The Buccaneers And Aaron Colvin
February 10th, 2018
One approach in free agency (2018 dinner bell rings in 32 days) says scrutinize the winning teams with good, deep units on one side of the football.
Why? Simple. A good team can’t pay everyone and shiny apples inevitably must fall off the tree.
Bucs defensive tackle Clinton McDonald was a good example of that. He was a relatively inexpensive Bucs free agent signing after then-mighty Seattle let him walk in 2014. McDonald has been solid when healthy for Tampa Bay, but he’s missed 30 percent of Bucs games since putting on the uniform.
Anyway, the Bucs could use at least a McDonald-type signing in their troubled cornerbacks stable.
That could be Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin.
The 26-year-old nickel and outside corner may hit the free agent market because the Jaguars are paying a fortune to Pro Bowl cornerback A.J. Bouye and will have a open the vault eventually for Jalen Ramsey.
Colvin has played outside during his four years in Jacksonville but settled in last year as a full-time nickel, including an interception in the playoffs, his first career pick.
Per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union, Colvin is someone the Jags would want back but might end up waving good-bye.
Why re-sign him: Teams play with a third cornerback on nearly 70 percent of the snaps and Colvin has developed into a dependable nickel cornerback, able to cover in man and zone. He is also physical in the run game and can blitz. Plus, there is not a no-doubt in-house option to replace Colvin.
Why let him walk: The Jaguars are already paying A.J. Bouye (2018 cap number of $15.5 million) and need to have a big check ready for Jalen Ramsey after the 2018 season. Simply put, Colvin may be the odd man out if another team offers him starter-type money to play the slot.
Prediction: We’ll be bold and say the Jaguars find a way to keep Colvin.
The Bucs sure could use a young guy like Colvin in the mix. He could be good value if the Bucs determine that he’s got his head on straight. Colvin did have a four-game performance enhancing drug suspension early in his career.
In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, Joe rolls around in bed at night sweating at the thought of Brent Grimes retiring and the Bucs bringing back Ryan Smith, Javien Elliott and Vernon Hargreaves for critical roles.
February 10th, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Hopefully the Bills will get itchy for a QB and trade up with the Bucs…we get their 2 -1’s and draft a DL & DB……
February 10th, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Man..I wish there AlteredEgo..I wish. I’m really hoping the Bucs can trade down and get a 2 for 1 deal. You never know what might happen in the draft. We need Mucho Help!
February 10th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
I just find it funny we have already given up on Vernon Hargreaves when he is currently the 3rd youngest player on the roster behind Godwin and J Evan’s.
His had 2 injury plagued season and has been moved inside, outside and all over the place (I actually think his 2 best games have come at lcb when Grimes was out).
Fun fact do you know Ronde Barber’s stats at the same age of 22?
1 game 4 tackles..
February 10th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
I have not given up on VHIII….I watched him at UF and was judged highly by everyone….he has had a baptism by fire playing on this defense. He’ll be starting his 3rd year…the same year Ronde started on a much stronger defense.
February 10th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
That would be a pipe dream, I think. Trade value of #7 just isn’t high enough for #s 21 and 22. Expect Cleveland at #4 (and with more holes to fill than the Bucs) to be willing to take the undervalued trade with Buffalo if they throw in a 3rd or 4th. With Denver possibly thinking QB, why not have your pick above it for the cost of a fourth?
Best hope for our Bucs is that the run on QBs gets as feverish as last year and both Indy and Cleveland’s second picks are traded to those needy teams, pushing Chubb and/or Barkley into our laps at 7.
Of course the other direction is that there aren’t many QB-needy teams because so many overspent in FA for the Freakin’ Cousins and Keenums of the world. Bad for us in the draft, but great for us in FA since they’ll command so much of the dollars in the market that there will be fewer to bid against us for non-QB resources we need.
