 at 11:08 am
The Bucs’ pass defense will continue to be bottom of the league so long as Bowles insists on playing a soft zone coverage the vast majority of the game. Blaming Baker Mayfield, Jamel Dean, and Josh Hayes will not change that fact.
January 13th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Does Bowles watch the games? Dean has been terrible ever since he got that big contract. Often injured, and sorry, I have to question if he was actually hurt on that play. Bowles is just making excuses, his defense doesn’t work with or without Dean.
January 13th, 2025 at 11:57 am
It doesn’t seem like Dean’s VAR is so high that his getting hurt carries that much weight.
January 13th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Joe in Michigan Says:
January 13th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Does Bowles watch the games? Dean has been terrible ever since he got that big contract. Often injured, and sorry, I have to question if he was actually hurt on that play. Bowles is just making excuses, his defense doesn’t work with or without Dean.
_______
Spot on.
January 13th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
It didn’t help when our FA corner tore his acl in the beginning of the season
January 13th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Then our FA slot corner. Then izien.
January 13th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
If we don’t fire Bowles and were able to keep cohen, then we better be looking for a defensive coordinator that can help develop players because this is embarrassing. How were we averaging 4.5 yards a carry and lose smh something has to give
January 13th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Who would have thought that Bryce Hall injury would wreck the season.
January 13th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Can anyone name any buc defender who start for any other playoff team? Vea…no every team has a 350 lb man beast in the middle. Kancey, quick but can’t tackle. I’ve seen better. Lavonte, great guy all heart but at 34 passed his prime. Zyon, really? Known as perpetual pass interference. So the Bucs defense is smoke and mirrors thanks the Jason and this coaching staff. Playing in a weak division gets you weak non-playoff winning teams..
January 13th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Get rid of Dean 🗑️🗑️🗑️🗑️
January 13th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
When does Licht get criticism for the poor defense he put together?
How many holes do we have on D?
Every position? Licht owns it.
January 13th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
You can’t change your defense due to the presence or absence of an average started like Dean. He’s not Deion Sanders.
You also can’t make an excuse then claim “no excuses.”
January 13th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
That’s the way you do it
Play the corner on Todd Bowles D
That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Miss half the season with injuries
January 13th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
Move on from him..hes not the guy n getting payed to be a injured bum
January 13th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
I go back to the same message: If you know you’re defense is injured and held together with spit and duct tape, then why continuously put the game in their hands? That’s bad coaching.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Saw that play that Dean took himself out of the game. Man, what a China Doll. If Winfield does not pick it up next year then what a big waste of money that could of went elsewhere. Bring back Godwin
January 13th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Time to get rid of this fragile guy.
January 13th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
So Dean injured both knees in college. His 40 time at the combine got him drafted. Can’t teach 4.3 speed. But if you’ve ever really watched him, he doesn’t not change directions quickly or smoothly on a regular basis. Maybe here or there but a quick WR in/out of cuts, beats Dean. A long sprinter, doesn’t always beat Dean.
Get a better corner, more athletic like Zyon and we’ll be set. Need speed WITH quick hip flipping and change of direction with BETTER knees.
January 14th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Find a way to re-sign CG then draft all defense.