“He Went Right Away To Carlton Davis”
August 25th, 2019
The revival of the Buccaneers secondary has been the most fun aspect of preseason.
They’re actually covering people. Passes are contested. M.J. Stewart, Carlton Davis, Vernon Hargreaves and Jordan Whitehead look like legitimate NFL performers. It’s a great turnaround from the malaise of the past two seasons. Somehow, the Bucs allowed opposing quarterbacks a 72.5 completion percentage last year.
So what do the coaches really think of the personnel? Rarely are straight answers available.
However, one appears to have been delivered to Chris Myers and Ronde Barber, the Bucs preseason broadcast voices.
They relayed on Friday’s broadcast how Myers asked Bucco Bruce Arians to name who his best cover cornerback is. He didn’t hesitate, noted Ronde Barber. “It was interesting that you asked Bruce Arians that and he went right away to Carlton Davis.”
So Davis is better than Hargreaves, per Arians.
Interesting.
It will be very interesting to see who draws assignments of No. 1 wide receivers early this season. Joe is confident this regime will find a way to put its best cover corner on the other team’s best receiver. The colossal disaster of the Dirk Koetter/Mike Smith defense couldn’t figure that out.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Of course they looked looked legit. I mean it’s funny young DBs go to other teams and look like they belong but our guys get ridiculed when clearly being used improperly last season. Young legs, length, athletic and awareness. Puzzles me as to why so many seem surprised by what they are showing. Most of these dudes were the man in they’re secondary while in school.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:12 pm
The only explanation that makes sense is that Mike Smith was still on the fowlgoons payroll. It had to be sabotage. No DC in the history of professional football has come up with a more porous scheme.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
Turn the page, there’s a new secondary in this town.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
The future duo will be Davis and Dean. That provides the athleticism and size they had with Pat Pete and Antonio Cromartie.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:20 pm
When the prove it against starters you celebrate they played Cleveland’s bums
August 25th, 2019 at 1:22 pm
Even had the Nucs figured out that putting the best corner on the best wr was a good idea, it wouldnt have made a difference because the pathetic coaching had them playing TWELVE YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the defense I’ve dreamed of seeing the Bucs play for the longest time
August 25th, 2019 at 1:24 pm
VHIII is a nickel. Dean and Davis at corner. Bunting is depth.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:26 pm
You can look at this as he’s saying Davis is good or VH3 is bad. I know what most of you in this forum will take it as.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
NOSBOS … Don’t underestimate the role of Todd Bowles & his group of very experienced position coaches. Most everything I’ve read & heard about him says that he’s one of the top DCs in the NFL. Looks to me like they’re all right on. And if Ronde was right in saying that TB has only showed about 5% of the defensive playbook, I can’t even imagine right now the excitement that all us Bucs fans will be experiencing this year.
Jean Lafitte … I agree 100%. Folks need to ‘turn the page’ and stop all this ‘woe was us’ yesterday crappola. Much more fun to live in the present but HOPE in the future than it is to stayed mired in yesterday’s bullspit.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:34 pm
talk about free passes being handed out. they have played NOBODY’s at receiver… bucs have barely held julio jones under 200 yards a game the last few years so when they hold a true number one receiver in check and hold a 3rd stringer qb under 70% completion percentage you can get excited… until then you are wasting your time and just setting yourselves up for let downs and nut-punches. this secondary is not fixed…. any secondary counting on vh3bust is a broken secondary… results prove it
August 25th, 2019 at 1:40 pm
TDTB … Nice ‘problem’ to have, isn’t it. Davis & Dean look to be the 2 front-runners for starting outside right now IMO, but SMB will see lots of playing time I’m convinced (at both nickel & some outside). MJ Stewart has also impressed me at nickel (Bucs list him as a DB), and VHIII & Ryan Smith have both looked rejuvenated at both nickel & outside. Personally think that those are the 5 CBs who we’ll keep (MJ Stewart as a Safety).