February 10th, 2018 at 7:00 pm
This is a gamble I’d take as a general manager. Ok vh3 can’t play the outside but played well in the slot. Winning teams don’t go and revamp their entire defense in free agency. It’s too early to give up on vh3. Same McCoy lovers had given up on him after 2 straight season ending injuries. I’ll go out on a limb and say there kid will be fine in the slot because he can play tight coverage, this zone scheme sucks
February 10th, 2018 at 7:02 pm
It has been a few weeks since I looked it up on the draft slot weighting ,but a 7 is equal to the Bills 17 & 18….as I recall
February 10th, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Aaron Colvin is definitely worth a 1year contract.
Im not giving up on Hargreaves now.
I gave up on him the day they drafted him. And posted that right here.
( how do you access archives?)
At Florida, he played slow. At the Combine- slow.
With the Bucs- Short and slow.
Bret Grimes is short- but has legs made of Springs!
Hargreaves doesnt. And another disturbing factor, is that he doesnt play Smart.I know many of you blame the Coaches- but they made it perfectly clear that it wasnt them.
Hargreaves gives a 10’ cushion, on 3rd and 3. Its like he never knows what the game situation calls for!!
Im probably the most “Pro player” poster on this site, but there have been a few I posted werent gonna make it.
Mark Barron, Doug Martin, Mike Glennon, etc.
Licht will fight benching or cutting Hargreaves.
With Spence not working out as a DE, Cutting Hargreaves will sure throw that draft in the dumpster.
And I said that neither of them would make it, the day of the draft.
Spence is a Rush Lber. Meybe a great one. But our defensive coaching staff is terrible. They will keep square pegging Noah, until his shoulder is chronic- and his career is ruined.
But thats another post
February 10th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Capt Tim,
VH 3 has springs in his legs, to use your words, 39′ vert and a long jump over 10ft. His combine #’s across the board were top 5. Top 5 for all drills. The cut and paste quote that littered the JBF comments was “premier quick twitch athlete”
Literally hundreds of times it was posted. It was as used and wore out a phrase as “generational talent”. The sheep do like the catch phrases. If there is a knock on his measurable results it’s 4.5 40. Still fast but most fans believe that it’s molasses slow compared to a 4.2 , laughable but that’s not how couch potato experts see it. Bottom line is the boy has the chops to go,, I see the same thing as you do on the field but I don’t jump to the he’s athletically overmatched the first time a receiver blows by him.
February 10th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Rest assured Joe , there is no way the bucs roll into next season with Smith , vh3 & Elliot as your 2018 starters ! They better pluck at least 3 starting calliber DB’S from FA the draft if they all want to keep running the show..what I am truly afrad of is how in the hell are we going to manage to get at least 3 starting players on the line ? Can’t really count on rooks , cannot count on Spence & with Jayson’s free agent singings well let’s just say he finally hits one year with that..but who in the hell will even help this team along the line in FA that will be available ? I know you have questioned this many times..I can only hope Chubb makes it to us or we find a diamond in the ruff that explodes ! You hear that college d line ? If one of ya’ll comes here and starts dominating & can even make McCoy look good , then you will be a bug god ! It’s there for the taking now come get it..
February 10th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Buc *
February 10th, 2018 at 9:08 pm
We need to add starting CB talent no matter what. Same w/ DE.
I must ask though…
Is it really just a foregone conclusion that Hargreaves is a quasi-bust? That he’s too short and too slow to play outside corner in the NFL?
Why is it so much of a stretch to think – just maybe the kid will come around between now and next season. Perhaps with some dedication to become the dominant player he was drafted to be – VH3 will start playing with confidence again and show why “ball hawking” was considered one of his better attributes at UF. Show why many said he had elite foot work coming out. Show why many analysts said Vernon was the “best pure cover corner” in the 2016 draft.
And does it really also seem so impossible that Spence might remain healthy most or all of his 3rd year in the league – and show why he was so highly spoken of by Ayers and other DL vets prior to the season? Show why he was considered by many to be “the best pure pass rusher” in the 2016 draft?
Everybody (including Joe in the previous Licht article) is just writing off the 2016 draft as an utter failure. Sure moving up for Aguayo in the 2nd turned out to be a colossally bad decision. But we’ve got 5 other picks from that draft still on the team. VH3, Spence, R. Smith, Benenoch and Bond.
