Dirk Koetter On Hargreaves: “Too Content To Just Cover His Guy”
March 30th, 2017
Vernon Hargreaves has orders from his head coach
Joe had a simple question for Dirk Koetter at the NFL Owners Meetings yesterday in Phoenix.
It was about last year’s first-round draft pick, Vernon Hargreaves.
Hargreaves was solid as a 21-year-old starter learning on the fly, but there’s a lot of room for growth.
JoeBucsFan.com: Where’s the improvement, the next step, for Vernon Hargreaves. What do you feel he has to do next to make that leap?
Dirk Koetter: That’s a good question. I think Vernon, talking about Jameis being aggressive, I think Vernon needs to be more aggressive. Talk about baptism under fire, right off the bat he was going against Julio Jones in Week 1. He’s going against excellent players every week. I think Vernon gained confidence as the season went on. But Vernon is a ball-hawker. I mean he’s got the capability to create turnovers like Brent Grimes does on the other side. And I think, sometimes, Vernon was too content to just cover his guy. They threw it to him and he was right there and made the tackle. Instead of, ‘Vernon, scoot up and make that play!’ And he was making those plays in practice. I just think the next step from him is ok, ‘Year 1, I don’t always know what to expect. Year 2 , I know what to expect now.’ You got to take the ball away more.”
Powerful candid stuff there from Coach Koetter, who seemed especially eager to answer the question.
Hargreaves obviously has his orders, and he’s definitely a guy Joe is looking to for major improvement this season. If he really was a strong first-round pick, then this year should represent a significant advancement for him.
March 30th, 2017 at 9:01 am
VHIII is gonna keep improving no doubt about it. He’s gonna have to play more physical since the receivers in this division are all around 6’4 and 6’5
March 30th, 2017 at 9:15 am
The best reason to keep Grimes around, besides the fact that he seems ageless and continues to be one of the most underrated CBs in the league.
March 30th, 2017 at 9:19 am
IMO VHIII was A little tentative in his coverage. The young man was a rookie! Not wanting to give up the big play he showed he was an excellent tackler. I say he’ll have even more confidence this season and showcase his ball hawking skills. Also wonder about YAC against him , seemed for a rookie it was very low!
March 30th, 2017 at 9:21 am
I can understand why he would have been content in that role last year. As a rookie he was focused on not screwing up and learning the defense. This year he will feel more at ease and take more steps forward.
That’s part of the development process. Koetter is right to point it out though, because it will motivate HG.
March 30th, 2017 at 9:21 am
er, VH. (just woke up)
March 30th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Top 5 defense is coming!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
March 30th, 2017 at 9:28 am
@tdtb2015 – If they’re playing the complimentary football that we talked about last year, I would say that that top 5 defense could be accompanied by a top 5 offense. Add to that a top flight punter (who we hopefully rarely use) and solid kicking (since we’ll either get a steady Folk or an improved Aguayo, assuming he beats out Folk).
It’s hard not to get pumped about the years to come.
March 30th, 2017 at 9:29 am
I only have one thing to say to Mike Smith this year….TURN THE DOGS LOOSE!
We finally have the players to wreck havoc on the opposition, now go have fun as DMC has been saying!
March 30th, 2017 at 9:48 am
This young man is going to be so good. I always like to say Revis didn’t become Revis Island until around his third year in the league. Very pleased with the way VH3 held his own as a rook last season. He’ll have a moniker associated with his name here shortly.
March 30th, 2017 at 10:30 am
The kid is a heck of a player. No doubt in my mind he will be a top 10 corner in the league eventually. Go Bucs!
March 30th, 2017 at 10:55 am
Very excited to see how him & Spence look this year. In general I can’t remember feeling this excited about the potential of so many players taking a leap in their play.. Look at what ME just did in his year 3…
Winston-3rd year
Marpet-3rd year
Smith-3rd year
Kwon-3rd year
SPence-2nd year
VHIII-2nd year
I’m also very interested to hear how Ryan Smith looks at CB. Can he play nickle? Is he more of an outside guy / eventual replacement for Grimes potentially?
March 30th, 2017 at 11:04 am
My jury is still out on Hargraves!
March 30th, 2017 at 11:10 am
I think it’s a lot harder to become aggressive being a corner and safety, vet or rookie, good or bad. This league wants to see nothing but these “splash” plays every down calling many more holding or pass interference that are maybe small or not even if true. Really sucks. Just like NBA and NCAA basketball. I really hate it.
March 30th, 2017 at 11:30 am
Q: How was Eli Apple last season in comparison? He was drafted just before VH
March 30th, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Hargreaves will be a decent roll player for bucs but will not be a top ten or stud corner. It’s just not going to happen.
March 30th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
LOL – tmax has spoken. VH3’s lot in life is “decent role player”. Well that’s that I guess.
March 30th, 2017 at 2:53 pm
Pickgrin
It’s been one shaky season…. Hardly bust ready… Let him earn your accolades instead of handing out invitations to canton after a decent to below average year.
March 30th, 2017 at 3:45 pm
tmax…hating on a rookie?….really?….wow…GO BUCS!!!!
March 30th, 2017 at 10:54 pm
I agree with tmaxcon evaluation of vh3
March 31st, 2017 at 3:21 am
What evaluation did tmax give he gave his opinion, which doesn’t hold weight. The guy had a pretty good season learning a new system the whole defense was still trying to learn. He will only get better and show his ball hawking skills. With more reps his confidence is only gonna get higher. Buc defense will be fierce again.