K-9
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Posts posted by K-9
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This thread is a perfect microcosm of the entire board over the past few months. Everyone insisting that player X is better than player Y, but it's all just a huge guess at this point. I understand the addicting nature of the draft, as I get completely consumed in it every April, but to throw out these defining comments like "Thomas will be bust while Rivers is a sure fire stud," is just foolishness. Mike Williams and Charles Rogers were sure fire studs too.
And as the only thing I can have a definitive opinion on at this point is Angelo Crowell. Last year I watched that guy mature into one of the better OLBs I've seen. Not sure why we want to run him out of town but whatever.
With all due respect, if Crowell is one of the better LBs you've seen, what is the basis for your comparison then? He's one of the best LBs I've seen on the Bills the last 2 seasons but that's absolutely as far as I'll go. Watching him on game tapes is maddening. For every good play he makes he makes 2 bad ones. His pursuit angles are inconsistent at best which tells me he's not disciplined and he is below average in pass coverage, despite his INT against the 'Pukes. I just don't see greatness in him at all. Hopefully he proves me wrong and gives the Bills a reason to re-up and the rest of the league a reason to take him away after his contract is up.
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"You are making the mistake of assuming that nobody knows that but you. You spout off about stats/probability and then base a large part of your argument on something that CANNOT be quantified statistically: Allen's character."
We can quantify that Allen's character has been an empirical problem. That you insist that is "BS" and the fact that he is one slip-up from a year long suspension is par for the level of sand blasted beaked idiocy you have bawked out here. You think you "know" Allen's character. You do not.
"In the meantime it's just more of your bullsh*t. "
Yeah, his passion for boozing and banging his car is "my fault." Got it...
"KC was willing to part with a CONSENSUS All Pro."
LMAO!!!
Note the emphasis on "consensus." There was a "consensus" that Robert Gallery was a sure thing OLT.
Beaked birdbrains really like the "consensus" stuff. If one guru says something, that means less to a parrot than if a whole bunch of gurus "agree" on a "consensus" like Gallery.
Who was the ONLY "Draft Guru" to PAN Gallery and claim Vernon Carey was the #1 OT prospect in 2004?
Yeah...
That's why Ramius is so obsessed.
Do yourself a favor, doggie. Go in front of a mirror and make sure you still have dog hair, not feathers...
It's ok to pet the rabbits now, Benny. Just be gentle, ok?
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Jared Allen was in no way a finisher. Of his career 43 sacks only 17.5 came in the 2nd half of games 10 in the 3rd quarter 7.5 in the 4th. 25.5 came in the 1st half. 13 in the 1st quarter of games. 12.5 in the 2nd. Of his 13 career forced fumbles only 3 game in the 2nd half of games. He's an athletic talent without a doubt, and a good reason for the dropoff in numbers, could be cause KC, was consistently trailing in games, However the guy was generally a nonfactor for large stretches. 1 conviction away from a year suspension. Mess up after that, you're looking at a long term suspension, and who knows when he'd be allowed back into the league. A good player, hardly worth the coin making him the highest paid defensive player in the league. This is a win/win trade for KC, who is not a few players away, but needs to rebuild their entire roster.
I don't want to get into the relevance of him not being a finisher, etc. Too many factors involved and one of them you alluded to already. Besides, I don't put a lot of stock in simple sack totals. Pressures are just as important. As are technique, holding a gap, etc, depending on the context of the defensive play call and the assigments relative to that call.
Nobody suggested it's not a good deal for KC. How ANYONE can suggest it isn't for the Vikings is ludicrous as that REMAINS to be seen. How anyone can suggest that the Vikings would have gotten someone better with their 1st pick is even MORE ludicrous. "Worth" has NOTHING to do with the equation one way or the other. You are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. Besides, and I haven't seen his contract structure, I would be VERY surprised if he stands to see more than what's guaranteed, like most of these astronomical contracts.
There have been many great players over the years that were one more infraction from suspension. Including our own Bruce Smith. While I agree that the past can often be a predictor of the future it may also serve to alter it as well. Sometimes a 26 year old with multi millions of dollars on the line can see the light. Sometimes they screw the pooch. Nobody knows until everybody knows.
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Remember, you are talking to a guy who thinks that justin geiseinger and eric king are pro-bowlers.
I missed that since I didn't take time to read the entire thread. If he really thinks that then I feel terrible for engaging in the argument. Kind of like how I felt about Benny in 'Of Mice and Men.'
