Strong Safety
 

We all know that Sean Taylor is going to be starting at FS, but who is going to be his partner at SS? Andre Lott has looked impressive, and in the madden games he is a SS, even tho he has been playing FS. Bowen has been dissapointing, but is the incumbent. Who do you think will start? Who should? My vote is for Andre. Im the president of his fan club hahahahaha

it's tough call for me, because Bowen actually played pretty good against the Dolphins and Lott has really impressed me also. If I had to make a decision today, I'd go with Bowen simply because he has more experience. But we'll have to see how both Bowen and Lott continue to play in the last two preseason games.

if we were to develop both taylor and lott, theyd have a chance to play next to each other for a while, being so young, how much would that kick ass

Bowens is way to aggressive & therefore blows his assignments & with a lack of great speed gets burned when the play goes outside.

I watched Bowens get beat, & beat badly. That's the reason the Packers let him sign elsewhere....

I'd give Lott the chance & use Bowens primarity on passing plays.

Hey, but what do I know...? :frusty:

Isn't Lott, at 5'10", a bit too small to be playing strong safety?

Size helps but is not a must. Being a sure tackler, hard hitter and have smart coverage skills is just as important. There are plenty of smallish faster safety's in the NFL now. All-pro Safety Ed Reed is only 5', 11" and 200 pounds. Not much bigger than Andre.
Plus Andre Lott played college ball at Tennessee, so he has played against some good players.

rodney harrison is only 5'11

Well then, I stand corrected

well he could just be one of those freaks who is an animal, just sayin that its not impossible.

I still think Bowen will line up at saftey for us. Hes got that smashmouth style to him, that Gibbs likes. Hopefully with the better coaching this year, he wont over persue so many assignments. I'd like to see Lott in on more of the passing downs, cause he's proboly got much better speed than Bowen.

I haven't been disapointed in Bowen at all. I actually think he looked pretty good last week.

I agree. I think Taylor will be the FS with Bowen the SS. Lott will most likely back up Taylor with Franz backing up Bowen.

I think Bowen will be the SS. Lott is still young and will be a good backup. Don't forget the "great white hope" Todd Franz either!

Bowen will start; Lott will see lots of action
 

Interesting thoughts on all sides. One thing to note: Strong safeties are typically bigger and more physical than free safeties. Strong safeties generally line up over the tight end and occasionally play up in the box like an extra linebacker. Free safeties often play center field or help cornerbacks in double coverage. As we all know, Sean Taylor is something of an anomaly, a player with linebacker's size and cornerback's speed, so he can play either position fairly easily; free safety suits him best because it allows him to use his ballhawking skills, coverage ability, and ferocious open-field hits to make more plays. At the SS, Bowen is better suited to start than Lott simply because of the size/tackling factor. I'm not saying Lott isn't a good tackler, but coaches have been encouraging him to be more physical.
One possibility (going back to Gibbs earlier days) is to rotate safeties depending on down/distance situation. Alvin Walton, though never a big player, started at strong safety from 1987-1990, and I'm pretty sure he led the team in tackles every year. He was known mainly for his ability to flatten people (a.k.a. The Crushin' Kansan), but the team sometimes replaced him in passing situations or used him to blitz (he sacked John Elway twice in Super Bowl XXII). Of course, we no longer have Richie Pettibon as defensive coordinator so maybe I have no clue what I'm talking about. Regardless, I think Bowen will start at SS, but I expect to see a lots of Lott in the dime.

[QUOTE=ChounsMan]I watched Bowens get beat, & beat badly. That's the reason the Packers let him sign elsewhere....

I'd give Lott the chance & use Bowens primarity on passing plays.

Hey, but what do I know...? :frusty:[/QUOTE]


Bowen is a much better run defender than pass defender. At strong he can be an extra LB and cover the less athletic tightends. We are in trouble when he gets matched against Shockey or a wideout. That's why Taylor plays Free we can bounce him around and let him play center field. Lott brings no value at the Strong position since he doesn't offer the physicallity that Williams is going to want in an aggressive defense. Taylor and Bowen start the year and I bet Franz evens gets a nod at STrong before Lott does.

