Buccaneers Cornerback Duo Among NFL Best In Open Receiver Percentage

Last season didn’t go well but the analytics say the Buccaneers had two of the league's best cornerbacks in preventing receivers from getting open.

What’s the first responsibility for Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean?

If your answer was keeping opposing receivers from getting open, you’d be correct. 

And according to Pro Football Focus’ Jim Wyman that’s something they did at a league-best rate in 2022. 

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When it came to preventing opposing receivers from getting open both Bucs cornerbacks finished the year in the top 12 with percentages below 34 percent.

Davis came in 11th overall with a 33.7 percent open-target rate and Dean ranked 8th at 31 percent. 

Only five NFL cornerbacks that qualified for the list finished 2022 with an open-target rate under 30 percent. 

To qualify, cornerbacks had to face at least 50 targets. 

While working their way onto this list Tampa Bay’s starting duo also earned top 40 coverage grades with Dean grading out at  75.6 and Davis coming in at 65.4.

Keeping receivers from getting open is obviously important, but even more impactful is taking the ball from offenses altogether. Something the Buccaneers' defense did just ten times in 2022. 

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“We just have to create them,” Dean said about the interception deficiency. “We’ve got to disguise more (and) we’ve got to bait the quarterback into throwing into spots we want him to throw it to instead of just lining up and doing our jobs because those are the rules. We’ve got to create opportunities for ourselves.”

Of course, there aren’t many expecting much from the Bucs' defense and team as a whole. 

Something not bothering Davis at this stage of the NFL season. 

“I never really paid attention to any of that stuff. I’m oblivious to it,” Davis said. “For me, it’s just another season to prove ourselves again. Obviously, people are underrating us, but I think that’s a good thing because when we punch you in the mouth, it’ll be, ‘Oh man, okay, this is the same team, the same culture.”

If that culture means replications in open-target receptions by opposing receivers then Tampa Bay has the potential to surprise people this year, just as Davis predicts they will.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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