What does being a starting safety have to do w/ earning a roster spot? Special teams are typically about primitive fundamentals. Especially for defensive players. Run to the football,fight through blocks if needed & make the tackle. Many coaches like to start rookie defenders out on ST as a way to learn the ropes(IE proper fundamentals) while they make the needed adjustments to contribute on defense.
Hell, we do it enough, we can probably get all DBs to crowd the line and bite, freeing up a TE to catch an easy floater from Geno.
Yeah if this was in a game, I think we could be more critical. But in practice, I don't think it's terrible the kid was in the spot.
So which is it, learning the ropes or fighting for a roster spot on special teams? You're talking about him likes he's a late pick or an UDFA.
I totally agree with your first paragraph. i had no problem with Gronk playing ST after thinking about it some. i don't think BB has a separate unit for FG's as he does XP's, and you can certainly claim that FG's are important. it's not like injuries are very common on XP's, and BB is correct in saying that it's football, you don't know who will get hurt. can't bubble wrap these guys. also no problem with Pryor blocking for kick returns. even if he doesn't start on that team, he might be a backup or spot duty player, so needs to practice it (as well as other STs). again he's a physical football player. can't protect him from potential injury. feel the same way about Richardson playing FB, Patrick Peterson returning kicks, Ed Reed returning punts, Revis on the hands team, etc.. the more you do, the more valuable you are to the team.
barcs logic 101 * you guys are morons for disagreeing with rex having pryor at personal punt protector * new details emerge stating that rex did not have pryor at personal punt protector * see ... told you so. you guys are morons for disagreeing with something rex didn't do derpa derpa derpa deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerp
agreed. remember when the giants lost a starting corner ( Jason Seahorn) for the year by using him on special teams? that is just plain dumb!
actually, i think some of the Seahawks starting DBs play special teams on a regular basis and by the numbers they were supposedly one of the top coverage and return units in the league last year
if it ain't happening on the defensive side of the ball, Rex doesn't really concern himself with it he gets more upset about an opposing rush offense's YPC average against us being .2 higher than about the fact that his team's offense can't score more than 10 points on a consistent basis when challenged about the fact the offense sucks and has 0 playmakers -- or about the guy he hired to run it (e.g. Tony Sparano) -- he'll tell you Sanchez's / Geno's QB rating in the 2nd quarter of a game 3 weeks ago was over 90.
LOL read the OP again. It's full of fail. Denying this is uncivilized. It doesn't matter if you agreed before or agreed now. If you did, you were wrong and jumping to conclusions. Plus anything this Jetsfannerd clown posts is trollworthy.
I'm talking about him like every other rookie player regardless of how they were acquired. They have to earn their roster spot & how they perform will dictate their role. It seems like you want to pencil him into a starting crucial role solely based on him being a first round pick. I'm not saying that philosophy is wrong cause Tannenbaum basically suscribed to it his whole time here. But this is a different regime built on competition.While you certainly want your high end early picks to be heavy contributors/starters ..they have to be able to compete & earn that right. Part of "learning the ropes" is proper fundamentals.No easier way to teach fundamentals than ST. Rex also addressed this issue at his PC after TC day 3. He wants to use more of his top players to create a more dominant unit. It's not as crazy as it may sound. Parcells & Groh pulled similar things in the 99-00 era with guys like Aaron Glenn & Marvin Jones on teams. It actually worked quite well..though there's obviously the injury risk.
I think it was an idiotic move because Pryor is counted on to be a starter and a very important part of the defensive backfield. While rookies often play STs, especially defensive rookies,t he Jets have plenty of backups and depth that can serve as a punt protector. Why not use an offensive player, like the FB for this, or if using a defensive player, why not use a bigger player, like a LBer? If Pryor was hurt in kick coverage, I'd have less problems with that because that's what he's used to. He's not used to blocking and being the punt protector doesn't maximize his talents and physical abilities.
I wouldn't have a problem with it if he was covering punts or kickoffs, but I do when he's being used for something he doesn't do and won't do as a starting safety, blocking.
honestly bro... punt protector is one of the most important positions on the field. We had the best punt protector in the league in tebow.. so i can see why rex is trying to find is replacement to help us move on from losing an all-time great at that position. I think calvin has a shot at joining tebow as an all-time great punt protector.
pretty much. Hey, anyone remember how we used Keyshawn in the AFC Conference Game against the Jags? He was our best player so I assume we bubble wrapped him and held him to safe routes. According to TGG that would make the most sense. Anyone remember what roles Key played that game?
