Projected team strength and weaknesses

I can't get with the argument that Davis is too small for SLB. At 6'1", 230, he is approx. the same size of other players at that position. Dhani Jones, Peter Sirmon, Daryl Smith, Al Singleton. All are around the same build as Thomas Davis. If we want to talk about ability, that's an entirely different topic. The whole size thing doesn't have much to stand on.

 

Exactly. Just as two coaches glowing about him using the words "Derrick Brooks" aren't intended to be negatives of why he wouldn't be able to do this or that.
And he's got positives and negatives at SLB, it's not a perfect fit. But it's not absurd, and there are negatives at WLB and SS, too. Let's see what he can do on the field before we pigeon hole him, the worst thing to do with a player like this is immediately close the mind as to what he can do.

 

Skins just released Sean Taylor. Man could we use him. Fuckin idiot tho.

 

NO WAY?!?!?!?!?! Link???

 

I can't find this anywhere. I've seen where Taylor could go to jail for up to 3 years with his felony firearms charge, but nothing about being released, and consider this is his first offense I don't expect him in jail either.

 

looked at street and smith's publication in the airport -- says Davis projects to safety of SLB

 

NFL.com article on righ side

 

article said redskin's Taylor released on bond. Sorry folks I was skimming and misread. Hell I believe they re-wrote he article.

 

HeadCase:

In case you ever wonder, the reason I get so angry with Magnus that I pull a muscle (which still hurts, oddly enough) and don't get passionate about arguing with you is that he should know better. He actually knows football. When someone intelligent says something dumb and sticks to that, it's a crime against humanity. When someone dumb says something dumb, well that's just their nature. You can't exactly get mad at a dog for peeing on your tires.

But for the record, I didn't say our defense last year was as good as the prior two years. By all means, go back and find where I said that. I haven't posted that many times yet to where you couldn't find it if such a post actually existed, but it doesn't. I said, and I quote: "As for Del Rio, it's already been proven that the idea that we were better under him is a total myth. Statistically we're almost identical in terms of yards allowed, points allowed, sacks, etc." The thing is, you didn't and apparently still don't realize that Del Rio was already in Jacksonville for the 2003 season. But as I showed you in the numbers, there was almost no statistical change at all between our defense under Del Rio in '02 and Trgovac in '03. Obviously things went down last season because half our defense was either out with or playing through injuries. You just don't like the fact that I proved you wrong. 2003 showed that our defense didn't suffer at all from losing Del Rio.


Magnus:

Stop being a dickhead for just two seconds, please, and take a look at what you wrote. You said, and I quote: "And yet (Davis)'s not that Brooks-type player." Do you understand how I can get mad about someone intelligent saying that Thomas Davis is not like Derrick Brooks when his college coach and professional coach both say that he is? Can you muster up the courage to say "I was wrong about Thomas Davis not being like Derrick Brooks"?

No, it's really not. The thing you have never understood about me is that I'm actually not playing games with you in cases like this. I don't just get angry for the fun of it. In fact, I don't like being angry, which is why I should listen to my better judgement and stay away from all message boards. Instead I'm annoyed because you are a smart guy who knows a good deal about football, and yet your position on Thomas Davis is just plain dumb. I'm not trying to be offensive or insulting there, I'm trying to explain why I can't respect your opinion right here. Usually I'm actually fine if we disagree on something (like the Cedric Benson thing), but sometimes you say things that really are dumb, and as I explained to HeadCase, that is distressing to me. Or more precisely, it pisses me off that you don't correct yourself but instead defend your dumb statements. Everyone makes dumb statements, myself definitely included, but to see you stubbornly defend the position that Thomas Davis isn't like Derrick Brooks when John Fox and Mark Richt BOTH say that HE IS, is infuriating.

I asked you and you never answered the question. What positions do Derrick Brooks and Roy Williams play? Weakside linebacker and strong safety, correct? The implications of Fox's quote are obvious, but getting you to admit you're wrong about anything even with overwhelming evidence is like having someone give birth to an elephant.

It's not just a matter of me not wanting him there. The FACT, and yes it is a fact, that he is far better suited for weakside linebacker than strongside linebacker is not just a point of personal preference. It's a blindingly obvious truth. I never said he couldn't play strongside, in fact I said the opposite, but it's absolutely indefensible to suggest that he wouldn't be out of position there.


Additionally I'd appreciate it if you would also admit that you're wrong when you said " Teams tend to put players who make major impact behind the LOS, IMO, at strongside, moreso than contain players of weakside." I gave you the list of weakside players, far more star-studded than strong-side, and I pointed out that WLBs have far superior statistics. This is another dumb statement on your part when you should know better. In fact, I refuse to believe that you didn't know better. You have too much football knowledge not to have known that weakside linebacker is where you put playmakers.

You haven't given a single negative at WLB, and even if there were some, equating that to a 225-230 pound player with suspect upper body strength playing at strongside linebacker where his primary responsibility is to engage and hold blockers rather than knifing through to make a tackle is just silly.


#1) Teams put playmakers at weakside linebacker.
#2) Strongside linebackers are expected to jam tight ends and take on linemen on running plays.
#3) Taking on linemen would waste Thomas Davis' strengths and play to his weaknesses.
#4) Every single team in the league has a heavier player at strongside linebacker than weakside linebacker.
#5) There are only a handful of examples in the last 25 years of someone Thomas Davis' size playing strongside linebacker.


Black&Blue:

Dhani Jones is over 240 pounds. Peter Sirmon is 240 pounds. Then Daryl Smith is a weakside linebacker and Al Singleton is a middle linebacker. Jesus Christ, people. You know who you're talking to. Do you honestly think I'm not going to realize it and point it out when you screw up? CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU POST.

Jesus Christ, did you not even read what I wrote? Every single team has a heavier player at strongside linebacker than weakside linebacker. Do you have enough math experience to understand the probability of that happening by chance? It's (1/2)^32 or 1 chance in 4,294,967,296. That's once out of four BILLION, two hundred and ninety-four million, nine hundred and sixty-seven thousand, two hundred and ninety-six iterations.

Still want to tell me "the whole size thing doesn't have much to stand on"? Christ, if you just want to disagree with me because you dislike me, I'd prefer that you insult me instead. But don't say ridiculous things just because you want to disagree. It makes you look bad and it gives me a headache.


Please, let's separate this into two separate arguments:
#1) Whether or not strongside linebackers are heavier than weakside linebackers.

There is absolutely no legitimate argument against that. Considering the evidence I've already given, anyone who disagrees with that is just stupid.


#2) Whether or not Thomas Davis should play strongside linebacker.

This is more a matter of perspective and has room for disagreement, because while he's definitely ill-suited for the position and would be a much better fit at weakside, it's still possible to make the argument that his talent playing out of position would still be superior to the other options we have for strongside linebacker.

 

Okay, I'll say it. I think Collin is right on this one. On the basis of his fact checking and his approach to the debate I'd give it to him alone but in this case his position seems to have more merit and passes the smell test. I'm no expert but he's convinced me. Now if someone would help me talk Collin down from the ledge I'd appreciate it.