Bucs Beginning CB Job Could Be Jamel Dean’s To Lose

Make no mistake – Bucs cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross could be very excessive on rookies Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish.

However the beginning job reverse Zyon McCollum may nonetheless be Jamel Dean’s to lose.

There’s a motive why the Bucs drafted Morrison within the second spherical out of Notre Dame and Parrish within the third spherical out of Kansas State.

Dean has struggled to remain wholesome and are available down with interceptions since signing a four-year, $52 million contract with the Bucs previous to the beginning of the 2023 season. He’s missed a mixed seven common season video games over the previous two seasons, and was unable to play within the second half in every of Tampa Bay’s final two playoff losses – at Detroit and versus Washington. Dean has additionally solely come down with one interception within the final 38 common season video games.

So Tampa Bay is hedging its guess that Dean will play all 17 video games and abruptly turn into a ballhawk at age 29 as he enters his seventh season with the crew.

“If Jamel Dean catches the balls that he drops, we wouldn’t even be speaking about this,” Ross mentioned. “He’s obtained to catch the ball, he’s obtained to remain wholesome, and he’ll be nice.”

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ross is aware of what it’s wish to be in Dean’s sneakers. Dean will flip 30 in October, and it was at that very same age that Ross was a veteran cornerback in Kansas Metropolis, coping with an identical scenario when the Chiefs drafted his eventual alternative.

“Jamel Dean – he’s going to be okay,” Ross mentioned. “I used to be in that scenario in Kansas Metropolis. We drafted a first-round nook in Dale Carter (in 1992) and we signed James Hasty from the Jets (in 1995). That’s the character of this enterprise. You’re making an attempt to improve your crew and preserve your crew up for the season. He’ll be prepared. Everyone shall be prepared. It’s good for the backfield.”

Properly, it didn’t work out so properly for Ross.

He began all 16 video games in 1992 in Kansas Metropolis and had a 99-yard pick-six that season. However Carter subbed in for the opposite beginning cornerback, Albert Lewis, who missed half the season because of damage, and had seven interceptions to guide all Chiefs defenders as a rookie. The subsequent yr Ross was moved to security to make manner for Carter to begin reverse Lewis.

Dean must have the coaching camp of his life to hold on to his beginning job, however given his veteran standing, he’ll stay the starter till he’s overwhelmed out by both Morrison or Parrish.

“There shall be quite a lot of competitors on the market,” Ross mentioned. “You count on [Morrison and Parrish] to play, you count on them to contribute. “That’s the largest factor – availability is the No. 1 factor. “Knock on wooden, I hope [Dean] is wholesome the entire yr. However sadly, he hasn’t been. We haven’t performed with the identical secondary since God is aware of what yr. It’s good to have these different guys are available and contribute.”

Jamel Dean Will Have To Maintain Off A Problem From Each Rookie CBs

When Jamel Dean is wholesome, he’s confirmed to be one of many league’s finest cowl cornerbacks. He’s by no means had a Professional Soccer Focus grade decrease than 71.8 (2021) in his six seasons in Tampa Bay and he’s by no means had a PFF protection grade decrease than 72.5 (2023). Final yr, Dean earned a 75.7 PFF grade and 75.4 protection grade regardless of lacking 5.5 video games within the common season.

Nevertheless it’s not simply Dean’s availability that has the crew involved. It’s his lack of interceptions that has prompted Bucs head coach Todd Bowles to hunt extra ballhawks this offseason.

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morris – Picture by: USA At this time

Benjamin Morris had 9 picks in his first two seasons at Notre Dame, together with six throughout his freshman season. Jacob Parrish had 5 interceptions over the previous two years at Ok-State, together with 4 as a sophomore in 2023. Parrish made a powerful first impression with a pair of pick-sixes within the crew’s rookie mini-camp over the weekend.

“Nice demeanor, nice composure,” mentioned Bucs cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross when requested to explain Parrish as a participant. “Made a number of performs – truly had the one interceptions throughout that camp. He did properly.”

Parrish is being cross-trained as a nickelback in addition to an outdoor cornerback, so it received’t simply be Morrison that Dean must cope with in coaching camp.

“Now we have versatility – that’s the one factor we’ve obtained,” Ross mentioned. “Parrish received’t be the one man that has performed nickel. Izzy (Christian Izien) has performed nickel. Tykee [Smith] has performed nickel. [Antoine] Winfield has performed nickel. The extra versatile these guys are, the extra they’ve to supply us, the the higher off we’re.”

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ross mentioned it was encouraging to see Morrison participate within the particular person drills throughout rookie mini-camp after coming off hip surgical procedure throughout his remaining season with the Preventing Irish. He simply must get again into soccer form earlier than he’s cleared to take part in full crew drills. That would occur by the necessary mini-camp in June or by coaching camp in late July on the very newest.

“He’s obtained a fantastic demeanor for the place and I feel he has all the abilities that we would like in a nook,” Ross mentioned. “He simply has to get wholesome proper now. As soon as he will get wholesome and begins competing then I feel our backfield shall be upgraded somewhat bit.”

Ross steered that Morrison received’t be cross-trained presently and can solely deal with taking part in one place, possible as Dean’s main competitors.

“I feel mainly exterior proper now,” Ross mentioned.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The place Dean has a determined edge on each Morrison and Parrish is his recreation expertise. Dean has helped the Bucs win a Tremendous Bowl and 4 straight division championships.

“Recreation pace,” Ross mentioned when requested what the largest problem shall be for his rookie cornerbacks. “We achieve this a lot on the nook spot – this crew does a lot on the nook spot that they’ve obtained quite a lot of studying to do.”

But each Morrison and Parrish had sufficient soccer I.Q. and talent to begin as true freshman for the Preventing Irish and the Wildcats, respectively.

Man one of the best man win.