stelfans
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
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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.Lets see how the Talib/Dennard/Mccourty trio plays the rest of the year but i really liked what i saw.
If this 3 come along like we expect them to, we will still need a safety and corner but i hope they take a long look at the LB position. We need someone with speed.
I think it is safe to assume that Talib is going to resign. The response to the question looked really genuine saying he'd love to stay. That leaves the 2nd Safety spot and the Nickel Corner up for grabs, Maybe Wilson is ready for that 2nd Safety spot in his second year. I'd keep Dowling, but I wouldn't rely on him. His Talent is unquestionable, but hasn't been able to stay on the field. Tyrann Mathieu seems to have made the good decision (for once) to stay away from Baton Rouge, maybe we take a chance on his as the Nickel Corner. Getting out of that environment could be just what he needs.
Talib, Dennard, Mathieu and Glass-IR is serious potential for implosion. I'd like at least one CB that could be relied upon not to be banned, arrested or IR-ed for the season.
And who's to say Arrington won't be re-signed. Will likely be cheap and BB really likes him. Actually thought he played quite well after the 1st quarter yesterday in a more limited role.
WOW Mayo. Talk about being prescient. Not only did you call the trade for Talib, you called the draft pick. Kudos for that. The rest of your "grand plan" is following nicely as well. McCourty seems heading toward a permanent place at S, Dennard at the 2nd outside CB, with Chung and Arrington headed out the door. The Powerball is tomorrow and I need some help with my numbers.
However assuming Talib can be resigned for reasonable money (and what would that be btw?), Dowling can return both healthy and effective, and Dennard's maturation continues on pace. I still feel the need to add another strong CB to the mix, preferably someone with some experience and size.
As to safety, if McCourty stays and flourishes at the FS positon, I think he makes Gregory redundant as a starter. The problem I have with a safety combo of Wilson, Gregory, and McCourty is size. We really need a big thumper back in the secondary, but someone who is more than "just" a SS.
Supposedly, because so many good safety prospects went back to school last year, this year is supposed to be especially deep at the Safety positon. Who are the guys who could be that "thumper' for us.
Mayo
Like you, I'm a fan of McCourty at safety but I'm seriously intrigued by Amerson at safety with McCourty moving back to CB in partnership with Talib and Dennard at slot.
There are some things not to like about Amerson - he's not the quickest, relies too much on his ballhawking and isn't the greatest tackler. But...
I just can't get past the fact that he's a 6'3" ballhawk. I'm not saying he's the next Ed Reed, but he could have a similar impact on our defense and that is very appealing. I'm not in the place where I'd mock it, and the chances are, after his poor season he'll return for his senior year but for a team that values the turnover so much, one would have to think that BB too would be intrigued, especially considering how much more valuable he becomes the further he falls.
So:
Option A: CB - Talib, Dennard; S - McCourty, Wilson
Option B: CB - McCourty, Talib; S - Amerson, Wilson
Option B is appealing.
Do you trust McCourty in man coverage in that scenario? One of my favorite things about McCourty at FS other than all of the stuff he does well is that it means he doesn't have to play man coverage against WRs.
Yeah, one of the mods there is looking to get into sports media and apparently has some kind of source with the Pats. Apparently the Pats went to games to scout James Rodgers last year, and instead came away liking Wheaton.I have a question for you actually. At the Footballs Future forum, you responded to a guy who said that the Pats liked Markus Wheaton saying that he usually had good info. Were you serious or just kidding?
Yeah, one of the mods there is looking to get into sports media and apparently has some kind of source with the Pats. Apparently the Pats went to games to scout James Rodgers last year, and instead came away liking Wheaton.
Mayo
Like you, I'm a fan of McCourty at safety but I'm seriously intrigued by Amerson at safety with McCourty moving back to CB in partnership with Talib and Dennard at slot.
There are some things not to like about Amerson - he's not the quickest, relies too much on his ballhawking and isn't the greatest tackler. But...
I just can't get past the fact that he's a 6'3" ballhawk. I'm not saying he's the next Ed Reed, but he could have a similar impact on our defense and that is very appealing. I'm not in the place where I'd mock it, and the chances are, after his poor season he'll return for his senior year but for a team that values the turnover so much, one would have to think that BB too would be intrigued, especially considering how much more valuable he becomes the further he falls.
So:
Option A: CB - Talib, Dennard; S - McCourty, Wilson
Option B: CB - McCourty, Talib; S - Amerson, Wilson
Option B is appealing.
Do you trust McCourty in man coverage in that scenario? One of my favorite things about McCourty at FS other than all of the stuff he does well is that it means he doesn't have to play man coverage against WRs.
Option C: CB - Talib, Dennard; S - Amerson, McCourty
Would keep Wilson at Dime, plus hes more FS then SS, but so is Amerson. Then add Mathieu. Amerson could be a second day pick and Mathieu a late. Would give us a insane ballhawking secundary - Yes ppl who takes risks, but if it gives 1-2 INT each game it could be worth it, going alone with the offense.
