Love the idea of centralizing thoughts, videos and discussion about players and by position seems the most practical. I will keep a list at the top of names. Moving to S because we have needed one for years.

Want to role through these before the majority of the games start.

What we have now (Please correct as you see fit)
SS Crocker-Mays-Iloka
FS Nelson-Miles

IR Sands 2014-Rogers and Dye UD

Nelson 2015, Mays 2014, Iloka 2015, Sands 2014, Rogers and Dye both exclusive rights, Jeromy Miles RFA

Nelson is very good, but beyond that he seems to have the energy the backend needs. He runs around and makes plays and is active. Mays is ok but really can't do much outside STs and the run game. Severely limited. Iloka and Sands are both high reward low risk guys and one is sure to stick. Rogers and Dye will both likely get another camp. Jeromy Miles is probably back as well for camp.

Thats seven guys right there with a few guys with high upside. We clearly need another coverage guy as thats been the issue with the guys we do have

UFA Chris Crocker

I expect Crocker back. He has played well to very well since his return and certainly better than anyone else we have tried. No reason to not bring him back as atleast the first backup at the spot.

Top 10 S's

List of options ESPN Top 10
S
1. Kenny Vaccaro-Texas 6-0 210
2. Matt Elam-Florida 5-10 207
3. Eric Reid-LSU 6-2 208
4. Shawn Williams-Ga 6-0 219
5. Tony Jefferson-Oke 5-11 210
6. Shamarko Thomas-Syracuse 5-8 235
7. Devonte Holloman-SC 6-2 235
8. Bacarri Rambo-Ga 6-0 206
9. Daimion Stafford-Nebraska 5-11 207
10. DJ Swearinger-SC 5-1 210

Damn, every one of those dudes has a hyphenated name. Pussies.

Why is it so hard to draft safetys. I know that we have discussed guys at Florida and LSU but it seems like I can never have a solid take on these guys. They either seem nonexistent in games or get drafted and are just average guys.

Really excited to see Elam tonight

[quote name='akiliMVP' timestamp='1357158073' post='1202631']
Really excited to see Elam tonight
[/quote]

Yeah, I haven't seen much of him, and what I had seen was not impressive.

[quote name='AmishBengalFan' timestamp='1355971002' post='1195747']
Damn, every one of those dudes has a hyphenated name. Pussies.
[/quote]

lololololololololol

So this might actually be a spot to look to FA for help instead of the draft.

5 guys are currently FAs who are on non playoff teams. I don't know much about any of them but combine them with Crocker and we should be ok at S.

1 Louis Delmas
2 Jarius Byrd
3 Laron Landry
4 Kenny Phillips
5 Chris Clemons

The Questions for me are?

1. Whats the order of the big 3? (and should anyone else be in it?)
2. Are any of the big 3 even worth it. Safety tends to be a huge crapshoot.

Vacarro 6-0 210
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScLY4PTo83I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN5BZ6f0FzM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwv2OIrF6yI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwv2OIrF6yI

Matt Elam 5-10 207
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ue7wlWAhgg[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3s0oJ_LhJ0[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8AYhBZOLJk[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHc-yu0RKqE[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BR8U-kIl3k[/media]

Eric Reid 6-2 208

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt8M8cCqoYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgg9E_Hnbz8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1GpM1kB2Gc

I actually really like Bacari Rambo too so I thought I would add him. 6-0 206

The top guys are likely seconds or even a first. Doubtful any fall to the 3rd. Rambo should go later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV6oAYWz9vs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqGInqjGhz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nUk0pfieLg

I really like Rambo's ability to create turnovers, but I've seen nothing to show that he can consistently line up in the slot with a WR or TE. Not that he can't, but he was never asked to.

Vaccaro on the other hand consistently did and did it well.

Tony Jefferson declared too. I'd add him to the mix for the 2nd round picks.

Safties to me are the hardest to scout if you are a fan. They're hardly on the screen.

Vacarro, Elam and possibly Jefferson are the only safeties I like. Vaccaro is my top choice right now. He's a proven tight end killer, something we need.

