Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves is the most polished CB the SEC has ever seen

[williston_gator]

Via SDS.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/florida-football/vernon-hargreaves-most-polished-corner-sec/

Hit the link for the story.

 

[NavetG8r]

He makes the field smaller for QBs. Gotta love VH3!

 

[GatorJB]

Having the best corner in the SEC, maybe the nation, sure helps a young secondary be better.

 

[CaribGator]

Best thing is we have this year and next before he goes pro.

 

[EuroGator]

That was a well written and documented article. Thanks for sharing!

 

[EuroGator]

That was a well written and documented article. Thanks for sharing!

Oh yeah, and it was really encouraging about our great young CB. I think it's nearly as important that he sees his need to be a leader as it is that he's a great CB himself. If he can influence our other young CB's and S's, that will be a great benefit.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I've heard he put on a few pounds and really worked on his strength this year. It was his only weakness last year and it was a priority for him to improve. Shows what kind of player and hopefully a leader he is.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good read, better player.

 

[Gator Fever]

He is really good but still has room for improvement. He got picked on in the Missouri and Georgia games some if I remember correctly.

 

[GatorJ]

Great read. Thanks

 

[GIGator]

Of course VHIII wasn't ready for the NFL last season and he got burnt a few times; however, how many true freshmen are going to play as well as he did? Very, very few. I guarantee that he had gone over every mistake he made, to ensure it doesn't happen again. That's one of the things that makes him great - he's coachable. How fortunate are we that the younger guys have such an awesome role model? If they pick up his work habits and attitude, they, too, will be very good. I believe Dawson shares similar traits and that's why he has been able to keep things close between he and Tabor. If Tabor follows VHIII's lead, he will be very good. The real "No Fly Zone" is going to be fun to watch. Just think how good or secondary could be in 2015! If the front 7 comes along, we could have one of the best defenses ever in 2015.

 

[Turk182]

Of course VHIII wasn't ready for the NFL last season and he got burnt a few times; however, how many true freshmen are going to play as well as he did? Very, very few. I guarantee that he had gone over every mistake he made, to ensure it doesn't happen again. That's one of the things that makes him great - he's coachable. How fortunate are we that the younger guys have such an awesome role model? If they pick up his work habits and attitude, they, too, will be very good. I believe Dawson shares similar traits and that's why he has been able to keep things close between he and Tabor. If Tabor follows VHIII's lead, he will be very good. The real "No Fly Zone" is going to be fun to watch. Just think how good or secondary could be in 2015! If the front 7 comes along, we could have one of the best defenses ever in 2015.

You've almost got me.................. believing....

 

[williston_gator]

ESPN's top players in the SEC.

4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida Gators

Cornerback is one of those positions that’s supposed to take time to master. You have to learn the various coverages and physically mature to handle more experienced receivers. But Hargreaves defied convention last season, quickly becoming the top on-ball defender in the SEC by season’s end with three interceptions and 11 passes defended. "At the end of the day, he has some natural instincts that others of us don't have," his coach, Will Muschamp, explained.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

He is really good but still has room for improvement. He got picked on in the Missouri and Georgia games some if I remember correctly.

You're remembering incorrectly, or more accurately, you're failing to understand what is the safeties' responsibility. Our safeties flat-out sucked last year. They were often out of position and consistently beaten on the deep ball. They often weren't even in the picture on deep balls.

When the corner is asked to play press coverage, the safety has to be there like this:
[video=youtube;yuG3uM0RwLA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuG3uM0RwLA[/video]

Or basically any highlight reel of Reggie Nelson. When the corner is playing tight, taking away those easy slants and stops, the safety has to do his job or we are vulnerable to a QB that understands how to put some air under the ball and hit the receiver deep.

 

[Gator Fever]

You're remembering incorrectly, or more accurately, you're failing to understand what is the safeties' responsibility. Our safeties flat-out sucked last year. They were often out of position and consistently beaten on the deep ball. They often weren't even in the picture on deep balls.

When the corner is asked to play press coverage, the safety has to be there like this:
[video=youtube;yuG3uM0RwLA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuG3uM0RwLA[/video]

Or basically any highlight reel of Reggie Nelson. When the corner is playing tight, taking away those easy slants and stops, the safety has to do his job or we are vulnerable to a QB that understands how to put some air under the ball and hit the receiver deep.

You are probably right for the most part but I remember a few times in those games he had pretty good positioning but the bigger WR's basically just outmuscled him for the ball but it is hard to defend against that when its a big WR you are dealing with and the ball is thrown well. Georgia was throwing a lot of short stuff also where it isn't easy to stop.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

He was outmuscled at LSU despite good coverage. He made it a point to get stronger this offseason.
Off topic a little here but who on this board believes that ANY safety wouldn't get ejected for that same hit by Major Wright in the video these days.

 

[Gator Fever]

He was outmuscled at LSU despite good coverage. He made it a point to get stronger this offseason.
Off topic a little here but who on this board believes that ANY safety wouldn't get ejected for that same hit by Major Wright in the video these days.

I think so also and I am not 100% sure we win that game without that hit. Just like the FSU game in 2012 that hit changed the whole feel of the game.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Off topic a little here but who on this board believes that ANY safety wouldn't get ejected for that same hit by Major Wright in the video these days.

No doubt, you don't get to hit like that our safeties were never in the picture to break up a pass in any manner. I also agree that the hit changed the game and gave the receivers alligator arms.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

He was outmuscled at LSU despite good coverage. He made it a point to get stronger this offseason.
Off topic a little here but who on this board believes that ANY safety wouldn't get ejected for that same hit by Major Wright in the video these days.

I think so also and I am not 100% sure we win that game without that hit. Just like the FSU game in 2012 that hit changed the whole feel of the game.

OU's WR's were a little more timid after that shot for sure. Regarding the FSU game, I can't believe we didn't get called for that one either because the officials did everything they could to keep FSU in that game. Easily one of the worst officiated games I've seen since the swindle but at least we got the win.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

It's sad that the new rules have taken aggressive safety play out of CFB entirely. Especially since I have so many fond memories of past UF safeties rocking peoples world.
Regarding last years safety play, I believe Riggs was in the picture but so short you couldn't see him. IMO Watkins should have been a CB and Purifoy should have been a safety.