Time To Blow Up
April 13th, 2017
Due to explode?
If one Bucs observer is accurate, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves is going to clown some receivers this season.
Last year’s No. 11 pick overall, Hargreaves, made strides. And it seems Bucs coaches had confidence in Hargreaves. It says so in the numbers. Only one defensive player logged more snaps on defense, and that was linebacker Lavonte David.
If Bucs coaches didn’t think much of Hargreaves, then he wouldn’t have played so much. This moved Bonnie Mott, in part, to believe Hargreaves will blow up this fall.
Though he did get burned on one too many plays against some of the league’s most elite wide receivers such as Amari Cooper, coach Koetter knows that the University of Florida product has learned from his mistakes and will use every lesson learned to flourish into an even better cornerback throughout his sophomore campaign.
Again, the proof is there for all to see. Only a Pro Bowl linebacker logged more defensive snaps than rookie Hargreaves.
Given a full season under his belt, Joe expects Hargreaves will carve out a reputation this fall. And not one that opposing offenses will be comfortable with, especially with is new orders from Koetter.
April 13th, 2017 at 9:14 am
Helps that he will not be a rookie on a defense with a new scheme being implemented. Fair to expect all returning players to improve dramatically.
April 13th, 2017 at 9:15 am
I hope so
….the bucs need someone in the secondary to explode because it’s been pathetic the past couple of years with these young players (secondary)
April 13th, 2017 at 9:18 am
As a Gator grad and fan of the team thought that this was a terrible pick in the position for the bucs were in to pick last year and wanted Laremy Tunsil to protect winston but getting to see hargreaves on a great gator defense as seeing what he was able to do throughout his time in gville and then with who the bucs have in their divsion just thought he was a smaller corner, but hope he is able to live up to the hype and shut down benjamin and jones and thomas in NO
April 13th, 2017 at 9:40 am
underiszed and slow but has great feet and is quick aqs a cat.
in this draft classs he would be a 2nd round pick.
April 13th, 2017 at 9:41 am
Louis Murphy arrested on gun charges
April 13th, 2017 at 9:49 am
he was a rookie that got beat by a few ELITE wrs….the kid is only going to get better….in a couple years, he’ll be one of the best in the game….GO BUCS!!!!
April 13th, 2017 at 9:49 am
I’m glad VH3 got all those snaps last year. Gives him plenty of himself on tape to look at all off season to improve with and the experience he gained was invaluable for moving forward.
April 13th, 2017 at 9:58 am
I expect 5 picks or more from him this year. I’m not demanding them, I just think he’s more comfortable now and will probably get them.
April 13th, 2017 at 9:58 am
He’s still only going to be a 2nd year player. He played well last year I thought given how quickly he was thrown in there. I just want to see that same consistency this year and possibly a couple more picks.
April 13th, 2017 at 10:05 am
“destinjohnny Says:
April 13th, 2017 at 9:40 am
underiszed and slow but has great feet and is quick aqs a cat.
in this draft classs he would be a 2nd round pick.”
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PERFECTLY SAID!
April 13th, 2017 at 10:05 am
Rinse and Repeat time of year…. yawn.
April 13th, 2017 at 10:09 am
not a fan but he’s not a bust either. the little guy will be a valuable contributor but hardly a star.
April 13th, 2017 at 10:23 am
I sure hope Bonnie’s right, but she is DEFINITELY a Gator homer. Hope that’s not part of her analysis.
April 13th, 2017 at 11:07 am
His numbers will be great if the Bucs pull the trigger on DL in the 1st round !
April 13th, 2017 at 11:54 am
He’s never really worried me. I think he’ll be a solid player for years.
There was a great pewterreport write up that went over his whole season. He improved a lot from mid-season on but still had some struggles late in the year. A lot was just him getting feels for different offenses / WR styles / etc. He shouldn’t have to think as much this year…and he’ll be playing outside and not learning 2 positions at once again.
he only had 1 interception but was still key on a lot of big plays that were huge for key wins:
-Tipped a pass for Kelvin Benjamin for an int for someone else early in the season
-Tip ball @ KC for a Lavonte pick 6 that was the only TD we scored I think
-Key’d Tandy on coverage for Tandy’s game sealing interception @ San Diego
-Stripped the ball from a flying flipping Jimmy Graham for the Lavonte fumble that pretty much sealed the win
He also runs around like a crazy laughing hyena which is fun
April 13th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
My jury is still out on this guy!
April 13th, 2017 at 1:26 pm
I would love someone like Corey Davis or by some kind of miracle OJ Howard but as the draft gets closer I wouldn’t mind addressing the secondary twice with our first 4 picks. Grab 2 safeties at least one that’s good at getting ints and the defense is gonna smother the NFC south. I’m hoping Sidney Jones drops way down too, would be awesome replacement for Grimes next year.
April 13th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
He pretty much shut down anyone who wasn’t a top 5 receiver. I think he will be just fine.
April 13th, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Amari Cooper has always had his way with VHIII. Glad we don’t face him often. I think VHIII is a good CB but not elite. I do not see him becoming a true shut down CB where he can be counted on to be on an island and take away half the field. Still, I think if we can improve the pass rush, it will mask some of the weaknesses in our secondary.
April 13th, 2017 at 2:07 pm
Hargreaves looked pretty good down the strech. Reading stuff like Kiper on ESPN you’d think Hargreaves was a complete bust – I have no idea where that comes from other than if you just watched a few of his early games. I thought for the season that Hargreaves was better than Grimes in that he didn’t give up nearly as many big plays. The Bucs absolutely however need to get another top corner because Grimes play is going to fall off a cliff, probably this year, and right now the Bucs have no one behind him. Even if Grimes makes it through this year OK you still need someone for next year and beyond and starting rookies is generally something losing teams do – draft your next guy this year if at all possible, and let him sit and learn for a year before throwing him into the fire. Just a reminder that Ronde Barber barely played his rookie year – he was a 3rd round pick that honestly looked like a complete bust at the time since he was never on the field. But year 2 with Ronde, wow, what a revelation. I’d love if Ryan Smith was that guy this year, obviously a HOFer is too much to ask, but if Smith can play this year and isn’t a bust, then fantastic – but based on him not seeing the field despite the complete lack of depth the Bucs have in the secondary, I think we had better draft someone to be that next man up.
April 13th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
I didnt like the pick last year. Complained about it here, on Joebuc.
Was concerned that Hargreaves was to short and slow.
Im ussually pro players- but Im still concerned that he wont pan out.
Grimes has similar stats- but jumps like hes made of springs! Also has a stadium sized chip on his shoulder
Im keeping my fingers crossed! Would love to see him develop in to a great corner
We need him to!
April 13th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
Big fan of this guy. Coaches and teammates love this guy. Super reliable and full of piss n vinegar. Hoping for steady improvement. Barring serious injury I expect a breakout season. Maybe pro bowl by year 3
April 13th, 2017 at 8:18 pm
Coaches son. This kid is gonna ball out this year. Need to get him some help back there though
April 13th, 2017 at 10:01 pm
“Where should I start?”
Kobe Faker