Problems broken down by coach.
Rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison’s growing pains have been felt by Bucs fans, especially the past two weeks.
Joe’s not exaggerating.
Morrison has been roasted and toasted by the Patriots and Bills. Matthew Stafford and the high-flying Rams await.
Before Sunday’s kickoff in Buffalo, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said, via the Buccaneers Radio Network, his 2025 second-round draft pick “had a little bit of a welcome-to-the-NFL moment” against the Patriots. But Licht noted fans should be bullish on Morrison because he’s showing his promise on the field.
“Don’t sleep on Ben Morrison,” Licht said with conviction.
Joe heard that and smiled, and then Joe really perked up when starting cornerback Jamel Dean got hurt in the first quarter minutes later. Morrison was thrust into action. It didn’t go well.
Yesterday, Todd Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network that Morrison had “two busts” in the game and is thinking too much.
“Ben knew the gameplan, obviously,he had two bad plays [in Buffalo]. Obviously he can’t have the two plays that he had,” Bowles said.
“He’s getting more experience and he’s coming into his own right now. But Dean just has more experience right now and has made more plays. So losing somebody like that — and you’re losing your playmaker — and having a guy that’s just coming into it and having to get more reps, you know, you lose a little bit mentally that way. But [Morrison] fought and he battled. Obviously he didn’t lose the game. He made some decent plays then he had two busts.”
Bowles went on to explain what’s dragging down Morrison’s game.
“Seeing things for the first time, I think it’s translating different in the pros than it does in college,” Bowles said. “And I think he’s very bright mentally and he’s trying to put two and two together and I think he’s doing a good job at handling all that. He just has to handle his spot and not try to see the entire game. That’s when he gets in trouble. When he doesn’t look at his side and he tries to see the entire game, then he starts thinking too much when he just goes out and plays his game, and uses his fundamentals and technique. He’s great.”
Simply stated: Morrison is a rookie and he’s no Jacob Parrish.
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