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For someone so sure the sacks stat tells everything to know about a DE (don't bother watching the other 98% of his plays), you do not seem to understand stats and probability. Having four healthy high character players for the price of one low character player is a much less risky gamble. In the Draft, you get to choose from everyone. In FA/trade, you only get what another team wants to part with.
I'm quite familiar with Allan's entire career, thank-you. And when you're able to get your hands on as much NFL game tape then we can have a serious discussion about his other 98% of plays. We agree there's a helluva lot more to a DE's game than sacks. You are making the mistake of assuming that nobody knows that but you. You spout off about stats/probability and then base a large part of your argument on something that CANNOT be quantified statistically: Allen's character. If he screws up then come back and say "I told you so." In the meantime it's just more of your bullsh*t.
Damn right you only get to pick what another team wants to part with and in this case KC was willing to part with a CONSENSUS All Pro. What part of the 'bird in the hand' adage DON'T you understand? Quick, tell me which defensive end available at the Vikings slot is going to make All Pro. Thought so.
because you certainly know better than to trust your own eyes...Well, we can agree on that. It's just that MY eyes tell me the same things about Allen that they tell the personnel directors around the league. Yours seem to tell you something completely different. I'll go with my own experience and the confidence of those that get paid to make player personnel decisions on a daily basis. You can sit and watch from your two-dimensional TV set and let us all know differently.
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That is a typical attempt to compare apples and oranges and completely ignore character and injury. It also simply totals up the "sacks" and nothing else as far as "ranking" Allen. The Vikes' first will likely be an excellent player assuming KC spends it wisely. Any player will be better than Allen if he gets hurt or suspended.
And any player they would have drafted or that KC drafts will be worse than Allen if THEY get hurt or suspended. I like how your crystal ball only works in reverse.
Your underlying assumption is that every NFL player is 100% guaranteed to stay healthy and out of trouble. It is like a "puzzle." Just fit the pieces together, the ones with the stats, and presto, Super Bowl here we come. Backups, depth, salary cap, injury and character issues -My underlying assumption is that the Vikes saw Allen as their defensive piece to put then over the top and were willing to make him their #1 pick and they thought that the 2 3rds was a reasonable price. Anyone who knows sports, especially football, knows that you're ALWAYS one play away from having it all taken away. What, you just discovered that concept?
WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!What was that which just sailed overhead???
I don't know. You tell me. Was it anything that made sense?
NFL teams work with limited number of dollars and Draft picks. You don't part with an enormous amount of both for one overrated character case.Draft picks are a crapshoot at best. The Vikings felt, justifiably so, to have the bird in the hand. You say he's overrated. I'm waiting to hear that from a pro personnel director. There's a GREAT chance he'll be even better in Minnesota playing with superior defensive personnel. I would wager he will be better even though his sack stats may go down. That has to do more with the scheme Minny employs most of the time. With him in there, they'll be able to employ it even MORE of the time.
As to his character, hey if he can't keep himself from drinking his way to another suspension then you can come back and say 'I told you so.' In the meantime, it's just BS. Or, another way of looking at it might be that Bruce Smith himself was just one more toke away from a one-year suspension as well. Glad the Bills didn't freak about HIS character like you would have. Or are you a hypocrite as well?
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Bottom line: Vikes gave up their 2 3rds for an All-Pro DE who, at 26 is just entering his prime. Anyone care to argue that their 1st round pick would have been a better player?
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Just to piss off In Space, the Bills will trade down with Philly and then take Rivers.
The Bills will trade back into the 1st and take Rivers again.
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Dude:
Yeah, his 0 sacks and 0 interceptions sure turned around alot of games for USC last year.
You keep trotting out these sack and interception stats like they mean something to people who just might know better, like Gil Brandt and just about anyone else who rates college players and gets paid for it. Why hasn't ANYONE but YOU looked at the his sack/INT stats and reached the same conclusions?
It's one thing to disagree that the Bills shouldn't take the guy when they have other needs and we can all have great fun arguing the merits. I'm just wondering what we're all missing about Rivers except you.
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Dude, You could replace the Name Rivers with Thomas in Your 1st sentence and it would explain EXACTLY why the Bills would take the WR at #11 ...There are those who feel Thomas' upside is that of an impact #1 WR...He has all the tools to be exactly that...He lacks experience, that's it...He's fast, has an incredible burt, very good hands, uses his body well, is REAL good in the open Field, he breaks tackles, he blocks, and he's a better than average Kick Returner...That's a TON of upside...
