It’s Mental
August 8th, 2018
Confidence key.
Even Andy Benoit can see it from his abode in Idaho.
While watching Bucs tape this offseason, the columnist for theMMQB.com saw what Bucs fans saw.
Short of fumbling by America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, few things get Bucs fans to start hollering at their bartender using foul adjectives more than when Vernon Hargreaves gives receivers so much cushion that Evel Knievel in his prime couldn’t hurdle that space.
Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith, covering for his player, will say he allows corners to play as far off of receivers as they are comfortable with so long as they get the job done.
Joe’s of the mind this is unfiltered fertilizer.
Part of the reason Hargreaves fell off the planet last year the massive cushions he gave opponents. Why Smith didn’t force him to play closer is a mystery. Who the hell is in charge, anyway?
Back to Benoit, who thinks Hargreaves is giving seemingly 25-yard cushions is because his confidence is shot.
Vernon Hargreaves has shown the raw talent that got him drafted 11th overall in 2016. But he’s also shown enough callowness for GM Jason Licht to spend a pair of second-round picks on corners M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis. This could be a make-or-break year for Hargreaves, who has good feet and enough spatial awareness to play outside or in the slot. But that awareness needs to apply on every snap. Hargreaves blew too many assignments last season and his wavering confidence was revealed by the amount of coverage cushion he applied.
Benoit, as you can read, seems to hint that Hargreaves’ issue may stem from a bout of immaturity. Joe doesn’t know if that is accurate or not, but Hargreaves’ constant umpire-signaling-safe acts after each pass incompletion, even if he is roasted like a Thanksgiving turkey and the receiver just drops the ball, tells Joe Hargreaves is more concerned about style than substance.
Look, Hargreaves is a good dude and Joe is not about to give up on him at all. Perhaps he just needs some coaching? Or maybe a pick or two will give Hargreaves the confidence boost he needs to be a feared corner? His only one came December 11, 2016.
August 8th, 2018 at 9:41 am
waste of another draft pic, trade or cut him before its too late
August 8th, 2018 at 9:45 am
This is the yr he “gets it”!
August 8th, 2018 at 9:48 am
Rievis Looked like crap as a Buc too. You cant be a good corner with no pass rush in the NFL period. Lets see how he does this year.
August 8th, 2018 at 9:51 am
Without any semblance of a pass rush, why is anyone surprised that the CB’s gave a lot of cushion?
I doubt Hargreaves lost confidence in himself. He didn’t have confidence in the DL to get any pressure.
I can count almost on one hand how many true all-over-the-field 6 second lock-down corners have been in the NFL…
August 8th, 2018 at 9:54 am
There are “playas” and “players”…..Hargreaves comes off as a “playa”….only problem is he’s not remotely dominant enough for teams to put up with him. He’ll likely do what most do, ride the protection of being a 1st rd pick then face reality that he’s playing for reduced roles and roster spots elsewhere. These guys have been drinking their kool aid their entire lives….the concept that they are expendable is unimaginable to them until it happens.
August 8th, 2018 at 9:56 am
His name is coming up regularly in camp now that he is playing more man/press so let’s see what he can do against offensive schemes he is not familiar with !
August 8th, 2018 at 10:02 am
Coaches job is to put players in the best position to make plays. Players job is to execute those assignments and make plays. I think the coaches failed VHIII and didn’t put him in the best position to utilize his ability. I think they realized their mistakes and really took a hard look this offseason. That is why VHIII is showing up now in practices more often, because he’s being put in the best position to utilize his skill set.
August 8th, 2018 at 10:03 am
This is simply a make or break it year for the Buc’s as a team and for many individuals…Koetter…Fameis…VHG…Noah Spence…many guys need to bring it this year to continue their NFL careers.
August 8th, 2018 at 10:12 am
Keep him in the slot. Too slow for outside and doesn’t tackle on the edge. It’s obvious he’s more comfortable in the slot.
August 8th, 2018 at 10:27 am
Evel kenievel line was absolutely perfect Joe. Well done. And totally agreed. I’d rather see Jameis fumble six times in a game than see a receiver getting that much cushion. It’s mind blowing. And if it doesn’t change I’m not even gonna watch this year it’s just too infuriating. Atleast fumbles happen To other teams. No team however gives away 8 yards at the line. Brady caught on and was throwing to the sidelines right away for 6 yards at a time. Defense gets exhausted. Bucs couldnt run then boom defense done. Pass rush will help but you can’t get to the qb in half a second
August 8th, 2018 at 10:50 am
“Vernon Hargreaves gives receivers so much cushion that Evel Knievel in his prime couldn’t hurdle that space….. this is unfiltered fertilizer”
Nice Joe – Ira’s sports writing excellence is rubbing off on you(se guys)…
“Hargreaves’ issue may stem from a bout of immaturity” – perhaps more commonly known as firstrounditis I’d say.