I refuse to believe that not one of those young players will develop into a quality starter for this team.
Every one of those players coming into their 3rd year has made some plays in real games and shown they do belong on an NFL field Isn’t it just logical that probably a couple of them will get better/stay healthy and become solid starters for the Buccaneers within the next year or 2?
There’s a reason why so many in the know say you can’t accurately judge a draft or any given pick until at least their 3rd year in the league is completed.
February 10th, 2018 at 9:32 pm
Good post pickgrin…….Maybe a little ambitious with the “best pure skills” part but everybody writing off that entire draft class is premature nonetheless.
Being impatient is a fans right though. Most experts will say that it takes three years to gauge any draft class. That’s because most players dont make an impact in year one as they adjust to the competition an the rigors of NFL TRaining. Lots of player make a leap from year one to two and some take longer. There is a long list of players that make that leap in their third year…….If they can’t get it in their third year it’s rare that they ever will.
The question should really be if guys like Spence and VHIII have shown any promise? If they haven’t then it’s very unlikely they will ever become playmakers in the league. I believe if you haven’t seen any promise then you haven’t been paying attention.
Despite any of our opinions this is a big year for determining how good the 2016 draft class was. I don’t think it will go down as any kind of franchise changing class but defientaly think it could wind up being a decent group. Not the abomination many are calling it already.
February 10th, 2018 at 9:47 pm
Jimmy – Both of those “ambitious” quotes regarding Hargreaves and Spence were the catch phrases being widely thrown around by a bunch of analysts pre-draft.
Its a big year for the whole class like you said. Just makes sense to me that one or 2 of them will make a nice jump in capability this year and become solid starters. Or not – which would suck – LOL
February 10th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
Pickgrin….I think the problem will be That VHIII will likely never be a probowl type player. Be it right or wrong that is the standard many fans have with a first round pick. Fans tend to forget that top end players don’t get there because they had a high draft status. Just look at our team leader on defense(Kwon) a fourth rounder. Or look at the fact that we have a very talented TE(Brate) who was undrafted.
Fans just tend to get overly concerned with top end picks just because of name recognition………You could read comments for day and will see dozens of criticism about one failed 2nd round pick(Agaryao) before you read one compliment about getting a late round gem or an undrafted gem.
The standards are just not reality. You could tell fans about how high the bust rates are for top drafted players and show them with facts and they will still complain. The standards are just what they are for some fans which just isn’t reality…….I’m fine with it though because with their standards we’d never find any more then depth players after the third round.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:13 pm
JimmyJack
Vernon Hargreaves is a good, solid CB in the wrong system.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:15 pm
The bashing over that 2016 draft class never happens to mention Benetoch either. Personally, I think the guy is kinda bad in pass protection but he’s moved up on the depth chart and got some needed experience.
I like to believe when you keep a late round pick involved it tells they are busting their butts in practice to get better. He will be a guys I will focus on in preseason and hopefully will give confidence he could be our future RT. If not and could be a solid backup that’s important too. And a successful pick.
Bond I haven’t noticed as much except for when he cost us a TD on special teams………Dirk should have replaced him the play before thatBTW as his head was clearly not in the game.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:15 pm
Brett Grimes and Robert McClain was the Bucs best CBs last season. They also played in Mike Smith system for years in Atlanta.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:16 pm
Brent Grimes lol
February 10th, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Lakeland….I don’t know where you get solid from. It’s kinda hard to blame the system when he gets manned up on a WR and simply gets beat.
