Atari Bigby. . . .

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

terrible in coverage, plays his best when he is playing downhill towards the line of scrimmage. Makes way too many mental mistakes.

Don't forget slow.

BS. The U wanted him to be their next safety but he turned them down because he didn't want to cut his hair. He's a typical under the radar Ted player. I think you think he's slow because he wasn't drafted. He does not play slow at all and he's never timed slow.

Well if "the U" wanted him, then he must be faster than you jerking off thinking about how fast he is. I don't think he's slow because he wasn't drafted, as you so ignorantly claim, but because when I watch him play, he is A) slow to react and B) slow getting where he needs to be. Fuck whatever his combine time was. All I care about is that he is consistently behind where he needs to be on the field.

On the INT off Bennett, Bigby had only started plodding his way upfield when the ball arrived, and it's only because there was still 10 yards to cover when the ball was tipped to him that he had plenty of time to react and catch it. If Bennett catches that ball he still has plenty of time to turn upfield and he only has to make one move and it's a TD. Atari was in the wrong place at the right time.

You can get all worked up about how awesome he is by ignoring the multitude of times when he's been completely out of position, confused, slow to respond, and how many times he's been burned for 6 points if you want. Have at it. While you're at it, forget all those yards given away by idiotic penalties that have hurt the team too. As for me, I'm hoping we can upgrade to an at least average safety this off-season that allows us to refocus on hiding our 2nd worst pass defender, Poppinga, in coverage.

I agree with SB. I was thinking the exact same thing as I was watching the game yesterday. On his first pick, I was like WTF is he doing that far off when Bennett when that was clearly the only guy he had a chance of covering on that play. So why not cover him? His ass is getting real lucky with all the picks he's getting and that by no means makes him a good safety. I am much more impressed with Rouse and I can't believe he's not starting over Bigby. Just look at his pick against the lions, it was all instinct and it changed the game for us. That’s the type of safety I want starting. Someone who MAKES a play, not someone who just gets lucky.

[Carolina_Packer]

I love Al. He's class from head to toe. Damned hard worker. But he was soundly beaten in the end zone Sunday.

He held Holt to 3 catches for 21 yards. The TD was simply a great route run by Holt. Harris was hoping the defense could get to Bulger, and more or less sat on the slant...and Holt made a great break for the corner of the endzone.

Al struggles against WRs that he can't beat up at the line of scrimmage, or who have elite speed to make up for the jam at the LOS. Owens is strong enough to give Harris a fight, and is also bigger and faster than him. Owens owns nearly all CBs in the league...he's a beast.

The biggest disappointment I had with Al on that TD he allowed vs. Holt is that he seemed to slow down on the play when he was beaten. I don't understand why guys can't go like hell and jump or lay out for a play, even if they whiff. Better to contest a play all out than to be in the highlight reel just standing there with your thumb up your arse. Saying that, I know Al usually gives greater effort than that. Like passes at the line of scrimmage, why don't defensive lineman always throw their arms up to try and get them in the passing lane for a possible tipped pass? Yeah, the QB might usually throw it over the lineman, but you can't tip it if you don't even try.

[The Leaper]

The biggest disappointment I had with Al on that TD he allowed vs. Holt is that he seemed to slow down on the play when he was beaten.

Once Al saw the ball in the air, he knew he had no chance on that play. He could've run and dove at the ball while 5 yards behind Holt...would that have looked better?

Like passes at the line of scrimmage, why don't defensive lineman always throw their arms up to try and get them in the passing lane for a possible tipped pass? Yeah, the QB might usually throw it over the lineman, but you can't tip it if you don't even try.

I'd love to see you try to sack a QB by getting past a 300 pound man with your arms up in the air. DL guys are trying to tackle the QB first and foremost. Every hit on the QB takes its toll. You can't try to sack the QB while your arms are raised over your head.

Just about every single thrown pass is batted at by a defender near the LOS...I'm amazed more passes aren't deflected considering the size of these guys and how often their arms are within inches of the ball. Your reaction that there seems to be no effort in this regard confuses me.

[deake]

You will have to admitt when Bigby hits someone they know they have been hit. He stopped Jackson cold on that sideline play, but did look a little out of position on the Jackson touchdown run. Also keep in mind both Harris and Woodson like him, I would surely trust their judgement. Like I said before lets give him a little time. The one that puzzles me is Collins, he doesn't seem to be getting any better. Shouldn't he be playing at a higher level?

[Fritz]

I'm down with the Bigster.

[FritzDontBlitz]

Again, that's what I keep going back to is the fact that the team is willing to start some guys who have little or no experience, which means you are going to have to deal with some mental lapses and breakdowns. To me I'm more interested in seeing his game improve. If that's possible, then he's got the potential to stick around, and is not another one year place holder like Manuel was.

I agree, and I think Bigby's game improves when you blitz him a bit early in the game to satisfy his aggressive nature. He could create some serious havoc in the backfield if used at the right time, and he plays much faster than 4.53 speed.

Not that I think 4.53 is slow.

[Carolina_Packer]

The biggest disappointment I had with Al on that TD he allowed vs. Holt is that he seemed to slow down on the play when he was beaten.

Once Al saw the ball in the air, he knew he had no chance on that play. He could've run and dove at the ball while 5 yards behind Holt...would that have looked better?

Like passes at the line of scrimmage, why don't defensive lineman always throw their arms up to try and get them in the passing lane for a possible tipped pass? Yeah, the QB might usually throw it over the lineman, but you can't tip it if you don't even try.

I'd love to see you try to sack a QB by getting past a 300 pound man with your arms up in the air. DL guys are trying to tackle the QB first and foremost. Every hit on the QB takes its toll. You can't try to sack the QB while your arms are raised over your head.

Just about every single thrown pass is batted at by a defender near the LOS...I'm amazed more passes aren't deflected considering the size of these guys and how often their arms are within inches of the ball. Your reaction that there seems to be no effort in this regard confuses me.

Yeah, I would have been more satisfied to see Al run like hell and possibly dive to defend the pass, even if it still resulted in a TD catch by Holt. To me that's better than slowing down and just giving up, hoping he drops it.

As far as getting the arms up, I'm not talking about guys who are close to the QB, but guys who are engaged with a blocker who can see that the QB is going to release the ball for a pass. Why let him have a throw without at least it being contested with the D-lineman's arm's up? You may not tip it, but you'll never know unless you try.

[Noodle]

On the Bennett pick, why does everyone assume Bigby was out of position? Maybe he had deep cover responsibility and someone else should have dragged with Bennett. Unless you know the scheme and the defensive call, then you really don't know what Bigby was supposed to do on the play.

What I do know is that he made a sweet pick on the kind of richochet ball that you commonly see DBs drop. Besides, I'll take lucky over good any day of the week.