Another Vernon Hargreaves Overreaction
May 27th, 2017
It’s another entry from JoeBucsFan Saturday columnist Gil Arcia
Too many people are too quick to throw players under the bus. Bucs’ cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, III is the latest victim.
In 2016, Hargreaves looked and played like a first-year guy often. I mean, he was a rookie. Sure, he had games like the one against Oakland but also decent moments as well, like against San Diego.
But since people only remember the bad, many folks jumped all over Hargreaves this week when a video showed Hargreaves getting smoked on a go route by DeSean Jackson in OTAs. Again, it was OTAs.
Did Hargreaves look slow in his break? Perhaps.
Rising stud.
You can argue he was late to turn, but Jiminy Christmas, we are talking about one of the fastest receivers in the game of football. Jackson can do that against anyone in his sleep.
Take the following videos of Jackson was going up against Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman during practice in Washington. Norman was late to react to both routes run by Jackson.
DeSean Jackson vs. Josh Norman pic.twitter.com/V2MZa5vUOS
— Erin Hawksworth (@ABC7Erin) December 15, 2016
Linked here is another Jackson roasting of Norman.
Different routes, different corner, same type of result.
Then, of course, you have the Hargreaves stats from the keyboard warriors. Stats like one interception, giving up the most yards and the most receptions as a cornerback that get embedded in the memory banks of many fans.
So I have to ask, if Hargreaves was that bad and the team felt they needed to improvise, wouldn’t they have brought in a veteran cornerback (other than Robert McClain) to give the second-year corner more time to adapt to the NFL?
Let’s pump the brakes here on calling Hargreaves a bad draft pick. Give him this year and maybe even the next before we start calling him a bust.
May 27th, 2017 at 8:37 am
Joe.. if your going to beat yourself up and down. try flogging.
What people say does not make it so.
May 27th, 2017 at 8:49 am
Awe one of the best receivers beat a second year cb, lol. I mean come on. This is a joke. Vh will be a beast this year watch.
May 27th, 2017 at 8:50 am
Yes who cares what some people say. You said it urself. Naysayers will keep going, its makes themselves feel better for some insane reason. If he keeps improving he could be a pro bowler soon. He has got talent. Getting burned by the best athletes in the world happened to every corner in the hall of fame. Go bucs
May 27th, 2017 at 8:50 am
Before calling him a bust? Lots of folks have called him a rookie (last year of course), but can’t remember anyone calling him a bust. And since he was a rookie, he did get picked on more than his veteran counterpart, Brent Grimes. Suspect that his stats will be a lot better this year, especially if our DLine pass rush kicks into high gear.
May 27th, 2017 at 8:59 am
I don’t know who tried to beat vhIII up for this. Certainly not me. I mentioned a differentiation regarding his 40 time versus what was reported. This isn’t throwing VHIII under the bus. I applaud him for this. To challenge himself by facing up to a talent like DJax, when he can’t make contact, is admirable. In a real game situation he wouldn’t walk down on any wide receiver and then allow free release. This challenge will pay off once he is matched and can use his body and hands. I will say it, i would much rather have VhIII vs Josh Norman. Norman is flat out slow as a corner, but he has unusually long arms. Matching him up against a guy like DJax is funny.
May 27th, 2017 at 9:01 am
He is overrated to say the least. Doesn care much at all about the bucs either. Doesn’t follow one buc on instagram but they all follow him. Bucs should have taken Floyd or apple.
May 27th, 2017 at 9:06 am
What about the couple of picks picks he already has and the one he got on the vet next play! And who give a fu@k about instagram!
May 27th, 2017 at 9:14 am
Very
May 27th, 2017 at 9:15 am
Here’s the deal, , if the Bucs offense does what’s expected, we won’t have to worry too much about a glorified overdrafted nickle corner from Gainesville.
May 27th, 2017 at 9:18 am
Couldn’t take Apple. They traded back and he went. Had they stayed put we don’t get the extra 4th……that we used to take Aguayo. Oops.
