Koetter Identifies The Evan Smith Of The Defense
November 22nd, 2016
Evan Smith has a defensive twin
It’s great to get a sincere compliment from one’s head coach.
They come in different forms and, when you’re a player, you have to savor every one of them.
Dirk Koetter dished out a verbal love note last night on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
It was directed at Alterraun Verner, the benched former Pro Bowl cornerback who emerged to play solid football Sunday after Brent Grimes was injured very early in the game.
Verner talked to Joe about his attitude toward demotion and revival in the happy Arrowhead Stadium locker room. You can catch up on that here.
Koetter says Verner has proven to be the Evan Smith of the defense.
“He was ready when his number was called,” Koetter said of Verner. “And he came in there and, you know, other than one play, Alterraun kicked butt out there. He played good. He played reallly good. … You know, we thought we had good depth at corner. And Alterruan probably deserves to play more. He’s kind of like the Evan Smith on the offensive line. I mean, he’s been a starter in this league and he’s been a good player in this league. But, you know, we’ve got two other good corners in Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves. So, you know, we tell guys you just sort of got to wait your turn sometimes, and then you’ve got to make the most of it. And he did a really good job of that.”
Joe suspects Verner has higher career hopes than being the next Evan Smith, though Joe surely knows exactly what Koetter is talking about.
Starter-quality depth is critical in the NFL. The good teams have it. And true professional athletes, like Smith and Verner, can excel in a diminished role without their egos ruining their careers.
Big players in the Bucs’ free agent class of 2014, Smith and Verner have underwhelmed, but they are still valuable.
November 22nd, 2016 at 11:11 am
I think he should start and Hargreaves should pay safety.
November 22nd, 2016 at 11:27 am
Respectfully disagree, Scotty.
Rookie corners are notorious for getting picked on and showing their rook colors throughout their first year. Look at Eli Apple, picked right before Hargreaves for example. Been straight-up horrendous thus far. For Hargreaves to not only lock down the starting role, but prove to be the guy who can cover #1 wideouts (sans the Oakland game, dear lord) he has been a slam dunk for Licht. I expect we will soon be the lockdown corner we have been waiting for for a long time.
November 22nd, 2016 at 12:19 pm
@bucfaninchina…I agree….GO BUCS!!!!
November 22nd, 2016 at 12:28 pm
I don’t know what to do with Verner. I think he can be a starter, but we don’t have a spot for him. He is also making starter money to play special teams.
It is great to have the depth, but I know he wants to go to another team so he can play.
November 22nd, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Another position where you can NEVER have enough depth. Props to Verner!
November 22nd, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Question is, will either of these guys be on the team next year?
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:45 pm
@unbelievable- Good question! Verner’s contract is unattractive and Smith may want to start somewhere else.
We could use them both but it would have to be under a restructured contract. Are THEY willing to take less? Probably not.