Dirk Koetter Talks Hargreaves’ Week, Future
October 21st, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
After a week featuring struggling Vernon Hargreaves under the proverbial public microscope from fans, coaches and himself, winning head coach Dirk Koetter offered an update on the 2016 No. 11 overall pick last night.
Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Koetter was very candid on what will fix Hargreaves.
“I think he just needs to play more aggressive and trust his ability,” Koetter said. “Vernon’s a very talented guy. And I’ve seen him do it. I’ve seen him do it. I know Vernon has really worked hard this week in practice. I think he’s just playing a little bit too cautious, and I think he just has to get up there and challenge the receivers a little bit more and be more aggressive.”
Joe was just glad to hear Hargreaves is attacking his woes in practice. It has to start there.
Sunday should be a tonic for Hargreaves, since the Buffalo receiving corps is banged up and second rate regardless.
At 22 years old, healthy Hargreaves should not be regressing after so much experience last season — 99 percent of the snaps and a ton of work because teams avoided Brent Grimes. At the very least, Hargreaves should never get charged with a Grade A loaf (there were really two) like he did against the Cardinals.
October 21st, 2017 at 9:28 am
He is going to bounce back trust
October 21st, 2017 at 9:28 am
Only took them 3 weeks to have him working on what we’ve been saying.
October 21st, 2017 at 9:34 am
It has been 21 games now and he has yet to show he belongs in the NFL, let alone starting. Bench him, put in Smith and take your lumps. As soon as the season ends figure out if you want to chase a CB in FA or the draft and move on from that mistake. I am worried that Licht won’t have the cajones to move on though as that will be admitting that you swung and missed on a 1st and 2nd rounder in the same year. I think this is especially true as he seems to have missed on his other second round pick that year, Spawn (LOL)! Licht has done some good things in other drafts but what a disaster this was in 2016! Basically unacceptable and a huge reason this team is 2-3 right now rather than 4-1.
October 21st, 2017 at 9:51 am
Right now the offense and defense are playing the same. They are afraid of the opponent rather than trying to set the tone
October 21st, 2017 at 9:55 am
Off the Cuff, I like that analysis. Win or lose, time for both sides of the ball to start playing some smash-mouth football. Let ‘er rip!
October 21st, 2017 at 10:06 am
We all know good and damn well tomorrow he will be lining up 10 yards deep and giving up slants, out routes, comebacks, back shoulder passes and even a go route. Their isn’t one he isn’t good at…….giving up to his opponents that is!! But I digress, go Bucs!!!
October 21st, 2017 at 10:15 am
Photo of VH3 in the rain…
hit the music…
Milli Vanilli- “Blame it on the Rain”
And you feel like such a fool…
You let her walk away…
Now it just don’t feel the same…
Gotta blame it on something… (gotta blame it on something)
Gotta blame it on something…
(Blame it on the rain) that was fallin’ fallin’…
(Blame it on the stars) that did shine at night…
Whatever you do don’t put the blame on you…
Blame it on the rain… (yeah yeah)
You can blame it on the rain…
October 21st, 2017 at 10:21 am
Pryda…sec 147 Says:
October 21st, 2017 at 9:28 am
He is going to bounce back trust
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Says who?
Players are supposed to progress every year and he has regressed. If he wasn’t picked so high in the draft, then he’d be on some teams practice squad or outta the league.
He’s not the first high NFL draft pick who couldn’t play in the NFL and he won’t be the last.
Some players “pop” and some never will.
I give him three more years before he’s outta the league and playing for the CFL (he may not even make the CFL).
I know one thing, I have never seen a DB line up so far CONSISTENTLY on back to back plays on a receiver in the NFL……………NEVER.
Vernon “Marshmellow” Graves may have all the confidence and bravado in the world…..but if he can’t physically or mentally hack it then he’ll never make it in the NFL PERIOD!!!!!
October 21st, 2017 at 10:34 am
The dude isn’t hitting the weight room. I bet he’s not doing the off the field stuff in the offseason to get better and the in season studying of teams receivers in season to be prepared. The latter would make him play hesitant which is what he’s doing. Not prepared.