May 27th, 2017 at 9:33 am
Maybe to you older folks who aren’t really understanding how social media works. Him not following(supporting) the main buccaneers page on instagram is most deffinetly a red flag lmao. He’s following rappers. Mike Evans, JAMEIS, lavonte, Kwon, Gerald all follow
Him and he thinks his sh*t don’t stink. He’s selfish and overrated AF. ONE INTERCEPTION BRO. So INSTEAD of worrying about making the most epic instsfram ratio like F*Cking girls and models do to boost there status over other ones is the same sh*t this guys doing. I’m not saying cut him we got depth issues. But he isn’t Ronald Darby, he isn’t Jalen Ramsey, he isn’t Marcus peters. He’s avaersge but he acts like he’s above everyone on the team by doing that sh*t. And if you think not one buccaneer hasn’t noticed your lost. Robert ayers liked my
Comment when I called it to his attention on insatram. Tom
Brady follows 6 people on instagram, the New England patriots is the 1st go figure. He’s just exposing himself he won’t get a extension
May 27th, 2017 at 9:40 am
We should have stayed put and took Leonard Floyd at 9 or eli apple. We wouldn’t have gotten Roberto and it would have been a win win all day. Banged the table for months we should’ve traded up for Ramsey from 9. Falcons did it for Julio from what 20″s? Vernon won’t stop Julio once his entire career so it’s gonna be fun when we play them. Julio sh*t on Vernon back when he was on Alabama dropped 200+ yards and 2 TDs. Vernon had one good game against the jags in preseason. And lost us about 3. Both falcons games and the raiders games when he faces…. top competition. He’s a Diva
May 27th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Didn’t like the pick the second it was made. Watched him up close at UF and I’m around the same age as him and know mutual people from his HS days. He can be a contributor for years to come, but he wants to be a star more than he wants to be a football player if you get my drift. He doesn’t have “dog” in him the way Jameis does, Kwon does, Noah Spence does, etc.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:05 am
I am not going to take the bait and over react. VHIII was a rookie and if a rookie starts and is even average at his position, then that is a good sign for their future as the game slows down and their instincts and adjustment to the Pro game increase.
As far as getting burned by Flash Jackson in underwear football. Well that holds about as much weight as thinking based on one great catch in shorts and a T-shirt by Chris Godwin means he will be the second coming of Jerry Rice. Although that would be fine with me. My point is, that not much can be taken from too seriously at this point. Well maybe the poor kicking by Aguayo, but other than that it is pretty much just knocking some off season rust off and getting back in Football mode mentally and physically.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:08 am
So I just looked at VH3s instagram and calling him out for not following teammates is silly. VH3 clearly barely uses instagram with his whopping 19 posts.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:14 am
I thought VH3 had a decent Rookie season. Hmmph.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:15 am
It looks like to me that VH3 just doesn’t have much of an online presence. His Facebook page he used at UF was last posted to in 2013 and I can’t find anything for him that is current.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:20 am
@USFBUC
Not saying Instagram matters *that* much, but he deletes pictures/unfollows people allllll the time. I don’t get it, but whatever. The point is that a lot of the core guys on the team interact on social media pretty often and it’s good to see them have a genuine friendships off the field. Vernon almost seems to go out of his way to make it appear that being a football player/Buccaneer is not really a big aspect of his life.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:20 am
Speed Kills
May 27th, 2017 at 10:53 am
That’s the dumbest s@$! I’ve read on here in awhile dylan. Memo to you this gen is into the social stuff,screw whatever member of the team that takes issues with that. Explain to me what’s wrong with following a rapper, would it be better if he followed a pedophile??? VH3 is 22 23 maybe??? He’s a CB not QB. Therefore it is not required of him to be the picture of maturity the way say Fameis is required to be. Again Chris Harris 5’10 198lbs 7 years in the league,probowler the last 3. Put it together you’ll see it takes a minute for a player to blossom and bloom. Some of you @$$holes reek of jealousy.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Sadly there are lots of dumb Bucs fans out there
May 27th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Yea – its really trial by fire when you start at CB as a rookie in todays NFC South. Just look at the QB and WRs you are automatically facing. Vernon did fine. CB is among the hardest positions to make a successful transition from College to pros and Hargreaves is well on his way already.
VH3 was a good safe, solid pick in the 1st round. He’ll be here making plays in the secondary for many years. His rookie year was not great, but he played just about every play of every game and showed many flashes. I was particularly impressed with his run support and solid tackling.
If a 3rd CB emerges as reliable on the outside – then the Bucs should have Hargreaves play inside lined up across from the slot receiver whenever the nickle pkg is employed. He will get-r-done in that role that Ronde made famous. TFLs, Sacks, Deflections, Ints. Vernon’s got the talent and athleticism to do all of it well
Last year he played slot corner quite a bit in training camp and preseason. I hope to see that again this year to raise his comfort level there so it can become his semi-permanent 3rd down home during the regular season.