Look...I understand there are a bunch of "Scouts" out there killing Thomas and Sweed...saying neither is worthy of a Top 15 Pick...and they may be right...Of coarse there are other Scouts who have Thomas rated MUCH higher and have felt all along the Bills will take Him at #11 Overall...
Based on their last Year in College I'm not sure how You can possibly say Rivers is MORE of an impact Player than Thomas...Cause He was not...As much? Maybe so...But more?...No way...In fact Thomas was far more valuable to MSU than Rivers was to USC...Of coarse I understand there is a MASSIVE overall talent differential there...But I digress...So now we are PROJECTING impact in an area that We all know is not an exact science, that is unless somehow recently Tony Mandrich, Mike Williams, Brian Bozworth, Ryan Leaf and a host of others became perenial Pro Bowlers like they were supposed to...
So...Realize this...The Bills MAY Draft Thomas or Sweed at #11, and they MAY be dead wrong when it's all said and done...That being said, if they do so all it means is The Bills Scouts had one of the 2 rated a lot higher than some other Scouts in the League (ie...Whitner and Lynch)...And until this plays out a few Years down the Road it's not "plain dumb." Risky? Maybe a bit, but it ain't dumb cause no one, including Yours truly really knows WTF is gonna happen to most of these Kids when they enter the NFL...That is the only thing I know for certain...We don't know...
Excellent post particularly about the only thing we know for certain is not knowing.
People know my (and others) view on Rivers but I have no problem with Thomas either. From my point of view, BOTH Thomas and Rivers would ALREADY BE better players than anyone on the team they'd be penciled in to replace. So regardless, we would upgrade either position on our team.
For many reasons rookies on defense have better opportunity to impact than offensive players. That's just not historical fact it's common knowledge to anyone who's involved in the sport. Since we are in dire need of playmakers on EITHER side of the ball that's why I favor the defensive side and the selection of Rivers, if he's there. But he won't be.
As for reaching for Thomas? If the Bills have him targeted then by all means they should take him with the 11th pick. The term 'reach' is assinine to begin with.
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I swear, some people around here wouldn't know a game-changing playmaker if he fell on their head. Is anyone REALLY serious in thinking Crowell is a better LB than Rivers? Please don't suggest he possesses the same pure athleticism. If Rivers is everyting he appears to be it's a no-brainer. But he's not going to be there for us to take because teams drafting ahead of us know the same thing. He has the potential to be a GAME CHANGER in the mold of Cornelius Bennett. Instant impact kind of player. I'd bet those who don't want Rivers wouldn't have wanted Bennett either and would have been storming the FO with pitchforks and shovels when Polian announced what we gave up to get him.
It's FAR easier for a blue chip rookie defender to have an impact than a blue chip offensive player. Been like that since they first laced them up.
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I have this nagging feeling that Keith Rivers is going to be a monster defensive player on the next level. Should the Bills really take the need over much greater value with that first pick? I mean, think about how strong our front seven would be having Rivers in there. I think he's going to be a much better player than either Crowell or Mitchell and the Bills wouldn't have to worry about injury as much. Having Rivers, Poz, Mitchell, Stroud added to our 2008 defense would be sick I tell ya.
In regards to the WR position, I think that the Bills should go value with the first pick, then trade back into the later part of the first round to get Sweed, Hardy or Kelly. Three WRs who actually have production more than one season, something that is Thomas' biggest concern. I don't think he's worth risking that #11 pick to find out if he isn't just a one year wonder. Give up a 4th and 5th to jump ahead of SF in the second and draft Hardy or Kelly (whichever one is hopefully still there).
Two posts of agreement in one week? That's either a sign of the Apocalypse or I need to get my head examined. AGAIN!
Seriously, I wouldn't mind seeing Rivers at all. I don't think he falls that far though.
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If the Jets trade up it's to get Gholston or Long. Either would be a great fit in Mangini's D. I feel it will be Long. He's a GREAT 3-4 DE already. Just like us, the Jets know they play in the same division with Brady and Co. and what's needed to compete.
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Thanks for posting this.
I've missed his in-depth analysis on NFL.Com.
I guees we'll have to settle for these quick blurbs this year.
