“He Was A Big Part Of It”
June 7th, 2016
Discusses reunion with old position coach.
No Bucs defender circled the drain under the boot of Lovie Smith quite like Alterraun Verner.
The cornerback arrived to replace future Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis — who the Bucs let go for no good reason — and was to be the mainstay of the secondary.
Instead, Verner faltered and fell so far off the map he practiced with the scout team at times From All-Pro to barely keeping a job. A sad tumble, indeed.
In a bit of surprise, Verner, despite his $6 million salary and additions to the secondary like Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves, was kept by the Bucs. Also, Tampa Bay hired Verner’s former position coach with the Titans, a man who had a hand in molding him into a Pro Bowl player, Brett Maxie.
Whether these moves shewed confidence in Maxie’s ability to turn around Verner or Verner’s ability to turn himself around, or that Verner may have been misused under Coach My Scheme, or a combination of all of the above, is unclear.
Last week, Joe chatted with Verner about Maxie.
“It is a good comfort level,” Verner said about reuniting with Maxie. “He has coached me for two years. He knows my play style and the kind of way I learn as a player. It has been good.”
So obviously, Joe wondered if Maxie was the man responsible for Verner playing at a high level? Verner didn’t deny this, but took the diplomatic approach.
“All of the coaches were,” Verner said of his Pro Bowl days with the Titans. “Maxie was just one of the many I had. The D-coordinator put me in position to make plays. I definitely would say he was a big part of it.”
There is so much in the quotes above for those inclined to read between the lines. Still, the NFL is a performance-based outfit. Verner was thrown a life preserver by the Bucs. Given his salary and now having his old position coach to work with, Verner may be expected to show results much quicker than, say, Grimes.
Joe doesn’t think Verner will be practicing with the scout team this fall.
June 7th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
The only problem with this feel good story of a “reunion” between Verner and Maxie is that Maxie’s primary responsibility for the Bucs is coaching safeties.
I seriously doubt that 5’10” 185 lb Verner will be lining up at safety.
Yes – I am aware that Jon Hoke and Maxie are doing some cross-over work between CBs and Safeties – but the impression I am getting is that Maxie is spending 80-90% of his time with the safeties and Hoke is spending most of his time coaching the CBs.
June 7th, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Just by the incompetent / ignorant Lovie Smith leaving the building Verner got better. No defenders can be judged based on the last two years under the Lovie smith fiasco.
June 7th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Hmnn,,Maxie WAS a part of my success. So says Verner. Past tense. You have not played up to expectations the past 2 seasons Mr. Verner. Some here want to give you a pass and blame it on coaching. I..ain’t buying that! Good players find a way to ball out. I said banks and Verner were liabilities long ago. We shall see. The clock is..ticking…
June 7th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
This says it all to me – “The D-coordinator put me in position to make plays”.
Did anyone else see our corners line up 10-15 yards off the opposing teams receivers last year? Thank God Licht fired Coach my scheme and hired Mike Smith, who will also put his players in position to MAKE PLAYS!!! GO BUCS
June 7th, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Excited about what Maxie can do to e elevate Ryan Smith’s game. Freakish speed and athleticism.
June 7th, 2016 at 5:32 pm
We can afford him and he is TREMENDOUS depth. Keep him!
June 7th, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Mike Johnson no one here is blaming it on coaching. They will however tell you like I will that the SCHEME SUCKED!!!
We”ll pound into your head until you realize it. Cause like I’ve said some of you deffo did not watch the games if you think THAT scheme was working.
June 7th, 2016 at 7:08 pm
Nole on Sat I can’t wait to see what Ryan Smith can do. I love his highlights and looks like he could be a boss ass safety. Hopefully one of Jason’s small school steals this year
June 7th, 2016 at 7:41 pm
I hear you SOEbuc,he looks silky smooth on his highlights.
June 7th, 2016 at 10:04 pm
I wonder if Revis would be Canton bound after two years under Lovie Smith??
June 7th, 2016 at 11:57 pm
We are obviously excited to play in this high-quality preseason tournament in a world-class basketball venue like the Barclays Center,” said head coach Bruce Weber.
June 8th, 2016 at 8:25 am
I have a good feeling Verner bounces back to his pro bowl form. And when a whole defense is playing bad, there’s not to many individuals that play well. So put these guys in a succesful defense and it will elevate everyone’s game. Banks will ball out this season as well. My money’s on it. I’m more optimistic about Banks than Verner if anything. I really don’t think these guys played as bad as everyone perceived them too. It was the scheme that had them setup for failure. How are u suppose to defend a pass when your ten yards off the receiver??