Redskins Release Torrence

[skinsnut]

Hey,
I've got a question.
I have been looking around on the web about the Torrence cut, and I know he plays a lot of special teams.
I know he's the gunner on punts and has missed a bunch of punts downed at the 5 or so (settling for touchbacks)...I know that is a negative....but.....
One thing that made me really pissed off about the Steelers game was the punt RECEIVING team....particularly the Gunner DEFENSE.
We have 2 defenders on each gunner and we got smoked almost EVERY time.
Randel El couldn't do anything but do fair catches due to this Crappy Gunner blocking. The Steelers Gunner was in Randel Els face for every return. He wasn't even touched on multiple occasions.
It is my understanding that TORRENCE is the punt Gunner blocker....IS THAT TRUE?

If so, I understand why he was cut.
I know he has sucked as our punt gunner, he's been solid as a # 4 CB.
If he has sucked as a punt gunner blocker...I totally understand.
Our punt coverage and return units are a weakness of the team and must be improved.

[dmek25]

4 pages on Torrence? you guys have a short memory. wasnt it Torrence that got burned to put the rams in position for the game winning kick? Hall is a major upgrade over just about any of the corners we have, except for Rogers, and Springs.

[redskinrob]

Yes it was Torrence, he gets turned around on recievers alot. Happened to him last year as well.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by dmek25

4 pages on Torrence? you guys have a short memory. wasnt it Torrence that got burned to put the rams in position for the game winning kick? Hall is a major upgrade over just about any of the corners we have, except for Rogers, and Springs.

I think the general concern is not that Torrence was a great player or that somehow he was going to turn into an All-Pro or something. Clearly he had trouble in coverage and was a liability when he was on the field. But Hall will be a liability in coverage too. Plus he likes to talk, is a self-promoter, and probably is not going to sacrifice his body on kick coverages for the good of the team as a guy like Torrence would.

The concern is that you get rid of a well liked guy who worked hard and played on special teams and potentially disrupt a solid locker room in the midst of a good season. You do so in order to bring in a player who thinks he is a great player, but whose play on the field suggests is only an average player. Hopefully he will be a team guy and play the good soldier for seven games in hopes of getting a big payday, but his coverage skills are suspect. He has continually gotten beaten in coverage throughout his career and has an exceptionally high yards per attempt average against him over five seasons. Last week he was beaten repeatedly by first-round bust Michael Jenkins. Hopefully he can return punts and provide some depth but the statistics (if you take out the Pro Bowls, and you know how name recognition plays in there) suggest he is not a huge upgrade at the position. So the concern is you disrupt a locker room in order to bring in an over-hyped average player who thinks he is a great player. I did not have a problem bringing in Hall on the cheap, and the fan in me gets excited about a big name guy coming in, but I am concerned about an impact in the locker room.

[TaylorMade21]

I'm not a HUGE fan of this move, but at least now Leigh will have his opportunity to show off his skills on another team (I can't imagine him not being signed quickly, he is a pretty dependable 3rd or 4th string corner).

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I think the general concern is not that Torrence was a great player or that somehow he was going to turn into an All-Pro or something. Clearly he had trouble in coverage and was a liability when he was on the field. But Hall will be a liability in coverage too. Plus he likes to talk, is a self-promoter, and probably is not going to sacrifice his body on kick coverages for the good of the team as a guy like Torrence would.

The concern is that you get rid of a well liked guy who worked hard and played on special teams and potentially disrupt a solid locker room in the midst of a good season. You do so in order to bring in a player who thinks he is a great player, but whose play on the field suggests is only an average player. Hopefully he will be a team guy and play the good soldier for seven games in hopes of getting a big payday, but his coverage skills are suspect. He has continually gotten beaten in coverage throughout his career and has an exceptionally high yards per attempt average against him over five seasons. Last week he was beaten repeatedly by first-round bust Michael Jenkins. Hopefully he can return punts and provide some depth but the statistics (if you take out the Pro Bowls, and you know how name recognition plays in there) suggest he is not a huge upgrade at the position. So the concern is you disrupt a locker room in order to bring in an over-hyped average player who thinks he is a great player. I did not have a problem bringing in Hall on the cheap, and the fan in me gets excited about a big name guy coming in, but I am concerned about an impact in the locker room.

I can see the cause for concern, although I don't share it. I think our locker room is strong enough to get Hall in line if need be, which I don't think there will be. I think locker rooms divide over quarterbacks, not over the 53rd man.