I'm happy he's still contributing, it's part of my draft tradition to at least see what he has to say.
I see Rivers is a tier 1 talent according to one of the best evaluators of all time.
I'm just messin' with ya.
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Chris Brown's Bill's blog:
CROWELL HAS AN ARGUMENT: Looking at the AFC Pro Bowl picks for the OLB position it's obvious that 3-4 LBs have a major advantage. Since they rush the passer a lot more they can rack up a lot more sacks, an overvalued stat for linebackers. Pittsburgh's James Harrison (who I believe is deserving) had 8.5 sacks, but he also have four pass breakups, an INT, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also had a respectable 89 total tackles. At least he had numbers across the board.
But New England's Mike Vrabel and San Diego's Shawne Merriman have yet to crack the 70 tackle plateau (as linebackers!), but because they have 9.5 and 11.5 sacks respectively they go to the Pro Bowl. Granted they also play for high profile and successful teams which always helps too. But aside from those sack totals their other numbers are less impressive than Crowell's
Let's compare
Crowell 113 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 safety, 5 PBUs, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR
Vrabel 69 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 0 safety, 0 PBUs, 0 INT, 5 FF, 0 FR
Merriman 63 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 0 safety, 0 PBUs, 0 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR
I'll be the first to agree that the sack is a glorified stat for a defensive end, but it's the primary role of a defensive end along with making tackles in the run game. Linebackers should be able to do more than just rush the passer. Yes, Merriman is a great pass rusher, but Crowell has better all-around numbers. Not to mention he doesn't blitz much at all. In his system he's off the line a good portion of the time.
I just think Crowell should've received more consideration. He should at least be a first alternate. After David Thornton there's no outside linebacker in the AFC within 10 tackles of him. That's a game's worth of tackles ahead of almost every AFC outside backer.
And Crowell is the weak link on our team? Sorry, that is just plain silly.
We need at least a new starting WR, TE, C, FB, FS, DE, oG, and CB before we need to worry about replacing Crowell.
You sure you want to hang your hat on tackle stats? Well, if so, go back and look at how many plays Crowell was on the field for vs. Vrabel or Merriman. Our D couldn't get off the field. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if most of our starters that went through the year unhurt were near the top of the list in tackles for their respective positions.
I'm not saying Crowell is the weak link. I AM saying Rivers is a better LB RIGHT NOW. But that's only one man's opinion and, like you say, we'll know on Saturday. And if he falls like you predict I'll be the first one to eat crow and give you the props for predicting something nobody, not even the experts, are predicting.
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Just a note:
We play a 4-3 defense.
If Rivers is going to provide an impact, which of our three starting linebackers is headed to the bench?
What a GREAT problem for the coaches to have. If I had to make a guess and assuming Mitchell was brought in to start, I'd have no problem sitting Crowell. He's adequate AT BEST. At any rate it would be one hell of a rotation for our front seven.
Anyone remember who Bennett replaced in '87?
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Did anyone consider the cap hit the Bengals take in the a$$ if they accepted the Skins deal? The reminder of his amortized bonus money rolls to the 08 cap. After June 15... to 09. Think that might have something to do with it?
FWIW, this was in the blog under the original link in the Washington Post:
This from ESPN:
"Trading Johnson also would mean Cincinnati would take an $8 million salary-cap hit, but that amount could be split over the next two years. Additionally, as one owner who wished to remain anonymous told ESPN.com, "There's nothing wrong with dead money. It's cash already paid and it's cash back in your pocket that you don't have to spend, especially with the [high] amount of everyone's salary cap these days."
It may be that the Bengals simply don't want to weaken their offense (and getting rid of Johnson SEVERELY weakens them). Remember when everyone thought Price could be a #1? I'm not sure the Bengals want to find out the same with Houshmenzadah (sp).
Then again it's all pre-draft posturing at this point.
