Springs
 

The Washington Post said this about Shawn, "Gibbs said Springs's status remains unchanged. Springs hasn't played since the first preseason game Aug. 13 because of an abdominal tear. He has sounded alternately pessimistic and hopeful about his prospects. Yesterday, Springs was dour. "I want to see the statistics of guys who had a sports hernia and came back the same season," he said"

Does this mean he may be out the whole year? In the ESPN magazine I have it talked about how serious a sports hernia is and that he will not be the same.... if we lose him for the year we will need our backups to do a lot better or we will have a much less of a chance to make the playoffs in my opinion.

Re: Springs
 

I read this and thought the exact same thing. If what Springs had surgery on was a sports hernia (which I can't recall if it was labeled that or not) then I am surprised they even attempted to get him ready to return to the team this year. The groin strain that he incurred after the fact appeared unrelated, but now it sounds like the original injury is what is keeping him off the field.

At this point, do we consider using what little trade bait available to us (Duckett, Patten, etc) and look to make a deal for a serviceable corner? By serviceable I mean signficantly better than Mike "The worst player in the NFL to actually get playing time each week" Rumph. The thought of playing Indy, the Giants (again), Eagles et al without a decent corner is frightening. We literally might turn into the Chiefs, having to score 35 a game just to stay competitive.:tongue

Re: Springs
 

Having Springs back even at 80% can help a lot I think, he is so good. However, just like it has taken time for the offense to gradually learn Saunders' offense, the secondary with Wright, Rumph, Archuleta, and even Rogers as a young second year player have a lot to learn with Williams' defense.

I think they will get it together and start to perform at a much higher level as the season comes along.

Re: Springs
 

If it was really a sports hernia I doubt they would have worked him out a few weeks ago. Remember, he reinjured himself trying to get back on the field early.

Re: Springs
 

This just makes me sad... :( Rogers really needs to improve his game.

Re: Springs
 

it will definitely be a challenge for GW and the defense, if springs cannot return this season.

However, I think kenny wright will come around ... he had a pick last game, didn't he?

Re: Springs
 

he did... well, he made it happen anyway....

Re: Springs
 

I think at least we will have to stop thinking about having Springs back before the bye week. Sucks, but injuries happen. The loss of Springs is made much worse by the lose of Prioleau. Having a coverage safety would have helped a lot on passing downs.

In any event, Williams will find a way to improve the defense. Now they have to find a way to make things work with the guys on the field. They did look better the last 2 weeks. This reminds me of last years run defense at the beginning of the season.

Re: Springs
 

I'd rather not have Springs come back only to get hurt again. It hurts not having him on the field but I think it is for the best if he came back 100%.

Re: Springs
 

My fear is that Springs, as he is hinting at with some of his comments, may not be ready to come back this season. Without a strong cover corner to compliment Rogers (who still has a lot of work to do) we will continue to be vunerable to the deep passing game.

I guess we'll find out soon enough, but I am nervous that the D isn't going to get back to 2004/5 levels without him. Without a top 10 quality defense we won't get far in the post season (assuming we make it). Obviously he isn't the only reason the D isn't living up to expectations, but he certainly is proving to be a lynchpin, same as CP on the offense.

Re: Springs
 

For now we're going to have to make do and hope Springs can get back at some point.

I said it not too long ago that I had a bad feeling he won't be back this year... I'm really hoping that's not the case.

Re: Springs
 

this really surprises me because at the time of the injury, which was during the preseason, the original diagnosis was 2- 4 weeks.this is at least week 5

Re: Springs
 

I've added a poll

Re: Springs
 

i think it drags on like the barrow thing did. or the lavar thing. springs was relatively cheap because he's missed a lot of games with injuries. surprise, he's hurt :(.

Re: Springs
 

yeah, wasnt he pretty much hurt, off and on, his whole time in the league?

Re: Springs
 

Springs has always had the knock of being an injury prone player. We got real lucky with him the last two seasons with his injuries. I think this latest is worse than we all know. He hasnt stepped foot on a practice field in pads since the hamstring thing. You do the math it isnt looking good. And by the way He needs to keep him mouth shut. Last thing we need is for him, mind you he is not playing, to give the giants any motivation.

Re: Springs
 

As obvious as this is, I'll say it anyway...If we keep winning, we're okay w/o him. It gives Wright, Rumph and Rogers more XP. Springs won't be around forever and we need younger corners for the future. This trio, given time, may actually develop into a good group for us. I hope Springs comes back asap but from another angle I want at least Rumph or Wright to be ready if he can not come back at all this season.

Re: Springs
 

I voted less than four. The alternative is to suck on defense all year. Can't deal with that.

