The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently undergoing a complete defensive overhaul built on a talented rookie class with Sean Murphy-Bunting the likely CB1.
The Buccaneer defense as a whole was abysmal in 2019 with games that were won basically being a shootout. The secondary was bare bones and riddled with injuries but that was not an excuse enough for the ease with which opposing teams were able to carve up the field through the air. Sean Murphy-Bunting is looking to right the ship this year as a starter on this new and improved defense.
On a team that is going through some pretty dramatic changes defensively, Murphy-Bunting is in a great spot for the 2019 season. SMB is coming in as the likely CB1 for his first year although the competition to be the starter will be fierce amongst a number of players. SMB has the benefit of technique on his side with press coverage utilized generously by Todd Bowles’ defense.
As of now it seems likely that the two starters at cornerback will be SMB and fellow rookie and second round pick Jamel Dean. Both of these players fit the new scheme perfectly and are more athletic than Carlton Davis, which is a need when playing press coverage. Even though he is a returner, it seems likely that Vernon Hargreaves will mostly play nickel meaning SMB and Dean would have more snaps on the field.
However, Hargreaves and Davis will enter camp as the starters, Murphy-Bunting has the talent to potentially win the job. Good news for SMB as well, he is athletic enough to play in the nickel as well, so he will carve out a role right away one way or the other.
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The largest issue with this is that it seems like the same old story as last season. Rookie cornerbacks Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart were thrown into the fire in a similar way last season to mixed results. With a few years of experiences the duo could have had some potential but Stewart has since begun a move to safety and Davis seems on the verge of being replaced.
The general hope amongst the Buccaneer coaching staff is that even though it will be a trial by fire of sorts, SMB will be able to rise to the occasion. Marshon Lattimore displayed a prowess that SMB can aim to replicate by winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lattimore is just one part of a recently resurgent Saints defense and hopefully Murphy-Bunting and Devin White can have a similar impact for the Buccaneers.
Look to hear Murphy-Bunting’s name this upcoming season on a consistent basis for big time plays. He will likely make mistakes as he is young and will be taking tough matchups, but his ceiling to grow is incredibly high. Even though he was taken in the second round, it is incredibly likely that SMB could be one of the most successful corners of this draft class.
In addition, SMB can solidify himself as a part of this new defense and help shape its identify. There have been many comparisons this offseason to the Buccaneers of the early 2000’s and some have been a little lofty, but Sean Murphy-Bunting has every tool in his arsenal to be the best Buccaneer corner since Ronde Barber, and why stop there?