Battling Corners
August 8th, 2016
Backup nickel?
If the season started right now — no, Joe’s not going by a depth chart released the first week of August — Joe would surmise that Alterraun Verner and Brent Grimes are your starting corners.
For anyone that has watched a Bucs practice in training camp, that’s a no-brainer. As for nickel cornerback, Jenna Laine of BSPN believes there is a battle in the making between first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves and Hey Jude.
Bucs coach Dirk Koetter announced Monday that first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves would start rotating in with the first-team defense. Hargreaves has spent a great deal of time working in at nickelback while lining up with the second-team defense on the outside. Will he stay at nickel and take reps from Jude Adjei-Barimah? Or will he unseat Alterraun Verner or Brent Grimes on the outside? It’s highly unlikely that Hargreaves takes away Grimes’ spot. Verner has had a stellar training camp so far and could very well rebound from two disappointing seasons under the previous regime.
Of course, how this plays out depends on the rest of training camp and the four preseason games.
Has Hey Jude played well in practice? Sure has. But Joe would be flabbergasted if Hargreaves is not your starting nickel corner, barring injury. Just the thought of a high first-round pick squeezed out of playing time by a guy the Bucs picked up off the street a year ago makes Joe shake his head.
If Hey Jude does win the starting nickel gig, then Hey Jude would have to be playing head and shoulders better than Hargreaves and/or Hargreaves would have to be greatly struggling.
August 8th, 2016 at 6:49 am
It’s very refreshing to hear all the good news about Verner. Looks like he’s poised for a rebound year and return to his pro bowl form. As far as Hey Jude “there goes your dude” I’m really not suprised that he’s shinning so far. Think about it, if the kid can have success in Lovie’s scheme as a rookie then he’s obviously has sum skills. He’s worth keeping around and developing. The sad part of all of this tho is the falling out of the once promising Jonathan Banks. It seems he’s been pushed all the way back to battle for the 5th corner spot, Smh. wich is disappointing after having some hope of him bouncing back from the last regime who seemed to have it out for him, but now it makes u think maybe it’s him and not the coaching. Either way the bucs will be parting ways with a talented corner that another team will be more Than happy to have on there roster.
August 8th, 2016 at 6:55 am
Your silly if u think VH3 won’t be starting in the slot come opening day. Not to mention how that would look if a undrafted FA beat out your top ten pick (11th) it’s nice to know u have a plethora of talented corners. IDK if we’ve evr had this much depth before. Teams better look out once we get that pass rush going. It’s a lock then. When u think of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first thing that comes to your mind is defense. Time to get back to that.
August 8th, 2016 at 7:13 am
Its pretty clear that koetter is going to.play the best players. Where.you are drafted will mean nothing its how you play. We actually have a good head coach now
August 8th, 2016 at 7:37 am
I’m with Koetter on this. I could care less about the draft, it’s in the past. Put the best, most prepared players in a position to be successful and let them go!
August 8th, 2016 at 7:51 am
Actually, I look at this as a very good thing……our cornerback corps is so good it might sit Banks and VH3 on the bench a bit……what in the world is wrong with that…..I don’t look at that as a failure of Banks and VH3 but a success at putting together a team full of talent.
Let’s see how it plays out….I think VH3 will earn his snaps….I’m not quite sure about Banks.
August 8th, 2016 at 9:06 am
TBBF Nailed it.
August 8th, 2016 at 9:10 am
Should have drafted rankins out of Louisville
He is tearing up saints camp
August 8th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Destinjohnny, that Will come back to haunt us. Everyone’s focused on the falcons but I feel the saints are going to be way better this year.
August 8th, 2016 at 9:32 am
What TBBF said!
@Destin and Benny- It’s way too early for “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve” for any player. Could we have used a DT? Sure, but DB was a far greater need. Lets sit back and enjoy the ride!
August 8th, 2016 at 9:33 am
OOOPS! It’s Monday!
August 8th, 2016 at 9:33 am
What TBBF said!
@Destin and Benny- It’s way too early for “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve” for any player. Could we have used a DT? Sure, but DB was a far greater need. Lets sit back and enjoy the ride!
August 8th, 2016 at 9:50 am
Put the best on the field! Simple as that.
August 8th, 2016 at 9:51 am
I was never high on Hargreaves but is/was willing to give him a shot after they drafted him but if he’s struggling to beat Jude out at nickel that’s not a good sign for a #11 pick in the draft.
August 8th, 2016 at 10:03 am
not saying he is going to be bad just rankins was a a better pick
Funny how gators fans aren’t real high on him
More quick then fast and undersized
Call me crazy I’m just a fan of violent defensive lines
August 8th, 2016 at 10:03 am
Put the best on the field! And use a defensive scheme that works!!!!!!
August 8th, 2016 at 10:11 am
Jude beat out VH3? Not a chance! In my opinion, I think VH3 will take over as the number 2 corner by week 4, if not sooner! I see Verner in the slot. And Jude will beat out Banks for 4.
August 8th, 2016 at 10:26 am
@Destin- “Call me crazy I’m just a fan of violent defensive lines”
Me too! They’ll probably need to address this in next year’s draft or maybe a trade. BTW- NOT a Gator fan! Virginia Tech Hokies (wife’s an alum!) and Noles. It’s conflicting to be sure!
August 8th, 2016 at 10:43 am
I am a tide guy and we always smoked vh3 but we crush everyone so that’s not really news
August 8th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Roll Tide!
August 8th, 2016 at 11:10 am
Nothing Jenna Laine says has any relevance to Buccaneers football. She regurgitates old story lines and makes horrible predictions and inaccurate observations. It’s like me reporting on Manchester United (never watched them). Joe can flash some bias every now and again but Joe is informed and very competent in the world of Bucs football. Jenna Laine needs to go back to Bristol.
August 8th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
been to 4 tc practices and I can tell you jude is playing very well….I can also tell you that VHG is performing very well in practice too….VHG will have every opportunity to grab a starting spot but if jude steps up and locks down the nickel, I wouldn’t mind VHG rotating with grimes on the outside while he continues to learn….we’ll be fine at the cb position regardless…GO BUCS!!!
August 8th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Perhaps the drafting of Hargreaves lit a fire under the DB’s.
August 8th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Can we simply play the best 22 guys and forget the money and politics? That would be a great start. if Jude is better, he should play. Period.
August 8th, 2016 at 2:22 pm
“Hey Jude “there goes your dude”
That was pretty damn funny Demboyz
I’m glad to see Hey Jude get some meaningful reps. He may have been a UDFA – but he definitely represents some solid and inexpensive depth moving forward assuming he continues to develop. The CB competition is likely to be very interesting. Will they keep 5 or 6 CBs on the 53 man roster? If they only keep 5, is Banks the odd man out?
August 8th, 2016 at 2:23 pm
It’s encouraging that Jude is holding him off. I think it means Hey Jude is here to stay as a quality backup and occasional starter. Another nice find off the street for Jason Licht.