The Bucs finally got an answer to who was starting at the second cornerback position when Todd Bowles announced that it would be Jamel Dean this week. It had been an ongoing battle between Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting for the role all throughout training camp.

Both corners were lobbying not just for starting corner, but each player is in a contract year as well. Winning this role could help position themselves better for negotiations by bringing this to the table in the offseason. Dean won the job, but it wasn’t an easy decision for the coaches.

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

“He’s made great improvements since he got here, and he studies,” Bowles said. “He comes back in shape. It was a tough battle because Sean had a heck of a camp, he really did. Dean had just a notch better and they both will play a lot.”

It may have been Dean that was expected to win, however, Murphy-Bunting received the majority of snaps with the starters in the preseason. That obviously wasn’t the final decision, though the optics of Murphy-Bunting working with the starters gave him a good chance. Both Dean and Murphy-Bunting are entering a contract year.

“It was really close because Sean had a really good camp,” co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said.

Dean’s Film Room Work Paid Off

“This year it was kind of interesting going into camp,” Rodgers said. “He (Dean) made it clear right away that we’re going to have a battle for that position and each day he just kept making plays. Sitting next to ‘Rock’ (Kevin Ross) in our meeting room, and everyday he’d point out getting his hands on the ball. With the style of defense that we play, our corners, they’re out there, you’ve got to be able to get your hands on the ball and be able to cover ‘X’ and ‘Z.’ He stepped up and really did that and to see the growth of this guy and to see him really step up, the growth that he made was really impressive.”

Rodgers then went into detail on how Dean got better.

“[He] became more of a smarter player, noticing situations,” Rodgers said. “We play a lot of man-to-man coverage, so if they get ready to bunch, you’ve got to be able to make sure you communicate and call this or that. They give you a lot of stuff to play with your eyes – his eyes are in the right place. We knew he could cover, but now he’s seeing the total game. And he’s really, really maturing as a football player. His eyes are in better shape and he kind of knows combination routes. If there’s something coming in front of you, they’re bringing something behind you and stuff like that. His knowledge of the game is just really, really noticeable.”

Dean Looking To Get More INTs This Year

Dean was definitely the more aggressive player this preseason. He played tight in coverage and was actively pursuing the ball carrier when there were plays underneath him. Dean also got his hand on the football multiple times, which needs to become interceptions in the regular season. He had two last year, the hope is to increase that this time around.

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

“It’s just another opportunity to make plays, really,” Dean said of winning the battle. “Competition, it’s just, somebody’s got to win the spot. I was really just out there playing.  I wasn’t really thinking about it.”

“I can just speak on this training camp – he’s been attacking the ball,” Bucs inside linebacker Devin White said. “Dean was always a player who was going to be in position. He wasn’t going after the ball, but he wasn’t going to get beat. He took his game to another level. He’s tall, probably the fastest defensive player, he’s long and [has good range]. Now that he’s attacking the ball, I think that put together a resume.”

Starting in 11 out of his 15 games last year, this role isn’t new for Dean. Most of the starts over his career were opposite of Carlton Davis III, who shared his excitement over the decision.

“He’s made a lot of progress just over the last two years,” Davis said. “He’s really a reliable player for us and he’s going to help us win a Super Bowl. If he really holds up his end of the bargain when you talk about coverage, I’m making a play, Dean’s making a play. We kind of go back and forth. I’m happy to be playing with him out there. That’s my boy. We’ve been doing this one-two punch for a minute.”