Classroom Crunch Coming For Verner
May 23rd, 2014
Young, Pro Bowl stud cornerback Alterraun Verner is one intelligent guy. He’s definitely in the Ronde Barber, Jeremy Zuttah mold when it comes to smarts.
So it’s no surprise Verner will be taking himself to school when the Bucs finish their spring practices next month and go on “vacation” for six weeks until training camp opens in July.
His goal is to become an expert in NFC South offenses, so Verner said on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday. Much of his time over the next three months will be devoted to studying opponents.
“It’s going to be, a good portion [of my time], because I’m a big studier, I’m a big film guy,” Verner said. “So I definitely want to get some film on the Saints guys and the Falcons guys. I mean we played this division once when I was in Tennessee, but it’s a whole different ball game when you play them two times a year. Just get familiar with the way they like to attack people.”
Verner, 25, also reset a take he’s offered previously: that he prefers playing against big physical receivers like Julio Jones. Standing just 5-10, Verner said he brings enough physicality to big receivers to match up “at the point of the ball,” and he likes his odds in that situation versus against a receiver who can flat out blow past him.
Verner said he was 1-on-1 against Jones last season in preseason and had no trouble with him.
Always a student, Verner said he can’t wait to get into the heads of Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans once they know Verner better. The Bucs wants answers. “When you’re going against someone like me, how would you play? How would you attack?”
May 23rd, 2014 at 8:59 am
Impressive…hope Jonathon Banks is listening
May 23rd, 2014 at 9:22 am
Banks should be asking Demps 4 track tips
May 23rd, 2014 at 10:34 am
Notice how he left out Panthers players 🙂 Verner probably realizes Cam without Steve Smith will undoubtedly get that flustered look about him and fail to elevate the game of the players around him thus becoming the 4th best starting QB in the NFC South this year.
May 23rd, 2014 at 10:35 am
The more I hear about this guy the more I like him. A student of the game is always going to assess those teams within the division. If you want to beat a player you have to study their tendencies. I mean after all, what do you think the opponents are doing?!
@brandonbuc- you hit it there my friend. Banks should be a Verner shadow and take notes. You can overcome deficiencies like speed with smarts. Hell, we had two of the slowest players in the secondary in Lynch and Barber. Look how they fared!
May 23rd, 2014 at 10:38 am
Pablo hopes Verner is a lot better than the last DB who wore #21
#GOAT
May 23rd, 2014 at 11:11 am
I can’t wait to see this defense play.
May 23rd, 2014 at 11:12 am
Verner is not barber. This guy talks like even the titans coaches stink. Why didn’t Tennessee sign him back? He wasn’t a ton of money. Why did Zimmer sign everson griffin rather than Michael Johnson? He coached him his entire career and passed on him. Think I’d rather still have revis than these two.
May 23rd, 2014 at 11:26 am
@ Jon Both Verner & Johnson liked the defense and coach in Tampa so much that they (apparently) didn’t look at other offers. Joe has reported that Michael Johnson only took 15 minutes to decide on Tampa Bay.
May 23rd, 2014 at 12:23 pm
@Jon- No, he is not Barber. I too thought that Revis is better. Bottom line is Revis is gone and Verner and Johnson are Bucs. I don’t care about the “why”, I just know that for whatever reason, fit, scheme, or otherwise they thought these are the guys.
Get on board bro! They need our support. Stop looking at the past.
May 23rd, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Revis isn’t here because he is a me first guy . This team will play as a team
May 23rd, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Revis is happy with the Pats.
Everything works out in the end.
Speaking of the end,
Florida is sinking. Literally. Be careful guys.
One Love. Protect da Planet.
May 24th, 2014 at 12:55 am
Alterraun Verner is not Ronde Barber, he’s not even going to try to be him. He’s going to be himself.