Quote:
Originally Posted by RMSkins
I just wanted to give my personal evaluation of our safeties for this coming season since were on the topic.
Sean Taylor: We know he has it locked down at FS, hopefully he improves his coverage skills this year, and he will be one of the best Safeties in the leauge this year. Two consecutive Pro Bowls??
after Sean Taylor I am extremely concerned with our safeties.
Pierson Prioleau: Is 30 years old, and has really only started two complete seasons his entire career, and not to mention he has only one interception in his entire career. I like Prioleau and I hope he can do well for us next year, but you have to be concerned with the injury he suffered last year, and if that will affect him this year.
Omar Stoutmire: Omar did a good job with us in 2005, and it looks like he had an okay season with the Saints last year with 9 starts, and 2 interceptions, he knows the system, but at 33 years old he is just a backup at this point in his career, and should only start if Prioleau is injured.
Vernon Fox: We seen what Vernon is capable of from his 6 starts last year, and personally I don't think he is worthy of a starting position in the NFL, and is just a viable backup, but Vernon is a very good special teams player.
Reed Doughty: Obviously this kid is a good on special teams, but as far as coming in at safety goes we have no clue what he can do, but I am guessing it's nothing spectacular.
So after Sean Taylor I feel as if we have no other really "starting claiber" safeties to complement Taylor, hopefully Prioleau does well this year, but I am still concerned, and I think the SS issue is going to have to be addressed next year.
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Those are good assessments. People were pretty high on Prioleau before he got hurt last year. He and Stoutmire filled in nicely in '05 when called upon -- though you have to wonder if they overachieved like so many others on defense during the playoff run. Hopefully they're not tapped out, we'll need them to step up again this season.
I don't remember where I read this, but it seems to be a prominent philosophy among some general managers across the league -- some consider safety the one position on defense you can where you can "get by" without having to spend high draft picks. Only in cases where there's an absolute phenom, like Sean Taylor, do you take the plunge and devote a high choice to the position.
If the front seven does its job and the corners can provide solid coverage, the safeties generally look great.