Safety’s even more competitive IMO. Whitehead has been looking really good. Edwards will be in the hunt soon enough, as will Justin Evans. Those 3 (plus MJ Stewart) will surely make the team IMO, and Brice-Johnson-D Stewart will fight it out for the 5th Safety spot. I chuckled when someone wrote earlier that the Packers had just cut one of their safeties & we should check him out. Why? Our cup overfloweth as it is. What a great ‘problem’ to have.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:42 pm
With those guys playing so well it really makes you wish they spent some of the second and third round picks on the O line. But who knows if the 2nd year guys make this type of turn around without the rookies pushing them.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Which one has the most picks of JayMiss in practice? Although, that might not mean much going against a Turnover Machine everyday.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
I knew Davis was a DOGG when he got that Personal foul against the Panthers last year after 4th down for trash talking with good pass defense. This was a man who was frustrated about losing and being disrespected and he uses that fuel to play better. He won’t ever feel sorry, defeated, or sad. He gets angry in a good way.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:49 pm
^^^^ America’s Turnover Machine
August 25th, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Davis has been seen blanketing receivers every game. No surprise that he mentioned being best at coverage.
Hargreaves seems to have more ability at making the big splash plays. This could be a nice tandem going into the season.
Also noticed Ronde mentioned MJ Stewart before the game even started & MJ showed why. He played very well in coverage knocked down at least one pass and made a really nice open field tackle(something that we haven’t saw in a while around here). MJ looks primed to be that guy who everybody kinda wrote off after last season and he gonna proove us all wrong. Looks like he’s won that nickle role to start the season.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
TDTB…….Could be wrong but I don’t think VHIII has taken a snap at nickle all preseason so I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I did notice that Mayfield was not looking to throw at Vernon much at all in that game. That’s a real good sign.
August 25th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Jimmy jack
BINGO
VHG will be 1 of the starting outside CBs along with Davis…..not at all surprised joe didn’t mention how mayfield avoided throwing to VHG….lol….
VHG is our #1 CB…..
GO BUCS
August 25th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
I think we will see…..VH3 & Davis on the outside with Stewart at nickel…….Evans & Whitehead at S…..
Have good depth with Edwards & Bunting & Dean….with Ryan Smith coming back after 4 games….replacing a likely injured DB…(seems to always happen early in the season)
And….FYI……Ryan Smith can tackle….if no one is injured, RS may not make this team.
August 25th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
I can see them using Davis to cover the larger receivers like Julio and Michael Thomas. He’ll have to prove worthy and force the QB to target VH3, who has great ball skills and should be able to get some turnovers. Whitehead is the X factor in the secondary if you ask me. He’s both physical and athletic. If he can become sort of a do it all kind of safety this secondary should just get better and better.
August 25th, 2019 at 2:45 pm
People think these guys drafted Mike Edwards where they drafted him to sit behind someone who hasn’t played any all summer. Right.
August 25th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
813
since the short, slow, stupid and FRAGILE little guy only plays about 4 to 6 games a year who’s going to the be the number the other 10 games????
August 25th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
I’m still not sold on VH3 being a top CB.
August 25th, 2019 at 3:09 pm
813bucboi … VHIII won’t start outside and will be lucky to get 50% of the def snaps this year. His $9 mil contract extension is the kiss of death for him. Guys like Davis, Dean, SMB & even R Smith are taller, faster, just as good (or better) & especially a LOT cheaper. They’re the future, as are Whitehead, Edwards, MJ Stewart & J Evans
August 25th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
TOM not should you be. He is a certifiable bust to this point in his career.
But as Bucs fans we have seen bust players move on to different teams and schemes and bolster their careers plenty……..Difference this time Vernon might just get the coaching he needs on our team this time.Same can be said for a lot of players we have that are yet to live up to their draft status.
Quite a few players we have already seen more from in preseason. RoJo and MJ spring to mind. But til they do it in a real game it means absolutely nothing.
August 25th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Off topic
If anyone is wondering whether to bet the Las Vegas over under on the Buc’s wins, there are a couple new factors.
One, Todd Bowles does have the defense playing a lot better.
Two, Andrew Luck just retired. His replacement sucks.
Three, Houston Texans lost their RB Lamar Miller and their best offensive lineman to injury.
Colts and Texans are on the Buc’s home schedule Week 14 and 16.
I believe the over under is 6 or 6-1/2. Las Vegas is usually right on the money.
I would bet the over There might be a couple easy wins on the home schedule and the defense might pick up a couple extra wins.
