What are your HONEST OPINIONS on the play of Ellis Hobbs?

[DefenseRules]

I have been arguing with this guy all morning about it. He thinks that he flat out sucks. I totally DISAGREE. Deltha O'Neal SUCKS. Hobbs is ok, IMHO. He's not great, but he's OK. I like Hobbs. I think that he gets a lot of unnecessary abuse from "SOME" fans and media. What are your thoughts?

 

[strongside]

I have been arguing with this guy all morning about it. He thinks that he flat out sucks. I totally DISAGREE. Deltha O'Neal SUCKS. Hobbs is ok, IMHO. He's not great, but he's OK. I like Hobbs. I think that he gets a lot of unnecessary abuse from "SOME" fans and media. What are your thoughts?

To use a BB word I would say he is competitive. To say that he flat out sucks is ignorant. Like most of us, I have seen every snap he has played and I feel he makes more plays then he gives up. He is also tough and physical at the los. That being said he is often physically overmatched which causes problems. Also, he has great straight line speed but can late coming out of breaks.

Hobbs is the least of this teams concerns. He's a a solid #2 CB with tremendous special teams ability. But he needs a supporting cast and shouldn't be relied on as a #1 CB.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

hobbs gets burned from time to time like most, but he gets exposed more than others in the face of no pass rush........

hobbs is better than either earthwind moreland and randall gay........who managed to be starting corners for an SB winning team and containing manning to 3 points in the process........

the pass defense issues have more to do with the lack of a pass rush (anyone notice that jarvis green has become next to useless?) and the fact that nobody fears the middle of the field anymore ....... which makes life miserable for any CB assigned to play a zone

 

[fumbrunner]

He's a good number two. I agree with the posters that say he is not a #1 corner in the league. He is solid but not outstanding. He doesn't have the ball hawking abilities of Asante Samuel, and he doesn't have the coverage abilities of the top corners of the league. He has also struggled against tall receivers in jump ball situations (I don't understand the obsession with 5'9"-5'10" DBs on this team).

But overall, he is ok and will continue to have a place in this secondary.

 

[satz]

He is a very good CB . He can play in this league and give 100%. Even last year QB did not throw it to asante side which meant hobbs got all the attention and he did enough to make plays.

compare this he makes peanuts compared to every WR he lines up against and in 3rd year is further along than asante was. asante name was called to be cut on his 3rd yr as he was a nickel back who could not get on the field.

so he is better than asante or randel gay was in their 3rd year.

this year the side where he does not play is getting lit up.so even we upgrade the CB then put on the hobbs on the other side he will hold up and he will improve more in his 4th year.

scheme is also helps in redzone against tall WR you need to provide help and cannot expect him to cover all alone.

 

[signbabybrady]

As my sig shows I am a Hobbs fan.

But I must admit I expected hiim to make a leap to the upper echelon of CB maybe not elite status but a solid #1 and that has not happened. But I think he is definitely a worthy starter on most teams in the NFL. If he could avoid the injuries maybe he would make a leap from worthy starter to something better.

Anyone who says he flat out sucks is just lumping him in to our secondary problems. IMO our secondary consists of 3 worthy starters and O'neal none of them upper echelon players at their position and one of them flat out sucks so this makes them all look bad when if we replaced O'neal with a worthy starter it would make them all look better because they are all capable players but having O'Neal suck like he does mean the safeties are covering for him at the cost of helping Hobbs and their own responsibiltities.

 

[Two Eight]

He's a good #2 corner and works his ass off every game. Hobbs is not the problem.

 

[CheerforTom]

I think he's surprised me in his ability to lead the secondary against passing teams and he's had some good success this year, but on most other teams he'd most certainly be a #2. His tackling is weak. I also think he has a history of needing excuses to be made for him after big plays: there's nothing wrong with that in and of itself but it means he relies on outside factors to make plays rather than his own pure skill.

 

[BradyMoss812]

I like Hobbs. He started the season well, but I think with the loss of Harrison and the lack of a consistent pass rush from the front seven, he's had a lot more pressure on him to make plays, but I always feel like he's giving his best. And he's a good kick returner.

Deltha O'Neal on the other hand...

 

[Nunchucks]

I like Hobbs, he is a solid CB and would be better if our 2nd CB wasn't Delta O'Neal

 

[DefenseRules]

Deltha O'Neal on the other hand...

You obviously didn't see him play at Cinci.

 

[IndianPat]

Love Hobbs. Good second CB. Puts in a great effort at stopping the run and plays within the scheme in passing situations. Lately, I have been noticing that safety help has barely been visible for both Hobbs and O'neal (who I totally despise)

Excellent return man. Maynot have lost the Pittsburgh game, if he was taking the kick off return instead of Slater. Cascade of events that happened after that would have been put to stop right there. Atleast, the coaching staff should have had Faulk in there.

