Vernon Hargreaves “A Natural”
February 24th, 2016
Possible Bucs target?
Yes, the Bucs need an edge rusher worse than Joe needs a cold beer on a hot Florida July Friday afternoon.
It is simply shameful how the Bucs have been unable to find an edge rusher since Simeon Rice left the squad.
That doesn’t mean the Bucs should draft a defensive end just to draft a defensive end. That’s why Joe is not convinced the Bucs will draft one at No. 9 in April’s draft.
The defensive end position is deep this year. And Joe believes if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht thinks he can get value at DE in the second round, he may very well go elsewhere when the Bucs are on the clock in the first round.
The Bucs could use an infusion of talent at cornerback. And no less an authority than NFL draft guru Mike Mayock believes there is an outside shot the Bucs could see Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves available at No. 9. This is what Mayock hinted during in a pre-combine press teleconference yesterday.
“As far as corners are concerned, there’s going to be a lot of conversation about whether Jalen Ramsey is a corner or safety, and I think the most natural corner in the draft is Vernon Hargreaves from the University of Florida. He can create and change a direction, can play press, can play off. If he went eighth to Miami, I think it would be a heck of a pick. He’s that good.”
So if Hargreaves is available at No. 8, that tells Joe there is a real possibility he could be available when the Bucs pick at the next slot.
Joe firmly believes corners Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner will improve with defensive coordinator Mike Smith. And the more Joe talks with NFL folks, which he did a good bit of last night in Indianapolis, the more Joe is convinced former Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s reign over the franchise was a complete and total trainwreck.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:15 am
And the more Joe talks with NFL folks, which he did a good bit of last night in Indianapolis, the more Joe is convinced former Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s reign over the franchise was a complete and total train wreck.
__________________________________________________
Joe, It was extremely obvious that Smith had little idea of what he was doing when he was here. Thank God Licht was able to let the Glazer’s know this. Had he kept his mouth shut, and given Lovie a high sign, we’d still be mired in mediocrity. At least at this point, we can look at our team and be assured that the arrow is pointing UP. I’ll NEVER forgive Lovie for allowing this team to be beaten 56-14 by a not very good Falcons team.
February 24th, 2016 at 6:24 am
Bucs really need to grab an elite DE with their top pick … the stable is almost bare there. We’ve got to get more pressure on opposing QBs, someway, somehow. Hargreaves will most likely be gone when the Bucs pick 9th anyways.
February 24th, 2016 at 6:28 am
DE vs corner is a little bit chicken or the egg. A great corner doesn’t help much if we can’t rush the passer. A great pass rush will make average corners look better. Joe, given your initial point of how long its been since we have had premier talent at DE, seems like we need to take our best shot to get the best DE availalbe. We have a roster full of mediocre DE talent as it is.
February 24th, 2016 at 6:32 am
We have so many needs, DE, corner, safety, reciever, oline. As long as the first round pick is a true stud and not a reach, its all good!
February 24th, 2016 at 6:43 am
Lovie’s coaching days are definately over. They seem to over before we got him from all I’m reading.
Oh well, we live and learn. At least Licht seem to be our first Savior looking back today. He was enamored with Winston since Winston’s high school ball.
I feel like we hit the lotto with Winston and Koetter. Hopefully our coaching as a team will come together nicely and we’ll get to enjoy some decent football in 2016.
At least this off season feels like could be very exciting for not having real football in front of us. We seem to have all the coaching staff to be successful this year. Although, I was one that thought the same 2 years ago.
Go Bucs!!!
Thanks Joe! Keep warm. In between time you can dream of a future cheerleaders’ combine happening at the same time in Indi lol…
February 24th, 2016 at 7:10 am
hard to tell who is going to drop but we all know these mocks don’t mean anything now.. No one thought Leonard Williams would fall out of the top 5 picks last year but he did. Hopefully we hit another home run with this draft class. If we do than this team will be a force for years to come. I trust that Licht will make the right choice
February 24th, 2016 at 7:19 am
“And the more Joe talks with NFL folks, which he did a good bit of last night in Indianapolis, the more Joe is convinced former Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s reign over the franchise was a complete and total train wreck.”
Dear Joe… I am anxious to hear you elaborate on this statement, even if the source is off the record.
February 24th, 2016 at 8:05 am
To all and that be you too JOE, THE BACK-STABBER is now, after two years on the job, finally gets his chance to be all he can be, good luck Mr Licht you can now do your job without interference from LOVIE, GO BUCS!!!
