This isn't a thread to bash Gibril Wilson or Yeremiah Bell so please don' take it there. That being said, I'm still uncertain we're going to get the level of play we expect out of our FS position. I'm also not sold on Vontae Davis as our nickel back. I know Vontae isn't the tallest or the fastest guy, but those of you who know more about him that me, do you think there's a chance we'll see him at FS this season, and do you think he can succeed at that position?
Well, Vontae is really fast, and a good tackler so a move to FS would not surprise but Y Bell and G Wilson are likely to be our Safeties for the next 3 years, so any move would require an injury to one or the other, and we have Chris Clemons as a back up.
I think Smith, being 6'4, would be a better option at FS. But face it, were stuck with Wilson/Culver this year.
I was actually hoping Smith was intended to play FS for us when we picked him. Seemed to make sense with taking vontae a round earlier. Obviously smith has proven he is more than capable at Cb, but i STILL think he'd be a better safety. His size, his ball skills, playing center field? come on, whose going deep on a 6'4 safety? NOBODY, thats who. I'll settle for smith being one of the best cbs in league...i guess
Are you using a 5th rounder as a basis for why Sean Smith couldn't do it? If I were Smith, i'd be insulted.
I'm using another 6'4" guy as a basis of who can go deep on such a player. I never mentioned draft status or that Sean Smith couldn't do it. I was just saying Pat would know who would be willing to go deep on a 6'4" safety. And Pat at least has experience at S, unlike Smith who is still new to the cb position.
i just googled the dude. i have no idea who is. Although im instantly intrigued. Has he been any good?
Davis could move to safety in the latter part of his career because of his physicality but I don't know if he has the instincts for it. As for Smith playing S, CK has touched on it many times and it just isn't happening anytime soon. Like CK said, the guy has only played on defense a couple of years and now your trusting him to make the right coverage calls from the back end? Let him be a boundary corner where he has definitely shown a lot of promise and then later in his career after he develops a better understanding of the game you could move him to safety.
we have chris clemons who looked great for a rookie. why are we talking about moving a promising cb to a position that will probably be in great hands for the next ten years
We needed a ball hawk to pair with Y Bell......we didn't get one. Regardless of the money spent on the position already, we may be forced to address it again next off season. That would hurt..
Let's Assess Vontae and Sean as Safeties then... Vontae Davis Pro's: Very fast, athletic, quick change of direction, aggressive hitter/tackler, plays better coming forwards with things in front of him. Con's: Bites on playaction, double moves, and misdirection very aggressively and gets out of position, plays better coming forwards, which is a problem if chasing WRs on deep routes. Rookie. Sean Smith Pro's: Tall, great vertical leap and hands for interceptions, size. Con's: Doesn't hit as aggressively as his size would suggest, limited knowledge of defensive coverage calls after converting from wide-receiver only a couple of years ago. Rookie. To me, neither one is well-suited to being a great safety at this point. I think Vontae, once he gets older and more experienced, could become a good safety if his skill-set at CB begins to diminish. I would only put Sean Smith at Free Safety and he'd need to be paired with a real hitter at SS for run support. I don;t think he's ideal in our system as it requires both safeties be strong against the run.
You forgot Davis' Pro of being able to smack players who have called for a fair catch.....or is that a Con