Edelman is a Pretty Good Football Player

[Jackson 2]

Despite what happened around Halloween (and who knows how that will turn out?), this guy is a pretty savvy, heads-up hustling player. I consider it revealing that since his incident off-field 1) he's become much more involved; 2) produced more, and 3) BB seems to have more confifence in him. I've liked him as a player since his rookie year and I, for one, am glad he's on our team.

 

[Bonzo]

Yeah, he's got real legit talent and grit to spare.

My concern (besides the obvious one) is that he seems good for about one knuckleheaded play per game on average.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Yeah, he's got real legit talent and grit to spare.

My concern (besides the obvious one) is that he seems good for about one knuckleheaded play per game on average.

I disagree

What bonehead plays has he done since the Jints game where he was joined by 45 others?

 

[Jackson 2]

I disagree

What bonehead plays has he done since the Jints game where he was joined by 45 others?

I'm asking the same question: Where, what and when were the others, specifically?

 

[Bonzo]

I disagree

What bonehead plays has he done since the Jints game where he was joined by 45 others?

That I like his game and his agressiveness notwithstanding (not to mention he's a slippery little devil) . . .

Has he not chosen to field a handful punts on which you wished he had instead called for a fair catch? Or danced around for a loss of 2 yards? Seems to me like one of those dudes where you gotta take the good with the bad.

 

[Simkin]

Check my sig you

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

That I like his game and his agressiveness notwithstanding (not to mention he's a slippery little devil) . . .

Has he not chosen to field a handful punts on which you wished he had instead called for a fair catch? Or danced around for a loss of 2 yards? Seems to me like one of those dudes where you gotta take the good with the bad.

Think

Just what is his "bonehead" record as a PR that you're criticizing?

 

[Jackson 2]

That I like his game and his agressiveness notwithstanding (not to mention he's a slippery little devil) . . .

Has he not chosen to field a handful punts on which you wished he had instead called for a fair catch? Or danced around for a loss of 2 yards? Seems to me like one of those dudes where you gotta take the good with the bad.

You didn't answer my question about specificity, but that's OK. But, I'm guessing there will be much more good rather than bad - as has been the case his entire career.

 

[Brettlax3434]

I disagree

What bonehead plays has he done since the Jints game where he was joined by 45 others?[/QUoute

He should not have fielded the punt bouncing around right before the end of half. That said, he is a likeable player and I hope he continues to play on defense. He adds toughness to that side of the ball.

 

[Bonzo]

You didn't answer my question about specificity, but that's OK. But, I'm guessing there will be much more good rather than bad - as has been the case his entire career.

Look man, I agree with you. 100%. That was the general thrust of my post.

And regarding specificity, without having the game log or game film in front of me, wasn't there one of those exact plays to which I referred today?

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Edelman is very agile and can keep up with most NFL players. He should certainly continue to get more reps on defense and special teams as he's shown a great ability to make open field tackles. It's awesome how a last resort type move has played out the way it has.

 

[borg]

Easily the best tackler on D

 

[Jackson 2]

Look man, I agree with you. 100%. That was the general thrust of my post.

And regarding specificity, without having the game log or game film in front of me, wasn't there one of those exact plays to which I referred today?

Which one was that (hoping I'm not asking you to be too specific)?

 

[silenthuntr7]

I think he was talking about the one PR right before the half, where Edelman picked it up on the ground and ran it for -2 yards, in a clear 'let it go' situation.

Other than that, he was great today. I thought that Young run was a TD for sure.

 

[Patsfan1102]

He doesn't wait for the ball carrier to come to him to make the tackles. He GOES and gets him...which I don't see too much out of our defense

 

[jays52]

I think the thread title captures it. My impression of Edelman today was that he is a football player. He made a few plays that were very heads up, and frankly plays that would normally be expected of career defensive players. That goalline play against Young was very impressive. Not only did he completely mug his guy, he quickly recognized Young's intent to run, utilized the receiver to cut quickly and was immediately broken down. That was very impressive.

I also noticed a few other things watching Edelman today. Despite being a slot receiver/punt returner I thought that his hips were a little less fluid than you would like to see from a corner. He plants well, cuts well, but in his ability to backpedal, pivot to side step, then break into sprint he seems limited. I think that he is excellent at playing physically and was fantastic at defeating quite a few get off the jam moves. He stuffed one attempted swim like a lineman...he locked his hand into the guy's armpit, misdirected him, and took him out of the play. Pretty football. He timed his blitz surprisingly well too.

I'm beginning to think that the best fit for Edelman is on defense, and not necessarily at slot corner. I think that given the opportunity to get snaps on defense he will get a feel for watching offenses progress from the other side of the ball. He accelerates well, has good ball skills, seems to be a natural tackler, and has the makeup to be OK at blitzing. He was also a QB which from a read standpoint is essentially the mirror of a major position of need. I think that experience could be beneficial to a future at free safety. I'm going out on a limb here, but my feel as been right more than wrong with this stuff and I'm going to trust it. I think that there is a very good chance that Edelman can develop into an NFL starting caliber free safety and very well could play that spot next season. Flame away.

 

[Bonzo]

Which one was that (hoping I'm not asking you to be too specific)?

Seems like a pretty minor quarrel, but since you've made a point to press the issue . . . you got it. From the play-by-play:

4-11-PHI 19 13) 8-C.Henry punts 51 yards to NE 30, Center-46-J.Dorenbos. 11-J.Edelman to NE 29 for -1 yards (31-C.Marsh).

I recall that I wasn't thrilled with his decision-making on the play.

EDIT: Even though I was baited into this response, I don't mean for it to detract from my original comment that I am above-all impressed with the guy's heart. Not a hater by any stretch.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

I think Edelman could even be used to spy the QB in certain scenarios or if there's a fast QB like Vince Young or Mike Vick. He could also be lining up against fast RBs because he makes quick tackles and hasn't really missed a tackle recently.

He also injured LT

 

[Sciz]

I'm beginning to think that the best fit for Edelman is on defense, and not necessarily at slot corner. I think that given the opportunity to get snaps on defense he will get a feel for watching offenses progress from the other side of the ball. He accelerates well, has good ball skills, seems to be a natural tackler, and has the makeup to be OK at blitzing. He was also a QB which from a read standpoint is essentially the mirror of a major position of need. I think that experience could be beneficial to a future at free safety. I'm going out on a limb here, but my feel as been right more than wrong with this stuff and I'm going to trust it. I think that there is a very good chance that Edelman can develop into an NFL starting caliber free safety and very well could play that spot next season. Flame away.

Interesting, and great as usual from you. Converting him to FS had never really crossed my mind, but it makes a tons of sense. They're teaching him how to tackle from scratch rather than have to deal with guys like Meriweather who learned incorrectly and could never relearn it the right way. He's got that QB experience that should help him read the field from the other side of the ball. And there'd be less flipping of the hips than at CB, although he'd definitely have to be decent at that. I like it, and with the lack of free agent and draft prospects this offseason, he could be that guy that steps up and fills that void.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

He's also been a playoff performer. In the Baltimore debacle he was probably the only guy on offense/ST that actually made plays and kept us alive in that game. It's just too bad not a single other player on offense could step up.

Then last year in the divisional round he had that huge punt return that should've led to a quick TD and put us in a decent situation to tie/win that game too but again the rest of the offense refused to show up.

I feel like he'll be a hero someday in one of these games, when you have a tight playoff battle one return can blow things open.