Hargreaves Relocated
October 22nd, 2017
Dumped from the outside
No, this post is not about Vernon Hargreaves getting traded to the Lions for Jacquies Smith.
It’s about Hargreaves, last year’s No. 12 overall pick, getting benched from his role as starting outside cornerback today.
Damn, how far this guy has fallen. He’s now a corner in flux on a miserable pass defense.
Jiminy Christmas!
Hargreaves was moved to nickel cornerback for today’s defensive debacle in Buffalo, taking him from full-timer to busy part-timer. It was a very telling and significant move for a 22-year-old player that the franchise has a ton invested in. That kind of crackdown on a highly-drafted player doesn’t happen every day in the NFL. Kudos to the Bucs’ coaching staff for holding him accountable for his poor play before today.
Formerly winning head coach Dirk Koetter implied after the game that it could be more than a one-game decision.
“We wanted to just change Vernon’s role a little bit, give him a little bit of a change,” Koetter said. “You know, he wasn’t playing as well as we know he can play on the outside. So we wanted to give him a different change, so we moved Bobby McClain outside and moved Vernon inside. As far as going forward, you know, we’ll have to see how the injury situation shakes out. “
Hmm, going forward for Hargreaves will depend on “the injury situation?” That’s not the head coach saying Hargreaves will get back his starting job.
Joe liked the move of McClain to the outside, but damn, all summer Bucs coaches said Ryan Smith was the team’s backup outside cornerback they would count on. It seems his rough preseason and poor play in Minnesota was enough of a sample size.
Last year’s draft was a bad one at cornerback for general manager Jason Licht.
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Hargreaves was very solid in the slot today. He should probably stay there until he develops starter skills. If I should say. But the slot guy is typically out there for a majority of the snaps though that wasn’t the case today. Let’s hope he puts it all together.
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:41 pm
And Joe, thanks for adding the formerly to the head coaches silly moniker. But i prefer average since that’s exactly what it is. Average head coach Dirk Koetter. Has a queasy ring to it and a familiar one.
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:43 pm
While fans was calling his bust I did notice he is a man corner. But this has to say a lot about msmith. He said it was Vh3 for blown coverage. No Vh3 same results
Msmith seems like a nice guy but I always hated msmith philosphies before tampa and it looks like that after also. We know a thing or 2 about nice guys and bucs. It don’t work out
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Emotions aside, I’m confident we can improve next week. Go bucs!
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:51 pm
He is where he belongs now. Question I have is why Ward was on the bench on last drive.
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Is Ward in the doghouse? Why was he not on the field. 28 is where he belongs, but McClain killed us with his coverage and then penalty. Can’t anybody here play outside corner?
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Ward said today he didn’t come here to barely play, he came here to help this team win.
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:56 pm
Our Coverage held up for 4 seconds every time , and their QB is still in the pocket because our D-line is marshmellow
October 22nd, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Ward and evans is our starting safetis. Idk why Conte is always out there and we question poor defense
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:00 pm
This article is a perfect example of why Joe should never, ever, ever, ever speak again, with any kind of confidence, on Roster needs/ player evaluation.
Remember when Joe tried to tell us that Corner was the deepest position on the team? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:01 pm
VH3 actually looked good today. I am starting to think that it is the COACHING that has made him ineffective (shocking!!!). He clearly excels when he is asked to play man-on-man and with physicality. He looked comfortable out there today. I heard in the offseason that they want to coach to their players’ strengths. Maybe it’s time we actually get creative with our scheme and playcalling and utilize our players strengths.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:04 pm
And gmc is our best player if this is true, we are looking at the top pick of the draft. We are void of talent.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:05 pm
I would like to see Tandy and Ward on the back end, defense turned around last year with Tandy making plays, defense played well with Tandy against the Bears, maybe he is the key communicator on defense
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:06 pm
Well, at least he played a good game today. Targeted 4 times and allowed 0 catches and had 1 pass break up. Maybe this move is all he needed.
Problem is that means next year we need 2 starting outside CBs. I dont see Grimes being back next year.
And as much as I feel like I should be used to it with this team, it always sucks talking about next season when the current one isnt even at the halfway point yet lol
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:09 pm
Yet Elliot our second best corner is sitting on the bench but wtf do I know?
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:10 pm
@Joeypoppems
How is Chidobe Awuzie working out for Dallas? Do you still think he would have been better than Justin Evans?
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:11 pm
@DB55
By no stretch of anyones imagination is Elliot our second best anything.
