Is Vernon Hargreaves A No. 1 Corner?
August 22nd, 2019
Want an X-factor to the Buccaneers’ season, here’s a big fat one to consider:
Is Vernon Hargreaves really a No. 1 cornerback? Not a solid No. 2, not a great nickel like the last regime considered him to be, but a true No. 1.
It might be the most important question on the Bucs defense, Joe believes, as 2019 training camp and preseason have not revealed another cornerback to be a potential candidate to successfully fill the No. 1 role early this season.
So it’s Hargreaves’ job, and it would be downright horrific if he’s not up for it — at least average.
Joe can’t answer the question. Through three NFL seasons, Hargreaves has never been the No. 1 guy play after play after play, getting tested by the stud receivers of the NFC.
He hung tough as a 2016 rookie on the NFL’s best third-down defense (statistically), but that was with Brent Grimes playing lights out opposite him. Grimes led the NFL with 24 passes defensed in 2016; Hargreaves had nine in 16 starts.
The Bucs are in sort of a bizarre spot with Hargreaves. His fifth-year contract option could be worth close to $10 million next season. But what if he just has an ok 2019 and appears to be more of a No. 2 corner (no shame in that). Then what would the Bucs do?
As much as Todd Bowles likes to blitz and plans to, there should be loads of answers available on Hargreaves by the Week 7 bye.
Good answers probably will mean Ws for the team. Bad answers and, well, Jameis Winston likely would be under pressure to put up a lot of points on the road to keep the season afloat.
Unfortunately, Pro Bowl Browns receiver Odell Beckham is not expected to play against the Bucs on Friday at the Den of Depression. Hargreaves could have used the challenge. Regardless, there are plenty of good tests coming Hargreaves’ way.
Good luck, Vernon.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:23 pm
In my opinion, the answer is No…
But hopefully, he proves me wrong.
I’d rather ride with some combination of Dean, Davis, & SMB on the outside. And VH3 & MJ Stewart rotating in the slot…
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:30 pm
Crazy stat I read recently…Hargreaves is making more in his 5th year option year (if applicable) than Zeke Elliott will. Sorta explains the holdout….
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:35 pm
Scott Smith can’t stop talking about him. He’s gotta step up for the secondary to not be the sieve it’s been
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:39 pm
Good news for Jameis fans.. newest excuse to use to deflect attention away from JW flaws…
For Bucs fans, not such much!
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:41 pm
I always thought of him of a man corner. Just hope he doesn’t face Amari Cooper ever. That’s his boogey man and then takes forever to recover from the beat down.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:48 pm
Tye has Winston Derangement Syndrome.
Seek help dude.
August 22nd, 2019 at 10:55 pm
Cam hurt? Another one bites the dust. Pre season is for injuries. I hope they cut the pre season to two games . And have more of those scrimmages BA likes. Heck the Chargers are all banged up already.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:00 pm
Joe man you’re so funny. We need to hang out more often.
If you really don’t know the answer to that you should shut the site down.
It will be Dean and Davis. Too bad we let go of our best nickel, Elliott who was severly underrated but hey wtfdik
I’m sure Elliot will show up with Donte Jackson who should also be on this team along with JPP’s understudy Josh Allen but hey %gObUcS
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:03 pm
We could ask the “Is he a #1?” about 7 of the other defenders…….I will give a yes for Suh, White & LVD…..
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:05 pm
Hey Joe I see teams are still running the ball down McIceCream’s throat in the goal line. Addition by subtraction and I like it.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:07 pm
vh3bust is a complete waste of time. you can’t fix short, slow, stupid and fragile. if bucs are counting on vh3bust it’s similar to counting on jpp both have given the bucs every reason to believe they will not come through. the only people that believe in these two knuckleheads are using emotion not fact based reason. I’ll tell you who hopes vh3bust is a number one and that is every wr facing the bucs…
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:13 pm
Tampabaybucfan
so please help me understand how you can list guranteed as white who is unproven and has done nothing to think he will be anything but a backup and future ups driver and lvd who had one good year under schiano and is currently injured and relevant. these types of free passes are the ones that really make me shake my head and laugh. they need to earn it on Sundays not through wishful thinking and hope. might as well put them in the hall of fame now i guess… the only guarantee you have with lvd is that he is outstanding at captaining basement title teams.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:18 pm
Max
I’m just glad we didn’t draft Josh Allen. He would have helped us win games and we’d lose or title as basement dwellers and depression denners.
%gObUcS
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:21 pm
db55
hey man, you know damn well glazer boys won’t tolerate none of that winning nonsense. i still think jameis stands a better chance if coaches just put out blocking dummies for the entire offensive line…
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:24 pm
Josh Allen was playing good tonight. Devin Bush has played good. I am nor sure how other 1st round defensive players have done this far but hopefully Devin White starts making some plays because so far he has been like a good offensive lineman…..his name isn’t mentioned much in games so far.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:24 pm
What happens if Julio jones goes up against our number 1 corner.
Life with the worst gm in footie…..
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:28 pm
Destinjohnny Says:
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:24 pm
What happens if Julio jones goes up against our number 1 corner.
