Setting The Trap
July 21st, 2017
Analyst has high hopes.
A former cornerback with two rings has advice for NFL quarterbacks.
And that advice is? Don’t test Vernon Hargreaves.
Lid-wearing Ike Taylor, who played in three Super Bowls with the Steelers and has two rings to show for it, is currently an analyst for NFL Network. Last night on “Total Access,” Taylor was asked to choose players who have heart.
In no uncertain terms, Taylor believes the second-year corner of the Bucs will shine big this season. Taylor noted opposing quarterbacks picked on Hargreaves last year –as a rookie and not exactly tall. Taylor said those days are numbered.
“Now, he knows better,” Taylor said of Hargreaves facing taller receivers.
Joe thinks this small cornerback stuff is a bunch of bunk. To quote Hargreaves himself, “If you can ball, you can ball.” Joe is convinced a big reason why teams targeted Hargreaves wasn’t because he was short, but because of who was playing on the other side of the field.
It’s just common sense. Who would you target, a guy (Brent Grimes) who was robbed of a Pro Bowl nomination or a rookie?
Taylor did have an interesting comparison of Hargreaves. Taylor believes Hargreaves is another Joe Hayden.
July 21st, 2017 at 9:23 am
Joe Haden was awesome early on but hurt by injuries. Similar size and athleticism
July 21st, 2017 at 9:43 am
It is interesting that Ike would compare him to Haden. The guy has forgotten more football then I know but I honestly Hargreaves is more Brent Grimes then Joe Hayden. they are both small corners who have serious ups and can make plays on the ball.
@Joe
To answer your question, yes, all is fine. You will learn more soon.–Joe
July 21st, 2017 at 9:44 am
I honestly feel*
July 21st, 2017 at 9:58 am
Again just youtube Brent Grimes and watch a short dude with amazing “hops” outplay bigger WR’s.
In an absolute jump ball situation in the endzone in a group of guys…obviously height is an advantage…there is a reason NBA forwards are seven footers.
But in all other situations the athletic CB’s can make up for a few inches of height.
Again watch that pick by Grimes when he was with the Falcons where there is a player “wide open”….except he wasn’t because Grimes was able to cut several yards in front of the guy and use his hops to grab the ball before it even got close to the WR.
DB is no longer my concern…our two starters are good to excellent and we have some youth ready to push for a spot.
July 21st, 2017 at 10:13 am
@Joe thank you for the update!
@Stpete I think I know exactly what play you’re talking about, it was a one hander right? I like our two starters but the depth is super suspect
July 21st, 2017 at 10:45 am
Bucs need Grimes to play at the level he did last year and Hargreaves needs to make that 2nd year jump that I think is reasonable to expect.
I like Elliott’s toughness and quickness but the Bucs are thin at the position especially with one starter contemplating retirement.
Bucs are going to have to address the position on either the first or second day of the draft next year no matter how well their corners do this year.
July 21st, 2017 at 11:27 am
I agree with ike….VHG is more joe than brent….VHG is 5’11 200…brent is 5’9 185…he has better technique than grime had early on in his career but grimes was a little quicker…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 21st, 2017 at 11:36 am
VErnon got owned by 6’6″ WR Coleman on the saints. As well as Cooper and Julio JONEs. But I think he’ll be okay bc neither Revis nor Darryl Green were very tall but they were the best at their positions. One thing the kid excels at is open field tackling kinda like our very own Ronde barber. Looking forward to see how vernon adjusts his game this year.
July 21st, 2017 at 11:40 am
I watched the piece on VHIII. I tend to think that he will improve as Ike said and will make a big impact this year.
The comparisons are intriguing. His play-making ability last year did remind me of a younger Grimes.
July 21st, 2017 at 11:48 am
DB55
That’s who I see as well…VHG compares most favorable to Ronde. Both were great at getting their guy on the ground…even if that guy was a beast..Ronde would wrap up…hang on…and wait for help….VHG like Ronde is not afraid to stick his nose in there.
I’m wondering if Smitty plans on using VHG like Ronde to occcasionally blitz?
July 21st, 2017 at 12:11 pm
25% of the best corners in the NFL are VHIII’s height. 50% are under 6′.
July 21st, 2017 at 1:14 pm
The Carolina game was not a great one for the Hyena, Olson and Benjamin had their way with him unfortunately. VHIII most get more ball hawk in him al la Grimes if he’s going to be better than just OK. I have no doubt he can do it.
I’ll never forget hearing (you could sit right next to them at the old UT stadium) Martin Mayhew at a training camp practice (against Detroit) telling someone that he loved to bait the QB into thinking he got beat on the route then burst to the ball once it was in the air. The next play he did exactly that, was like 3 steps behind and knocked the ball away. Small guys got to be smarter but can they ball HECK YES!
July 21st, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Sp
Seems like we’ve gotten away from the corner blitz but yes he should blitz more ala barber.
July 21st, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Would love to see Justin Evans on a few safety blitzes….watch that dude knock Bree’s head off….
July 21st, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Wait..please correct me if I am wrong..but I thought QBs were avoiding VH3…
July 21st, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Yah, VH learning from Grimes all last year. Getting into his own now. Another year with Brent. Been there…done that…for training camp. Watch out. Time to do his own. Yeah, he’ll learn some more. But I wouldn’t use last year’s film boys. Period.
July 21st, 2017 at 8:08 pm
Being a Gator I watched them both every game they played. VH 3 is going to be better
July 21st, 2017 at 9:00 pm
I think we overdrafted him
Love him being on the team
But he was clearly a 2nd round pick