Last week, Michael Jenkins caught 2 passes. And I seem to recall Oakland saying that Randy Moss had "lost it" as well, so I believe absolutely nothing that comes out of Oakland considering Al Davis's picture is in the dictionary next to "agenda." Hall will blossom in DC, he's not a bump and run shut down corner, but he has proven that he is a heckuva corner when he can play off and read the qb, as his 2 Pro Bowls prove. I think Hall's upside WAAAY outweighs any potential negative, especially when you consider the guy grew up in Virginia, probably as a Skins fan, and is coming from NFL purgatory to a team firmly in the playoff mix.

One last tidbit, he already has 48 tackles, 13 pass deflections and 3 picks. I think Hall will lead us in picks, the more I research the guy the more I like this move. I think this will be the best move this front office has made this year.

Leigh, who?

[SBXVII]

'bout time. They also need to take a hard look at Byron Westbrook. Is he going to take it to the next level or is he even servicable other then being a brother of a huge player for a rival team.

Also its nice to be well liked but another to know how to do your job. or rather be able to get the job done. Apparently the coach's saw something we didn't. ....Sound familiar.....those of us Mason whiners. We should use the same excuses for the Torrence whiners....."he was no good." "he barely broke out of the practice squad.", "he let to many people get by him." , "good riddence Torrence." "maybe he can crack some other teams squad." lol. I'm haveing to much fun with this right.

Maybe Dallas will pick him up for the next game and maybe he will finally elevate his play. lol. They are looking for a CB to since they had Pac-Man troubles. lol.

[SouperMeister]

If Justin Tryon couldn't beat Torrence out in camp as the 4th CB, then why is Tryon still on the team? I don't get this move.

[joethiesmanfan]

I think GTRIPP0012 is underestimating Hall. Torrence makes me cringe.

[joethiesmanfan]

And by the way..... Why is Westbrook on our team practice squad? Two preseasons in a row he has proven that he is... Gaaaww-Bosh!!!!

[WaldSkins]

Originally Posted by TaylorMade21

I'm not a HUGE fan of this move, but at least now Leigh will have his opportunity to show off his skills on another team (I can't imagine him not being signed quickly, he is a pretty dependable 3rd or 4th string corner).

Yeah i hope the Cowboys pick him up so he can show his "skills" against us next week.

[Redskin Warrior]

I called this earlier but I do feel that of they cut Alexander after Betts is fully healthy they will scoop Torrence back up. Or if they place Kelly on IR they will too.

[DynamiteRave]

I don't mind releasing Torrence. He had his moments and I think maybe could be a decent #2 or #3 CB yet there's something about Torrence I never really liked as a player. As a guy (he had a segment on NBC4 one night about him) he seems like a great person, very motivated and charitable. I wish him well.

I can only wonder why they didn't release Tryon... The staff must really want to see something in the kid.

[Paintrain]

I'm really amazed that we spend so much time analyzing the 45th player on our roster.. There recently was someone who left that people on the board said was 'wildly popular in the locker room. It's going to be a problem now that he's gone because guys are really going to dislike it. We don't know what we did and are going to miss him dearly.' That guy-Gregg Williams. How's that working out for us?

Unless you're a JLC sky is always on the verge of falling type, it's hard to find too much fault with what the FO has done. Jim Zorn-check. Greg Blache-check. Draft-1/2 check but none of the draftees (outside of Brooks) was NEEDED to contribute and are a playoff team without any contribution outside of Horton. Taylor-He's been hurt on 2 random-freaky plays so I can't count that against them. Alexander-He's better than Rock but will be gone when Betts is healthy again. Hall-2 time pro bowler vs. a guy 75% of the board wouldn't have cared if he wasn't brought back to camp this year.

[vallin21]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I'm really amazed that we spend so much time analyzing the 45th player on our roster.. There recently was someone who left that people on the board said was 'wildly popular in the locker room. It's going to be a problem now that he's gone because guys are really going to dislike it. We don't know what we did and are going to miss him dearly.' That guy-Gregg Williams. How's that working out for us?

Unless you're a JLC sky is always on the verge of falling type, it's hard to find too much fault with what the FO has done. Jim Zorn-check. Greg Blache-check. Draft-1/2 check but none of the draftees (outside of Brooks) was NEEDED to contribute and are a playoff team without any contribution outside of Horton. Taylor-He's been hurt on 2 random-freaky plays so I can't count that against them. Alexander-He's better than Rock but will be gone when Betts is healthy again. Hall-2 time pro bowler vs. a guy 75% of the board wouldn't have cared if he wasn't brought back to camp this year.

Amen. Who gives about Leigh Torrence. We got a two time pro bowler, arguably the best corner we have since Darrell Green. He has 3 picks already he's 24, and he can make plays. His attitude won't be a problem because were winning. ie Randy Moss. The FO has grown up alot the past few seasons and I tip my hat to them. In 8 wks the same people who talk about Hall's attidude and being a "cancer" will be talking about his browl jersey in Hawai next year.