Leigh Bodden: Transition Tag?

[Shockt327]

Bodden is not a #1 corner. He's a good #2 IMO. Hopefully Butler will develop into a #1, but who knows. If we add a good pass rush and keep Bodden at a reasonable price, Bodden, Springs (if kept), Butler, Wilhite, Wheatley should be good enough for next year.

I'm targeting Patrick Peterson in the 2011 draft with that Raiders pick. He's the next true shutdown CB coming out other than Joe Haden who is coming out this year.

Peterson, maybe Bodden, Butler, Wilhite as our top 4 is my dream for 2011.

Yet, who is? With all the ridiculous officiating; most CBs look like garbage these days. Bottomline, how many CBs can you name that you'd rather have than Bodden? If he's not a #1, then I'd assume you should be able to name 31+ players, no?

 

[Shockt327]

Looking at the numbers in a vacuum is useless when there are obvious diffrences surrounding the players which will factor heavily into the equation but can't be accounted for with the raw data. Wilhite had much better safety play around him to help him out, and his partner on the other side was more competent than the estimable Deltha O'Neal or a pair of rookies, which is what Hobbs was dealing with for much of last season. The natural result of having a stiff like O'Neal on the other corner is that the safety play (already a lesser thing overall) had to roll to protect that other side, leaving Hobbs alone, unlike the situation with Wilhite.

The numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt - but that doesn't make them useless. I agree, Hobbs got less safety help though.

 

[Brono]

PFF ranks Bodden #13 in pass coverage among 107 cornerbacks who have played at least 25% of their team's snaps (click on Ratings/Cov column to sort).

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Yet, who is? With all the ridiculous officiating; most CBs look like garbage these days. Bottomline, how many CBs can you name that you'd rather have than Bodden? If he's not a #1, then I'd assume you should be able to name 31+ players, no?

We had a #1 in Asante Samuel. Do you consider Bodden on the same level or better than Asante?

I certainly don't after watching both of them play in NE. Bodden was a solid addition after having Hobbs and O'Neal as our starting CB's last year, but in no way shape or form do I consider him as good as Asante was. Bodden is good but there are too many times he has his back to the ball. Also, he doesn't have great closing speed IMO. And half of his interceptions hit him right in the chest thanks to Mark Sanchez.

I think he's a very good #2 CB, but I would not pay him #1 money.

 

[mgteich]

People see what they want to see.

PFF ranks Bodden #13 in pass coverage among 107 cornerbacks who have played at least 25% of their team's snaps (click on Ratings/Cov column to sort.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

People see what they want to see.

"Stats are for losers."

Do you really believe Leon Hall is the 3rd best CB in the league? He had a decent year but against the Jets, Edwards just ran right by him. I don't think Brandon Flowers is a top 5 corner either.

 

[Patspsycho]

Yet, who is? With all the ridiculous officiating; most CBs look like garbage these days. Bottomline, how many CBs can you name that you'd rather have than Bodden? If he's not a #1, then I'd assume you should be able to name 31+ players, no?

Frankly, I would snap up Revis, no question. Jets are very lucky to have him.

 

[Shockt327]

We had a #1 in Asante Samuel. Do you consider Bodden on the same level or better than Asante?

I'd put Bodden on a slightly lower level than Asante. But their styles are so radically different its tough to compare. Asante was a gambler. He has the big play potential that Bodden lacks - but he also screws up far more often than Leigh does; both in coverage and in missed tackles. Just for fun, Asante 2007 vs Leigh's 2009:

TA  	Rec  	% Ct  	Yds  	Avg  	YAC  	LG  	TD  	In  	PD  	NFL Rating
104	61	58.7	778	12.8	206	53	6	7	11	73.3
92	46	50.0	532	11.6	123	33	4	5	13	59.7

Also, he doesn't have great closing speed IMO.

Asante might have the best closing speed in the entire league; that a high standard.

And half of his interceptions hit him right in the chest thanks to Mark Sanchez.