May 27th, 2017 at 11:04 am
Lmao…Instagram
May 27th, 2017 at 11:24 am
Vh3 is nothing more than a 3 or 4 depth cb. Nothing wrong with that but clearly Licht was sending a smoke screen when he wasted first round pick on a below average short cb and a second on a kicker. Trying to outsmart other gms with obvious wasted picks. Shrewd or stupid only time will tell. Hopefully vh3 can stick five or six years in a reserve role prior to joining glennon, Murphy and Bell insurance agency.
May 27th, 2017 at 11:26 am
“Too many people are too quick to throw players under the bus” says Doug Martin about Joe
May 27th, 2017 at 11:28 am
Djax is gonna make Hargreaves so much better!
May 27th, 2017 at 11:29 am
@tmaxcon
You’re joking right? Hargreaves is a beast
May 27th, 2017 at 11:31 am
It’s a lot of young people who does not understand the game or life, it does not make you a better person or player if do not post, follow, or like a person on social media this kid has been the same humble quiet kid since Wharton High School I applaud his parents for that. With that being said 1on1’s are meant for WR’s to win and DJax is not an average WR also when it comes to last year to be an man to man DB and aggressive DB you have to have better pressure up front no one can cover any WR for 5-10 seconds. Rookie year starter team is getting better let’s just be happy we are making strides as an organization finally!! Go Bucs!!
May 27th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Dylan,
I’m a millennial and I don’t give a flying F who he follows on instagram. You went FULL RETARD on your post.
May 27th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
No way Vernon Hargreaves should have been drafted before Laremy Tunsil. It was dumb and you can’t make excuses for stupidity!!
May 27th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I’ll take VH3 over tunsil anyday. How long before another internet vid emerges of him and a bong??? He has money now,that doesn’t normally change people for the better.
May 27th, 2017 at 1:46 pm
Both Vernon Hargreaves and Adarius Glanton had interceptions in practice today for the Bucs. Hargreaves also had a pick yesterday. “We challenged him to take the ball away more this year,” head coach Dirk Koetter said of Hargreaves. “He’s done that in his first couple of days here.”
…………….
Nothing to worry about with VH3. He will be better in his second yr, and barring injury will be elite next yr.
May 27th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Pickgrin hit the nail on the head .I was also impressed with his willingness to patrol his area and tackle anybody that comes in it.
May 27th, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Ha. If VHIII had run with DJax and defended the play, fans would be complaining how he Bucs got snookered in Free Agency
May 27th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Ok, ok. Call me crazy for picking up on it before it’s clearly a sign he cares more about himself and he isn’t a football junkie. At the end of the day this pick was not good value at all, and I’m positive Jason would pass on him and stay put @9 if he could do it over. But he can’t. Hey he saved the draft with Noah spence. That’s a dog right there
May 27th, 2017 at 6:01 pm
Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
So you’re telling me the guy isn’t motivated or loyal the Bucs because of who he follows or doesnt follow on Instagram? Listen cupcake, not everything in the world revolves around social media. GTFO with that nonsense.
May 27th, 2017 at 7:58 pm
You’re and idiot Dylan! Give VH a chance!
May 27th, 2017 at 9:10 pm
^^^ Baddog and UB. And to Pick……you see it the way I do.
May 27th, 2017 at 10:05 pm
lmfao it isn’t about instagram it’s about respect clowns. Opinions are like assh*les everyone’s got one. We will see y’all. I personally think he was a stupid pick but I love Jason Licht. Robert ayers liked my comment when I brought it up so you guys keep calling me retarted. You’re retarted if you think this guy is a pro bowler.
May 27th, 2017 at 11:55 pm
Never said he was a pro bowler. I actually wasn’t crazy about the pick when we made it either, but I’ve got trust in Licht so I remain patient.
But I’m not doubting this kid’s dedication or work ethic, nor do I think he views himself above anyone else on the team just because of who he follows on a barely used instagram account.
May 28th, 2017 at 4:51 am
Just a fyi on the whole IG thing.. It’s not a personal IG, if you look you’ll see there only lifestyle pics and its never him taking the pic, and theres only like 20 post.
May 28th, 2017 at 9:54 am
The Cornerback is such an important position. Picking Hargreaves was a no-brainer. Apple and Hargreaves both played around the same level in coverage but VH3 was outstanding against the run. Artie Burns was the only other rookie CB with over 900 snaps to play better. VH3 also played in over a thousand snaps and that playing experience will make him better this year. He will dominate this year and paired with Brett Grimes along with JJ Wilcox and hard hitting Justin Evans, gives the Bucs a formidable secondary that will smother the opposition.