Earl Thomas with our #1 pick!

Discussion in 'NFL Draft' started by RollTide, Mar 7, 2010.

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  1. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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  2. Johnnyb

    Johnnyb RTR

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    Berry would probably have had just as amazing of a year this season as he did before if not for being in Monte Kiffin's D. He had to learn a new system and was no longer just playing centerfield and reading QB's eyes, jumping routes and making picks. From what I saw of him under Kiffin, he was actually expected to cover receivers 1 on 1 in man and when he was in zone he was only covering half the field and watching the receivers more. He's not as good at this, nor had he had nearly as much practice and only had 1 year in that system.

    I think he's the better safety of the two but Thomas seems a little better in coverage, Berry reminds me of a Ed Reed type, a guy who can just sit in the middle of the field, bait a QB, make the pick and take it to the house while also helping in the run. Thomas is more of a guy who can run with receivers, cover ground quickly and make a play on the ball like Griffen circa 2008.

    Earl Thomas could be convert to corner but it certainly has very little to do with his straight line speed. If he has a smooth back peddle, good hip movement, can read receivers and has good change of speed then yes he could definitely be turned into a great corner. It's a lot of other things that you can't really see on tape from him playing safety, you need to get him out there, playin a guy bump and run to see how he handles it and if he has the ability to play someone up close.

    The reason you don't see many safeties moved to corner is because a guy is put at safety normally because his hips suck, he can't backpeddle and flip his hips or he just doesn't have good body control to be running one way and turn around for the ball. A safety plays the game back to front, keeping everything in front of him, where as a corner has to play the game front to back, knowing whats going on behind him and being able to quickly change directions to accommodate. I wish I could articulate this better but thats the best i can do, so I hope you get what I'm sayin.
     
  3. Deuce Wayne

    Deuce Wayne NOW Y'ALL GET THE MESSICH?!

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    Texas pro-day is hand-clocked - which means total SH in a scouts eyes. He might as well be one of the thousands of 11th grade prospects claiming they run a 4.33 when they really run a 4.45 at best.


    It took me all of 5 seconds. Yes, I went to special needs- but I know how to use this complicating search engine known as 'google'.


    1. Go to www.google.com (type that in the long white bar in your browser. Then hit enter)

    2. In the blank space, type "Earl Thomas 4.45".

    3. Hit SEARCH.

    4. See all the results I showed.


    Boy I cant wait to see this kid get blown up by some average sized receiver WHILE playing safety. I'd love for him to get a shot at playing CB and trying to help vs the run. Too bad you're not a coach and he'll never try CB in the NFL.
     
  4. Johnnyb

    Johnnyb RTR

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    Deuce I hate to say it man, but you do realize a 4.45 isn't actually bad at all right? I mean you don't have to run a 4.3 to be able to play corner. Kyle Wilson only ran in the neighborhood of a 4.47 or so at his pro day and Joe Haden ran in the 4.5's at the combine and he's a great college corner. If you run in the sub 4.5's you can move pretty well. And like I said before, it's not about straight line speed anyways, it's about backwards speed and change of direction for corners. People get way too caught up in 40 times and they're not really a very good indicator for many positions, even corner.
     
  5. Johnnyb

    Johnnyb RTR

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    Ok, here's a list of 40 times of players just so you realize that it really doesn't have a lot to do with how good a player is at CB.

    Nnandi Asomugha: 4.45

    Asante Samuel: 4.49

    Cortland Finnegan: 4.46

    Rashean Mathis: 4.44

    I mean of course there are some burners, Darrelle Revis was projected to run a 4.53 and ran a 4.38 at the combine i think, along with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jonathan Joseph and Leon all running a sub 4.4. But there's also plenty of guys who run really fast but aren't any good at corner. Fabian Washington and Stanford Rout are guys who both ran sub 4.3's at the combine and aren't really any good at all. I mean just look at Tye Hill, he ran a sub 4.4 and hasn't been very good his career thus far.

    I'm just sayin don't get too caught up in these 40 yard dash times, I mean you have to be able to run, but it isn't everything.
     
  6. cam4mav

    cam4mav Camp Fodder

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    exactly, the only thing a 40 time will do is either show elite speed (CJ2k) or that someone is really slow. game speed is totally different.

    personally, I would pay attention to the time from 20yd split to 40yds (disregards reaction of initial stop watch, how well they get out of stance ) for top speed (for DB,RB,WR etc)
    and the 10yd split for DLine
    that's where the telling info is I think


    I do find it hilarious how badly Deuce wants to call Thomas not fast enough though. Then he comes in weighing 202 and runs a 4.37, just like I said ( I said his 4.45 at 208 gets a lot closer to 4.40 at 195-200 )

    If you watch his combine 40 compared to his pro day 40, his start was a millions times better at pro day.
    That's all the difference is between an ok time good time. the stock put into how well someone gets out of a sprinter stance and runs in a straight line is very over rated. If it wasn't the most hyped drill at the combine, I'm sure they would change it.


    personally I see Thomas having a better career as a deep F/S, then cover 2 cb, the cover 2 S.
    His greatest asset is vision and reaction times. his speed helps cover ground in a deep 1/2 or 1/3 as a FS, but his burst out of his backpedal is what could make him absolutely deadly playing cover2 CB. That burst added to his great anticipation/vision/instincts is a great combo.
     
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  7. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    Deuce Wayne: They have some good points. It's not all about speed. There has been so many fast prospects that do nothing in the pros. Sure having speed is good for a corner, as long as you have average speed you'll be ok. It's all about your coverage skills. Which, Earl Thomas doesn't have the best. However, he is a very hard worker (reportedly). Which over time he could grow into a solid CB or S.

    Austin Bill:
    #1 - Learn how to spell.
    #2: Texas CBs: Quentin Jammer, Nathan Vasher, Cedric Griffin, Tarell Brown, and Aaron Ross.
    Michigan CBs: Leon Hall, Ty Law, and Charles Woodson.
    Michigan Wins.

    Now you both make good points. He could play CB, it would take time and pratice. He could play safety. Or he could be a bust. Now quit arguing like little girls :). Thanks.
     
  8. cam4mav

    cam4mav Camp Fodder

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    got carried away
    but seriously?
    If there is one thing he can do, its cover. both in zone reading QB's and in man blanketing receivers as seen by his nickel work....
    april fools?
     
  9. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    No, not April Fools it's 2:07 a.m. 4/2/10.

    Earl Thomas doesn't have the best coverage skills. Sure he's average but nothing great.
     
  10. cam4mav

    cam4mav Camp Fodder

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    then why is he rated as high as he is by many people (as the #2 behind Berry, Mayock doesn't count)?
    honest question not picking fights
    Its definitely not because of his run support or tackling....
     
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