As opposed to Asante's picks? Picks in 2006 courtesy of Rex Grossman (x3), Joey Harrington (x2), Vince Young (x2), Kitna, Jp Lossman, and David Carr. 2007 wasn't much better; Aj Feeley (x2) Trent Edwards, Derek Anderson, Jason Campbell and one against Carson Palmer.

I think he's a very good #2 CB, but I would not pay him #1 money.

But name me 31 other guys? I don't think you can. As was mentioned, if you ranked all 32 #1 CBs; 14th sounds about right for Bodden. That's worthy of #1 money. Not necessarily the "get paid" money that Asante wanted; but still a competitive contract.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Im starting to join the "draft a corner" bandwagon, I want to keep Bodden for at least 2 years because hes our most solid corner while we develop Wheatley and Butler. Hopefully Willhite shows something as well.

 

[Shockt327]

Frankly, I would snap up Revis, no question. Jets are very lucky to have him.

I'd take Revis and Asante over Bodden as well. But that doesn't exactly make Bodden a #2. He's a perfectly solid #1. Elite? No. But probably better than half the #1s in the NFL.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Yet, who is? With all the ridiculous officiating; most CBs look like garbage these days. Bottomline, how many CBs can you name that you'd rather have than Bodden? If he's not a #1, then I'd assume you should be able to name 31+ players, no?

Thats a ridiculous statement, the NFL isnt clear cut like that. Right now you have about 9 or 10 lockdown caliber corners and then you have the rest of the pack. Of course you can try to rank the players but its going to be debatable. When people talk about number one corners you think of Revis, Nnamdi, Newman, Assante, Woodson, Cromartie (debatable), Finnagan, Bailey, DRC. These guys have earned the right to be paid like #1 corners. Then you have solid guys like Bodden who should be paired less than the aforementioned. Its not like Bodden is like a mike jenkins or Joselio Hanson who is an up and comer and has shown great potential over the season, Bodden isnt going to get tremendously better, I think weve seen what he can do and thats all we need to see from him. He should be brought back for at least a few more years.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'd take Revis and Asante over Bodden as well. But that doesn't exactly make Bodden a #2. He's a perfectly solid #1. Elite? No. But probably better than half the #1s in the NFL.

Without even delving deeply into teams, and just sticking to the AFC:

Flowers
Asomugha
Jammer
Bailey
Finegan
Robinson
Revis
Joseph
Hall

That's from the AFC, and it doesn't include Cromartie, Goodman or Mathis, all of whom, probably among others, could be argued as being better than Bodden. That ranks Bodden at #10 in the AFC and, again, that's just a quick read rather than a team by team breakdown and comparison.

 

[Shockt327]

Thats a ridiculous statement, the NFL isnt clear cut like that. Right now you have about 9 or 10 lockdown caliber corners and then you have the rest of the pack. Of course you can try to rank the players but its going to be debatable. When people talk about number one corners you think of Revis, Nnamdi, Newman, Assante, Woodson, Cromartie (debatable), Finnagan, Bailey, DRC. These guys have earned the right to be paid like #1 corners. Then you have solid guys like Bodden who should be paired less than the aforementioned. Its not like Bodden is like a mike jenkins or Joselio Hanson who is an up and comer and has shown great potential over the season, Bodden isnt going to get tremendously better, I think weve seen what he can do and thats all we need to see from him. He should be brought back for at least a few more years.

No one said Bodden was the cream of the crop. That doesn't mean he isn't capable of squaring off against the NFL's best receivers and doing a good job - which is what you absolutley need from a #1 CB. Bodden is a #1 CB.

 

[Shockt327]

Without even delving deeply into teams, and just sticking to the AFC:

Flowers
Asomugha
Jammer
Bailey
Finegan
Robinson
Revis
Joseph
Hall

That's from the AFC, and it doesn't include Cromartie, Goodman or Mathis, all of whom, probably among others, could be argued as being better than Bodden. That ranks Bodden at #10 in the AFC and, again, that's just a quick read rather than a team by team breakdown and comparison.

