Arrow Points Up For Hargreaves
January 22nd, 2017
He can ball.
Want to know if a player is valuable to his team? Monitor how many snaps the guy plays.
Joe already brought word that offensive linemen Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet never missed one single snap for the Bucs this season. Given the fact these guys get pounded on each and every play, that impresses Joe very much.
No defender played every snap for the Bucs, but as Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com details, none played more than rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.
Hargreaves was a starter for the Buccaneers from Day One as a rookie and rarely stepped off the field during his first season in Tampa Bay. He played 1,036 defensive snaps, second on the team to only Lavonte David. He was on the field for 97.6 percent of the Bucs’ defensive plays and was the only cornerback on the team to play more than 1,000 downs.
For a rookie to pull this off is something. It also shows, despite what the haters think, Hargreaves is talented and valuable. No, he’s not the best corner on the team but geez, he’s a rookie. Cut the guy a little slack, huh?
Hargreaves will be just fine. And Bucs coaches think the same.
January 22nd, 2017 at 7:32 am
I have to admit, I wasn’t excited about the pick when we drafted him…that said, he surprised me and had a very solid rookie season…he’s a really smart player and I love the Swagger he plays with…Imho the Bucs are 1 good off-season away from becoming playoff regulars…
January 22nd, 2017 at 8:17 am
We Trust In Licht!
January 22nd, 2017 at 8:53 am
Next season he will be the best corner on this team. Got that rookie campaign behind him, its on an poppin from here on.
January 22nd, 2017 at 9:00 am
Looking at him during games he reminds me alot of Aneus Williams. Not saying he’s on HOFrs level yet but his body type and playing style resemble. Aneus was never as flashy as Deion or fast like Darrel Green but was super solid and tenacious in his technique all the time.
January 22nd, 2017 at 9:05 am
Make him the best safty on the team !
January 22nd, 2017 at 9:23 am
Confidence is key.
Once the kid is confident enough to break on a ball, or jump a route, we’ll see some of those high flying, acrobatic picks he displayed in pre-season and at UF.
January 22nd, 2017 at 9:31 am
Looking forward to watching this kid after he loosens up and plays with more confidence
January 22nd, 2017 at 9:53 am
Blake
I agree with your comment about confidence. And I would add it’s not just VHG’s confidence…although your right that’s going to make him better…
IMO it’s going to be Smitty’s confidence. How much confidence will he have in his DL to get the proper pressure to allow VHG to play press coverage or at least tighten it up….how much confidence will Smitty have in our safeties to back up VHG and Grimes…if they ball like Tandy did at the end of the year that confidence has to have risen significantly.
I’m the optimist so discount that BUT….if Noah continues his growth…GMC contributes his usual 8 sacks…we find one more DL….whether it’s Campbell or the draft…LVD keeps blitzing….and perhaps the biggest IF…is Tandy for real?
He played lights out at the end of the year…is that a flash or a sign of things to come? Hey I’m the optimist I believe Tandy is the real deal…because I want to…LMAO This draft seems weak to me…OL…QB’s..DL doesn’t overwhelm me but it is full of good RB’s and safeties. Maybe we pick up another stud safety to go with Tandy.
Then Smitty has the confidence to let VHG and Grimes play some tight coverage.
January 22nd, 2017 at 10:19 am
I screamed at the TV when the pick was made. I wanted Sheldon Rankins. Felt like last year’s DRAFT was the time to grab a true DT. I hope he turns into a elite corner. My line of thinking will always be trench warfare. I don’t care who’s on the, if there’s a BPA at that position, you draft him. Look Marpet is our best o lineman, but if some kid is there at RG @19 and he’s billed as the next Joe Thomas. Freaking grab him.
Draft for the trenches
#Dreadnaughts
January 22nd, 2017 at 10:23 am
A lot of u are going to disagree but I saw the tape in NO and when u watch it u I know u could argue No. 9 was killing home but I also saw that even though drew torched him. VH3 did get him a couple of times almost got his second pick against him now I what some of u haters are going to say he was graded the worst CB but also u forgot was a rookie next year I believe he will be an elite CB take that to the bank
January 22nd, 2017 at 10:31 am
Look it here 88
I’m not hating on him at all. He just wasn’t who I was hoping for. Simple as that. Any football could see that every team was gonna go at the rook.
