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Buccaneers: Five Bucs to watch in week six versus Cardinals

By Zach Sauers

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 5: Wide receiver Chris Hogan of the New England Patriots hauls in a five-yard touchdown pass in the end zone from quarterback Tom Brady while getting pressure from cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter of an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 5: Wide receiver Chris Hogan of the New England Patriots hauls in a five-yard touchdown pass in the end zone from quarterback Tom Brady while getting pressure from cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter of an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Cornerback – Vernon Hargreaves

Through the off-season workouts and training camp, Vernon Hargreaves looked like he was going to take the next step in his career towards being a lock-down corner. Even throughout the pre-season Hargreaves looked the part of just what exactly the Bucs drafted him for.

With his confidence through the roof, Hargreaves looked to take that jump… until week two hit. It may have been the bye week, it may have been the weather, but Hargreaves has not shown the confidence he had early on.

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Through the first four games of the season, Hargreaves has been thrown at constantly as if he was the weakness in the secondary of the Bucs. Quite frankly, that just might be true.

The 10-yard cushion that many fans have pointed out in the comments was what we thought was a system alignment in Defensive Coordinator Mike Smith‘s defense… but it was not.

“I don’t think [the soft coverage] by design in terms of what we’re asking our players to do. We give our guys a little bit of flexibility in terms of where they fell comfortable.There’s ranges in where we would like them to line up,” said Smith.

Things need to change… and they need to change fast. Keep a watch on how Hargreaves responds to his coach’s criticism.

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