All Eyes On DBs
June 7th, 2020
Bucs DB Carlton Davis.
Last year the Bucs played two rookies and a second-year corner. They had some growing up to do.
But as the season wore on (specifically after Vernon Hargraves was dumped for serial loafing), the Bucs defense got much better, led by their young secondary. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com seems to think how well the secondary plays for the Bucs will determine how good of a team the Bucs will be this fall.
Tampa’s trio of young cornerbacks played their best down the stretch last year. Whether that’s a sign of an ascending group or a small-sample mirage could decide whether this is a playoff team or not. The Bucs ranked fifth in overall defensive efficiency last season because they stopped the run and forced turnovers, which is how Bowles’ defense is ideally built to work.
Well, Carlton Davis played solid ball and finished third in the NFL in passes defensed (19). Jamel Dean had 17 in 13 games. And all Sean Murphy-Bunting did was pick off passes (team-leading three).
If Antoine Winfield is the baller he appears to be in his YouTube highlight film, he could solidify this young secondary.
If the secondary continues to grow like it did last year, this defense could be gnarly.
June 7th, 2020 at 8:13 am
Lot of pressure on this group to perform and improve. I think we saw some of that last year. They should be fun to watch.
June 7th, 2020 at 8:26 am
If the D-Line doesn’t get home to the QB…….these young kids will continue to struggle.
The secondary is such a weak point……..Carlton Davis really needs to lead this young group cause there is ZERO veteran leadership in the back field.
June 7th, 2020 at 8:54 am
We have invested a lot in our DBs in previous drafts and they have had a year to season, with the addition of Winfield and having a better ideal of trust with the corners we have. Bowles can be a little more creative in his blitz schemes knowing the corners can hold their own for a period of time and hopefully this will help in getting more pressure on the QB, it would be nice if we could find some money to get a little more depth for Shaq and J.P. and also Vita and Suh but there is only so much we can afford.
June 7th, 2020 at 8:54 am
Most worthy of pointing out is that both Davis and Dean held opposing QBs to 50% completions or less.
June 7th, 2020 at 9:27 am
Add Jamal Adams it could be the best Defense in the NFL.
June 7th, 2020 at 10:29 am
Add in White and Vea and you have a strong core on D for years to come.
Band of Brothers!
I do agree that if this group plays well, the team will do well.
Improve Special Teams and reduce Penalties and that 12-4 record is easily achieved.
In BA I Trust!
June 7th, 2020 at 11:03 am
At 15+M Adams is too expensive for a team starved for cap space
June 7th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Look for more improvement from Devin White and Edwards…….and oh what a gift it would be to get a healthy Justin Evans back.
June 7th, 2020 at 11:39 am
also something to consider along with Jamal Adams’s salary demands is the draft capital the bucks would have to trade for him. That’s going to cost dearly
June 7th, 2020 at 11:46 am
A rookie is not going to solidify anything. The solidifying needs to come from Davis or a vet they sign. Devin White was supposed to be the answer last year, and he was a rookie. Bad idea to pin hopes for a whole unit on a rookie.
June 7th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
The strength of any D comes from the middle: DT/MLB/SS.
The 2002 team was excellent there with Sapp-Booger/Quarles/Lynch (4-3).
If Winfield is what many say he is, I’d rate this current middle bunch—Vea-Suh/White-David/Winfield (3-4)—with any team.
June 7th, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Keep making teams be one dimensional and forcing them to throw and they’re bound to make mistakes and we can capitalize. Especially now that we don’t have a QB who will score for them.
June 7th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Maybe not so much this year. DB is a lot of practice and learning in OTA but 2021 could be another question. Clyde Christinsan HC 2022. Need to try to keep this strong coaching together. Especially Bowels. Resign Lavonte David. Bowels was the one that picked the safety in the second round, And he knows safeties. It’s all about Bowels scheme with these young DBs.
June 7th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Cobraboy
We have to keep the large run stuffing line. Large DT or edge in the first or second round in the next two years. If they’re going to resign Shaq they need a great first or second round DE. DT/DE/QB are the most important positions for us early in the next three years. Vet depth in the secondary/oline/OLB
June 7th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Its a good thing Mike Smith is an unemployment statistic and not the dc anymore otherwose these dbs would be screwed!
June 7th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Adams at 15 a year would be worth it on this team. Howard a first and a third for Adams would be a good deal.
June 7th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
BucEmUp… Smitty would turn SMB into VH3 2.0.
June 7th, 2020 at 4:35 pm
SMB has 3 things VH3 never had: size, speed, and ball skills. You’re right though, nobody would be good in Smitty’s defense.
June 7th, 2020 at 5:56 pm
If Bowles bides his time for a few games and then opens the playbook, they will be very good.
If, by the middle of the season, the backs learn to disguise their play it can be a top three defense.
June 7th, 2020 at 7:02 pm
@Cobra
As usual agree completely. All the attention is on the O for obvious reasons but I think this D..strong up the middle as you point out…has the chance to be special.
They finish their education this year, grow as a unit and as teammates and end the year improving still…a quality D ready to challenge greatness.
Next year..2021…they might be truly special!
June 7th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
I am very stoked about this group of DBs. You look at Todd Bowles track record and he really seems to have a eye for talent and can put his guys into positions to make plays. We saw all the right signs from Dean & Bunting last year…..you gotta love their chances to play even better this year…..And adding Winfield is exciting as well because Bowles keeps hitting on DBs…….Yes, it is a little scary because it’s such a young inexperienced group but Todd really seems to know what he’s doing with his secondary. There’s really no reason to think he can’t get our secondary playing at a high level. I think the way we finished last year was a taste of what’s to come….And why you look at those games the secondary was for sure battle tested against top passing attacks, QBs & WRs. It was very impressive.
GO BUCS!!!
June 7th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
Javon Hagan should be a good special teams player and push for playing time at the safety spot….and I like that!!!