Here's your new FS right here....

[Chadman]

What do you guys think?

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd6Hp5uiJgM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd6Hp5uiJgM[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqaURRSSWPI&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqaURRSS ... re=related[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc8-gJqzWws&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc8-gJqz ... re=related[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mttw7FZNAOc&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mttw7FZN ... re=related[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

Did you notice that Sonny Harris recovered the Best fumble in the last video?

Ward is a tackling machine in run support who can also really lay the lumber on guys coming across the middle. But he has 3 interceptions and 13 passes defensed in 37 college games. If that is what you are looking for in your free safety, we already have that...his name is Ryan Clark. If we want a potential upgrade there, I would look for more of a ball-hawking, playmaking FS (since our corners don't seem to be able to make plays on the ball, it would be nice to have two safeties who could).

[birtikidis]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

[Dee Dub]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

Uhhhhhhh...Ryan Clark can hit. We actually need a Free Safety who can cover. Do you have any of those type of clips on Ol' TJ?

[Chadman]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

Did you notice that Sonny Harris recovered the Best fumble in the last video?

Ward is a tackling machine in run support who can also really lay the lumber on guys coming across the middle. But he has 3 interceptions and 13 passes defensed in 37 college games. If that is what you are looking for in your free safety, we already have that...his name is Ryan Clark. If we want a potential upgrade there, I would look for more of a ball-hawking, playmaking FS (since our corners don't seem to be able to make plays on the ball, it would be nice to have two safeties who could).

Note Chadman's mock draft Ruthless- taken care of the CB's inability to catch in the 1st round..

[Chadman]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

[birtikidis]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

I don't know, I see some terrible technique throughout the NFL.
but then I don't think we need another safety who can hit. I want an ed reed to pair up with troy.

[Chadman]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

Uhhhhhhh...Ryan Clark can hit. We actually need a Free Safety who can cover. Do you have any of those type of clips on Ol' TJ?

Not sure if the Steelers FS actually NEEDS to be a great coverage player- after all, the Steelers did win with Ryan Clark at FS. The Steelers FS position isn't a 'traditional' FS anyway- simply because Troy plays like a hybrid FS/SS.

While Chadman can't produce a clip of 'great coverage' from TJ (strangely, youtube doesn't consider coverage as highlight worthy), all reports say TJ isn't that bad at it. And he's a former walk-on CB that moved to FS to allow Oregon to put their best 4 DB's on the field at the same time.

Here's a few reports that are worth reading-


[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/584170"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/584170[/url]

[url="http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3378&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500 &ATCLID=529225&Q_SEASON=2009"]http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml ... EASON=2009[/url]

Is he like Ryan Clark? To some degree, yes. He's also younger, cheaper & has more upside. The Steelers have a formula in place regarding the DB's, and it has, over time, proven successful. If they can play great defense with a FS that isn't great in coverage, who is Chadman to say they are doing it wrong?

What Chadman does know is, while DB's that get multiple INT's in a season are considered 'impactful', players like Bob Sanders are equally 'impactful'. Would you argue against that?

Ward is a terrific hitter, and having him patrol the centre field could give WR's second thoughts about crossing the middle.

[Chadman]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

I don't know, I see some terrible technique throughout the NFL.
but then I don't think we need another safety who can hit. I want an ed reed to pair up with troy.

Not asking for much, are you?

Put a better player at CB, and the need for an Ed Reed diminishes.

[birtikidis]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

I don't know, I see some terrible technique throughout the NFL.
but then I don't think we need another safety who can hit. I want an ed reed to pair up with troy.

Not asking for much, are you?

Put a better player at CB, and the need for an Ed Reed diminishes.

lol i think not!
what i mean, is a just a guy who can cover and play the deep zone or cover a man when troy is going crazy all over the field. he doesn't HAVE to be a thug.

[Chadman]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

I don't know, I see some terrible technique throughout the NFL.
but then I don't think we need another safety who can hit. I want an ed reed to pair up with troy.

Not asking for much, are you?

Put a better player at CB, and the need for an Ed Reed diminishes.

lol i think not!
what i mean, is a just a guy who can cover and play the deep zone or cover a man when troy is going crazy all over the field. he doesn't HAVE to be a thug.

Fair enough- but all reports suggest TJ isn't that bad a zone coverage, he just doesn't have the hands to be a great 'interceptor' of the ball.

[stlrz d]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

I don't know, I see some terrible technique throughout the NFL.
but then I don't think we need another safety who can hit. I want an ed reed to pair up with troy.

Only room for one freelancer in the secondary man.

[birtikidis]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

what i noticed in that highlight film (where harris recovered the fumble) was that ward had terrible tackling technique. essentially if best doesn't fumble he gets an extra five yards after contact.

Surely that could be considered coachable, couldn't it?

I don't know, I see some terrible technique throughout the NFL.
but then I don't think we need another safety who can hit. I want an ed reed to pair up with troy.

Only room for one freelancer in the secondary man.

Reed freelances, but his assignments are much more pronounced then troys. I would say Reed freelances like woodson used to freelance. stick loosely to his responsibility and then make a play.

[birtikidis]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

and really, the offense wouldn't know WHO was going to freelance. dicky lebeau could have a ball with two guys like that.

[steelblood]

Re: Here's your new FS right here....

Good FS targets

Round 1
Earl Thomas Texas

Round 2
Chad Jones LSU (could play free or strong-but I like him better as a free)

Rounds 2-3

Reshad Jones Georgia
Nate Allen S Florida

If we want someone who has a chance to start immediately, these may be the only candidates.

I feel Taylor Mayes and Morgan Burnett are SS only.