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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I've heard some say that before and it's really not true. I don't know if it's because he rarely played off in TB and people assumed he couldn't do it, but the the whole "Talib struggles playing off coverage" thing is a myth.I'd say top-10. He's one of the best press corners in the game, but he's not especially good at playing off of receivers. That one versatility issue keeps him out of the top 5 no matter how good he is at what he does, IMO.
On the bright side, he's good enough as a press corner that he can be very effective just doing that almost all of the time.
I've heard some say that before and it's really not true. I don't know if it's because he rarely played off in TB and people assumed he couldn't do it, but the the whole "Talib struggles playing off coverage" thing is a myth.
He's not elite at it like Samuel, but he plays it about as well as guys like Bailey/Joseph.
Circled in red is Talib panicking because of Johnson’s cut on the deep dig route and committing a horrible illegal contact penalty that didn't get called. I’m not sure why, but any time Talib plays in off coverage, he has awful down field technique and has no idea which way to turn his hips as his receiver approaches. We’ll get into it later, but I just want to point out that despite Johnson only having two catches against Talib in man coverage, he was open a lot whenever Talib played anything other than press-man at the line of scrimmage.
Pats1-4_medium
Circled in red is Daniels making an easy catch for 13 yards and a first down. Circled in blue is Talib falling flat on his face, with Andre Johnson running free in yellow.
How good can he be or become if he had a perfect year? Top 5 CB? Top 10? I really think that in the right system and a full year with 0 health issues...he could become a top 5 CB in this league. He has the tools IMO. But he just has to put it all together which i think will be tough.
Revis, Sherman, and maybe Cromartie.Granted, this scouting report is slanted against the Patriots overall, but one thing that I thought it highlighted excellently was Talib's struggles playing off his man:
The Film Room: Why The Patriots Should Be So Very, Very Afraid Of The Texans - Battle Red Blog
Or, try this (very informative) write-up:
Film Breakdown of Redskins Hopeful Signing, Aqib Talib - Hogs Haven
It's no coincidence that it highlights a bunch of positive plays that Talib made while playing press coverage, and the worst play that's highlighted happens to be the one where he's playing off his man.
Again, I didn't say that Talib's bad in off-man coverage. He's better than the BRB link claimed, for sure. But the issue that BRB highlighted was a real one, even if it was dramatically overstated. Even if he's just adequate at playing off-man, that's still enough of a blemish on the resume where I'd leave him off my top 5. When you're talking top-5 CBs, they're all either really good at everything, or better at what they do best than Talib is at what he does best. I'm thinking of guys like Revis, Sherman, Peterson, Haden, Flowers, and Tillman. You could also make a strong case for Bailey and Cromartie being better than Talib.
If you're just trying to win games this year, without respect for age, health, or salary, how many of those guys would you take Talib over?
wasn't there word that this off season he has trained very hard or more than he ever has before? Thought i read that somewhere along the way. I wonder if it's becasue he is a FA next year...
He was one of the 10 players to win an off-season recognition award for training. I highly doubt he ever won that in TB.
that's what it was. Yeah i am going to go with a no to winning that in TB
Revis, Sherman, and maybe Cromartie.
While good corners, you're overrating those other guys. Peterson in particular as inconsistent as any corner the league and got beat for plenty of big plays last year. If I had time I could cherry pick plays of those other corners getting beat the way those quick scouting reports you posted did. There's too many snaps in a season to only look at a few plays. Today's NFL every corner gives up catches in every game.
Talib definitely isn't unbeatable, but neither is any other corner in the league other than Revis/Sherman. Talib in the top 5 may be a little over optimistic, but he's definitely top 10.
People are going to break out the "top 5" stuff with Talib based upon a couple of weeks of competing against the likes of Michael Jenkins?
Really?
People are going to break out the "top 5" stuff with Talib based upon a couple of weeks of competing against the likes of Michael Jenkins?
Really?
D personally I'm basing it on is talent, intangibles, that out of shape and often injured he was capable of holding his own against top WR, and most important I'm basing it on his offseason recognition for training which I view as an indication he has turned a corner in his career. I don't think anyone can deny Talib has what it take to be a top 5 CB he just has never gotten there because of motivation, distraction, and injuries.