 

[emoney_33]

I think Ellis Hobbs is a damn fine CB. He has long been the scapegoat for any and all problems in the secondary, but he simply doesn't make mistakes that often. He plays bigger than his size and is actually a really solid tackler. This is an offensive tailored league and I think expectations are just unfair.

Hobbs has manned up against the likes of Chad Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Burress and a lot of top-flight receivers in his career. He has usually held his own but without a lot of safety help you can't expect any CB to man up against the top receivers of the league in this day and age.

Hobbs is also very solid in run support and awesome as a kick returner. Overall Ellis Hobbs is really good for the New England Patriots. I expect him to be a Patriot for a very very long time.

 

[Rob0729]

The problem is that when Hobbs screws up, it is usually for a big gain. But he doesn't screw up as much as his detractors make it out to be. He is a good, but not great CB. He can be shutdown at times, but usually solid. Some of his big "screw up" are also due to lack of pressure on the QB and the receiver having all day to get open.

 

[Garbanza]

I have been arguing with this guy all morning about it. He thinks that he flat out sucks. I totally DISAGREE. Deltha O'Neal SUCKS. Hobbs is ok, IMHO. He's not great, but he's OK. I like Hobbs. I think that he gets a lot of unnecessary abuse from "SOME" fans and media. What are your thoughts?

Newflash: They both suck. O'Neal definitely sucks worse though. Hobbs is a great kick returner. Hobbs should be a nickle. I can't stand Hobbs' celebration "dances" after making a play. As I said in the game day thread - he's not worthy. I will not waste time on O'Neal's deficiencies. Lets just say they are plentiful and they make me sick.

 

[DefenseRules]

Newflash: They both suck. O'Neal definitely sucks worse though. Hobbs is a good kick returner though.

Damn G, that's a little harsh, but you are entitled to your opinion and I will respectfully disagree. I don't think that Hobbs sucks, but O'Neal is the Suck.
I didn't like the signing when it was announced. O'Neal was HORRIBLE at Cinci. I thought well, I'll give him a chance and see what he does in our system. Well I've seen enough. It's Official, O'Neal sucks. As for Hobbs, I think that he's ok. He DOES NOT SUCK. The guy plays hard and is a tough SOB. His injuries are cause for concern though.

 

[emoney_33]

Sad thing is Wheatley seemed to be making a Hobbs-like progression into a rookie starting role before he got hurt. I would have liked to see how Hobbs/Wheatley tandem would have grown throughout the year into the playoffs.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I think Ellis Hobbs is a damn fine CB. He has long been the scapegoat for any and all problems in the secondary, but he simply doesn't make mistakes that often. He plays bigger than his size and is actually a really solid tackler. This is an offensive tailored league and I think expectations are just unfair.

Hobbs has manned up against the likes of Chad Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Burress and a lot of top-flight receivers in his career. He has usually held his own but without a lot of safety help you can't expect any CB to man up against the top receivers of the league in this day and age.

Hobbs is also very solid in run support and awesome as a kick returner. Overall Ellis Hobbs is really good for the New England Patriots. I expect him to be a Patriot for a very very long time.

Good assessment imo:agree: He's been a solid 2nd corner and I think a lot of his perceived problems are due to a lack of help back there and unfortunately his mate happens to be Deltha aka Duane

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Sad thing is Wheatley seemed to be making a Hobbs-like progression into a rookie starting role before he got hurt. I would have liked to see how Hobbs/Wheatley tandem would have grown throughout the year into the playoffs.

Agree. It's been discussed in another thread but seeing as Wheatley's out it wouldn't hurt to give Wilhite a try in O'Neal's place.

 

[mgteich]

I think that we are short a #1 corner. #2 - #4 are good enough to win.

Wilhite is a youngster who may or may not ever be a starter. He is NOT better than O'Neal at the moment. I recall all the posts about how Buckley or O-T-I-S sucked. The fact is that there is a place for average players, JAG's. We have won championships precisely because we have guys like O'Neal and Lew Sanders as nickel and dime backs. Consider the following:
#1 Shepherd/Samuel (or pick your favorite free agent possibility)
#2 Hobbs
#3 O'Neal
#4 Lew Sanders
backups and/or injured: Wilhite, Richardson, Wheatley, Webster
=============================================
I suppose Wheatley could have been a rookie starter and hero, but that is a lot to ask of a defensive rookie not picked in the top half of the first round. The problem is that we don't have a #1. Hobbs is just not good enough to be the man to anchor the secondary, especially with no leader at the safet position. Meriweather and Sanders hold their own with no backups, but are not much help to others.