“I Heard All The Coaches Raving About Him”
May 6th, 2016
Dirk Koetter was clear on where he’s seeking perfection
Usually with a whistle in his mouth, Dirk Koetter patrolled the practice fields at rookie minicamp today primarily on the offensive side of the ball.
Koetter did get reports, though, on what was happening on the other side of the ball.
Asked about cornerback Vernon Hargreaves’ first day on the job, Koetter said, “I heard all the coaches raving about him.”
Koetter confirmed what was seen in practice: Hargreaves working inside and outside.
“We’re going to start off with him working inside and outside, both with the vets and the rooks,” Koetter said. “We’re looking to find that perfect nickel, and he’s one of the guys we’re looking at, for sure.”
Joe’s fine with Hargreaves turning into a standout nickel corner, but it will be awfully hard to justify keeping the No. 11 overall pick off the field unless either Johnthan Banks or Alterraun Verner are dominant on the outside.
Hargreaves, of course, said he’s happy to be working inside and out. “Getting inside, closest to the ball, more plays are in there,” he said.
May 6th, 2016 at 4:21 pm
I’ll just leave this one to the coaches….I don’t mind a #1 pick playing 60% of the plays as long as he plays well 100% of the time.
May 6th, 2016 at 4:36 pm
I wonder how he’ll be as a blitzing corner. Especially if the match ups against the taller WR’s and TE’s in the red zone are too much for him. As fast as he is, combine it with his size and he just might squeeze through, or leap over to get that QB. Troy Polamalu was 5’10 and had that part of his craft pretty mastered. I know. He was a Safety though, but just saying.
May 6th, 2016 at 4:46 pm
he’s an 813 gator….what would you except….GO BUCS!!!!
May 6th, 2016 at 4:47 pm
*expect
May 6th, 2016 at 4:50 pm
They’re raving about him but all he’ll amount to is a nickel corner. Yea right. What the h3ll was Robinson signed for. Someone please cut and paste this to prove me wrong later. “Vernon Hargreave will be day 1 starter opposite of Brent Gimes”. 11th overall nickel backer, now that’s funny.
May 6th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Just put out the best 11
May 6th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Amen Lord C Amen.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:01 pm
Are we forgetting that Ronde played inside-out? Training him at both is a great advantage. If he’s a starting corner, he can slide into the nickel in those packages. Excited to see this guy play.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:01 pm
My guess is he plays as the #2 corner in regular sets and banks comes in and plays outside, vh plays inside on nickel packages. Verner is an overrated backup. I think that would be great. What worries me is not having anyone that can physically match up against Julio, Benjamin or the other tall guys in the league. That’s why banks would be better than verner imo.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
60℅ of the time it works every time.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
All I care about is that he turns out to be great. I don’t care what role he plays to accomplish that.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:51 pm
jiska it seem like those big boys have an advantage on paper when you size them together. But that really isn’t an issue bro. Corners like Revis and VH3 level the playing field of with they’re base the lower body is thick and strong that height thing is overated. Verner said when he first sign here he he much rather face taller guys because they’re easier to stay with. He went on to say its the smaller shifty WR that are problematic. Its why Licht spoke of VH3’s thickness after he was drafted.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:52 pm
I’m guessing Johnthan Banks will have an outstanding year. It’s a contract year, and if they give him the plays, he’s try to prove himself. It will determine his fate.
As far as Alterraun Verner, I’d be happy if he just turns out to be solid. I don’t personally believe he’ll be here for more than this year.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:56 pm
Take your phone and youtube the ultimate highlights of Revis and Grimes. You’ll notice how they continually position themselves between the taller WR and the ball. Chris Harris hadn’t given up touchdown in almost two season’s until he ran into Antonio Bryant extra quick shifty @$$.
May 6th, 2016 at 6:03 pm
Who cares if he is the 11th pick. He is still a rookie that has to figure out how to play in this league. If his role is nickle back this year then so be it. He has plenty of time to become what the bucs envision. Thats why you signed grimes as a bridge and verner as a vet. Vh3 can ease is way in. Thats not a bad thing.
May 6th, 2016 at 6:16 pm
The greatest single play from a corner back in BUCS history came from the slot!
May 6th, 2016 at 6:24 pm
11th pick for a nickel?
Really?
May 6th, 2016 at 6:36 pm
I’m not sure if you guys realize it or not, and if you don’t then my bad for informing you that there are still 4 months until Football and we know Nothing yet.
