Jamel Dean and Mike Edwards: Making impressions in 2020

Pair finding ways onto the field

In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Bucs made selections designed to end, or at least bring about an end to their gaping holes in the defensive middle and backfield. Devin White, the Hall of Fame destined linebacker was first on our board, and if not already first in our hearts on defense. Next up was Sean Murphy-Bunting, who was counted on to be able to start pretty quickly and has not been disappointing. The next two off the board were corner Jamel Dean of Auburn and Safety Mike Edwards out of Kentucky. (Both of their Senior season’s highlights can be accessed by left-clicking their names.) If you take the time to watch their clips, you will see why Jason Licht pulled the trigger on these two. They are both immensely talented, especially Dean. Last season, both players had moments, interceptions that made you watch the replay. Over the last eight weeks of the 2019 season, Tampa Bay led the NFL with 57 passes defended, finishing a plus-seven on the next down the list. On the season, Davis, Murphy-Bunting, and Dean combined for 44 pass break-ups. Though Dean didn’t get much action until week 8, it became evident that he needed to be on the field as much as possible. That’s when Dean started showing up to practice early and started putting in film study with Bowles. The rest of the crew followed suit, and they all credit that with their turnaround over the last half of the 2019 season. This is what made me so excited about this season and our chances of being much more dominant. The front seven were basically number one all season in rushing yards allowed. Defensive Co-Ordinator Todd Bowles had this to say about the young group during the off-season.

“Physically, they’ve grown,” said Bowles. “Mentally, they’re still puppies. But they played what we called last year, and they played it well. They understand what we’re doing on defense, but this year they have to graduate mentally to understand what offenses are trying to do them and get a better grasp of the game that way.” –  Quote per buccaneers.com, Scott Smith article, June 17, 2020

Big impressions made in Packers Roast

Neither of the young defenders is starters. They get in the mix as much as allowed, with Dean filling the nickel-back role. Edwards gets in on different coverage packages that Bowles calls. In the Denver game, Edwards made a one-handed pick that impressed. This past Sunday, Dean, and Edwards had interceptions. Dean’s being a pick-six that changed the momentum of the game, one that we would dominate the rest of the way. Personally, I like Jamel Dean as the starter over Murphy-Bunting, but until I’m called down to Dale Mabry to help out, I don’t see that comment being heard. It’s true that injuries at Auburn, his Senior Season, lowered his draft status; had that not occurred, Dean may very well have been higher rated than Murphy-Bunting. It’s nice, though, to have a discussion about who should be starting out of the very talented pair. I believe, at some point, if injuries don’t do their damage, Dean will become a full-time starter. If not here, somewhere. Top talent has a way of finding itself on to the field, and Dean is no different. Dean, in my opinion, will be a big star sooner than later. He’s a gamer, a difference-maker, a flashy pain in opposing offenses rear ends. As he did against the Cheese Heads, Dean is often able to make game-changing plays and turn momentum on a dime. Maybe the greatest thing about all our young defensive backs is they haven’t reached their best yet. I. for one, am looking forward to seeing them progress to their best as a Buccaneer. To have your back-ups and rotation players on par or even better than the starters is a problem I hope we always will have.

Bucs travel to the Dark Side

We travel this week to a galaxy far, far away to confront evil where it dwells. No, Not specifically Jon Gruden, but he is Raider Nation’s coach of record. Gruden has got the faithful grinning from ear to ear these days. The Raiders, as well as our Bucs, have turned things around from 2019. The Raiders are 3-2 with wins over the Panthers, Saints, and Super Bowl Champs Kansas City this past week; they are all the rage in Sin City. The Bucs coming off of dominating performance of the undefeated Green Bay Packers have set the table for a rematch of Super-Bowl XXXVII. Both teams playing better than they have in a good while, you throw in the Gruden twist, sprinkled with some Brady, and you have an interesting matchup. Will the Gruden led Raiders win a third matchup with the NFC South before the halfway mark? Or will Arians and the team continue with the breakthrough they had against the Packers? At this point and for everything that is at stake, it is a must-win game. After such a strong and overwhelming performance at Ray Jay, that’s been seen as a breakthrough/watershed moment, a step backward with a loss would really take some momentum away. I don’t see how it couldn’t mess with their heads some if they allow a loss. It’s not the message they want to portray to anyone, much less themselves. Following the big win with another convincing/meaningful win on the road is a feather they want in their cap. It’s what legit, great teams on a mission do. Super-Bowl wins are usually preceded by a run that builds as it goes and grows stronger and finishing in another final game, leaving it all on the field type win. The Raiders are good, but they aren’t as good as Green Bay had looked before we humbled them. It’s still David Carr, and we should win this game fairly easily if they play as we now know they can. I’m feeling 34-20, or close to that as a final. Please, Go Bucs!!