Vernon Hargreaves: Ballhawk
December 5th, 2016
Stud.
Every once in a while Joe gets a Twitter during a game claiming rookie corner Vernon Hargreaves stinks.
Joe is learning what to read and what to filter @JoeBucsFan. Generally, at one point during a game, every member of the Bucs stinks. Joe has learned to tune that stuff out unless it is a legitimate gripe (like, say, slamming Toast Jenkins).
Joe detailed this yesterday, but it bears repeating. Late in the third, with the Bucs trailing 14-10, Philip Rivers tried to force a ball to Tyrell Willias, who was covered like a blanket by Hargreaves.
Hargreaves tipped the ball in the air, which allowed Lavonte David to grab it and race in for a pick-six and a Bucs lead.
This Hargreaves has been an impressive rookie. He floored Joe with his heads-up play tipping a ball in Carolina that Daryl Smith hauled in for a critical takeaway in that victory.
Between Noah Spence and Hargreaves, the 2016 draft is shaping up nicely for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
December 5th, 2016 at 4:32 am
He’s won me over, and I was very skeptical when they drafted him. Just a damn good all around football player.
December 5th, 2016 at 5:23 am
“Between Noah Spence and Hargreaves, the 2016 draft is shaping up nicely for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.”
And then there’s Mr. Aguayo…
December 5th, 2016 at 5:43 am
Yes I also like our first two picks
December 5th, 2016 at 7:01 am
I can’t imagine Roberto has forgotten how to kick. When it’s all said and done the first 3 picks from the draft will be great.
December 5th, 2016 at 7:02 am
2016 draft class looking good, but Roberto…….?
December 5th, 2016 at 7:03 am
Just need the damn kicker to stop missing kicks.
December 5th, 2016 at 7:12 am
Except for the dozen or so other players from WR, DL, Safety that could have been drafted instead of a 50% kicker
December 5th, 2016 at 7:44 am
On a positive article the debbie downers of Bucs fandom are once again ridiculous! Janikowski sucked as a rookie but 13 years later look at him now! Hargreaves is already turning into a solid contributor on defense and Licht has made a huge impact on this team people should be happy that inspite of his failures his hits got us in the playoff hunt for reals for reals. So put that in yer pipes and smoke them you bunch of nancy noys!
December 5th, 2016 at 7:44 am
Oops that’s Nancy boys!
December 5th, 2016 at 7:56 am
VhIII gone be a hell of a football player…i like that idea of coach koetter to put him on punt return get him more involved in the game…the skills are there with him..he and noah spence can be superstars if they keep this up
December 5th, 2016 at 8:27 am
Everyone keeps mentioning “what about Roberto”… What about him? GM’s dont hit on all there picks in the draft as long as we hit more often then not the GM is doing a good job….. Not even the Patriots hit on all there picks and as a matter of fact go back and look at some of their picks. Licht right now is in the TOP HALF of GM’s and decision makers and that is just a fact…. Under Licht we are pulling out 2-3 starters from every draft that is very impressive PERIOD.
Patriots draft history:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=3200&type=team
We have had less picks and been more effective..
December 5th, 2016 at 8:31 am
@David aka Queen of Nancy Noys,
Regardless of the fact that AG has missed kicks, the Bucs needed, badly, another WR and a second DE would not hurt either, nor would a S… NOT a kicker. If the Bucs were fully stocked, I could see the justification for such a unique trade up in the draft. In our case, it is NOT justifiable.
I like Licht. I think he has done a great job. But he was smoking crack on that draft pick. It happens…
December 5th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Funny, didn’t San Diego miss a fg yesterday too? There are no perfect kickers. Stop hating.
I was so pumped to see VH3 returning punts. If he gets another shot he will break a few. And he can hit for a lil guy. Prob the best Lil hitter I’ve seen since Mr. Steve Smith Sr.