So in order for Bodden to be better than half of the AFC; he'd have to be ranked at 8. You tentatively rank him at 10. We really aren't that far apart. Though, based on your list I do hold Bodden in higher esteem when placed against his peers.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Thats a ridiculous statement, the NFL isnt clear cut like that. Right now you have about 9 or 10 lockdown caliber corners and then you have the rest of the pack. Of course you can try to rank the players but its going to be debatable. When people talk about number one corners you think of Revis, Nnamdi, Newman, Assante, Woodson, Cromartie (debatable), Finnagan, Bailey, DRC. These guys have earned the right to be paid like #1 corners. Then you have solid guys like Bodden who should be paired less than the aforementioned. Its not like Bodden is like a mike jenkins or Joselio Hanson who is an up and comer and has shown great potential over the season, Bodden isnt going to get tremendously better, I think weve seen what he can do and thats all we need to see from him. He should be brought back for at least a few more years.

This is exactly how I feel. Great post.

Bodden is solid, but nowhere near as good as those #1 CB's listed.

As TripleChamp said, Bodden isn't an up-and-comer. He's basically reached his ceiling. I'd take guys like Vontae Davis, Mike Jenkins, and Sean Smith over him as well, who are up-and-comers and will be better than him.

If Bodden wants to be paid like a top 12 CB, he can walk IMO.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Tag him? They won't have to as nobody will want him. He should come to the Patriots cheap.

 

[slash83]

Tag him? They won't have to as nobody will want him. He should come to the Patriots cheap.

He will draw interest if the Pats dont extend him, no way he doesnt.

 

[jsull87]

We had a #1 in Asante Samuel. Do you consider Bodden on the same level or better than Asante?

I certainly don't after watching both of them play in NE. Bodden was a solid addition after having Hobbs and O'Neal as our starting CB's last year, but in no way shape or form do I consider him as good as Asante was. Bodden is good but there are too many times he has his back to the ball. Also, he doesn't have great closing speed IMO. And half of his interceptions hit him right in the chest thanks to Mark Sanchez.

I think he's a very good #2 CB, but I would not pay him #1 money.

no that was not the question. He was saying he is a nyumber 1 corner... not an elite corner like asante who led the league in interceptions this year tied. Just because bodden isn't as good as asante doesn't mean he isn't a number 1 corner on a nfl team. Asante was given top corner money.. this is different to number 1 corner money. Also just because his interceptions were easy doesn't mean he didn't put himself in the right place for them... still gotta be there and catch them

 

[Deus Irae]

So in order for Bodden to be better than half of the AFC; he'd have to be ranked at 8. You tentatively rank him at 10. We really aren't that far apart. Though, based on your list I do hold Bodden in higher esteem when placed against his peers.

I didn't rank him at all. I noted a minimum of players above him, without breaking down the entire conference. However, if you want to look at it that way, and since I think Mathis is definitely better than he is, and Cromartie and Goodman are arguably so:

I'd have him at 11-13 before looking at Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Miami, Buffalo and Baltimore, all teams I didn't even bother breaking down in my earlier post because the numbers had already gone far enough. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't want him back, given the alternatives. It just means that I feel he's limited.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

no that was not the question. He was saying he is a nyumber 1 corner... not an elite corner like asante who led the league in interceptions this year tied. Just because bodden isn't as good as asante doesn't mean he isn't a number 1 corner on a nfl team. Asante was given top corner money.. this is different to number 1 corner money. Also just because his interceptions were easy doesn't mean he didn't put himself in the right place for them... still gotta be there and catch them

There are only about 10 guys in the league who deserve to be called #1 corners, like TripleChamp mentioned. Everyone else is in a class below them. Bodden is a solid CB, but if he wants to be paid like a #1 CB I have no interest in retaining him. I consider a #1 CB the level of an Asante or Revis or Woodson, etc. Bodden's talent level is that of a #2 CB, but he is playing the role of a #1 CB on our team because we don't have a true shutdown CB since we let Asante go.

Bodden has pretty much reached his ceiling. He's not going to get much better. Also if Bodden is so good, why was Wilhite on Wayne and Colston for the majority of both games? If Bodden was a true #1 CB, wouldn't he have gone up against the other team's best WR?