Think of it as a game within a game.
When the Oakland Raiders visit the Bucs on Sunday, there will be a lot of factors that determine the winner. One of them, however, will be the play of Raiders’ receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree against Tampa Bay corners Vernon Hargreaves and Brent Grimes.
Cooper is tied for sixth in the NFL in receiving with 40 catches. Crabtree is tied for 11th with 39.
“Those two receivers, Cooper and Crabtree, are going to be a handful,” said Bucs’ defensive coordinator Mike Smith. “They’ve done a very good job. (Quarterback Derek) Carr is a quarterback that gets the ball out of his hands, he’s got a quick release. I think he does a very good job with his eyes moving the defender. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
In all, the Raiders are 13th in the NFL in passing.
The Bucs’ duo has played better lately as the team has won two games in a row.
“Both of those guys are starting to play with swagger,” Smith said. “I think Brent always has had it. He’s a little more soft spoken, but I know Brent knows what he’s capable of doing. And I think Vernon is finding his way, in terms of where he needs to line up, when he needs to line up there and I thought he did a really good job last week. Not only in the pass game, but he really did some nice things showing up in the run game as well.”
Smith thinks the Bucs are improving in their secondary.
“I think we’re improving,” Smith said. “I think we still have a long way to go. I like the learning curve that we’ve gone through, in terms of from Week One, in terms of giving up explosive passes and being where we’re supposed to be. I think that’s a sign of them having a better understanding of what they’re supposed to be doing and I think that’s also a sign that they understand what they’re capable of doing. Again, I really think this is a process that we go through. Would I have liked to see it being accelerated? Yes, but I do feel like that these guys are starting to understand what we’re trying to accomplish on the defensive side of the ball, based on what offenses are presenting to us.”
Head coach Dirk Koetter said he thinks Hargreaves, the team’s No. 1 draft pick, especially is playing well.
“He’s gone against some pretty good guys so far this year, so there’s more to come,” Koetter said. “And he’s getting better every week, I think his confidence is growing. I think you’re going to see him play tighter and tighter.”
