Tavon Wilson

[1%er]

It seems that BB struck gold with Dont'e Hightower who is rising toward stardom, Chandler Jones who is an absolute freak and played like a top DE for a good portion of the season before being slowed by some ankle issues and also got IMO the steal of the draft in Alfonzo Dennard who appears to be a lockdown #2 cornerback.

My question for the forum members is how do you feel about Tavon Wilson? I know he was a draft day reach in most scouts opinion but he came into camp received a lot of praise and played great in the early season. Now he barely gets on the field and when he does its not impressive at all.

I feel like when you take a safety in the 2nd round of the draft you expect him to be a starter by year 2 or 3. Do you think you all think that Tavon being a starter is a realistic expectation?

 

[Tasco]

looks to me like a future rotational guy with good fundamentals. one of those do-your-job guys that BB likes...our safety-version of Rob Ninkovich.

 

[Mack Herron]

He is playing behind Gregory, Chung, and Cole.

 

[The_Riddler]

Wilson has some upside, we saw some good things and some bad things so far, but I think his mistakes were more mental than physical. BB did reach for him in Round 2, kind of wish we traded down for him and picked up an extra pick but BB has never been known to trade down for a Reach Guy, he typically takes the reach at that point in the draft.

Regarding the safeties, I think a Chung/McCourty/Gregory rotation heading into the playoffs is pretty solid. Talib's health makes this possible and Talib's health going into the playoffs is so critical for this defense and the types of schemes they'll be able to run. Please BB open up the checkbook for Mr. Talib and get him inked longterm, we so need him.

Talib's ability to cover AJ Green in Round One will allow us to throw alot of different types of blitzes at Dalton.

 

[Rob0729]

Wilson seemed to be more of a project to me. I never expected him to have a good year. Always expected more from Dennard than him despite where they were drafted. I am actually more disappointed in Bequette than him since I expected Bequette to be more in the rotation as a situational pass rusher.

That said, I have no idea what Wilson's ceiling is. It doesn't look to be a starter at this point, but safeties can start slow in their career. Even guys like Troy Polumalu had less than remarkable rookie seasons (no I am not saying that Wilson will be even 1/18th the player Polumalu was at his peak although Wilson has 4 more INTs than Polumalu had his rookies season).

 

[patsinthesnow]

I like Ebner's ceiling better. We just need one of the 2 to emerge as a good safety to start near Mccourty.

 

[BrickPat]

To the Op's question "yes" considering where Wilson was taken and what BB saw in him relative to selecting him far earlier than predicted by draft experts.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Wilson was forced into action early on due to injuries, so it isn't as if he regressed so much as other, better options became healthier.

He hasn't been on the field much and hasn't made as many big plays, but I also haven't noticed as many mental mistakes either. Yesterday, he was quick to help in the run game and wasn't involved in any of the big passing plays given up that I saw. He played 30 of 80 snaps and while he didn't make a huge play, he didn't make a huge mistake either.

Hopefully sitting more has been helpful for his learning curve.

 

[PittPatriot]

To the Op's question "yes" considering where Wilson was taken and what BB saw in him relative to selecting him far earlier than predicted by draft experts.

I agree that he will be shoved down our throats as a starter and his ceiling is steady rotational play (James Sanders?).
Personally, he was borderline good enough for the Big 10...so I am still annoyed by his high draft selection.
I have come to accept that we just don't draft DB's well. Hopefully another Rodney Harrison will bring a big chip on this shoulder in free agency.

 

[mgteich]

1) Wilson was thrown in early in the year and did OK for a rookie. He has not passed Gregory and Chung in the depth chart. That is also OK at this point in his career. Wilson seems to be at least a rotational player going forward.

2) Barely get on the field? He played 30 reps yesterday. For comparison, defensive star Hightower played 37. Wilson is our #4 safety. When everyone is healthy, he wouldn't be expected to get lots of reps.

3) Yes, we "overpaid" for Wilson. However, it was a awful draft for safeties, and we ended up with Wilson and Ebner (a solid special teamer). Belichick did fine.

It seems that BB struck gold with Dont'e Hightower who is rising toward stardom, Chandler Jones who is an absolute freak and played like a top DE for a good portion of the season before being slowed by some ankle issues and also got IMO the steal of the draft in Alfonzo Dennard who appears to be a lockdown #2 cornerback.

My question for the forum members is how do you feel about Tavon Wilson? I know he was a draft day reach in most scouts opinion but he came into camp received a lot of praise and played great in the early season. Now he barely gets on the field and when he does its not impressive at all.

I feel like when you take a safety in the 2nd round of the draft you expect him to be a starter by year 2 or 3. Do you think you all think that Tavon being a starter is a realistic expectation?