I’m sure Las Vegas didn’t see Todd Bowles success coming or the sudden retirement of Luck. They may be moving that number of wins to eight soon.
August 25th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
DefenseRules…….You say VHIII won’t start outside or get 50% of the snaps.
What exactly are you basing this off of? Last I checked he has made the most plays in practice and has been starting outside in every game for us……If your talking about injuries that’s the only thing that make sense.
August 25th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Ghost the line is 6 & 1/2 right now. It has moved from 6. That should tell you something.
I never bet on my Bucs but I’m taking $100 on the over. I might even throw 20 on is to win the division if the odds are crazy. Probably need better then 10 to 1.
If the line moves to 7 I won’t touch it. I still like us to go over 7 but at that point the line has moved into sucker territory too much for me……..But for anybody who wants to bet under you should wait and try and get in at 7.
August 25th, 2019 at 3:42 pm
As far as which corner plays the other teams #1 receiver its not alaays the top corner.
Teams like the patriots usually put the top corner on the #2 receiver and then double the #1 receiver with the second best corner and a safety.
Im not saying thats what the bucs will do but that is a common strategy for man to man teams.
Either way it looks a lot better than last year.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Oh I hear you loud and clear and that insight about Todd Bowles DR. He’s back in his true element. People forget Wade Phillips as a HC wasn’t so great. Gose to Denver an given a defensive roster full of notty heads and just like that Superbowl win.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
JimmyJack … They’ve just been waiting for either Dean or SMB to gain experience. Now that Dean especially is showing what he’s got, he’ll end up starting at one outside with Davis at the other. VHIII will get beat more often than either Davis or Dean.
August 25th, 2019 at 5:30 pm
It’s so,so nice to have some players in our secondary
Lord knows we had to draft 100 people to get it done haha
August 25th, 2019 at 5:37 pm
DefenseRules……At this point that’s just not true. If Dean had won a starting job he would have been a starter on Friday. But he was still with the second stringers in the second half. It’s not called the dress rehearsal game for nothing. If they planned on starting Dean he would have been in with the starters.
Another telltale sign is the final preseason game. All of the starters will be sitting. You watch and Dean will be on the field with all the backups.
Again. I just don’t understand what you are basing any of this off of. If you are predicting that Dean will surplant VHIII sometime during the season that might make some sense but it’s defiently obvisous that VHIII has won a starting role.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:13 pm
JimmyJack … Time will tell. Dean’s been showing some good stuff. Still waiting somewhat for SMB to kick it into high gear. They’re the future.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:34 pm
DR
For some strange reason you have an axe to grind with VHG….
Nothing that you stated backs your claim that dean will end up starting…..he hasn’t even gotten first team reps…..VHG has been our best CB on the outside….Davis showed his worth vs the browns….dean has shown he has the ability to be quality depth….
And you’re also dead wrong about the contract…..if VHG shows he can be a lockdown CB he’ll be resigned because TBs defense needs a proven shutdown CB in order to be successful….plus he’s Lichts guy and he just got extended….
Right now dean is present and future depth…..
GO BUCS
August 25th, 2019 at 6:39 pm
DR
Dean has been playing against backups…..he hasn’t gained any real game time experience by playing in preseason….up until this point he’s only gained reps….big difference….
GO BUCS
August 25th, 2019 at 6:47 pm
I think at some point during the season the duo of Davis and Dean will be seen. In my opinion VH3 being in his final days round these parts has more to do about future money than it does his play this season.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:58 pm
Yes Defense we will see. And like I said pay attention to who plays on Friday vs the Cowboys.
The starters won’t be playing. If Dean is in that’s a dead giveaway that he’s not seen as a starter yet.
I do agree that Dean & Bunting are the future and think a big reason they drafted the way they did is because Hargreaves is not part of their future plans. Whether they move on from him or not next year depends might depend on how quickly the rookies progress. Just my guess.
August 25th, 2019 at 10:54 pm
Where is SMB in all of this?
August 26th, 2019 at 2:04 am
First good thing I heard about the guy. I feel he and Hargreaves can be a nice pair but im looking forward to seeing a rotation of he and Dean on the outside and Hargreaves being able to take a few snaps off due to his injury history. Hargreaves and Stewart is another rotation im looking forward to seeing because of the physical nature and feistiness of their own game. Defense is waaay better though