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It is not just the draft though. It is the whole day of festivities. I go golfing every saturday morning. We get the 1st tee time & usually tee off around 6am. So I will go golfing, be home by 9:30, take a little nap, then I will take the little guy to his soccer game at noon, be home by 2:30 & start cracking the beers. I will put $50 on a few NHL & NBA playoff games. Flip back & forth on those during the draft. Maybe tune into see how the Mets are doing. A few of my friends will stop over. I will play a little mini basketball with the little guy down in the clubhouse(that is what me & my son call the basement) all while watching some good sports during the duration of the day & yes the draft although tedius at times is must see tv. Where else are you going to get your football fix in April???? Add in some good grilling over the course of the day(Im going to be doing burgers in the afternoon along with shrimp kabobs, taco dip, stuffed mushrooms, baby back ribs for lunch/appetizers & lobster tails & strip steaks at night). I have 5 friends that are coming over. Cap off the day by building a bonfire at night & it is a pretty good way to spend a saturday in late April. So as you could see, it is not just watching the draft, it is the culmination of golfing, spending quality fun time with the little guy, boozing, gambling, eating excellent food & watching quality sports on the plasma tv.
I want YOUR life!
Well done. Well done, indeed.
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Not a surprise considering the history between Levy and Polian who, on several occassions said the same thing about building teams. Polian even gave the order of preference; QB, DE, OLT, RB, WR. When you gather all those elements at the same time, you are on your way. But that's the hard part. It's HARD for teams to have all that at the same time let alone keep it together nowadays.
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You can have your "coverage linebackers"......
pick #11 in the draft IMHO is reserved for taking explosive playmaking linebackers. Not "coverage linebackers".
Maybe you don't see him having a problem coming off the edge as a pass rusher, but apparently the coaching staff at USC did.
0 interceptions, 0 sacks.
Let's see where he ends up, I see him falling in this draft.
We will know on Saturday.
I hear ya regarding 'coverage' LBs and I'm certainly not advocating taking Rivers because he's a good coverage LB. Although it doesn't hurt to have an LB that can do both. I mention his coverage ability because it underscores his great athleticism.
The USC staff had a problem with him coming off the edge? No. They simply didn't ask him to do it because they generated enough pressure with their front four and they LOVED his coverage ability. Teams rarely threw in his direction. That was my point about looking at the game tapes. I wouldn't expect to see sack stats when I didn't ask him to do what's needed to get them.
If he does end up sliding out of the top 10, it'll be interesting to see what happens. I gotta think the Bills and teams behind him have ranked in the top 10 on their boards. At the very least, if the Bills don't take him, it'll add another player teams will be willing to trade up to get.
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Studying the drafting trends of the way Super Bowl teams approach the Top of the Draft versus the Buffalo Bills (one of only 4 teams in the NFL to have missed the playoffs this Millennium) may offer some insight into why we’ve been one of the consistently bad teams in the league for an extended period of time.
Using the draft records of Super Bowl teams allows a look into how those teams have “budgeted” at specific positions at the Top of the Draft. This study does not establish whether these Positional Budgeting Trends are a conscious strategy on the part of all or any of the teams in the study, but the trends do represent contrasts between the players Super Bowl teams target at the Top of the Draft versus the positions the Buffalo Bills have been drafting.
The methodology used for the study follows the primary trending results.
A comparison of Super Bowl Draft Budgets versus the Bills looks like this:
Super Bowl Teams: Giants, Colts, Steelers, Pats*, Bears, Seahawks, Eagles, Panthers:
% of Draft Top of the Budget by Position:
Super Bowl Teams
DL 23%
DB 21%
WR 14%
OL 12%
TE 9%
RB 8%
LB 7%
QB 6%
Bills
DL 16%
DB 20%
WR 18%
OL 12%
TE 0%
RB 20%
LB 6%
QB 8%
A few substantial differences in tendencies:
Buffalo has used 59% of its draft budget in the study period for Offensive players, while the Super Bowl Team Draft Budgets favor Defensive selections more often than Offensive.
Buffalo has “outspent” the Super Bowl teams at RB and WR while “under spending” them at TE and DL.
This makes the following areas those in which Buffalo most widely bucks the Top of the Draft Trends of Super Bowl teams:
A) Bills have a higher Top of the Draft spend on Offense than Defense, contrary to the trend with Super Bowl teams
B) Bills have no TE selection at the top, whereas all but one Super Bowl team has spent a portion of their Top of the Draft Budget on the position.
C) Bills have spent a higher ratio of their budget on WRs versus DL, bucking the Super Bowl team trend of loading up on DL at the Top of the Draft
Every Super Bowl team except the Seahawks has a higher DL spend than they do at WR. The DL/WR ratio favoring the DL is common among 87.5% of the Super Bowl Teams. Buffalo is already out of balance on this trend, and a selection of a WR with the #11 pick this season would put us at a nearly 1:2 DL/WR ratio, a stark contrast to the almost 2:1 ratio favored by the Super Bowl Teams on average. (The ratio favoring DL over WRs is also a trait of recent playoff teams like the Cowboys, the Chargers and the Packers).
