He really isn't much different than Bell except he's acouple years younger(offset by the fact that he can't stay healthy) & has played his entire career in the NFC. Bell has managed to stay on the field more, appears to be a positive locker room presence & has immense playing experience in the AFC east. I'm not sure I understand what makes Atogwe so much more of a popular choice.They're both aging 2 down safeties at this stage.
The fact that we are still discussing the lack of pass rush this team has and our holes at the safety positions just underscores the fact that our FO/CS has failed in their mission to build a team that can compete on a consistent basis. We have been plugging holes in the Hoover Dam with bubble gum for some time now. We profess to be a "ground and pound" ball club but yet we have pretty average RB's and an underachieving o-line. I do understand that we drafted Ducasse to improve the O-line,but he was a project coming out of college and could not have been expected to make an immediate impact. Rex and Tanny got rid of Kerry Rhodes(with my blessing,I might add) and never did anything to replace him besides the aformentioned band aid of Eric Smith Brodney Pool and a few others. How long have we as fans been screaming about getting a pass rusher who can put pressure on the QB? I feel like we haven't had anyone since John Abraham we could get into the backfield? Yet you look at pass rushers who have become available in the past few years like Peppers Williams and i'm sure a few others and yet we don't even make a peep about bringing them in? Yes, before you all jump down my throat, I do understand there is a salary cap, but that also shows the failure of management to properly manage it and spend $ on players who will make an impact ON THE FIELD. Yet we bring in Tim Tebow,which says to me that we are going to "pray" that we win a championship,instead of actually building a team to do it. Rex is known as such a defensive guru yet he hasn't shown the ability to stock this team with players that really get after it like his teams in Baltimore have been doing for years? Yes we have Revis but say what you want he is the only real star on this team,with the exception of Mangold. David Harris is a very solid player but argue with me if you want, he is not a star.He mearly shines brighter on a team with no one else to really get excited about, at the LB position. Not even mentioning that fact that none of these players were drafted during Rex's tenure. Maybe i'm just frustrated,and i'm sure I will be taken to task by a few, but I just don't see this organization really building a championship caliber team? At least not based on what i've seen so far? We give away draft picks like halloween candy and seem to care more about winning the war of the sports pages as opposed to winning games. Ok,let me have it.
This. I don't like Atogwe at all. Bell is not exactly a good option but he will probably be cheaper and good for vet depth.
Evojoe I will not take u to task at all,,,,,,in fact I share your feelings',,,,,,I like Rex a lot and until last year would follow TAnny blindly,,,,,,,no more free passes. I mean you said it all Evojoe I mean is this team in such better shape now than it was when Mangini left,,,,,it is year 4 under these guys this team should have a question mark or two but not serious questions from qb to rb to off line to te to pass rush to aging lb s to safeties,,',,,,,,,all teams deal with the cap and questions it just seems to me we have lots of questions,,,,,,,just sayin
Really good point here. Our two alleged strengths, running and defense, lack the talent to really be a strength.
The only way i can respond to this is with bullet points..so forgive my lack of articulation. -How has this team failed to compete on a consistent basis when the team hasn't had a losing record since 2007? Have their been some seasons that were disappointments..sure. But the team has absolutely been a consistent contender of .500 or better for over 5 years now -You claim Rex hasn't stockpiled the D with talent. To start,since when is rex in charge with bring in talent? Secondly, this defense has finished top 10 every season he's been here & has arguably been the best defense in AFC since the rex regime began. Finally, Wilson,Wilkerson,& Ellis don't classify as players brought in who have bright futures? - The team took a step back from the "ground & pound" perspective. That's a result of turnover and a disconnect within philosophy between offensive coordinator & head coach. Let's see how this running game looks with a new leader in place. - Have pass rusher and safety been problem spots? Yes. But all teams have those. It's impossible in today's NFL w/ the salary cap to have a pro bowler at every position. Additionally, can we at least wait till training camp before making any judgements about where this team is at?
They need a FREE Safety. Neither Landry nor Bell are FREE Safeties. The team's success under Ryan has resulted in holes on the team. You pay players for success or lose them. The more success the more players you have to pay and the less money is left over to fill holes. As of know the team needs to fill some holes: FREE SAFETY OLB/PASSRUSHER RT WR RB They added a back up QB and a SS. This team is very close to a big turnaround. The offense needs to move to ground and pound get players that fit that... Tebow was a great first step. Now address the need for a back up RB who is a tough runner. Get a Wide Receiver who can get DEEP. And add in a RT who is a road grader. On Defense add an OLB/PASSRUSHER and a FREE SAFETY.
Dre kirkpatrick would be a good safety IMO. You'd obviously want to see him put on about 10 lbs. He has the football IQ and athleticism to be a ballhawk that's for sure.
Martin can cover but has severe limitations in the run game . He is instinctive to a point but he is not Barron!
Kirkpatrick looks great in zone coverage. He deff needs to put on some weight, but he has great height, and for sure is a ball hawk. but again i think he will be a top 25 draft pick
When you compare what Rex & Co have done with a bottom tier QB against every other team that does not have a top 5 QB then any suggestion that they have not done an impressive job is, frankly, ridiculous. Every team has good players, everyone has smart guys on the team, everyone is operating to the same cap and in the same parameters - there is no magic formula to winning in the NFL (outside of losing a ton of games to get the #1 QB prospect and praying or getting very very lucky with a later QB pickup).
I think the Jets are serious abt putting Cro @ FS... Also this shows we are going Def in the draft. Pass Rusher unless Floyd, or Richardson drop and then we are going safety.