Don’t come on here looking for haters. Relax, make your comment and keep it moving. You come across like an a$s “looking” for haters. Tighten boy
January 22nd, 2017 at 10:46 am
I noticed quite a few QBs staying away from the rook.
January 22nd, 2017 at 10:48 am
As for Rankins we played him twice,I don’t recall him really jumping off the screen either game. I’m sorry he played in ACC yo and didn’t dominate the conference in my humble opinion.
January 22nd, 2017 at 10:58 am
NosBos
I’ve stated numerous times I don’t watch college ball, so I don’t bash any conference full of kids. That being said. I watch the same hype show that you did on BSPN, NFL Network, whatever. Lot of people kept saying Rankins was the real deal. So I wanted him.
Don’t believe the hype!
There, I said it myself
Far as the rook, gave up the most yds, TDs and some other sh!T.
I got faith in him damn, he just wasn’t my pic
I love the kid and think he’ll be fine
January 22nd, 2017 at 11:12 am
@whatdabucisthis I’m not looking for haters I’m just saying some people on really do not like this pick I’m just defending it now as far a rankins I would have love to have him he’s a dominant defense tackle & i played line and coached Oline I 100% agree battles are won in the trenches but now we go VH3 we are not like the panthers for example building a defense that was 90% full of old vets I mean look at our secondary the only old guy is grimes all we got to do now is in free agency is get another DE like JPP or Campbell sign golston move him to DT find another DE in the draft look at that our defense is amazing I’m not trying to start a fight I’m just excited that’s all man
January 22nd, 2017 at 11:14 am
@Stpete You could very well be right at this point, but up to now, I’m not sure whether the coverages called by smitty were necessarily dependent upon his confidence in his guys; Or whether those are just the coverages he frequently calls any way.
I only say this because I believe he has a lot of confidence in grimes and still chose to deploy him in off-coverage rather frequently.
January 22nd, 2017 at 11:22 am
I will say that I didn’t want Hargreaves, as a Seminole, I watched us beat him up pretty bad through his years. I was thrilled with his play as a rookie. I think he was actually better this year than I ever could have hoped. I have said this before, I believe Smith going into that soft coverage really hurt his stats and slowed his development even though I understand he was . I believe he will be a shutdown corner in this league, the DC needs to play to his strengths. playing off 10 yards isn’t going to cut it in this league anymore, the QBs are smart enough to hit the 2 yard slant all day long.
January 22nd, 2017 at 11:24 am
The bucfan 88 Says
I’m not trying to start a fight I’m just excited that’s all man.
Lol me either. It’s all BUCS love
January 22nd, 2017 at 11:27 am
Sorry St Pete just read your post (book,lol), I should have just said I echo St Petes sentiments
January 22nd, 2017 at 12:12 pm
@Blake
Certainly take your point…I do not know how Smitty “normally” plays his DB’s.
Maybe he just prefers that cushion. I’m only a fan and not a coach or GM but from a fan’s standpoint I hate playing keep it all in front of you, let them catch it and then make sure you tackle properly.
Two many times it results in the death of a thousand cuts…someone like Aaron Rodgers licks his chops…he doesn’t mind not having to throw hail mary’s he’s perfectly content to 7 and 8 yard his way down the field against loose D’s.
January 22nd, 2017 at 12:13 pm
PLAY HIM IN MAN. Tired of seeing him line up 10 yards off and give up a comeback route.
January 22nd, 2017 at 1:47 pm
I like Hargreaves and thought he was solid with the Gators and had an above average rookie season. I am just glad Amari Cooper does not play in the NFC South. Cooper has always smoked Hargreaves in college and during there game this season.
January 23rd, 2017 at 8:12 am
Wish Smith would be more aggressive with the CB’s on this squad but Vernon’s rookie year had lots of promise
January 23rd, 2017 at 12:15 pm
I believe they’re moving Ryan Smith back to CB this year. I would very much like it if they could become a dominant one-two punch.
January 23rd, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Plays very smart and physical for a small db. He’ll be in the league for many years barring injuries.