Good post, jermus. I wouldn't be surprised to see some rotation. But I recently read (today's WP?) that Williams likes to have players that can go on every down. I would guess that Bowen is the guy right now, but if he blows his assignments week after week, forget it, soemone else will be in there. Gibbs and Williams are pretty hardcore about sticking with the team plan (just ask Iffy...), so if Bowen gets out of position like he did last year, we'll see a lot of Lott.

I was not impressed with bowen at all last year, if we blitz alot he will be a victim we got Lavar to lay people out and at centerfield Taylor will lay people out. Bowen hasnt shown me anything he can't line up against a tight end, lord forbid Keyshawn burn him up for 50 yards again like he did last year. Lott I still dont know much about him. We will see williams wont have mistakes out there while he blitzing plus Bowen doesnot have the speed to blitz but Lott has to learn to hit harder.

I'm not sure how much of a factor this is, but the safety-free safety mainly-is usually the "quarterback" of the defense right?

I think Bowen has the experience that both Lott and ST lack to fill that role. Although sometimes it could be a linebacker, Barrow? that could play QB for the D right?

[QUOTE=smootsmack]I'm not sure how much of a factor this is, but the safety-free safety mainly-is usually the "quarterback" of the defense right?

I think Bowen has the experience that both Lott and ST lack to fill that role. Although sometimes it could be a linebacker, Barrow? that could play QB for the D right?[/QUOTE]

I thought I heard Fred Smoot say something like that. And coach williams said that taylor needs to be more vocal on the field? I don't if that says anything....

yea they did mention taylor needs to take control of the defense, but hes only a rookie. barrow should handle those duties, i always thought it was the MLB that did that since theyre in the middle of everything.

I didn't see Lott make any plays in the game against MIA. Perhaps MIA didn't throw as much? Bowen does seem a tad agressive.

It depends on the team. Ted Washington called the defensive plays for the Pats last year (reason numero uno they will probably lose their division - you can see my thoughts on this in 35098 other threads.)

I think Lott and Taylor could make a great young nuculeus paired with Springs and Smoot. Let them grow into the finest secondary in the league. I simply do not like Matt Bowen. He's never really made a play where I go, ALRIGHT MATT BOWEN! I just think that he's overrated. I think Barrow can handle assignments till next year when Taylor takes over. He'll be on our defense for a long, long, long time. He was a leader at Miami, let him settle in and he'll lead the skins!

[QUOTE=Daseal]
I think Lott and Taylor could make a great young nuculeus paired with Springs and Smoot. Let them grow into the finest secondary in the league. I simply do not like Matt Bowen. He's never really made a play where I go, ALRIGHT MATT BOWEN! [/QUOTE]

I'm equally as unimpressed with Bowen. But the hit he laid on Trung Canidate in camp last year was EXTREMELY impressive. Outside of that it felt like I was watching Matt Stevens all over again.

And I'll pass on the Lott and Taylor combo for now. Maybe Bowen needs glasses or something, could be he is just not seeing people rather than constantly misreading angles. Or maybe he flunked 8th grade Geometry.

it can be either one (i think), but i'd guess its usually one of the most experienced guys who's seen some things... luckily barrow can read well and teach... that's one of the things that williams has mentioned sean needs to learn quite a few times... being vocal and directing the D, and he mentioned that ST wouldn't be doing that in games for a while since he's a rookie etc...

i think ray does it in baltimore (can't say he's not vocal), but they got all sorts of talent back there (ed reed etc), so i'm not sure...

i'm AB (anti-bowen) too... but i really don't see a good solution on the roster (lott/franz are alright, but each has drawbacks)... lott is probably the best answer, but i doubt he'll be much more than solid (which is better than bowen's been). Either way the job is bowen's to lose, i don't think anyone else is going to force him out this season unless he does it himself.

