I see the needs of QB and RB being discussed for good reason, but what about our other safety spot? That was our Achilles heel last year. How do we remedy that?
I didn't think it was a huge issue but I think the reason its put on the backburner, per se, is because there is young talent there still waiting to develop. Chris Clemons is young and Rashad Jones is still young and developing. Yeremiah Bell was not very good to start the year but got better.
It isn't that big of a weakness, and given that free agency hasn't started yet there isn't a lot of hard proof they aren't.
I was pounding the table for Earl Thomas a year ago and still see passing on him (trading down) as a mistake, but I don't think we're horrid at S. I think we lack play makers, but have an okay guy in Clemons and developmental potential in Jones and Amaya. I could see them making a run at the Raven's S, but he's not really a play maker type.
Because I think Chis clemons played as well as I thought he did, and RJ flashed ability in limited reps..
I'm not sure where the idea of S being a weakness comes from. Is it because we have two young guys to develop and no big name. Why are fans against grooming young players?
I see no weakness @ safety. what I see is potential & competition. the DB will collectively step up in 2011.
If I were to guess, my guess would be that Jones develops into Bell's replacement. I could see Bell being a salary cap casualty next season unless he plays lights out this year. I've always felt that Jones was a better SS prospect. I think he's to aggressive towards the line to function as a last line of defense type. Now Amaya is guy who I think plays like a FS. I think he shows some nice natural instincts for the ball. Obviously he's a bit of a long shot, but Amaya has flashed potential a few times for me.
That is quite a turnaround from last year 23. You said daily how Clemons wouldn't cut it. He got his shot and look he played fairly well. Another sign of fans who don't have faith in a young players chance for development. You were wrong man.
Not one "spot" alone, but yeah, I'm worried about the lack of plays generated in the defensive backfield. 11 interceptions just don't cut it. I'm aware we had a severe case of the dropsies, but that's got to improve significantly or we'll have to add someone who can actually come up with big plays back there. I don't have a problem with any specific player, but the unit in general might be an issue if they can't find a way to generate more plays.
I have very high hopes for our defense this year. I actually thought our defense was playing better than the Jets at season's end. The only spots I'm concerned about are SOLB and FS. I think Misi is okay but might not be capable of ever providing enough pass rush opposite Wake. With FS it's not so much that I think we're weak there, but rather that I see it as arguably the most impactful position on the defense (along with pass rusher). I think that if we found a great play making FS we could take this defense to great.
Aye, but sometimes a unit just doesn't work together very well, even if the individual players are doing solid. Our front 7 did a pretty decent job at pressuring the QB, so at some point you have to ask why that didn't translate into interceptions at all. There might not be one individual spot where I'd say "we HAVE to replace this dude" (well, actually there is, as Crowder drives me silly), but if we can't generate turnovers in the backfield in 2011 either, then you have to think about replacing someone there.
Yeah, that's my line of thinking as well. Clemons doesn't necessarily suck, but we're leaving a bunch of big plays on the field unless we find a guy that can actually make them consistently - or unless Clemons develops into that guy.
I don't know that Clemons is likely to develop into a play maker simply b/c he was never one in college. If you look at guys like Sean smith and Vontae Davis you know these guys showed ball skills in college and in Smith's case in the preseason as well so you can look at a year of drops as a likely aberration. But Clemons has never shown that ability. So I think that if we do find a play maker a S it is likely to be a different player.
Also agree. Chris Clemons is good and can possibly be way better... Still wouldnt mind a Eric Weddle to solidify the position. Although this has backfired with Gibril Wilson... eh
Neither do I. I merely stated it as one out of two possibilities. Reshad Jones might be the guy that develops into a play maker, but I see him as an SS. Still, works well for Pittsburgh.
I see no weakness @ safety. what I see is potential & competition. Clemons & Jones have progressed nicely & with the return of Allen there is a possibility of Smith or Carroll moving over to add depth & competition @ the position. the DB will collectively step up in 2011. our young defensive backfield comes into the season with needed experience & with the return of Will Allen. building on last year's experience & through competition, our DB will prevail in 2011
The one unqualified success of this regime is rebuilding the defense, primarily with youth. This D's biggest weakness is generating turnovers, especially picks. Let's hope these young guys can develop those skills, otherwise we need to find a ballhawk for the D. backfield.
Priorities and finite money. We spend, last I checked, over 20% of our cap number on the Oline. And we may be considering adding Leonard Davis to that. Can't spend everywhere. Thus, Clemons and Rashad Jones are the future. (tbh I think Clemons is developing decently)
