To Defend A Rookie Is To Know The Rookie
October 15th, 2022
Jamel Dean explains.
So earlier this week, Joe was in the Bucs locker room gathering intel on the Steelers and how the Bucs want to attack them.
Joe spoke with Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett about facing rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, who will make his second NFL start on Sunday after being the first QB taken in the draft at No. 20 overall.
Shaq told Joe that it doesn’t matter how much experience Pickett or any rookie signal-caller may or may not have. If a guy is starting at quarterback, that means he can play, he said.
So on Thursday, Joe asked Carlton Davis if the trick to defending a rookie quarterback is to not focus on who he is but instead what he can do? Davis thought Joe nailed it.
“Yeah, in the NFL, anyone who is out there is capable of playing,” Davis told Joe.
Joe wanted to hear Jamel Dean’s take. He had a thoughtful answer. No sir, Dean said, he wants to know all about the rookie, not just his skills.
So why is that? Basically, Dean said, he wants to get inside the head of a quarterback. A corner who does that has a better idea what a rookie (or any quarterback) might do and that may just be enough to give a defender an edge.
“You worry about both,” Dean said of knowing both the person at quarterback as well as his skillset. “Just because, you have to figure out who is his go-to guy. Is he a confident guy? Does he go for the deep ball? Short route? So you have to know all of that.”
Joe thought that was a really interesting answer. That to properly defend a quarterback, what the quarterback is thinking and how he reacts is key to the defender adjusting and preparing accordingly.
October 15th, 2022 at 8:17 am
This is a game where I’m not quite sure we have to worry too much about being outscored……
If we don’t see a dynamic pass offense with almost the Steelers entire secondary out…..something is dreadfully wrong.
Pickett can have a good game and still come up considerably short.
That’s what I expect.
October 15th, 2022 at 8:26 am
It would be nice if Shaq showed up, he’s been pretty much invisible. Bucs have the great D genius Bowels, how can they be concerned about a rookie QB?? Off topic, what happened to the O we had in Dallas game? How did it go back to same o same o? All Brady wants is #8 SB all the other accolades are anticlimactic. Oneilsuckyall that means, lacks excitement.
October 15th, 2022 at 8:36 am
I like the mature way our defensive backs go about preparing for a game. Good coaching and discipline should serve our D-backs well. I too expect a high scoring game from the Bucs and doubt the rookie QB on the other side can keep up. Just hope our run defense shows up this week.
October 15th, 2022 at 8:43 am
If Bucs get a big lead in this game, the D must not get “bored” and allow an unpredictable rookie QB to get hot in the 4th qtr.
October 15th, 2022 at 9:30 am
Jared Goff, Daniel Jones were both rookies when they best us in 2016 and 2019 respectively. Justin Herbert came an inch away from beating us as a rookie in 2020. Let’s not get the big head n underestimate Pickett.
October 15th, 2022 at 9:52 am
If “The Big Dog” we’re here he would have melted the airwaves with White being bored. This crew of broadcast jockeys do little to no show prep and just wing it. The print media is just as bad. BORED!!! You have got to be kidding me and the fan base.
October 15th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Sounds like Dean is putting in a lot of extra work, talking to coaches and picking their brains. It’s no wonder he is having his best year as a Buc so far. I hope the kid balls out all year. He always has a smile on his face and has a good attitude.
October 15th, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Better prepare for both QBs. If the kid struggles, Tomlin might throw Mitch back in for a spark. They really don’t have a starting QB at this point. Tomlin hasn’t said to my knowledge this is a perminent switch.
October 15th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Thoughtful answers come from smart players. Jamel Dean is a keeper.