October 21st, 2017 at 10:58 am
I’m not taking blame from VH3, but if the scheme doesn’t dictate that soft cushion, where are the coaches? Why hasn’t a coach pulled him aside and challenged him to play tighter? I would rather see him getting beat deep, than giving away everything underneath at this point, the completion percentage is lower on those deep throws. Maybe if VH3s man want always open every play for easy quick completions the pass rush could actually be somewhat effective. I’m off the belief, either he started starts performing, or next man up. I could care less where he was drafted.
October 21st, 2017 at 11:07 am
Until gmc helps and offer his leadership and take this TEAM by the horns (which it is needed for years) this team will always have FLAT games.
October 21st, 2017 at 11:19 am
R.O.
I don’t think the weight room is the answer for him.
Bulk isn’t gonna help someone that short playing at that position.
Some weight training sure, but I think our whole team would have far fewer b.s. injuries if the training staff had them doing more stretching etc.
October 21st, 2017 at 11:22 am
Vernon needs a big game to get this sophomore funk turned around.
He’s got the physical tools to be an effective NFL CB. Not the fastest nor tallest but he’s an “athlete” – moves good, turns good, quick.
He’s got the background – coach father, 3 year starter at a big time SEC school, started every game his rookie year in the NFL so plenty of experiences so far to learn from.
Vernon’s best attribute coming out of college was his perceived “aggressiveness”. His “ball hawking” abilities.
Hargreaves himself reinforced that with his famous (or now infamous) pre-draft declaration – “If you can ball – You can BALL”
Time to Ball Vernon! Go make some plays. Stop playing scared. Stop giving “cushion”. Get up on that receiver and fight him for position from the snap. Do what you do best and get your damn hands on the ball. Its time to make PLAYS Vernon. You CAN do it. The coaches would not have you on the field if they didn’t believe in your ability to do your job.
1 big game – that’s all it will take to turn your season around VH3.
Get-R- Done
October 21st, 2017 at 11:52 am
Vh3 happens to be very good man corner. Cover “nobody” scheme doesn’t work him
October 21st, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Yah. At this point he has to play on his man and take risks
You know why. Cause it can’t be any worse then what he has out on film this year. He is ranked lower than 3rd team dbs
October 21st, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Somebody got in his head to never get beat deep. Koetter is right Vernon has a ton of talent to be a good player in the league. But he needs to play confident and not worry about getting beat deep, and just play his man off of his instincts. He’s playing scared to get beat. Since we haven’t seen Hargreaves get beat pretty much at all, I think it has to stem from his coaches. Whether that is the DB coaches or Mike Smith or Koetter, idk. But they took a good player and neutered him. I hope he finds his stick. We gonna need him to carry a big stick for the rest of the season. Don’t be scared, just ball out!
October 21st, 2017 at 2:28 pm
VHG get a pick on Sunday.
October 21st, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Lamarcus, congrats you are now deputy chief of the loser fan mentality club. Moron.
October 21st, 2017 at 5:24 pm
I’m sure I have missed this somewhere but what about making a trade for a CB?
Maybe make a run with a late round pick for KeiVarae Russell.
October 21st, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Vh-toast is 100% clown not a NFL cb. He will never be anything more than a 4th or 5th cb and that is only if he’s good on special teams. it’s obvious he does not have the heart…another 1st rd bust infected by cancer93… cancer93 worked his magic fast on the little guy
October 21st, 2017 at 6:05 pm
So now maxi pad McCoy is responsible for Hargreaves after 22 games being soft 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 keep em coming bud I needed a good laugh
October 22nd, 2017 at 3:21 am
Hargreaves is a physically limited corner who doesn’t have the attributes to be a number one. If the fans can see it then it’s a problem. Never been able to cover the elite talent, even in college.
October 22nd, 2017 at 3:22 am
And Tmax, are you retarded or something? Maybe your mom should take away your computer for a while.
October 22nd, 2017 at 10:30 am
Sounds like the coaches are letting him regress , I don’t get this staff ???
October 22nd, 2017 at 11:22 am
Man on Man, Bump n Run is the Answer