Re: Springs
 

I agree with the notion that Springs' absence is a on-the-job training for Rogers,Wright, and Rumph who will surely improve as the season goes on. With the coaching staff that's in place (Williams and Gray), there is no way they won't improve.

There is no excuse for this team not to go far this year. Hell a team can't have great players and great depth at every position. There will be a weak link somewhere. In our case, its the secondary. Springs gave us one and a half seasons of great play (more than most of us expected given his previous injury history). His being out cannot and should not be used as an excuse for not making the post season this year. The rest of the secondary has got to suck it up and tighten up their play.

On another note, does anybody think our secondary would be a lot better with the mere presence of Prioleau?

Re: Springs
 

Another question: is the Ade still inactive? I know he recovered from his injury.

Re: Springs
 

Springs' history of groin related injuries (even last year he missed the playoff game versus the Bucs because of this) casts doubt in my mind for his recovery to be swift this time. His abdominal muscle tear is further proof that Springs may have a chronic groin problem that has the potential to debilitate his career. Though I doubt he has a sports hernia, I suspect he has the potential of getting one because these injuries occur in the same region as groin pulls. Any weakness in that area can predispose an individual to a number of pulls and tears--especially for a cornerback. I would be very conservative and rest him at least 4 weeks this time and aim to have him back for the Dallas game. Any further stress to his groin might shelve him for the season...

Re: Springs
 

while I know Springs coming back will definately sure up our pass coverage, the key is pressure on the QB. Williams has to be creative in getting pressure on Eli this week. I think he took a big step last week in blitzing Arch. He took Arch and blitzed him instead of having him in pass coverage, and Arch was effective in blitzing. I think Rumph can be effective as a nickel back. Kenny has picked up his game in the last week or so and Rogers definately played better last week. Taylor will be asked to play more coverage this week against shockey as well as Marcus. If we can get some pressure on Eli quick, to force him to get rid of the ball early we can get some picks and some bad throws.

Overall, I think it comes down to pressure and getting off the field on 3rd down. Stopping barber on 1st down, putting them in 2nd and 3rd and long.

Re: Springs
 

[quote=#56fanatic;224809]while I know Springs coming back will definately sure up our pass coverage, the key is pressure on the QB. Williams has to be creative in getting pressure on Eli this week. I think he took a big step last week in blitzing Arch. He took Arch and blitzed him instead of having him in pass coverage, and Arch was effective in blitzing. I think Rumph can be effective as a nickel back. Kenny has picked up his game in the last week or so and Rogers definately played better last week. Taylor will be asked to play more coverage this week against shockey as well as Marcus. If we can get some pressure on Eli quick, to force him to get rid of the ball early we can get some picks and some bad throws.

Overall, I think it comes down to pressure and getting off the field on 3rd down. Stopping barber on 1st down, putting them in 2nd and 3rd and long.[/quote]

Funny, I think that blitzing Arch is the reason we had to go to overtime last week. The last drive we blitzed 3 times to try and get pressure on Leftwich. The result was that Jax drove the length of the field picking up massive chunks of yardage at a time. Pressure on the QB HAS to come without the blitz for the defense to have much success against a good passing team. A quality quarterback will shred a blitzing defense, especially when he has decent receivers and the secondary is in shambles. You can't leave guys on an island when they aren't good enought to go man-to-man with the receivers and the 4th quarter of last week's game proved my point.

Re: Springs
 

[QUOTE=hurrykaine;224804]On another note, does anybody think our secondary would be a lot better with the mere presence of Prioleau?[/QUOTE]

I think that seriously magnifies the loss of Springs. That and not having Stoutmire (or even Harris) this year also

Re: Springs
 

[quote=hurrykaine;224804]
On another note, does anybody think our secondary would be a lot better with the mere presence of Prioleau?[/quote]


yes yes and yes. cause you see, prioleau can cover. we don't have a lot of guys back there that don't look bad playing right now.

Re: Springs
 

we let our good depth go (prioleasu is hurt, but lott, bowen, stoutmire, harris - all cheap too) and didn't replace it :/.

you can't blitz and leave guys in cover zero when they can't cover. see the jags game while they were running up and down the field. when they picked up the blitz (more often than not, it's really a pretty good OL despite the rush/sack stats), they ate up big chunks of yardage.

