Safety Surplus
by Dan J on Jul 22, 2009 11:56 PM EDT
15 comments
As a huge Bengals fan, I've suffered through many tough situations. What makes me happy now, is that the current toughest situations have to deal with the defense and a surplus of talent.
First off; The Linebacking battles. Anyone who doesn't see Rey Maualuga taking a starting spot from Rashad Jeanty by week 8 (at the latest) is a serious pessimist. Enough said on that issue.
The big battles come in the secondary. Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph have locked their spots at the corners. Hall is a ball-hog and J.J. is a beast at covering the deep threat. That said, the Georgetown throw-down will be at the safety positions.
Chindeum Ndukwe and Chris Crocker are battling it out to be the starting Strong Safety. Crocker is a proven veteran and will give you all that you ask for. Ndukwe is... well, let me put it this way: David Fulcher for the new millenium. Ndukwe is also a lot younger and provides a larger chance for future production. That's why Chinny is my pick for the Bengals starting SS.
Free Safety is just a little different. Roy WIlliams was brought in this summer after an injury-plagued 2008 season with Dallas. Williams is (or maybe was) a perennial pro-bowler with serious head-hunting proficiencies. Pretty much, he's like Kelsey Grammar in X-Men 3... the Beast, but getting on in years.
Call me a youth-homer, but I like Marvin White to be the starter by season's end. Why season's end rather than game one, you ask? I think that Marvin White has played relatively well for the Bengals thus far. He's played well... not extraordinarily well. My view of the WIlliams signing was as a boost to White. I believe he was brought in to start and mentor the young safety so that, when his time comes, he's the best.
In summation, my game 1 starters at safety are Chinedum Ndukwe and Roy Williams.
My ideal pairing for the future is Ndukwe / White.
Now I want to know what your ideal pairing is. Sorry in advance, Corey Lynch fans.
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Why not the choice of Chinedum and Crocker?
Who is handing the FS spot to Roy? Why is Crocker and Chinny fighting each other to play SS? You do know that Marvin White is hurt?
the future of White and Ndukwe was 2 seasons ago. White hasnt panned out yet, and Ndukwe is battling Roy for the SS spot.
Day 1 starters Crocker and Ndukwe
I hope Roy gets cut actually
"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"
by firstPick on Jul 23, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hating on Roy... Seriously?
Really? You want to cut a guy who is a 5 time Pro Bowler? I mean our defense has improved but lets be realistic, how many 5 time pro-bowlers do we have on “D”? Lets do the math… okay carry the one… divide by the hypotenuse of the co-tangent angle, I think I got it. One. His name is Roy Williams. The guy is 28 (not old), a work horse, and a team leader…. and YOU WANT TO CUT HIM? I guarantee we can use this guy and he his definitely an upgrade over over Marvin White and Chris Crocker. Two players better known as Marvin and Chris Who?? Anyways, I know Roy has a rep of being suspect in pass coverage at times… but I for one and exited to have a guy of this Caliber playing for the Bengals.
by The Dealio on Jul 23, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
His complaint is almost certainly is that our safety play against the deep ball was so bad before that bringing somebody in who is reportedly “suspect” against the deep ball isn’t a good idea. I would agree… IF I thought Roy was really that bad against the deep ball. I think instead the scheme change was the big problem for him. I think he will prove his naysayers wrong by getting back to the 4-3.
Of course if I and others who agree with me are wrong, then I do say cut him. But give him a chance (in training camp / preseason / maybe the first few games) to prove us wrong first.
by FriarBob on Jul 23, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Pass protection may be suspect by 5 time Pro-Bowl standards but when it comes to a 4-11-1 team, he will be a HUGE upgrade. My vote for starters is still Ndukwe and Williams
by smoormandiddy on Jul 23, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
a 3-4 defense dosnt make a player misjudge a ball in the air, and miss tackles in the open field. How many cowboys games have you guys watched the past 3 years? i can tell you ive seen about 90% of them. He didnt have it the last few years.