February 24th, 2016 at 8:15 am
@BigHogHeinous
Its not NFl GM Licht fault!! The Glazers are the ones that ask him to sum up lovie in one word!!! He answered “Incompetent”!!! If he said anything else, he would have been a liar!!
I cannot tell everyone how refreshing it is to have “working” NFL personal agree with what we were seeing!!! Lovie ran the Bucs into the ground to historic proportions!! And to hear all the reports of how bad he was, And how the Glazers were on the “verge” of firing him last year!!! My faith in football has been restored!!
February 24th, 2016 at 8:26 am
We need to pick a “sure thing”…….I’m not quite certain we have that with the available DEs……but Ramsey or Hargreaves are sure things…..
I would rather pick up a proven DE in FA…..and select a development DE in round 2….
February 24th, 2016 at 9:19 am
I agree TB BUC fan, we sign O.Vernon or M.Williams in FA. The draft is very deep this year with DE talent. So it’s not like we’re gonna be screwed at the DE position if we don’t take one with the 9th pick. Draft the BPA wich I’m hoping VH3 is still available cause he’s the safest bet as of now. U don’t know what your getting from Noah Spence. He loading with potential but that doesn’t mean he’s gonna be the next Von Miller either. Your rolling the dice with Spence vs. Getting getting the best cover corner in the draft that can immediately come in and start for this team. And the word is S.Moore will NOT be resigned. I have full faith in Banks but not fully convinced that Verner will return to his pro bowl form.
February 24th, 2016 at 10:25 am
@JB
I’ll NEVER forgive Lovie for allowing this team to be beaten 56-14 by a not very good Falcons team.
Well we all have our games for which we will never forgive Lovie.
Mine is the opening game!!! How does your defense get humiliated by a raw rookie who came from a spread offense, playing his FIRST game in an NFL offense? Losing 42-14 at HOME to start the year!!! Then to hear LVD say that they lost their focus in the first series?
Lovie may be a truly nice guy. But he was clearly over the hill when he came to the Bucs…the game has passed him by. It’s as simple as that.
February 24th, 2016 at 10:50 am
Cornerback at nine …ok. But not a Defensive end or tackle.
Lovie is soley to blame for that terrible excuse for a defensive game plan. These players were not as bad as his gameplans.
Lovie Smith was a bad hire. Moving on……
Pursue a DE through free agency. The Bucs need a prove talent at DE now. This is the year there is no time for a developmental prospect with a number nine pick.
Make a trade if need be.
McCoy’s window of dominance is closing fast. He’ll be 30 in three years.
Mario Williams may be available ..get him. Get someone. There are many good or potentially great DE’s available this year.
Get one of those stinkin’ Panthers or better yet one of those stinkin’ Broncos.
Draft a DE later in the rounds if you must but don’t bet the franchise on a kid from Clemson…. again.
February 24th, 2016 at 11:22 am
No no no no no no no.
February 24th, 2016 at 3:18 pm
@Realist, Ha!Ha!, @BigHogHeinous, that is beautiful. Hey Bighog, stop with the crying over Lovie Smith. The Glazers pay Jason Licht, and when they ask him questions about their organization, coaching staff, personnel, he owes them the truth, because it is in the best interests of the organization. I don’t know about anyone else, but I for one am glad to finally have a real football guy in charge. Decisions are being made that finally make sense, this team is going in the right direction. Bighog take your hurt feelings and go pout somewhere else. GO BUCS!
February 24th, 2016 at 11:12 pm
What good is a pass rush if your secondary can’t stop the short slant/in routes? A pass rush does not matter if a QB can successfully throw a pass in under 2.5 seconds and of course complete it. How many QB’s burned us time and time again with those short underneath routes? Some will say it was scheme, others will say it was a deficiency in coaching? And some others will say it was because we didn’t play bump and run? We didn’t play bump and run and lined up 15 feet behind the LOS because that is how much room our cornerbacks needed to insure the receiver did not run past them. Does anyone really believe that Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner are miraculously going to be able to line up on the LOS and stop the short stuff? No. You want to know why? Get ready, here it comes..they are not fast enough. Period. Make me the coach. Same with our Safeties. If we don’t get a CB in the first round and another in FA, along with a Safety or two, with the schedule we face this year, we will be in the hunt for the number one pick again.
February 25th, 2016 at 9:30 am
Start doing what good teams do…pick the best available player regardless of what your tops needs are.