This backup cornerback "emergency" si getting just rediculous. Everybody is clamoring louder than ever for Phil to overpay Gramps Law to come rescue us from all the terrible, worthless bumbs we have backing up McDonald and Wright.
You're just oblivious to press/man vs. extra-mushy zone coverages, how schemes must change when key safeties are out, the quality/experience of the other team's WR depth, or (especially) the rate of improvement of a young player.
For the umpteenth time, the season had already started when, in an emergency, Phil had to dig up one Davin Holly, who was out of football. Holly came in and got toasted repeatedly, but (this will stun and amaze you)--he improved throughout his abbreviated rrokie season, and by the end of it had a bunch of interceptions, and became a key part of the defense and the primary backup.
A. J. Davis had more experience than Holly had when Phil dug him up. Davis was here from day one. Davis has real talent, and has been demonstrating it daily, and is improving rapidly. Sorenson and other DB's have not performed well in preseason, but AJ Davis has!
I'm not even so sure that Jereme Perry has sucked all that bad.
Ty Law would be an asset here, but not for any serious money. Law expects to be a starting cornerback, to be paid as such, and probably to get a multi-year deal. He probably also wants nothing to do with the safety position, and I guarantee you that Phil would expect him to back up there as well. (Adams is a good player, but there's nobody else--including Sorenson).
Experience-exchemerience! If it's man coverage that's almost irrelevant, and although zone is pretty complex, it's not a freaking graduate-course requiring YEARS to learn! Law can still play (and quit saying he can't). But he aint what he used to be and will not be paid like he was.
I hope they get him! For ONE YEAR, and CHEAP, to back up corner and safety, and as a situational third and fourth. But it probably won't happen. Somebody who really is desperate will probably massively overpay him first.
Anyway, no biggee. The cornerbacks will start falling out of the trees shortly, and I'll bet Phil has a few Davin Holly's spotted. Guys that nobody else wants, who can play.
Journeymen galore; let's see who Buffalo, Detroit, Dallas, and several other teams with cortnerback overloads release. Believe it: Phil is working to trade one of our expendable players at TE, WR, ILB, or even interior OL to keep one off the waiver wires or land one they'd otherwise keep.
Could be Anthony Henry. Ashton Youbote. (Henry wouldn't be bad--he could back up two positions as well. He's a little like Law, but younger.)
One guy, for insurance in case Rodney Davisfield can't be ready for prime-time this early.
...you guys are killing me with all this depth stuff in general. You think that every player on the team has to be just as good as the starters! That would be great, and even POSSIBLE sans the salary cap and if you're lucky enough to have George Steinbrenner paying the bills. In the real world, you can afford that kind of depth at one or two positions.
Like defensive line--we have the top four, and Leonard's emergence makes it five. I mean, they're now (finally) working him at defensive end as well, and expecting him to be part of the rotation...and you're running around wringing your hands over d-line depth? Look--there's five guys who can play. The sixth guy is NOT going to be as good as they are...I mean, grow up!
Quit whining about that and cornerback. You can whine about depth beyond Adams at safety if you want, but even then, keep that in cointest. Adams is a small guy who plays extra-big. He's no match for Jones or Poole. Whoever comes in will be that way. Maybe a bigger guy who can't cover as well but stops the run better.
Actually, a properly-compensated Law or an Henry sounds ideal. Or Baxter. Don't rule him out. Youbote would be better for the future, and is a true cornerback with speed and man abilities, and he could be ready to fill in--he does have some game experience and has been trained and cultivated by very good coaches.
Anyway, calm down--you're giving me a headache. Next time somebody catches something in front of Davis, ask yourself if Davis was where he was ordered to be, and if he made the tackle like he was supposed to. If he's running with a guy and loses a fight for the ball, don't be calling that a "burn". Dixon and Minnifield lost those battles too--the point is they were in position, and won more than they lost.
If there's a pass-rush, press/man coverage works, and Davis can do that. If there's no pressure on the quarterback, coverage has to be softer, with insurance over the top. it makes everybody look bad. Whoever steps in for Wright or McDonald will presumably inherit the first string passrush and a man scheme--and Davis can do that, right NOW.
Cornerback is hard enough to play without every reception being called a "burn", and being the baby in the bathwater.
You'll see more short and intermediate receptions, too, if they stick with that soft zone stuff, and don't blame them for that' either. Give the kids a chance, and trust Phil to find a solid vet for insurance.
YOU STAND CORRECTED.
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