Alterraun Verner’s Future
June 2nd, 2016
Stakes are high.
One of the biggest disappointments in recent Bucs history is the sad vanishing of former Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner.
The guy arrived in Tampa with high hopes and lofty goals, including trying to replace future Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis. Instead, Verner found himself on the scout team nearly as much as he found himself in the starting lineup.
Verner and Coach My Scheme may have been the worst pairing since oil and water. Verner was not a fit into whatever Lovie Smith was trying to teach. Unlike Smith, who left Tampa with his pockets lined with Team Glazer loot, Verner is at a career crossroads.
In choosing five questions for this week’s schedule of OTA practices, Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com asks aloud if Verner’s career can be rehabilitated.
Can Alterraun Verner be the guy?
The Buccaneers drafted a cornerback in the first round of the draft, but it was Verner working with the first-team defense at corner, along with Brent Grimes, last week. Verner arrived in Tampa Bay after earning a trip to the Pro Bowl with the Titans, but played primarily in the slot in 2015. With a new defensive coordinator, Verner has been moved back outside. Will the new system help him reach the level he was at when the Bucs signed him? During workouts last week he looked sharp.
Well, the road is paved for a Verner rebound. The Bucs hired his former Titans position coach, who help develop him into a Pro Bowler, Brett Maxie.
Remember this: Verner is in sort of a prove-it contract. The Bucs must think a lot of Verner, and Maxie, to keep Verner and his $6.75 million salary, per Rotoworld.com.
The fact the Bucs kept him at his salary suggests to Joe they have confidence Verner will return to his former self.
June 2nd, 2016 at 8:20 am
Chalk him up to anything wrong in past 2 1/2 years is all Lovie’s fault. Then move on. See how easy that is! I mean that is what must have happened. Thankfully Licht made all the good moves during that time! Let’s go Bucs
June 2nd, 2016 at 8:32 am
Every player on the Bucs is on a “prove-it contract” in my opinion. Don’t produce on the field and you’ll see less and less playing time. As for Alterraun Verner, gut feel is that he’ll rebound this year.
June 2nd, 2016 at 8:38 am
Obviously the Bucs realize too that coach “my way or the highway” was at fault for alot of these players not reaching full potential and will be given a second chance and rightfully so. Verner is a very solid corner who just didn’t fit into that terrible scheme and I think he will prove that this season. But he’s gonna have to shine and not just be solid imo to stick around. There’s to much talent on this roster now for mediocracy. I think Banks gets back on track to developing into the solid corner he was before Lovie came around and I think Verner will too. Plus the weekly shuffling at corner last year did not help anyone’s confidence, and was bad for the team all around. And Let’s not forget that Grimes Will not be here for long so keeping Verner and Banks would be nice if they can show there worthy of starting again. And I was just thinking, why would the Titans get rid of a young pro bowl corner for no reason?? Things that make u go Hhmmm.
June 2nd, 2016 at 8:40 am
Glad we have Coach Maxie, a former NFL DB who had a long successful career as a player and as a Coach. I will trust his assessment of our CB’s and their skills and how they will fit into our new Defensive game plan. We have several experienced and successful CB’s on our roster with a few promising rookies. I am excited to see how we play the slant this season.
Go Bucs!
June 2nd, 2016 at 8:43 am
The entire team, city and league regressed while the incompetent one was employed by the Glazers. Lovie’s history making blowouts and blown leads set the entire league back.
June 2nd, 2016 at 9:48 am
The money isn’t that important if he performs well…..we have a pretty good crew of CBs with Banks, Hargreaves & Robinson in reserve…..& Hey Jude!!!
June 2nd, 2016 at 10:07 am
I see some didn’t take the bus to the corn fields!
June 2nd, 2016 at 10:12 am
Watch Sterling Moore ends up balling out in Buffalo. A couple years younger than Verner and absolutely cheaper, if he outperforms Verner as he did last year, Licht will have yet anothr free agency miss.
June 2nd, 2016 at 10:27 am
Oh how easy it is to put the blame on the former HC!
Look, I’m a Bucs fan and am rooting for Verner and Banks to return to form. Lets stop kidding ourselves though, good players make plays in any system. He and every other player on defense have to prove that it was indeed the scheme that held them back.
Prove it Verner. Please prove it.
June 2nd, 2016 at 11:42 am
Bucsfaninchina
Sterling Moore is a bum that has been ran from 3 teams. Having a couple of good games on a horrendous defense does not make him a keeper. If he was as good as you think he is why did it take so long for buffalo to sign him and why did he have to sign yet another prove it deal
June 2nd, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Prove it Verner. Please prove it. I love it!
June 2nd, 2016 at 12:25 pm
A bum…? Really? Ok, I think you’re going a little hard on Moore. He by far played his best football for us last year, and I thought out of everyone in the secondary he outshined the rest. Not to say that it was difficult, because our secondary play was sub par at best. To the same degree, someone had to go, and I think in this case Litch made the right move by keeping Verner (an already proven pro bowler), and Banks who has the size to compete with these bigger receivers, and who will more than likely take the place of Grimes when he leaves/retires.
At the end of the day @bucsfaninchina, I agree. To blame the head coach for all the troubles these guys had last year is just ignorant. Players have to make plays, plain and simple. Oh, and just a FYI @tmaxcon, if you’re seriously gonna call Moore a bum after last season, then what do you call the rest of the guys we retained at CB? Cause Moore, if you watched any games…? clearly outperformed all the others…
Hey hey, Tampa Bay! the Bucs are gonna shine!
June 2nd, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Our salary cap situation is just beautiful…. Our big money guys will be retiring or out the door just in time to sign these excellent draft classes we’ve had.