1000 yards for Grant?

[The Leaper]

Kind of interesting that Bigby is third among NFC safeties in tackles with 77.

How is it interesting? That is why he is always peeking in the backfield. The guy has the mentality of a LB. He's a liability in coverage, and as a DB...especially in our scheme...that isn't good.

[HarveyWallbangers]

He's had some bad games, but I think he's played better overall than most people give him credit for. The last two guys that played his spot were liabilities in coverage and run support. Now, I don't think he's shown that he's the long-term answer, but I love how Packer fans are always all over their safeties. I bet there were Packer fans that hated LeRoy Butler his first couple of years in the league. Probably said the team should make him a corner.

[Bretsky]

He's had some bad games, but I think he's played better overall than most people give him credit for. The last two guys that played his spot were liabilities in coverage and run support. Now, I don't think he's shown that he's the long-term answer, but I love how Packer fans are always all over their safeties. I bet there were Packer fans that hated LeRoy Butler his first couple of years in the league. Probably said the team should make him a corner.

I don't buy the all over your safeties theory. Well, maybe the un intelligent ones

I always liked Butler
I'm a Sharper Defender.
I see potential in Nick Collins and think he's an average starter
Undecided on Rouse

Bigby lacks coverage skills and the ability to play the ball. He's an adequate backup but doesn't belong in a starting lineup.

If I'm an OC I scheme to take advantage of his weaknesses.

[MadtownPacker]

Harvey backing Bigby is reminding me of his backing of darren "gives up huge plays" sharper.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Sharper was a good player for us. Even very good for a 2-3 year stretch.

[Tarlam!]

Easy Skin.

OC's have tape on Bigby. They are taking advantage of his coverage deficiencies. He's a peeker. Peekers start fast, but they don't last.

Safeties must get their keys down cold and learn to trust 'em.

Bigby peeks when he panics. Then he gets burned. If he doesn't make the adjustment, he'll be history.

These posts from KY are like a drug. I am addicted to this shit, cause KY really should be a coach somewhere. Maybe he is!

[Bretsky]

Jones was TT's best draft pick last year

Grant may turn out to be TT's best draft pick used next year

He's a keeper

We can still draft a RB high as a complement to Grant...aka...two headed monster....but it's no longer a need.

Kudos to TT for recognizing the need for another quality back and watching the Giants situation well enough to know when to make a deal happen.

In retrospect TT was going to go get either Derrick Ward or Ryan Grant, whoever cost less

Both backs look pretty dam good

[Joemailman]

Glad we didn't end up with Ward since he is now out for the year.

[deake]

Aren't we jumping the gun a little on Bigby, sure like the way he hits, seems it takes a while for safetys to develop, Sharper for instance, bad, bad in his first years even with Leroy to coach him. One big thing Bigby has going for him is that the other guys back there like him.

[Bretsky]

Aren't we jumping the gun a little on Bigby, sure like the way he hits, seems it takes a while for safetys to develop, Sharper for instance, bad, bad in his first years even with Leroy to coach him. One big thing Bigby has going for him is that the other guys back there like him.

To me Sharper was pretty good in his rookie year. In year two he got beat on a couple long plays and had a terrible time with tackling and taking bad angles to make the tackle. He improved on that and IMO was always solid when healthy after that.

Bigby was on the practice squad all of last year and this is his first full year of playing.

I just don't think he possesses the talent of a starting safety or of guys like Sharper, Collins, or even Rouse. Solid against the run, and has nice aggression on the blitzes. But when the ball is up in the air I hope Bigby is not the defender.

He still might be OK, but the ball skills are just not nearly there yet. If I was an offensive coordinator, I'd be going to whoever he's covering.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Sharper was in the right spot at the right time his rookie year a couple of times, but he wasn't a standout. Kind of like Marques Anderson in his rookie year. He was horrible his second year. He didn't have a sack, interception, or forced fumble--and he missed a ton of tackles. He was bad the first half of his third year, but turned it around a bit the second half. His fourth year he became a Pro Bowl caliber safety.

As far as Bigby, I don't think talent is his problem. He's big enough. He's a force in run support. He has a knack for causing fumbles. He's fast. Of course, a lot of talented guys haven't done squat.

[4and12to12and4]

I was suprised that Bigby had three forced fumbles. I didn't realize that. Makes sense though, the way he hits. However, the 77 tackles is not a good stat. If you're guy doesn't catch the ball, you don't have to tackle him. In his defense, I'm sure at least half of those are on running plays. We are basically running a 4-4-3 defense with him out there. He's just another backer, and hits harder than any of our other backers, in fact, maybe he should be converted to a backer, we could get a pretty good trade for Hawk, and just have Bigby put on about 15 more pounds of muscle. Hawks overrated anyways, and we'd probably get a 1st and 3rd round pick for him. Or a first rounder, and a better safety than Bigby. Maybe we're jumping the gun, he is young, very inexperienced. We should give him at least until midway through next season, safeties is one of the most mentally challenging positions on defense. And he's a rookie. It's not like Collins is doing anything special out there either. We are all high on Rouse because of his two interceptions in two starts, but he does seem to have great instinct and quickness, good recovery speed, and seems MUCH more intelligent than Bigby in interviews.

It would be unbelievable is Grant pulled off 1000 yards this year. He will do it if he stays healthy and we run him at least 20 times each remaining game. But, the that Bears game scares me, this is a reverse of last year, and this will be their playoff game. He'll be lucky to get 50 yards in that game. If we game plan to run, I think Grant could have a huge game against Oakland, especially if we use 3 and 4 receiver sets and spread 'em out, and use the pitch and draw a lot. That pitch play is perfect for Grant, because that extra couple of yards he gets has him going full steam right through the line, and it allows him to see the gaps better and make the proper cuts. Is Sapp still playing for Oakland, or is he injured, he's probably a liability out there, he hasn't been very good for the past three seasons.

[Him8123]

that would be very impressive if Grant could pull off a 1000 yards. Not bad for not starting til week 9 in the first year of actually playing. Hopefully he keeps up the good work. But hey even Gado and Morency looked great the year Green was hurt.

[HarveyWallbangers]

However, the 77 tackles is not a good stat. If you're guy doesn't catch the ball, you don't have to tackle him.

For corners, it's usually a bad thing. Not necessarily for safeties. Usually a safety that gets a ton of tackles is a guy that is pretty damn good in run support. A lot of times it doesn't really say anything about his coverage skills. Depends on each individual. Some corners get a lot of tackles because they are excellent in run support (Antoine Winfield comes to mind). With Bigby, it's easy to see by watching him that he's much better in run support than coverage though.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I expect Grant to get a buck 50 today.