Life with the worst gm in footie…..
what most likely will happen is either the midget will come up injured wink wink or they will have to stop the game at half time for the first live immediate enshrinement to the nfl hall of fame for jones who will own every wr record by halftime even with that choke artist ryan chucking the ball.
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:55 pm
pouty cam newton sacked a couple times and now has his ankle in a boot–maybe not even ready for primetime against Rams on 9/8
August 22nd, 2019 at 11:57 pm
“His fifth-year contract option could be worth close to $10 million next season. But what if he just has an ok 2019 and appears to be more of a No. 2 corner (no shame in that). Then what would the Bucs do?”
VH3’s option for 2020 has already been picked up. I get the question of what if he’s mediocre this year, but the die is cast. Is this team in a position to carry 10 mil of dead money next year? The answer is he’s an expensive CB no matter what, hands are tied.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:04 am
Leighroy,
The option is only guaranteed against injury. Bucs have the chance to move on from him without dead cap.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:33 am
Going from a guy that 90% of the dopes that post here wanted to cut a few months ago to being talked about as a true number one? I’m not one of the idiots that wanted him gone, but even for me that’s a huge leap and I’ll believe it when I see it. If VH3 can perform as just a decent #2 he’d be a huge upgrade over what we had last year.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:45 am
He’s our number one till someone replaces him.
August 23rd, 2019 at 12:59 am
He’s also the oldest veteran, and hopefully he’s setting a great example. Let’s let Dean get through his rookie season first. Unless his play knocks VH3 down a peg. Time will tell.
August 23rd, 2019 at 5:21 am
We should not have a number one corner etched in stone at this time…let the competition continue until week one, we were so bad last season that every defensive back should get a chance to show they have the stuff to be number one…it will work itself out!! I believe we have some talent now but do we have the schemes to put our guys in position to put pressure on the opposing QB…good secondary play is helped by a terrorizing defensive line!! GO BUCS GO FAMOUS GO SUHY GO SPAWN!! SHOW ME SPAWN TONITE!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 5:39 am
No, but he’s a good nickel.
August 23rd, 2019 at 5:55 am
Defense Rules- The problem is that, we didn’t draft him 11th overall to play nickel. Up to this point he has done zero that would indicate he’s a #1, or a #2 corner. Frankly, you can’t count on him even being dressed on Sunday. All of this doesn’t take into account the fact that his nickname is “Melba” at the Fanman household, for obvious reasons!
He has none of the physical attributes you look for in a CB and should not have been drafted so high.
August 23rd, 2019 at 7:57 am
He hasn’t proven to be a #1 yet…he talks like one though!
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:25 am
Drafted 11th overall and no shame in being a backup? Let’s celebrate him making the 53 man roster.
August 23rd, 2019 at 8:54 am
Nickel only.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:10 am
I do not understand how any knowledgeable football fan can pass judgment on Hargreaves because he played under Mike Smith.
What would you expect a tight cover corner playing in a butter-soft 12yd. cushion D scheme would look like?
From what I have read, Hargreaves has been the TC MVP. Let’s see what he does during the season before declaring him a bust.
He fits the Bowles scheme almost perfectly.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:12 am
I do not believe there is a #1 cornerback on an NFL defense anymore.
With as many as 6 DB’s on the field at a time, every one of them is a #1.
The whole concept of a “starter” is no longer operative for all but maybe the QB and OL.
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:31 am
Not a chance
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:35 am
Cobraboy Says:
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:10 am
I do not understand how any knowledgeable football fan can pass judgment on Hargreaves because he played under Mike Smith.
BINGO!!!!!!!
Cobraboy Says:
August 23rd, 2019 at 10:12 am
I do not believe there is a #1 cornerback on an NFL defense anymore.
BINGO!!!!!!
smart DC’s double the #1 WR and put there best CB on the #2 WR forcing the QB and OC to pick another option….
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 23rd, 2019 at 1:44 pm
He is a number during training ca.p. but will get burned when the real deal starts. Gotta smoke that flex
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Bucsfanman … Where we drafted him is water under the bridge at this point. We’ve got 4 other CBs who are taller & faster than he is with very good man-to-man skills. VHIII has demonstrated that he has a nose for the ball, even though at this point in his career (entering year FOUR) he has exactly ONE INT. Add to that a grand TOTAL of 15 passes defensed (in 3 years, 26 games). What is encouraging though is the plays he showed last year at nickel before he got hurt. Don’t get me wrong though, Vernon can play outside, but you’d better have a lot of help over-the-top or he’ll get burned by some of these speedier WRs.
Cobraboy … VHIII isn’t a bust IMO, BUT he’s not our best option outside either. Frankly I still can’t see him being here next year. He’d have to play absolutely lights-out to show that he’s worth the $9 mil extension that Licht has already flashed at him. That $9 mil extension will be his kiss of death. Even if we wanted to, Bucs can’t afford to pay that to a CB with his injury & meh performance history.
August 23rd, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Only had to read the title for the correct answer. No. Great in the nickel.
Was honestly saying Dean before TC on the outside because he’s the big CB Bowles likes with great skills and opposite of Auburn team mate Carlton Davis. Julio and Michael Thomas will SH!T on VH3!