Cornerbacks Coach Kevin Ross Identifies One Step Sean Murphy-Bunting Must Take
May 6th, 2022
Coaches expect rebound.
Joe understands some folks for whatever reason have never warmed to cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Joe doesn’t know why.
He gets a lot of arrows shot his way.
Last year in the playoff loss to the Rams, SMB didn’t have a good day, neither did any other Bucs cornerback. What made it worse was the poor tackling and constant falling to the ground when Rams receivers made a move.
Those playoffs were a far cry from the 2020 postseason when it appeared SMB turned the corner and may have been rounding into a top-flight corner. His three interceptions that postseason were two shy of the NFL record held by Lester Hayes and Vernon Perry.
SMB’s biggest interception came late in the first half against the Packers in the NFC Championship game. With 28 seconds left, he picked off Aaron Rodgers at midfield while blanketing Packers receiver Allen Lazard.
That pick set up Tom Brady’s bomb to Scotty Miller as the Bucs took a 21-10 lead at halftime. The Bucs only won by five, 31-26. Take away that pick and the Bucs probably lose. It may have been the biggest Bucs interception since Rondé Barber’s pick-six to win the 2002 NFC Championship game over the Eagles.
Last year was a disaster for SMB. He dislocated an elbow in the season-opener against Dallas and missed eight games.
Earlier this week, Bucs cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross commented on what SMB must do to be a solid Bucs starter.
“Stay healthy,” Ross said. “Stay healthy.”
Interestingly, Ross believed that SMB was so locked in on rehabbing last year and getting back as soon as he could, it actually took his focus away from football.
“He kind of got caught in a trap between — once he got hurt I don’t know if he started worrying about the injury itself and not playing up to his capability [after his return],” Ross said. “We expect big things from him this year.”
As a rookie in 2019, SMB led the Bucs with three interceptions. That’s not an incredible number, but it says a lot when a rookie leads a team in picks. It looked like he broke out in the 2020 playoffs. And then last year was a trainwreck.
Hopefully, SMB gets back on the tracks.
Third INT of these #NFLPlayoffs for Sean Murphy-Bunting! #GoBucs #NFLPlayoffs
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May 6th, 2022 at 5:49 am
lol the “Cosmic one” Lester Hayes and SMB may be on a short list together, but there is not much resemblance between the 2 overall. Lester was a shut down CB, who should already have his bust in Canton. With that being said, SMB has been up and down for most of his time with the Bucs. SMB had a nice run during the 2020 postseason, yes he excelled for sure. But overall during his time with the Bucs, excluding the 2020 Post Season, inconsistent is the first adjective that comes to mind about SMB.
The Bucs Secondary has not struck any fear into anyone since the 1997-2002 Bucs secondary.
Now as a fan, I sure hope that begins to change.
But super soft coverage “scaredy cat” defense by some of the DB’s, which leads easy hitch throws by QBs to receivers with DB’s 10 yards off the receiver is not going to cut it. That does not scare anyone. ”
For most NFL QB’s, that is “Stealing candy from a baby offense.
And causes much yelling at the TV by me and other Buc fans lol
Hope things change, but time will tell.
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 6th, 2022 at 5:51 am
Yep I like SMB, just needs to stay with his fundamentals as a DB.
he has good feet, good hips swivel. He’s a CB I would want to coach.
May 6th, 2022 at 6:46 am
Ya how about teaching him not to trip over his own feet and stop riding receivers piggyback after the catch.
May 6th, 2022 at 6:55 am
I agree with Listnfrmafar
May 6th, 2022 at 7:05 am
I like SMB…..but then again, I like all the Buc players so that doesn’t mean much.
May 6th, 2022 at 7:06 am
I’ll just say ALL our cornerbacks better step up this year. Last year was an absolute disgrace in the secondary from game 1.
May 6th, 2022 at 7:23 am
I wish this guy the best for both his and our sakes, but he has been terribly inconsistent.
May 6th, 2022 at 7:23 am
Joe ,
There have been several references to the Bucs corners missing tackles. I looked it up and the only missed tackles listed were three for SMB. Also Jamel Dean had more tackles combined the rams game than SMB and Davis. He had 7 combined
and a forced fumble. SMB had 4 combined and a fumble recovery. Davis had two combined. But none of the startingcorners had a pass defense listed.
May 6th, 2022 at 7:36 am
Jamal Dean, Carlton Davis and Mike Edwards came out of the 2019 draft for us.
I am waiting for someone on this site to list the corners and safeties from 2019 that are better than those three.
May 6th, 2022 at 7:44 am
He’s a loser like most people using two last names. A certain edge rusher comes to mind as does a former tight end. ‘
Murphy-Bunting plays soft, can’t tackle and is often out of position. Most people want their toast with eggs and not football.
