CJ Saunders

[Byrdman4real]

Shi will probably be suspended a couple of games, and someone is bound to start on IR. That will save roster spots. 

[Proudiddy]

21 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I'll throw another name in there: Luke Kuechly.

Luke certainly wasn't a poor athlete, but there are dozens of great athletes playing middle linebacker in the NFL right now. Like Proehl, what made Luke better wasn't the speed of his body, but the speed of his brain.

And let's not forget our recent Hall of Famer in this discussion either.

I know athleticism is king of everything these days, including when it comes to quarterbacks, but I'm always going to be someone who values the mental side of things first (especially so if you want a guy to have a long career).

Again though, I don't know enough to say whether Saunders is one of those kind of players yet.

One way or the other, it has to be proven on the field.

Completely agreed.  I always love a good underdog that has to use their minds just as much, if not more than their bodies to excel.  Sam Mills was the perfect definition of that guy.  Loved watching him as a kid. 

Saunders will definitely have to prove it one way or another.  I think I'm erring on the side of I dont believe it yet due to what I saw of him in the past, combined with the fact that I think Rhule plays favorites. And you know what I think of Rhule.

But we will see, one way or another.

[top dawg]

2 hours ago, CPcavedweller said:

Just prefer Higgins to Anderson is all. Saunders isn't going to replace Anderson on the outside. I get Anderson can run, I really do, but his stone hands probably cost the Panthers two games last year. Specifically remember one sequence where he dropped three straight.

Not a good look when a guy can go out and do that and be left in while a guy like Higgins may celebrate in practice and everyone gets to run.

Pretty absurd considering their career stats.

[Mr. Scot]

16 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Completely agreed.  I always love a good underdog that has to use their minds just as much, if not more than their bodies to excel.  Sam Mills was the perfect definition of that guy.  Loved watching him as a kid. 

Saunders will definitely have to prove it one way or another.  I think I'm erring on the side of I dont believe it yet due to what I saw of him in the past, combined with the fact that I think Rhule plays favorites. And you know what I think of Rhule.

But we will see, one way or another.

It's not really even about underdogs to me.

It's more a priorities thing.

There are hundreds of guys coming out of college every year who are fast, agile, strong, whatever. That's not hard to find at all.

What I like to see in guys is something that sets them apart from all the others.

Heck, during their best years, the Patriots made a living out of looking for smart players.

Edited August 9, 2022 by Mr. Scot

[Proudiddy]

38 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Pretty absurd considering their career stats.

Not saying this about CP, but there is an incredible amount of dislike for Robbie that I just don't get and it doesn't seem to be grounded in reality at all.  But as I said elsewhere, I feel like the huddle always has to have a team villain to unload all of our angst on, and for whatever reason, that seems to have fallen at Robbie's feet the last two seasons.  I get the drops were frustrating, but I even shared Newton's article from last season detailing what had changed (aside from constantly getting thrown hospital balls from Darnold), and a lot of it was schematic...  but most ignored it.

I still have been squarely in Robbie's corner, and I think now with an actual QB, he is poised to have another 2020-esque season, if not better.

[Smithers]

DJ

Robby

TMJ

Smith

Saunders

Higgins

 

Roberts is a surprise cut

 

[Steelo Senpai]

1 minute ago, Smithers said:

DJ

Robby

TMJ

Smith

Saunders

Higgins

 

Roberts is a surprise cut

 

IDK about that... fr I could see them carry 7.  Roberts is too valuable in the return game for them to let him go now, I mean we could be in for another dose of the Perryman situation. Whomever we put back to return kicks doesn't wow and Roberts is pulling off TDs or great returns elsewhere.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, Smithers said:

Roberts is a surprise cut

I feel like somebody would have to really own the return game for that to happen.

[MillionDollarCam]

23 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I feel like somebody would have to really own the return game for that to happen.

Are they even using Roberts in the KR game? From what I read a while back (can’t remember where I saw it), it was Smith who was getting a lot of those reps and Roberts was being used in PR drills.

Mind you, Roberts is known for being a good KR but Erickson was actually a better PR than Roberts last year.

[Mr. Scot]

9 minutes ago, MillionDollarCam said:

Are they even using Roberts in the KR game? From what I read a while back (can’t remember where I saw it), it was Smith who was getting a lot of those reps and Roberts was being used in PR drills.

Mind you, Roberts is known for being a good KR but Erickson was actually a better PR than Roberts last year.

Could be that they feel they know what Roberts offers.

And hell, kickoff returns are pretty rare these days

[MillionDollarCam]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

Could be that they feel they know what Roberts offers.

And hell, kickoff returns are pretty rare these days

That’s also why I question the point of burning a roster spot on a return guy. If Roberts is a better receiver than Higgins, Zylstra, Smith, Saunders, etc… then by all means keep him. It just seems like a questionable decision to burn a spot on a guy who may get 18 or so returns throughout the entire season.

[Smithers]

1 hour ago, MillionDollarCam said:

Are they even using Roberts in the KR game? From what I read a while back (can’t remember where I saw it), it was Smith who was getting a lot of those reps and Roberts was being used in PR drills.

Mind you, Roberts is known for being a good KR but Erickson was actually a better PR than Roberts last year.

Yeah I’ve read the same.  It sure seems like Roberts in an insurance policy in case they can’t find a youngster to fill that role.  If someone like Smith is halfway competent, I think Roberts is gone.  

[shaqattaq]

6 hours ago, CPcavedweller said:

Just prefer Higgins to Anderson is all. Saunders isn't going to replace Anderson on the outside. I get Anderson can run, I really do, but his stone hands probably cost the Panthers two games last year. Specifically remember one sequence where he dropped three straight.

Not a good look when a guy can go out and do that and be left in while a guy like Higgins may celebrate in practice and everyone gets to run.

That's cool. I wasn't singling you out, just referring to how every thread eventually ends up bashing Anderson, Rhule, or Darnold. And yes, I know all 3 were bad last year.

[CPcavedweller]

3 hours ago, Proudiddy said:

Completely agreed.  I always love a good underdog that has to use their minds just as much, if not more than their bodies to excel.  Sam Mills was the perfect definition of that guy.  Loved watching him as a kid. 

Saunders will definitely have to prove it one way or another.  I think I'm erring on the side of I dont believe it yet due to what I saw of him in the past, combined with the fact that I think Rhule plays favorites. And you know what I think of Rhule.

But we will see, one way or another.

Go watch highlights of Kuechly and tell me he wasn't a physical freak of nature. Luke was more of an athlete than most middle linebackers in the league right now and to say anything otherwise I'd say is discounting his athleticism because he was a white dude.