In fact, I’m pretty sure he was the one who gave up that 50 yarder with 3 minutes to go.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Db55
True. Give the keys to elliott moving forward
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:17 pm
This goes to show it’s all about coaching!!!!…VHG is a MAN PRESS CB!!!…. Smitty is officially coach my scheme!!!!….he doesn’t play to players strengths!!!!… doesn’t put players in position to be successful!!!!… doesn’t make adjustments!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Don’t Hide!!!!!
Show your face!!!!
@realist!!!!
@LC!!!!
We know you never post after lost!!!!… especially when it comes at the hands of this coaching staff!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Blake
That was McClain no?
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:21 pm
Blake exactly. Coming off a bad year we were deep at corner now Hargreaves plays well and were talking about him being benched. It’s a good thing they have a fan base built up of whiners because some of the stuff I read is laughable
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:21 pm
@Blake
Honestly I dont know how he is doing in Dallas. I know he has been battling a hamstring injury and missed a few games tho.
If I remember correctly, I was hoping they drafted Awuzie because I believed he could be converted into a good safety. For that roll I would say Evans was a better pick.
Overall however, taking into account the TJ Ward signing and VH3 struggles outside, we need CBs. So I would still have taken Awuzie in that spot over Evans.
Like I said tho, I havent seen him play much in Dallas.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:28 pm
Blake
McClain, Vh3 and Justin Evans were def in that play. I think Evans fckn up.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Hargreaves didn’t play a bad game..he’s just better off as a slot corner.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Another name change? What is that. 3 in the past year I know of.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Broy34
it’s good thing vh3 has low standard fans like you to show him all the love he dose not deserve. he played ok today NOT great and he still did a couple of his clown show celebrations. NOT GETTING TORCHED TODAY does not forgive the last two years of underachieving play and clown shows. but luckily for him he has low standard fans like you to put him the hall of fame for not embarrassing himself again versus making earn respect by consistently good play which he has never done ever. that is why some of you safespace optimists are so laughable….
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:34 pm
813
VH3 IS A POP WARNER COACH IN WAITING NOT A NFL CB…. I’ll be right again. I always am….
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:40 pm
Tmax…
Your wrong today!!!….VHG played great!!!…the is and always will be Smitty!!!!…no one on here can say VHG played bad today….that was the scheme!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Tmax….
Stick to ragging on GMC…him are Smitty are holding this team back….it was exposed today!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:47 pm
Bad draft at corner, what about Kicker, Defensive End and Corner. They got one player out of that whole draft. Horrible. Mark my word put 51 at mike and 58 on the Strong Side.
October 22nd, 2017 at 7:49 pm
@813bucboi
You know realist, LC and add Hawaiian to the mix, are not showing up at this point. It is funny calling them out though.
October 22nd, 2017 at 8:48 pm
VH was solid in the slot … and may also make a nice safety tandem with Evans in the future, but he may not ever be a #1 or even #2 corner … I expect us to both draft and sign a corner this coming offseason
Imagine, if only Winston’s Bucs has been as horrible as Mariota’s Titans his rookie year … we could have drafted Jalen Ramsay like Winston wanted and had our #1 corner for the next 10 years …
October 22nd, 2017 at 9:13 pm
And they still gave up 434 yards
October 22nd, 2017 at 9:33 pm
We are in trouble..Mike smith needs to be fired…this defense can’t stop anyone.
October 22nd, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Max you’re hands down the dumbest human I’ve ever come in contact with. Hargreaves didn’t give up a coach in a game where they allowed nearly 500 yards. If u were capable of reading youd notice that I was lobbying to bench HARGREAVES since the Minnesota game. But he played up on his man today and played well. But then again he never had a chance since gerald “banked my only girlfriend ever” McCoy was in the game. This one was so clearly on the secondary moron. It’s Mike smith that needs to go
October 22nd, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Vernon is a Jonathan Banks in waiting ! Will be cut after next year ! Worst pick in bucs history. He is a little boy playing against men …
October 23rd, 2017 at 3:39 am
Vernon just stop celebrating on a drop ball that you had nothing to do with !!
October 23rd, 2017 at 7:21 am
Jason Licht hit the daily double with Vern and Aguayo last year. Atta boy Jason!
October 23rd, 2017 at 9:52 am
Please let Robinson play a lil and please sign former Packer SShields ……. he’s better than every corner the Bucs have minus Grimes.