Which starting spot in the biggest question mark on defense?

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

S.O.S.

I think safety. I think Mitchell is bad as it is. But Shamarko is still pretty much an unknown.


That being said,, have any of you guys notice Shamarko's absence from twitter and facebook, since March/April ? I follow him on FB . He has nothing for months and before he was throwin out a lot of fluff pieces and inspirational B.S.

 

[Coach]

What? "Long range" speed? WTF is that? Don't you know that a safety covers more "long range" than a CB? How do you know he is a good center field type player. He has never played the position and you've never seen him play center field at any level. There is nothing about him that says "safety" at all. In your own words he isn't quick, lacks "long range" speed, can't cover man to man but he can catch a ball..... maybe.

Vader,

Cortez Allen got burned in coverage by the Browns TE for six. He does not have good long range speed or if you prefer the speed to catch a man from behind or run with a fast one alone.. In fact his lack of speed was on display several times. Cortez isn't quick and seems to have a slow transition out of his backpedal.

I think he's a good centerfielder type because once the ball is in the air and he isn’t chasing someone, he moves into position to make a play on the ball. Cortez has fine ball skills and hands to get the interception. At safety his lack of coverage skills at the LOS are less of an issue, and having the play in front of him would give him a chance to make some plays on the ball.

Last year the Starting Steeler safeties had as many interceptions as I did.

 

[deljzc]

We can complain all we want about the production at OLB, but at least I'm convinced we are 4-deep at OLB with ACTUALLY NFL caliber players. Even I can admit the under-performing Jarvis Jones is still NFL level competent - he's just not living up to his 1st round billing and isn't making enough impact plays. We also have the age-defying Harrison (who is productive in his limited snaps), another 1st round talent and a decent journeyman backup.

When you look at the safety depth you have Mitchell, who has to bounce back and improve (after being paid???). Will Allen, who in any fair evaluation is just a 6-year older version of Arthur Moats at his position and a 3rd round talent in Shamarko Thomas that has 20 career defensive snaps.

I mean to be fair:

J. Jones = M. Mitchell
A. Moates = W. Allen

Dupree (1st rounder) >>> S. Thomas (3rd rounder)

And that's not even counting whatever James Harrison can pitch in for 20-30 snaps a game.


Remember, there are no more snaps during a game at OLB than at safety. I am much more confident we can find some production (not great) out of the OLB group of 4 for the 2000 player-snaps than getting some production from those 3 safeties over 2000 player-snaps.

 

[slashsteel]

Vader,

Cortez Allen got burned in coverage by the Browns TE for six. He does not have good long range speed or if you prefer the speed to catch a man from behind or run with a fast one alone.. In fact his lack of speed was on display several times. Cortez isn't quick and seems to have a slow transition out of his backpedal.

I think he's a good centerfielder type because once the ball is in the air and he isn’t chasing someone, he moves into position to make a play on the ball. Cortez has fine ball skills and hands to get the interception. At safety his lack of coverage skills at the LOS are less of an issue, and having the play in front of him would give him a chance to make some plays on the ball.

Last year the Starting Steeler safeties had as many interceptions as I did.

for me Cortez issues didn't revolve around speed or lack of.

It was his positioning, not in the right spot to make the play, head turned wrong, etc.

I remember many times he was neck and neck with the other teams WR, only to give up the reception.

.............really seems more like a mind problem over a lack of physical ability problem................ for again me anyways.

 

[Vader]

Vader,

Cortez Allen got burned in coverage by the Browns TE for six. He does not have good long range speed or if you prefer the speed to catch a man from behind or run with a fast one alone.. In fact his lack of speed was on display several times. Cortez isn't quick and seems to have a slow transition out of his backpedal.

I think he's a good centerfielder type because once the ball is in the air and he isn’t chasing someone, he moves into position to make a play on the ball. Cortez has fine ball skills and hands to get the interception. At safety his lack of coverage skills at the LOS are less of an issue, and having the play in front of him would give him a chance to make some plays on the ball.

Last year the Starting Steeler safeties had as many interceptions as I did.

This is my problem. Why take someone with all those limitations and play them at a position where you need speed, quick transitions out of backpedals etc... How is he any better than what you have? He isn't and never will be because the only thing you can even think of that he does well is catch the ball. But you can't even really know that he is a good centerfielder because you've never actually seen it. Every single one of his picks was at CB not playing center field.

Every single attribute that a safety needs he doesn't have. There is no reason in the world to play him at safety other than the fact that he can't play CB... none. He offers nothing at safety that you don't already have with others and really he offers much less because they are faster and actually have played the position before. It makes no sense to me. Nobody wants a slow, inexperienced, safety that can't cover.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

sooooo,,,,,,,,Which starting spot in the biggest question mark on defense?

 

[Vader]

sooooo,,,,,,,,Which starting spot in the biggest question mark on defense?

I,,,,,,,,,,think,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, probably,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, LB is the biggest,,,,,,,,,,,,,,question mark on ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,defense.............................

 

[diver]

I agree with those that say LBs. The defense is designed for them to make plays. If they don't, the rest of the defense suffers. So we will see.

I must say I am intrigued by it. I think they will be good. Why? I have no facts to back that assessment up. It is why I like this time of year, though. You feel positive about their chances of being good. Be positive. We'll find out soon enough if they can't do it.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

please don't attack my diatribe for punctuation.