I realize he played a lot of off coverage and looked bad in it. But he has also been seen playing tight and looking below average as well……Granted more in 16’ then in 17’
February 10th, 2018 at 10:23 pm
And it also should be noted that the coach’s have been trying to get Vernon to play tighter……Him not pressing more could be the reason they benched him.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:25 pm
Well he was solid until he got to Tampa Bay.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:33 pm
People say he’s slow, but I watch him run a 4.43 low at the combine. And a 4.36 low at Florida pro day.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Ahh Come on Lakeland you’re stretching. He was never an NFL player until he got to Tampa……You can say the same thing about the other 12 players drafted in that first round who haven’t done much yet.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:40 pm
He got skills I watched him a lot at Florida. Every NFL scout was high on him.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:54 pm
Of course he has the talent or he wouldn’t have been drafted so high. That doesn’t mean it’s going to translate on an NFL field.
It just means he was more talented then other kids. There’s plenty of reasons why a lot of these kids never make it. What he did in college and what his measurables are mean nothing(except it got him a chance) as soon as draft day is over. That’s why so many first round choices fizzle out despite Mike Mayock telling us how greatly talented they are.
February 10th, 2018 at 10:59 pm
VH3 doesnt have the recovery and closing speed and quickness
You need those skills to play press and jump routes and reason why the only int was from a deflection
VH3 cant spell quick twitch
The coaches benched him because the OCs started going nonstop attacking VH3 mercilessly and getting burned every which way…
It was getting comical and sad
February 10th, 2018 at 11:03 pm
Kobe
You don’t think he would be a better player on a team with a better pass rush?
February 10th, 2018 at 11:07 pm
Kobe
This is what Lance Zierlein had to say about him
STRENGTHS Premier, quick twitch athlete with explosion pulsing through his hips and feet. Instant click-and-close action to explode forward and attack the throw. Vertical springs to go up and over receivers at the high point. Smooth, controlled backpedal with ability to weave and mirror route progressions. Plays with outstanding body control and balance. Feet are electric. Can overwhelm lesser opponents across from him. Instinctive and urgent in his play. Excels from press, off or zone coverage. Fiery competitor with a strong desire to own the pass. Has quick, soft hands. Posted 38 passes defensed and 10 interceptions over last three years. Could see early kick or punt return action. Unwilling to stay blocked and doesn’t hesitate for one moment in run support and against wide receiver screens. Chest-up tackler who runs through his target.
BOTTOM LINE While scouts have voiced some concerns about Hargreaves’ size and recovery speed, you won’t find anyone who doesn’t admire his competitiveness and consistency of production. Hargreaves has a level of suddenness and explosiveness in his movements that should always have him near the ball. With top-notch ball skills and exceptional instincts that drew praise from Alabama’s Nick Saban, Hargreaves possesses the football makeup to become a Pro Bowl cornerback.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:07 pm
But I guess I just have a different opinion then most fans because I don’t watch much college ball. Especially here in Fl where college football is huge.
I just know that over the years I have seen so many first round picks have little impact in their careers. Not just in Tampa but across the league.
Heck you can look at the top five picks over the years and see a lot of busts. Lots of times these top five guys are told to be some of the greatest talent the league has ever seen coming out of college(a cant miss prospect) only to be a complete bust.
I just think it’s different reasons that affect these things. These guys now have to compete with grown men and they aren’t fully grown, the work ethic required is much more in the NFL, sometimes it’s just a mental thing and something you can’t measure like a dash time, maturity can be a factor too.
All in all their just kids and theirs no way to predict how good their talent translates. If there was a way the bust rate would not be so high across the entire league.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:11 pm
I just have not seen that quick twich closing speed ever in 2 years
I even seen mclain jumping a route for a pick 6 and verner 2 years ago.
VH3 cant break to the ball like a starter. I see it all the time with grimes when the ball is in the air…VH3 feet is like in quicksand
I dont see it
February 10th, 2018 at 11:15 pm
But I can see you saying that Lakeland and don’t think I’m trashing Hargreaves.
I do buy that argument about the passrush. We are really not going to see any good corner play on this team without it.