Manx,
While I agree that Amerson may be better suited to safety than to CB and good be a very good FS, I'm probably not in favor of your scenario for a couple of reasons:
1. It would put McCourty back at CB, and I like him at FS because of his vision, ball skills, unselfishness and leadership. We've needed a "leader" in the secondary since Rodney, and that guy is more likely to be a FS than a CB. McCourty has all of the intangibles. I'm not sure that Amerson does, and he's just a rookie.
2. I really want us to play mainly press-man with a cover-1 safety, and McCourty is just not the best man coverage CB.
3. Amerson would probably require a top 50 pick, maybe a 1st round pick, and I just don't want to keep spending that kind of capital on DBs. I just feel that we have enough youth in the secondary.
4. I've had enough juggling of positions in the secondary, and if McCourty works out at FS I don't want to keep moving him back and forth. We need continuity. Keep him at FS and develop a 3rd CB to complement Talib and Dennard.
Now I would be much more intrigued by the idea of Amerson AND McCourty at safety in the same backfield, because I believe that the future of the NFL is to have 2 safeties with CB-like skills and coverage ability - "raptors", as I termed them. Let McCourty stay as the deep FS and the QB of the secondary, let Amerson upgrade Gregory, and keep Wilson as a complementary safety with less range. I like that group a lot. But it still requires using a fairly high draft pick on a DB, and I'm not sure I'm willing to spend that high a pick on one.
But hypothetically speaking, if you were going to pick one, would you rather complement McCourty with a classic safety with great instincts and ball skills like Matt Elam, or a CB/S hybrid with great height and range like Amerson? Interesting question.
BTW- I'd be against drafting an offensive lineman during the first 2 days. Between Solder, Volmer (assuming he's resigjned) Cannon, McDonald, Wendell, and Thomas, we already have a nice young group of offensive linemen to go along with seasoned vets that we've already committed to in Mankins and Connolly. That's 8 guys right there already, and that's before you see who might be there in FA and the rest of the young guys currently in Dante's Academy for extra large ballerinas. Using a pick that high on the OL would be a luxury we can't afford imho.
No Mayo, the only offensive position that merits a pick in the first 2 days is a WR, preferably someone over 6'3. I like your idea of a mini-speedster, but I thought that was what Jeff Demps is for. We desperately need to radially improve the age demographic at WR. So I'd be willing to use a pick in the first 3 round on a WR. The rest of those first picks in the first 2 days need to keep on going to the defense. Ideally at S and the DL. As far as day 3 goes....anything goes. Go for the "BPA", I don't care about the position. They are all just shots in the dark anyway.
Last draft the Pats did a fantastic job getting 3 guys who play major roles on the regular defense at the top of the draft and 2 guys at the bottom of the draft, one who starts and another who has a major role on multiple special teams. Plus a 6th guy who looks like he's on a red shirt year. That should be the goal. Finding 5 guys who can find roles immediately, and can ultimately turn into at least 3 starters within 3 years.
BB has successfully rebuilt this team to finish out the Brady era. Major reconstruction is over. For the next few years what is necessary is doing the finish work. Numbers in the draft aren't the big thing now. Upgrading and finding playmakers are. What The long term planing BB should be thinking about is slowly over time building up his draft numbers so in 4 or 5 years when he has to start "reconstruction" again, he will have the 10-12 picks for 3 years to do it on the fly again.
BTW-the #1 goal for me isn't to find that DE to pair opposite Jones, rather its to find the interior pass rushing DT. IMHO the premium need for EVERY team in the NFL is the interior guy who can push the pocket. With all the 3 step drops, shotgun formations, and spread formations the ball is coming out of the QB's hands faster than ever. Its making it harder and harder for an edge rusher, even a great one, to make a difference. Just look at what the Pats did to Freeney and Mathis.
No what hurts the Pats is the team that can create pressure up the middle, doesn't let the QB step up, makes him feel uncomfortable right away. THAT's the guy I want, but unfortunately its the guy EVERYONE wants. Find me THAT guy Mayo....and make it so he'll be available after the 30th pick in the draft.
I'm pretty much in agreeance with you on McCourty at safety and I'd far rather use my first pick on Cooper, Ansah, Williams x2 or Carradine, but he's 6'3" goddamnit!
6'3" rangy FS's are very appealing. My plan last year was to take 6'3" 217# Brandon Hardin on day 3 of the draft. 4.43 40, 1.52 10 yard split, 6.88 3-cone, 35.5" vertical. Projected as a late round pick. Then the damn Bears took him in the mid 3rd round (#79 overall). He was reportedly playing well enough in the preseason to be on his way to earning a starting job with the Bears before sustaining a neck injury that ended his season.