Carlos Rogers

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Do the "anti-Rogers" people realize he was injured earlier in the year and that played a factor in him developing slower than expected?

Or that maybe there were unreal expectations for him. It is not reasonable to EXPECT a rookie CB to wrestle a starting role from a guy who knows the system and fits in pretty well. It's not like we had NO other CBs on the roster when they drafted him. He has progressed faster than SHOULD have been expected. What we DID expect doesn't matter in the whole scope. We were in the wrong to expect it. Us being wrong doesn't make him "dissappointing". Just makes us wrong. Seems silly to get be "dissappointed" that you didn't get a result you had no good reason to expect.

[Duffman003]

I didn't see many balls thrown his way during the game, most of the balls caught where usually who springs was covering I think. But if carlos keeps improving i think we could have one of the best defensive backs in the league... even better than the 3 pro bowler Eagles.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Or that maybe there were unreal expectations for him. It is not reasonable to EXPECT a rookie CB to wrestle a starting role from a guy who knows the system and fits in pretty well. It's not like we had NO other CBs on the roster when they drafted him. He has progressed faster than SHOULD have been expected.

I don't think it's the least bit unreasonable to expect at top ten pick, especially a defensive player, to take the starting job from a player who is mid tier at best, at his position. In fact, the only position that a case can be made for a top ten pick not starting is quarterback. Tailbacks, O lineman, receivers, and basically all defensive players start immediately if they are drafted in the first ten, unless they can't get the job done. It should not take 3/4 of a season to develop a supposed blue chip cornerback.

With that being said, I have always thought Rogers is the best tackling cornerback on the roster, but the insane cushion he gives on third and long plays still irritates me. He has impressed me recently though, and he'll probably be our best corner by the start of next season.

[wolfeskins]

rogers was the best cb in the draft and i'm glad the skins drafted him. he missed a lot of camp because of injury so that can explain his "tardyness" (sp) in taking over the starting position from walt harris. i have always and still do think he will be much better than fred smoot.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

In fact, the only position that a case can be made for a top ten pick not starting is quarterback.

I simply disagree on this one statement. As I stated earlier I think CB is the second hardest position to play in football. You have to understand the entire defensive scheme and how your play directly influences the positioning of everyone in the secondary. You have to know the offensive scheme enough to read for proper coverage positioning. You have understand and use proper technique to actually cover a guy and understand how to counteract specific technique that the WR will use to get away from you. It is a very difficult position that athleticism alone doesn't allow you to have success at and I think it is unreasonable to expect ANY rookie CB to be good enough to start his first season. I do agree that besides QBs and CBs a top ten pick needs to be a major contributor if not a starter almost immediately. Sort of a pointless argument though since I think we can all agree that Rogers is coming on in a real good way. Just because it is later than some thought doesn't really make him a disappointment in my book. If he is a pro bowler next year do we still call him a disappointment because he wasn't good enough to start through 10 or so games his rookie year? Anyways he is good now and I think he is certainly going to be better than Smoot. I loved Smoot but this guy is more talented. Hopefully that talent continues to blossom.