Every Super Bowl Team except the Panthers has a Top of the Draft investment in the TE position except the Carolina Panthers. The Bills have none.
Super Bowl teams are spending over 23%- or almost a quarter of their Top of the Draft Budget- on DL, while the Bills have committed less than 16%.
In order to compile usable information for the study, the following reasonable stipulations were adopted in order to establish a study group and time window:
1) Top of the Draft- This is represented by the first two rounds. The players selected in these two rounds represent the prospects that NFL teams have concluded are the best talent entering the league from college each season.
2) Draft Budgeting- To establish a position by position numerical score for each team, the study uses the sum of the specific draft choices in which each team selected players at each position during those first two rounds. In order to end up with a highest to lowest sum, the selections were counted inversely. Since there are 32 team picks in each round each of the first 64 picks is assigned the inverse of its position, with draft pick #1 being given a numerical score of 64 points, draft pick #2 counting for 63, etc.
3) Compensatory picks- Compensatory picks following the 64th pick of the draft were counted as 1 point in each case.
4) In establishing a window to study successful draft budgeting, the average number of years first round draft picks average playing for their original team (6-7) was used. The past 7 drafts were those considered.
5) “Super Bowl Teams” will be NFL teams who have won their Conference Championships over the past 5 seasons. This allows the Super Bowl rosters to have two mature draft classes entering the study and limits teams declining from bad contemporary drafting over the study window like the Super Bowl Raiders following the 2002 NFL Season.
6) Positions- Positions are defined by: DL, DB, WR, OL, TE, RB, LB and QB.
7) Percentages- Percentages are carried to the closest whole number.
Very interesting and thanks for the hard work and analysis. But it STILL comes down to those teams finding better football players, regardless of their draft investments. I wonder if there is any correlation between positional investments vs. player success? In other words, are DLmen more apt to become good NFL players vs. TEs for instance.
As you certainly know and can appreciate, there are a host of other factors not addressed relative to the success of the SB teams listed but those are better saved for a different thread.
Thanks again for some thought provoking material.
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That's a blessing in disguise. Kiper's hair in HD may be the TV equivalent of crossing the beams.
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Rivers had 0 sacks last year, yeah 0.
He's hardly a pass rushing specialist.
You may wish to visit some game tapes of USC from the last two years. That will help explain the sack totals. FWIW, Rivers is widely considered the best COVERAGE LB coming out this year as well. But with his physical gifts I don't see him having a problem coming hard off the edge as a pass rusher. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Patsies end up with him because he is so versatile.
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Yeah, the offense was so much better with Trent in there.
I don't want to get in the middle of your squabble with Gordio but the offense being BETTER or NOT with Trent in there is NOT the point. The point is it wasn't any WORSE. Now before you go jumping on me for that please look at the business ramifications from the Bills side of things first. Secondly, and probably more importantly, the coaches felt more comfortable with Edwards in there. That's either right or wrong depending on your opinion of the coaches but it too, carries enormous weight obviously. The coaches gave JP two opportunities to be the starter last year and, after nearly screwing the pooch against Miami and then screwing the pooch against Jax, they simply pulled the plug. It doesn't matter that Trent screwed the pooch all season long or not as well. Like Bledsoe before him, the coaches reached the decision they couldn't win with JP at the helm. Edwards may end up being WORSE but right now he ISN'T in the eyes that matter most.
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Would drafting Keith Rivers be a much smarter move
in The Stadium Wall Archives
Posted
I'd be interested in seeing what publications mentioned him and in what context. Number of tackles maybe? Our best starting LB should have high tackle totals when he's on the field as long as ours was last year.
Yes we had problems with our D-line and we had to adapt different responsibilities for our DLmen in light of all the injuries last year. Especially early on. But I would ask you to review Crowell's performance. It's easy to say it's the Dlines fault but on many occassions they did their job correctly only to have Crowell take one of his patented bad angles and miss a tackle. He does the same thing on pass drops. I'm not saying he doesn't have SOME ability. But he's terribly inconsistent in every facet. I agree he's a gamer but a great attitude only gets you so far. Here's to hoping you're right and another year in a healthier defense does the trick for his consistency.
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