Hopefully VH3 has his head in the right place this year and puts in the extra time and study needed at this level to be fully prepared. I get the feeling Vernon didn’t do enough of that last year and then quickly lost confidence early in the season after he got roasted a few times. He started to gain it back with a couple good games covering only the inside/slot – but then got hurt and was done for the year. Talk about your major sophomore slump….
At least there are 3 fairly talented young guys trying to take his job(s) this year.
Hopefully this is the year Hargreaves will do a big turn around and start looking like a #11 overall pick should. Of course Giants fans are saying the same thing about about #10 overall pick Eli Apple as are most of the next 10 or so teams that picked after the Bucs in what was surely the worst 1st round of a draft (talent wise) in many many years.
August 8th, 2018 at 10:52 am
Joe. You do realize that he is not doing “umpire-signaling-safe” He is imitating the ref no-catch call.
August 8th, 2018 at 10:56 am
stpete- You’re 100% correct. Players AND coaches are playing for their NFL careers. Why would you keep a DE who can’t stay healthy, a DB who can’t cover, a turnover prone QB, or coaches that can’t coach?! It applies to ALL players, it shouldn’t be a “gimme” just because of draft status. Put up or get the heck out! Nobody owes anybody anything. Let me re-phrase that: The Bucs owe the fans winning football, like 10 years worth!
Either you CAN play or you CAN’T.
p.s.- stop the finger-wag for doing your job. A little humility will go a long ways toward endearing yourself to the fans. Just sayin’!
August 8th, 2018 at 10:58 am
Ref swings his arms twice if not three times for an incompletions cal. Hargreaves does it once, hence “umpire-signaling-safe.”
August 8th, 2018 at 11:02 am
Not strong enough to re-route bigger receivers at the line and not fast enough to turn and run if the press doesn’t hold, so he plays off 15. There is no developing him: he had really good technique coming out of college so at this point maybe can refine the technique a small amount but not much and he is not getting more athletic. Move him inside and chalk it up to a bad 1st rounder.
August 8th, 2018 at 11:31 am
Nelson Agholar had a big year 3 after disappointing his first two.
Lets hope its a Tampa native thing
August 8th, 2018 at 11:40 am
Oh no!
Another maturity issue.. I mean isn’t VH’s dad a football coach? Usually those guys are gym rat, mentally tough guys.
This charmin soft coaching staff is ruining people or the FO is way off in some of their evaluations.
August 8th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
For those of you saying cut him, you simply don’t do that with any 1st rounder in their first contract so that makes no sense.
VH needs to be given more opportunities (nickel etc) to find that confidence much like Winston. For a CB, one or two great plays can bring a lot of confidence that can last games. The kid needs an INT and he should get chances if Grimes is healthy. I think this kid has suffered from very bad coaching and he is being left on an island by a very bad front 4; Brees/Newton/Ryan cannot have 7-10 seconds to throw.
Look for VH to improve this year for 2 reasons, better front 4 (pass rush) and I think his skills will improve. Im hopeful Coach Pagano has had a chance to work with him. I hear he has been at Buc camp. If this situation backfires, Koetter can blame no one but himself. He had the chance to change some of the DEF coaches and did nothing. I think that is the one thing that may bite him in the ass. He is overly loyal to a fault.
Go Bucs!
August 8th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
“Ref swings his arms twice if not three times for an incompletions cal. Hargreaves does it once, hence “umpire-signaling-safe.” So the number of times he moves his arms leads you to believe he is imitating a completely different sport, and not the one he is currently playing? What? Why would he signal “safe” if no catch was made? That’s a helluva stretch Joe.
August 8th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
According to Mike Smith in a May 18th press conference, “we’re in sub-defense about 65-70 percent of the time, so that nickel position is a starting position.” If VHIII is a very good nickel (which many say he is) and he’s ‘adequate’ as a backup outside corner (which others say he is), then what’s the problem? Use him where his talent lies & stop whining about him being a 1st round bust. The goal is to WIN, not WHINE.
August 8th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Defense Rules- Great statement: “The goal is to WIN, not WHINE.”
It only makes the team better if he can regain his form and contribute, regardless of “starting” status.
My beef with VHIII is the needless celebrating of overthrown footballs like HE made the play!
Otherwise, I root for the kid to come back. You can never have enough secondary talent IMO.
August 8th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
BIRD & MOJO
I AGREE!!!!!!
he’s a man press CB and the coaches aren’t putting him in position to be successful….
its a coaching problem….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 8th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Hey Neal
You’re really splitting hairs over nothing…
VH celebrates too much and for no good reason most of the time .
Everybody knows that.
August 8th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
I mean either way we kind of need all 3 of the young corners to do well honestly… Grimes is likely on his last season so all 3 young draft picks will be playing this year and next year.