Could be. I think LaRon is a great prospect and will be fine. If Taylor can learn to cover folks and quit with the late hits, they could be great for a long time.
That said, they should have just kept Ryan Clark (also from LSU). Also, I don't safeties are really impact players. QB, running backs, offensive tackles, cornerbacks, rush defensive ends, and linebackers are all bigger impact positions. Safeties are there to clean up the mess when others blow it. If they are your best players, usually that means other guys are not doing their jobs (which is obviously a bad sign).
What?! Safeties are not impact players? A few years ago Mike Brown was unbelievable and won a couple of games on late/last second INTs for TDs. Taylor and Landry have the potential to be game changers. Sure they need help but if used properly, have the ability to make tremendous impacts.
That said, your comment on Taylor being a late hitter is not fully justified. Yes, he has had some infractions but there is no question in my mind that the refs have a target on his back and any questionable call will go against him. He is aggressive and he is not looked at the same as other safeties in the league. I don't think that is fair because they are basically telling him to not be so aggressive. Also, Landry seems to have better speed and instincts than Taylor so it would be good to see Taylor play more at the line for run support since he has LB size. We'll see how it all works out.
There have been empirical analyses that have shown that safeties are among the most least likely players on a team to have an impact on winning games. You can read the studies and see the data yourself.
As for Taylor, maybe he is getting flagged for his rep, but the bigger problem is that he was constantly late and/or out of position last year.
3 comments:
Could be. I think LaRon is a great prospect and will be fine. If Taylor can learn to cover folks and quit with the late hits, they could be great for a long time.
That said, they should have just kept Ryan Clark (also from LSU). Also, I don't safeties are really impact players. QB, running backs, offensive tackles, cornerbacks, rush defensive ends, and linebackers are all bigger impact positions. Safeties are there to clean up the mess when others blow it. If they are your best players, usually that means other guys are not doing their jobs (which is obviously a bad sign).
What?! Safeties are not impact players? A few years ago Mike Brown was unbelievable and won a couple of games on late/last second INTs for TDs. Taylor and Landry have the potential to be game changers. Sure they need help but if used properly, have the ability to make tremendous impacts.
That said, your comment on Taylor being a late hitter is not fully justified. Yes, he has had some infractions but there is no question in my mind that the refs have a target on his back and any questionable call will go against him. He is aggressive and he is not looked at the same as other safeties in the league. I don't think that is fair because they are basically telling him to not be so aggressive. Also, Landry seems to have better speed and instincts than Taylor so it would be good to see Taylor play more at the line for run support since he has LB size. We'll see how it all works out.
I agree with you that we should have kept Clark.
It is an empirical fact that safeties are not that valued in the NFL. I posted info on it in the past.
http://robsobs.blogspot.com/2007/05/where-nfl-teams-spend-money.html
There have been empirical analyses that have shown that safeties are among the most least likely players on a team to have an impact on winning games. You can read the studies and see the data yourself.
As for Taylor, maybe he is getting flagged for his rep, but the bigger problem is that he was constantly late and/or out of position last year.
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