Alterraun Verner May Talk Some Trash
October 10th, 2014
Cornerback Alterraun Verner is ready for his duel with Crows WR Steve Smith, both physical and verbal.
One of the classiest guys in the Bucs locker room is Alterraun Verner. If you ever saw and spoke with Verner outside of football, you’d have no idea he was an NFL Pro Bowl corner. He doesn’t look like an NFL player, almost smallish. He looks and speaks more like a college professor or a church youth counselor.
Verner comes across more of an accountant than an NFL player, sort of the opposite of a guy who he will be guarding the ever-dangerous, always-talking Crows wide receiver Steve Smith.
Thursday, Joe got a chance to ask Verner about Smith, and the Bucs corner admitted, while he doesn’t like to engage in the art of trash talking, he might have to step out of character a little when facing Smith.
“He has a big heart for the game,” Verner said of Smith. “You can tell by his passion and just the way he plays. That’s what makes him so tough. He might be slowing down or getting fatigued in the game or something could be going wrong but just his passion and desire to dominate his opponent gets him to play at such a high level. Few special individuals have that.
“I don’t think [Smith’s trash talking] is trying to get into a corner’s head. I just think that is the way he is — his passion. When he makes a catch he is excited. He is pumped up because he knows he has made a big play for his team. I think that is all it is. To me, I get a kick out of it. He would be a fun player to have on your team because you know every time he is out there he will bring his A-game. He will give 100 percent.
“I don’t mind it, the trash talk or whatever you call it. You can tell by the way [Smith] performs it is not a disrespectful thing he is trying to do. It is like he is trying to rally his team. I appreciate that. I look forward to him not doing it against us. I’m not one who [trash talks] a lot but I’m not saying I don’t do it. If the time calls for it, I might. I pick and choose.”
Is Verner of the belief Sunday will be a challenge facing Smith? You better believe it.
Verner is very much looking forward to locking horns against Smith. It is sort of a mano a mano, throwdown moment. A stud corner against one of the more feared receivers in the game.
It’s why folks buy tickets. So, as another chatty wide receiver would say get your popcorn ready.
To hear more from Verner, click the button below. Audio player courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:07 am
I’d rather have Revis handle him personally. You know the guy we gave up a first round pick for.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:12 am
Talk trash or play like trash? Which is it AV? He’s been beat too many times but either a penalty or missed throw saved the cover 2 corner.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:19 am
Revis was getting burned for touchdowns in the same scheme, remember? We weren’t blaming it on him though. It was all the coaches fault. AV was real close last week to making some big plays. I think he’s getting better week by week. Remember, he pretty much sat out the entire preseason while having to learn a new defense. I’m willing to give him some more time before I call him trash.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:20 am
Last year revis in TWO games gave up 7 catches for 90. Still lost both games…but this is a chance to see how Verner can stack up. Can he keep smith under 50 yards. That would be great
October 10th, 2014 at 8:31 am
Verner did really well last week, let’s hope he keeps it up. We’ve been burned by Smitty too many times, would love to see him locked down.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:34 am
Hopefully we piss him off so much he punches Flacco in the face.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:46 am
Smitty is on the tail end of his career. I know he had a few good plays so far, but he’s not a guy who’s going to beat the Bucs single handed. More of a concern for me is getting Flacco on the ground. His play this year has been up and down. Great against the Steelers and Panthers, pretty mediocre in their other games. Hit him often enough and he will start dropping his eyes for the rush.
October 10th, 2014 at 8:53 am
Verner is a solid corner and I’m glad we have him. He has talent and is the least of our Defensive worries. Just like L. David – his talent is showing more each game this year as they start to figure out some of the nuances of this scheme.
Dominick was an idiot in giving up what he did for Revis when he would have been a FA this off season – and for paying him that much. It was a desperation move. No cornerback is worth $16M per year – especially since we play zone a good bit of the time. L&L would have loved to have kept Revis – but not at that price and Revis wasn’t budging on renegotiating – he didn’t really want to be here. So the Bucs did what was best for all concerned and cut him loose immediately after they signed Verner at a more than fair price.
October 10th, 2014 at 9:02 am
“Pickgrin Says:
October 10th, 2014 at 8:53 am
Dominick was an idiot in giving up what he did for Revis when he would have been a FA this off season – and for paying him that much. It was a desperation move. ”
This.
Dominick got worked by a rookie GM who is now struggling badly. Revis won’t get 16m from anyone this off season. It’s untenable. The blame isn’t on Licht for getting out of a terrible deal, but, on Dominick for making it in the first place.
October 10th, 2014 at 9:40 am
Verner plays soft and seems unwilling to press at the line.
Is this his technique or is it coaching?
Regardless, he’s has good instincts and cover skills though.
October 10th, 2014 at 9:58 am
Verner is soft?
(Coming from couch potatoes) – you guys should really read what you posts on these threads.
October 10th, 2014 at 10:35 am
I wonder how many different touchdown celebrations mr. smith sr has ready for us on Sunday. Verner may want to have one of those phantom injuries that plagues our team to keep from getting completely embarrassed out there like Julio jones embarrassed him.
One of the best match-ups ever was smith vs barber, EPIC! Second only to Vick vs Brooks or Sapp vs Farve.
October 10th, 2014 at 11:05 am
I think Verner was a great sign in the off-season! He’s definitely the best pass coverage DB we have on our team… The rest of our DB’s struggle with pass coverage… Compound that with the fact that our pass rush is non existant and you have the forumla for giving up 400+ yds a game!
October 10th, 2014 at 11:10 am
I posted a little after 9am. It’s now after 11am, and it hasn’t showed up. Is this delay going to be permanent? It’s been like this for my posts for a few months, just curious.
October 10th, 2014 at 1:46 pm
I was in an advanced math class with Verner at ucla….dude showed up to every class and killed his midterms. Very hardworking too
October 10th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
why dont you ask Aqib Talib if Steve Smith talks trash to get in your head.