The coaches must have seen something Franz or Lott to convince them that they could just go ahead and cut Iffy

then again, maybe they just saw iffy play some...

Bowen to me hasnt looked bad, I mean, hes no Taylor, but he hasnt given up to many plays that ive seen. Strong safetys job is more of a safety net, and run once the ball is thrown or handed off. Bowen can run people down and hit them, and im still of the beleif that if he can run down trung and hit him then he should be able to do it to anyone.

bowen did fine last year, and he will be the SS. anyone who said bowen didnt, well, not many on our D did about anything. i wasnt happy with baileys performance last year, but i would still keep em in a heart beat. anyway, edwards you can thank for alot of guys being out of place and our safties playing so so. taylor and bowen should be a fantastic duo. *reminder* even though they are very similar positions.... bowen played FS last year, and now he gets to play his natural position... SS

bowen didnt run him down, he ran into him, he did not show speed on that play, just the potential to deliver a solid hit. he did well on int's last year, but this yer he dropped a real wasy one.

Bowen I think is going to be alright! Against Miami he looked better. I still think he is going to have a good year!

If we blitz then Bowen will be victimized but Willims willbench him quick i'm not worried i trust our assistant head coach, Joe gibbs is coming back like Makaveli the don

I don't know what games some of you were watching last year, but Matt Bowen was horrible. Let me say it again, louder this time:

[B]MATT BOWEN WAS HORRIBLE.[/B]

He was burned by the official has-been and totally overrated WR of the NFL known as Keyshawn Johnson against the Bucs last year.

Also, go back and look at the Miami game last season. He took a terrible angle on the long TD pass in the Dolphins' first drive, and got completely turned around when he had a clear path on Ricky Williams on another TD run. Bowen was victimized early and often last year. If he was worth anything, the Packers would never have let him go.

Reluctantly, I'll give Bowen another chance in his natural position under a new coordinator, but so far, I haven't seen anything from Bozo to make me believe he'll be any better this year.

[QUOTE=Beemnseven]I don't know what games some of you were watching last year, but Matt Bowen was horrible. Let me say it again, louder this time:

[B]MATT BOWEN WAS HORRIBLE.[/B]

He was burned by the official has-been and totally overrated WR of the NFL known as Keyshawn Johnson against the Bucs last year.

Also, go back and look at the Miami game last season. He took a terrible angle on the long TD pass in the Dolphins' first drive, and got completely turned around when he had a clear path on Ricky Williams on another TD run. Bowen was victimized early and often last year. If he was worth anything, the Packers would never have let him go.

Reluctantly, I'll give Bowen another chance in his natural position under a new coordinator, but so far, I haven't seen anything from Bozo to make me believe he'll be any better this year.[/QUOTE]

Maybe he'll step up now playing in his "natural" position.

[QUOTE=Redskins_P]Maybe he'll step up now playing in his "natural" position.[/QUOTE]

I hope so, nobody wants to see Matt Bowen succeed more than me, but I think a position change is not the magic answer. Both safety positions require a large amount of smart play (playing in control) that Matt Bowen has not shown yet. He is plenty physical for the SS position and his size is perfect, but he seems to choke in games. He plays well in practice, but the excitement of real games makes him make bad decisions. His big hits and good tackling in practice is not translating into the real games.

I agree, Bowen has to be replaced, with either Lott or Franz, and if they dont do so well, draft a SS next year sometime. Madieu Williams would have been nice this year.

Bowen is not a great player, but you can't have "star" players at every position. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with going back to SS, and having a new QUALITY coach. A lot of his issues can be remedied through coaching, and if it doesn't work, we have the youg Lott and Franz to step up and prove themselves. I think Bowen will be fine.

Skins, we're not asking for a star. We're asking for someone that fullfills their duties.

[QUOTE=Daseal]Skins, we're not asking for a star. We're asking for someone that fullfills their duties.[/QUOTE]

And he didn't do that very well either! :nono:

he doesnt need to be a playmaker, which he is trying to be, and failing miserably, he just needs to be where hes supposed to and hell be ok