Just not sure how they fix it. At this point I almost hope they keep Baker and switch to 3-4 base. That or swing a big trade. Otherwise this staff maybe toast.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:24 pm
This is what PFF had to say about Vernon
• Excellent movement skills, reads and breaks on routes quickly
• Plays multiple coverages; adept at playing press man, “off” coverage, or any zone concept
• Smart player, reads plays well when playing zone
• When in press, uses his movement skills to mirror receivers rather than press
• Always seems to have an eye on the quarterback; reacts and closes quickly on passes
• Good ball skills. Turns bad throws, mis-reads, and miscommunications into interceptions
• Works downhill on screens very well, attacks blockers and finishes plays
• Only allowed two touchdowns in two seasons
Bottom line: Few cornerbacks have the movement skills and football acumen of Hargreaves. He stepped right into a prominent role as a true freshman and will likely do the same at the NFL level, and he’s one of the most scheme-diverse players in the draft. The NFL is enamored with six-foot-plus corners, but the league’s shifty route runners need players to keep up with them as well and Hargreaves has a chance to develop into one of the best corners at keeping them honest.
PFF don’t give out many good grades, especially on college players
February 10th, 2018 at 11:30 pm
I don’t know Lakeland…..Why don’t you look up and see what these guys said about Eli Apple…..Or the other corners taken in the first round that year that look like busts. Seems fair to compare him to his peers for reference.
Again, not saying VHIII is a bust. But he does need to show some playmaking ability this year passrush or not
February 10th, 2018 at 11:30 pm
According to Licht – When it comes to high picks “busting” – 90% of the time the problem is “above the neck”.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:34 pm
This is what PFF said about Eli Apple
Eli Apple may be the main beneficiary of a cornerback class lacking a lot of size at the top end. He displays the ability to play man coverage extremely well, and has the size and speed profile NFL teams are looking for, but he has never earned PFF grades that match the best cover corners in this class, and has enough flaws in his game that he is not a surefire top pick. He’ll likely be drafted higher than his play suggests he should be, but the potential to become an excellent corner at the next level is definitely there.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:41 pm
Fair enough Lake. You got me curious. Looked up where VHIII was rated much higher then any other corner aside from Ramsey of course.
Problem is right now they may have been closer to accurate with those behind Vernon and less accurate with Vernon. Unfortunately he just hasn’t made the plays on the outside corner spot.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Pick….I’d wager Licht is likely right on with that 90%
February 10th, 2018 at 11:44 pm
In other news. Watching the curling match and team U.S.A. Is absolutely pathetic. They are an embarrassment to our country.
February 11th, 2018 at 12:01 am
Jimmyjack,
VH 3 was at the top of the corner class. Apple just got picked ahead of him.
It was a draft day decision panned by the talking heads.
You make excellent points, I think the best way to sum it up is success in the NFL draft is more art than science.
The argument against VH 3 is somehow shifted to the guy isn’t a great athlete, too slow, can’t run, blah blah ……f in blah! The problem with that is what you brought up, He was a top ten pick for good reason. Tape, measurable results.
If the combine #’s suck it’s good night best wishes see us.
So it’s safe to eliminate the nonsense about being not athletic enough. Then it’s about something else. What, I don’t have an opinion. But It’s definitely not his athletic ability.
BTW, I didn’t like the pick for VH 3. Thought He was overrated as projected into the pro’s, didn’t think He was going to have success = to a rd 1 pk.
February 11th, 2018 at 7:15 am
I’d be burning Ronde Barber’s highlight reel be given it the Vernon and saying make this slot corner position yours.
Forget about where he was picked it’s history that ain’t changing but what he does next is the important part.
Go out and find an outside corner Fuller, Butler, Sherman, Davis, Jackson in the draft, something. Try bring Grimes back but just plonk VH3 down on the slot and say that’s this year’s mission and see what you got..
February 11th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
LakeLand, do you find something lol about Brent Grimes, tell me the joke 🤬
February 11th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
I called him Brett Grimes, that was the reason for the lol.
I was laughing out loud about my mistake
February 11th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Aaron Colvin is a nickel CB, and a career 75% completion ratio, with a 7yd per completion avg. Those are really not very good CB stats. Pass.
February 12th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
Lakeland-
Quick, you need to go read those press clippings to our opponents!!
They must not’ve read-’em.