Bowles covered up his weak secondary with a strong pass rush. That only worked to a point. Winfield and Edwards are keepers, SMB and Dean not really.
May 6th, 2022 at 8:05 am
More stats :
Carlton Davis had the best pass completion % at 33% but it was a big one for 70 yards, SMB had 80% for 87 yards. Dean had 57% for only 33 yards.
These stats and the ones above were all from the Rams playoff game. My take
is that Dean play may not have warranted the bad play credit.
May 6th, 2022 at 8:15 am
Pretty much have to disregard last year.
May 6th, 2022 at 8:16 am
I’m going to go out on a limb and say, not having ones’ arm snapped in half in the 1st qtr of the 1st game of the season should do a lot for SMBs game & confidence in 2022.
May 6th, 2022 at 8:26 am
Here are the YAC yards against: SMB 41,Davis 32, Dean 3
May 6th, 2022 at 8:32 am
More stats :
Carlton Davis had the best pass completion % at 33% but it was a big one for 70 yards, SMB had 80% for 87 yards. Dean had 57% for only 33 yards.
These stats and the ones above were all from the Rams playoff game. My take
is that Dean play may not have warranted the bad play credit.
Go and watch the game, play by play, the stats do not tell the whole story, and never do..
Deans issue is confidence, he has all the ability, speed needed to be an excellent CB.
GO BUCS!!!!
May 6th, 2022 at 8:33 am
Dean and Davis are going to be really good together. SMB needs to step up. They all need to wrap up with better angles tackling
May 6th, 2022 at 8:37 am
Go and watch the games, play by play, the stats do not tell the whole story, and never do..
Deans issue is confidence, he has all the ability, and speed needed to be an excellent CB.
Confidence is the main thing that has to happen for Dean.
Playing way off receivers, and conceding first downs. And he has picked on by QB’s, one specifically was Dak Prescott in the Dallas game.
Again this is about confidence for Dean, physically he has way more than enough talent to be and excellent CB
GO BUCS!!!!
May 6th, 2022 at 9:05 am
@Bob in valrico:
CB comparison stats are misleading, Bob. SMB often lines up at the slot; slot CBs tend to not surrender big plays as the passes are not deep, meaning that another DB (particularly a safety man) is likely going to make the tackle. Outside CBs are, by far, more likely to give up the long completions as that is where the go routes are more likely to be run.
May 6th, 2022 at 9:24 am
SMB can’t cover Cooper Kupp- so when Bucs play Rams this year, put Davis on Kupp and double team him. Is that so much to ask?
May 6th, 2022 at 9:39 am
For me, when I watch SMB, I see someone putting in minimal effort. He was given the job instead of earning it, and it shows in his play and the way he carries himself. It’s frustrating to watch week after week knowing that he knows he won’t get benched regardless of what he does or doesn’t do simply because we have no one to replace him. Hopefully that changes this year. Lackluster performance should not be tolerated.
May 6th, 2022 at 10:44 am
I like SMB as a playmaker but Dean and Davis are clearly our two best CBs. Both Dean and Davis have allowed QB ratings of less than 90 the last three seasons and I think SMB’s always allowed greater than 85… not looking it up… just saying. Dean and Davis are pass defensed machines. Dean allowed opposing QB rating of only 50 last season… kinda hard to keep him off the field over SMB who allowed over 100.
May 6th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Coaching went from below average to awful against Rams. They have the athletes.
May 6th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Maybe the lack of pass rush last season was a bigger part of the problem, and that made the corners look average. Which most corners in this league are average when there is no pass rush.
May 6th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
August, I was talking about the rams game and you you are talking about the first game of the season when neither SMB or Dean played well at corner. Can’t argue that Dean was better than SMB that day he was really bad on that day. He improved since then ,and was able to keep opposing QB’s to less than 50 % completions.
Dean has the bulk,arm length and speed to be a press corner, but we don’t know
that’s his style of play of or a coaching decision. It did allow him to lead the corners in solo and combined tackles throughout the season and playoffs with
56 solo and 12 assisted tackles. He also had 9 pass defenses. Keeping everything
in front of him seems to be working for him.
May 6th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
SMBs problem is his lack of makeup speed. He’s a bail and trail corner. I’ve never liked his prototype. You can’t play zone all the time
May 6th, 2022 at 10:57 pm
Bust
May 7th, 2022 at 2:50 am
Hello Bob, I am talking about Deans time with the team since 2019, not just the Dallas game.
It is all about confidence with Dean.
He has more than enough Talent. Dean has excellent speed
But to see the look on his face at different times, scared. When you lay off receivers and concede first downs normally, with the excellent speed that Dean has, it is not just positioning by the coaches, it is also his choice. Again it is confidence.
I hope he steps up his game, it is needed big time. But not just Dean, it is the whole secondary also needs to step up. And I hope they do.
GO BUCS!!!!!