Does anyone really feel comfotable with Kyle Wilson as our nickelback? I've been giving him the benefit of the doubt since I've heard about how Revis has been mentoring him and chalked up last season to inexperience. But from what he's shown on the field, it is hard to say he's improved in any way. Will he really be our nickelback? Will someone else emerge? Does anyone see anyone else taking that role full time for us? I'm kinda high on Cole right now and will take a shot in the dark and say by the end of the season Cole is our nickelback. Maybe Lowery or Strickland can step up. I was a fan of Kyle Wilson coming out of college and there still may be potential but I'm growing more and more pesismistic about this guy. If he can't lock down another teams backup WRs, what's he gonna look like during the season?
Wilson will be fine. He's a nickle, not a CB. Rex said in post game interview he was waiting for Kyle to step it up but the TD wasn't his fault - most likely a blown coverage or miscommunication. He will be fine in the slot and Rexy's comment will surely light a fire under his ass as well.
Last year everyone said he's a corner not a nickle. Which is it? I'm not particularly worried about Wilson yet--it takes time for most corners to develop--but the whole "Rex will light a fire under him/Rex will coach him up" stuff is so overblown. You're either good enough to play or you're not; Rex can put a bad player in a good position but Rex can't turn a bad player into a good one.
What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
Arguing against your point, I think Wilson is a good player (not great). I certainly see an improvement in his play, especially with him finally getting his head on a swivel. He is and has been focusing on one position rather than being slated for the nickle position, then being thrust into starting CB role, then back again - as it was last year thanks to the Revi$Drama. Wilson's stock is pointed up, much like our QB. So I expect that he will improve throughout the year and will be even better next season. He has the physical ability to be a great player - that is up to him. But Rex is putting him in a good position by not throwing him to the wolves to be a starting CB in his sophomore year. Its a role he can definitely step into later on should AC or Revis decide to leave the island.
Two seasons ago, he started playing safety in certain packages. He's still learning, but I think he'll be great.
LMAO at Mr Electric... great quote and yeah lowery is labeled a safety but he can defnitely play either... i think he has a good ball skills and can be helpful in multi-DB sets as a corner or safety... dont know if he can be a full time nickel... he seems pretty small... i guess we'll have to go with wilson and see if he can handle it...
Nickel and Corner require different technique. Wilson has skill, but is not as bright as we might hope. He is more the type of player who needs to be put in one spot and stay there. It will take him time to get comfortable with all the movement in Rex's D, just like last season. Be patient and hope we have big leads in the 4th quarter.
If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis. Wilson had a rough game last night, but he looked pretty good in the slot most of the preseason I thought. He's going to be targeted a ton this year, so I hope he's ready for it..
He just needs to learn to find the ball better. I trust him in the slot because he is a great tackler for a cb.
Can't understand why they don't give him more time there... he would be a kick ass safety imo. I hope he comes before Pool on the depth chart.
Pool played with the third stringers against Philly. Not sure the message, but Lowery could end up ahead of him.
The fact you didn't know Lowery moved to safety is a GOOD thing! Means his name isn't being called...means he's not getting burned! LOL!!!! :rofl: Actually, I've been waiting for this to happen. He has the potential and skills to be a top shelf safety in this league. His ball skills are tremendous and when he doesn't have to man up it puts him in a better position.
^Are you sure Lowery has played safety in the preseason? I don't think he played last night. I also don't think Strickland played last night, which to me, means he's the nickel back.
Since this seems to have turned into more of a thread about safeties than a thread about our starting nickel back, the faster either Pool or Lowery kicks Smith out of the starting lineup the better. I'm fine with Smith as our 3rd safety, but he's too much of a liability in coverage to be a starter for this team. He's nothing more than an "in-the-box" hard hitting safety and that's alright with me because that's what he's good at. Now Pool hasn't exactly been impressive this preseason but I still think he's more equipped to start than Smith. Lowery is the real wild card because he's shown an ability to be a ballhawk and an ability to cover in space. Either way, the safety position opposite Leonhard is a position to watch on defense this season. Hopefully we get more answers as the season goes on.
This is very simplistic, but the fact that Rex wanted Smith over Pool means Smith > Pool. He knows more than I do. Just my 2 cents...In Rex I trust (when it comes to defense.)
