4 bold predictions as Buccaneers prepare to take on Falcons

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 10: Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes his first career interception thrown by Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Jamel Dean will get another interception

After playing the best game a Buccaneers’ cornerback had played all year against the Arizona Cardinals, the pewter and red coaching staff opted not to play rookie Jamel Dean for a single defensive snap on Sunday. As a result, rookie Sean Murphy-Bunting got toasted by big veteran Michael Thomas and Drew Brees.

It would have made sense for the Bucs to play their biggest, most athletic corner against one of the league’s best wide receivers, but Arians and his staff had other ideas apparently. Arians’ reasoning was that the gameplan involved more zone coverage than normal, and Dean was more of a man coverage cornerback.

Right, because a good coach schemes away from the top performers on his team, especially after cutting the most experienced one of the bunch in Vernon Hargreaves. This week, the bold prediction is that Dean gets back in the lineup for the pewter and red, and not only that, but also gets his second interception of the season as well.

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It makes no sense for the Buccaneers to play the likes M.J. Stewart and Ryan Smith, who look like defensive busts, when the Bucs need to see what they have in Dean, Murphy-Bunting, and safety/nickel Mike Edwards.

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