Personally, and I know people will not agree with this, but I would take a flyer on Tyrann Mathieu and let him be a centerfielder. He has tremendous ball skills. He isn't afraid to get dirty in the run game. I'm aware he plays CB, but his closing speed on the ball reminds me of what Ed Reed used to do. Comes out of nowhere and makes a play. You just do not let a guy like that play one side of the field. Let him read the QB's eyes and make some plays on the ball. If he doesn't cut it at safety..you let him play CB and he is a younger, Adam Jones. More ball skills though.

How long before Goodell suspends him, or he gets a teammate in trouble with him?

[quote name='JC' timestamp='1357598264' post='1206156']
Personally, and I know people will not agree with this, but I would take a flyer on Tyrann Mathieu and let him be a centerfielder. He has tremendous ball skills. He isn't afraid to get dirty in the run game. I'm aware he plays CB, but his closing speed on the ball reminds me of what Ed Reed used to do. Comes out of nowhere and makes a play. You just do not let a guy like that play one side of the field. Let him read the QB's eyes and make some plays on the ball. If he doesn't cut it at safety..you let him play CB and he is a younger, Adam Jones. More ball skills though.
[/quote]

I know you're a big fan of his, but this team doesn't need a center field safety. That's already what Nelson is basically.

They need a safety like Crocker who is almost a corner (Crocker started as one). Someone who can consistently line up on the line in man coverage against slot WR's and TE's.

Part of what made Crocker so valuable to Zimmer, is that Crocker didn't have to come off the field in the nickel package. He could line up on a guy in coverage.

Mathieu is a CB in the NFL. 175 lbs is too damn small for a safety.

I think Mathieu can have success in the NFL but he will be drafted way to high before the Bengals should pick him.

[quote name='Jason' timestamp='1357598606' post='1206164']
How long before Goodell suspends him, or he gets a teammate in trouble with him?
[/quote]
Robert Sands has gotten in trouble more than Janoris Jenkins this year. NFL players do dumb stuff. It's unpredictable.

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1357598968' post='1206168']
I know you're a big fan of his, but this team doesn't need a center field safety. That's already what Nelson is basically.

They need a safety like Crocker who is almost a corner (Crocker started as one). Someone who can consistently line up on the line in man coverage against slot WR's and TE's.

Part of what made Crocker so valuable to Zimmer, is that Crocker didn't have to come off the field in the nickel package. He could line up on a guy in coverage.
[/quote]

Perfect. I think you just described Tyrann. Makes the safeties interchangable.

[quote name='akiliMVP' timestamp='1357599113' post='1206170']
Mathieu is a CB in the NFL. 175 lbs is too damn small for a safety.
[/quote]

If you looked at Ed Reed and Tyrann next to each other, I doubt you'd see too crazy a difference. I don't think it much matters. Mathieu is more than capable of playing the run and is a pretty violent guy.

[quote name='JC' timestamp='1357600402' post='1206182']
Perfect. I think you just described Tyrann. Makes the safeties interchangable.


[/quote]

maybe you misunderstood the point of my post. I haven't watched Mathieu extensively, but I've seen nothing to suggest he's a guy who can consistently line up in the slot and provide sound coverage on a TE or slot WR. It's also worth nothing that he'll be giving up at least 7 inches to most of the tight ends he would have to be covering.

They don't need another centerfielder. They have that in Nelson.

They need a younger, better Crocker.

If this team needed Crocker, they wouldn't have let him walk last off-season. They want better than Crocker. There's no saying that Reggie Nelson can't do what Crocker does or better. Troy Polomalu and Earl Thomas are 5'10 and two of the best safeties in the game so height shouldn't really matter. Crock is only two inches taller. Unless Mathieu has T-Rex arms, he isn't going to be at some crazy disadvantage.

[quote name='JC' timestamp='1357610159' post='1206227']
If this team needed Crocker, they wouldn't have let him walk last off-season. They want better than Crocker. There's no saying that Reggie Nelson can't do what Crocker does or better. Troy Polomalu and Earl Thomas are 5'10 and two of the best safeties in the game so height shouldn't really matter. Crock is only two inches taller. Unless Mathieu has T-Rex arms, he isn't going to be at some crazy disadvantage.
[/quote]

That's why I said a "better crocker"