Preparing For A Jamel Dean Explosion
May 31st, 2022
Stepping on up?
Bucs cornerbacks struggled last season largely due to starters Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting missing a total of 16 starts with injuries.
One corner who only missed one game last year, Jamel Dean, is in a contract year. That’s a reason Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com beleives he’ll be the corner to take the biggest step this fall.
… That’s partly because I think Dean could make a perceived leap in his fourth year even without making an actual giant jump in his play. What I mean by that is that I think Dean was underrated last year and we might just need more people to see that he is a very good player. … [N0] NFL cornerback has allowed fewer yards per coverage snap while in press coverage since 2020 than Dean.
Now, press coverage is not Dean’s only job, so that doesn’t paint a complete picture. But it’s an awfully nice place to start. Dean has a lot going for him in terms of size, speed and length and I thought last year he was particularly good playing a physical style on routes near the sideline without drawing penalties.
Dean is also heading into his so-called “contract year,” as his original rookie deal expires next offseason. I’m not suggesting he needs extra motivation to raise his level of play, but it certainly can’t hurt. Dean has yet to play a full season without missing time and he has only started about half of his 42 career games. This could be the season he is entrenched as an outside corner on the Bucs defense for a full 17 games. …
Joe knows how Dean can easily progress: Learn how to catch. Both Dean and Davis have nasty habits of dropping picks. Hands of stone. It’s pretty obvious why these two are corners and not receivers.
If Dean could somehow find a way to get say, five or six picks this fall, he’s going to make a fat piece of change with his new contract.
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May 31st, 2022 at 4:04 am
Jamel Dean is the most underrated corner on the Bucs, and one of the most underrated in the league. Even if he just has his typical year, he’s gone in 2023. Bucs made their choice when we chose Carlton Davis over Jamel Dean. No way we can afford big contracts next year for both of them.
May 31st, 2022 at 6:30 am
Dean has all the physical tools you would like to see in a CB. He has the speed and length to be a true shutdown cornerback, but seems to have a couple bad plays a game which makes him look average at best. If he could be more consistent, he would be a future pro bowler.
May 31st, 2022 at 7:55 am
Carlton Davis’s contract is actually more affordable than you might think for a Teams #1 CB. Resigning Dean will all depend on what happens this year with the Bucs and Brady. Hell, EVERYTHING depends on what happens this year with Brady. If he retires or decides to move on to another team next year we can really blow this whole thing up if we cant get a decent QB to replace him.
May 31st, 2022 at 8:06 am
Dean explosion 😏
May 31st, 2022 at 8:16 am
I am hoping Dean can earn 20 million plus next year.
To me that means he had a highly productive season this year and that is very good for the Bucs.
May 31st, 2022 at 8:33 am
Whites big raise around the corner, Winfield couple of years next year Dean maybe Sean Murphy-Bunting. Don’t forget pro bowler Wirfs in a couple of years. Smith, Barrett, Vea, Evans etc. Something has got to give.
May 31st, 2022 at 8:34 am
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to extend contracts for Dean, SMB, Edwards, Nelson…..under normal circumstances, we could give all these guys a raise in their final rookie contract year….and save a bunch on future years.
The same could have been done with Godwin…..but….theses aren’t ordinary times.
May 31st, 2022 at 8:42 am
The secondary has been a week link for some time now. Pump the brakes on Dean. He is totally “Wait and see” what he actually plays like. Use all the stats you want to paint any kind of a picture about Dean. The bottom line is QB’s pick up easy 1st downs on Dean with his supersoft coverage. I hope this changes this year. Dean does not strike fear into any NFL QB. Again I hope it clicks this year for Dean, but for me it is wait and see. He has good speed, but Dean’s confidence has been his own biggest obstacle.
May 31st, 2022 at 9:44 am
Let the Dean critics talk shi_.
Since the last 7-8 games of the 2019 rookie season after Seattle road game humbling experience
This dude has played pretty damn well more than not
Pass rush or no pass rush
Joe your right about if 35 and 24 could squeeze the ball especially when it hits ‘em in the hands, they would both get more accolades
I’m excited to see some competition at slot
23 good hands SMB, get his groove back
Lohan Ryan impressive !
Athletic youngster Zyon potential
With a strong safety group could one of them get snaps ?
Also hear good things out of Dee Delaney, can Delaney play slot ?
May 31st, 2022 at 9:51 am
I totally agree with August76, it seemed like almost every time an opponent had 3rd and something and they went to Deans cover target, it was almost too-easy a first down. He was speed and length, however his line to cover is where he sometimes falls short. He has loads of potential and the $$$ is the motivation the pick-6 will be mentioned frequently at the RAY-JAY
May 31st, 2022 at 10:09 am
Agree with August 1976 Buc 100%….
I didn´t see nothing close to a super contract for him yet, I thought the same on Carlton D, but he got his contract, maybe some other see something I do not…..
May 31st, 2022 at 10:32 am
Keep grinding dean.
May 31st, 2022 at 10:49 am
Dean was one start shy in 2021 of matching the total games combined started in the 2 seasons leading up to 2021. Doesn’t get beat deep like he did year 1, the face guarding they taught DBs at Auburn has apparently been coached out of him, doesn’t whiff on many tackles and he’s coming off his best year as a pro CB. Dean was the embodiment of “next man up” in 2021 and I’ll be looking forward to see what steps he takes in 2022. Agree with the notion that he & Carlton Davis should be spending their free time with a jugs machine and their bare hands just catching passes until it clicks
May 31st, 2022 at 10:55 am
Dean to progress? Maybe Dean will get his deserved recognition. He allowed opposing QBs a rating of 50.0 when throwing his way, a completion percentage of 53.7% and ZERO TDs. He played great last season… and the previous two seasons. He is our best CB and likely the best in the South.
May 31st, 2022 at 11:02 am
Why is it that players always seems to make huge leaps in contract years, but never before and often never afterward?
Seriously… if you’re capable of that kind of performance in your contract year, why are you sandbagging every other year? Or am I just crazy?
May 31st, 2022 at 11:13 am
Agree with those giving Dean credit. There is a reason the defense was 4th in points allowed last year and Dean was a huge part of that success for our team.
May 31st, 2022 at 11:52 am
If Dean were good, we would of had a decent CB position other than Carlton Davis. Why were a lot of people begging for a premium number two CB in the offseason and draft? He has great numbers in press coverage, but Bowles sends the most blitzes. Started half of his 42 career games? I hope Dean and the Bucs secondary the best, but I watch games closely and don’t find myself saying “oh man he’s a great above average CB.”
May 31st, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Dean has a tendency of turning his head way to late. I think that explains the lack of ints. He also allows way too much space. As talented as he is, he should be able to play closer to the reciever. I think he looks disinterested much of the time. Maybe that’s just his personality, but I expect more intensity.
@SOEbuc makes a good point about the scheme. Maybe it’s a case of the coaches not playing to his strengths. Whatever the case, he should be better
May 31st, 2022 at 3:15 pm
This dude misses way too much time due to injury or coaches decision and I don’t see anything but an average at best player when he’s healthy. Hopefully he has a pro bowl year and makes me look like an idiot, but I gotta see it to believe it.
May 31st, 2022 at 5:31 pm
This guy cant be underrated because he is a big question mark. He misses games, and rarely do I ever recall an outstanding effort from him in a game. Nothing about him indicates an intelligent player or a committed one. Could care less about what some spreadsheeter says about his game. He played a bunch last year and the pass defense did not pass muster.