The Safeties

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by jppaul

You know its funny, that is absolutely right. But what the fan base has been begging for for years and never had is a pure centerfielder type of FS.

Well playmakers are not made they are born, IMO. And we have not had any DBs on our roster since Glenn that was a true playmaker. Until we draft for that trait, we will not have that trait. IMO.

[NBT]

Maybe not......but under father Rhoades, let's hope they can be reborn a little.

[KJ3]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Well playmakers are not made they are born, IMO. And we have not had any DBs on our roster since Glenn that was a true playmaker. Until we draft for that trait, we will not have that trait. IMO.

bennett looks to be a playmaker. or a decent corner. i can't tell which because i'm biased to seeing faggins play uh-oh-cornerback.

we draft playmakers these days, just not so much in the backfield.
demeco has that trait, owen daniels, jacoby jones, fred bennett, slaton has the gene. we get a few every draft. production aside, they have the "vince young and espn's copyrighted term for vince young" factor.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by KJ3

we draft playmakers these days, just not so much in the backfield.
demeco has that trait, owen daniels, jacoby jones, fred bennett, slaton has the gene. we get a few every draft. production aside, they have the "vince young and espn's copyrighted term for vince young" factor.

I meant draft for playmaking in the defensive backfield. And I agree that Bennett shows signs.

[KJ3]

ah, i see.

OVER/UNDER in the defensive backfield for 2008:

fred bennett interceptions: 6.5
dunta's return (games missed): 5.5
will demps' real arms: 1.5
games c.c. brown starts: 8.5
injuries: 2.5

i say:
over
over
under
under
under

[RunninRaven]

I'm confused. Are yall saying that you don't think Dunta is a playmaker, or just that you think he may not be a playmaker when he returns due to his injury?

[KJ3]

i don't think dunta is a playmaker. he's about as solid of a cover corner as you can ask for but i don't think he's the type of player that routinely changes how offenses play. what's the most interceptions he's ever had?

EDIT: it's 6. with 19 passes deflected, 3 forced fumbles, 3 sacks, 74 tackles with 14 assists. that was 2004, the only year i would've called him a playmaker. 1/4 ain't bad but it's time to do it again you know what i mean?

[RunninRaven]

Originally Posted by KJ3

i don't think dunta is a playmaker. he's about as solid of a cover corner as you can ask for but i don't think he's the type of player that routinely changes how offenses play. what's the most interceptions he's ever had?

EDIT: it's 6. with 19 passes deflected, 3 forced fumbles, 3 sacks, 74 tackles with 14 assists. that was 2004, the only year i would've called him a playmaker. 1/4 ain't bad but it's time to do it again you know what i mean?

Yeah, but look at how many times teams threw at him. I swear, watching the games, you could go for what seemed like weeks at a time without a QB throwing in Dunta's direction. Now, that is partly because of the crap that has always been manning the other CB spot opposite Dunta, but also because he is so damn good. I think a team purposefully staying away from Dunta's side of the field is a perfect example of a playmaker. They are changing how they play because of him.

I wouldn't call him an elite cornerback (yet), but I would damn sure refer to him as a playmaker. And not just for his coverage skills either. He is very instrumental in run stopping on plays where the running back bounces to the outside.

Stats won't tell you everything.

Edit: Well, I've tried desperately now to locate a "Thrown At" statistic, but it seems no one keeps them. I maintain my belief that for the amount of attempts Dunta gets at either defending a pass or making an interception, he is as big a playmaker as just about any of the top cornerbacks. He just has fewer chances.