Listen i hope he is a pro bowl player for the Bengals. But if hes not, then i dont want him stealing play time from a player like Ndukwe. If they keep 6 safeties like last season, then sure i hope we keep Williams. But if they keep 4. Then i would rather have Ndukwe, Crocker, White, and Lynch.
"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"
by firstPick on Jul 23, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Roy Williams
I don’t know man, I’m looking at the stats for Williams and just two years ago he had 92 tackles and two interceptions for Dallas. He was obviously hurt last year, but the guy has never had fewer than sixty tackles has returned three interceptions for TD’s, and has had two seasons with 5 interceptions (not a bad number for a safety). You want to cut him because?… Ndukwe had a good season last year, but still only notched 64 tackles (granted he did it in 11 games).
This is our year!
by Carsonorbust on Jul 27, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great Depth
I really think the big plus side for this year is that there will be competitive practicing, making everyone on the team better and also helping to filter out the weaker players, both at Safety and Linebacker. The other bonus that this will produce is high caliber backups and replacements.
When we get into those gunslinging games against a good offense, the ability to drop in quality, fresh players should pay off nicely.
by UpStateMike on Jul 23, 2009 7:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Crocker and Williams will likely start ….but i’m anticipating alot of rotation, and that goes for all levels. Outside Leon, JJ and Dhani, i think Zimmer will be changing up the defensive fronts, OLB’s and Safeties early and often to showcase the various talents we’ve accumulated in the last couple seasons.
despite all that garbage i just wrote, i think firstPick is right, Chinny and Crocker would be the best . But why cut Roy? is Tom Nelson a more viable option?
3 yards and a pile of dust
by Hudepohl Dey on Jul 23, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
1st and 2nd down/3rd Down
I picture Roy being used mainly on 1st and 2nd down plays, and plays near the goal line.
I hope Ndukwe is used on 3rd down sets b/c he is much better in coverage, especially against TE sets.
by nadfflictar on Jul 23, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Crocker was getting burnt in camp pretty bad and we know R. Williams is more of a run stopper. I would keep Ndukwe as a starter and rotate Williams and Crocker. Chinny is a very promising talent. I would hate to see him on the bench for a guy that we may only have for a year or two.
by smoormandiddy on Jul 23, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sour on White?
Early returns on the poll are showing a complete lack of support for Marvin White?
Why?
I feel he’s done well for the amount of expereince he has and will get better with time.
by Dan J on Jul 23, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Outside of special teams and a back up role, I don’t think he is very good. He made a name for himself in college with hard hits but against NFL talent his hits aren’t that hard and he’s not very good in coverage or tackling.
by smoormandiddy on Jul 23, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like your article BUT...
Your “Bromance” with Marvin White has to stop. I agree that LB’s and Corners look solid and the log jam at Safety will be interesting to watch unfold.
However, I think Marvin White Suh-UCKS. Sucks with a Capital UCKS.
Did you watch any of the ’08 season?? …which missed tackles did you miss. There was no shortage of them either. Many of the missed tackles in question ended up in 6 points for the other team.
Did you see his coverage skills? …not so hot either. This dude was constantly out of place and constantly gave up the “Explosive” play (like my Marvin Lewis reference?).
Look, the dude LOOKS like a sweet football player. Unfortunately he’s the prototypical “Looks Like Tarzan, Plays Like Jane” guy.
I can see him being cut by the end of camp. If he proves me wrong, I’ll be the first to admit it. And I hope I am wrong. But it’s not looking good.
by JohnCockToastin on Jul 23, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leon Hall looked like crap the first half of his first season too. People DO (sometimes) get better with experience…
If he can’t recover from his ACL or if he still hasn’t learned to wrap up by the end of the year (or sooner if something better shows up on a waiver wire) then cut him. But I’m willing to wait and give him one more chance.
by FriarBob on Jul 23, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marvin White ripped up his ACL last season….i think that’s part of the reason Roy is here. granted, Roy is a SS and White is a FS, but the issue was depth. I don’t think anyone is sour on White, but there’s a serious concern about speed coming off an ACL injury.
Credit UpStateMike (i think) for this pic…..White needs to wrap up in these situations:
3 yards and a pile of dust
by Hudepohl Dey on Jul 23, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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