The Rise Of Hey Jude
August 23rd, 2016
Strong summer showing.
Last year, cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah, who Joe refers to as “Hey Jude” partly because Joe stumbles frequently trying to pronounce his name and partly because it is much easier to spell, was virtually unknown outside of his family.
Hey Jude began his rookie season on the bench but ended up playing 43 percent of the snap counts. Pretty good.
This season, again, Hey Jude was deemed a backup. That was because the Bucs drafted Vernon Hargreaves in the first round and signed Brent Grimes as a free agent. Alterraun Verner practiced so well initially, he was listed as a first team corner with Grimes. Hargreaves converted to nickel corner and battled Hey Jude to start.
Through training camp, Hargreaves seemed to struggle with the new position. But he has played so well in two preseason games Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said yesterday Hargreaves will practice this week with the “ones,” the first team at outside corner.
It’s unclear who will start at the three corner positions (three if you factor in the nickel is expected to play about 60 percent of the time).
No matter. Hey Jude has easily secured a roster spot — starter or not.
Hey Jude, 23 years old and undrafted out of Bowling Green, has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. He’s transformed from a nobody to, at worst, a solid backup.
August 23rd, 2016 at 7:23 am
Dump Verner, start Hey Jude! Simple as that!
August 23rd, 2016 at 7:38 am
I see banks as the odd man out so far,except for the big hit of Vernor’s salary.
Also like to see Banks get some work at Slot,where his long arms may be of some use.
That said Jude is solidly built and may be good on the blitz,if used like Ronde was.
August 23rd, 2016 at 7:43 am
Jude is playing well, simply put. It’s going to be difficult to keep him off the field. I love this DB competition, the players are stepping up.
August 23rd, 2016 at 7:55 am
Right now I’m thinking Grimes, Jude, Verner, Hargreaves and Banks all make the squad. I haven’t read too many good things about Banks in practice but based on what I’ve seen while watching him in the 2 pre-season games he seems to be making the most of his opportunities. That’s all you can ask from a guy.
August 23rd, 2016 at 7:58 am
I follow this guy on twitter… not that that means anything, but he seems to have been working his ass off. Good for him! Sounds like he’s a lock to make the team and could be pretty solid when called upon.
August 23rd, 2016 at 7:59 am
Hey Jude – There goes your dude!
August 23rd, 2016 at 8:37 am
I think Vernon plays a better nickel than outside. Ideally Hargreaves plays outside this year and Hey-Jude replaces Grimes in about a year or two on the outside.
August 23rd, 2016 at 8:42 am
Waterboy, I agree with you about those 5 CBs making the team but I’d add a 6th CB also: Josh Robinson. He’s been playing pretty well it looks like, and the Bucs could very well need him as the season rolls along. Brent Grimes is nearing the end of his career, and unless something changes I doubt Bucs will re-sign Banks next year. Could see us only keeping 5 LBs at this point, and probably 4 Safeties. Still can’t figure out though whether Ryan Smith is a CB or Safety (Bucs are listing him as a DB right now). Kid has enough size & talent to be either a CB or Safety I think.
August 23rd, 2016 at 9:01 am
Great video Joe. Seen McCartney 4 times and each one was great. I like our chances this year. Thanks for your reporting. Makes my day to sit and enjoy the site. Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2016 at 9:08 am
Robinson will be the 5th over Banks.
Not sure what happened to Banks but he’s done nothing
August 23rd, 2016 at 9:09 am
U gotta love guys like Jude who refuse to give up and be pushed down the roster, the best part is that he was a undrafted guy from bowling Green and basicslly came out of nowhere only to battle his way on the field and actually performed pretty well at times last year, especially when no one else was stepping up at that time. S.Moore had his moments but other then that, nothing but underperforming dissapointments. Def see Jude contributing for years to come.
August 23rd, 2016 at 9:14 am
@Dave
Actually Banks has a pic and Robinson has 0. so technically that’s not true. I hope he s ears on to the roster. U never know if we will need him because of a Injury or poor play from someone else. I could see the a bucs unloading him for a late draft pick tho, CB is a big need these days and Banks is not a terrible corner, not to mention he was the 43rd overall pick a few years ago. This team can’t afford to keep missing on 2nd rounders. U don’t become a winning franchise that way.
August 23rd, 2016 at 9:55 am
I said yeaterday how I think having four quality corners will serve us well. Teams use so many 3 and 4 WR sets in todays game. Also alot of TE’s are just too good to be covered by safeties and linebackers. And I think that if Verners salary were a concern, he would have been let go back in the spring.
August 23rd, 2016 at 10:07 am
Hargraves & Jude are the future booked corners.
August 23rd, 2016 at 11:24 am
jude and sterling moore were our top cb’s last year…I like jude in the slot with vhg and grimes outside….banks i would move to FS….GO BUCS!!!
August 23rd, 2016 at 11:29 am
Serious question, can you tell me the last game Jude had a pass def? Just 1 time he defended a pass? A pass break-up? I’d ask about int but …. COME ON MAN WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT?
Banks a 2nd rnd pick who has 7ints in the last 3 years -none last year cuz he hardly played- has an int in the preseason along with several pass break ups is now behind Jude on the depth chart.
This stuff really grinds my gears just like saying Josh McClown is a starting qb.
August 23rd, 2016 at 12:02 pm
jude is a good story. Good stories only matter when the team wins. working hard undrafted all that rah rah crap that is meaningless unless wins are associated with story. I’ll buy into Hey Jude when I see regular season splash plays or hell just adequate consistent play would be an improvement over what we witnessed the last 2 years under the incompetent one’s watch. I would not write off banks just yet either. I trust Smith will figure out a role for banks. there will be injuries no need to ship banks out yet.
August 23rd, 2016 at 12:06 pm
@DB55
I share your concern on Jude,probably true he has good in the slot this year.
But I don’t see him on the outside based on his play last year,And like you’i want to see Banks get more chances even at slot if need be.He has got long arms and that could be a gamechanger over the middleand some ball skills to pull in interceptions.I haven’t seen that from Jude yet.
August 23rd, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Forget a splash play I’ll take any plain Jane play where he stops the WR from catching the ball. Please point me to one play just one. P.s. Not a drop by the WR but an actual pass def.
Slot/outside don’t matter. Jude belongs on special teams but he can’t get that right either. The kid is so far from a starter right now it’s ludicrous to even have this discussion.
His positive his that he’s a good tackler in the flat. Oh boy get the gold jacket ready.
August 23rd, 2016 at 12:41 pm
Everyone needs to stop giving Banks so much props on that pick. It was thrown directly to him by a third string QB where Banks looked out of position
August 23rd, 2016 at 12:59 pm
SOE
It’s not so much props I’m establishing a pattern. Banks gets his hands on the ball and Jude doesn’t. No malice, no hate just facts brother. Just facts.
And from the look of this board Jude is getting props for doing what exactly?
My depth charts looks like this:
Grimes
Verner
VH3
Banks
Robinson
Hey Jude
Elliot
Truth be told banks should be above Verner bc he has more ints and never earned the nickname toast. How soon we forget.
August 23rd, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Banks is falling off! “Hey Jude” is on the come up and if you don’t see that your not watching the game. Just because banks has an interception during preseason from a 3rd string back up proves nothing!
I wanna see banks do that while Blake bortels in the game covering Allen burns it wouldn’t be pretty for a bucs fan @DB55 stats are for losers its a reason why banks is on the bottom of the
depth chart! Now putting banks at safety might not be a bad idea
August 23rd, 2016 at 5:25 pm
African immigrants come with a very different mentality.
He is more proof of it.