May 6th, 2016 at 7:07 pm
GO LIGHTNING!!!!!
May 6th, 2016 at 7:20 pm
SB your reputation is on the line son. I’m hoping he makes you look good.
May 6th, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Tiny I wonder if that’s how those good folks in Kansa City felt about the defensive rookie of the year. You know the one that happens to play corner back.
May 6th, 2016 at 7:38 pm
The problem with so many of you is mentally you’re stuck in the past. Y’all bring up names of guys that played over decade ago as if what they were has any bearing on what these guys are about to be. Gose wit out saying that team was D dominant. This team is about to be QB first dominant. No disrepect to the legends of the past but ain’t nona they @$$s puttin on any pads any time soon. That ship has sailed I already got the tee-shirt. Y’all can stay living in the past. Me personally I’m interested in seeing whus good wit this new breed.
May 6th, 2016 at 7:41 pm
@ 87
Stop falling victim to this microwave world we live in. He may be a nickle this year but that does not mean he will not eventually become one of our top corners in a year or two. If you think vh3 should be an all pro off top, then i have land in butt f@ck iowa i would like to sell you. The bucs have corners that will allow vh3 to ease his way in. Thats not a bad thing. Good teams do not care if their #1 picks become instant stars their first year. No need to panic. If he is that dude in year 2 or 3 who cares if he was not in the first year? There are a whole list of players who it took 2 to 3 years to become great after being picked in the first round. Chill my brother. Grimes and verner/banks may be the better player right now. The goal is to put the best 11 on the field at all times.
May 6th, 2016 at 7:45 pm
@ nole
Everybody’s journey is different. You can’t get discourage if vh3’s 1st year is not like peter’s. Thats just crazy my man. Peters had one of the best rookie seasons in nfl history!!!!! No shame in that
May 6th, 2016 at 9:02 pm
I get what you sayin bro I’m just eluding to the fact its possble.
May 6th, 2016 at 9:32 pm
have some good veterans that VH would have to beat out. Our talent at CB is pretty darm good. VH has some work to do. I’d say the same thing to AV. He’s got some work to do to keep his job.
May 6th, 2016 at 9:53 pm
One day of rookie mini camp.
No need to read a lot into it.
We will have plenty of authentic disasters to discuss when the season gets here.
May 6th, 2016 at 11:42 pm
Marcus Peters 6.0 197lbs 8and3/8 hands
4.5 40 17reps 121 bjump 37 vert. 4.08 20 yd shuttle
Vernon Hargreaves 5.10 204lbs 8and3/4 hands
4.5 40 15reps 130 bjump 39 vert. 3.98 20yd shuttle
What am I saying, they look like the same guy if you ask me. I only assume some here feel our coaching staff will be some what squeamish when it comes to VH3,where as Andy Reid simply unleashed his talent.
May 7th, 2016 at 3:29 am
The bucs will unleash his talents if he proves he is worthy of it. Measurables does not make a football player. Luckily for the fans and the bucs, vh3 has always been that dude. Thats why we should be optimistic instead of crying about his height and speed.
May 7th, 2016 at 6:49 am
Nole you talk a lot of sense and here’s hoping you’re right.
May 7th, 2016 at 6:56 am
A yo thanks Old buc fan. Nice rappin wit you Tiny.
May 7th, 2016 at 7:24 am
I wanna add this ttho Tiny,I agree wit you nothing would be wrong wit having him eased inn. I think we are both agreement that Duke gone make a name in for himself in this league soon enough. Its like you stated he always been that dude.
May 7th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Yes I give rookies 3 years too.
May 7th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
I can tell you our best Safety of all times took three years to develop into a star after graduating from Stanford. At least Hargraves will have the advantage to have Grimes nearby to learn how to be an All Pro.
May 7th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
If there is a big WR Hargraves can’t handle we can always put Robinson in who is a Veteran large CB to cover their big WR. Yes Banks has good size too but he is too slow to stay with other Large WRs in our division. The Bucs need to try out Banks as a Safety. He can play deep and knock the passes away from big WRs trying to catch the deep ball. Here is hoping the fast Safety we have just gotten in the draft will be able to come flying up and intercept the ball before their receivers can get to it and run them back for pick sixes. Wouldn’t be bad having a new playmaker with great speed back there paired with an experienced large, long Safety knocking down passes. We could have the best backfield ever and with two DEs getting quick pressure on the QB we could have a huge improvement on defense over incompetent Lovie’s versions last year!