December 5th, 2016 at 9:29 am
Has any other team scored a TD on Aguayo’s kickoffs this season? Silence–crickets chirping. He knocks a lot of them out of the endzone, too, according to Bucs radio. There’s more to a placekicker than just field goals. LICHT is the one who drafted this young guy in the 2nd round; Roberto didn’t draft himself!! He made FGs and PATs if the sports reporters are correct yesterday. This site gets real embarrassing at times with the dimwitted haters on here. Good thing we have the First Amendment. Go Mighty Bucs Sunday!!
December 5th, 2016 at 9:36 am
With much respect to Miko, VHIII is the best corner on our team. For someone to be playing as well as he is, while still really learning the professional game is special. I wanted Noah Spence there. I had no thought of him dropping to the 2nd round. VHIII has it. He has a game that will just keep getting better. He plays better vs the run than I thought he would. I don’t like the kicker pick, but wouldn’t have liked that if the kid was a guaranteed HOF’er. All said, if he can get through this year, I truly believe that he will be solid.
December 5th, 2016 at 9:43 am
I would personally even go as far to say that Licht is top 5 in drafting thus far. Sims, Evans, Jameis, Spence, Kwon, Marpet, VH3, Pamphile. Aguayo and Smith are still being evaluated and if ASJ would have finished puberty by now, then that is potentially 11 starters in 3 years! That’s excellent.
People seem to not realize how often second or later round picks actually materialize. The fact that we have both Marpet and Kwon, who are both potential pro bowlers is really good.
December 5th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Justin Tucker has been perfect so far this season. 😛
December 5th, 2016 at 10:11 am
As far as Aguayo, as i said, I think he’ll be given this season as his opportunity to work things out. At the end of the day, he’s still a rookie.
Put it this way, Licht drafted the most accurate kicker in college football history.
If he would’ve drafted the most accurate pass catcher in college football history, would you have blamed Licht if that catcher started dropping passes?
If he would’ve drafted a RB that had the highest YPC average in college football history, would you have blamed Licht if he constantly got stuff at the LOS?
If he would’ve drafted an O-lineman that never once gave up a sack in college football, would you have blamed Licht if he became a human turnstile?
To be honest with you, the fact that Aguayo ha been struggling with kicks isn’t even my biggest concern. IIRC, I thought part of the reason that he was drafted was due to his ability, on kick-offs, to put the ball high in the air and drop it on the 1 yard line. I have yet to see that be done.
Is it due to the rest of the special teams coverage? Does the special teams coach not trust the coverage?
December 5th, 2016 at 10:15 am
I’m so GLAD the Giants selected Eli Apple!! LOL
December 5th, 2016 at 10:27 am
i was so happy to see smitty put VHGIII back outside once rivers started picking on verner….verner is done for the year unless an injury happens….the kid javion Elliott played very well in the nickel…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 10:32 am
Tweet, you get tweet’s during the game, Joe…
December 5th, 2016 at 10:44 am
Celly
I stand corrected. Boy I really must have pissed you off. Lol.
December 5th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Still surprised that Hargreaves hasn’t gotten a pick yet – but he’s playing solid coverage and still creating turnovers with tip drills on passes defended. His Ints will come…
Kid’s got a “nose for the ball” and his tackling has been VERY dependable.
Great year so far by a rookie cornerback. His ceiling looks quite high and the icing on the cake which some may have forgotten – was how badly VH3 wanted to be a Buccaneer before we even drafted him.
#culturechanger
December 5th, 2016 at 11:12 am
@DB…
nah, you good. just giving you grief.
it’s the internet, i don’t allow people that have no REAL effect on my life to piss me off.
December 5th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
@Pickgrin. I’d forgotten all about that. The kid is literally living his childhood dream, a key player on what has lately been a shutdown type bucanneer defense. With Jameis, Kwon, and guys like VH3 at the core, this roster should not lack for heart, want-to, or team pride for the next decade
December 5th, 2016 at 9:41 pm
I’m sorry but Aguayo needs to make those field goals. Period. I worry when that guy gets on the field because he’s too erratic. It’s 50/50 on whether or not we walk away with points or not. It doesn’t matter if he’s a rookie or not. He’s dead last in fg% and we’re in the middle of a fight for the playoffs.