Re: Springs
 

[quote=Mc2guy;224815]Funny, I think that blitzing Arch is the reason we had to go to overtime last week. The last drive we blitzed 3 times to try and get pressure on Leftwich. The result was that Jax drove the length of the field picking up massive chunks of yardage at a time. Pressure on the QB HAS to come without the blitz for the defense to have much success against a good passing team. A quality quarterback will shred a blitzing defense, especially when he has decent receivers and the secondary is in shambles. You can't leave guys on an island when they aren't good enought to go man-to-man with the receivers and the 4th quarter of last week's game proved my point.[/quote]


The pass coverage over the middle is what kills us. Williams had some big catches over the middle of the field last week. Other than those plays I think we held our own on the outside. At this point, I would rather have Arch blitzing than covering some one. He looks absolutely confused when in coverage. At least if he is blitzing, the corners and safetys in coverage know what they have to do, not look to see if Arch is doing what he is suppose to do. Plus Arch got some pressure on the QB we have needed. He got a sack and a couple of hurries. Plus he is in the back field to help with the run. We only have up 33 yards rushing last week. by far our lowest allowed this season. On the plays were we were beat over the middle, Our LB missed the RB coming out of the back field. and taylor, (i think) got too deep on a couple of the balls Williams caught across the middle.

Re: Springs
 

I think if there was a good possibility he was going to miss the season they would have placed him on IR already and brought in another option. Maybe the FO doesn't want to make the same mistake a la David Patten last year???

Re: Springs
 

More than anything I'd love for Rumph to step it up. He has the size of someone who can cover the bigger receivers in the league. Taylor can do it, but we have few DBs on the team with that type of ups.

Re: Springs
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;224867]More than anything I'd love for Rumph to step it up. He has the size of someone who can cover the bigger receivers in the league. Taylor can do it, but we have few DBs on the team with that type of ups.[/quote]

[COLOR=black]I'd love to see Taylor in there one on one and catching interceptions.... but then you take away the surprise factor... POP!!! ... :)[/COLOR]

Re: Springs
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;224867]More than anything I'd love for Rumph to step it up. He has the size of someone who can cover the bigger receivers in the league. Taylor can do it, but we have few DBs on the team with that type of ups.[/quote]

I'd like to see Rumph selling used cars off a lot in Oakland...the guy is the worst CB I have ever seen get actual playing time. I watch the game film (Tivo, not actual game film) every week and this guy gets burned constantly. Bad body position, bad lines, bad decisions, bad tackling, you name it...just bad. Wright is okay, but Rumph is not good. You can call is not knowing the system, but from what I've seen it's just bad fundamentals.

Re: Springs
 

Gotta are with you about Rumph.....

Re: Springs
 

I meant - Gotta AGREE with you about Rumph...

Re: Springs
 

[quote=Mc2guy;224882]I'd like to see Rumph selling used cars off a lot in Oakland...the guy is the worst CB I have ever seen get actual playing time. I watch the game film (Tivo, not actual game film) every week and this guy gets burned constantly. Bad body position, bad lines, bad decisions, bad tackling, you name it...just bad. Wright is okay, but Rumph is not good. You can call is not knowing the system, but from what I've seen it's just bad fundamentals.[/quote]

In the first game yes, but after that he's made a number of plays. Honestly, I think he's made more positive than negative.

Re: Springs
 

[quote=jbcjr14;224847]I think if there was a good possibility he was going to miss the season they would have placed him on IR already and brought in another option. Maybe the FO doesn't want to make the same mistake a la David Patten last year???[/quote]

they kept mike barrow off IR for 2 years without ever playing a down before they let him go.

Re: Springs
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;224892]In the first game yes, but after that he's made a number of plays. Honestly, I think he's made more positive than negative.[/quote]

I'll agree with yout that his play the last two weeks was not AS atrocious as in the first game, but he's still missing tackles and taking horrible lines. The guy has had one okay year in the league (2003) but other than that he's a 4th stringer at best. Let's hope Williams and Gray can instill some positive attributes in this guy and improve his play, because it looks like he here for at least the season.

Re: Springs
 

for what i saw in San Fran, rumph has made a helluva improvement. not enough, but if he keeps on improving, some day he might be a bona fide NFL player.

Re: Springs
 

Im going to agree with Dmek...Rumph was a huuuge disappointment for a 1st rd pick.....He was horrible in SF...there are obvious signs of improvement here even after only 4 games...His ball awareness seems to have increased (stripping T.O in the endzone) and although he take bad lines his tackling has been alot better!! Give him time he is constantly improving!!!! As for the big plays....its hard to go on an all out blitz without having a premier cover CB back there to help out...i think Wright(INT week 3...great INT too!! he had to make a real play for the ball) and Rumph will be just fine!

Re: Springs
 

He was also STRIDE FOR STRIDE with that Booker T-looking guy for the Jags when Leftwich was trying to win the game.

Re: Springs
 

OK, so I was talking to Gmanc this morning. He sounded high. So was he REALLY high when he said that Springs practiced yesterday?

J/K Jason