Sean Taylor struggling???

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

When's the last time anyone has seen a player who has played safety at a satisfactory level in the NFL convert to LB? I can think of some college lb's who converted to safety in the NFL (boulware) but not the other way around... This is similar to those who call for Michael Vick to be turned into a running back. It's just not going to happen. Taylor's performance level regressed this year, along with every other member of the defensive squad. That is a sign of a deficiency in coaching, not a reduction in his or their abilities to play their respective positions.

When is the last time a safety had the physical abilities of Taylor? I am not suggesting a permanent shift, but it seems that the ability to move players around gives the offense something else to think about. (The Ravens do it pretty well).

I am also thinking that if Archuleta stays, he has to do more than protect the punter. He would be better at FS than SS.

Thomas Davis played LB this year for the Panthers (not very well but he did do it).

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by Grim21Reaper

When is the last time a safety had the physical abilities of Taylor? I am not suggesting a permanent shift, but it seems that the ability to move players around gives the offense something else to think about. (The Ravens do it pretty well).

I am also thinking that if Archuleta stays, he has to do more than protect the punter. He would be better at FS than SS.

Thomas Davis played LB this year for the Panthers (not very well but he did do it).

With his myriad abilities, playing safety should better allow him to create problems for the opposing team both in pass coverage and through situational blitzing. Being a linebacker takes some of the advantage of his athleticism away, because he would be required to fight off of and through blocks. That is not his body style, he's more of a striker that roams and picks his shots, usually at top speed. His advantage is his ability to cover a large swath of the field and close quickly. His ball skills should vastly improve were he in a situation where he didn't have to keep one eye in the backfield at all times. That comes with better coaching and better teammates. I just don't think he is the problem, which switching his position would suggest. If anything, moving him to linebacker would simply highlight the fact that we don't have legitimate starting talent at the position currently on the roster.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

With his myriad abilities, playing safety should better allow him to create problems for the opposing team both in pass coverage and through situational blitzing. Being a linebacker takes some of the advantage of his athleticism away, because he would be required to fight off of and through blocks. That is not his body style, he's more of a striker that roams and picks his shots, usually at top speed. His advantage is his ability to cover a large swath of the field and close quickly. His ball skills should vastly improve were he in a situation where he didn't have to keep one eye in the backfield at all times. That comes with better coaching and better teammates. I just don't think he is the problem, which switching his position would suggest. If anything, moving him to linebacker would simply highlight the fact that we don't have legitimate starting talent at the position currently on the roster.

This is probably the best post I've read summing up Taylor's season.

While his wasn't a good one overall, I think 111 tackles, which led all NFL safties and many linebackers, should say a lot about our defense as a whole and how it performed. Taylor shouldn't be moved to linebacker, he should stay exactly where he is.