It's so hard to say since there was so much change in the secondary this year and so many rookies playing.
I think Adrian Amos is an average safety who would benefit (possibly become better than average) from playing closer to the LOS than in the backfield. He was inconsistent this year but overall I think he's developing well for a 5th round safety pick. A lot of his struggles - as with many players in the secondary - comes from the constant change in the backfield and the lack of chemistry. I'd also put some of those struggles on an inconsistent pass rush.
Tracy Porter looked sketchy down the stretch when dealing with his knee issues and going up against the #1 receiver on opposing teams. Porter is not a #1 DB but could I imagine, he could play the #2 role fairly well.
THose are the only two players who, I think, are average players back there. Then you have your too early to tells like LeBlanc and Hall. LeBlanc was playing as the #2 DB for much of the season and the dude was a UDFA acquired late in the PS. The fact he was playing as the #2 tells you Pace was not aggressive enough at filling the void at the position.
Deiondre Hall was injured for much of the season but flashed when he found his way on the field, especially in the red zone. It's too early to say whether or not he's gonna be a someone.
I'm comfortable saying LeBlanc and Hall are good enough to be depth / STeamers.
Then you have the garbage. McManis, Banks, Callahan, Hurst, Bush DeAndre Houston-Carson. They better have some value as STeamers going forward cause they showed nothing good on the field.
Maybe the biggest X-Factor in all this is Fuller. I don't know what to think about him. My gut reaction is he needs to be cut or, preferably, traded (if anyone wants him). He's not a good fit in Fangio's system and, based on the articles I've read, he's got a questionable attitude about playing football (at least for the Bears). Fox and Fang might be able to get him into a position to be salvageable - I dunno with him. I do think he's better than both Hall and LeBlanc and for that reason you gotta consider keeping him if you think he still has upside.
Post by britishbearfan on Jan 14, 2017 11:50:08 GMT -6
Callahan was great at Nickel in the 2015 season. He had some good games this season - in particular he shut down Golden Tate in the win against the Lions. He has struggled with injury a lot this year but that doesn't make him "Garbage".
Post by brasilbear on Jan 14, 2017 11:55:07 GMT -6
I think the Bears need 2 new starting CBs, a new nickel back and 2 new starting safties. As far as I'm concerned, the rest can battle it would in OTA/TC/PS to be the depth.
I also think that the longer the team thinks that Amos is an average NFL safety, the longer they will keep trotting him out there. He needs to be replaced.
Amos - you can't leave the cupboard bare. He can play, but "impactful" is a word I would never use to describe him.
Bush - my gut says he's one of those players that are just slow to "get it". He has talent, has to break bad habits formed in Miami and was a special tears guy there. I checked out by the time he really saw the field this season.
Callahan - decent depth at CB, good NB/Dime.
Fuller - this is more of a hope that he can work out. The dude's life is football, so you can bet he will work to improve his craft. I think there is more being made of the story of his injury. Scheme or not, there is no reason he shouldn't start at one of the CB spots when he comes back 100%.
Hall - with his flashes this season, he's too young to give up on. Great size and length, just give him a consistent pass rush so he doesn't have to cover too long.
Leblanc - I recall him on STs for some reason... he played well enough when pressed into service to not give him more opportunities. The fact he had good/decent coverage yet gave up that big play to ARod/Jordy shouldn't hold him back. Those two caught fire, no one could stop those two.
*Porter - I have a feeling his knee injury will push him off the team. I like the guy, hold on to him until he gives the team everything, but I worry he's running on E.
There is not a single person that I would cry over if they left. That does not mean I want everyone gone... it just means that there is no one here that I would be really pissed if they got rid of. I think a few deserve more time, but have not shown me enough to grieve over if they got moved.
Callahan was very effective in the slot only. It is his roll, he doesn't do good outside. He also is always injured. I get that we have some core special team players as depth, but if we don't have players as starters who can play maybe special teams should be put on hold untill starting caliber plsyers can be found.
Post by paytonisgod on Jan 14, 2017 20:29:19 GMT -6
Some people seem to have funny notions about safeties. Everybody wants Ed Reed or Polamalu style safeties, but those guys were freelancers who could take risks because the rest of their defense was also good. You can't play that way when half your defense is 1st-2nd year players or journeymen vets. Amos is fine at safety. If we can find another good one I think we'll be set there for awhile.
There is a chance the rest of our DBs will actually develop into better players. Many are young guys and need time to learn the trade. That's not to say we shouldn't bring in guys to challenge them but just because they were poor this season does not mean they're going all to be horrible the next. When asked about the defense Fangio has been quoted several times about needing time to see what a player can and can't do before he can start putting them in certain situations or looks. Otherwise they might not be able to handle it. The defense was pretty conservative all year likely due to the number of young guys on the defense.
Wish I knew what was going on with Fuller. Hopefully he'll get his confidence in his knee back. Sometimes it's more mental than physical these days. That said, other than a few flashes here and there, Fuller has looked rather average in his play.